Around Noon: January 2009

ETHEL
Friday, January 30
Today Dee Perry shares her interview with members of the acclaimed string quartet ETHEL with a performance in the Key Bank studio, as they get ready for their sold-out gig in Akron for FUZE.

The Black Keys, Apollo’s Fire and Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Thursday, January 29
Today ideastream's® Jim Goldurs talks with Akron rocker Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys prior to their two-night engagement at The Agora. Plus, sparking the latest production from Apollo's Fire -- Dido and Aeneas. And, we raise the curtain on August Wilson's Ma Rainey's Black Bottom at the Beck Center for the Arts.

State of the State
Wednesday, January 28
Around Noon will not be heard today as ideastream® broadcasts Ohio Governor Ted Strickland's State of the State address.

Merce Cunningham, Cleveland Laughs and Akron Art Museum
Tuesday, January 27
Today Dee Perry shares her conversation with modern dance legend Merce Cunningham, whose acclaimed company comes to PlayhouseSquare for DanceCleveland and the Cleveland Museum of Art this weekend. Plus, we share some Cleveland Laughs with the funnymen taking part in this new special for WVIZ/PBS. And, we unveil the Ohio artist whose work is on view at the Akron Art Museum -- Neil MacDonald. Photo by Annie Leibovitz

Harvey Pekar Opera and Sundance Wrap
Monday, January 26
Today Dee Perry welcomes back Cleveland curmudgeon Harvey Pekar to spotlight music from his new jazz opera with Dan Plonsey onstage at Oberlin College -- Leave Me Alone! -- with a live performance in the Key Bank studio. Plus, Cleveland International Film Festival artistic director Bill Guentzler stops by to share his thoughts on this year's Sundance Festival. Illustration by Joseph Remnant

Chinese New Year
Friday, January 23
Today Dee Perry gets us ready for the Year of the Ox and the Chinese New Year celebrations with the Cleveland Chinese Music Ensemble, who perform at the University of Akron this Sunday night for the Chinese New Year celebrations.

Measha Brueggergosman, Dashiell Hammett and Bang & Clatter Theater
Thursday, January 22
Today Dee Perry welcomes back acclaimed soprano Measha Brueggergosman who returns to Severance Hall this week for performances with The Cleveland Orchestra. Plus we turn the pages on The Big Read at Hiram College with the writings of Dashiell Hammett, as Dee discusses the glories of the gumshoe with Mark Dawidziak. And we hear how the Bang and Clatter Theater is getting Blasted for its new production written by controversial British playwright Sarah Kane.

Rock Hall Inductees, CPT Big Box and New CPL director
Wednesday, January 21
Today Dee Perry goes over the list of the 2009 inductees for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Plus, we open Cleveland Public Theater's Big Box with award-winning playwright, David Hansen's latest one-man show And Then You Die. And Dee introduces us to the new executive director of the Cleveland Public Library, Felton Thomas.

Presidential Inauguration
Tuesday, January 20
Around Noon will not be heard today, as ideastream brings you live NPR coverage of the Presidential Inauguration of Barack Obama.

MLK Day: Cavani String Quartet, Emmett Till, and House of Blues
Monday, January 19
Today Dee Perry celebrates the Martin Luther King Holiday with the Cavani String Quartet as they get ready for their 25th anniversary with a performance at the Cleveland Institute of Music. Plus, Dee previews the Voices Ring Out Celebration happening this afternoon at The House of Blues. And, Dee shares her conversation with documentary filmmaker Keith Beauchamp who screens The Untold Story of Emmett Louis Till, later this week at Case Western Reserve University.

Franz Welser-Möst
Friday, January 16
The Cleveland Orchestra's music director Franz Welser-Möst joins host Dee Perry today to raise the baton on the second half of the Severance Hall season, as he gets ready to lead the annual Martin Luther King Jr. concert celebration Sunday night (which can be heard live on WCPN 90.3.) Plus, Franz previews the orchestra's upcoming residency in Miami, Florida. Photo by Roger Mastroianni

Heights Youth Theater & The Akron Symphony
Thursday, January 15
Today Dee Perry shines the spotlight on the young stars from the Heights Youth Theater production of Godspell, with a live performance in the Key Bank Studio. Plus, Akron Symphony music director Christopher Wilkins explores the life and music of Leonard Bernstein, and the composer he championed -- Gustav Mahler.

Nemesis, A Journal for Jordan and Dobama Theater
Wednesday, January 14
Today Dee Perry goes undercover with William Bernhardt the author of Nemesis: The Final Case of Eliot Ness before his booksigning tomorrow night at Joseph Beth Booksellers. We also share the moving story of former Plain Dealer reporter Dana Canedy who charts the life and death of her fiancé in Iraq for their son in A Journal for Jordan, prior to her appearance this evening at Joseph Beth's. Also Dee bids adieu to Joyce Casey the outgoing artistic director for Dobama Theater, as she hands off her artistic duties to Joel Hammer.

Frost/Nixon, 10 Items or Less and Around the World in 80 Days
Tuesday, January 13
Today Dee Perry welcomes Stacy Keach and Alan Cox the two stars of the acclaimed production Frost/Nixon onstage this month at PlayhouseSquare. Plus, we introduce you to John Lehr the star and co-creator of the improvisational sitcom 10 Items or Less on TBS. And, we go Around the World in 80 Days with the Jules Verne classic as it takes the stage at The Cleveland Play House.

Lucia Colombi, Cinematheque and COSE Awards
Monday, January 12
Today Dee Perry remembers the late Lucia Colombi founding artistic director of Ensemble Theater who passed away earlier this month. Plus Dee welcomes back John Ewing who's celebrating the films of David Lean this month at the Cleveland Institute of Art Cinematheque. And we preview the annual COSE Arts Business and Innovation Awards.

Backstage with Rent
Friday, January 9
Today we go Backstage with the Tony-award-winning production of Rent and hear a recent conversation captured in the Idea Center at PlayhouseSquare with original star Adam Pascal and NPR's Scott Simon , as we preview the current production onstage now at the Palace Theater.

The Year in Theater
Thursday, January 8
Today Dee Perry lowers the curtain on 2008 with local theater critics Tony Brown of the Plain Dealer , Rave and Pan blogger Christine Howey and Keith Joseph of the Cleveland Scene. Plus, Dee opens the phones for you to pick and pan the onstage offerings in Northeast Ohio this past year.

The Year in Fashion
Wednesday, January 7
Today Dee Perry welcomes a panel of local fashionistas to look back on the year 2008. Joining her are Plain Dealer style editor Kim Crow, Mary Davis of CWRU, and William Perrine from the KSU Fashion School. Dee also opens the phones for you to let us know what was in your closet this past year, and what you want to be wearing in 2009.

The Year in Art and Architecture
Tuesday, January 6
Today Dee Perry looks back at the year 2008 in visual art, architecture and urban planning with the Plain Dealer's Steve Litt, as she opens the phones for this special call-in edition where you can comment on this busy year in the arts.

The Year in Books
Monday, January 5
Today Dee Perry looks back at the year in books with a special call-in show featuring Plain Dealer book editor Karen Long, Cuyahoga County Public Library executive director Sari Feldman, and Mac's Backs Paperbacks owner, Suzanne DeGaetano. Book log below compiled by Linda Walters of Cuyahoga County Public Library.

Humankind: Healthy Planet / Healthy People
Friday, January 2
Around Noon will not be heard today as ideastream® brings you Humankind: Healthy Planet / Healthy People.

New Years: A Reflection
Thursday, January 1
Around Noon will not be heard today as ideastream® brings you New Years: A Reflection.