Few people capture the feel of Cleveland like Richard “Dick” Feagler, who started writing his column in 1970 and continued (across several papers) until 2009. The Plain Dealer hosted the longest run of the column, starting in 1993however, he started off in the now-defunct Cleveland Press. Ohio drama fans may know him best for the local stage production of “Christmas at Aunt Ida’s,” which was based off one of his columns and was performed in 2006 and 2007 at the Bay Village Huntington Playhouse. Taking place the year after World War II, “Aunt Ida’s” is the Christmas story of Feagler’s experiences in a household of women, and how some traditions survive despite the horrors of war. (more…)

No matter what era of music floats your boat, the Columbus Symphony has something to offer. For example, on October 16 conductor Michael Erickson is conducting hits by the Lettermen, the male vocal trio that started performing in 1959 and has had 16 singles hit the top 10 since then, including “Put Your Head on my Shoulder,” “Shangri-La,” and “When I Fall In Love.”The week after that, conductor Jean-Marie Zeitouni shows us the truth of the old adage “If it ain’t baroque, don’t play it”or something like that. Punning aside, the symphony will be performing pieces by Vivaldi, Handel, Bach, Stravinsky, and even the ubiquitous Pachelbel’s Canon. (more…)

With the Ohio Lyric Theatre halting performances indefinitely, fine arts fans in Ohio will have to go elsewhere for their fine arts fix. Luckily, the Geuga Lyric Theater is more than up to the task. The theater dates back to 1939, when it was founded as a cinema. The Geauga Lyric Theater Guild moved in back in 1997the guild itself dates back to 1954. Despite their long history, the Guild continues to innovate, with their first Shakespeare play, Romeo and Juliet, receiving rave reviews back in 2009.Currently showing is the “murder musical” Something’s Afoot, beginning on October 8 and running through to the 24^th. The musical premiered in 1972, and satirized the popular detective stories of Agatha Christie, starting by killing off the butler. Don’t be turned off by the multitude of murdersthe show is more comedy than thriller, and there’s plenty of amusing lyrics to win over the blackest hearts. (more…)