As the Stage Turned: A History of the Front Row Theater
Cleveland Stories Dinner Parties
Storyteller: Jeannie Emser Schultz
Doors open at 5:00pm, with the storytelling beginning promptly at 7:00pm
- Weekly series combining great food with great stories about Cleveland’s past
- FREE ADMISSION – NO COVER CHARGE
- In addition to our regular menu, we will be offering affordable specials on these nights
Story topic this week…
As the Stage Turned: A History of the Front Row Theater
Sammy Davis, Jr. opened it. Luther Vandross closed it. During the 19 years in between, a who’s who of the world’s top entertainers and speakers performed on the novel revolving stage of the Front Row Theatre, from Liberace to Alice Cooper, Jay Leno to Jerry Seinfeld, Marlene Dietrich to Dolly Parton, Presidents Ford and Carter and culinary grand dame Julia Child. Many were unknown opening acts, like Whitney Houston. Another, the legendary Roy Orbison, would unknowingly perform the final concert of his life there.
As the Stage Turned: A Front Row Theatre Memoir captures the dynamic energy that sprung from one of the most unique entertainment venues in the country – a theater-in-the-round located in the sleepy suburb of Highland Heights, just outside of Cleveland.
Hear a detailed and behind-the-scenes firsthand journey of the almost 20-year history of what was considered one of America’s most significant entertainment venues while you revisit your own fond memories of a lost Cleveland classic.
Jeannie Emser Schultz Bio
Jeannie Emser Schultz’s career began as a Cleveland Plain Dealer feature writer and Sunday columnist (under the byline Jeannie Simons). Her work took her to Los Angeles annually for performer article interviews, leading to her hire as a Beverly Hills entertainment publicist. Jeannie’s client roster would include Frank Sinatra, Bob Newhart, Debbie Reynolds, The Joey Bishop Late Night Talk Show, Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In plus various films and national syndicated TV shows.
Following a two-year move to Kodiak, Alaska to work as a NCIS case writer, Jeannie returned to Cleveland to accept the position of Dir. of Marketing & Publicity for rock promoter Belkin Productions (now Live Nation). Opening of the new theatre-in-the-round, the Front Row Theatre, began her 19-year tenure as its Marketing/Publicity Director. The Front Row’s ’93 closing and business move to Playhouse Square continued Jeannie’s publicity/marketing duties for performers and speakers at the largest performing arts complex outside New York City.
As The Stage Turned: A Front Row Theatre Memoir is Jeannie’s second book; she is also the author of Playhouse Square: An Entertaining History. Recently retired from Playhouse Square, she is presently a feature writer for several local Cleveland publications. Born in Toledo, she earned her BA in Communications from Ohio University with continuing studies at UCLA. She resides in the Cleveland suburb of Bratenahl, with her husband, marketing executive Tim Schultz.
The goal of the Cleveland Stories Dinner Party is to bring to life some of the fun, interesting stories about Cleveland’s past – from sports, to rock ‘n roll, to Millionaire’s Row, — the series will focus on tidbits from Cleveland’s past that will really thrill the audience. The Music Box is presenting this series in partnership with the Western Reserve Historical Society’s new Cleveland History Center. We think the Cleveland History Center is one of the most important museums in Cleveland. An unknown gem that Clevelanders should know more about, and support. It is the only museum in Cleveland dedicated to preserving and documenting the history of Cleveland. The Cleveland History Center includes two mansions, the Crawford Auto Aviation Museum, Chisholm Halle Costume Wing, Research Library, Kidzibits Hands-On Gallery, rotating exhibitions, and the Euclid Beach Park Grand Carousel.
See all Cleveland Stories dates here.
