Vintage street theatre and whimsical circus kitsch will fuse with technology when the national touring Zany Umbrella Circus collaborates with legendary Cleveland DJ Rob Sherwood. “With Rob contributing sound,” Sota says, “I think we can provide really strong visuals.” Ben Sota talks spiritedly in a rapid fire of ideas about Hawaiian culture and couture, “I’ve been thinking of a scene working with Hawaiian recordings, Hawaiian muumuus.” As the artistic director of Zany Umbrella Circus, Sota is plotting out loud for the night his troupe of bohemian acrobats invoke the underground arts culture of the early 1900s Kokoon Arts Club  for Ingenuity Cleveland’s Bal Ingenieux masquerade fundraiser. His costume embellishment brainstorming may owe a small credit to his residence on the island where he studies for his doctorate in between coordinating performances for Zany Umbrella. “The history of Kokoon is really cool and I feel like there’s a big part that’s

We’re very excited to have Cello Fury back for our Bal Ingenieux.  These guys rocked the festival last year with a sound that is all at once primal rock and refined classical. Cello Fury is playing at 8:30, Friday, May 4 during Bal Ingenieux.  Tickets are for $40 which includes drink tickets and an entire night of entertainment until 1AM.  You can also get into the Premier Party which includes dinner and music starting at 6PM.  For tickets and information click here. Cello Fury is a rarity in the music world: three classically trained cellists and a rock drummer performing high-energy original music in venues ranging from concert halls to rock clubs. Appealing to a diverse audience across age groups and musical interests sets Cello Fury apart from your average rock band. Continually developing their own unique style of cello rock music, cellists Simon Cummings, Ben Muño and Nicole Myers along

As part of strategic plan, Festival increases number of board positions March 27, 2012 (Cleveland) – Ingenuity Cleveland announces that its board of directors has appointed eight new members.  These new members come from a wide range of professions and backgrounds reflecting the multi-faceted mission of Ingenuity to celebrate innovation and creativity in art, technology, and science. This new wave of board appointments came as existing terms expired on the current board.  The new board member selection process was informed by Ingenuity’s 2011 strategic planning process.  This process involved interviews and discussions with stakeholders in the community and resulted in a long-term vision for the Festival and the organization. Ingenuity’s new board members include: Jeff Blackwell – President of Rogers Company Dar Caldwell – Co-Founder/Marketing at Shaker LaunchHouse Mike Gustafson – Partner, Technology at Rosetta Arnold Hirshon – Associate Provost and University Librarian at Case Western Reserve University Erika Imre

Pamela McKee to Lead Ingenuity’s Fundraising for Festival and Other Programs March 27, 2012 (Cleveland) – Ingenuity Cleveland announces the appointment of Pamela McKee as its Director of Development.  McKee will lead Ingenuity’s fundraising efforts to raise money to support the Festival as well as the organization’s year-round programs, which include education and outreach programs that highlight the creativity and innovation in the region.   McKee’s appointment is part of an overall drive to build year-round staffing for the Festival and its programming.  This effort is aimed at growing the Festival as a regional celebration with the goal that Ingenuity will become a cornerstone of economic growth for Northeast Ohio. With a diverse background rooted in the arts as well as a wide variety of nonprofits, McKee is well equipped to articulate Ingenuity’s complex message of creativity in the arts, sciences, and technology.  She has worked in nonprofit development for

Ingenuity is channeling the spirits of the Kokoon Arts Club with its first annual Bal Ingenieux. This one night only event takes the audience through an amazing journey of food, drink, performances, and interactive installations. Buy tickets here. Bring a mask or buy one at the door, but come prepared for a night to remember. Located at the Halcyon Lodge in the heart of Ohio City (West 28th and Franklin), Bal Ingenieux will feature multiple venues of entertainment that will unfold as the evening progresses. Performances by: Rob Sherwood – The original kingpin of Cleveland’s club scene returns for a very rare evening-long DJ set. Cello Fury – Three classically trained cellists and a rock drummer that wowed crowds at the 2011 Festival. ($100 & $40 Tickets Only) Shivering Timbers – This Akron band takes inspiration from the likes of Gershwin and Hendrix to create low-fi folk-rock lullabies and is

In a band and interested in playing Ingenuity? You can apply through Sonicbids here. Sonicbids is the leading matchmaking site for emerging bands and music promoters. Its community of 325,000 registered artists use the site to connect with 25,000 music promoters – ranging from some of the world’s largest music festivals and conferences, to clubs, colleges, music supervisors and other people looking to book or license music. Sign up to submit your band to http://www.sonicbids.com/IngenuityFest and get a free trial, plus 25 “Tokens” to submit to 25 Token Gig Listings at no additional cost. Previous Sonicbids members can reactivate their membership for only $1!