Ray McNiece ‘Johnny Appleseed’

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Poet and performer Ray McNiece will bring his interactive family show, “Johnny Appleseed,” to the Steele Memorial Bandstand Wednesday, June 21 at 7:30 p.m. 

McNeice has earned a national reputation through his solo theater pieces, poetry and music shows. An educator, He has captained two National Poetry Slam Championship teams and shares his “edutaining” children’s shows and workshops across the country.  

McNiece, a Cleveland resident, has authored 11 books of poems and monologues and CDs. Among many awards, he has received a Creative Work Force Fellowship and residencies at The Cuyahoga Valley National Park and the Jack Kerouac House.  

He is currently Poet Laureate of Cleveland Heights. In 2021, McNiece received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Cleveland Arts Prize.  

He has toured in Italy twice and in Russia, where he appeared on “Good Morning, Russia” and performed at the Moscow Polytech and the Russian Poets’ Hall of Fame. 

McNiece is also an accomplished actor and has appeared in plays at Ensemble, Dobama, Cleveland Public and Cleveland Playhouse theatres. He was an original cast member of the improv comedy Flanigan’s Wake.