14

GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE JULY 3, 1998

EVENINGS OUT

DANCIN' The wolf in this fairy tale

in the streets

Cleveland

SUNDAY, JULY 19,1998

1-10:00 p.m.

Donation $15. at the gate, $10. before day of event. Tickets are available at the AIDS Taskforce of Greater Cleveland (216) 621.0766, or may be purchased at bar nights in the upcoming weeks.

Please bring one non-perishable food item for donation the day of the event.

No bottles, cans or coolers.

Proper I.D. is required.

DJ Psycho Bitch

from Chicago

DJ Debi

from Cleveland

With Emcee Melissa Ross

...PLUS MORE!

Mall B is located between Lakeside and St. Clair Aves. (just west of the Cleveland Convention Center).

All proceeds benefit the AIDS Taskforce of Greater Cleveland. which provides AIDS prevention, education and outreach services.

AIDS

TASKFORCE

GOLARES CLEVELAND

the dental care

your family deserves

We would like to invite you and your

loved ones for an introductory visit including a Complimentary Oral Exam, Oral Cancer Screening and Smile Analysis.

Comforting Care for the Smile You Always Wanted

RICHARD S

HONG, D.M.D.

& KYOKO

OZAWA, D.M.D., INC.

15400 SNOW RD. BROOK PARK, OHIO 216-265-8900

CALL FOR APPT. TODAY NEW PATIENTS WELCOME MOST INSURANCES ACCEPTED

• Gentle ultrasonic cleanings

Family dentistry for adults and children Cosmetic denistry

• Extractions and root canals

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• Low dose X-rays

State-of-the-art sterilization

It's finally here!

The first, long-awaited paperback collection of Robert Kirby's syndicated comic strip, Curbside!

CURBSIDE

HOLD THAT POSE! THAT'S IT! YES!

CUCK

By ROBERT KIRBY

Caset

FABULOUS.

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Yes, relive the first half of these oh-so-guy 90's with Rob, Tony, Nathan and the rest of the gang in this 80 page, superdeluxe spectacular!

Send $10 check, money order. on woli contenir d cash ta.

is dressed in leather

by Richard Berrong

Cleveland-For its first production of the summer, Lyric Opera Cleveland is currently presenting Stephen Sondheim's fairytale musical Into the Woods. Last week I had a

Tony Clements

chance to speak with one of the leads, Tony Clements, about Lyric Opera's production and his particular involvement with it as an HIV-positive gay man.

Unlike some current Broadway extravaganzas, this production is minimal, dispensing with elaborate costumes and scenery so that the audience can focus on the words and music and use their own imaginations. The performers are generally in modern dress, the wolf in leather jacket and pants ("He looks pretty good," Clements assured me), Cinderella in platform shoes, Jack a punked up teen, etc.

Like every Lyric Opera production, much was changed during rehearsal, since director Gary Briggle encourages performers to contribute to the development of the production, something that Clements, like other company members I have interviewed, found very exciting.

This cast includes a mixture of seasoned professionals Clements first did Into the Woods ten years ago—and young performers who are part of Lyric Opera's apprentice program. Clements had the highest praise for all of them, pointing out that there is no "opera acting," just acting. Everyone connects with his or her character.

Clements himself connects with his part, the Baker, and with the show in general in a

very personal way. As an HIV-positive gay man, he particularly relates to the need to deal with the threat posed by the Giant, who, for him, can represent AIDS, or homophobia, or substance abuse, all problems that he has had to battle and overcome.

DEONE JAHNKE

In the same sense, he views the banding together of several of the characters to fight the Giant as very similar to the way that gays have formed a community to deal with the issues that have threatened them.

Not all Clements' roles have required such imagination for him to connect. He has played in Angels in America: Perestroika and in Falsettos, and found it liberating to be able to channel his anger and frustration through characters facing situations similar to his own. The resulting freedom has made him a remarkably positive, energetic, and open person, as has the liberation of being able to be open about his HIV status.

In addition to acting, Clements is also active as a composer, most notably with a musical, Thumbelina. The musical, for which Clements wrote both words and music, was commissioned by First Stage Milwaukee for presentation to school audi-

ences.

The work has received more than sixty performances, and may lead to a second commission in the future.

And his future is very definitely something to which Clements looks forward. Among other projects, he is very excited about his upcoming first opportunity to direct, The Foreigner. He also hopes to become involved one way or another in Company, The Fantastics, Sunday in the Park with George-he loves Sondheim-Hello Dolly, and the first part of Angels in America.

Meanwhile, the northeast Ohio gay community can benefit from his present, and presence, by catching one of the remaining performances of Into the Woods.

The four remaining performances are July 3, 9, and 11 at 7:00 p.m., and July 5 at 2:00 p.m. The evening performances have an hour intermission and there are plenty of tables on the grounds of the Cleveland Institute of Music, where the performances take place, so theater goers can bring a picnic dinner or order one from Lyric Opera Cleveland. (Box dinners must be ordered at least three days in advance.) To order tickets and dinners call 216-231-2910.

John R. O'Connor, LISW ACSW of D.L. Dunkle and Associates is now expanding his practice to include office space in Oberlin in addition to Cleveland.

5 S Main Street Seite 2014 Oberlin, Ohio 44074

12417 Cedar Road Sultes 21-24 Cleveland Hts. Ohio 44106

216-229-2100

800-938-9973