The new phone book's here! The new phone book's here!
That classic line from “The Jerk” starring Steve Martin (before he was taking himself too seriously) popped in my head this week when I brought in the mail. The pile of various charity requests and advertisements included a thick envelope with our tickets for this season’s lineup by Great Lakes Theater.
Yes! The new tickets are here! The new tickets are here!
Nah, not quite the same.
Anyways, Great Lakes Theater is actually the name of a top-notch acting company, not a place. In fact, they perform at the Hanna Theater in the PlayhouseSquare District in downtown Cleveland.
The highly experienced troupe puts on five to six plays from fall through spring -- usually including at least two Shakespeare productions and  “A Christmas Carol.”
Almost all the plays have no singing whatsoever and the seating is right up close to where all the action is. And the production staff does a highly creative job of providing new and modern twists to these classics while respecting the source material.
Such an experience is a perfect highlight of a date, especially if you’re looking for something different from yet another movie or TV Night.
And those who are going to PlayhouseSquare are finding more (and better) dining options to compliment the theater experience. The always-popular Bricco with its huge and varied drink and dining menus has been joined by a Corks Wine Bar and the Zach Bruell restaurant Cowell & Hubbard.
There are also several bars and other eateries for quick bites before a play or lingering drinks afterward.
As for this season’s Great Lakes Theater line-up, get ready for Shakespeare’s “The WinterTale from Sept. 28 through Nov. 4;  “The Imaginary Invalid” by Moliere from Oct. 5 through Nov. 3; Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” Nov. 30 through Dec. 23; “Blithe Spirit” by Coward from Feb. 22 through March 10; and Shakespeare’s “Much Ado about Nothing” March 29 through April 14.