IN BOX

MARCH 7, 1997 GAY PEOPle's ChroNICLE 11

Audiences at two plays will discuss homophobia

by Doreen Cudnik

Cleveland-In addition to spending an evening seeing a play, two productions opening in March will give theatregoers the opportunity to discuss the issues of homophobia in our society.

The Great Lakes Theater Festival, with the support of the Cleveland Lesbian-Gay Center, and The Gay '90s with Buck Harris, will present “An Evening Out for What the Butler Saw," a play by the late gay British playwright Joe Orton.

Orton was said to have been the direct successor to Oscar Wilde. He wrote four major plays before he was murdered by his lover in 1967. What the Butler Saw, a classic comical farce loaded with sexual innuendo, was his final work, and is regarded by many critics as his best.

The Evening Out will take place on Thursday, March 27 at the Ohio Theatre in downtown Cleveland. Prior to the 8:00 p.m. performance, features of the evening will include includes a reception and social with hors d'oeuvres at 5:30 p.m., and a pre-performance discussion titled “Staging a Revolution: Joe Orton and the Beginnings of Gay Liberation" at 6:30, facilitated by national Orton scholar Francesca Coppa.

Special discount tickets for the evening and performance are $25. For tickets, call Advantix at 216-241-6000 or toll-free at 800766-6048 (ask for code ORT).

In conjunction with their production of Cloud Nine, a play by Caryl Churchill under the direction of Lenny Pinna, the Lake Erie College Theatre has scheduled several forums meant to educate and inform the public about homophobia, racism and feminism. Prior to the 8:00 curtain on March 15, at 5:30, Dr. Sue Borchert will facilitate an open forumon diversity, along with Ellen Strong of

the Cleveland Lesbian-Gay Center.

"The intent of this forum will be to alleviate the fears and stereotypes connected with minority groups," said Bonnie Fitzgerald of Lake Erie College Theatre. "If we are successful, people will leave having a new understanding and compassion for groups that they previously might have feared or disliked due to peer pressure, family upbringing or stereotypical classification."

Cloud Nine will be in the C.K. Rickel Theatre on the college's Painesville campus on March 13-15 and 20-22. Reservations for the 8:00 p.m. show can be made by calling 216639-4746. Tickets are $6 for adults and $4 for seniors and students.

Ballet benefits AIDS housing

Columbus-BalletMet Columbus will again dedicate a performance to Metropolitan Residential Services, a non-profit organization that provides housing services for individuals and families living with HIV and AIDS. The fund-raising event, "Hope for the Future," will take place at 7:00 pm on Thursday, March 13 at the Capitol Theatre in the Vern Riffe

Center downtown.

For ticket prices and information, call Metropolitan at 614-294-1221 or Ballet Met at 614-229-4848.

Rita Mae Brown to appear

Columbus-Lesbian author and Martinaex Rita Mae Brown will make an appearance in the Columbus College of Art & Design's Canzani Center. As a part of the "Evenings With Authors" series presented by the Thurber House. Brown, who is perhaps best known to lesbian readers for her 1974 novel Rubyfruit Jungle, will read from and discuss her most recent books. A book'signing and reception will conclude the program.

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Advance tickets are $10 and can be purchased at the Thurber House at 77 Jefferson Avenue, or by calling 614-464-1032. Advance tickets may also be purchased at An Open Book, 749 N. High Street. If available, tickets at the door will be $12. Student tickets are always $5.

Dine out for life

Several Cleveland and Columbus area restaurants will be donating 30 percent of their proceeds on March 13 towards the fight against AIDS through a Dining Out for Life fundraiser.

The first-ever Columbus Dining Out for Life will benefit Project Open Hand-Columbus, a non-profit organization that provides

meals and nutrition services to Franklin County residents living with AIDS. To date, ten Columbus restaurants have signed up to participate. For a complete list of participating restaurants, call 614-221-5683.

Twenty-seven Cleveland area restaurants, including Beachwood High School's vocational education project, the Schoolhouse Cafe, are also getting ready for what they hope will be a full dining room.. Proceeds from the Cleveland night out will benefit the AIDS Housing Council, the AIDS Taskforce of Clreveland, Stopping AIDS is My Mission and the Open House. For a complete list of the participating Cleveland restaurants, call 216651-6400.

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