No one can make you forget about the late, great Robin Williams, who in the 1993 movie “Mrs. Doubtfire” portrays Daniel Hillard, a struggling voice actor who, after a divorce, disguises himself as a European nanny and housekeeper, Euphegenia Doubtfire, to remain involved in his kids’ lives.

That said, McClure — who inhabited the dual role in the show’s ill-fated, COVID-19-hampered Broadway production — is likewise skilled at physical comedy and is easily the biggest reason this “Mrs. Doubtfire” is a crowd-pleaser from beginning to end.

‘Mrs. Doubtfire’ music director Binns recalls special time at Playhouse Square

He’s pretty fun merely as Daniel, a guy with a gift for humor — at least some think so — and an unquestionable love for his kids: older daughter Lydia (Giselle Gutierrez), young son Christopher (a role shared by Cody Sawyer Braverman and Axel Bernard Rimmele) and youngest child Natalie (Emerson Mae Chan and Kennedy Pitney). However, his wife, Miranda — portrayed by Maggie Lakis, McClure’s real-life spouse — is tired of feeling like he will never grow up.

“He has three kids,” she says early on in the show. “I have four.”

When a birthday party for Christopher that Miranda insisted need not to be a big affair goes off the rails with Daniel at the controls, it’s the nail in the coffin of the marriage.

When he learns Miranda, who’s busy trying to launch a clothing line, is hunting for a nanny, he turns to a pair of makeup artists — his brother, Frank (Aaron Kaburick), and Frank’s partner, Andre Mayem (Nik Alexander) to turn him into a woman. They use a humorous collection of legendary women — and just a bit of Oscar Wilde — as the inspiration for the woman Daniel ultimately decides to call Mrs. Doubtfire, who hails from Scotland.

That the show is so enjoyable isn’t all that surprising when you consider its creative team: Brothers Wayne Kirkpatrick and Karey Kirkpatrick wrote the music and lyrics, with the book being the work of John O’Farrell and Karey. That’s the trio largely responsible for another consistently entertaining, often uproarious musical, “Something Rotten!”

As with those of that show, the songs of “Mrs. Doufbtfire” aren’t necessarily the type you’ll be playing for days in your car, but they do serve the story well. And a couple of them are the backbones of cleverly choreographed stand-out musical numbers.

The first is Act One’s “Easy Peasy,” when Daniel — trying to find his way through his first day on the job as Mrs. Doubtfire — turns to a certain digital assistant to help him figure out how to cook a promised nutritional meal for the kids. (When you hear how many times “Hey Siri” is said, you understand why the production puts its back into a humorous pre-show request, which continues even after the curtain is drawn, to silence all phones in the theater.) It’s hilarious stuff, thanks in no small part to the show’s talented ensemble, most of which whirls around him dressed as chefs.

The other is the climactic “He Lied to Me,” led by a flamenco singer (Lannie Rubio) at a restaurant where Daniel is switching between his identities, with the help of Frank and Andre, for the benefit of two distinct parties. No doubt veteran theater director Jerry Zaks (“Little Shop of Horrors,” “A Bronx Tale”) earned his money figuring out how to stage this complicated sequence.

While “Mrs. Doubtfire” scores with these big moments, it also wins with the little ones. The Natalie character gets a couple of early laughs thanks to what we’ll call the show’s family-friendly-but-with-an-edge vibe, while Frank and, later on, nephew Christopher earn chuckles with the habit of shouting whenever they’re lying.

Seriously, it’s funny every time.

This “Doubtfire” sticks with the major story beats of the movie but does inject some modern updates, such as the aforementioned “Hey Siri” affair, the nanny taking control of the home’s “wee-fee” to control the children’s screen time and Daniel impressing a TV station executive with a bit of wizardry on a digital loop machine.

That’s all well and fine, but this show goes as McClure — nominated for a Tony Award for “Mrs. Doubtfire” and more than a decade ago for “Chaplin” — goes. And, man, he just goes and goes and goes.

Rob McClure has extra pair of hands for quick changes of ‘Mrs. Doubtfire’

We can only imagine that he collapses into a heap backstage after helping earn the company that standing ovation, as, yes, he did during a recent performance at the Connor Palace.

Take a bow, Mr. McClure. And then, by all means, take a nap.

‘Mrs. Doubtfire’

Continues through Jan. 23 at Playhouse Square’s Connor Palace, 1615 Euclid Ave., Cleveland. For tickets, $49 to $149, visit PlayhouseSquare.org or call 216-241-6000.

You want to hire a star dresser, a person devoted to helping Rob McClure — the actor who plays Daniel Hillard and his alter ego, Scottish nanny Euphegenia Doubtfire, and has been with the show since its debut in Seattle in 2019 and through its Broadway run in 2021 and ’22, after being shut down in March 2020 during previews — through a performance’s myriad costume changes.

You probably ask yourself a question: “Well, who’s done that job on the road with ‘Tootsie’?”

The answer — or at least an answer — is Dylan A. Blussick, who spent a year on tour with “Tootsie” helping a performer change in and out of male and female outfits before jumping to “Mrs. Doubtfire,” which is about to start a three-week stint at the Connor Palace in Cleveland as part of Playhouse Square’s KeyBank Broadway Series.

“That was definitely part of the discussion,” Blussick says during a recent phone interview. “When I first was interviewing about the show and I was talking with the producers and the production company about ‘Tootsie,’ they were asking me questions about how we were doing, how we were executing (the musical) across the country.”

With a Broadway show, he says, a production typically has the luxury of being in one house for its entire run.

“(On tour), every theater and venue space is different, so finding that consistency in the way that you set up all your costumes and set up your space so that you’re keeping consistency for the performer is very important, too,” He says. “That way, it doesn’t feel like a new show every time the performer’s doing it because that can get kind of hectic.”

Blussick resides in Pittsburgh, where he grew up and started on the path to his eventual career as an actor at age 5.

“At a very young age, I was producing my own shows for the neighborhood,” he says, “and doing the costumes, producing ticket sales … (and decided) that this kind of career was for me.”

Eventually, he figured out what his niche would be.

“(I have) always had a passion for clothing and an engineer brain of how clothes are made, so costuming seemed like the perfect choice,” Blussick says.

When he’s not on the road, he works on Broadway tours that come through town and TV and film productions shot there, such as the Paramount+ series “Mayor of Kingstown” and the recently released Netflix film “Rustin.” In fact, while working on the latter, he and others made trips to Cleveland to hit up vintage clothing stores, including Sweet Lorain, in search of pieces for the 1960s-set movie about Civil Rights figure Bayard Rustin (Colman Domingo).

“Mrs. Doubtfire” is his third tour, following Disney on Ice’s ‘Into the Magic” and “Tootsie.”

As for the current gig, developing what is, out of necessity, an intimate relationship with McClure — whose wife, Maggie Lakis, performs opposite him as Daniel’s wife, Miranda — was the first priority.

“I met Rob during our technical rehearsal in Buffalo, and, yeah, we just dove right into doing this show together,” Blussick says. “And Rob, of course, did the role on Broadway and knew what he was signing up for, but it was all kind of a new process for me, and Rob was so gracious in letting me explore my way of doing the show with him.

“We found our groove of doing the show because you have to be in sync with each other. And, you know, it has to be enjoyable because you’re going to be doing it for the next year.”

Blussick refers to himself as “the man behind the magic.”

“The whole premise of (the show) is (McClure) changing from Daniel Hillard to Mrs. Doubtfire, so there has to be somebody that just takes care of Rob McClure as Daniel and Mrs. Doubtfire so that the magic quick changes can be executed flawlessly every night,” he says. “There’s so much that could go wrong.”

He has the numbers to back that up:

— 31 changes for McClure per performance

— The Mrs. Doubtfire character wears seven dresses, six body suits, three cardigans, five pairs of Oxford heels, one pair of sneakers — “You’ll have to see the show to know why she’s wearing sneakers,” he says — one pair of glasses, two pairs of earrings, five wigs and one prosthetic mask

— And then Daniel wears jeans, polos, blazers, different pairs of shoes, etc.

Oh, and the tour recently passed the 100-performance marker, if you want to bring multiplication into this mathematical mix.

It’s safe to say McClure has earned a fan in Blussick, who says the actor is masterful on stage.

“I not only love and enjoy working with Rob, but anytime we’re not doing a change together — which is pretty rare in this show — I’m not only watching him on stage for his safety but I’m watching him because what he’s putting out to the audience … is incredible. I’m in awe every night,” he says. “There’s not one single show that he isn’t giving his all, and he’s also just a really genuine and super-kind human. And that makes all the difference when you’re spending a year together.”

For his performance in New York, McClure earned nominations from the Drama Desk Awards, Outer Critics Circle Awards and Tony Awards.

“Mrs. Doubtfire” largely is the work of the folks behind the popular musical “Something Rotten,” each show boasting music and lyrics by brothers Wayne Kirkpatrick and Karey Kirkpatrick and a book by Karey and John O’Farrell.

The North American Tour required the cast and crew to work through the holidays, Blussick speaking from the stop in St. Louis the week between Christmas and New Year’s after “Doubtfire” performances through Christmas Eve in Minneapolis and a travel day on Christmas.

“I’m kind of used to it at this point,” he says. “I love what I do so much, so it really is so much fun that you don’t even have time to think about it.”

The production did fit in a gift exchange and holiday party, he says.

“It brings the company together — you know, because we create our own little family on the road.”

As you would imagine, this show — which Blussick calls “a Christmas gift” — has been a draw for families.

“To (see them) enjoy it as a family for the holiday season is something so special to me,” he says. “There is a different energy because there’s so much excitement around the holidays and everybody’s just happy to be there and enjoying time together.”

‘Mrs. Doubtfire’

Where: Playhouse Square’s Connor Palace, 1615 Euclid Ave.Cleveland.

When: Jan 9 through 28.

Tickets: $39 to $139.

Info: PlayhouseSquare.org or 216-241-6000.

The auditions will take place  at 5 p.m., Jan 5, and 1 p.m., Jan 7, at the Workshop Players.

Inspired by his experience on jury duty, author Reginald Rose set “12 Angry Men” in 1957 and takes viewers through the experience of a jury deliberating the case of a teenage boy who killed his father.

Dave MacKeigan, director of the production, said auditions for “12 Angry Jurors” will include cold readings from the script.

Anyone interested must either be 21 years of age or look 21, MacKeigan said.

“Back in 1957, you had to be 21 to vote, so you would only be on a jury if you were 21 or older,” he said.

MacKeigan said he is looking for 12 people to perform in the production.

Experience or not, anyone interested in auditioning, is encouraged to attend, he said.

“I don’t have any fear of bringing new people into the theater, bringing new people on stage,” MacKeigan said. “I’ve done it numerous times as a director.”

The story follows the jury deliberating and coming to an 11-1 vote in favor of a guilty verdict, according to MacKeigan.

The one opposing juror tries to persuade the others, who are from all different backgrounds, to change their votes while they reflect on their own experiences.

The focus is on that single juror who is “openly bitter and prejudiced” and it goes through the process of changing the minds of the other jurors, MacKeigan said.

“It kind of stands out today, with all of the different prejudices and stereotypes,” he said. “I personally would like to see people walk away with ‘we shouldn’t judge people based on no background knowledge.’ ”

Although times have not yet been announced, dates for the production are March 14-17 and March 22-24.

As the oldest theater-in-the-round in Ohio, Workshop Players board member Pat Price said the facility once was a one-room schoolhouse built in the late 1800s.

The group has performed there since 1951, Price said.

“We’re in a former one-room schoolhouse, so the experience at workshop is different than most other theaters,” she said. “The actors are literally inches away from the audience.”

Founded by teacher Valerie Jenkins Gertzenberger, Workshop Players is in its 75th year of performing.

The Workshop Players started off performing in Grange Hall, churches and homes to provide entertainment for the community, according to Price.

Jenkins Gertzenberger, who frequently had organized plays at Clearview High School, started the group when a student suggested putting on shows outside of school, Price said.

“It’s community theater, and we do have some people that we would consider regulars who come often because they consider it their home theater,” she said. “We have had people who have been coming regularly since the 60s.”

In the early 2000s, Price said the group signed a 100-year lease to keep productions going for decades.

“We plan to keep going”, she said. “We want to provide quality theater, fine entertainment.”

In addition to dramas, the theater group produces comedies and shows for children, as well as some seasonal events, Price said.

For more information on auditions and Workshop Players, visit workshopplayers.org.

Those two beliefs will come together for the theater’s first production in 2024.

Premiering in March, the Outside Circle Theater Project will put on “The Downside” in Lorain County. Anderson-White said auditions for the play will take place Jan. 6 at the Lorain Public Library Main Branch, 351 W. Sixth St. in Lorain.

“The Downside” is a play about aging, community, loss and love, written by Molly McFadden and directed by Carla Daniels Valles.

Anderson-White and the production team at Outside Circle want to use the auditions, and their production of “The Downside” as a whole, to inspire change in the community. They said that the play hopes to bring underrepresented voices to the forefront of Lorain County.

“Outside Circle Theater Project is dedicated to educating and generating discussions about history, social justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion through producing live theater works that reflect the diverse and under-represented voices of the Lorain County community,” the group stated.

In her quest to showcase the community’s underrepresented voices, Anderson-White and Outside Circle sponsored a playwriting contest, she said. The winner, Molly McFadden, is now having her play produced by the theater company in their first production.

“What we assumed we would get is pieces on marginalization, minority issues, but what we got and what we are totally thankful for… is that we got about a play by a lady in her 70s, Molly McFadden, who wrote about aging,” Anderson-White said. “How fortuitous for us to say, well, this is for underrepresented voices.”

In order to bring about that change and showcase diversity in the community, Anderson-White and the production team will need to blaze a trail of their own. Anderson-White noted that the forum that they are looking to create will be the first of its kind in the county.

“We put our first project out… We asked anybody who wanted to showcase their work,” Anderson-White said. “If you’re not already published, or if you’re new, or if you have something to say and you’re nervous about it, or you’re shy, or you think you’re marginalized… Then this is open for you.”

Auditions for Outside Circle Theater Project’s production of “The Downside” will take place from noon to 5 p.m. on Jan. 6. Those looking to audition must sign up at www.signupgenius.com. Those looking to donate to Outside Circle Theater Project should visit ioby.org.

This year’s production, “Murder … Country Style,” written by Eileen Moushey, a freelance writer and director, follows a family of country singers when tragedy strikes, according to Barb Fieger, president of the Friends of the Metro Parks of Lorain County and director of the Murder Mystery production.

“It’s about a family of country singers getting ready to perform a show and, you know, stuff happens,” Fieger said. “We pick a different script every year.”

Acting experience is not required to audition, she said.

Actors will read a cold reading from the script during auditions, Fieger said.

For this show specifically, all actors must be 18 years or older, she said.

“No experience necessary,” Fieger said. “A lot of years, we get somebody with no experience.”

After auditions, rehearsals for the show will take place all the way until the first show, she said.

The event will consist of a dinner provided by Sterk’s Catering of Oberlin, followed by the show, Fieger said.

Audience members will be able to interact by trying to solve the mystery, she said.

“The patrons of the show then have to look at some clues and try and decide who done it,” Fieger said. “People like the challenge of trying to figure out who done it, looking at some clues and trying to figure out who the actual murderer was.”

Every year, the show has multiple dates taking place the last weekend in April and the first weekend of May, she said.

“This is probably our 19th year of doing this,” Fieger said. “We came up with this, and since then, we’ve done it every year.”

Tickets go on sale Feb. 15, with the first show April 26, she said.

When suggestions came in for a murder mystery-style show, Fieger said the group decided to not only help financially support the Lorain County Metro Parks, but to also allow community members to volunteer in the acting of the event.

“It’s all volunteer; everybody’s a volunteer,” she said. “It gives people in the community the opportunity to be entertained, and have a nice evening out and still support the Metro Parks in a really fun way.”

Since 1986, Friends of the Metro Parks has supported through “man power” and monetary donations to the parks in Lorain County, according to Fieger.

To get more information or an alternate audition time, call 216-544-3865.

Alas, there were a number of celebrity couples who presumably went through “sheer agony” in 2023. And, maybe one of the partners retreated to a glamorous resort destination to “suffer for a couple weeks.”

Were there more celebrity break-ups in 2023 than in years past?  It sure seems like it, given that a number of these splits felt genuinely shocking and dominated headlines for days, weeks, even months. Some involved A-list stars in seemingly happy unions. Others were particularly messy and litigious. In two notable cases, the shock came from the world learning that these long-term couples had separated years earlier but had yet to divorce.

Here’s a roundup of some of the painful celebrity uncouplings.

Hugh Jackman & Deborra-Lee Furness

‘Our journey is now shifting’

Rumors always swirled around this amiable Australian duo: Jackman was younger than Furness by 13 years and so very handsome, charming and into musical theater.

Furness often laughed off the rumors that Jackman was gay, and the couple stuck it out for 27 years, long enough to lead many to conclude that theirs couldn’t be a marriage of convenience. They also had two children and always appeared to be loving and in synch when they appeared together in public.

So, news of their separation came as a genuine shock. They continued to show their love by describing their separation as the result of two people who simply grew apart. One could say that their breakup was a textbook “gray divorce.”

“Our journey now is shifting,” Jackson and Furness said in a statement. “We undertake this next chapter with gratitude, love, and kindness.”

Joe Jonas & Sophie Turner

Mom-shaming and transatlantic litigiousness until Taylor Swift swoops in

Joe Jonas, or his people, learned the hard way that you don’t try to bad-mouth the Queen of the North, especially when she has a powerful friend like Taylor Swift.

Stunning news came in early September that the singer and the “Game of Thrones” star were headed for divorce after just four years of marriage. Things quickly turned ugly as Jonas filed for divorce in Miami, while Turner was in her native U.K. working on a TV series. People in Jonas’ orbit apparently leaked the idea that she was hard-partying 27-year-old and absentee mother who had left the doting father to take care of their young daughters while he and his brothers were on tour.

Turner hit back, filing a federal lawsuit, stating that she was the girls’ primary caregiver and alleging that her estranged American husband was “wrongfully” keeping their two young daughters in the United States.

By early October, temperatures had cooled, with the spouses reaching a temporary agreement to share equal time with the girls through the end of the year. Turner notably would be allowed to have the girls with her in England for the holidays. In a joint statement, the estranged couple said they looked “forward to being great co-parents.”

We’ll probably never know what prompted Jonas, especially, to back down. But perhaps Taylor Swift, whom he once briefly dated, had something to do with it. The most famous woman on the planet swooped in and anointed Turner her new BFF, let her stay at her New York townhouse and invited her to publicized power dinners with other famous women. Swifties were only too happy to rally for Turner and try to bury Jonas’ reputation on social media, reminding him that he probably was the inspiration for Swift’s lacerating song about a “casually cruel” boyfriend called “Mr. Perfectly Fine.”

Taylor Swift & Joe Alwyn

Making room for Travis Kelce

Not a whole lot to say that hasn’t already been said, but Swift surprisingly ditched her very English boyfriend Alwyn after six years of dating, and, after a dalliance with another skinny Brit — singer Matty Healy — propelled herself into the arms of Kelce, a robust, 6-foot-5-inch American football hero. With the two-time Super Bowl winner, the billionaire pop mega-star and Time Person of the Year is poised to conquer new territory: The world of the celebrity super couple.

Kevin Costner & Christine Baumgartner

Life-styles of the rich, famous and acquisitive

When Christine Baumgartner, the “Yellowstone” star’s wife of nearly 19 years, filed for divorce in May, no one could have predicted that their divorce would get so messy, costly and embarrassing.

During the nearly six-month court battle, Costner, Baumgartner and their high-priced attorneys battled over property, child support, legal fees, a prenuptial agreement and her avowed need to keep their three, teenage children in a lifestyle “to which they had become accustomed” — which included private-jet travel and resort vacations.

In the beginning of the mess, Costner had to get a judge to order Baumgartner to leave their $145 million Pacific Ocean-front estate near Santa Barbara, citing the prenuptial they signed before the 2004 wedding. She re-located to a $40,000-per-month rental home in Montecito, with a pool, jacuzzi and manicured gardens. But it still didn’t quite meet her specifications, as she revealed in court. She tearfully testified that her children wouldn’t be able to live on the water and enjoy Costner’s beach-club estate when they stayed with her in Montecito.

When she initially demanded $248,000 a month in child support, Costner’s team hit back with accusations that she’d use some of that money for a personal trainer and cosmetic surgery. Baumgartner at one point also asked for Costner to cover her $855,000 in legal fees and revealed he had a net worth of $400 million. Things got especially petty when the estranged spouses squabbled over exactly which pots, pans and other items she could remove from the house.

In mid-September, Costner and Baumgartner reached a settlement under terms which were not disclosed. But it’s understood that she’ll get around on $63,000 a month in child support — far less than she was asking — but more than the $1 million settlement outlined in the prenup.

Britney Spears & Sam Asghari

More amicable than you’d expect 

When Britney Spears and Sam Asghari announced they were separating after one year of marriage, the tabloids went into overdrive looking for dirt, hoping to confirm that their doomed relationship represented yet another sad and upsetting chapter in the singer’s sad and upsetting life.

Spears and Asghari didn’t exactly have the healthiest start. They began dating under under the specter of her 13-year conservatorship, which was imposed after she suffered a mental breakdown. Spears’ father, Jamie, controlled pretty much all aspects of her personal and professional life. Asghari proposed when the conservatorship was still in force, though they were able to wed in June 2022, seven months after it was dissolved.

Some speculated that Spears had suffered trauma during the conservatorship and was perhaps worse off without its oversight, Vox reported. The media wrote that her behavior was growing increasingly erratic, even as Asghari was portrayed as her “rock.” But soon, reports spread that Spears and Asghari were getting into frequent screaming fights and that she frequently “got physical” with him.

When TMZ broke the news in August that Spears and Asghari were separating, the outlet also reported that he thought the singer was cheating on him. Page Six claimed that Asghari threatened “to go public with extraordinarily embarrassing information about Britney,” unless she agreed to renegotiate the terms of their prenuptial agreement so that he would get more money.

Since then, Asghari hasn’t been moved to spill secrets. On the contrary, the exes seem to be on OK terms. In Spears’ memoir, “The Woman in Me,” she portrayed him as “a gift from God” who took care of her and helped her find the courage to fight her conservatorship. Asghari told TMZ in October that he was really moved and “freaking proud” that she wrote her best-seller. “I hope she takes over the world,” he said.

Cardi B & Offset

Breakup in the making? Again?

Every few months, something flares up in the roller-coaster marriage of Cardi B and Offset, which began in secret in 2017 and which has seen its share of cheating rumors, breakups and reconciliations.

The latest flare-up? The hip-hop couple recently unfollowed each other on Instagram, People reported. And you know what that means in celebrity world. The “Say My Grace” rapper also posted some cryptic messages on Instagram stories, including, “You know when you just out grow relationships.” She also said, “I’m of protecting peoples feelings…I GOTTA PUT MYSELF FIRST!”

Stay tuned.

Ariana Grande & Dalton Gomez

By way of a married Broadway actor few heard of 

It wasn’t that earth-shaking when Ariana Grande and her husband, Dalton Gomez, announced in July that they had separated after two years of marriage. Grande, after all, is known for cycling through relationships, and her marriage to the Los Angeles-based realtor carried that whiff of pandemic romance.

The shock came when rumors began to circulate that she had gotten herself into some kind of entanglement with Ethan Slater, a Broadway actor who is her co-star in the film version of “Wicked.” Reports said that Grande and Slater met on the set and began dating — even though Slater was married to Lilly Jay, the mother of his 1-year-old son. “It was obvious on the set from early on … they were very sweet to each other,” a source told People.

Insiders close to Grande insisted that she and Slater only got romantic after they had separated from their respective spouses. But after Slater filed for divorce, his estranged wife gave an angry interview to Page Six, in which she implied she was blindsided by the affair. She said, “My family is just collateral damage.” She reportedly said she later regretted making those remarks.

In September, sources said that the new couple were trying to quietly and “respectfully” navigate their relationship with each other and with “all parties involved.” In October, Us Weekly reported that Grande and Slater were living together in New York City. People also reported that Grande, who got her first break on Broadway, attended opening night for Slater’s new show, a revival of “Spamalot.”  A People source offered a reason that Grande could find Slater alluring: “She’s a theater kid at her core, so you see she really feels at peace being around Broadway.”

Jada Pinkett Smith & Will Smith

Jada Pinkett Smith made headlines and probably sold more copies of her memoir, “Worthy,” when she made the bombshell announcement in October that she and her megastar husband had been secretly separated for seven years.

That means that she and Smith were leading separate lives all those times they made a public show of being an emotionally evolved couple who had triumphed over challenges in their much-gossiped-about marriage — and when the actor plunged his career and family into turmoil by walking up on stage at the Academy Awards in 2022 and slapping Chris Rock. Jada Pinkett Smith added to people’s curiosity about her marital dynamic when she revealed they had no plans to divorce. “We love each other,” she told the Associated Press. “There’s no, ‘we’re going to get divorced.’ I’m not giving up on that dude. And he’s not giving up on me.”

A short time later, Meryl Streep confirmed that she, too, was in a similar, long-term separation arrangement from Don Gummer, her husband of 45 years. People reported that they had ended “the romantic nature” of their relationship six years earlier.

Streep’s personal life never generated much speculation, as it was assumed that the three-time Oscar winner was happily married to Gummer, a sculptor and the father of her four children. But as with the Smiths, people soon became curious about Streep’s marital dynamic. Her representative mysteriously shared with the media: “While they will always care for each other, they have chosen lives apart.”

Reese Witherspoon & Jim Toth

… And a “nefarious narrative” 

Reese Witherspoon reportedly never saw herself getting another divorce. But in March, she and second husband, former Hollywood agent Jim Toth, announced that they were divorcing after nearly 12 years together.

A narrative, which some observers called “nefarious,” soon emerged in the celebrity press: The marriage couldn’t accommodate Witherspoon’s overachieving ways. As the actor, producer and entrepreneur’s career took off in exciting and lucrative new directions in the 2010s, Toth’s “remained flat,” reports said. “She’s become so much more powerful than she was when they married and has expanded her areas of interest in so many ways,” a source told Page Six. Other reports pointed to a difference in temperaments: “Reese is headstrong and focused” while Toth “is more laidback.”

“The Morning Show” star may have married Toth in 2011 because he seemed like a “solid, dependable and stable guy,” offering a contrast to the turbulence she experienced in her marriage to Ryan Phillippe, Page Six said. But over time, the “spark” between Witherspoon and Toth faded. Meanwhile, friends insisted that there was “no drama” between them. In a statement, Witherspoon and Toth said: “We have enjoyed so many wonderful years together and are moving forward with deep love, kindness and mutual respect for everything we have created together.”

Joshua Jackson & Jodie Turner-Smith

How did Lupita Nyong’o come into this?

When Jodie Turner-Smith filed for divorce on Oct. 2 after four years of marriage, Joshua Jackson was “caught off guard” and left “baffled,” Us Weekly reported.

The “Dawson’s Creek” star knew they had their “issues,” but he didn’t think things had gotten “bad” enough to split. But to Turner-Smith, the relationship had become “unhealthy” and “she decided that she is done,” People reported.

As much as Jackson reportedly wasn’t ready to end his marriage, he seemed to move on pretty quickly. Some two weeks after Turner-Smith filed the paperwork, he was spotted at Janelle Monáe’s concert in Los Angeles, “standing close to” Lupita Nyong’o. The Oscar winner had just shared that she, too, was newly single. On Instagram, she said she was suffering “a season of heartbreak” after some kind of “deception” led to her split from TV host Selema Masekela, BuzzFeed News said. Turner-Smith also had some things to say on Instagram, sharing a cryptic message about how a “healed” person understands that the “actions of others have nothing do to with them.”

Fast-forward to this week. Jackson and Nyong’o were spotted grocery shopping Monday in Los Angeles but tried to hide the fact that they were together and a couple, TMZ said. But the next day in Joshua Tree, the two either were unaware the paparazzi were following, or they didn’t care. Photos shared by TMZ show the new lovebirds, holding hands and smiling while on a stroll through the desert town.

Sofia Vergara & Joe Manganiello

Who got Bubbles? 

No one expected that the surprise divorce announcement by Sofia Vergara and Joe Manganiello in July would get messy. But there was one issue over which tears might be shed: Who would get custody of Bubbles?

The 10-year-old dog, a Chihuahua/Pomeranian mix, initially was supposed to be Vergara’s pet. The “Modern Family” star brought Bubbles home shortly after their 2015 wedding. But Vergara herself admitted that Bubbles took an instant liking to Manganiello and always preferred his company. She described Bubbles as Manganiello’s “little daughter.” In turn, the “Magic Mike: XXL” star showered Bubbles with affection and often featured her in his social media posts.

Fortunately, the estranged spouses kept things friendly, and Vergara reportedly decided to let Manganiello have Bubbles. A source told Page Six: “Neither one of them is bitter or out for revenge, and Sofía loves Bubbles and wants her to be happy, which is precisely why she’s letting Joe have custody.”

Bijou Phillips & Danny Masterson

30 years to life and Scientology reportedly make it tough 

News that Bijou Phillips filed for divorce from Danny Masterson in September came as a shock to many, even though he had just been sentenced to 30 years to life in prison after he was convicted of two counts of rape. Still, Phillips publicly stood by her husband through his arrest on multiple rape charges, attended every day of his two trials and let out an anguished sob when a jury in the second trial found him guilty of rape.

Some legal experts speculated that the divorce filing was less a statement about Phillips’ feelings for the father of her 9-year-old daughter and more about the couple’s need to protect their assets in any civil court actions.

But a Daily Mail report in October cited a former member of the Church of Scientology, who said that Phillips’ decision may have been influenced by the Church of Scientology, of which she and Masterson were prominent long-time members. The Daily Mail said Masterson reportedly was expelled from the church after his sentencing and labeled a “suppressive person,” which means that other Scientolologists, including Phillips, need to cut ties with him.

Keke Palmer & Darius Jackson

Saying no to abuse and controlling behavior 

The first sign that Keke Palmer was in an unhealthy relationship with Darius Jackson was in July, after her boyfriend of two years publicly shamed her for wearing an outfit that he thought was too revealing for the mother of his son.

Jackson, who has an unspecified career in fitness and entertainment, made the comments after the “Nope” actor wore a black bodysuit to an Usher concert in Las Vegas. He doubled-down after social media backlash, writing: “This is my family & my representation! have standards & morals to what I believe.”

For the next four months, Palmer wouldn’t respond to reporters’ questions about the status of their relationship. But in November, she revealed the torment she said she had been living under. In a court filing, seeking a restraining order and full custody of their 10-month-old son, Leo, Palmer accused Jackson  of abusing her multiple times during their relationship.

In the “many instances of physical violence,” Palmer said Jackson destroyed her personal property, including her diaries and eyeglasses, and took her car keys to prevent her from driving away. She also said he hit her in front of their son, spewed profanities about her to their baby and threatened to kill himself with a gun if she left him.

“It is because of our son, Leo, that I was finally able to end my relationship with Darius once and for all and escape the abuse,” Palmer wrote in court documents, Page Six reported. “He needs and deserves to be safe and grow up in an environment free from violence.”

Shannen Doherty & Kurt Iswarienko

Divorce in the time of cancer 

The “Beverly Hills, 90210” alum and cancer advocate recently revealed that she learned her husband of 11 years had been cheating on her — just before she had to undergo surgery in January to remove a tumor from her brain.

“I went into that surgery early in the morning, and I went in after I found out that my marriage was essentially over, that my husband had been carrying on an affair for two years,” Doherty said this week in an episode of her new podcast. She said Iswarienko wanted to be at the hospital with her, but she told him no. “I couldn’t go into that surgery with him there. I felt so betrayed.”

After Doherty’s surgery, she and the photographer separated. Four months later, Doherty filed for divorce. This would be her third divorce, and the blow comes as she continues to receive treatment for cancer. Doherty was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015, then revealed in 2020 that she had been diagnosed with Stage 4 breast cancer. She has subsequently said that the cancer has spread to her brain and to her bones.

Even with her cancer struggles, Doherty said: “I don’t think I’m going to be single forever I have to love myself and reckon with the past, really, before I can move forward, and now I’m pretty sure I’ll meet somebody — hopefully soon.”

Some of us have grown up with the March sisters: Jo, Meg, Amy and Beth.

We’ve laughed with them and cried with them. We’ve gone on adventures with family friend Laurie and waited alongside mother Marmee for Mr. March to come home from the war.

This semi-autobiographical story has become part of the fabric of classic American literature. In fact, Alcott has been credited with creating a genre of writing and with giving readers a first look at “the all-American girl” across the characterization of all four sisters.

Sometimes, when something is so familiar, so much a part of us, it is hard to accept a new “take” on such beloved material. But this stage adaptation by Heather Chrisler is a master class in storytelling — and heartstring-tugging.

The Dobama production — boasting a female-and-non-binary cast, crew and creative team, according to Dobama Artistic Director Nathan Motta — is set in the family’s attic, beautifully erected to period perfection by scenic designer Laura Tarantowski.The cast consists of four talented women who spiritedly portray every role, bringing to the forefront the themes of family, loyalty and, especially, sisterhood.

As Jo (Theo Allyn) puts it herself, “I could never love anyone as I love my sisters.”

The attic is where hopes are born, dreams are realized and time marches on, regardless of whether Jo wants it to.

And the story of these sisters’ struggles and successes is playfully imagined using attic artifacts as props for their roleplay. A picture frame becomes a vehicle to show Amy falling through ice; balloons become her sketches, which are sometimes thrown away; and hula hoops allow Meg to have a charming hissy fit about making currant jam.

The sisters grow up before our eyes, and our hearts swell, our souls cry and our eyes smile under the careful and creative hand of director Melissa Crum.

Allyn is the ideal choice for the bold, budding writer, Jo. She is funny, tender and passionate in her portrayal, and she acts like a metronome for the piece, setting the pace and tone throughout the ebbs and flows of each character’s individual growth and relationship changes.

The other three actors each plays a male role in addition to her role as a sister.

Amaya Kiyomi throws on a top hat and aptly becomes Meg’s older suitor, John Brooke, but most of her stage time is spent as Amy. Kiyomi seamlessly and believably sheds Amy’s self-absorbed skin to reveal a more mature, confident and cultured young lady.

When Jo ventures to New York City to become a writer, Mariah Burks makes an appearance as Professor Baer, the man who encourages Jo to dig deeper as a writer (and who in the novel becomes the object of her affection). And as the sensible sister, Meg, Burks has a wonderfully calming, natural presence until she suddenly delights us with a burst of comedy, showing off her versatility.

Natalie Green effectively takes on the role of Laurie, Jo’s best pal, but also gracefully embodies the role of sweet, sensitive and tragic Beth. It feels as though Green has been plucked right out of the pages of the novel, bringing out our smiles and our tears with her emotional portrayal.

This is just a beautiful production in every way, from Chrisler’s innovative script, with her smart use of symbolism and effective messaging, to Crum’s detailed, thoughtful direction to Tarantowski’s useful and inviting set, enhanced by Josee Coyle’s warm lighting. Plus, Colleen Bloom’s costumes transport us to another era.

All of that aids the perfectly cast team of actors, who stand out as individuals but also command the stage as a sisterhood.

During a time when many of us are looking for an escape from what feels like an upside-down world, there is no better attic in which to let our imaginations carry us away, than the one belonging to the March Family in this must-see Dobama production of “Little Women.”

‘Little Women’

Continues through Dec. 31 at Dobama Theatre, 2340 Lee Road, Cleveland Heights. For tickets, $35 to $42, call 216-932-3396, visit Dobama.org or email boxoffice@dobama.org.

Ciamacco is true to his word, choosing his seasons with intention and providing a home for interesting material, obscure works and Cleveland premieres, as well as for diverse casts of actors taking their own risks and honing their crafts while bringing material to life. Sometimes these actors land their punches, and sometimes they miss.

The Cleveland premiere of “Rocky,” on stage at Blank Canvas, has some hits and some misses but also a lot of heart.

There probably aren’t many people who have never seen the 1976 movie “Rocky,” which catapulted Sylvester Stallone, its star (and writer), to stardom. You may have even shouted out a “Yo, Adrian!” a couple of times. But what may come as a surprise is that the character of Rocky Balboa is loosely based on real-life fighter Chuck Wepner, and the inspiration for the film itself comes from the night that Stallone, at a theater in Los Angeles, watched a dramatic fight between Wepner and Muhammad Ali that took place in Cleveland, and it prompted him to go home and immediately knock out a script for the film.

Fast forward to 2014, when this musical version of “Rocky,” with book and lyrics by Thomas Meehan and Stallone himself and music and lyrics by the famed Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens, opened on Broadway. The reception was lukewarm, and the show closed after six months. It seems that the highlight of the Broadway production was the exhilarating, climactic fight choreography and special effects at the end of the show, overshadowing the love story between Rocky and the timid Adrian.

In the Blank Canvas production, however, that love story is the heart of the production and is what keeps us hanging in there through the 15th and final round.

The story closely follows the plot of the movie. Rocky (Michael Snider) is a collector for a loan shark, although his heart isn’t really in it. He likes to hang out at a boxing gym managed by Mickey (John Lynch), who doesn’t seem to want to give Rocky a break because he feels he is wasting his potential. The only bright spot for Rocky is a sweet, shy pet store clerk named Adrian (Carolyn Demanelis), who is his pal Paulie’s (Steve Brown) sister. When the opportunity to fight heavyweight champion Apollo Creed (Matt Deus) comes along, Rocky convinces Mickey to train him.

In the film, we are on the edge of our seats as tensions between Rocky and Apollo continue to simmer, and the training becomes more intense and exciting as we — quietly at first and loudly at last — root for Rocky to overtake the champ. Unfortunately, this production does not offer the same thrills. The tension between Rocky and Apollo and the chemistry between Snider and Deus are so crucial to this part of the story, and they simply are not there.

Deus has a smooth, rich singing voice, but his characterization of Apollo, based on Ali, has too much humor in his bravado and egoism with no aggressive edge. There is not enough push-pull between them and no building of an antagonistic relationship.

Fortunately, in other aspects of the story, the chemistry between actors is very much alive.

The character of Rocky is synonymous with Stallone, so it is hard to imagine anyone else doing the role justice, but Snider is a perfect casting choice. He brings a fresh kind of realism, vulnerability and strength to the character. His approach adds a different dimension and likability from the beginning, and his big voice handles his big songs with ease.

The doe-eyed Demanelis balances Snider’s larger-than-life persona with the quiet insecurity we expect from Adrian. And in the scene where she finally explodes at Paulie, she commands the stage without betraying her character with superficial anger. She manages to show us layers of anger, hurt, confidence, and tough love. Her voice is lovely and unique, tender and belty, and we are rooting for Rocky and Adrian as a couple, not just because the plot dictates it but because of the actors’ chemistry.

Other notable performances include Lynch, as Mickey, and Brown, as Paulie. They are both gruff around the edges, with a soft side, and can cover a broad range of emotions.

The ensemble is uneven in terms of acting and vocals, and in some cases they seem unprepared musically, missing some entrances and cues. But some of the actual score works against them, and very few songs, if any, are memorable.

Blank Canvas regularly makes the most of its small space by using innovative projections instead of bulky sets. This is the first time that the projections seem distracting in spots, like when Rocky and Paulie have projected flowers on their faces, or actors have a cityscape moving across their faces and bodies. Sometimes this effect is interesting, but it often it is jarring and takes us out of the moment.

So … does there seem to be a compelling reason for “Rocky” to be a musical? Not really. It would play well as a stage show, but the music, at least this music, gets in the way. But does this Cleveland premiere seem to be a worthwhile risk for Blank Canvas? Sure it does. It aligns with everything that Patrick Ciamacco so articulately stated about BCT and more: It is different, it has heart, it provides challenging roles for actors, and it is ambitious, providing the kind of technical challenge that Ciamacco and his team seem to love and meet head-on.

Blank Canvas always comes out swinging.

‘Rocky’

Continues through Dec. 16 at Blank Canvas Theatre, 1305 W. 78th St., Suite 211, Cleveland. For tickets, $25, call 440-941-0458 or visit blackcanvastheatre.com.

The company is pleased to display the talent of its dancers and local artists from Lorain County in an imaginative setting.

Leanna Ruegg, community engagement and operations manager at North Pointe, said the company was started in 2016 by artistic director Janet Dziak, with a foundation of principles.

“The Nutcracker” is a main production for the company, according to Ruegg, and has been presented every year since its founding.

The production has been showcased at Lorain Palace Theater since 2018, she said.

This year, the company is partnering with The MAD* Factory Theater Co. for narration of the show, Ruegg said.

The MAD* Factory is a nonprofit drama school in Oberlin aimed at inspiring through music, art and drama.

“A huge way, since our inception, that we have encouraged accessibility in ballet is having live narrators at each performance,” Ruegg said.

Though the two organizations have had a relationship in the past, this is the first year North Pointe is partnering with The MAD* Factory, she said.

“We are not trained actors, and that’s what they specialize in,” Ruegg said.

Support for North Pointe’s performances often is shown through attendance, she said.

Audience and community support is essential for individuals to see what dancers highlight through this performance, Ruegg said.

“Not only do audiences keep coming back, but the dancers keep coming back because it is just such a beloved holiday classic,” she said.

Young Clara once again will invite people inside her imagination with “The Nutcracker,” a beloved tradition since its premiere in 1892, according to a description of the production.

There are epic battles, beautiful dances, incredible displays of heartwarming joy and the inescapable feeling that you have witnessed a holiday classic that has made audiences smile for generations, the description said.

North Pointe Ballet’s production of “The Nutcracker” is an imaginative staging unlike you’ve ever seen before, according to the description.

The holiday classic is brought to life through use of integrated live narration that guides the audience through the story and enchants all ages with thrilling theatrical elements and colorful larger-than-life sets and costumes.

“Even if you don’t have dollars to give, just tell your friends and family to come see us,” Ruegg said. “We are really, really excited.”

The production will start at 7 p.m., Dec. 1; a sensory friendly performance at 2 p.m., Dec. 2; at 7 p.m., Dec. 2; and 2 p.m., Dec. 3.

Tickets are $22, $24 and $26.

More information can be found at northepointeballet.org.

Santa Claus’ principal toy-maker, an elf named Endorfin, has been found dead — a suspicious death by bathtub electrocution.

Endorfin not only had an excessive amount of Viagra in his system, but he was also the guy recently peddling the prescription drug across the North Pole.

Claus is understandably depressed.

He’s also a suspect in this probable homicide.

Anyone who wants to take a stab at solving this merry murder-mystery — “The Elf Who Knew Too Much” — should grab their ugliest Christmas sweater and meet at the Music Box Supper Club in Cleveland on Dec. 1 or 9.

Mark McClenathan of Akron, owner and producer of Get Away With Murder Inc., has produced murder-mystery parties across Ohio and around the country for nearly three decades.

In a recent phone interview, McClenathan says the company’s mission is to make people laugh and have fun.

“People want to laugh and have a good time,” he says. “And secondly, they really like solving a puzzle.”

McClenathan, who holds a degree in music theater from Wittenberg University in Springfield, says he’s been on stage since he was 4.

Although his primary role is producing the parties, he says he occasionally jumps into acting roles for some of his shows.

His love of theater kept his mystery business going through tough times, including the 2008 recession and, more recently, the pandemic.

While McClenathan’s company has plenty of local competition, he says his stands apart thanks to its collaborative system.

“We are the most participatory mystery company because most companies are built around the format of hiring actors to play all of the roles in a mystery,” McClenathan says. “Well, we make it more like a live-action ‘Clue’ game.”

McClenathan says his crew usually consists of three actors, and the rest of the roles, typically about a dozen in the story, are played by audience members. That doesn’t mean the audience needs to come dressed for their possible role.

“We invite people to dress up in costume if they want, but we also have accessories,” McClenathan says.

The Music Box is encouraging guests to wear an ugly Christmas sweater for this particular party, and the best will win prizes.

Your ticket price covers admission to the murder-mystery and a three-course meal at a total fixed price (tax and tip are automatically added to your total).

If you’re selected to participate in this North Pole fantasy, it may turn out that the culprit is you, but it won’t be revealed (not even to you) until the very end of the show.

As you can guess from the elf’s Viagra use, this party has adult themes, so it’s best to leave the kids at home.

As for some of McClenathan’s other parties, he says they’re usually fine for kids at least 10 to 12 years and up.

“If you get much younger than that, they really don’t quite understand it,” he says. “Say ‘blackmail,’ for instance — a lot of younger kids don’t understand what that means. You know, if you say, ‘Are you blackmailing somebody?’ They have no clue what you’re talking about.”

McClenathan has about three dozen stories to choose from if you decide to work with him for a party of your own.

That number doesn’t include a new format that he put together during the pandemic called “Mystery Game Show.”

“We try to match the needs of what the customer has in mind and try to just have a great party where people can laugh and have a good time,” McClenathan adds.

Murder Mystery Dinner Party: ‘The Elf Who Knew Too Much’

Presenter: Get Away With Murder Inc.

When: 8 p.m. Dec. 1 and Dec. 9.

Where: Music Box Supper Club, 1148 Main Ave., Cleveland.

Tickets: $49.50, general admission; table reservations required.

Info: 216-242-1250 or musicboxcle.com.