A bucket list goal of someone, like me, who performs as Abraham Lincoln is to do his Gettysburg Address at the National Cemetery in Gettysburg. I was able to do just that on May 18 for about 150 students, some parents and assorted tourists.
It was great, what a thrill and what fun, especially seeing tourists' faces as they entered the grounds seeing Lincoln doing his historic address.
BAYarts kicked off the next phase of renovations of the historic Huntington Playhouse with the announcement of a major donation toward their capital campaign of $100,000 by Joseph P. Carney of Westlake.
In the winter of 2019-2020, BAYarts was planning the expansion to respond to the growing need for more space to meet the strong demand for art classes, children’s art camps, and an ever-growing demand for more gallery and event space. Plans for fundraising and expansion were shelved in March 2020 as the popular and much-loved community art center shifted its classes to virtual instruction and "Art to Go" kits for students who were relegated to at-home remote learning.
The TrueNorth Chorale and Chamber Orchestra, under the direction of Richard Fortney, will present their annual Patriotic Concert on Saturday, June 25, at 7:00 p.m. at Bay United Methodist Church, 29931 Lake Road. The concert will be inside in the sanctuary. The concert is open to all, there will be a love offering to help offset costs.
A special tribute will take place for our Armed Services asking all who have served to stand and be recognized. The concert will recognize the men, women and family of the armed services, our local police and firefighters, and our scouts. The evening will serve as a time of reflection and hope, celebrating the past, praying for our future, as we celebrate our freedom.
Clague Playhouse presents "Same Time, Next Year" by Bernard Slade to conclude their 94th Season.
One of the most popular romantic comedies of the century, "Same Time, Next Year" ran four years on Broadway. A wonderful, nostalgic, whimsical, touching, funny, and moving look at 25 years of American culture, through the lives of two lovers, married to others, who rendezvous once a year for a romantic weekend. The play may include adult language and situations.
The play is directed by Ron Newell and featured in our cast are Daniel Telford and Tiffany Trapnell.
Westlake High School Demon Drama Club brings "Chicago the Musical" to the Westlake Performing Arts Center, April 7-9 at 7p.m. and Sunday, April 10, at 2 p.m. The musical just happens to be celebrating its 25th anniversary on Broadway this year.
The Drama Club is performing the high school edition to make it family friendly for all ages. The costumes and choreography are modest but with the catchy lyrics and comedy everyone loves from the original.
Taking place in the Roaring 1920s, “Chicago” following rival murderesses, Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly, as they vie for the spotlight and an acquittal with help from their charming lawyer, Billy Flynn. You don’t want to miss this!
The year was 1907, and Northeast Ohio resident Pearl Sebold had just won Ohio’s “most beautiful woman” contest through the Cleveland Leader newspaper. Imagine Pearl sitting down to play her brand-new Chickering baby grand piano while she reveled in her good fortune.
Flash forward 115 years later. Former Normandy School principal, Dr. James McGlamery, who had purchased the piano from the Sebold family many years ago, wanted to donate his beloved family baby grand to an organization where it would be put to good use by a new generation. Devon Gess, Bay High School’s music teacher, who is helping BAYarts develop music programs, made the connection.
As we move through Easter rituals – from solemn Ash Wednesday, through introspective Lent, to joyful Easter Sunday – we punctuate our devotionals with plenty of fellowship. Families decorate colorful eggs, the Easter Bunny hides candy-filled baskets, and children scurry in search of hidden treats. We love our traditions. But sometimes it’s OK to give tradition a little extra spin.
Susan Variakojis, a resident of Concord Reserve in Westlake, does just that with her unique Easter egg collection. Susan began her collection nearly 40 years ago. Her display has an interesting history.
The eggs are from an Easter egg sale that was established to benefit Children’s Hospital in Columbus by their Woman’s Auxiliary. Artistic and imaginative members of the group created the eggs. The designs for the eggs came from whatever took the fancy of the artists or was popular at that time. Susan added to her collection until the Auxiliary’s annual sale was discontinued around 15 years ago.
On Monday, April 4, at 7:30 p.m., Rocky River Chamber Music Society will present something a little different by hosting an evening of jazz. For a short while, the usually-sedate sanctuary at West Shore Unitarian Universalist Church will become the home of a different kind of music.
Bob Sneider, associate professor at the world-renowned Eastman School of Music, will lead several colleagues in a lively evening of jazz music. Composer, guitarist, and educator, Bob Sneider has been a member of the faculty at the Eastman School since 1997. Before that time, Sneider had toured several years with two-time Grammy winner, Chuck Mangione.
Clague Playhouse presents "These Shining Lives" by Melanie Marnich in honor of Women’s History Month.
The story chronicles the strength and determination of women considered expendable in their day, exploring their true story and its continued resonance. Catherine and her friends are dying, it’s true; but theirs is a story of survival in its most transcendent sense, as they refuse to allow the company that stole their health to kill their spirits – or endanger the lives of those who come after them.
The play is directed by Anne McEvoy and featured in our cast are Sarah Blubaugh, Emmy Cohen, Keith Myers, Eliza Rodriguez, Chris Ross, and Tiffany Trapnell.
Classical music lovers will delight in a special performance of composer John Rutter’s “Suite Antique” on Sunday, March 13, at 4 p.m. in the West Shore Unitarian Universalist Church sanctuary. The concert is free and open to the public. Masks are required.
The Suite is part of the church’s B. Neill Davis Concert series, featuring high-profile talented musicians for the public’s enjoyment. Beth Elardo returns to West Shore on flute joined by the Amethyst String Ensemble under the guidance of Mary Beth Ions.
David Blazer will play a special harpsichord, donated to the church by member Sherry Cica in honor of her beloved husband, Dan, a 34-year church member who died in 2011.
On Sunday, Feb. 27, at 4 p.m., you are invited to attend a special concert in honor of Black History Month to be held in the West Shore Unitarian Universalist Church Sanctuary, located at 20401 Hilliard Blvd. in Rocky River. The concert is free and open to the public. Masks are required to be worn in the church at all times.
The concert features Oberlin Conservatory’s Associate Dean Christopher Jenkins on viola with soloist, accompanist and educator Dianna White-Gould on piano. The music will focus on African-American composers, particularly those with significant relations to Cleveland and Ohio.
With great excitement the Rocky River Chamber Music Society announces that it will be returning to its home at West Shore Unitarian Universalist Church for its third concert on Monday, Feb. 28, at 7:30 p.m. There will be both a live audience and live streaming. Masks will be required as soon as there is entry into the building.
Clarinetist and educator from Oberlin College Conservatory, Richard Hawkins, will be setting the scene for the evening. He and faculty friends from Oberlin will showcase the contrasting styles of wind music with piano and strings. Altogether seven musicians will be involved including the shorter works of Franz Schreker and Valerie Colman, and the longer work, Sextet in C major, by Hungarian composer Ernὄ Dohnányi.
Join West Shore Unitarian Universalist Church for the classic 1924 silent film "Peter Pan," accompanied by Music Director David Blazer on the organ. Fun for all ages, you are invited to bring the kids to watch Peter, Tinker Bell, Wendy and the gang romp and fly on the big screen on Sunday, Feb. 20, at 4:00 p.m.
This is the first film adaptation of J.M. Barrie’s famous 1904 stage play directed by Herbert Brenon. The film closely follows the plot of the original play, and even goes so far as to incorporate much of its original stage dialogue in the intertitles. Added scenes include Nana the dog pouring out Michael's medicine and giving him a bath, and Nana bursting into the home at which a party is being given, to warn Mr. and Mrs. Darling that Peter Pan and the Darling children are flying around the nursery. Like the original play, and unlike the 1953 Disney film, the 1924 version makes it clear that Wendy harbors a romantic attachment to Peter, but Peter only thinks of her as his mother.
BAYarts' mission is to support professional and aspiring artists of all ages. By providing income and exposure for northeast Ohio artists through exhibitions, consignment and various events, BAYarts' roster of regional artists continues to grow and diversify. This year, along with BAYarts' signature events, many new opportunities are available.
For visual artists, BAYarts' Annual Juried Exhibition is now online with the opening and awards presentation in the Sullivan Family Gallery March 11; this exhibition has been a great way to discover new artists and also see the best new work of familiar artists.
BAYarts' annual Art & Music Fest returns on June 18 after being on hold for two years, offering affordable booth fees (juried selection) and live music – a great kickoff to summer.
What if the Little Mermaid didn’t get her happy ending? Coral, Oceana and Marina, three aging ex-mermaids who are struggling with their mortgages, bills, the weather and above all – their men. Into this mundane world swims Pearl, a young, beautiful and innocent mermaid. Will she believe the elder mermaids and go back to the ocean or will she make her grab for happiness with Nathan, a young and handsome Coast Guardsman?
Featured in our cast are Donna Case as Marina, Jenny Erbs as Oceana, Caitlin Hathaway-Morgan as Pearl, Margaret Hnat as Sheila, Cat Kenney as Coral, Zack Mitchell as Nathan and Craig Stadden as Floyd, directed by Douglas A. Farren.
It's all a blur now: a year of shut downs followed by year of gradually reopening, a challenge many small businesses have faced and we hope is behind us.
For the past two years, BAYarts had the challenge of serving our community in new ways. It quickly became clear how very fortunate we are to have the vast open Cleveland Metroparks campus to gather, connect and learn. Art-to-go, virtual classes and shopping online became the norm. Although we did offer all of these things, the majority of the community wanted to safely connect, in person, in the sanctuary and beauty of the campus.
The holiday shopping season is here and there are no supply chain issues at BAYarts. Supporting local artists is not new to the non-profit arts organization, in fact, it has always been the mainstay of their mission. Entering into its 74th year, BAYarts has been supporting local artists and their businesses since 1948.
Whether you’re looking for ceramics, wall art, jewelry, or that perfect Christmas ornament to hang on the tree, the gift shop, located in the Huntington Reservation of the Cleveland Metroparks, is sure to have something for everyone on your list. Shoppers can also purchase BAYarts gift certificates to use towards any of the wide range of art classes available for both children and adults.
Bay Village Garden Club is beautifully represented in "A Garden Holiday" at the Cleveland Botanical Garden this year. The annual display, formerly called GLOW, features festive trees, wreaths, dining areas, doorways, and more, all dressed brightly and sparkling with the joy of the season.
The Garden Club’s entry was conceived, created, and designed by their talented vice-president, Erika Mittermeier. Erika gave a great deal of thought to her design, going deeper than just the glitter of the holiday. The isolation we all feel as pandemic restrictions linger inspired her to construct a doorway decor that expresses individual reflection and self-discovery. The clocks represent passage of time, the butterflies rebirth and transformation, and the ivy is evocative of strong growth.
"A Garden Holiday" runs through Jan. 2 at the Cleveland Botanical Garden.
The Westlake High School Demon Drama Club is performing "Alice in Wonderland,” based on the classic Lewis Carroll story we all know and love. Alice is a young girl who, after falling down a rabbit hole, finds herself in the magical, and sometimes odd, “Wonderland.” The show is directed by DM Warnke and is being performed by students in grades 9-12.
Pandemic protocols will be in place. Masks are required, social distancing between each seated party is recommended. The venue will be disinfected between shows and hand sanitizer will be available. Tickets will be sold at the door for $7. The show runs at the Westlake High School Performing Arts Center, 27830 Hilliard Blvd., Nov. 19 and 20 at 7 p.m. and Nov. 21 at 2 p.m. We hope to see you there!
The holidays are arriving fast, and we will finally be gathering in person once again. Hurrah!
We know what that means: photographs to mark the occasions with family and friends. At least I hope so, because those photos are probably the only record we keep of our lives, and they are how we pass on our stories.
As a photographer, I have been part of creating those memories for decades. However, I have also seen lots of people hide from the camera, because they say they don’t like the way they look in pictures. I’d like to change that, and help everyone like the way they look on camera. So here are a few suggestions on how you too, can like the way you look in photos, no matter who takes them.
Clague Playhouse presents the holiday comedy, "Ethan Claymore," by Norm Foster, to continue their 94th season.
It’s a week before Christmas, and struggling egg farmer/artist Ethan Claymore meets a woman who could turn his life around. But things are shaken up when Ethan receives a visit from his estranged, and recently deceased, older brother. The play is directed by Robert Gibb and featured in our cast are Jeff Bartholomew as Ethan Claymore, Kristin Bartholomew as Teresa Pike, Charles Cover as Martin Claymore, Jake Hunter as Young Ethan, Peg Neeson as Dottie McClaren and Rick Schuler as Young Martin.
Clague Playhouse is open and is happy to announce expanded shopping opportunities for its 12th Annual Jewelry Heist. In addition to being open from Nov. 5 through Dec. 5 during the production of "Ethan Claymore," the sale will also be open Saturday afternoons, Nov. 6 through Dec. 18 from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m.
If you or a friend need sparkly earrings for New Year's Eve, a chunky necklace for that new sweater, or a colorful scarf for last year’s coat, come on over. We have more costume jewelry, scarves, handbags and other accessories this year than ever before, all sorted, cleaned and ready for your shopping pleasure.
Janet Gortz was crowned the winner of Westlake Historical Society's 2021 Pie Contest held on Oct. 2. Her winning entry was an old-fashioned apple pie.
Janet said the reason she entered the contest was not only did she want to get her baking skills sharpened for the holidays, but also because it was a fundraiser for the Society. She is a big supporter of the organization, and appreciates what it stands for in the community.
Choosing to enter an apple pie was not hard … as this is the time of year apples are at their best. In preparation to find the perfect pie, Janet baked five pies in seven days and gave samples to friends and neighbors along with a questionnaire. She used the feedback from those questionnaires, as well as her own observations, and the perfect entrant was born!
Get into the Halloween spirit! Join West Shore Unitarian Universalist Church for the classic 1925 silent film "Phantom of the Opera," accompanied by Music Director David Blazer on the organ. You are invited to bring the kids in costume to enjoy this “scary” event on Halloween Sunday, Oct. 31. The movie will start at 3:30 p.m. so you will have time to get home and get ready for the little goblins to arrive!
This is a film adaptation of Gaston Leroux's 1910 novel “Le Fantôme de l'Opéra,” directed by Rupert Julian. The story follows the disfigured Phantom, played by Lon Chaney, as he causes havoc throughout the Paris Opera House. The destruction and bloodshed are all in the name of love, as The Phantom tries to win the heart of a young opera singer by making her a star.
On Sunday, Nov. 14, at 2:00 p.m., internationally renowned organist Christa Rakich rededicates the 1963 Holtkamp Opus 1769 organ at West Shore Unitarian Universalist Church, 20401 Hilliard Blvd. in Rocky River.
The program will feature Three Meditations for Viola and Organ by Adolphus Hailstork, with violist Christopher Jenkins. It will also include works of J.S. Bach and César Franck, as well as works composed by Rakich herself. The church’s prized pipe organ has been newly restored by Chris Holtkamp of Cleveland’s own Holtkamp Organ Company.
Concert and recording artist Christa Rakich performs widely throughout North America, Europe, and Japan. She is Visiting Professor of Organ at Oberlin Conservatory.
Clague Playhouse is excited to return to the stage for our 94th season!
Plays for the season are the comedy, "Mrs. Mannerly" by Jeffrey Hatcher that runs Sept. 10 to Oct. 3; the holiday comedy, "Ethan Claymore" by Norm Foster that runs Nov. 5 to Dec. 5; the comedy, "Foolish Fishgirls and the Pearl" by Barbara Pease Weber that runs Jan. 14 to Feb. 6, 2022; the dramedy "These Shining Lives" by Melanie Marnich that runs March 11 to April 3, 2022; and the musical comedy, "Failure: A Love Story" by Philip Dawkins that runs May 6-29, 2022.
The Westlake-Bay Village Rotary Club sponsored the return of the Westlake Art Festival on July 25 on the campus of Westlake Porter Public Library.
The much-loved festival, previously held on the St. John Westshore Hospital grounds, found a new home at the library. The well-attended event is expected to grow in size every year thanks to the stewardship of the local rotary club.
During a month where the radar was not to be trusted, when the sun shone when the radar said "rain" and it rained when clear skies were promised, the shows went on.
When a beautiful sunny Thursday Market led to the first-ever westside performance by Groundworks Dance Theatre being curtailed by pounding rain, the audience and dancers quickly adapted. With the side walls of the Fuller House open and the audience cross-legged on the floor or tucked onto benches, a breathtaking performance by the innovative dance group was a night to remember.
Actually, two nights to remember – it rained the second night of the performance as well. But in the end, when the appreciative audience lingered to engage with the dancers before they waded in ankle-deep puddles to their cars, one dancer commented, "This felt very special, intimate and collaborative with the audience."
BAYarts loves nothing more than introducing new and innovative work to our Westshore campus, so when Groundworks Dance Theater, the groundbreaking contemporary dance company, was sidelined by the pandemic shutdown and needed open and outdoor venues to perform, the two organizations connected. Having never visited the campus before, Groundworks Executive Director David Shimotakahara was immediately taken by the beauty of the venue and possibility of creating something "out of the box" to fit the space. For BAYarts, it's a perfect fit for the return of the summer events season.
GroundWorks Dance Theater is a nationally recognized troupe headquartered in Shaker Heights with a mission to engage, educate and enliven communities, right in line with BAYarts' mission. This is the organization's first westside appearance for a night of vibrant and engaging modern dance.
BAYarts' Thursday Market, now in its 7th year, gets bigger and better every year. Last year, due to the restrictions related to the pandemic, and with minimal staff and available hours, the market was held during the day and proved to be a great connector for the community in difficult times. BAYarts' mission is to support local artisans and vendors and the market gave them this opportunity when many other venues were closed. This year, with many restrictions lifted, BAYarts will return to evening hours, 4-7 p.m., beginning June 10.
Many new and familiar vendors will participate including fresh produce, personal care, bakery, and handmade clothing. Food trucks will be back and the new extended patio at Chatty's Pizzeria will serve easy-to-carry fare. New this year: live music from local artists, trying something new, experimenting, getting back in the swing after a year of no gigs, a warm-up to BAYarts' summer concert series which will kick off June 20 with School of Rock.
The market is free with plenty of on-the-grass parking. Interested vendors can join the market anytime by contacting karen@bayarts.net.
Westlake Demons Athletic Boosters (WDAB) is thrilled to launch the 2021 Demon Derby Online Raffle and Fundraiser. This one-of-a-kind fundraiser offers a huge range of prizes, including an ultimate tailgate party package, a backyard barbecue bounty, sports memorabilia, youth sports camp entries and much more. Minimum bids start as low as $5.
All of the funds raised support Westlake High School and Lee Burneson Middle School sports programs and student athletes. WDAB financially supports these athletics by providing uniforms, field maintenance, awards and trophies, equipment, scholarships and more.
The Demon Derby Online Raffle and Fundraiser runs May 1-19. Please note, some raffle prizes are for adults 21+. Don’t miss the opportunity to bid on championship entries while supporting a very good cause. For more information, visit wdab.rallyup.com/wdab2021.
Beginning in June, BAYarts' summer events will resume after a year off. Join us for outdoor, family-friendly events on the Cleveland Metroparks campus. With safety in mind, CDC regulations for outdoor events will be observed.
Kicking off the summer on June 10 is the Thursday Night Market, back to its evening hours (4-8 p.m.) through September. Many new vendors and artisans will join community groups, food trucks and live music. Something new will be Pass the Hat concerts, local musicians experimenting with new platforms, with no fee, but they'll pass the hat!
The Summer Concert series resumes on Sunday nights thanks to a brand new stage made possible by Bay Village Kiwanis. This year's line-up includes many favorites including a double header on Aug. 8. Concessions will be served by guests bartenders volunteering their time.
Jessica Androsik, a 22-year-old from Bay Village, is heading to Las Vegas to compete in the CrossFit Semifinals. Jessica's bracket started out with 70,000 women competing in North America. After several competitions, the semifinals have come down to 120 women, four groups of 30 competitors, and Jessica is one of the 30 women going to Las Vegas. The top five in each group will go onto the CrossFit Games.
Jessica stands 5 feet tall and been training twice a day for months to prepare for this opportunity. Jessica is a force and we are so proud of her accomplishment.
The Rocky River Chamber Music Society will present the last concert of its 62nd season on Monday, May 17. Next season we hope to be presenting concerts that are both virtual and that have a live audience in our fabulous acoustical environment at West Shore Unitarian Universalist Church. Meanwhile, this season will close with an evening of chamber music for woodwinds and piano in the usual virtual format. We are most grateful for your support and we thank you for bearing with us for over a year.
The players who will be performing at the May 17 virtual concert are avid chamber musicians. Except for pianist Christina Dahl, all are members of The Cleveland Orchestra – flutist Mary Kay Fink, oboist Frank Rosenwein, clarinetist Robert Woolfrey, hornist Richard King, and bassoonist Barrick Stees. We are especially grateful for the support and encouragement of all the members of The Cleveland Orchestra who played with the Rocky River Chamber Music Society this season.
Award-winning artist Eileen Dorsey returns to her roots as the featured artist at the Westlake-Bay Village Rotary Art Festival this July. All look forward to her visit from The Studio inside 78th Street Studios in Gordon Square.
Dorsey is known for her oil landscape paintings. Capturing both local landscapes and fantasy scenes in vibrant hues, Eileen Dorsey paints meditative forests of light and color. Dorsey expresses the energy of the places she visits through impressionistic or expressionistic marks. Emphasizing our connection to nature as a healing and rejuvenating experience, Dorsey’s paintings transcend reality to achieve an emotional impact.
Even with the limits imposed by the pandemic, BAYarts staff has been busy planning for the year ahead. The theme, "Reemergence," is the mantra as new and traditional programming is again rolled out: classes, events, exhibitions and more. Following guidelines from Cleveland Metroparks and the CDC, the number one goal is safety. The second goal is fun.
Right now, classes are filling up and the galleries are filled with new works including the return of annual Ceramics Exhibition and Sale (May 16). In the works for this summer, the popular Thursday Market will return to evening hours with dozens of familiar and new vendors, local community groups and of course, plenty of friendly dogs. Chatty’s Pizzeria, the new café, will be expanding the patio for even more safe distancing and great family friendly fare.
Bay Village resident Liz Maugans believes our world needs a huge casserole right now. Her large, colorful, mixed media collages at BAYarts, “Leftover Casserole,” are both humorous and meaningful, images of comfort food that sticks to your bones and warms your heart.
“My studio practice is a big kitchen. I use what I have, particularly during the quarantine.” says Maugans. “Like leftovers that go into the casserole, these works are made from my stockpile, my dumping grounds, mixed thoroughly with the world’s unprecedented moment of change.”
The Rocky River Chamber Music Society will host a virtual concert by Steven Banks, saxophone virtuoso, and Xak Bjerken, pianist, in the outstanding acoustical environment of West Shore Unitarian Universalist Church. The audience will be at home viewing and listening to the concert on either Facebook Live or YouTube. Access to the concert will be available by using one of the following links shortly before the beginning of the concert on Monday, Feb. 15, 7:30 p.m.: bit.ly/RRCMS_Facebook or bit.ly/RRCMS_YouTube.
Since the saxophone is rarely heard as a solo concert instrument, Mr. Banks and Mr. Bjerken will perform works by Mozart and Schumann that modern artists have arranged specifically for saxophone. In addition, Banks and Bjerken will play works created directly for saxophone by composers Carlos Simon, Saad Haddad and Steven Banks.
As the holidays arrive, so does the opportunity to capture the magic of the season … especially for those of us with children and grandchildren. If you are not having professional portraits made, I encourage you to take them yourself. Here are my top 10 ways to create the best holiday photos (no matter who takes them):
1. Location: Choose a favorite spot at home: the chair where you read to your children, the fireplace or in front of the tree.
2. Timing: Young children are usually morning people, while teenagers prefer a slightly later time. For a successful session, allow plenty of time and work with their schedules.
3. Clothing: Keep it simple and fun! The choice is yours. You can dress up and go glam, since you may not get a chance to go anywhere fancy this season. Or snuggle up in pajamas, if that has been your uniform for most of this year.
A stellar group of Cleveland Orchestra musicians will be gathering together to perform a concert of chamber music by the ever-ingenious Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart on Monday, Dec. 7, at 7:30 p.m. Mozart’s works to be performed are his String Quartet No. 19 in C major, and his Clarinet Quintet in A major.
This will be a virtual concert performed by five artists in the outstanding acoustical environment of West Shore Unitarian Universalist Church. The audience will be at home viewing and listening to the concert on either Facebook Live or YouTube. Access to the concert will be obtained by using one of the following links shortly before the beginning of the concert:
In this its 62nd season, the Rocky River Chamber Music Society remains firmly committed to the presentation of concerts for Northeast Ohio audiences, whether virtual or in person. Donations are always welcome. For more information visit the RRCMS website at www.rrcms.org, or follow RRCMS on Facebook and Twitter.