Around Noon: March 2009

Andrew Bird and Clarence Bucaro
Tuesday, March 31
The music of Andrew Bird takes flight today as ideastream's Jim Goldurs previews Bird's upcoming concert at PlayhouseSquare with music from his acclaimed new CD Noble Beast. Plus, singer-songwriter Clarence Bucaro comes back home for a gig at the Beachland Ballroom with music from his new CD 'til spring. Photo by Cameron Wittig

Rock Hall Inductions, Ed Begley Jr. and Ron Ciancutti
Monday, March 30
Today Dee Perry previews this weeks Induction Ceremony events for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum with VP of education Lauren Onkey. Plus, actor-turned-environmental-activist Ed Begley Jr. explains what it's like Living with Ed as he gets ready for his Earth Watch Ohio appearance. And local writer Ron Ciancutti takes A Step Ahead at the Lakewood Public Library with his new collection of essays.

Dan Zanes
Friday, March 27
Jim Goldurs welcomes the pied-piper of children's music Dan Zanes as he gets ready to take the stage of the Independence Middle School Auditorium with new music from his CD -- The Welcome Table!

Hot Club of Detroit and Susan Petrone
Thursday, March 26
The Key Bank studio's temperature rises as the Hot Club of Detroit join ideastream's Dan Polletta for a live performance previewing their gig at Nighttown. Plus we hear how local writer Susan Petrone has set A Body at Rest here in her hometown, as she gets ready for a reading at Mac's Backs Paperbacks.

Cowboy Junkies, The Receptionist and Philip Gourevitch
Wednesday, March 25
Dee Perry spotlights Cowboy Junkies with guitarist Michael Timmins as he gets ready for a gig at The Kent Stage. Plus, we answer to The Receptionist, onstage for Dobama Theater, with playwright Adam Bock. And Dee profiles the extreme reporting of New Yorker writer Philip Gourevitch, who lectures at Case Western Reserve University.

Enrique’s Journey, Richard Bausch and Kodo
Tuesday, March 24
Dee Perry takes us on Enrique's Journey with Pulitzer-Prize-winning reporter Sonia Nazario prior to her appearance at Lakewood Hospital for Facing History and Ourselves. Plus, we hear from acclaimed author Richard Bausch as he gets ready for his reading at John Carroll University. And we move to the beat of Japanese Taiko with Kodo, coming to PlayhouseSquare.

The Barber of Seville and The Bow Wow Club
Monday, March 23
Dee Perry spotlights the stars of the Opera Cleveland production of The Barber of Seville, with a performance in the Key Bank studio featuring tenor Alek Shrader and mezzo-soprano Daniela Mack. Plus we meet Levy Lee Simon, the playwright of The Bow Wow Club at Karamu House.

The Story of Fossil Hunter Mary Anning
Friday, March 20
Dee Perry digs into the story of Mary Anning a fossil hunter of Victorian England, who comes to life in the play Blue Lias, or the Fish Lizard’s ##### with actor Claudia Stevens who brings Anning's story to life onstage at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History for the Explorer Series.

Lightbulb, Alan Rosenberg and Ben Folds
Thursday, March 19
Dee Perry flicks the switch on the opening night film for the Cleveland International Film Festival - Lightbulb - as she welcomes one of the guys whose story inspired the film. Plus, CWRU alum Alan Rosenberg, president of the Screen Actors Guild, raises the curtain on Autobahn which he's directing at the Cleveland Play House. And Dee shares her interview with the pounding piano player Ben Folds who hits the stage of the Lakewood Civic this weekend.

The Cleveland Orchestra: The Marriage of Figaro
Wednesday, March 18
Dee Perry invites us to The Marriage of Figaro which takes the stage of Severance Hall for the first full production of an opera since the 60s. Franz Welser Möst pulls back the curtain on the production, and Cornell University professor Neal Zaslaw opens the history books on Figaro's enduring popularity. Plus we meet baritone Michael Volleone of the stars performing with the orchestra in Mozart's classic.

St. Patrick’s Day: Van Morrison’s Astral Weeks, Ada Rovatti’s Green Factor and McCarthy Academy
Tuesday, March 17
Dee Perry dons the green for this special St. Patrick's Day show, as she shares an NPR report on Van Morrison's classic album Astral Weeks. Plus, ideastream's Dan Polletta tells the story of an Italian jazz musician who's spotlighting the music of the Emerald Isle, as he talks with Ada Rovatti about her new CD The Green Factor. And, we kick up our heels with the McCarthy Academy of Irish Dance which takes the stage of PlayhouseSquare for the International Services Center 20th annual Folk Fest.

Art and Power and Friedlander at CMA & Sean Jones and The CJO
Monday, March 16
Dee Perry spotlights the two new exhibits on view now at the Cleveland Museum of Art: Art and Power in the Central African Savanna and Friedlander. Plus ideastream's Bobby Jackson showcases the music of Sean Jones the Ohio trumpet player charged with taking over the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra.

The Aperture at CPT
Friday, March 13
Dee Perry opens The Aperture on the world premier play, opening tomorrow night at Cleveland Public Theater. Dee's joined by playwright Sean Christopher Lewis and director Craig J. George.

Personal Finance with Jonathan Pond Call-In
Thursday, March 12
Around Noon will not be heard today as ideastream brings you a special call-in program with economic expert Jonathan Pond, who will discuss personal finance strategy with callers.

Cleveland International Film Festival
Wednesday, March 11
Dee Perry welcomes Cleveland International Film Festival artistic director Bill Guentzler for a preview of the 2009 festival. We also hear from the directors of The Way We Get By, Prom Night in Mississippi, and Generation RX.

Rick Steves Call-In
Tuesday, March 10
Around Noon will not be heard today as ideastream brings you a special call-in program with Rick Steves, host of Travel with Rick Steves (on WCPN and WVIZ) and world traveler, who will discuss European travel with callers.

Dick Feagler Call-In
Monday, March 9
Around Noon will not be heard today as ideastream brings you a special call-in program with former Plain Dealer columnist Dick Feagler. Photo by Jonathan Wayne

Joan Baez
Friday, March 6
Dee Perry shares her conversation with folk music icon Joan Baez who spotlights music from her new CD Day After Tomorrow this weekend at PlayhouseSquare.

2009 MUSE Literary Competition Winners
Thursday, March 5
Dee Perry welcomes the three winners of The Lit's first annual MUSE Literary Competition -- Fiction winner: Giao Buu; Poetry winner: J. Thomas Dukes and Nonfiction winner: Kelly Bancroft.

Spring Awakening and The Boys From County Hell
Wednesday, March 4
Dee Perry speaks with the stars of Duncan Sheik's Tony-award-winning musical Spring Awakening, onstage at PlayhouseSquare. Plus, we welcome Cleveland's favorite Pogues cover band The Boys from County Hell, who celebrate their 10th anniversary at the Beachland Ballroom later this month.

Nancy Pearl and Young Literary Lions
Tuesday, March 3
Dee Perry welcomes back Book Lust librarian Nancy Pearl, who concludes her residency at the Cuyahoga County Public Library with Writers Center Stage at PlayhouseSquare featuring three young literary lions -- Myla Goldberg, Colson Whitehead and Jonathan Lethem.

“I Love You Because” & ESU Shakespeare Winner
Monday, March 2
Dee Perry welcomes the critically-acclaimed cast of the new musical production onstage at PlayhouseSquare -- I Love You Because -- for a live performance in the Key Bank Studio. Plus, we meet this year's young winner of the English Speaking Union's annual Cleveland Shakespeare Competition - Shaker Heights junior Valerie Kilmer.