Upstage Players Announces Partnership with Cleveland Public Library, Move to New Performance Venue
UpStage Players' most recent spring musical productions have played to packed houses every night for the last five years. This growth, along with that of the cast and crew, are key reasons for the group's need to relocate to a larger performance venue.
The well-maintained, yet underutilized 600-seat auditorium located at the Cleveland Public Library’s Memorial-Nottingham branch now has a tenant in Collinwood’s-own UpStage Players. The children’s theatre company, who performed at the Waterloo District’s Slovenian Workmen’s Home for the past five years, made the move official by signing a tenant contract in March. Rehearsals for UpStage’s 20th Anniversary season will begin at the library auditorium in early 2014.
Councilman Michael Polensek, who worked closely with both the Cleveland Public Library and UpStage Players in nurturing this partnership, expressed his endorsement of the collaboration at UpStage’s V.I.P. performance of The Little Mermaid, Jr., in March. “I’m in total support of a theatre group utilizing this great space,” he said. “I look forward to bigger and better shows and performances. Everyone in Northeast Ohio will know where UpStage Players is located.”
Despite many successful years of performances at the Slovenian Workmen’s Home, several factors played into the UpStage Board of Advisors’ decision to support relocation. “I appreciate the library’s offer to collaborate, as well as the hard work of those involved in negotiating this move for our 2014 season, which will be our 20th year as UpStage Players. The move is a welcome one, as our growing audiences can be accommodated,” affirmed executive director, Bernadette Walsh, in reference to the library auditorium’s 600 seats versus the 250-seat capacity of the Slovenian Workmen’s Home. “In this way we can show our product to even more patrons.”
In addition to the added seating, another attractive accommodation that the library campus offers is increased parking—at least 250 parking spaces—something that was at a premium near the Slovenian Workmen’s Home, especially when multiple events were taking place at and around the facility.
“We work for the kids of Greater Cleveland,” explained Walsh. “The value of the arts in a community cannot be underestimated. We proudly foster teamwork, service, self-confidence, self-esteem, responsibility, leadership and creativity, and provide a fun social outlet within the safe environment of a theatre experience. A new facility that meets our ever-evolving needs will go a long way in helping UpStage continue to provide a top-notch experience to the young people of Northeast Ohio.”
Walsh also pointed to some new goals that UpStage Players aims to incorporate into its mission over the next few years. One goal is to lay the groundwork to produce another play or musical during the year—one that would be geared towards and include teens. UpStage currently produces an annual spring musical that includes a cast and crew ranging in ages from 5 to 15. They also maintain an improvisational troupe, an adult murder mystery fundraising group and a Kiwanis of Cleveland Builder’s Club.
Now that UpStage is approaching its 20th year of existence, the group has also increasingly looked to the alumni of the organization to get more involved, both financially and as collaborators and volunteers. “With additional seating and a larger facility, we can now plan homecoming extravaganzas to coincide with performances, as well as work to introduce our current participants to our alumni. We hope that experiences like these will enhance our current group’s overall experience, as well as bring back memories for former cast and crew members, while also allowing our staff and volunteers to catch up with them,” said Walsh.
UpStage Players and the Cleveland Public Library are natural collaborators, as both organizations have goals that concern the welfare of children and adults. “This combination is a win-win for all who take the stage, sit in the audience and help support either the library system or UpStage Players,” added Walsh.
The mission of UpStage Players is the dedication to the child performer, instilling a love of theatre while building leadership and community. The nonprofit group was founded in 1994–1995 with 30 children and a vision to create love and respect for the performing arts. Beyond evolving into a strong “teaching theatre” organization of nearly three times as many children today, two keys to the success of UpStage over the years have been its unwavering no-cut policy and its army of committed volunteers. The children of UpStage Players come from varied backgrounds and neighborhoods throughout Northeast Ohio, yet they all enjoy a demonstrable transformation from everyday kids into accomplished artists. For more information, or to get involved with UpStage Players, visit www.upstageplayers.com.