Arts in August Brings Free Concerts to Lincoln Park!

July 20, 2018

Executive Artistic Director of Cleveland Public Theatre, Raymond Bobgan, is the curator of the performances.  Opening night will be Cleveland Public Theatre’s Student Theatre Enrichment Program performing After the Shadow, created and performed by the 2018 STEP. The story follows three sisters as they battle a fearsome monster in the belly of a labyrinth, challenge a heinous queen, and encounter a magical woman, giver and taker of life. The sisters must confront death to discover hidden sides of themselves. Inspired by traditional stories of Greece, Sumer, and Russia, After the Shadow is a moving tale with song, dance, and vibrant performances. Uncover trust and love in the face of fear and hate as Cleveland youth celebrate the light, even within the darkness. The opening weekend also includes a performance by Cleveland Shakespeare Festival of TWELFTH NIGHT, adapted and directed by Anne McEvoy.  CSF closes their 2018 season with us in Lincoln Park.  It always proves to be a festive evening.
The dance weekend kicks off Friday night with Inlet Dance, their program includes Birds in a Field…(Excerpt from Nature Displays 2014), Motherless Child (2000), Ascension (2006), A Close Shave (2006), 10 (2014), Wondrous Beasts (2005), Doppelganger (2001), imPAIRed (2004), and a new peice Sojourn (2018) described by creator Bill Wade, “In the past few years, the number of refugees in the world surpassed 65 million-the highest numbers since the world wars. People are fleeing in order to stay alive and multitudes are traumatized. I am astonished by the inhumane opinions I’ve heard in reaction to these displaced individuals. It’s as if the art of compassion, true empathy, and grace have been lost.  We are all refugees of sorts, each clamoring to reach their version of Heaven. By sharing our stories and receiving the stories of others we create empathy and can build community despite our individual differences. We are all, in our own ways, trying to find a sense of security, belonging, love…home…”  Verb Ballets closes out the dance weekend on Saturday and will present the Cleveland debut of K281 by internationally acclaimed choreographer Adam Hougland. The ballet epitomizes the musicality of Mozart’s Piano Sonata No. 3 in B-flat major, K. 281. Verb Ballets, as part of the Graham Company’s Lamentation Variations Project, remounts three variations inspired by Martha Graham’s iconic solo, Lamentation. Nationally noted choreographers Antonio Brown (Bill T Jones/Arnie Zane), Chung-Fu Chang (Taiwan’s Cloud Gate Dance Theatre) and Ginger Thatcher (Lar Lubovitch Dance Company) have contributed their inspirations. Reviewers proclaimed that, “while referencing Graham, the works were themselves memorable and splendidly danced”. Award-winning Philadelphia choreographer Tommie-Waheed Evans work, Dark Matter is also featured. It has been described by critics as sparking, “Sleek encounters that brim with contrasting patterns and connections”. Dance critics are in agreement that Verb Ballets’ performances, “Dash preconceptions…with keen dramatic power”.
The third weekend we welcome back Tony Mikhael playing Traditional Arabic Dabkeh Songs (Lebanese, Egyptian, Gulf states) on Friday, August 17th.  On Saturday, August 18th, while partnering with Arts Renaissance Tremont, enjoy an evening with The Cleveland Jazz Orchestra.  They will be performing the music of Irving Berlin, Hoagy Carmichael, Paul Ferguson, Dizzie Gillespie, Michel Legrand, Cole Porter and more with Artistic Director Paul Ferguson and Vocalist, Evelyn Wright.
The fourth weekend we welcome back two of our favorites:  ContempOpera and Papo Ruiz y La Dulzura de la Salsa.  PopOpera: Is it opera?  Is it musical theater?  Is it classical?  Is it pop? You be the judge at ContempOpera’s entertaining concert of contemporary “crossover” pieces featuring some of Cleveland’s top opera and theater performing artists Friday, August 24th.  Wear your favorite dancing shoes on Saturday, August 25th for Papo Ruiz Y La Dulzura de la Salsa, who will be playing merengue, salsa, and bolero, so come and dance around the gazebo or just bring a picnic to watch!
The final performance of Arts in August will be Friday, August 31st.  We will introduce you to some Cleveland INDY Music.  This is a first for Arts in August!  The Village Bicycle with their psychedelic power pop; By Light We Loom an indie-pop husband and wife duo that combines creative beats, vintage synths, soaring vocals, and intimate harmonies with a story-folk songwriting sensibility and high energy live performance that promises to move your heart and feet in equal measures; and The Ohio Weather Band a 3-piece rock and roll outfit from Akron will share the gazebo stage starting at 7pm.
We encourage you to bring your friends for free concerts in Lincoln Park.  Bring a picnic, order take-out from one of our Tuesdays in Tremont participants listed below.  You definitely want to bring a chair or a blanket to sit and remember you are in a park at dusk, so you might want to bring some bug spray too!
We would like to thank the residents of Cuyahoga County through a public grant from Cuyahoga Arts & Culture, Ohio Arts Council, Forest City, Third Federal Savings and Loan, Ohio Savings Bank, John and Karen Moss, LAND Studio, Medical Mutual, State Alarm, Howard Hanna – Ted Theophylactos, Howard Hanna – Carolyn Bentley, the Tremont Trek Home Tour and the Tuesdays in Tremont participants: Beviamo, Bourbon Street Barrel Room, The Treehouse, Dante, The Rowley Inn, Fat Cats, Prosperity Social Club, The South Side, Tremont Tap House, Parallax, The Flying Monkey Pub, La Bodega, Noce Gourmet Pizza, Civilization, Crust, Lucky’s Cafe, Grumpy’s Cafe, The Clark Bar and Ty Fun Thai Bistro.