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Arts, culture get boost in valley
(by Barbara Christian - April 22, 2009)
WINDOW ON MAIN STREET, BY BARBARA CHRISTIAN
Arts, culture get boost in valley
Just came from a great event, Sunday's party to announce the unveiling of the Chagrin Valley Little Theatre's 80th season.
About 200 people attended the sold-out event at the brand new Jekyll's Kitchen in Chagrin Falls. On hand was Jekyll's owner Joe Saccone, who could not have looked happier. "It's a great night and a great cause," he said.
In addition to seeing the new restaurant and new season, partygoers saw a vignette from the soon-to-open production of "Duck Hunter Shoots Angel." If you like the PBS "Red Green Show," this one is right up your alley.
Announcement of the 80th season by old-time, long-time actor, director and board member Don Edelman features three sure-fire sellouts -- "Annie," "Forever Plaid" and "The Producers."
Theater supporters on hand during the event, dressed as characters from upcoming shows, included Nancy Rogoff, chairwoman of the Chagrin Falls planning and zoning commission. She donned a red curly wig and Mary Janes shoes to become Little Orphan Annie.
The balance of the 2009-2010 season will be a special production of "Man of LaMancha," "A Murder of Scarecrows," "The Maltese Bodkin," "The Secret Affairs of Mildred Wild" and "The Dixie Swim Club."
Summing up, Sunday's benefit raised money for the theater and, at just $25, did not cost patrons an arm and leg to support.
Another party is coming up that should appeal to that something in many of us we call nosy. It's the overwhelming desire to see inside other people's houses, and we suspect this is the reason that home tours are so successful.
If you count yourself among those so interested, be advised. Have we got a deal for you. "Fire Up" is the moniker of a May 9 fund-raiser benefit of the Chagrin Foundation for Arts and Culture. It offers ticket holders the chance to dine, drink and mingle in the spectacular contemporary home of Debbie and Bob Darden in Bentleyville.
The Ponderosa, as the home has been named, is the final stop on the evening's program. It begins with a warmup wine-and-cheese reception at the Chagrin Valley Little Theatre, followed by a performance of the group Project, a New York-based trio that plays a fusion of jazz to hip-hop, rock 'n' roll to classical. That is quite a range.
Tickets for the reception, performance and Ponderosa repast are $150 and $125 each. The more expensive tickets gets you in the door for all of the evening's events and your name on the program. For $125, ticket holders get all of the above, with the exception of the "naming rights" program perk.
If all of this sounds just too good to pass up and if you want to support local arts and culture community and its year-round offerings, call (440) 247-9700 for a detailed invitation or to purchase tickets.
And if the name Darden sounds familiar, it's because Bob is a partner in the Spillway project on the former Ivex paper bag factory on Cleveland Street.
As an aside, urban legend has it that a Cleveland pro athlete sent his people around recently to ask about buying the Ponderosa. Apparently, the offer was rejected.
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