Open Mind Firmament: An Evening of W. B. Yeats
Developed by Raymond Bobgan
Based on the writings of William Butler Yeats and Dr. Barton R. Friedman
May 13, 2010 - June 05, 2010
7:00pm and 3:00pm, Gordon Square Theatre
$10-$21
Cleveland Public Theatre is proud to present "Open Mind Firmament: An Evening of W. B. Yeats", developed by Raymond Bobgan, onstage in the Gordon Square Theatre from May 13 - June 5 (Paid Preview May 13, Benefit Performance May 14; Opening Night, Saturday, May 15). Honoring the late Barton R. Friedman, Professor Emeritus at Cleveland State University, "Open Mind Firmament" is a celebration of William Butler Yeats. Yeats, a pillar of both Irish and British literature, wrote plays that combine dance, poetry, song, folklore and imagistic and highly emotional poetry. In staging this work, CPT Executive Artistic Director Raymond Bobgan will integrate poetry, two one-act plays, Yeats' letters, biographical information, and the interpretive writings of Dr. Friedman. ORIGINAL ADAPTATION.
The Creative Production Team Includes:
Alison Garrigan - Costume Design
Trad A. Burns - Set and Lighting Design
Richard B. Ingraham - Sound Design
Chris Young - Technical Director
Dan Kilbane - Stage Manager
Featuring Michael Andrews-Hinders, Carly Garinger, Faye Hargate, Danielle Hisey, Brett Keyser, Anne McEvoy, Raymond McNiece, Jeremy Paul, Sheffia Randall Dooley*, Adam Seeholzer, Chris Seibert, Tyler Slaughter, John Stuehr, Elizabeth R. Wood
*Member / Actors Equity Association
No late seating. Please arrive 15-20 minutes before curtain to allow time to park and choose seats.
Join us on Friday, May 14th for a special benefit performance. All tickets are $75 ($50 tax-deductible) and include delicious food from Claddagh Irish Pub, complimentary wine and beer, a ticket to the final preview performance and a dessert reception with the cast and crew following the show. The pre-show reception begins at 6:00pm and curtain is 7:00pm.
Open Mind Firmament is presented with support from Thomas and Anita Scanlon, Mansour, Gavin, Gerlack & Manos Co. LLP, John and Mary Coyne Charitable Foundation, Taft, Stettinius & Hollister, LLP, Collins and Scanlon, LLP, Hawkins & Co. LPA,Timothy Doyle & Doyle Insurance Services, Sheila Crawford and Murphy Irish Arts Center, Paul Downey & Cambridge Capital Group, Louis Finucane & Cailin Development, LLC, Thomas Kilbane, Gerry Quinn’s Irish Radio Program
Sponsors
Reviews
Engrossing, hypnotic and viscerally literary, this homage to both Yeats and Cleveland State University Yeats scholar Barton Friedman entailed a year’s worth of hard physical and mental work by an ensemble of 14 performers led by CPT executive artistic director Raymond Bobgan. But let’s just say it is everything theater ought to be but so rarely is: revelatory.
Tony Brown, The Plain Dealer
Open Mind Firmament, an Evening of W.B. Yeats at Cleveland Public Theatre can be stunning, confounding, and revealing – often at the same time. But there are more than words at work in this two-hour evocation of Yeats’ mythic universe centered on the Irish hero Cuchulain and his mortal enemy Aoife. Employing dance, chants, singing, and stylized gestures, Bobgan creates a rich cloak of imagery to pull the Cuchulain Cycle’s five plays together (or as together as they’re likely to ever get).
Christine Howey, Cleveland Scene
