The Notre Dame College Performing Arts Community Series takes center stage this summer with two full-scale theater productions, multiple free concerts on the College quad and a set of plays from the Cleveland Shakespeare Festival.
The 2023 slate of events begin on Thursday, May 18, with five options to see the musical “Bye Bye Birdie” presented with the in-residence Heights Youth Theater, and on Friday, May 26, with the Cleveland premiere production of “The Light,” a total of nine performances in collaboration with Ensemble Theatre are offered throughout May and June. Performances are in the Notre Dame Regina Auditorium and Performing Arts Center, respectively.
The College offers a total of four free band concerts, courtesy of the South Euclid, Ohio, Ray Rhodes Concert Series and University Heights, Ohio, Symphonic Band, and two free plays from the Cleveland Shakespeare Festival, “As You Like It” and “Measure for Measure.”
These concerts and plays take place from Sunday June 4, to Friday, August 4. These six events all are free and open to the public. The performances are set outdoors on the tree-lined College commons with Notre Dame’s historic Administration Building as the backdrop.
Notre Dame also is planning a benefit concert to celebrate Heights Youth Theater on Friday, June 9, as part of its summer community series and a Summer Concert Band Camp from Tuesday, June 20, through Thursday, June 22, in its Mainstage Series. Both will be on campus.
Details on the Notre Dame Performing Arts Community Series of summer 2023 follow.
The College is located at 4545 College Road in South Euclid. Enter campus at 1857 S. Green Road and plan extra time for travel. Construction is taking place along Green Road between Mayfield Road and Cedar Avenue.
Bye Bye Birdie
Heights Youth Theatre is pleased to wrap up its 2022-2023 season—and its first at Notre Dame—with a musical production of Bye Bye Birdie.
Down-on-his-luck songwriter Albert Peterson pens a tune for rock star Conrad Birdie to record, but then Birdie is drafted. Albert’s girlfriend, Rosie, encourages him to write a new song for the star to sing on television to an Ohio teenager, Kim, who was selected in a fan contest, but no one considered how Kim’s jealous boyfriend would respond.
Performances are:
- Thursday, May, 18 at 7 p.m.
- Friday, May 19, at 7 p.m.
- Saturday, May 20, at 7 p.m.
- Sunday, May 21, at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.
All in the Notre Dame College Regina Auditorium. Enter campus at 1857 S. Green Road.
Purchase tickets online at https://www.heightsyouththeatre.com/tickets.
The Light
Ensemble Theatre continues its 2022-2023 season, also its first at Notre Dame, with the Cleveland premiere of Loy A Webb’s “The Light.”
An unexpected proposal present endangers the relationship of Genesis and Rashad when they are pushed to face a shocking secret from the past. “The Light” is presented in real time, a mix of romantic comedy and drama that unveils how the “power of radical love” can be a restorative beacon of light. “The Light” is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French Inc.: ConcordTheatricals.com.
Performances are:
- Friday, May 26, at 7:30 p.m.
- Saturday, May 27, at 7:30 p.m.
- Sunday, May 28, at 2 p.m.
- Friday, June 2, at 7:30 p.m.
- Saturday, June 3, at 7:30 p.m.
- Sunday, June 4, at 2 p.m.
- Friday, June 9, at 7:30 p.m.
- Saturday, June 10, at 7:30 p.m.
- Sunday, June 11, at 2 p.m.
All in the Notre Dame College Performing Arts Center. Enter campus at 1857 S. Green Road.
For tickets: https://www.ensembletheatrecle.org/singletickets
Ray Rhode Concert Series: The Pop Tarts!
Sunday, June 4, at 7 p.m.
Administration Building Lawn
Free and open to the public
The City of South Euclid presents the Ray Rhode Concert Series, and the annual summer series kicks off with this musical tribute to girls groups from the 1960s.
University Heights Symphonic Band Summer Concert
Thursday, June 22, at 7 p.m.
Administration Building Lawn
Free and open to the public
The wind ensemble performs a repertoire ranging from Broadway show tunes to film scores and pop music along with core wind band compositions: UniversityHeightsBand.org
Cleveland Shakespeare Festival: As You Like It
Sunday, June 25, at 2 p.m.
Administration Building Lawn
Free and open to the public
The renowned outdoor arts experience in Northeast Ohio stops at Notre Dame on its “As You Like It,” Shakespeare’s gender-swapping comedy about romance and the different facets of real love: ClevelandShakespeare.org
Ray Rhode Concert Series: Akron Symphonic Winds
Sunday, July 2, at 7 p.m.
Administration Building Lawn
Free and open to the public
The City of South Euclid Ray Rhode Concert Series continues with a performance by the Akron Symphonic Winds. The 40-piece band features professional musicians from Northeast Ohio with ensembles, including a 20-piece swing band, nine-piece roaring 20’s band, brass quintet and woodwind quintet, among others AkronSymphonicWinds.mystrikingly.com
Ray Rhode Concert Series: Hillcrest Concert Band
Sunday, July 30, at 7 p.m.
Administration Building Lawn
Free and open to the public
The Hillcrest Concert Band, an adult community ensemble, performs as part of the South Euclid summer series with a full complement of instruments and full range of concert band literature, such as music of the masters, overtures, Broadway, swing and ragtime, patriotic music and American and international marches: HillcrestConcertBand.com
Cleveland Shakespeare Festival: Measure For Measure
Friday, August 4, at 7 p.m.
Administration Building Lawn
Free and open to the public
The Cleveland Shakespeare troupe presents its second telling of the summer with the Bard’s tale of a duke who retreats from ruling and the corrupt official he leaves in charge, which explores themes of power and judgment: ClevelandShakespeare.org
Heights Youth Theatre Benefit Concert
Friday, June 9, at 7 p.m.
Details are forthcoming
NDC Summer Concert Band Camp
Tuesday, June 20, from1-5 p.m.
Wednesday, June 21, from 1-5 p.m.
Thursday, June 22, 1-6:30 p.m.
Regina Auditorium
The College presents its first annual instrumental studies Summer Concert Band Camp. This camp is open to all students between grades 8-12. Recently graduated high school seniors in the Class of 2023 also are eligible. Cost is $75, which includes tuition, music, Thursday dinner and a t-shirt.
Additional information about Notre Dame’s Performing Arts programs, which include academic degrees in music and theatre entrepreneurship, academic minors and performing ensembles, is available online at NotreDameCollege.edu.
As part of the College’s dedication to arts education, Performing Arts scholarships are available to students, regardless of their academic interests or athletic involvement. All are welcome to participate.
About Notre Dame College
Notre Dame College is a private, Catholic, liberal arts college in South Euclid, Ohio, committed to teaching students how to make a good living and live a good life. Founded by the Sisters of Notre Dame in 1922, the College offers bachelor’s degrees in 30 disciplines plus a variety of master’s degrees, certification programs and continuing and professional development programs for adult learners on campus and online. For more information, visit NotreDameCollege.edu.