Porthouse Theatre, Northeast Ohio’s premiere outdoor summer stock theatre, will celebrate “Forty Years of Dynamite Theatre” this summer. The season includes the debut of three new shows, continuing the venue’s tradition of bringing top-notch theatre to Akron and Cleveland audiences.

Located on the grounds of Blossom Music Center in Cuyahoga Falls, Porthouse Theatre was founded in 1968 and has produced nearly 150 productions in its 40-year summer season history.  The theatre is currently under the producing direction of Cynthia Stillings, director of Kent State’s School of Theatre and Dance; and the artistic direction of Terri Kent. 

Opening the 2008 season will be Porthouse’s premiere of the Cole Porter musical comedy Anything Goes, which will run Thursday, June 12 to Sunday, June 28. The opening and media night for the show will be held on Friday, June 13. Set to direct this tap-dancing extravaganza is Terri Kent, with Mary Ann Black leading choreography of the show.

“Alice…”

The second show in the 40^th anniversary line-up will feature highly acclaimed direction by Matthew Earnest, a New York City director who is returning to Porthouse for another year of inventive, unique theatre. This year, Earnest stages his adaptation of the Lewis Carroll childhood favoriteAlice in Wonderland, aptly entitled “Alice…”, which runs Thursday, July 3 to Saturday, July 19, with opening and media night held on Friday, July 4.

In honor of the anniversary, a Fourth of July picnic reception and festivities will take place on opening night in addition to a champagne reception.  The reception will feature the wondrous sounds of the 30-piece, nationally renowned, Brass Band of the Western Reserve. The festivities are free of charge for all attending the opening night of “Alice…”. Due to the possibility of mature themes  in the play there is an age 10 and up recommendation for children.

The Music Man

The final show selected to celebrate the season is The Music Man, a musical theatre all-time favorite. The showruns Thursday, July 24 to Sunday, August 10 with the opening and media night held on Friday, July 25.

“It’s hard to believe that Porthouse has never produced The Music Man,” says Kent, who is slated to direct the show. “We’re thrilled to be staging the show for the first time during our 40^th season. It is the perfect family show for Porthouse.” 

As part of the anniversary celebration, Porthouse is calling all alums that have performed on stage or with the orchestra; designed set, costume, lighting or sound; worked on crew, in the box office, on the facilities or in concessions. Alums who have participated in any of the above are invited to attend the performance of The Music Man on Saturday, August 2 at a special discount price. A special, post-show reception will be held for returning Porthouse alumni.

Visit http://dept.kent.edu/theatre/porthouse for ticket information or call 330-672-3884.

Porthouse Theatre originally came to fruition in conjunction with the Cleveland Orchestra through its development of Blossom Music Center. Louis O. Erdmann and William Zucchero co-founded the theatre, which became the producing arena of the Kent/Blossom Theatre Festival and the emblem of Kent State University’s commitment to cultural service and the quality of life in the northeast Ohio region.  It was through the Porthouse Theatre/Kent Blossom Theatre Festival that opportunities for actors, designers, technicians and managers began working in the context of a professional producing theatre while training side-by-side with established professionals as they refined their skills and talents. 

The theatre collaboration started with Death of a Salesman and A Streetcar Named Desire — produced under a tent and with the audience seated in folding chairs, and today boasts a more permanent venue , while drawing audiences of more than 500 patrons to more recent productions of  Pump Boys and Dinettes, Peter Pan and Sweet Charity.

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Media contact:

Effie Tsengas, 330-672-4102 or etsengas@kent.edu

or

Rachel Wenger-Pelosi, 330-672-8046 or rwenger@kent.edu