CLEVELAND PUBLIC THEATRE’S 2016-2017 SEASON:

ATTENTION: TENSION: INTENTION

“Attentiveness, the act of being present in the moment, takes effort and sometimes courage. When we look and see, it is often not pleasant at first. This tension, this friction, is the fuel that makes theatre so exciting and interesting – conflict and dynamism wakes us up to this present life and leads us to act with clear intention. We can decide for ourselves.”

Cleveland Public Theatre’s 2016-2017 season invites us to awaken to the present moment and to ourselves. With theatre, we experience the heart and the mind acting as one. The actor asks “what’s my intention?” – but it’s a question that we can all ask all the time. It’s not simple, it’s a process – that’s the kind of theatre CPT excels at – the layered, the nuanced, the dynamic. Whether it’s about celebration and fun, deep reflection, or a fantastical exploration, we are seeking a path from awareness through conflict into action… Attention: Tension: Intention.”

RAYMOND BOBGAN
EXECUTIVE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, CLEVELAND PUBLIC THEATRE

PANDEMONIUM 2016: THE FIRE WITHIN

One Night Only. Saturday, September 10, 2016; Cleveland Public Theatre, various locations; 7:00 pm; Tickets $150 ($85 tax deductible)

Cleveland Public Theatre’s annual fundraising extravaganza transforms the CPT campus into a labyrinth of theatre, dance, visual and performance art in every corner. Ticket is all-inclusive with fabulous local food and complimentary drinks served all night long. A feast for the eyes, mind, appetite and imagination – proceeds benefit CPT’s groundbreaking artistic work and life-changing education programs.

Pandemonium. Photo by Steve Wagner.

44 PLAYS FOR 44 PRESIDENTS

Previews October 6 – 8 & 13. Runs October 14 – 29, James Levin Theatre.

Written by Andy Bayiates, Sean Benjamin, Genevra Gallo-Bayiates, Chloe Johnston and Karen Weinberg. Co-Directed by Dan Kilbane & Caitlin Lewins.

High-energy, absurdity, delight and poignancy drive this chronological, biographical survey of the lives and presidencies of each of the 44 men who have held the office so far – featuring a singing, dancing all-female cast. An exuberant collection of short plays, 44 Plays for 44 Presidents was originally developed and performed by Chicago’s Neo-Futurists and features live music, farce, wicked satire and rapid-fire storytelling. Audience members consider their role in shaping the history they’ve just witnessed, as they are left to ponder where the presidency has gone since its fall from paradise… and where it will go next. “[a] zany, clever, ambitious and often surprisingly moving historical catalogue.” – Chicago Sun Times

TEATRO PUBLICO DE CLEVELAND (TITLE TBD)

Previews October 6. Runs October 7 – 15, Gordon Square Theatre.

Now in its fourth year, CPT’s resident Latin American theatre ensemble returns to the stage with their sixth major production. Performed primarily in English (and some Spanish), and featuring bilingual supertitles.
The Teatro Publico de Cleveland ensemble. Photo by Steve Wagner.

Y-HAVEN THEATRE PROJECT

Runs November 3 – 6, Gordon Square Theatre.

The one-weekend only production at CPT is followed by a community-wide tour.

Cleveland Public Theatre’s annual collaboration with Y-Haven, a transitional housing facility for homeless men recovering from substance abuse and mental health challenges. Since 1998, CPT and Y-Haven, a branch of the Greater Cleveland YMCA, have annually collaborated to create an original theatre production, performed by the men and based on their life stories.

LIGHT THE LIGHTS, OL’ MOSES CLE! (A WILD HOLIDAY ROMP)

Previews November 25 -27 & December 1. Runs December 2 – 17, Gordon Square Theatre.

Originated by Raymond Bobgan & Beth Wood. Multiple short works created, directed and performed by Northeast Ohio artists.

Ring in the season CPT-style with a vaudeville-inspired evening of holiday folly, mischief and merry-making. Staged in the round at cabaret tables in CPT’s historic Gordon Square Theatre, the show will feature a rollicking evening of holiday-themed sketch comedy, live music and larger-than-life antics by an assorted cast of characters. Originated by Raymond Bobgan (Fire on the Water) and Beth Wood (The Loush Sisters LOVE Dick’ns). World Premiere.
Holiday antics from one of the creators of ‘The Loush Sisters LOVE Dick’ns’ (pictured). Photo by Steve Wagner.

THE SANTALAND DIARIES

December 1 – December 18, Outcalt Theatre at Playhouse Square.

Written by David Sedaris, adapted by Joe Mantello. Directed by Cathleen O’Malley.

Join CPT at Playhouse Square for David Sedaris’ acclaimed holiday comedy. The Santaland Diaries follows the story of “Crumpet,” a jaded and out-of-work actor who takes a job as a Macy’s Christmas elf.

ENTRY POINT – NEW PLAY DEVELOPMENT

January 12 – 21, CPT Campus, multiple venues.

Northeast Ohio creators.

Entry Point is a new platform for artists to develop their work in the early stages of creation, then share that work with the public in a festival forum. CPT will connect projects to mentors who can help offer feedback and guidance.

I CALL MY BROTHERS

Previews February 9 – 11 & 16. Runs February 17 – March 4, James Levin Theatre.

By Jonas Hassen Khemiri. Translated by Rachel Willson-Broyles. Directed by Evren Odcikin,National New Play Network 2015 National Directors Fellow.

Something has happened. A car. An explosion. And a city is paralyzed with fear. But Amor has an important errand to run. He walks the city streets with his backpack and his cell phone, doing his best to blend in. But what looks normal? In this funny and fierce showdown with paranoia, I Call My Brothers offers an intense 24-hour journey inside one young man’s head. What happens when the lines between reality and fantasy, love and fear, criminal and victim, become increasingly blurred? Regional Premiere.

Crowded Fire Theatre’s production of ‘I Call My Brothers.’ Photo by Pak Han.

BARBECUE

Previews February 16 – 18 & 23. Runs February 24 – March 11, Gordon Square Theatre.

Written by Robert O’Hara. Directed by Beth Wood.

In this hilarious and devastating dark comedy by Robert O’Hara (Bootycandy, Antebellum), the O’Mallerys have gathered in their local park to share some barbecue and straight talk with their trainwreck of a sister Barbara, whose spiral of drugs and recklessness has forced her siblings to stage an open-air intervention. But the event becomes raucous and unpredictable as familial stereotypes collide with hard realities, and racial politics slam up against the stories we tell-and maybe even believe-about who we were and who we’ve become. “Fearless” – The New York Times. Regional Premiere.

Playwright Robert O’Hara. Photo by Brian McConkey.

TEST FLIGHT – NEW PLAY DEVELOPMENT

March 23 – April 22, James Levin Theatre.

Test Flight is the mid-point of CPT’s New Play Development program. An evolution of the popular Big Box series, Test Flight offers artists the keys to the theater and the opportunity to self-produce works-in-progress, presented as part of a multi-week workshop series at CPT. In addition to serving local artists, Test Flight will also be open to national and international artists who wish to come to Cleveland to develop their original pieces.

DANCEWORKS 2017

Runs May 11 – June 3, Gordon Square Theatre.

Featuring Northeast Ohio choreographers.

Each year, Cleveland Public Theatre welcomes Northeast Ohio’s most adventurous contemporary dance companies to the Gordon Square Theatre stage for four weeks of single and double bill performances.

RED ASH MOSAIC

Previews May 25 – 27 & June 1. Runs June 2 – June 17, Gordon Square Theatre.

Devised by Raymond Bobgan and the CPT Ensemble. Directed by Raymond Bobgan (Cleveland Arts Prize recipient 2014/Theatre, Creative Work Force Fellow 2014/Music Composition and 2010/Theatre).

Red Ash Mosaic is an experiment in theatrical form, with interwoven and contradictory narrative threads, powerful physical action, chanting and poetic texts – designed not to show, but to invoke; not a presentation, but a transmission. Beginning in the daily doldrums of a video game store, Red Ash Mosaic erupts into a fracturing of quotidian realities and parallel lives before launching into an otherworldly land of dreams, spirits and the awakening of one man as he confronts his own death. World Premiere.

The CPT ensemble. Photo by Steve Wagner.

NEW PLAY DEVELOPMENT AT CPT

The 2016-2017 season will feature the next evolution of CPT’s New Play Development.

In addition to the Entry Point and Test Flight series detailed above, an ongoing fellowship program throughout the 2016-2017 season, Catapult, is intended to help artists move their projects to a “production ready” stage through multiple readings, rehearsal time at CPT, workshop productions and/or invitational showings. Catapult playwrights and creators will be awarded a Nord Family Foundation Fellowship and play an active role in the life of the theatre while they are developing their work.

And, as always, The Dark Room open mic for playwrights continues the second Tuesday of every month (7:30pm at The Church at CPT), pairing playwrights with actors to perform (mostly) cold readings of scripts-in-progress in a fun, low-risk atmosphere.

BOX OFFICE, TICKETS & LOCATION

Cleveland Public Theatre is located at 6415 Detroit Ave, Cleveland, OH 44102, in the heart of the Gordon Square Arts District on Cleveland’s near west side. Unless otherwise noted, all performances take place in venues inside the CPT campus.

The Cleveland Public Theatre campus is comprised of two primary venues – the historic Gordon Square Theatre and James Levin Theatre. Both mainstage venues are fully ADA-accessible, featuring a newly-installed patron elevator and the addition of gender-neutral, wheelchair-accessible restrooms.

In addition to CPT’s primary spaces, the campus includes three auxiliary venues, the Storefront Studio, The Church at CPT and Parish Hall, the latter two of which are located on the east end of the CPT campus. Due to the historic nature of the Church and Parish Hall, these venues are not handicap-accessible at this time.

Unless otherwise noted, shows at the Gordon Square Theatre begin at 7:30 p.m. and shows at the James Levin Theatre and other venues begin at 7 p.m. For special venues and event times, check the website for details.

Single tickets are $12-$30, with premium pricing for CPT’s holiday show and other special events. Student and senior discounts are available for Friday and Saturday nights.

For more information, call the CPT box office at 216-631-2727, ext. 501.