I'm a syndicated theater critic and entertainment feature writer in Cleveland, Ohio, which has one of the largest theater districts in the nation, second only to New York City. I am also a professional actor who, as a younger man, appeared on Broadway and so far off-Broadway it was Connecticut. For the past 20 years I've spent most of my weekends on stage or sitting in front of it in the sixth row center with a pen in hand.
Through my writing for the Cleveland Jewish News, I've been recognized as “Best Critic” and “Best Columnist” in Ohio by the Associated Press, the Society of Professional Journalists and the Press Club. Not sure how I'd fare in the surrounding states of Pennsylvania, West Virginia or Kentucky. I'm also a three-time recipient of the “Award for Excellence” from the Mensa Foundation.
I've served as an Arts Journalism Fellow with the National Endowment for the Arts. My most recent book, REFEREEING THE MUSES, was inspired by this fellowship. It is a go-to primer for budding journalists interested in the arts and one of a dozen books I've written for professional and academic audiences.
Just published: ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE FRIGHT -- a fictional memoir of a clandestine theater critic who embeds himself in a professional production of the comedy As You Like It to overcome a debilitating fear of Shakespeare and turn in a decent performance. A quick laugh-out-loud novella, ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE FRIGHT is written for those who love theater and need Shakespeare's gorgeous words now more than ever. Available now at grayco.com, Amazon, Target, Barnes & Noble - and wherever you like to purchase a paperback or ebook!
And you can reach me at riabelman@gmail.com
Through my writing for the Cleveland Jewish News, I've been recognized as “Best Critic” and “Best Columnist” in Ohio by the Associated Press, the Society of Professional Journalists and the Press Club. Not sure how I'd fare in the surrounding states of Pennsylvania, West Virginia or Kentucky. I'm also a three-time recipient of the “Award for Excellence” from the Mensa Foundation.
I've served as an Arts Journalism Fellow with the National Endowment for the Arts. My most recent book, REFEREEING THE MUSES, was inspired by this fellowship. It is a go-to primer for budding journalists interested in the arts and one of a dozen books I've written for professional and academic audiences.
Just published: ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE FRIGHT -- a fictional memoir of a clandestine theater critic who embeds himself in a professional production of the comedy As You Like It to overcome a debilitating fear of Shakespeare and turn in a decent performance. A quick laugh-out-loud novella, ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE FRIGHT is written for those who love theater and need Shakespeare's gorgeous words now more than ever. Available now at grayco.com, Amazon, Target, Barnes & Noble - and wherever you like to purchase a paperback or ebook!
And you can reach me at riabelman@gmail.com
