eInside Events

Last Chance for The Sunshine Boys at Porthouse Theatre

Porthouse Theatre, Kent State University’s outdoor summer theatre located on the grounds of Blossom Music Center, is attracting big crowds for its razzle-dazzle 2011 season.

The second production of the season, Neil Simon’s The Sunshine Boys, runs through July 23. The hilarious story about the famous vaudevillian comedy duo Lewis and Clark reveals that off stage, the two couldn’t stand each other. Twenty years later, after parting ways, they are asked to reunite on a variety show. What will become of the two crotchety comedians? The Sunshine Boys stars local talents Marc Moritz and George Roth in an evening of theatre that shouldn’t be missed.

The Porthouse Theatre season closes with the iconic musical Hello, Dolly! Featuring music and lyrics by Jerry Herman and book by Michael Stewart, the show will be directed by returning guest artist Victoria Bussert. A nationally acclaimed director, Bussert has been involved in directing and acting in international tours, and in Broadway and off-Broadway productions. She serves as the resident director for Cleveland’s Great Lakes Theater Festival and as the head of the musical theatre program at Baldwin-Wallace College.

Hello Dolly! will run July 28 - Aug. 14. Opening night, Friday, July 29, will feature a complimentary reception following the performance provided by Totally Cooked Catering and delicious cakes from The West Side Bakery in Akron.

One of the highlights of 2011 Porthouse season will be Terri Kent’s return to stage after a 13-year hiatus, as she alters roles and steps into the part of Dolly Levy. John Crawford, dean of Kent State’s College of the Arts, will choreograph the play. Crawford’s work for last season’s Bye Bye Birdie garnered him the city’s “Best Choreography of a Musical” award by local theatre critic Bob Abelman.

Single ticket prices range from $25 - $33 for adults and seniors and $17 - $20 for students. The box office is located in the Music and Speech Center on the corner of Main Street and Horning Road on the Kent Campus. The box office on the grounds of Porthouse Theatre opens 90 minutes prior to curtain. For more information, call 330-672-3884 or visit www.porthousetheatre.com.

Posted July 18, 2011

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Kent Blues Fest Has Cure for the Summertime Blues

The 3rd Annual Kent Blues Fest comes to downtown Kent on July 22 and 23, with free shows by two dozen bands and artists and a headlining concert by Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes.

The event kicks off with a free after-work show by Cleveland jump blues band Blue Lunch on Friday, July 22, at 5:30 p.m. at the Home Savings Bank Plaza. Then it’s free live blues at 15 Kent venues. Two dozen bands and artists will perform, including Wallace Coleman, the Wanda Hunt Band, the Numbers Band, the Zydeco Kings and Monica Robins and The Whiskey Kings. Robins is best known for her work as a reporter and anchor on WKYC-TV.

Kent State alumnus Mike Beder, owner of the Water Street Tavern, says the event helps make Kent a destination for Northeast Ohio music lovers. “The first day of the blues fest is one of our busiest days of the year,” Beder says. “The city of Kent will be hopping that weekend.” The Water Street Tavern’s blues fest schedule features Big Blue O with Colin John, Roger Hoover and Nashville guitar great Stacy Mitchhart.

On July 23, Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes play a rare small hall show at the Kent Stage. The show is now sold out.

The full schedule is available at www.kentbluesfest.com.

Posted July 18, 2011

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Kent/Blossom Music Festival Continues Unique Program of Combining Visiting Students with Members of Cleveland Orchestra

The Kent/Blossom Music Festival is a unique program that pairs advanced young musicians with a stellar faculty drawn primarily from members of the Cleveland Orchestra. The relationship between the festival and the Cleveland Orchestra members represents a high level of artistic collaboration, without any direct financial linkage.

Since the inception of Blossom Music Center in 1968, the Musical Arts Association has partnered with Kent State University and its College of the Arts to develop Blossom as a complete environment for the arts. Each summer, Kent/Blossom combines performance with education and joins working professionals with talented students to teach, explore and produce great music. This important relationship between a premier performing ensemble and a public university has also served as a model for other collaborations.

Founded in 1968 by George Szell and Louis Lane, the Kent/Blossom Music Festival has welcomed more than 2,200 young artists. The program has propelled hundreds of remarkable young musicians into the ranks of major orchestras, opera companies and conservatory facilities throughout the United States and around the globe.

The Kent/Blossom Music program brings music students from all over the world to study alongside members of The Cleveland Orchestra for five weeks. Students develop professional skills through personal study and classes with visiting master artists, members of the Cleveland Orchestra and Kent State University faculty. A focus on major works of the chamber music repertoire is augmented by studies in orchestral repertoire and techniques and solo master classes. Participants also attend open rehearsals and concerts of the Cleveland Orchestra. The program features a professional concert series as well as 13 free concerts featuring the Kent/Blossom Chamber Players. Undergraduate and graduate credit is available and scholarships are provided to many participants.

Twenty former Kent/Blossom students are members of The Cleveland Orchestra. Known career placements include 157 chairs in U.S. and international orchestras, 14 chamber ensembles and on more than 52 U. S. and foreign music faculties.

KENT/BLOSSOM MUSIC FESTIVAL

2011 Professional Concert Series
Ludwig Recital Hall, Kent State University Music and Speech Center, 1325 Theatre Drive, Kent, OH 44242
$15 General Admission/$5 Students: Available at the door
For more information call the concert hotline at 330-672-3609 or visit http://dept.kent.edu/blossom/html_concert/faculty.htm

Wednesday, July 20, at 7:30 p.m.
The Regal Sounds of Winds
Frank Rosenwein, Principal Oboe, The Cleveland Orchestra
Daniel McKelway, Assistant Principal Clarinet, The Cleveland Orchestra
Barrick Stees, Assistant Principal Bassoon, The Cleveland Orchestra
Richard King, Principal Horn, The Cleveland Orchestra
Randall Fusco, piano

Mozart Piano Quintet
Griebling-Haigh Sonata for Horn & Piano [world premier]
Griebling-Haigh Romans des Rois
Beethoven Piano Quintet

Wednesday, July 27, at 7:30 p.m.
Soul ...del sol! An Evening of Latin-Inspired Music
The Cleveland Orchestra Piano Trio: Joela Jones, piano; Peter Otto, violin; Richard Weiss, cello;
Frank Rosenwein and Danna Sundet, oboe; Barrick Stees, bassoon; and Joela Jones, accordion;
with guests Emma Shook, violin; Stanley Konopka, viola; Scott Haigh, double bass; Donna Lee, piano; and Ted Rounds, percussion

Turina Piano Trio
Griebling-Haigh Sinfonia Concertante [world premiere]
Griebling-Haigh Alegrías [world premier]
Piazzolla Milonga del Angel, Libertango, and selections from Five Tango Sensations

2011 Chamber Players Series
All concerts are FREE and in Ludwig Recital Hall unless otherwise noted. All works subject to change.

Series I
Friday, July 8, at 7:30 p.m.
Haydn String Quartet in F minor Op. 20, No. 5
Brahms Horn Trio, Op. 40
Arnold Wind Trio, Op. 37
Dvorak Piano Quintet in A major, Op. 81

Saturday, July 9, at 2:30 p.m.
Hellmesberger Romance Op. 43, No. 2 for Four Violins
Enesco Dixtuor for Winds, Op. 14
Shostakovich String Quartet No. 8 in C minor, Op. 110
Villa Lobos Woodwind Trio
Brahms Piano Quartet in G minor, Op. 25

Sunday, July 10, at 2:30 p.m.
Rossini Sonate a Quattro in C major No. 3
Beethoven Serenade in D major, Op. 25
Dvorak Serenade for Winds, Op. 44
Mahler Piano Quartet in A minor
Tchaikovsky String Sextet in D minor, Op. 70 (Souvenir de Florence)

Series II
Friday, July 22, at 7:30 p.m.
Mozart Horn Quartet K. 407
Poulenc Trio, Op. 43
Berwald Septet in B-flat major
Shostakovich Piano Quintet in G minor, Op. 57
Faure Piano Quartet in C minor, Op. 15

Saturday, July 23, at 2:30 p.m.
Quantz Trio for Two Flutes, Bassoon and Continuo
Moszkowski Suite for Two Violins and Piano, Op. 71
Haydn Octet in F major, H. 2/F7
Shostakovich String Octet, Op. 11 (Prelude and Scherzo)
Prokofiev Oboe Quintet, Op. 39
Dohnanyi Piano Sextet in C major, Op. 37

Sunday, July 24, at 2:30 p.m.
Mozart Oboe Quartet, K. 370
Foote Nocturne and Scherzo for Flute and String Quartet
Glazunov Cello Quintet, Op. 39
Rochberg “To the Dark Wood” for Woodwind Quintet
Brahms Piano Quintet in F minor, Op. 34

Posted July 18, 2011

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