“This is the way we were: in our growing up and in our marrying and in our living and in our dying.” So says the narrator during the opening act of Thornton Wilder’s play Our Town, which will be presented with a local spin by a group of Moreland district residents on Friday and Saturday, July 29 and 30 at Shaker Heights High School. Time to be determined. Throughout the play, ordinary daily activities and interactions are elevated to something more powerful: they are what create the bonds that enliven and strengthen communities. This narrative captures the new and renewed connections occurring among Moreland residents due in part to Neighbor Nights, monthly meetings that have taken place for nearly a year. This production is a result of those meetings. Friends, neighbors, and area business owners of all ages and backgrounds meet on the last Tuesday of every month to get to know each other and share ideas about creating and supporting a vibrant Moreland community. Some participants are new to Moreland, like James Rhodes, a nursing student and licensed practical nurse at Woodlands Retirement Community on Chagrin Boulevard, who just bought a home on Ludgate Road. Others are longtime residents like Jewel Kirkland, who has been a homeowner for nearly 40 years. Through these gatherings, residents become friends, and neighbors become partners on projects that empower them to shape the future of their community. After attending several Neighbor Nights, Sonia Jordan Winlock was inspired to find a way to deepen connections between residents. Last winter, she applied for a neighborhood grant from the City to support a series of events that build on each other: a yard sale, a block party, and a production of Our Town. Each event requires communal planning and commitment and has roles and tasks for people of all ages and abilities. Her goal was to “build relationships, give neighbors a way to act together, and build a greater sense of community, empowerment, and have fun. We can do big things together,” says Winlock, who grew up in Moreland, left for college and a job, and returned with her family. From concept to execution, the production of Our Town has required partnerships and collaboration, which planners hope will carry over into future neighborhood projects. After auditions in the spring, rehearsals are now in full swing in preparation for opening night on Friday, July 29. Get ready to be wowed when your friends and neighbors take to the stage right here in our town! Information will be posted on Facebook.com/morelandphoenixrising. Moreland RISING Curtain Up! Our Town Opens July 29 8 SHAKERONLINE.COM | SUMMER 2016
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