Around Noon: April 2009

So Percussion, [title of show], and Antaeus Dance
Thursday, April 30
Dee Perry shares sounds from the inventive instruments of So Percussion prior to their FUZE! performance at the Akron Art Museum. Then she raises the curtain on [title of show] the latest PlayhouseSquare production from Vicky Bussert and the students of her BW Music Theater Program. Plus, Joan Meggitt of Antaeus Dance sheds light on her company's DanceWorks performance this weekend at Cleveland Public Theater.

Basil Twist, Duke Ellington Quarter, Verb Ballets
Wednesday, April 29
Dee Perry welcome master puppeteer Basil Twist for a preview of his Fusion Fest performance of Dogugaeshi for CMA's Viva and Gala series. Plus, ideastream music director celebrates Duke Ellington's birthday with a musical report on the new US Quarter in his image. And we get an update on Verb Ballets as they get in step for Fusion Fest.

Tamora Pierce, Halim El-Dabh and The Black Poetic Society
Tuesday, April 28
Dee Perry welcomes bestselling YA fantasy writer Tamora Pierce who tracks her latest book Bloodhound at The Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library (for the Learned Owl Bookshop) and at the Barnes and Noble in Woodmere later this week. Plus, acclaimed composer and Kent State University professor emeritus Halim El-Dabh shares selections from the new CD retrospective of his work. And, it's the return of the Black Poetic Society as these local scribes reunite for their 15th anniversary show at the B-Side.

Toni Morrison, Fusion Fest and Ted Schwarz
Monday, April 27
Dee Perry shares her exclusive interview with Toni Morrison the Pulitzer-Prize winning author and Lorain native who came to Oberlin College recently to dedicate A Bench By the Road to the school and community for its history with the Underground Railroad. We also preview the Cleveland Play House's annual Fusion Fest and the headlining production Heaven's My Destination. Plus, acclaimed local writer Ted Schwarz remembers Marilyn Monroe prior to his booksigning this week at Joseph Beth Booksellers.

Prize-Winning Poet David Kirby
Friday, April 24
Dee Perry welcomes Pushcart Prize winning poet and National Book Award Nominee David Kirby who makes a National Poetry Month appearance this weekend presented by Cuyahoga County Public Library and its partners Cleveland State University Poetry Center, PlayhouseSquare Arts Education and The Lit: Cleveland’s Literary Center.

2009 Tri-C Jazz Fest Preview with Dan Polletta
Thursday, April 23
Join ideastream's Dan Polletta as he hosts this special look into the 2009 Tri-C Jazz Fest which kicks off tonight. Dan shines the music spotlight on a trio of the featured performers - Randy Weston, Cecilia Smith and Ernie Krivda.

Mitsuko Uchida, KSU & CSU Poetry Centers
Wednesday, April 22
Dee Perry welcomes back Mozart maven Mitsuko Uchida who spotlights her latest concerts with The Cleveland Orchestra. Plus we continue our coverage of National Poetry Month with the KSU and CSU Poetry Centers, featuring poets, David Hassler, Mary Biddinger, Sarah Gridley and Craig Paulenich.

Neko Case, Darryl McDaniels and The Found Footage Festival
Tuesday, April 21
Today Dee Perry meets the musical tornado that is Neko Case, prior to her Beachland Ballroom gig happening at PlayhouseSquare. And she shares more of her interview with Run DMC's Darryl McDaniels before his return to Cleveland for the Adoption Network. Plus, we hear from The Colbert Report's Nick Prueher who brings his Found Footage Festival to the Cedar Lee Theater this weekend.

Ani DiFranco, The Soloist and Thrity Umrigar
Monday, April 20
It's a Red Letter Year for folk hero Ani DiFranco as she previews her upcoming concert at the House of Blues. Plus, we hear from former Cleveland Orchestra member Harry Barnoff who taught music to a young Nathaniel Ayers who's the subject of the new film The Soloist. And, acclaimed local writer Thrity Umrigar opens the pages of her new novel The Weight of Heaven prior to her appearance at Joseph Beth Booksellers and The Learned Owl.

Look Out Cleveland: Bob Dylan & The Band 1969-1976
Friday, April 17
Celebrating the 40th anniversary of the first performance by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame group The Band, as Dee Perry welcomes William Scheele of Kokoon Arts to discuss his time working on tour with the group and his new exhibitition of photographs and memorabilia.

Suede, Jamey Haddad & Osvaldo Golijov, and Cindy Pierce
Thursday, April 16
Dee Perry hits the Project Runway with Northeast Ohio fashion designer and Runway finalist Suede, as he returns to his alma mater for the KSU Fashion School Student Portfolio Show. Plus, local percussionist extraordinaire Jamey Haddad joins forces with renowned composer Osvaldo Golijov for a concert with The Cleveland Orchestra. And comic writer Cindy Pierce is Finding the Doorbell at the Grog Shop, and she shares a preview.

Herbert Woodward Martin, BW Bach Fest and Suzanne Braun Levine
Wednesday, April 15
Dee Perry welcomes acclaimed Ohio poet Herbert Woodward Martin prior to his appearance at Kent State University and the regional premiere of Jump Back, Honey: The Poetry and Performance of Herbert Woodward Martin. Plus, we preview the annual Bach Festival onstage at Baldwin-Wallace College this week. And, founding Ms. Magazine editor Suzanne Braun Levine explains why 50 is the new 50 as she gets ready to speak to students at Case Western Reserve University.

Fred Wesley, Rick Bragg and Beth Nielsen Chapman
Tuesday, April 14
Dee Perry blows the funky horn of Fred Wesley as the former music director for James Brown brings The New JB's to The Kent Stage. Plus, ideastream's Dan Polletta profiles Pulitzer-Prize-winning writer Rick Bragg as they discuss his new book -- The Prince of Frogtown. And, ideastream's Jim Goldurs spotlights the music of Beth Nielsen Chapman prior to her performance for The Gathering Place. Photo by Eric Van Niewland

Tremont, Dancing Wheels and Terry Kovel
Monday, April 13
Dee Perry takes us to Tremont today, as we speak with husband and wife playwrights Robert and Pamela Noll about the upcoming Actors' Summit production. Plus, we get rolling with the choreographers staging the latest Dancing Wheels production, onstage at PlayhouseSquare. And, antiques expert Terry Kovel shares her anticipation for the annual WVIZ/PBS Auction.

Mariza
Friday, April 10
Dee Perry shares her conversation with the new voice of Portuguese Fado - Mariza - prior to her concert for the Cleveland Museum of Art's Viva and Gala Around Town Series spotlighting songs from her new CD - Terra. Photo by Isabel Pinto

G.Love and Great Lakes Theater Festival
Thursday, April 9
Dee Perry welcomes the Superhero Brother himself - G. Love - into the Key Bank studio for a performance preview of his gig tonight at The House of Blues. Plus Great Lakes Theater Festival's Charlie Fee raises the curtain on Shakespeare's The Comedy of Errors and Chekhov's The Seagull.

CPH-CSU Announcement, PlayhouseSquare Broadway Series and The Lady with All the Answers
Wednesday, April 8
Dee Perry welcomes PlayhouseSquare's Gina Vernaci for a preview of next season's Broadway Series. Plus, we meet The Lady with All the Answers - Mimi Kennedy - the star of the new Cleveland Play House production about the life of Ann Landers. And, we spotlight the major announcement from The Cleveland Play House and Cleveland State University.

Nagisa Oshima and FPAC
Tuesday, April 7
Dee Perry welcomes The Cleveland Cinematheque's John Ewing who's rolling the projectors on the films of acclaimed Japanese director Nagisa Oshima this month. Plus, musical theater man Fred Sternfeld spotlights the young stars of the Fairmount Performing Arts Conservatory with a live performance in the Key Bank Studio.

Renée Fleming, Krishna Das and Tony Brown
Monday, April 6
Dee Perry shares her interview with star soprano Renée Fleming who takes the stage for the Tuesday Musical Association this week in Akron. Plus, we meditate on the acclaimed music of Krishna Das, who performs at CSU for Cleveland Yoga. And, Plain Dealer theater critic Tony Brown weighs in on the state of local theater in the wake of the recent announcement from the Beck Center for the Arts.

Run DMC’s Darryl McDaniels
Friday, April 3
Today Dee Perry shares her interview with Darryl McDaniels of the legendary rap group Run DMC which gets inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the 2009 class this weekend in Cleveland. McDaniels also appears this weekend at the Hard Rock Cafe and then later this month for Adoption Network Cleveland.

Bobby Womack, Cleveland Food Rocks and Poem of the Month Project
Thursday, April 2
The music of Bobby Womack gets the spotlight as we honor the Cleveland musician's entry into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Induction Class of 2009. Plus, local chefs Steve Schimoler and Dante Boccuzzi turn up the volume on this week's Cleveland Food Rocks series at area restaurants. And, Sari Feldman, executive director of the Cuyahoga County Public Library previews the library's Poem of the Month Project, kicking off for National Poetry Month. Photo by Norman Seeff

Tina Brown, Wanda Jackson and Daniel Goldmark
Wednesday, April 1
Today Dee Perry welcomes magazine maven Tina Brown, who discusses her career as editor of both The New Yorker and Vanity Fair and now of the internet site The Daily Beast, later today at Case Western Reserve University. Plus, we share an interview with 2009 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee -- Wanda Jackson -- who takes the Agora stage later this week. And, CWRU's Daniel Goldmark previews his April Fool's appearance at the Cleveland Public Library where he discusses music and cartoons, and his appearance in the new Pinocchio DVD. © 2007 Annie Leibovitz (Contact Press Images)