More Reviews for CSU Summer Stages

Check out some more fantastic reviews for CSU Summer Stages.

From Tony Brown at the Pee Dee:

Now in its third and strongest season, the mixed professional-student company succeeds best at its two extremes, the heart-rending death-drama "The Shadow Box" and the farcical outer-space musical "Return to the Forbidden Planet."

...Quinton's masterfully balanced reincarnation of "The Shadow Box,"... the extremely well-disciplined nine-member cast...

Mauldin pulls out all the nutty stops for his scatterbrained production of the wafer-thin but highly entertaining "Return to the Forbidden Planet"... Several students turn in exemplary performances, too, including dashing dork Lew Wallace as the Capt. Kirk hero, brawny Lawrence Charles as the Caliban-esque Cookie, John Paul Soto as a sweet-voiced, roller-skating robot version of Ariel and fresh-faced Melissa Crum as Miranda.

Christine Howey at Rave & Pan:

With the playwright borrowing liberally from Shakespeare’s The Tempest (on which the original flick was based) and his other works, the dialogue in Return ranges from elegant to glibly idiotic. And since it’s all played for maximum fun and minimum reflection, it all seems appropriate

And don't forget about this weekend's performances!

• Thursday: The Shadow Box (Benefit performance for Hospice of the Western Reserve)
• Friday: Chekhov in Yalta
• Saturday and Sunday*: Return to the Forbidden Planet

All performances at 8pm except *2pm.
Box office: 216.687.2109

CSU Summer Stages on NewsNet 5

WEWS NewsNet 5 came to last night's performance of The Shadow Box.

The Hospice of the Western Reserve, the Hospice of Cleveland Clinic, the Hospice of the Visiting Nurses Association and Malachi House will each receive half of all ticket proceeds on the night of their benefit performance.

The story behind "The Shadow Box" features three very different families, each facing an imminent death. Set in an experimental hospice facility, "The Shadow Box" gives a glimpse at love, courage and loss.

See us tonite at eleven!

SCENE Magazine can't get enough of CHEKHOV

When a review starts off like this:

When a theater critic encounters unexpected radiance on stage — as in CSU's production of Chekhov in Yalta — he has to struggle to prevent himself from becoming a cliché-spouting sycophant.

you know you're in for a good time.

Read the rest of Christie Howey's review of Chekhov in Yalta in Scene Magazine, then come see it for yourself.

Okay, I can't stop myself, here's another quote:

The production itself was like watching alchemy happen. To start at the top, we pay tribute to the director Cathy Hartenstein. Rarely has the magic hand of a skilled director been so evident. She brings effective casting, an understanding of the historical character's nuance, style and period, and created incredible visuals with blocking and pacing.

Roy Berko Loved It

CAPSULE JUDGEMENT: ‘RETURN TO THE FORBIDDEN PLANET’ is a laugh delight at CSU’s 2009 Summer Stages. This is a must go-see for summer entertainment!

Roy Berko loved Return to the Forbidden Planet. Check it out:

The CSU production, under the creative direction of Michael Mauldin, is well staged and has all the right ridiculousness needed to make this a fun production. Lynn Deering’s fine choreography adds to the hilarity.

The cast is universally excellent. Handsome Lew Wallace plays the Ken doll-like thick-headed, emotion absent, captain of our ship, with the right degree of seriousness. He has a fine singing voice and dances well. Greg Violand, he of great singing voice... is properly fake-evil as scientist Prospero... John Paul Soto sparkles as a endearing roller-skating robot. Tracee Patterson sings and mugs her way through the role of the bad/good Gloria.

Here's hoping Tony and the rest of the critics liked it just as much. The AUDIENCE sure liked it.

WCPN's Around Noon with Dee Perry

Dr. Mauldin and Greg Violand discuss CSU Summer Stages with Dee Perry on WCPN's Around Noon, along with John Paul, Lew and Melissa singing songs from Return to the Forbidden Planet and Amy and Doug perform a scene from Chekhov in Yalta.

This week's performances:
Thursday, July 16th: Return to the Forbidden Planet
Friday, July 17th: The Shadow Box (Benefit performance for The Hospice of the Cleveland Clinic)
Saturday and Sunday*, July 18th and 19th: Chekhov in Yalta

All shows are at 8pm except *at 2pm.

Summer Stages Opens TONITE!

We open tonite! Don't forget, there are free champagne receptions after each evening show this weekend:
Tonite: The Shadow Box
Tomorrow: Chekhov in Yalta
Saturday: Return to the Forbidden Planet

A special thanks to Crain's Cleveland Business for the mention!

Plain Dealer's Tony Brown Sits Down with The Shadow Box

The Plain Dealer's Tony Brown joins us in rehearsal for The Shadow Box:

[Everett Quinton:] "Here's what is great. You found the secret of acting. You looked at your Dad, and you saw. You saw. You remember seeing it? Yeah? That's what acting is. Seeing. And remembering.

Don't forget, all three shows open this weekend! And here's a list of our benefit performances of The Shadow Box, in which each organization gets 1/2 of the box office take for the night:
Friday, July 17, 8 PM, Hospice of the Cleveland Clinic
Saturday, July 25, 8 PM, Hospice of the Visiting Nurses Association
Sunday, July 26, 2 PM, Hospice of the Cleveland Clinic
Thursday, July 30, 8 PM, Hospice of the Western Reserve
Friday, August 7, 8 PM, Malachi House