Northeast Ohio produces more events each week than it would
be possible to attend, even if you had a full-time maid,
chef, and/or babysitter. Hot Picks: This Week’s Smart
Stuff sorts through the lists of concerts, festivals, exhibits,
plays, readings and all sorts of other events and pulls
out a few that seem out-of-the-ordinary. There will be new
things each week, with the list updating each Monday.
Even though we like to think of ourselves as “in
the know,” there will always be things that escape
our notice. Please feel free to make suggestions to
(be aware, we make no promises and the final decision rests
with us). Enjoy!
25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
May 6-18
Playhouse Square
Who would've thought that a spelling bee - universal scene of pre-pubescent success and defining, foreshadowing failure - could be the basis of a Tony-winning musical. The six starring "kids" are played by grown-ups, probably flashing back to their own childhoods. Happy, sad, a future as a Harvard grad or McDonald's U, the spellilng bee has it all (plus fun music that you can hum on your way home).
(
more 
)
Garrick Ohlsson
May 6 at 7:30 p.m.
E.J. Thomas Hall
American pianist Garrick Ohlsson comes back to Tuesday Musical this week. Ohlsson was the first American to ever win first place in the International Frederick Chopin Piano Competition in 1970. He also won First Prizes at the Busoni Competition in Italy and Montreal Piano Competition. He's collaborated with with the Cleveland, Emerson, Takács and Tokyo string quartets, among other ensembles. Possessing an unusually large repertoire that spans over eighty concertos, Ohlsson is considered to be one of the finest concert pianists on the classical circuit today.
(
more )
Average White Band
May 8 at 8 p.m.
House of Blues
Pick up the pieces this week at the House of Blues. Scottish funk outfit Average White Band has been rocking your socks off since 1971. The band's breakthrough was a support slot at Eric Clapton's comeback concert in 1973. After adopting the abbreviated moniker AWB, a year later the band issued their self-titled sophomore effort, topping the American pop charts with the Arif Mardin-produced instrumental "Pick Up the Pieces." Members of the group have come and gone since then, but the band still continues to tour with original members Onnie McIntyre and Alan Gorrie.
(
more )
Steve Earle
May 7 at 8 p.m.
Playhouse Square
Steve Earle has been slowly establishing a reputation as one of the most important singer/songwriters of his generation. The alt-country Grammy Award-winner is not afraid to take a political stand - he loves to see people sweat. His songs reach into the heart and soul of America and requires audiences to think about who they are and what's happening in this country. All in a song. Singer/songwriter Allison Moorer (who is coincidentally married to Earle) opens. Moorer, younger sister of Shelby Lynne, battled a variety of personal tragedies (including the murder/suicide of her parents) to write songs that are powerful and introspective.
(
more )
Geoff Muldaur
May 7 at 7 p.m.
Nighttown
The best thing about building a reputation as a roots music/jug band specialist is that you can maintain a quiet career and come back into vogue every 20 or so years. Geoff Muldaur was an important member of the Cambridge, MA folk scene in the late '60s. Part of the legendary Jim Kweskin Jug Band (and prominently featured in Todd Kwait's documentary Chasin' Gus' Ghost), Muldaur, his then-wife Maria and their compatriots found inspiration from Southern jug bands and influenced the exploding interest in folk music at the time. He has continued as a successful working musician, still exploring the again now popular world of traditional music.
(
more )
Bill Jamerson: Civilian Conservation Corps
May 9 at 7 p.m.
Happy Days Visitor Center
Michigan-based author, historian, musician and filmmaker Bill Jamerson is clearly a jack of all trades. This week, he presents a music and storytelling program about the Civil Conservation Corps. The program includes a short clip from his PBS film, Camp Forgotten, excerpts from his new novel, Big Shoulder, and original songs on guitar. The program coincides with the 75th anniversary of the CCC. CVNP joins the national celebration in recognition of the CCC’s contribution to building many familiar Virginia Kendall structures, including Happy Days Lodge.
(
more )
VIVA! Zarbang: The Percussions of Iran and Afganhistan
May 9 at 7:30 p.m.
Murch Auditorium, Cleveland Museum of Natural History
Drawing from Sufi, ancient Persian, and Afghani rhythms, the Iranian group Zarbang creates a sound that is uniquely its own. The group, consisting of six musicians, creates new sound by utilizing instruments of various cultures while staying true to the essence and origin of each instrument. Their music is at the same time medatative and dynamic, using ancient rhythms used to induce altered states. Zarbang has been hailed as being one of the finest percussion ensembles in the west.
(
more )
The Coasters, The Reflections and The Chiffons
May 10 at 4 and 8 p.m.
The Kent Stage
The Kent Stage and PBS 45/49 have put together a nice line-up for their second annual Doo Wop concert. Carl Gardner's Coasters - the only legit Coasters band out there - have an amazingly rich catalog to draw from. The Chiffons, a great New York girl group, are best known for "He's So Fine" (and the plagarism lawsuit against George Harrison's "My Sweet Lord") and "One Fine Day." The Reflections hit the top of the charts with "Just Like Romeo and Juliet" and several others.
(
more )
The Swell Season: Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova
May 11 at 8 p.m.
Playhouse Square
Relative unknowns Glen Hansard (The Frames) and Markéta Irglová rose to stardom this year after they won an Academy Award for their song "Falling Slowly" from the film Once, beating out tunes from Enchanted and August Rush. They both starred in the film and wrote all of its music. "The Swell Season" refers to Hansand and Irglová 's first album, released in 2006. It came about after Glen and Marketa were approached by Czech film director Jan Hřebejk to record songs for his film Beauty in Trouble. The two are now on tour throughout the country; catch them while they're here.
(
more )
Born Yesterday
May 1 - May 18
Actors' Summit Theatre
First a play, then a film, Actors' Summit brings this tale of corrupt D.C. politics to life. When the corrupt tycoon Harry Brock brings his showgirl mistress Billie Dawn with him to Washington, D.C., her ignorance quickly becomes a liability to his business dealings. He then hires a journalist, Paul Verrall, to educate his girlfriend. In the process of learning, Billie Dawn realizes how corrupt her boyfriend really is and begins interfering with his plans to "buy" a few Congressmen.
(
more )
