Youth theater much more fun than TV
At Heights Youth Theatre we've got cable, though not TV. That's why you won't see The Wire, just Peter Pan connected to it. Because while we've also got The Sopranos singing, American Gladiators moving heavy scenery, and a veritable Lipstick Jungle in our make-up room, our shows aren't taped for the tube. They're staged up-close and in-person, each one that can't quell-that-smile kind of entertainment all ages love. Sure beats a day at The Office.
In a feat TV can't hope to top, HYT's shows are performed by real live kids whose boisterous voices create sound better than Bose. In our first production this season, guest director Nathaniel Motta brings the Russian town of Anatevka to life in Fiddler on the Roof. A musical tale of tradition versus progress, faith versus practicality, Fiddler is set in 1905 and follows Tevye, a poor Jewish milkman, and his family as they struggle to survive in tense, pre-revolutionary times. You'll enjoy terrific acting, magnificent sets, and superbly sung Broadway classics such as Matchmaker, If I Were a Rich Man, and Wonders of Wonders, all unsullied by cell phones.
One of the most famous songs from Fiddler on the Roof is Tradition, a subject dear to our HYT heart. The goal of Heights Youth Theatre has remained unchanged since the footlights rose on our very first production at Cain Park in 1945: to provide a safe, creative, and nurturing experience for all children ages 6-18. We moved to Wiley Middle School in 1954 and, after flourishing under the excellent direction of first Jerry Leonard, then Sue Fromson, then Laura Gee, and now a talented group of guest directors, we're proud to say HYT is one of the oldest, most respected children's theatres in the country. Our graduates, armed with confidence and panache, have succeeded not only on Broadway but in myriad other careers, from law to education to journalism.
Two of our current cast members, Sidney and Senna Perelman, are part of a similarly longstanding Heights tradition. The girls have not only lived in Cleveland Heights all their lives but their father graduated from Heights High as did their grandmother, placing the Perelman family's steadfast tenure on par with HYT's. Sidney, a Roxboro 8th grader, plays Chava in our show. A whiz on the viola, Sidney is a member of the Contemporary Youth Orchestra and has attended Interlochen in Michigan. Second grade Senna is following suit, singing and dancing in Fiddler while still playing baseball and taking painting classes at Heights Arts and the Cleveland Institute of Art. Given the tremendous creative opportunities available in our area, Yenta, the matchmaker in Anatevka, couldn't have chosen a better spot for the Perelman sisters.
Shows at HYT are flat-out fun. So if you're itching for a change of scenery, don't reach for the remote. Trade TiVo for Tevye and head to Heights Youth Theatre. Maestro Motta's about to strike up the band, with an uplifting showcase of song and dance you won't want to miss. We promise you'll go home humming and happy.
Join us for upcoming performances:
Friday, October 24 & November 7, 7p.m.
Saturday, October 25, November 1 & 8, 2 p.m.
Sunday, October 26 & November 2, 2 p.m.
Wiley Middle School Auditorium, 2181 Miramar Road, University Heights, Ohio 44118
Tickets $8 for Seniors and kids under 6
$9 for General Admission
For more information: www.heightsyouththeatre.org
Susie Antonelli grew up in Cleveland and Shaker Heights. She is a freelance writer, a Heights Youth Theater board member, and the associate editor at Ladies Who Launch.
