Beck Center for the Arts explained

Beck Center for the Arts
Formed:1931
Location:17801 Detroit AvenueLakewood, Ohio 44107

Beck Center for the Arts in Lakewood, Ohio, is a non-profit, performing arts and arts education organization. It is the largest theater and arts center on Cleveland's West Shore, educating and entertaining over 65,000 people per year. On its 3.5acres campus, Beck Center houses two stages producing live theater for children, teens and adults; two gallery spaces, and over thirty classrooms for educational programming for children and adults. It offers classes in visual arts, music, theater and dance.

The Beck Center was originally named the "Guild of the Masques" when it was founded by Richard Kay in 1929; formally incorporating as the Lakewood Little Theatre in 1933. The group moved onto its current site in Lakewood, Ohio in a theater originally designed for the movies, the Lucier, in 1938. They redesigned the interior space for live plays and purchased the building in 1943. In the following decades, the group bought up contiguous land, and, in 1972 began a capital campaign to build a new center. They were successful in raising $600,000 which was matched by ad exec Kenneth C. Beck and the current Beck Center was built in 1975.[1]

Beck Center for the Arts hosts the longest running youth theater program in the United States, running for nearly seventy years.

Productions

2024-2025 Season Professional Theater

ShowDateLocation
The Sunshine BoysSeptember 13 - October 6Senney Theater
The Glass MenagerieOctober 4 - November 3Studio Theater
Joseph and the AmazingTechnicolor DreamcoatDecember 6 -January 5Senney Theater
Waitress: The MusicalFebruary 14 - March 9Senney Theater
Under a Baseball SkyApril 4 - May 4Studio Theater
The Robber BridegroomMay 30 - June 29Studio Theater
A Chorus LineJuly 11 - August 10Senney Theater

2024-2025 Season Youth Theater

ShowDateLocation
The Monster Bash ofDreadstone ManorOctober 24 - October 27Senney Theater
Channeling GrimmDecember 13 - December 22Studio Theater
The TempestFebruary 28 - March 9Studio Theater
Between the LinesMay 2 - May 11Senney Theater

2023-2024 Season Professional Theater

Show Date Location
Doubt: A ParableMay 26 - June 25Studio Theater
Once On This IslandJuly 7 – August 6Senney Theater
Cat's-PawSeptember 22– October 22Studio Theater
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor DreamcoatDecember 1– December 30Senney Theater
Ride the CycloneFebruary 9 – February 25Senney Theater
JitneyApril 5 – May 5Studio Theater
A Doll's House, Part 2May 31—June 30Studio Theater
Beautiful, the Carole King MusicalJuly 12– August 11Senney Theater

2023-2024 Season Youth Theater

Show Date Location
It's A MadhouseOctober 26 - Oct 29, 2023Senney Theater
Going Medieval: A Ye Olde ComedieDecember 8 - December 17Studio Theater
Mean Girls (High School Version)March 3 - March 24Senney Theater
The Wizard of OzMay 10- May 19Senney Theater

2022-2023 Season Professional Theater

Show Date Location
Buyer & CellarSeptember 9- October 9Studio Theater
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-TimeSeptember 23- October 16Senney Theater
Elf the MusicalDecember 2- December 30Senney Theater
Ghost the MusicalFebruary 10- February 26Senney Theater
Noises OffMarch 24- April 16Senney Theater
Doubt: A ParableMay 26- June 25Studio Theater
Once On This IslandJuly 7- August 6Senney Theater

2022-2023 Season Youth Theater

ShowDateLocation
The Canterbury Tales Or...Geoffrey Chaucer's Flying CircusNovember 3 -November 6Senney Theater
The Best Christmas Pageant EverDecember 9 - December 18Studio Theater
William Shakespeare's Land of the DeadMarch 3 - March 12Studio Theater
Once Upon a MattressMay 5 - May 14Senney Theater

2021-2022 Season Professional Theater

Show Date Location
Broadway Bound September 10- October 3 Senney Theater
The ExoneratedOctober 8- November 7 Studio Theater
Elf the MusicalDecember 30- January 2 Senney Theater
LizzieFebruary 4- February 26 Senney Theater
Meteor ShowerApril 1- May 1 Studio Theater
The Legend of Georgia McBrideMay 27- June 26 Studio Theater
Something Rotten!July 8- August 7 Senney Theater

2021- 2022 Season Youth Theater

Show Date Location
Little Tech Class of Horrors: When Good Science Goes BadOctober 22- October 24Senney Theater
The Real Valkyries of ValhallaDecember 10- December 19Studio Theater
Disney's: High School MusicalMarch 18- March 27Senney Theater
Bugsy MaloneMay 6- May 15Senney Theater

2020-2021 Season Professional Theater

Show Date Location
Fully CommittedNovember 13- December 6Online
5 New Musicals X 15 MinutesFebruary 12 - February 28Online
Beck Broadway Alums in ConcertMarch 5- March 28Online
This Girl Laughs, This Girl Cries, This Girl Does NothingJuly 23- August 8Senney Theater

2020-2021 Season Youth Theater

Show Date Location
ZoppOctober 22- October 25Online
A Christmas PerilDecember 10 - December 13Online
The Teen Untitled Sketch ShowMarch 25- March 28Online
Honk, Jr.May 20- May 24Online

2019-2020 Season Professional Theater

Show Date Location
Glengarry Glen RossSeptember 13 - October 6 Mackey Theater
The Member of the WeddingOctober 4 - November 3 Studio Theater
Shrek the MusicalDecember 6 - January 5 Mackey Theater
The Scottsboro BoysFebruary 7 - February 23 Mackey Theater
Meteor ShowerApril 3 - May 3 Studio Theater
DisgracedMay 29- June 28 Studio Theater
Something Rotten!July 10 - August 9 Mackey Theater

2019-2020 Season Youth Theater

Show Date Location
The Trials of RobinhoodOctober 24 - October 27 Mackey Theater
Once Upon a DecadeDecember 13 - December 22 Studio Theater
Mockingbird February 28 - March 8 Studio Theater

2018-2019 Season Professional Theater

Show Date Location
An Act of GodSeptember 14 - October 7 Mackey Theater
Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?October 5 - November 4 Studio Theater
Shrek the MusicalDecember 7 - January 6 Mackey Theater
OnceFebruary 8 - February 24 Mackey Theater
Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & GrillMarch 15 - April 14 Studio Theater
King LearMay 31 - June 30 Studio Theater
Matilda the MusicalJuly 12 - August 11 Mackey Theater

2018-2019 Season Youth Theater Presented by the Mort and Iris Philanthropic Fund

Show Date Location
CinderellaOctober 26 - October 28 Mackey Theater
Law & Order: Nursery Rhyme UnitDecember 14 - December 23 Studio Theater
13 April 5 - April 14 Mackey Theater
SeussicalMay 10 - May 19 Mackey Theater

2017-2018 Season Professional Theater

Show Date Location
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's NestSeptember 15 - October 8 Mackey Theater
Waiting for GodotOctober 6 - November 5 Studio Theater
The Little MermaidDecember 1 - December 31 Mackey Theater
HairFebruary 9 - February 25 Mackey Theater
My First TimeMarch 30 - April 29 Studio Theater
BentJune 1 - July 1 Studio Theater
GypsyJuly 6 - August 12 Mackey Theater

2017-2018 Season Youth Theater Presented by the Mort and Iris Philanthropic Fund

Show Date Location
Snow White's AdventuresOctober 26 - October 29 Mackey Theater
All Greek to MeDecember 8 - December 17 Studio Theater
The Laramie Project March 2 - March 11 Studio Theater
AnnieMay 11 - May 20 Mackey Theater

2016-2017 Season Professional Theater

Show Date Location
Ruthless!September 16 - October 16 Mackey Theater
Body AwarenessOctober 7 - November 6 Studio Theater
Disney's The Little Mermaid December 2 - December 31 Mackey Theater
Bring It On The Musical February 10 - February 26 Mackey Theater
A Great WildernessMarch 3 - April 9 Studio Theater
Really Really June 2 - July 2 Studio Theater
City of Angels July 7 - August 13 Mackey Theater

2016-2017 Season Youth Theater Presented by the Mort and Iris Philanthropic Fund

Show Date Location
Alice's Adventures in WonderlandNovember 4 - November 6 Mackey Theater
AARGH!December 10 - December 18 Studio Theater
Carrie the Musical March 24 - April 2 Mackey Theater
Schoolhouse Rock LiveMay 12 - May 21 Mackey Theater

2015-2016 Season Professional Theater

Show Date Location
The Spitfire GrillSeptember 18 - October 18 Mackey Main Stage
Mothers and SonsOctober 9 - November 15 Studio Theater
Mary Poppins December 4 - January 3 Mackey Main Stage
In the Heights February 12 - February 28 Mackey Main Stage
Shining CityApril 1 - May 1 Studio Theater
Heathers the Musical May 27 - July 2 Studio Theater
Billy Elliot the Musical July 8 - August 14 Mackey Main Stage

2015-2016 Season Youth Theater

Show Date Location
A Little PrincessNovember 5 - November 8 Mackey Main Stage
Happily Forever AfterDecember 11 - December 20 Studio Theater
Bright Ideas February 2 - March 6 Studio Theater
Big the MusicalMay 13 - May 22 Mackey Main Stage

2014-2015 Season Professional Theater

Show Date Location
Forever PlaidSeptember 12 - October 12 Mackey Main Stage
[Title of Show]October 10 - November 16 Studio Theater
Mary Poppins December 5 - January 4 Mackey Main Stage
DogfightFebruary 6 - March 15Studio Theater
Lend Me a TenorMarch 27 - April 26Mackey Main Stage
The Young Man From Atlanta May 29 - June 28Studio Theater
American IdiotJuly 10 - August 16Mackey Main Stage

2014-2015 Season Youth Theater

Show Date Location
Mr. Toad's Mad AdventuresNovember 6 - November 9 Mackey Main Stage
Hillbilly HolidayDecember 12 - December 21 Studio Theater
Chicago February 20 - March 1 Mackey Main Stage
Oliver!May 15 - May 24Mackey Main Stage

2013-2014 Season Professional Theater

Show Date Location
She Loves MeSeptember 20 - October 20 Mackey Main Stage
33 VariationsOctober 11 - November 17 Studio Theater
Annie December 6 - January 5 Mackey Main Stage
Carrie the MusicalFebruary 7 - March 9Mackey Main Stage
night, MotherMarch 21 - May 4Studio Theater
Seminar: A Comedy May 30 - June 29Studio Theater
Young FrankensteinJuly 11 - August 17Mackey Main Stage

2013-2014 Season Youth Theater

Show Date Location
The Pied Piper of HamelinNovember 7 - November 10 Mackey Main Stage
Law and Order: Fairy Tale UnitDecember 13 - December 22 Studio Theater
The Children's Hour February 21 - March 2 Mackey Main Stage
The Wizard of OzMay 9 - May 18Mackey Main Stage

2012-2013 Season Professional Theater

ShowDateLocation
XanaduSeptember 14 - October 14Mackey Main Stage
The Little Dog LaughedOctober 5 - November 11Studio Theater
AnnieDecember 7 - January 6Mackey Main Stage
Next to NormalMarch 1 - April 21Studio Theater
The House of Blue LeavesMarch 22 - April 21Mackey Main Stage
The Pitmen PaintersMay 31 - July 7Studio Theater
Monty Python's SpamalotJuly 12 - August 18Mackey Main Stage

2012-2013 Season Youth Theater

ShowDate
Our TownNovember 1 - November 4
Going Medieval: A Ye Olde ComedyDecember 14 - December 23
Avenue Q: School EditionFebruary 8 - February 17
Bye Bye Birdie!May 10 - May 19

2011-2012 Season Professional Theater

ShowDateLocation
The Marvelous WondrettesSeptember 16 - October 16Mackey Main Stage
RaceOctober 21 - November 20Studio Theater
Joseph and the AmazingTechnicolor DreamcoatDecember 2 - December 31Mackey Main Stage
Spring AwakeningFebruary 3 - March 4Mackey Main Stage
The Velocity of AutumnMarch 23 - April 29Studio Theater
Bloody Bloody Andrew JacksonMay 25 - July 1Studio Theater
Legally Blonde: The MusicalJuly 6 - August 12Mackey Main Stage

2011-2012 Season Youth Theater

ShowDate
Charlotte's WebNovember 3 - November 6
Best Christmas Pageant EverDecember 9 - December 18
RecklessFebruary 24 - March 4
Roald Dahl's Willy WonkaMay 4 - May 13

2010-2011 Season Professional Theater

ShowDateLocation
My Fair LadySeptember 17 - October 17Mackey Main Stage
WingsOctober 8 - November 7Studio Theater
Joseph and the AmazingTechnicolor DreamcoatDecember 3 - January 2Mackey Main Stage
Jerry Springer: The OperaFebruary 18 - March 27Studio Theater
The UnderpantsApril 1 - April 23Mackey Main Stage
HairsprayJuly 8 - August 14Mackey Main Stage

2010-2011 Season Youth Theater

ShowDate
Tom SawyerOctober 27 - October 31
Once Upon a DecadeNovember 10 - November 19
Into the WoodsFebruary 25 - March 6
CatsMay 13 - May 21

2009-2010 Season Professional Theater

ShowDateLocation
Fiddler on the RoofSeptember 19 - October 18Mackey Main Stage
Peter PanDecember 4 - January 3Mackey Main Stage
Is He Dead?February 5 - February 28Mackey Main Stage
The 25th Annual PutnamCounty Spelling BeeMarch 26 - April 25Mackey Main Stage
The ProducersJuly 16 - August 22Mackey Main Stage

2009-2010 Season Youth Theater

Show Date Location
The Lion, The Witch, and The WardrobeNovember 5 - November 8 Mackey Main Stage
All Greek to MeDecember 11 - December 20 Studio Theater
Twelve Angry Jurors February 19 - February 28 Studio Theater
Seussical The Musical!May 14 - May 22Mackey Main Stage

External links

41.4842°N -81.8202°W

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Lakewood Little Theatre/Beck Center. 19 July 1997. 22 December 2015. Encyclopedia of Cleveland History. Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio.