CSU program is ‘win-win-win’ for student-critics, community theaters and local newspapers
Cleveland State University journalism students are critiquing the Northeast Ohio theater scene – and they’re earning rave reviews for their work.
For a prime example of Engaged Learning in action, look no further. Bob Abelman, Ph.D., a professor of media arts and technology in the CSU School of Communication, received a CSU Civic Engagement Grant to recruit and train a small corps of student-critics to review the productions of dozens of community theaters throughout the region. Delivered on tight deadlines, their write-ups run in print or online for several local media outlets, including the Cleveland Jewish News, The Chagrin Valley Times and The News-Herald.
“The students are not only learning to be arts journalists, but they’re also learning how to be critical thinkers and writers,” Dr. Abelman says.
This semester, the student-critics are (pictured above, from left) Eric Kish, Roman Macharoni and Gwendolyn Kochur. Completing the program in the fall were Tommy Carosielli and Nikolet Hermida.
Gwendolyn, a freshman who is studying journalism and film, recently reviewed Coach House Theatre’s production of Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap. She will be covering Cassidy Theatre’s Titanic: The Musical and East Cleveland Theater’s Blood Money, among others.
“I love doing it,” she says. “It’s wonderful to get exposure and start building a portfolio with your byline out there in different newspapers.”
For Gwendolyn, any given assignment begins with extensive background research on the show. During the performance, she takes copious notes. Afterwards, she spends a few more hours writing and fine-tuning her review.
The reviews are edited by Dr. Abelman, an award-winning theater critic himself for the Cleveland Jewish News. He was named best critic in Ohio last year by the Society of Professional Journalists and best columnist this year by the Associated Press. He also is the co-author of the book Refereeing the Muses, a theater criticism and arts journalism primer used in college writing courses across the country.
The student-critics receive academic credit as well as a stipend for their reviews through the grant program, which has just been renewed for another academic year.
Drew Rothman of the Chagrin Valley Little Theatre is one of many community theater publicity managers who applaud the initiative.
“The reviews have been well-composed and well thought-out,” he says. “Coverage of community theater in the area is always welcome, and having this program has been great. Most publications don’t have the staff for such things. Having the student reviewers – particularly under the tutelage of Bob, who I know to be the most honest, creative and reasonable critic in town – is a great expansion of quality exposure for us.”
Dr. Abelman calls it a “win-win-win” situation.
“The students gain valuable experience, the community theater artists receive some well-deserved attention and the newspapers get fair and accurate reviews at no cost,” he says.
“If these students go on to become arts journalists, they’ll be exceptionally well-equipped to take on those important positions. If not, they’ll still be deeper thinkers and better writers. Those skills will come in handy no matter which careers they choose.”
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