eveningsout

'Ragtime' cast lets their hair down for benefit show

by Michelle Tomko

Cleveland-The cast and crew of Ragtime are in the second week of the show's run at Playhouse Square. The only day off they have every week is Monday. But on Monday April 10, these artists gave their evening to perform Springtime in Rag-time, a cabaret to benefit the AIDS Taskforce of Cleveland and Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

"This is a marvelous event. We are pleased

to be involved," said the Taskforce's Jondarr Bradshaw.

Over 125 patrons attended the $20 event in a private room at Ciao restaurant downtown. There was also a silent auction in the lobby of the Palace Theatre, with items ranging from autographed Stomp trash can lids and posters from other Broadway Series tours, to tickets to see Ellen DeGeneres.

The evening should gross about $5,000, which will leave each charity around $2,000

after costs, said Taskforce development director Patrick Shepherd.

Guests enjoyed a cash bar and a night of artists singing their favorite songs. “Springtime" pastel bags filled with spring water and Irish Spring soap were also raffled off between numbers.

It was wonderful to see these talents in a relaxed atmosphere, stripped of cumbersome costumes and elaborate sets. Performances of note were Erich McMillan-McCall who was in drag for several numbers, and a showstopping, rare "onstage" appearance by the hair supervisor for Ragtime, Edward J. Wil-

son.

"We have not seen one depiction of a homosexual relationship. Here it is," said Wilson as he took the stage. He sang, "He was my man, but he done me wrong."

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Curran gives free class and demonstration before show

by Michelle Tomko

Cleveland-In recent months Sean Curran has gone from choreographing Christopher Walken and Blair Brown in the New York production of James Joyce's The Dead in October 1999, to teaching a master class at Cleveland State University on April 7 before his one night engagement at Playhouse Square in Cleveland.

The free demonstration at the Ohio Theatre was packed, as was the class, which was open to the public.

The New York Times referred to his choreography as "charming." In Cleveland he summoned up a raunchier affair. As he taught he uttered such advice to the students as "Make Barbie feet." or "Take a walk and make a little significant eye contact," and "Make it sexy."

Heather Waldon, Curran's rehearsal director and a dancer in the company, followed suit, saying to one young man who couldn't quite get the combinations, "At

least you are smiling, and that is great. If you fall on your face onstage, you are a true artist."

Donna Scro Gentile, another company member, danced beautifully at the demonstration as a solo act, but dazzled the classroom with a duet with her six-month-old daughter Emma. The younger dancer was in a papoose strapped to Mom, who found time to breast-feed between performances.

Curran's style is very androgonistic. He enjoys the way the human body moves as opposed to either gender's form. This is especially true in Symbolic Logic. This is a piece where the company all has the same costume and it is often hard to tell whether you are looking at a man or a woman. He makes serpentine pictures with human forms the way a painter uses brushstrokes to paint a landscape.

He also uses various cultures in his choreography. He finished the class with a combination he called "around the world in one hundred and eighty days."

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Opening April 6 and running through June 25. Case Western Reserve University will host a photo exhibit American Families: Beyond the White Picket Fence.

As part of a two-year project, photographer Courtney Coolidge, a former Clevelander, traveled the country to capture the essence of ten non-traditional families. Among them is a lesbian family in San Francisco. In addition, Love Makes a Family, a traveling photo

exhibit of queer families, will remain at various sites around the Cincinnati area until April 15, sponsored by the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network.

-Michelle Tomko