Not even a filter can help that hair!
The Playhouse Square Donor Party is an event I look forward to yearly! It is a chance for donors to get a sneak peek at the shows before they are revealed to the public at large. While the party seems to have been scaled down the past several years (the first year I attended we got to go up on stage and feast on a full buffet as we sipped on champagne – this is no longer the case), the night still ranks as a favorite of mine.
This year my sister/bff and I took our seats eagerly anticipating what shows would be revealed.
In years past, each show was revealed via song performance, or video clip throughout the evening – one by one. This year, seasoned Master of Ceremonies Gina Vernaci began naming the shows in quick succession, and I couldn't help but wonder what the heck was going on?! How was it that we knew the whole lineup in the first 20 minutes of the presentation? Was the program cut short this year? Did I miss a memo?
Well it turns out that the second half of the presentation housed the majority of the performance pieces. I have to admit, I was not a fan of the new format. I loved having the suspense and surprise drawn out throughout the evening as it had been in past celebrations.
In any case, I was thrilled to see the slated productions for 2018-2019 season. It's a great mix of classics and hot new productions, many which I knew nothing about and thus piquing my interest and enthusiasm even more.
Miss Saigon, one of my all time favorites with its soaring soundtrack made the cut as did Dear Evan Hanson, Tony Award Winning Best Musical by Benj Pasek, Justin Paul, and Steven Levenson.
And then there is Come From Away. When someone mentions September 11, I still oftentimes get goosebumps and glossy-eyed. While I thought I knew most of what there was to know about that day having been glued to the tele for the months following, I somehow managed to miss the amazing story of the 38 planes that were rerouted to the tiny town of Gander, Newfoundland (and doubled its population) when airspace was locked down. It is the story about how a town enveloped these “come from aways” with provisions, places to stay, and plenty of kindness.
One of those pilots on one of those planes was Captain Beverley Bass, the third female pilot and the first female captain hired by American Airlines. Bass graced the stage last night with Julie Reiber, who performed the song "Me and the Sky" last night. The song celebrates Bass's relentless spirit while also underpinning how the attack seriously complicated her lifelong love of the sky. But as 9/11 bought new found fears, it also fostered new friendships and great acts of generosity. For instance, Bass shared with the audience how Shoppers Drug Mart invited the town's unexpected newcomers to take whatever they needed from the shelves in addition to filling thousands of prescriptions for "the plane people" free of cost.
I got the chance to meet Bass after the show. She was lovely in every way - dignified, elegant, and affectionate. We snapped the following picture with Bass and Reiber.
My respect for Bass obviously trumped my ego as I have hair in that photograph that no filter could help (and believe me we tried - see images below).
I hope you and yours get a chance to see one of the shows in the upcoming season.
I feel truly grateful every third Sunday at 1:00 (our season ticket holder show slot) to live in a city that boasts the biggest theater district outside of New York.
Next time, I swear I'll get ready :)
Bravo Cleveland! Bravo!
