MEDINA COUNTY SUMMER CULTURAL EVENTS IN AUGUST

August 20, 21, 22

Shakespeare on the Square "The Complete Works of Shakespear Unabridged" presented by the Stage Left Theatre Company. Medina Public Square. Information: 330-635-8690

August 27

Arts Council to Sell Hot Dogs at Buehler's

Medina County Arts Council members and trustees will be selling hot dogs at Buhler's Forest Meadows store on Friday, August 27th from 11:00am-4:30pm with proceeds supporting the summer arts program at Camp Paradise, Society for Hanidcapped Citizens.

Saturday, August 28

Medina International Fest sponsored by Main Street Medina

Music, food, arts and fun on Medina Public Square

MEDINA EVENTS IN SEPTEMBER

(All events, dates, times, and prices are subject to change or cancellation without prior notice.)

"A Walk with Spirits of the Past"

Each fall since 1996, local actors from the Show Biz Company have given performances that tell stories of the lives of Medina pioneers and bring to life the people who made history in early Medina. The actors will use costumes and simple props as needed to give reality to the stories. Research for the new stories to be presented has been done with the help of members of the Medina County Historical Society.

Adult tickets may be purchased for $4.00 if purchased in advance, and tickets for all children under 12 may be purchased in advance for $1.50. Tickets purchased on the day of the event may be purchased only at the beginning point of the Walk in the parking area of the County Administration Building. Day of event prices are $5.00 for adults and $2.00 for all children under 12. Call 330-725-6443 for further information about the event and related projects.

A Clambake, Walk and Concert Special Deal Combo

Saturday, September 11, from 5 – 7 p.m. Main Street Café will be having a Clambake. The clambake will be held inside the café and the cost is $29. Main Street Café will donate a portion of the meal cost to Medina County Show Biz and Main Street Medina’s “World Tour of Music.”

Then, at 8 p.m. Saturday, Main Street Medina’s World Tour of Music features “The Buffalo Ridge Jazz Band.” This performance will be held at Broadway Hall and the cost, as part of the package, is $20.

We are looking for your support. Show Biz will be selling Clambake tickets at a booth at the International Festival on the Square on Saturday, August 28, where you may purchase a $29 clambake ticket OR a combo ticket for $54. The combo ticket includes (1) a “Walk with Spirits of the Past” voucher ticket (good for any performance when presented at the beginning of the Walk at 144 N. Broadway), (2) the Clambake and (3) the “Buffalo Ridge Jazz Band” concert.

For more information about the purchase of combo package tickets, please call Show Biz member Joseph Carr at 440.317.1958 or e-mail at Jpc07311958@cox.net.

Saturday, Sep 11 from 7 PM to 9 PM

Guides will lead groups from the County Administration Building at 144 North Broadway Street to different sites around the Public Square area where the dramatic performances will take place.

Sunday, Sep 10 from 2 PM to 4 PM

Guides will lead groups from the County Administration Building at 144 North Broadway Street to different sites around the Public Square area where the dramatic performances will take place.

PRESS RELEASES

MEDINA COUNTY ARTS COUNCIL ANNOUNCES 2010 IDOL CONTEST

The Medina County Arts Council will conduct the fourth competition to determine finalists for the 2010 “Medina County Idol” and will include three to five finalists in part of the opening act of next November's Sixth Annual Spotlight Showcase. During the first act of the Showcase these singers will be scheduled among the experienced performers on the program, and the audience will vote for the winning “Medina County Idol.” The winner will be announced and will be awarded a contest prize at the end of the evening.

The Annual Spotlight Showcase fundraiser, which will feature 18 or more different acts, will be held Friday, November 19, 2010, in Broadway Hall in the County Administration Building at 144 N. Broadway in Medina. Application information, dates for the preliminary Medina County Idol competition, and contest rules will be available after September 1.

Past Events

2009

The February 2009 Annual Meeting of the Art Council's membership concluded with presentations made to the recipients of the Arts Council's Service to the Arts Awards for 2008. A list of recipients can be found under the “Awards” tab.

2008
Medina County Arts Week Celebrated July 14 to 20, 2008

July’s Annual Arts Week in Medina County was “a week to stay at home to enjoy all the local entertainment.” Although Medina County has many arts activities presented by local arts organizations during the summer months, this week was especially full of events. For many years, “Arts Week” traditionally has focused on being a lead-up to the major ending event - Sunday’s Art-in-the-Park - sponsored by The Medina County Art League.

Arts Council Organized and Supported Programs

As in the past, The Medina County Arts Council arranged Arts Week performances and programs by local artists and entertainers for children and adults on Medina’s Public Square and performances in Brunswick at the Community Recreation Center outdoor stage. The free lunchtime performances were designed to provide entertainment and learning in the arts for children. The free evening mini-concerts in Medina focused on adult and family audiences.

Lunch time children’s programs at Brunswick Rec Center included “ Learn a Hip Hop Dance” presented by Anthony Tadeo on Monday, July 14, and Bob Lewis teaching the fun of creative and inventive drawing techniques in cartooning on Tuesday. Wednesday featured Guitarist Jim Gill who entertained with songs and stories. Thursday’s program was by Nate ”The Great” Nawalaniec with his fascinating magic tricks and balloon art. On Friday, the week was concluded by an Interactive Drum Circle taught by drummer Jeff Wolfe who played in the University of Akron Steel Drum Band and is now a graduate student at Ohio University.

Children’s programs on Medina Square at noon included on Monday, vocal music specialist Kathy Meyer, who staged a folk song sing-along and featured music with her autoharp and ukulele. She was joined in the presentation by vocal soloist Dyan Beder. On Tuesday, July 15, Nate “The Great” Nawalaniec, magician from Hinckley, entertained with magic tricks and balloon art. Wednesday’s program featured Wadsworth artist Phyllis Baldwin who presented a story, then had children do drawings of the characters and events of the story. On Thursday, Jeff Wolfe, music performance grad from the University of Akron, gave a performance on his drums and led an Interactive Drum Circle. Friday, Jessica Franklin of the Medina Dance Center taught several basic modern and classic steps.

In the evening Mini-Concerts held on Medina Square, Mike Harris, recently retired Medina Library director, shared his longtime music interests and skills by doing a concert of his favorite guitar music on Monday. Then on Tuesday, keyboardist Bruce Walker and soloists Patti Ann Vojvodich and Laura Theilman of Walker’s jazz/pop group “Midnight Blue” entertained with Swing and Jazz Favorites. On Wednesday, the evening’s program featured Conrad Hornung, Karen Hornung, and Irene Loos, the “Grenzenlos Trio,” who sang contemporary American and German music, plus some other favorite music. On Thursday, it was “Jim Gill in Concert,” a program appealing to adult and family audiences. The singer entertained with both comedy and banter in addition to guitar music. Gill’s daytime performance in Brunswick was a different show, geared especially to children. These were all free performances for the public.

Chalk Art for Children

On Friday, July 18, Chalk Art again preceded the regular Friday night Medina Community Band Concert. Children and youth had the opportunity to draw their own art work on the sidewalks around the outside of Public Square. Arts Council volunteers distributed free chalk.

These Arts Week programs were organized by the Arts Council’s Arts Week Committee, headed by Roger Smalley, and a Brunswick Art Works Committee, headed by Barb McGreer.

Other Concert Events During the Week

Concert in Wadsworth - The Wadsworth Recreation Department sponsored a concert of Jimmy Buffet style music and “beach music,” called the "Coconuts Island Show," on Thursday, July 17, at the Gazebo in downtown Wadsworth. Concert in Litchfield - The Litchfield Town Band played one of its regular Friday night band concerts on Friday, July 18, on the Circle at Rt. 18 and Rt. 83.

Ending Weekend Events - July 18 to 20

Brunswick ACT completes run of “M*A*S*H” - With a cast and crew of over 20 actors performing the well-known roles of Hawk Eye, Radar, Trapper John, Hot Lips, and others, “M*A*S*H” completed its two-week run on Friday, July 18, and Saturday, July 19, on the Brunswick Performing Arts Center Mainstage of Brunswick High School in Brunswick. The comedy was produced by Brunswick Alumni Community Theatre. The show was based on the popular TV show and movie and was directed by Stayce Nabors. Lila Robinson was Assistant Director and Shawn Skeabeck was Technical Director.

Art Class in Cartooning completed at Medina’s Drake Center for the Arts

Twenty students in grades 4 through 8, enrolled in a special art class in cartooning for two weeks of classes in July. The final week of classes was Arts Week. The Medina County Arts Council, in cooperation with the Drake Arts Center in Medina, sponsored the class taught by professional artist Jim Gill. Gill, who worked 20 years for American Greetings, currently teaches art privately and as an artist-in-residence for schools through the Young Audiences program in Northeast Ohio. Gill also performs as a guitarist and singer and was scheduled in Arts Week music programs in both Brunswick and Medina.

Students studied the fundamentals of character construction using simple geometric shapes and learned how to render expressions that convey emotions and use basic design elements. The Arts Council Program Committee for the art class project included art teacher Lee Palencar, Chair; Brenda Bandy, a Gifted and Talented Coordinator at the Medina County Educational Service Center; and Judith Parish, retired Buckeye District children’s librarian. All three are Arts Council trustees. Phyllis Griffith worked with the committee as the Executive Director of the Drake Center.

Art-in-the-Park filled Medina Public Square on Sunday, July 20

This nationally known, juried art show featured art work by artists selected from all over the USA. Booths and displays showcased art for sale. Featured artists this year included: Bonnie Gordon, Kathy Lapso, and Michael W. Winston. Senior Co-Chair for the show was Jo-Ann Rettig-Rau. Working with her were Co-Chairs Denise Marabito and Karyn Goldmeier. Sharon Borror is the Art League President, Barbara Johns is Vice President, Stuart Root is Secretary, and Jo-Ann Rettig-Rau is Treasurer.

In conjunction with the show, Main Street Medina merchants sponsored a “Search for Picasso’s Paintbrush” complete with appropriate prizes.