Mama's Boys: The CPT/Y-Haven Theatre Project

Cleveland Public Theatre's Education Department and the Cleveland YMCA's Y-Haven Program present Mama's Boys, the 2008 CPT/Y-Haven Theatre Project.

For the ninth year in a row, CPT, Cleveland's leading alternative theatre, and Y-Haven, YMCA's transitional home and treatment center for homeless men, many of whom are in recovery from drug and alcohol addiction, have collaborated to create this original performance. CPT Artists work with residents of Y-Haven to create an original play performed by the residents and based on their personal experiences. This year's production is guided by Director Denis Griesmer, Dramaturg Deborah Burke and Education Associate Eugene Sumlin.

Mama's Boys is a play about the important and complex role that mothers and community play in our lives. The show opens with a serious event: Harvey nearly kills his friend Ray because of the disappearance of a shoebox left to Harvey by his deceased mother. The whole neighborhood gets drawn into this moral dilemma - from the peace protestor/hot dog vendor to the preacher to the barber to the mailman. In the search for the mysterious shoebox, some are guilty, others are not. Consumed by anxiety and anger, Harvey spirals close to madness and the neighborhood comes together to save not only Harvey, but themselves.

An audience favorite year after year, the CPT/Y-Haven Theatre Project offers candid insight into important issues of our society and gives real hope for growth and change. Audiences are continually blown-away by the poignant and moving stories presented by this powerful collaboration.

Mama's Boys will be presented free and open to the public at Cleveland Public Theatre:

Thursday, November 13 at 7:30pm*
Friday, November 14 at 7:30pm
Sunday, November 16 at 3:00pm
Suggested donation of $5 accepted to help support the project

(*Donations from the Thursday, November 13th performace will go to the International Rett Syndrome Foundation - www.rettsyndrome.org)

SPECIAL BENEFIT PERFORMANCE SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15th

Join CPT and Y-Haven for a special benefit performance on Saturday, November 15th at 7:00pm. Tickets for this benefit performance are $75 and include a buffet dinner and silent auction. To purchase tickets for the benefit performance, please call 216.431.2018 or visit www.yhaven.org.

Y-Haven Resident Collaborators: Eric Berry, Greg Freeman, Steven Greer, Billy Horne, Dave Kane, Ricky McCuller, Fred Monday, Carl Pastard, Sherman Seawright, Greg Shaw, Ruben Torres, Glennard Vinson and Greg Wheeler

CPT Artist Collaborators: Denis Griesmer, Deborah Burke, Eugene Sumlin, Kelly Elliott, Lydia Chanenka, Spencer Padilla, Allison Garrigan, Chris Seibert and Raymond Bobgan