In 1968, Robert Lawther was serving as Mayor of Lakewood and singing tenor in the Cleveland Orchestra Chorus. Frustrated by the lengthy commute required to sing on the East Side, Lawther became determined to form a chorus of equal quality and professionalism closer to home...

A hip, youth-oriented rock concert series, Band2gether, will feature the sounds of talented local musicians of middle school and high school age. This free, outdoor youth concert series, which kicks off this Summer in Lakewood, is expected to draw many people downtown and to give Lakewood’s young musicians an opportunity to showcase themselves...

Beck Center for the Arts presents My Favorite Year, a good old-fashioned musical comedy written by Joseph Dougherty with music and lyrics by Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens, on the Mackey Main Stage, May 16 through June 8, 2008. Based on the 1982 hit film starring Peter O’Toole, My Favorite Year is a nostalgic look at the early days of television, capturing all of the comedy and drama of “live” TV...

A local family foundation has issued a challenge grant to the Beck Center for the Arts: the foundation will match dollar-for-dollar every contribution the Beck Center receives – up to $35,000 – from individuals in the community. The Beck Center for the Arts is a non-profit, performing arts organization which for over 75 years has been dedicated to enriching the quality of life for the West Shore community, offering professional theatrical productions with curriculum-based education in creative arts therapies, dance, music, theater, and visual arts...

Beck Center for the Arts Youth Theater presents The Wizard of Oz (An adaptation of the film by John Kane of the Royal Shakespeare Company), a musical fantasy on the Mackey Main Stage, April 18 through 27. Directed by Douglas Collier, this adaptation is based on the classic motion picture starring Judy Garland. Audiences, young and old, will be swept “over the rainbow” as they follow their favorite characters – Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tin Man, Cowardly Lion, and Toto too, on their journey along the yellow brick road...

Take a moment and imagine the thrill of getting ready for a wonderful evening at the theater. The Guild of the Masque is the innovative new drama group in town and you’re lucky enough to have a ticket to their anticipated premiere performance. The play is “The Queen’s Husband,” by Robert E. Sherwood. The Guild is taking a chance on a promising new playwright who will go on in 1936 to win the first of four Pulitzer prizes for his play “Idiot’s Delight.” But tonight, the price of your ticket to see a Sherwood play is just 40 cents...

Remember the things we loved and hated about school, the young ideals we all shared, and the memorable teachers who inspired us? Go back to school and experience those moments again with The History Boys at the Beck Center for the Arts, March 7 through 30 on the Mackey Main Stage...

During the month of February the Phoenix Cafe is showing the works of five artists, in three separate installations.

Pete Green, a graphic art student at CSU, is showing five pieces done in charcoal. Pete was our delivery driver for Avenue Bakery. Though he no longer delivers to us, he is still part of the Phoenix community through his art...

The Beck Center for the Arts presents the premiere of The Breakup Notebook: The Lesbian Musical in the Studio Theater, February 22 through March 22. Show times are 8:00 pm Fridays and Saturdays and 3:00 pm Sundays. To reserve tickets, contact the Beck Center box office at (216) 521-2540 or online at www.beckcenter.org...

St. Clement Church will usher in the New Year with the inaugural recital of its Musical Arts Series on Thursday, January 24, 2008, at 7:30 p.m...

Kesselman’s compelling new adaptation of Anne’s famous diary, based on the original play by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett, captures the terrifying existence of eight European Jews hiding from the Nazis in war-torn Holland for more than two years...

I've heard people say that as a creative soul, you won't make it in Northeast Ohio, until you make it somewhere else first. Why does it need to be Chicago,New York, or Los Angeles? Why not Lakewood?

Beck Center for the Arts Teen Theater presents The Laramie Project, a deeply moving play by Moisés Kaufman and members of the Tectonic Theater Project, in the intimate Studio Theater, January 18 through 27, 2008...

Pianists Andrea McAlister and Heidi Began, violist Scot Buzza and mezzo-soprano Fenlon Lamb will present a free recital of works by Brahms, Debussy, Dvorák, Gershwin and Joplin...

One of your Lakewood neighbors or friends may be appearing in Beck Center’s upcoming production of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, November 30 through December 30 on the Mackey Main Stage. The following cast members call Lakewood their home: Josh Cutting, Amy Christina Hall, Lesley Dohrn, Assad Khaishgi, Lee Domenick, Larry Nehring, Rachel Fichter and Persis Sosiak...

Meet Surrealist Painter, Natasha Turovsky at Beck Center, November 15

Beck Center for the Arts Announces its third and final presentation of Disney’s BEAUTY AND THE BEAST: November 30 – December 30, 2007

Kris Barnes Mixed Media Show At bela dubby November 2007

In October 2006, during its 75th anniversary year, Beck Center made a commitment to remain in Lakewood. Now, one year later, the Beck Center will embark on a very important project aimed at sustainability and growth for the next 75 years. Details will be revealed at its Annual Meeting on October 29, 2007.

A longtime Lakewood resident, singer-songwriter Gary Hoopengardner will be acting as our Ambassador to Germany when he undertakes a two-week stint of concerts in Berlin later this month.

Artists and art lovers filled the sidewalks and businesses of Madison Avenue on Friday, October 5th, for the inaugural MAMA LIA Artwalk. The comment "This is the best art show I've ever been to in Cleveland” was heard repeatedly throughout the evening. More than 500 people took pleasure in experiencing various art mediums, including visual art, dancing and a variety of live musical entertainment.

Beck Center for the Arts presents Holy Ghosts, a dark comedy by award-winning playwright, Romulus Linney, in the Studio Theater September 28 – October 21, 2007.

What do mothers want? What do mothers deserve? These and other tough questions are explored in BIRTH, the critically acclaimed play by Karen Brody.

Lakewood, Ohio - Beck Center for the Arts announces placement auditions for our Children's Performing and Chamber Choirs. Singers ages nine and up with unchanged voices are welcome. Auditions are scheduled throughout the months of August and September by appointment. Choirs rehearse on Tuesday evenings beginning in September. For more information or to schedule a placement audition, call the Beck Center Music Department directly at 216-228-2800.

Beck Center for the Arts announces the appointment of Melanie Szucs as Associate Director of Dance Education effective August 20, 2007. Szucs replaces long-time director, Lynda Sackett, who is retiring on August 31, 2007, after more than 40 years of service at Beck Center.