The Bowser-like entrance of Exxopolis at PlayhouseSquare’s International Children’s Festival

Last night, Scott and I stepped off the streets of Cleveland into an alien world. I can’t do it justice, but what looked a little like Bowser’s Super Mario World Castle from the outside, on the inside was like walking through a series of gigantic balloons.

If you were down in PlayhouseSquare yesterday, you may have seen them setting it up in the parking lot across the street and wondered what it is.

A crew member from Architects of Air, which designed and tours Exxopolis around the world

It’s Exxopolis, a special interactive exhibit designed by Great Britain’s Architects of Air. And it’s open today through Saturday (May 9, 10 and 11) as part of PlayhouseSquare’s International Children’s Festival.

Since 1992, the Architects of Air have been constructing luminaria like Exxopolis in 28 countries across the world.  Over 2 million visitors have been immersed in these mazes of light and color that the Architects create from pieces of thin plastic cut-and-glued together by hand. While only 4 colors of plastic are used, it’s the light from the sun that creates the wide prism of colors experienced at Exxopolis.

Exxopolis’ colors change slightly throughout the day depending on how much sun is shining.

When Scott and I first entered, it took a few moments for our eyes to adjust to our vibrant surroundings.

If you’ve ever imagined what Oz’s Emerald City might look like, double it. It was beautiful.

You’re soaked in green as soon as you enter Exxopolis

Because the plastic material runs all around, above, and beneath you, you do need to take off your shoes when you walk through (tip: bring socks or stockings). However, I found it helps immerse you in the moment – the plastic is so soft. It’s like walking on a cloud.

There are tunnels, caverns and domes throughout — all different colors, each eliciting a different emotion from me. We walked the maze, taking a few moments to marvel at the architecture and the artistry, and to just lie back in one of the pods and relax a bit.

Kicking back and relaxing at Exxopolis

In all honesty, I didn’t want to leave. Fortunately, it’s only $5 to enter and is open throughout the next couple of days.

(Side note: Even though it’s here as part of the Children’s Festival, Exxopolis is designed for people of all ages. If you work or can get downtown this week/weekend, I encourage everyone to check it out.)

You’ll marvel not just at the colors, but also the beautiful architecture inside Exxopolis.

I’m glad I was able to get a look at Exxopolis last night because I can’t make it to the other days of PlayhouseSquare’s International Children’s Festival this year.

I’ve had the joy of volunteering at prior years’ festivals through Partners and love seeing families from around the region come downtown and experience such unique and enriching live theatre – many for the first time.

The International Children’s Festival takes over PlayhouseSquare the next few days. Here’s a window painting of Grug, one of the shows featured at the Festival.

Although the Festival kicks into high gear on Saturday, there are a few things you can check out today and Friday. In addition to Exxopolis, there’s a local Art Walk, and performances of three of the Festival’s shows: Grug (from Australia’s Windmill Theatre); The Girl Who Forgot to Sing Badly (Ireland’s Theatre Lovett); and ZooZoo (Imago Theatre).

ZooZoo sounds particularly incredible. From PlayhouseSquare’s website, think “Cirque Du Soleil-evoking acrobatics mixed with Mummenschanz-like mime, set in a unique, yet accessible, French-influenced, avant-garde playground. ZooZoo is penguins playing musical chairs, a cat trapped in a giant paper bag, hippos with insomnia, anteaters as waiters, and a madcap revue of illusion, comedy and fun that has inspired audiences nationwide.”

On Saturday, you can catch more performances of those shows PLUS The Adventures of Alvin Sputnik: Deep Sea Explorer; free activities and workshops for children; and short children’s films from around the globe playing in the Idea Center 11am-4:30pm.

Had to get one last photo in our favortie room of Exxopolis

Tickets for the four shows are $15 each and admission into Exxopolis is only $5 – the Festival’s other activities are free.

Find the full schedule along with links to buy tickets at playhousesquare.org/childrensfestival/schedule.html.

Disclosure: I was invited to attend with a guest the media preview of Exxopolis in exchange for sharing my experience. I am also a member of PlayhouseSquare’s young professionals board. However, my opinions and the events I choose to blog about are my own.

In honor of the International Children's Festival's theme, I was happy to share my experience from this weekend on PoiseInParma.com

This past weekend I was really happy to be able to volunteer at the 2nd Annual International Children’s Festival through PlayhouseSquare Partners.

So when blend (blogger friend) Alicia from Poise in Parma asked me to guest blog during her crazy busy May, I knew immediately I wanted to blog about my experience at the Festival and my involvement in Partners.

Read the post here: Guest Post: Clue Into Cleveland on PlayhouseSquare Partners.

One of the reasons Alicia is so busy this month is that as the Director of Special Events for the Northeastern Ohio Chapter of the Arthritis Foundation, she’ll be rocking out the 17th annual Cleveland Magazine Silver Spoon Awards Party, whose proceeds benefit the Arthritis Foundation.

The strolling food and wine tasting event on May 26 at the Cleveland Marriott Downtown will feature thirty of Northeast Ohio’s best restaurants and eight international wineries (check out the full list of participating restaurants).

General admission tickets are $85/VIP tickets are $135 which go to support local programs and services for the nearly one and a half million Northeast Ohioans with doctor-diagnosed arthritis and the critical arthritis research conducted at local institutions in Northeastern Ohio.

You can purchase Silver Spoon tickets here and should follow Alicia on Poise in Parma as she shares her journey to find balance in this crazy town between her family, career, food, fitness and one amazing golden retriever, as well as the discoveries she makes in Believeland along the way.

And, if you haven’t entered my Mini Golf Par-Tee giveaway, you have until 11:59pm on Wednesday.  Twitter users can get an extra entry each day for tweeting  so if you’ve already entered – you have 3 more chances to tweet it today, Tuesday and Wednesday. Good luck!

Putt your way around the Palace Theatre at the Mini Golf Par-Tee! (photo provided by Molly Franz, Partners Coordinator at PlayhouseSquare)

… May’s a busy month at PlayhouseSquare with Partners’ Mini Golf Par-Tee and the week-long International Children’s Festival …

Although the next PlayhouseSquare Partners’ Jump Back Ball is almost a year away, the young professionals group is busy hosting a number of other great, upcoming events for Cleveland.  While some of these are theater-related, our committees like Social and Membership work hard to create a variety of events that appeal to different audiences.

One of these events, in particular, promises to be a unique and fun night out: the 2nd annual PlayhouseSquare Partners’ Mini Golf Par-Tee.

That’s right — mini golf.  And not just mini golf, but mini golf set up throughout the beautiful Palace Theatre.

I’d heard stories of last year’s mini golf night since I joined Partners so I’m really happy to share that this event (like many of Partners’ events) is open to the public.

On Tuesday, May 17th, join me from 5:30 – 8 pm in playing 9 holes of mini golf set up throughout the historic Palace lobby. Once the flagship of B.F. Keith’s vaudeville chain, today the Palace hosts shows, comedians (like Jon Stewart on Saturday night), and the Cinema at the Square classic film series in the summer.

While putt-ing yourself around the lobby, you’ll have the chance to win prizes at each hole. Additionally, there will be raffle prizes including gift certificates to a number of area restaurants (foodies rejoice!).

If digital golf is more your thing, Wii Golf will be projected on a big screen. Current Partners will also be excited to know that the New Partner of the Year and Partner of the Year awards will be announced that night.

Because playing golf (even mini golf) can work up an appetite, your ticket gets you complimentary beer courtesy of Labatt and Sammy’s “Clubhouse” catering.

Tickets are $30, but if you’re a Partner (or become a Partner), there is the discounted rate of $20. Hole sponsorships are also available at $50 and $100. Hole sponsors will be entered into a special drawing for prizes including a Sony Blu-Ray player.

Tickets and hole sponsorships can be purchased by calling Partners coordinator Molly Franz at 216-348-5265 or emailing franzm@playhousesquare.org.

Since this will be my first time attending the Mini Golf Par-Tee, I asked Kevin Ropenus and Joni Todd who co-chair the Social Committee to share a bit on what we can expect:

The Par-Tee is PlayhouseSquare Partners’ marquee spring event that culminates a year filled with social gatherings. It allows partygoers an opportunity to network socially with old friends and new acquaintances while enjoying a fun filled evening of music, food, drinks, raffle prizes and of course miniature golf.”

And when you’re at the Par-Tee, stop by the Membership Table where I’ll be hanging out for part of the evening to say hi and learn more about the Partners young professionals group. Donor levels start at $50 per person/$75 a couple and get you lots of benefits.

In addition to the Mini Golf Par-Tee and a full line-up of shows in May, PlayhouseSquare will host the 2nd Annual International Children’s Festival.  From May 2nd – 7th, the week-long festival presented by Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital will feature live performances from around the world, a world stage featuring local artists, and interactive activities to give schools, families, and children an enriching and unique live theater experience.

“Celebrating the world we share” is the theme for this year’s event and perfectly reflects what I believe should be at the core of every major theatre organization — sharing the arts with children and getting them engaged in the community at an early age.  Subsequently, I’m happy that a number of the Festival activities, such as the 14th Street World Stage, Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital Wellness Walk, “OM” Comes Home and Art Walk, will be free of charge.

Additionally, on Saturday, May 7, PlayhouseSquare Partners will be assisting with the free children’s workshops thanks to the hard work of the Partners Education Committee. These fun take-home activities will take place in the Idea Center Miller Classrooms from 11 am- 5pm.

After the success of the inaugural International Children’s Festival which saw more than 12,000 students and families participate in 2010, I’m looking forward to volunteering and seeing the event continue to grow this year.

PlayhouseSquare Partners Events 411:

• Mini Golf Par-Tee
• International Children’s Festival
• Join PlayhouseSquare Partners
• @playhousesquare
• PlayhouseSquare on Facebook