50% of proceeds from every "Americana ID Bracelet" or "Independence Charm Holder Bracelet" sold through July 31will benefit arts education programming at Beck Center!.

Beck Center truly thanks Brighton for this important initiative, and to Brighton Collectibles for supporting Beck Center!

June 25-29

This free family-friendly event, presented by the Ohio Humanities Council and the Lakewood Historical Society combines living history, music, education, theater and audience interaction in an exciting community educational event.

The theme for this five-day event is When Ohio was the Western Frontier. Each night under the big red-and-white tent at Lakewood Park, a music presentation will kick-off the evening and conclude with a living history first-person interpretation of a pivotal figure from the Frontier Days.

During the day, children and adult “behind the scenes” workshops will take place at Beck Center for the Arts and Lakewood Public Library. These workshops will dig deeper into aspects of the time period.

Schedule of Events:

• 11 am Youth Workshop, Beck Center for the Arts
• 2 pm Adult Workshop, Lakewood Public Library
• 4-6 pm Old Stone House Tours, Lakewood Park
• 6 pm Musical Entertainment, Lakewood Park (red & white striped tent)
• 7 pm Living History Performance – Johnny Appleseed, Lakewood Park (red & white striped tent)

Visit lakewoodhistory.org full details.

Open Mic Nights!
Wednesdays, 6:30 to 9 pm
Listen to local talent perform at Gypsy Beans' Open Mic Nights. Enjoy Gypsy's specialty Passport coffees, teas or a light dinner while taking in performances of acoustic music by area singers and songwriters.

Summer Camp Parents/Caregivers: Gypsy Beans is open at 8:30 am for a quick cup of coffee and delicious pastry. If your children attend summer camps, remember that Gypsy offers delicious, healthy lunch options.

Beck Center for the Arts proudly announces its 2013/2014 Youth Theater season including a musical, comedies and a drama presented by the Teen Theater.

“With this being an anniversary year, we wanted to bring back some familiar titles along with the classic and the contemporary” noted Jonathan Kronenberger, associate director of Theater Education. “The plays this season all explore – in either a small or large way – the choices we make as individuals and how those choices affect not only ourselves, but also those around us.”

Tickets go on sale August 1, 2013. Discounted group rates are available for the student matinees. Call Customer Service Manager Rennie Tisdale at ext. 28 for more information and to schedule your student matinee.

The Pied Piper of Hamelin
Written by Robert Thomas Noll
Directed by Russ Stich
Mackey Main Stage

Friday, November 8, 2013 at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, November 9, 2013 at 3:00 p.m.
Sunday, November 10, 2013 at 3:00 p.m.
Student Matinee: Thursday, November 7, 2013 at 10:00 a.m.

The Rat Commander is leading his troops into Hamelin. Their mission: to scare the people witless and eat every scrap of food there is! The invasion is so terrifically successful that the citizens are soon desperate. Suddenly, a Pied Piper arrives, promising a solution. The Mayor agrees to his price, but when the time comes to pay the Piper, he refuses. This time, the children of the town follow the Piper's tune.
Auditions are open to students ages 6 – 19.*

Law and Order: Fairy Tale Unit
Written by Jonathan Rand
Directed by Rachel Spence
Studio Theater

Fridays, December 13 & 20, 2013 at 7:30 p.m.
Saturdays, December 14 & 21, 2013 at 3:00 p.m.
Sundays, December 15 & 22, 2013 at 3:00 p.m.

In the fairy tale criminal justice system, the characters from fairy tales and nursery rhymes are represented by two separate yet equally ridiculous groups: the fairy tale police who investigate fairy tale crime, and the fairy tale district attorneys who prosecute the fairy tale offenders. These are their stories.
Auditions are open to Beck Center students ages 6 to 12.*

The Children’s Hour
Written by Lillian Hellman
Directed by Jonathan Kronenberger
Studio Theater

February 21-18, 2014
7:30 p.m. Fridays, February 21 & 28
7:30 p.m. Saturdays, February 22 & March 1
3 p.m. Sunday, February 23 & March 2
Student Matinee: 10 a.m. Thursday, February 27

One of the great successes of this distinguished American writer, The Children’s Hour is a serious and adult play about two women who run a school for girls. After a malicious youngster starts a rumor about the two women, the rumor soon turns to scandal. As the young girl comes to understand the power she wields, she sticks by her story, which precipitates tragedy for the women. It is later discovered that the gossip was pure invention, but it is too late. Irreparable damage has been done.
Auditions are open to Beck Center students ages 12 to 19.*

The Wizard of Oz
By L. Frank Baum
Music and Lyrics by Harold Arlen and E.Y. Harburg
Adapted by John Kane for the Royal Shakespeare Company
Directed & Choreographed by Sarah Clare
Mackey Main Stage

Fridays, May 16 & 23, 2014 at 7:30 p.m.
Saturdays, May 17 & 24, 2014 at 3:00 p.m.
Sundays, May 18 & 25, 2014 at 3:00 pm
Student Matinee: Thursday, May 22, 2014 at 10:00 a.m.

The popular classic returns to Beck Center’s Youth Theater stage. Little Dorothy Gale of Kansas - like so many girls her age - dreams of what lies beyond the rainbow. One day a twister hits her farm and carries her away over that rainbow to another world. Come join Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tinman, the Cowardly Lion and Toto as they travel the universe of Dorothy's imagination. Featuring a score of classic songs including the timeless “Over the Rainbow,” you won’t want to miss this family favorite.
Auditions are open to students ages 6 – 19.*

Note: *Students must be enrolled at Beck Center in the semester that the show performs to be eligible to participate in the production. You do not have to be enrolled at the time of auditions. Specific audition dates to be announced at a later date.

Celebrating its 80th theater season, Beck Center for the Arts is proud to announce an eclectic 2013/2014 Professional Theater season that includes three regional premieres and the first locally produced premiere of a Broadway smash hit musical. Known for its diverse theatrical productions, Beck Center’s new season features compelling dramas, award-winning musicals and hilarious comedies for Northeast Ohio audiences.

Subscriptions for the 2013/2014 Professional Theater season go on sale Saturday, June 15, 2013. For more information, call Beck Center Customer Service at 216.521.2540 ext. 10. Flex passes and individual tickets may be purchased after July 31, 2013. Curtain times are 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 3 p.m. Sundays for all shows except Annie. Beck Center is located at 17801 Detroit Avenue in Lakewood, just 10 minutes west of downtown Cleveland. Free onsite parking is available. For more information visit beckcenter.org.

She Loves Me
Book by Joe Masteroff; Music by Jerry Bock; Lyrics by Sheldon Harnick;
Based on a play by Miklos Laszio
Directed by Scott Spence
Musical Direction by Larry Goodpaster;
Choreographed by Martín Céspedes
Presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI)
September 20 – October 20, 2013; Mackey Main Stage
No performance Saturday, October 19, 2013

Considered by many to be the most charming musicals ever written, She Loves Me tells the touching story of Georg and Amalia, two feuding clerks in a 1930s European parfumerie who secretly find romance in their anonymous pen pals, unaware they are corresponding with each other. A warm romantic comedy with endearing innocence and a touch of old-world elegance, She Loves Me is as relevant as ever in this age of internet romances. Nominated for five Tony Awards in 1964, the 1993 Broadway revival won the Olivier Award for Best Musical Revival, the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Revival of a Musical, and the 1994 Critics Circle Award for Best Musical.

REGIONAL PREMIERE!
33 Variations
Written by Moisés Kaufman
Directed by Sarah May
Featuring Stuart Raleigh on piano
Presented through special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service, Inc.
October 11 – November 17, 2013; Studio Theater

No performance Saturday, October 19, 2013
By the acclaimed author of The Laramie Project, this Tony-nominated play examines concurrently the creative process behind Beethoven's Diabelli Variations and the journey of musicologist Katherine Brandt as she seeks to discover why Beethoven was compelled to write thirty-three distinct variations on a simple theme by a relatively unknown composer. A composer coming to terms with his genius collides with a mother coming to terms with her daughter. Even though they're separated by 200 years, these two people share an obsession that might, even just for a moment, make time stand still. Drama, memory and music combine to transport audiences from present-day New York to nineteenth-century Austria in this extraordinary American play about passion, parenthood and the moments of beauty that can transform a life.

ENCORE PRODUCTION!
Annie
Book by Thomas Meehan; Music by Charles Strouse; Lyrics by Martin Charnin
Directed by Scott Spence; Musical Direction by Larry Goodpaster; Choreographed by Martín Céspedes
Presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI)
December 6, 2013 – January 5, 2014; Mackey Main Stage

Leapin' Lizards! The sun will come out tomorrow, as Annie returns to the Mackey Main Stage next holiday season for an encore production of this family favorite. One of the world’s best-loved musicals and winner of seven Tony Awards including Best Musical, Book and Score, Annie is the touching story of a spunky Depression-era orphan determined to find her parents who abandoned her on the doorstep of a New York City orphanage run by the cruel Miss Hannigan. In adventure after fun-filled adventure, the popular comic strip heroine foils Hannigan’s evil schemes and finds a new home in the mansion of billionaire Oliver “Daddy” Warbucks along with her lovable mutt Sandy.

REGIONAL PREMIERE!
Carrie the musical
Music by Michael Gore; Lyrics by Dean Pitchford; Book by Lawrence D. Cohen; Adapted from the novel by Stephen King
Directed by Victoria Bussert; Choreographed by Gregory Daniels
In collaboration with Baldwin Wallace University Music Theatre Program
Presented through special arrangement with Rodgers & Hammerstein
February 7 – March 9, 2014; Mackey Main Stage

Based on Stephen King's bestselling novel, the musical version of Carrie hasn't been seen on stage since its legendary 1988 Broadway production. The show's original writer and the Academy Award-winning team of Michael Gore and Dean Pitchford have reworked and re-imagined this gripping tale that was reintroduced to audiences in 2012. Set in the small town of Chamberlain, Maine, Carrie White is a misfit. At school, she's an outcast who is bullied by the popular crowd, and virtually invisible to everyone else. At home, she's at the mercy of her loving but cruelly over-protective mother. But Carrie has just discovered that she's got a special power, and if pushed too far, she's not afraid to use it!

'Night, Mother
Written by Marsha Norman
Directed by Scott Plate
Starring Dorothy Silver and Laura Perrotta
Presented through special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service, Inc.
March 21 – May 4, 2014; Studio Theater
No performances April 18 – 20, 2014

Nominated for four Tony Awards and winner of the 1983 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, ‘Night, Mother is an eloquent, enthralling and ultimately shattering play that explores the final hours in the life of a woman who has decided that life is no longer worth living. This play tells the powerful story of Jessie, an epileptic woman in her 40s who systematically prepares for her own death – and the frantic and touching efforts of her mother, Thelma to stop her. This searing drama is guaranteed to keep audiences on the edge of their seats.

REGIONAL PREMIERE!
Seminar
Written by Theresa Rebeck
Presented through special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc.
May 30 – June 29, 2014; Studio Theater

A provocative comedy from Pulitzer Prize nominee Theresa Rebeck, four aspiring young novelists sign up for private writing classes with Leonard, an international literary figure, a role originated on Broadway by Alan Rickman. Under his recklessly brilliant and unorthodox instruction, some thrive and others flounder, alliances are made and broken. As tensions arise and romance falls between students, they clash over their writing, their relations and their futures. The wordplay is not the only thing that turns vicious as innocence collides with experience in this biting comedy. Mature content. Recommended for audiences 17 and older.

LOCALLY PRODUCED PREMIERE!
The New Mel Brooks Musical
Young Frankenstein
Book by Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan; Music & Lyrics by Mel Brooks
Directed by Scott Spence; Musical Direction by Larry Goodpaster; Choreographed by Martín Céspedes
Presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI)
July 11 – August 17, 2014; Mackey Main Stage

It’s Alive! From the creators of Broadway’s record-breaking sensation The Producers, comes this monstrously entertaining new musical comedy. A wickedly inspired re-imagining of the Frankenstein legend based on Mel Brooks' parody of classic horror films, the story follows bright young Dr. Frankenstein (that's FRAHN-ken-steen) as he attempts to complete his grandfather's scientific work and bring a corpse to life. Together with his oddly shaped and endearing servant Igor (that's Eye-gor), his curvaceous lab assistant Inga, and in spite of his incredibly self-involved madcap fiancée Elizabeth, Frankenstein succeeds in creating a monster -- but not without scary and quite often hilarious consequences!

Programming at Beck Center for the Arts is made possible through the generous support of the Ohio Arts Council. Beck Center gratefully acknowledges the generous funding provided by the citizens of Cuyahoga County through Cuyahoga Arts and Culture.

Beginning the week of June 10, Beck Center Tremont, located at 2406 Professor Avenue, will offer a 5-week summer session including Family Arts for ages 3-6, and adult classes include Art of Drawing, Visual Arts Journaling, Adult Improv Games, and Adult Sketch Comedy. Register today using the keyword "Tremont." Click here for class details.

Join us from 6 to 10 pm on Friday, June 14 at the Tremont ArtWalk. Visit our new space, meet the artists, see their works, and enjoy the artistic flavor and excitement of the Tremont neighborhood.

The chairs are currently rotating between 20 different area businesses throughout the month like a game of musical chairs. Raffle tickets are $5 each or six for $25 and may be purchased at these participating locations:

• Buckeye Beer Engine
• Carol Lynn's Salon Plus
• Crafty Goodness
• Dirty Town Guitar and Amps
• Geiger's Clothing & Sports
• Goddess Blessed
• Holistic Lakewood
• Landfall Travel
• Lion & Blue
• Marrell Music
• Metropolitan Home Design
• Paisley Monkey
• The Root Café
• Rozi's Wine House
• The Sweet Spot
• Williamsburg Cleaners (All five area locations including Avon, Bay Village, Rocky River, and two Westlake stores.)

The Women’s Board of Beck Center would like to thank all of the participating businesses for their support of this fundraising project and encourage residents to shop local! Click here for addresses of participating locations. Raffle tickets are also available at Beck Center Customer Service.

Chair designs are inspired by past Beck Center productions. The first in the series, the “Joseph” chair, which featured a colorful rainbow design based on the hit musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, was raffled off at the Mayor’s Ball this past November and raised over $500. The Beck Center Women’s Board hopes to match that amount when it raffles off each of the following five furniture pieces: a bright red and sunny yellow “Annie” chair (left), a chocolate-colored “Willy Wonka” chair, the 1950s themed “Marvelous Wonderettes” chair with a custom-printed fabric cushion, a beautiful blue “Spring Awakening” stool (shown above), and an Elle-pink “Legally Blonde” children’s desk (law books and all).

Life Drawing: On Tuesdays from 7 to 9 p.m., artists explore the human form by drawing from live nude models, both male and female, in the Life Drawing drop-in class at Beck Center which run April 10 through May 29. Poses vary from quick gesture studies to sustained drawings. Students learn how to shade the figure to create dimension. Students sign in and pay for the class on arrival at Beck Center Customer Service. The cost is $20 per class (students bring drawing paper, pencils and charcoal).

Adult Improv Games: Is comedy more your thing? Then join us on Thursday evenings from 7 to 8:30 p.m., April 11 through May 9 for Adult Improv Games. Led by Aaron Patterson of Something Dada Improvisational Troupe you will have a blast leaning basic improvisational skills and games. Students may register online at beckcenter.org for all five sessions at the discounted rate of $75 or stop in on Thursdays for a single drop-in session for $20 at Beck Center Customer Service prior to class.

Selected entries from the visual arts contest will be on display in the Jean Bulicek Galleria from March 15 through April 15. As always, our exhibits are free and open to the public during regular gallery hours. Call Beck Center Customer Service at 216.521.2540, x10.

March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month

To promote Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month in March, an art exhibit of works by individuals served by Hattie Larlham is now on display in Beck Center's Music-Armory and Creative Arts Buildings through the beginning of June. For more than 50 years, Hattie Larlham has been dedicated to creating opportunities and improving the lives of children and adults with developmental disabilities in Northeast Ohio.

Cyclists will select their 12, 15 or 60 mile route through Cleveland Metroparks with snack and water stops along the way. Registration and ride begin at Beck Center.

BeckFest, a free community event, will take place on the Beck Center campus from 10am-5pm. Enjoy arts activities, cycling themed artwork,  Zumba, yoga, food trucks, and stunt cycling performances by 216Bike - plus music by Jerry Popiel, Chris Hatton, Fireside, The Madison Crawl and Revolution Brass Band!

Click here for the Bike for Beck blogs which include the latest updates, news and an inside look at Bike for Beck!

Visit the Bike for Beck Facebook page!

All proceeds from Bike for Beck will benefit the arts education programs at Beck Center for the Arts.

Thank you to our generous sponsors:

• American Tank & Fabricating Co.
• Comfort Dental Group
• Dimit Architects, LLC
• First Federal of Lakewood
• Norris Family Chiropractic
• Ride+Workout
• Rocky River Urgent Care
• Steve Barry Buick
• University of Akron
• University Tees

Beck Center offers half- and full-day camps for ages 7 to 19 in dance, music, theater, and visual arts – or children can sample all four areas at our Arts Sampler camp. Your kids will have FUN learning a new skill, developing a talent, stimulating their creativity, and making new friends.
Click here to register or call 216.521.2540 x10.
Have double the fun this summer at Beck Center! Register for two or more summer camps and save 10% off tuition for each camp.

Enter FOCUS 2013 and become a part of an exciting collaboration of several communities. This competition is juried with awards in each category.  Deadline is Saturday, March 16.

All entrants will be included in the Focus 2013 Opening Exhibition at Solon Center for the Arts on Friday, April 12. Select entries will then be picked to exhibit at Solon Center for the Arts, April 19 - May 23 and Beck Center for the Arts, April 19 - May 24.

Open to Amateur and Seasoned/Professional photographers in the following categories:

• People/Places
• Architecture/Cityscape
• Nature/Landscape
• Animals
• Botanical

A unique art exhibition, “The Left-Handed Line of Mike Guyot”, featuring the distinctive work of local artist Mike Guyot opens Friday, February 15 in the Jean Bulicek Galleria at Beck Center. Guests are invited to meet the artist at an opening night reception from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

Guyot describes himself as an “architectural impressionist” who does his work freehand with a rapidograph ink pen. “Every brick and shingle is drawn one at a time, either from a photograph or in real life,” commented Guyot. “The drawings are finished with several layers of acrylic wash.”  This technique has earned Mr. Guyot several awards including the Cain Park Judge’s Award (2010-2012), first place at the Hudson Art on the Green and Berea Arts Festival (2012), and Best in Show at the Lakewood Arts Festival, Crocker Park Arts Festival (2012), among many others. Guyot’s exhibit will be on display at Beck Center through March 10.

An Artist's Reception will be held on February 9th from 5-7:00pm. The building is open during regular Beck Center business hours for viewing. 50% of art sales will be donated to the Theater Alliance of Beck Center.

Michelle's exhibit joins local artist Mary Deutschman, exhibiting in the Jean Bulicek Galleria in Beck Center's main building, along with Jing Jing Luo's works displayed throughout Gypsy Beans and Beck Center's Daniel's Lounge.