The Cleveland Playhouse has announced its 2000-2001 season, featuring eight mainstage productions and three children's productions.
Cleveland kicks off its season with Eliot Ness...In Cleveland, a new musical with music and lyrics by Robert Lindsey Nassif and book by Peter Ullian. The show runs at the Bolton Theatre from Sept. 26 - Nov. 5. Historically, Ness followed his success in Chicago by going to Cleveland to fight corruption and to work on the "Torso Murders." The Cleveland production follows this story and is described in production notes as "part psychological thriller, part film noir" in tone. Eliot Ness was workshopped in New York at the Director's Company in 1997 through the Hal Prince Musical Theatre Program. It later premiered at the Denver Center Theatre Company in 1998.
The creative team comprises director David Esbjornson (former artistic director of NYC's CSC), choreographer Lynne Taylor Corbett (Swing!), and casting director Elissa Myers.
Next on the schedule is the Ferenc Molnar comedy, The Guardsman, which runs at the Drury Theatre from Oct. 31 - Nov. 26.
A classic American comedy, Mary Chase's Harvey runs at the Bolton Theatre from Nov. 28-Jan. 7, 2001. At the Drury Theatre, Anton Chekhov's The Seagull will run from Jan. 9, 2001 - Feb. 4, 2001.
Pearl Cleage's Blues for an Alabama Sky will run at the Bolton Theatre from Feb. 6, 2001 - March 11, 2001.
A world premiere, Seth Greenland's comedy, Jerusalem, will play at the Drury Theatre from March 13 - April 8, 2001.
The Bill Russell-Henry Krieger musical Side Show (with book and lyrics by Russell and music by Krieger) will play at the Bolton Theatre from Apr. 17 - May 20, 2001.
The final mainstage production of the season will be Slawomir Mrozek's The Ambassador, a comedy that will run at the Drury Theatre from May 15 - June 10, 2001.
In children's theatre, Cleveland will present Kenneth Kacmar and Joe Miloscia's Once Upon...The Brothers Grimm, A Musical Diversion in Studio One from Oct. 3 - 29. Next in Studio One will be Eric Schmiedl's The Amazing Bone which is based on the book by William Steig. Bone runs from Nov. 21 - Dec. 17. Finally, Eric Coble's Lake of Panthers, a world premiere, runs at the Brooks Theatre from Apr. 24 - May 20. For Cleveland Playhouse mainstage subscription information or for their children's season brochure call (216) 795-7000.
-- By Murdoch McBride
