Curtain Up: Discovering Cleveland's Playhouse Square

There's plenty of drama in Cleveland besides this summer's Republican National Convention. In fact, Playhouse Square is the largest performing arts center outside of New York. More than one million guests each year attend over 1,000 events ranging from national tours of Broadway shows, locally produced theater, live music, and more - each presented in one of the nine unique venues.

Five of Playhouse Square's theatres were built in the early 1920s as opulent destinations for vaudeville, silent films, and legitimate productions, but changing times eventually forced them to close. Over the decades, Cleveland's stalwart arts community and civic leaders have fought for their preservation.

Today, Playhouse Square is the city's cultural epicenter and the forthcoming season of programming offers a range of dynamic productions that are sure to resonate with the LGBT community. Here are some highlights:

BROADWAY in CLE

Recalibrate your thinking that New York is the only city to go to for amazing theater. Cleveland's 2016-17 Key Bank Broadway Series is reason alone to plan a visit to catch one of these award-winning shows. Due to popular demand, the series has extended the run of each production to three weeks (24 performances), but it's still best to plan in advance. Individual tickets go on sale September 9, 2016.

EDGE picks
"Fun Home" - Cleveland kicks off the first national tour of the Tony Award-winning musical based on the graphic novel by Alison Bechdel (written while she was a student at nearby Oberlin College). October 2-22, 2016

"Into the Woods" - Nearly impossible to get a ticket during its recent Broadway run, Fiasco Theater's reinvention of this dark musical fairy tale is a must-see for Sondheim fans. January 10-29, 2017

Also Playing
"Finding Neverland" - November 1-20, 2016
"The King and I" - February 7-26, 2017
"The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time" - March 21 - April 9, 2017
"Something Rotten!" - April 25 - May 14, 2017
"An American in Paris" - June 20 - July 9, 2017

Don't Miss

There's plenty to do in and around Playhouse Square, whether you're planning on seeing a show or just want to explore the neighborhood. Here's our essential list of what not to miss.

Take a Tour
Monthly tours are free and include views and history of the lobbies, auditoriums, and backstage areas. (90-minutes, no reservations required for groups under 10)

GE Chandelier
Playhouse Square is home to the world's largest permanent outdoor chandelier (adorned in 4,200 crystals), so take out those selfie-sticks and starts Instagramming!

Yoga on the Plaza
Bring your mat and head to U.S. Bank Plaza to join Brianna Halloran for a midday stretch before exploring downtown. (Tuesdays at 11:15 a.m. through September 13, 2016)

Mabel's BBQ
Chef Michael Symon's (ABC's "The Chew") latest venture on nearby East 4th Street is a "Cleveland-style" barbecue joint serving up house-smoked meats like giant beef ribs, kielbasa, and pork belly.

Metropolitan at the 9
Part of Marriott's Autograph Collection, this brand new hotel occupies a former bank and features a rooftop lounge as well as The Vault, a swanky speakeasy tucked beneath the former Cleveland Trust rotunda.

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