The Observation Deck

Jim

If we learn that there has been duplicity on the part of the Beck, talking about studies, options, "we've not yet decided anything", etc., when they unveil their plans for the Crocker Park Life Style Arts and Theater district, I would hope that the residents of Lakewood voice their disapproval with a complete boycott of the facility. I remember when all advertisers withdrew support of Model's Browns....all the blank spots in old Muni Stadium, over his similar action.
But I guess we'll just have to wait and see. But for my money, the complete lack of any statement ("yes we were approached, but we've turned down the offer. We're staying in Lakewood") and the lack of candor or disclosure of the admitted "offer" points to only one inescapable conclusion: The Beck is going, and now the only issue remaining is damage control and trying to maintain teaching staff, etc. until the new center is ready.
I would heartily recommend the Playhouse Square Broadway series for theater fans. Musicians can be accommodated at our own Educator's, countless in-home teachers, Cleveland Music settlement, BW......we should get a "Guide to the Arts" set to go so that those getting hosed will know where their options are.

Jeff

Michael Gill's article is available at http://www.freetimes.com/story/364

Tony Brown looked at the Beck situation this morning http://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/entertainment/1151483552148220.xml&coll=2.

dl, thanks for the links. Tony's article is interesting and really sums up a lot of the discussion that has been happening on the Observer. The question of to stay or go, the impact it will have on both communities, the risks, the benefits...minus our handwringing, of course. The one that came up here once but one I have to think should play an important role in the decision but might not. Tony says it best:

But there are risks in the Crocker Park option, including the possible alienation of the Beck's Lakewood supporters, the lower housing density and - most important - preservation of the Beck's artistic freedom. The Beck succeeds with a mix of blockbuster crowd-pleasers such as Disney's "Beauty and the Beast" and smaller works such as the recent "A Man of No Importance," about a Dublin bus conductor who comes out of the closet as a gay man.

In Lakewood, that goes over. But would it in Westlake?

I know for a fact that there are plenty of folks at the creative level of Beck that find this important but do the "culture friendly bean-counter(s)" (as Tony calls one of the Board) have that in mind? Since the decisions behind this seem to be a bit more leaning on the economic side, I would say probably not but I think this is one of the hopeful comments on this whole issue. Beck has risen in acclaim of late mostly because of the bold season schedules and risk-taking shows. Will Beck become no more than a larger version of the fun Clague Playhouse? That is a fine institution in Westlake but "Wait Until Dark" is about as controversial as it gets. They know their audience and have the space to sell out each run but is there room for more of the same only writ large? A cool point that I hope to hear more about.

I hate to agree with the conspiracy theories that say this is a done deal, regardless of talks with the city and "hiring consultants" but I think hosting the fundraiser in Westlake this Fall, already scheduled, seems like the nail in the coffin.

So Jim, what do you want to call your theater??

After reading the second article from the Free Times, a couple things struck me. The author's tone was much more personal as he describes the "out-migration that has dismembered Cleveland" and the "poaching of one city's asset." It is clear where this author's allegiance lies.

This article was also the second time I read Mr. Unger's somewhat pompous and conceited statement, "we will see who really cares about Beck Center" which starts to put me in Jim O's mindset of "let them walk." If we go by stats (as noted in the article), clearly Westlake is only half as supportive as Lakewood is (or even a third if you look at class enrollment). That is obviously not what he means but that makes it even more apparent what is driving this decision.

But this article made some other points that have not come up in the Observer commentary (at least that I remember), namely that some of the bigger local arts foundations, like the Gund and Cleveland Foundations, tend to want to support Cleveland and inner ring suburban endeavors and Beck, heading to the furthest edge of Cuyahoga County, doesn't fit the bill. Is Stark's offer enough to make up for the loss of such traditional arts funding from those organizations?

I had heard that a quarter of ticket sales and almost a third of class enrollment at the Beck were from Lakewood but was surprised that only 10 and 12 percent respectively of these two incomes were from Westlake. That was an interesting statistic Mr. Gill cited.

This article, with its obvious pro-Lakewood bias, reveals a bit more hope for the Little theater that could staying in Lakewood. Which puts my mind in more conflict because of the clearly mercenary mentality that Mr. Unger (and probably others on the Board of Trustees) has towards this whole deal that turns my stomach.

One last thing that was even more of interest was the fact that there was already a group of concerned Citizens of Westlake have already put in motion their OWN idea for a homegrown theater in that area. How splendid is that?? Had Stark even looked to his own chosen community to see what THEY want?

And I have to end with that wonderful quote from Mary Louise Madigan, "If you love Lakewood so much that you built Crocker Park to look like it, why don't you just move here." Priceless.

But the Beck will have an opportunity to get a sneak preview of its possible future in October. The arts center will hold a gala fund-raiser at La Centre, a corporate gathering place in Westlake

We'll need press credentials so we get a chance to see the new Westlake Fine Arts Center model.

Just a thought......you don't hold gala fund raisers, without a plan to be funded. So, is this an effort at fund raising to start an endowment, or the grand unveiling to line up corporate donors to finance the vision which will be unveiled? If it's lining up donors they will not be offered a Lakewood or Westlake option. It will be a slick presentation, complete with models and a slick powerpoint presentation of the plan they want funded. (The powerpoint will also distributed to the antendees on a nice DVD encased in a special folio). I know where money is.

As to the consultants....I haven't read their report, but my sense tells me that it will say that there is more economic opportunity in the move, and give median income levels of Eastern Lorain and Western Cuyahoga as the rational for projected increased revenues, and usage. I think they've hired Dog and Pony Studies, LLC.

Jeff

Jeff, I like the Dog and Pony company. Very thrilling but a bit predictable in what they roll out.

As to the consultants....I haven't read their report, but my sense tells me that it will say that there is more economic opportunity in the move, and give median income levels of Eastern Lorain and Western Cuyahoga as the rational for projected increased revenues, and usage.

This is probably true. Thank the gods not every theater company does this or else there would be no theaters in Cleveland or inner ring suburbs.

As I see it this could be a win-win for the Beck Center.

Crocker Park will have a theatre regardless of whether Beck Center goes there or not. Stark is just trying to get a great theatre company to fill it by providing this incentive. But there may be hidden costs that are in the future.

Lakewood will have a theatre whether Beck Center stays or not. Lakewood has proven over the last 75 years it will support a Community Theatre.

The best way to have synergy is for the Beck Center to do both. They make good money from education. Our students won't drag out to Crocker Park and visa versa. Our teachers most likely won't want to drag out there either. We have a rich tradition of our students going to art and theatre classes. We have a tradition of filling those classes. We are a progressive community that has a tradition of supporting community theatre and the arts.

And no one has mentioned that the best incentive in my mind for Beck Center to stay is a beautiful amphitheatre on the lake that can handle full scale productions. That is something Crocker Park will never have.

I hope the Beck Center stays or does both. But if they don't, I'm convinced that the majority of the students, the teachers and many of the actors/musicians will stay with the Lakewood theatre.

Lynn Farris wrote:And no one has mentioned that the best incentive in my mind for Beck Center to stay is a beautiful amphitheatre on the lake that can handle full scale productions. That is something Crocker Park will never have.

Lynn

Not so fast I heard that Stark made an offer to Lake Erie, but it said it would rather stay next to Lakewood.


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The Beck Center needs to obtain a better site within the distributional network of capital in order to obtain the state of the art facility and campus desired.

Let’s face it consumption is the basis through which social space is constructed by the distributional network of capital in America.

We are what we buy, despite the vain glorious attempts by the Lakewood Observer to rouse homies concerning the pressing need to execute according to the logic of territoriality a visionary alignment that includes residency for public servants and local community currency.

Again, we are what we buy. That’s the civic culture. That’s what Stark is selling.

Hence the Beck Center’s art and culture will inevitably follow the money to Crocker Park. Speaking theoretically, it is all part of the same logic, the same class interest pushing public servants bereft of territorial logic to boogie from solidarity with the taxpayers in the Wood.

The wise eyes on the prize are focused on the six acres in Lakewood and the five or six million in assets belonging to the Beck Center.

“Accumulation by dispossessionâ€Â

Kenneth Warren wrote:...Hence the Beck Center’s art and culture will inevitably follow the money to Crocker Park. Speaking theoretically, it is all part of the same logic, the same class interest pushing public servants bereft of territorial logic to boogie from solidarity with the taxpayers in the Wood.
...

.... One strategic problem for the Beck Center will be how to keep Lakewood’s homies currently supporting the program from feeling negative about a move thoroughly overshadowed by the larger destabilizing effects of capital and largely conservative interests of the sprawlgeoisie.

Kenneth Warren

Ken

These might both be very flawed thoughts based on comments from both sides.

Kenneth Warren wrote:The wise eyes on the prize are focused on the six acres in Lakewood and the five or six million in assets belonging to the Beck Center.

How many magic beans can the sacred calf be had for? That is now the question from the new west that rises like a star in the old east.

Nice seeing you back and recharged, much has happened since you took hold of the compass.

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Lakewood Little Theatre was basically a dump when Kenneth Beck decided to endow a new Arts center. When the new facility opened, thirty (ish) years ago, the Cleveland Museum of Art was so impressed with the design that they opened a western campus in that space.

Evidently little has been done to maintain the buildings. Very little has been done to generate income from the properties the Beck Center owns. They've been, in my opinion, bad stewards.

When Beck Center looks to greener pastures, they most likely will not own property. I hear of a deal where they will pay nominal rent and get a great state-of-the-art theater. But who will run the new Arts Center? The same people that ran the Beck Center into the ground? Maybe Dan DiLiberto can come to the rescue?

Where will they find the dollars?

Our community is shrinking. The big corporate funders are gone. Foundations don't want to see expansion of not-for-profits. The Health Museum has to merge with the the Natural History Museum.

If you read between the lines in Michael Gill's article, the major foundations are not jumping for joy over this idea. All the institutions are vying for shrinking dollars.

Everybody wants 25 million dollars (including PlayHouse Square). Not even the Cleveland Museum of Art has been able to raise the funds they need for their expansion.

I think of a story. There's this guy, a criminal attorney, whose heart is in the theater and in restoration. He spent time at Café LaMamma in NYc. He produced free Shakespeare at the Zoo. He did a number of interesting projects.

One day, he's driving down Detroit Avenue and he sees an old Irish Hall. He envisions a theater. He rents the hall. In the first three weeks of his new project, he is welcomed to the neighborhood when somebody throws a beer bottle and hits him in the mouth.

He works as an attorney to keep money coming in and he defends a lot of people, but he's one of these liberal types and many of the men can't pay him. So these men are nicknamed the "brew crew" and they go to work creating a theater. That was 1982. That was the Cleveland Public Theater and that was James Levin.

How have they fared in comparison to Beck Center?

I love to read and hear about James Levin. He is trying to save and build up that area around W. 65th with the kind of things that Beck represents in Lakewood. He has a theater for producing shows, as does Beck. He has a youth-oriented portion of the street that is now rented out to Near West Theater, who has a mission of serving neighborhood kids by including them in all aspects of putting on a show (my daughter loved their Alladin a couple of weeks ago). Beck also has this with their student productions. Levin envisions mixing the shows with restaurants and shops as is the current Beck (with the Rush Inn being the food and...er...something else being the shops).

Levin has a bigger picture in mind than simply bottom line (though I am sure the bottom line drives how soon his vision can come to be reality). He is kind of like our own Jim O. Lots of big ideas for his turf. I have heard Levin talk about doing an arts festival and such that is multi-faceted, using visual arts and performance arts to highlight the breadth and variety of art in the West Side of Cleveland. CPT's space was used to host the Ohio Independent Film Festival and I am told Levin and his people are looking at the old movie theater over there to make the "West Side Cedar-Lee" that many have wanted for years.

So while he hasn't reached his vision, there is definitely movement in that direction. That is kind of the difference between Beck and CPT (and other not for profit theaters in the area). CPT is looking at its role in supporting and developing the neighborhood where it resides. At this time, Beck is kind of doing the opposite. Beck seems to be looking to see what its surrounding neighborhood can do for it, be it staying in Lakewood or moving to Westlake. They are two wholly different ways of thinking about the issues. I would argue which I prefer, of course, but both are legitimate ways to run a theater.

Am I the only one who looks at this and says "$25 MILLION"?

We're demolishing and building entire new schools for about half that per building. The renovation and expansion of Severance was only $36 milion. What repairs need to be done for $25 million?

My scenario. Find out, realistically, what it would take to repair the facility to safe, workable standards. Campaign for the (private) funds to get that done.

At that point, if the professional Beck management wants to move, I'm with Mr O, let 'em go. Replace the whole lot with a more community-based operation that, while it might be a tad less glitzy and ambitious, may be more closely linked to the community. Obviously, Lakewood feels more connected to the Beck than vice versa.

Does Lakewood want a community arts and theater center, or compete with Playhouse Square? JMO, but I think the latter is a losing propoisition.

I'm not unfamiliar with art and theater myself (totally as a consumer, of course), and one thing I've learned is that there is scant connection between the opulence of the surroundings and the quality of the art. Half the theaters on Broadway are dumps.

What's wrong with a trimmed-down, back-to-basics operation, housed in a safe, functional facility? Seems like that can be accomplished for a lot less than 25 mil.

Joan

Always the voice of reason.

$25 million, or a ten minute drive?

For the record, I have spoken with Beck people and assured them. If they choose to stay, the Observer is more than willing to do anything we can to help raise the money they need.

But I want to see a long term commitment in writing.

Maybe it's time for the Beck to turn the property back over to the city, and trust us to do the right thing with their future as they seem more than willing to do with Stark.

If the Beck does not have a deal signed, then I cannot think of many things that were handled and managed worse. Well the Iraq War, maybe.

Last night I attended a LakewoodAlive meeting where the Beck had claimed at one point they would show up. First it was Mr. Farina, then Fred Unger, then Jay Foran speaking on his talks with Fred Unger, then nothing but silence, dead silence. This was a room filled with people that had always fought for the Beck, true civic leaders like Jack Gustin, Paula Reed, Dave Shaw, Tim Lasky, LakewoodAlive, Ed Fitzgerald, Mary Louise Madigan, Nickie Antonio, Suzanne Metelko, Michael Gill, Julie Hutchinson...

The conversation was MainStreet ie Detroit and what is going on. But not one peep from the Beck Center.

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Jim O'Bryan wrote:Last night I attended a LakewoodAlive meeting where the Beck had claimed at one point they would show up. First it was Mr. Farina, then Fred Unger, then Jay Foran speaking on his talks with Fred Unger, then nothing but silence, dead silence. This was a room filled with people that had always fought for the Beck, true civic leaders like Jack Gustin, Paula Reed, Dave Shaw, Tim Lasky, LakewoodAlive, Ed Fitzgerald, Mary Louise Madigan, Nickie Antonio, Suzanne Metelko, Michael Gill, Julie Hutchinson...

The conversation was MainStreet ie Detroit and what is going on. But not one peep from the Beck Center.

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It is time to start thinking beyond Beck. The Beck has been mismanaged for years, the board cares nothing for the City.

How about a fund raiser for the new Lakewood Center for the Arts held on the same night as the Beck's Westlake fund raiser?