CLEVELAND — Lights, camera, and finally action! Playhouse Square is back!
The announcement came on Wednesday that after nearly a full year without live performances, the first show will hit center stage in June.
It’s St. Patrick’s Day, so what better day to announce a production about a group of men singing and dancing – and having a few pints - in an Irish pub?
Playhouse Square announced that ‘The Choir of Man’ - will be the 1st production marking Playhouse Square’s reopening.
“This is such an historic moment for all of us to be able to announce the reopening of Playhouse," said Gina Vernaci, president and CEO of Playhouse Square. "Ninety minutes, no intermission. It’ll just be the perfect night out at the theater.”
Vernaci says ‘The Choir of Man’ will run 35 live shows at Playhouse’s Mimi Ohio Theatre starting June 11.
The show is described as "a party, a concert, and a pint-filled good time, with a cast of 15 men singing, dancing, and drumming, in a real, working pub, set on stage."
“What a beautiful way, a triumphant way, to reopen Playhouse in a safe socially-distanced way," says Vernaci.
But don’t think you can foot-stomp arm-in-arm with the person in the next seat.
Vernaci says that there will be limited seating capacity and other COVID-19 safety precautions in place. You can expect to wear a mask, hand sanitizer will be abundant, there will also be strict disinfection plans, new air filters in the vents, and seats will be sold in pods of two, four, or six to space people out.
University hospitals and the Cleveland Clinic helped Playhouse Square with its safety plan for guests and artists, for a rockin’ good time, says Vernaci.
“It’s going to be a great deal of fun, a great deal of joy, that will be in a very safe way.”
Tickets for ‘The Choir of Man’ are on sale now. They cost between $59 and $79. It’s a 35-show run, through July 11. Go to playhousesquare.org or call 216-241-6000 for tickets and information.
Editor's note: the video in the player below is from a story published on March 3, 2021.