- Measure for Measure
June 14-Aug. 3 // Cleveland Shakespeare Festival
The Elizabethan Age meets the Big Easy in this Cleveland Shakespeare Festival production.
Artistic director Tyson Douglas Rand shakes up the dark comedy about a young man
caught in adultery by adding New Orleans imagery. "Here's a community that wants
to put a focus on morality, but at the same time doesn't really want to give up
having a good time," he says. "I want to capture that duality." Free. Various times
and locations, cleveshakes.com
- Working
July 4-20 // Porthouse Theatre
How do we feel about work? This musical explores that question by painting a vivid
picture of 26 American workers. Based on Studs Terkel's best-selling book and originally
co-created by Wicked composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz, Working was recently
updated and now includes two songs penned by In the Heights writer and star Lin-Manuel
Miranda. However, the time-tested truths about how work affects our relationships
and humanity remain. $17-$38. Tue-Sat 8 p.m., Sun 2 p.m., 1145 W. Steels Corners
Road, Cuyahoga Falls, porthousetheatre.com
- Monty Python's Spamalot
July 12-Aug. 18 // Beck Center for the Arts
Flying cows, flatulent Frenchmen and a legless knight are just a few of the many
reasons you'll laugh at King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table's quest for
the holy grail. Fans of the cult film Monty Python and the Holy Grail will love
this musical version, which is chock-full of puns, parodies and pure ridiculousness.
$12-$28. Fri & Sat 8 p.m., Sun 3 p.m., 17801 Detroit Ave., Lakewood, beckcenter.org
