Displaying items by tag: Akron Civic Theatre

On this Tuesday edition of The Jasen Sokol Show, Jasen chats with Val Renner from the Akron Civic Theatre on the upcoming season (00:21) and Raun Ferriot from The Devil Strip Barber Company is featured in this week's "People of Akron" (13:39).

:17 - We began Friday’s program talking about classic game shows and some of our favorites. Outside the staples such as Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune, the panel mentioned some close to their heart, as well as others many have forgotten about.

6:35 - Speaking of game shows, Tony had the pleasure of speaking with a long-time kids and teen game show host Marc Summers, who is bringing his Double Dare Live through Akron on May 16th. Marc, who has hosted shows on the Food Network the last two decade, talked about the Double Dare nostalgia, and well as his battle with OCD.

19:46 - According to our movie guy, Scott Wynn, the girls are taking charge at the movie houses this weekend, from What Men Want to The Hustle.

23:06 - Since every day is a holiday these days, today is National Clean Your Room day.

Children and preteens with cable television in the 1980s and ‘90s had their eyes glued to the fledgling kids network Nickelodeon. Those kids are now well into their thirties, but have the opportunity to feel young again when Double Dare Live visits the Akron Civic Theatre on May 16th.

The long-time host of Double Dare, Marc Summers, was interviewed by WAKR’s Tony Mazur, who happens to fall into the category of nostalgia-loving thirty-somethings. Marc talked about his itch to enter the game show hosting business in the 1970s, as well as his other programs (What Would You Do?, Unwrapped), and his bouts with OCD that once crippled his career.

Coming off the heels of a successful 2018 tour, Double Dare Live has toured throughout the United States in 2019, and will wrap up in Morristown, Pennsylvania on May 19th.

:17 - Could the way we stream TV shows be changed for good, once the original networks take back their programs for their own services. The panel talked about the near and distant future of steaming networks such as Netflix and Amazon Prime.

7:55 - Speaking of television, Norman Lear and Jimmy Kimmel plan to reboot the iconic All in the Family and The Jefferson’s shows during a live spectacular in May. Tony mentions how audiences today may not understand satire and context the way Baby Boomers did during the 1970s.

10:24 - Our master gardener Jeanne Poremski stopped by to take some questions for your spring gardens.

14:26 - Howard Parr is the executive director of the Akron Civic Theatre joined the program to talk about the next renovations and expansion that’s set to come to the historic downtown theater.

On the Friday edition of the Jasen Sokol Show Podcast,

Val Renner and Howard Parr discussed the new happenings at the Akron Civic Theatre, Next up, broadcaster Tony Brown of the Cleveland Monsters discussed what's going on with the hockey team, and Colin and Jess rounded out the podcast with the Weekend Preview presented by Jilly's Music Room.

 

Akron Civic Theatre undergoing more renovations, after about $20 million worth more than a decade ago. Executive Director of the theatre, Howard Parr, says the upcoming renovations are going to be a on a smaller scale, but are all part of making the Civic a premier concert venue in Akron. The total cost, Parr says, will be around $600,000, the majority of which will be coming from an Ohio capital grant and the rest from the county. 

Some of the renovations time around include interior electical work in the Grand Lobby. Parr says they'll be taking down all 7 of the chandeliers inside, shipping them out, and having them restored.  

The project has already begun and is expected to last three or four months. Parr says that it'll be business as usual during the current renovations, and great acts will continue to come to the Akron Civic Theatre. 

Hear the entire interview with Howard Parr from the Ray Horner Morning Show below: 

 

 

Some were feeling the "Bern" -- and others were feeling the bipartisan love.

"We're out here, just spreading the love," said University of Akron student Dawson Mancabelli. "Trying to find some bi-partisanship between Bernie Sanders fans and Republicans who don't like Trump."

"Hug a Republican." A message from local Republicans to bring people together at the @BernieSanders rally in Akron. pic.twitter.com/0I1HhylyDj

— Amani Abraham (@AmaniAbraham) March 14, 2016

Mancabelli, dressed in khaki shorts and a blue blazer, managed to bring people together by simply carrying a sign that read "Hug a Republican" outside of the Bernie Sanders rally at the Akron Civic Theatre Monday afternoon.

Dawson said it's about respect and support -- no matter which side of the political line you're on.

"I don't know if our message is going change anybody's mind, but it's good to show common ground between people who disagree."

Hundreds of people lined up outside of the Akron Civic Theatre for a chance to catch Sanders in their hometown. Mitchell Smith of Doylestown is an undecided voter who was looking to secure 

his decision before Tuesday's primary.

Kelsey McArdle of Kent came out to learn more about the candidate."I'm probably going to vote for [Hilllary Clinton], but I'm going to give Bernie a chance here today."

"Going into this election a couple of months ago, initially I thought Clinton would be who I vote for, but I've kind of aligned myself more with Bernie and his thoughts and ideas with his campaign," said McCardle.

Jordan Davis, 17, has already made up his mind -- and is supporting Sanders for the Democatic presidential nomination.

"I think he has more enthusiasm than [Clinton] does," said Davis.

Davis is able to vote tomorrow thanks to a judge's ruling that says 17-year-olds who will turn 18 by the general election can vote in Ohio's primary.

20 slides, 20 seconds each. That's all the presenters at Pecha Kucha Night Akron will get to make their point.

1590 WAKR's Jasen Sokol will lead off the slate of presenters Friday night at the Akron Civic Theatre. The topics will include everything from science and law to art and risk taking. Jasen talked to organizers Annal Vyas and Heather Roszczyk about what to expect at the event.

To get your FREE tickets to Pecha Kucha Akron, click here.

A local boy made good is back home, at least for tonight.

Tim "Ripper" Owens joined the Ray Horner Morning Show to discuss the show he is part of tonight with Iron Maiden drummer Nicko McBrain. The show, which will be at the Akron Civic Theatre, will be a tribute to former Black Sabbath vocalist Ronnie James Dio.

Ripper, a 1985 graduate of Kenmore High School, talked to Ray about music from yesteryear and his Cleveland Browns.

The University of Akron has announced a new two-year partnership with the Akron Civic Theatre and Playhouse Square to present the Broadway in Akron series.

The university says the shows will be presented as scheduled. The Broadway in Akron series begins with "The Producers" on November 3rd.

UA VP of Finance Nathan Mortimer says Playhouse Square will bring some marketing muscle to the program.

There was uncertainty related to whether or not the shows would go on after the staff at E.J. Thomas Hall was laid off in July due to budget cuts at UA.

Mortimer reiterates that all E.J. Thomas shows will go on.

The pact with the Civic Theatre and Playhouse Square lasts for the next two years.

 

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(News Release - University of Akron) As the saying goes, "the show will go on," and go on it will at E.J. Thomas Hall through a new relationship between The University of Akron, Akron Civic Theatre and Playhouse Square to present Broadway in Akron.

"In consultation with the Akron Civic Theatre, we reached out to Playhouse Square to explore the best possible way to fulfill our commitment to season ticket holders and members of the Akron community to deliver Broadway," stated Nathan J. Mortimer, The University of Akron vice president for finance and administration and chief financial officer. "Our intent always was to present the shows as scheduled and we are excited that our relationship with Playhouse Square will enable us to do that. We are most grateful to both the Akron Civic and to Playhouse Square for working with us to seamlessly deliver the four scheduled shows at E.J. Thomas Hall. We are excited the same shows will be presented on the same dates and times and at E.J. Thomas Hall as previously announced and that all season ticket purchases are honored."

Broadway in Akron begins Nov. 3-4 with The Producers. The other shows are The Buddy Holly Story on Jan. 12-13, Flashdance the Musical on March 8-9 and 42nd Street on May 10-11.

"As a not-for-profit performing arts center, the entertainment on stage is at the core of our work and we feel it is important to help the Akron community experience the performances they have been anticipating in their home, E.J. Thomas Hall," said Playhouse Square Executive Producer Gina Vernaci.

The two-year agreement not only ensures the performances will go on as scheduled but also allows The University of Akron time to explore all options for presenting Broadway at E.J. Thomas Hall going forward.

"We all felt it was important to find a way to keep Broadway going in Akron," explained Akron Civic Theatre Executive Director Howard Parr. "People in the Akron area have proven over and over again they will support high-quality touring arts and entertainment programming at both venues. This new relationship helps make sure those programs will continue to be available in our community."

Tickets for individual shows go on sale September 28 and may be purchased online at ticketmaster.com, by calling 330-253-2488 or at the Akron Civic Theatre ticket office.

As announced previously, other non-Broadway performances scheduled for E.J. Thomas Hall will go on as planned. They include the Akron Symphony, Tuesday Musical Association, DANCECleveland, Mannheim Steamroller Christmas, performances by musical students from The University of Akron and other University-related programs.