Editors note: Jump Back Ball is an annual event that takes place annually on the last Saturday in February. The event is a fundraiser by Playhouse Square’s young professional organization called Partners and features open bars, raffles, live music and so much more. Money raise from this event helps provide local schools support for their students to attend performances at Playhouse Square throughout the year. While many of the members of Black Girl in the CLE have attended this event throughout the years, we like to provide a first-experience story for our readers. This year, Kayla Black shares her experience with us.
by Kayla Black
Years in the Making
Let’s jump all the way back to “Jump Back to Two Spaces” the theme of 2013. I was in the 6th grade when I first heard about Playhouse Square Partner’s Jump Back Ball event for the first time. Hearing about the costumes, singing, dancing, and soft pretzels, instantly I knew this was an event for me!
The little theatre girl in me was ready to go with a costume in mind and everything. There was just one problem, I had turned 11 only a few weeks prior and had another decade to wait before I could attend my first Jump Back Ball.
Year after year, I watched my mom and her friends think about possible themes, put together their costumes, and take pictures at what seemed to be the most fun event of the year.
Every year I helped my mom think of fun components for her costume before she would race out the door filled with excitement. Staying behind I couldn’t wait to see the pictures and hear all about it who was there, what was the best outfit, how did the decorations turn out, everything. Time went on since 2013, and Jump Back Ball did themes such as Roaring 20s, Red Carpet, Under the Big Top, and many more. Finally, last Saturday night, February 25th, 2023, was the night of nights. I finally got to go to my first jump-back ball.
State Theater stage during this year’s Jump Back Ball- photo courtesy of Playhouse Square
Much like every year before, during the fall of 2022, I anxiously waited for the theme to be announced for this upcoming Jump Back Ball. Unlike the years prior, I wasn’t so much excited to help my mom plan her costume but was bursting with anticipated excitement to begin planning my own outfit. Time passed, Thanksgiving break ended and I went back to school. One night, I remember I was getting ready for bed when *ping* my phone buzzed with the news I’d been waiting for, it read “Oooo Pirates” followed by the official theme flyer. I squealed with delight because I finally had the theme, “Jump Back to the High Seas.”
Getting the message about the theme was like getting the green light, it was time to go and embark on the journey of getting ready for the ball. I knew right away that being a pirate was way too straightforward and easy, I wanted to think outside the box and get creative. Lo and behold, I got it, I was going to be Peter Pan!
As the months passed by I slowly began to gather my costume pieces, and props and plan my weekend trip back home. Finally, the time came, I packed up my materials in my suitcase, board the Amtrak train from school, and headed home to Cleveland ready for the ball. I got home at 4 am and had 15 hours on the clock before the event began.
Trying to capture all the sights at Jump Back Ball
A VIP Experience
“Come on Kayla, we gotta go” my mom called out to me from the entryway of the hotel before we raced across the street to Playhouse square. This is it! I was filled with anxious excitement as we hurried to the theatre. I walked in and was in shock, the experience was so surreal. I couldn’t help but think, “wow, I’m living in the pictures I usually get to see after the event.” My mom and I began the night at the VIP event in Connor Palace, it was nice and simple but exciting. A wonderful introduction to what was to come. I ate food, talked to many family friends, and even got to get the picture of the night, a picture with Captain Hook.
I’m ready to take on Captain Hook- Photo courtesy of Playhouse Square
Following the VIP hour, it was time to move on to the main event at the State Theater, the party on the stage! The lobby leading up to the stage was filled with food, decorations (including a large sunken pirate ship), silent auctions, and games. There was so much to take in from the lobby area alone, I could only imagine what was happening inside the theatre. It wasn’t too long until I found out. I walked into the theatre and immediately gasped! The stage was filled with people dancing, even more decorations, a live band, bars, and even more food! I couldn’t believe my eyes as I made my way down the aisle in awe at the stage. It seemed like something straight out of a movie.
I climbed up the stairs and immediately went to grab food thinking that they would soon take it away. The food was yummy and after a short dinner break, I was back up on the stage taking everything in. The live band appeared and instantly everyone was singing and dancing their hearts out on the center dance floor, if anyone wasn’t dancing in the middle then they certainly were belting out the songs and dancing at their tables while they ate and drank with their friends.
Yes, I came for the free pretzels
The night went on and on but the fun and the momentum never seemed to stop, in fact, it only seemed to pick up the later into the night it got. Once the band performed their last song it seemed like the night was finally coming to an end, but no! In true theatre fashion, there was of course more to follow.
After leaving the stage and the theatre everyone headed back out into the lobby. The lobby looked the same as it did when I entered except there was an entirely new arrangement of food including quesadillas, flatbread pizza, and wings, and they had desserts such as banana foster shooters and pineapple upside-down cake. I have to admit, while all the new food was exciting, I was overflowing with joy when I saw the time had finally come, they were now serving the soft pretzels! Once I saw someone with one, I instantly called out to my mom, “I’ll be right back” before racing up the stairs and jumping in line to get a fresh, warm, and delicious Playhouse Square pretzel!
DJ Red-I in the State Theater lobby for the last hours of Jump Back Ball- photo courtesy of Playhouse Square
DJ Red-I kept the music playing while everyone filled the lobby and after having a quick bite to eat everyone soon was up at the front dancing just as they had been on the stage only a few minutes prior. The time flew by and before I knew it, the DJ was playing the last song of the night, Donna Summer’s‘Last Dance. Everyone, including myself, danced and sang their hearts out one last time before the event of the year came to an end.
In all, I am beyond glad I finally, after over a decade-long wait, got to go to Playhouse Square’s Jump Back Ball! I had such a good time that I am already looking forward to planning my costume and reliving the entire experience again next year!
Past year’s Jump Back Ball Stories
