Tickets for this gig can be purchased from this link and vary in price from $40 to $10 (plus charges). Earlier this morning two seats together were available in the fifth row.

This venue is part of Playhouse Square which is the theater area of Cleveland. Between February 1921 and November 1922, five opulent theaters (the Allen, Ohio, State, Hanna and Palace) opened along Euclid Avenue between E. 14th and E. 17th streets. The theaters presented silent movies, theater and vaudeville. Unfortunately with the increase in the popularity of television four out of the five of these theaters closed between May 1968 and July 1969, the exception being The Hanna. However in 1970 a group known as the PlayhouseSquare Association (a nonprofit organization) was formed to make the area the center of theater culture in the Cleveland area. Playhouse Square is also known for its dedicated team of over 2,000 volunteers (known as "Red Coats" due to the red jackets they wear as part of their uniform). They provide various services for visitors including ushers, ticket takers and more. Many are retired seniors with a passion for the arts.

Of course Utopia was known as The Beatles of Ohio so Kasim Sulton has played in Cleveland numerous times in his 30+ year career. The last time was on Sunday 15th March 2009 when he played a solo gig out at the Beachland Ballroom and the last time he played in the center of the city was on Wednesday 16th January 2008 when he played as part of Todd Rundgren's band at the Allen Theatre which is also part of Playhouse Square.

This gig appears to be selling very well as the only tickets available this morning were standing in the bar area. The gig starts at 8.00pm but the venue is open for two hours before that for people who wish to eat there. They serve a varied selection of food from bar snacks to burgers to steaks to salad. Tickets for the gig are all $30 (plus charges) and are available from this link.

The venue website describes the venue as "The elevated 28 foot concert-style stage accommodates every variety of live entertainment in an intimate setting, sure to provide all our patrons with a superb experience. The expansive venue, which seats approximately 500 for dinner and an evening of entertainment, features a flexible interior design which enables rapid layout changes to accommodate a variety of events, from an intimate acoustic performance to a standing-room-only concert for 1,000 fans. Patrons can enjoy sitting at the luxurious, 52-foot long bar, reserve a table for groups of varying sizes, or enjoy the privacy of cozy VIP booths. The venue design ensures that every seat offers a great site line, and every guest can experience the ambiance of the unique setting and world-class entertainment. Larger-than-life digital projection screens provide patrons with powerful visual impact as they enjoy watching their favorite entertainer or team".

As far as I am aware, this will be Kasim Sulton's first apearance at this venue.

Many thanks to RMAC for the review and photos of the Thursday evening gig.

There's also a video of Trapped from the Atlanta, GA gig a couple of days later by Ellen Hamby on YouTube.com here.

This is a General Admission gig but people are seated on a first come, first serve basis. The show starts at 7.00pm with doors opening at 5.30pm. Tickets (from this link are $50 in advance or $55 on the door.

The venue website says that no cameras or recording devices allowed into the venue. Also disallowed are weapons (including knives), illegal drugs, alcohol, backpacks, food or outside beverages (including bottled water). It also states that if you are bringing prescription medication with you, you need to bring it in its original prescription container.