Cleveland Public Theatre’s new work for holidays, 10 Minutes to Midnight, is a delightful collection of nine plays written by Dayshawnda Ash, Melissa Crum, Emma James Dahl, John Dayo-Aliya, David Hansen, and Maya Malan-Gonzalez, and directed by Caitlin Lewins with Assistant Director, Ananias Dixon. The pieces are comical but with pathos, reflecting many parts of our lives, including family and couple relationships. Dayshawnda Ash’s “Green Bean Casserole” presents challenges in an interracial marriage through the wife who tries to live up to her future mother-in-law’s expectations. Maya Malan-Gonzalez’s “A Christmas Treat” is a contemporary version of 101 Dalmatians (minus puppies). The stage is filled with white “Christmas tree” forms and platforms, suggesting multiple places for nine different plays. Designers Beth Wood (Scenic Designer), Wes Calkin (Lighting Designer), and Inda Blatch-Geib (Costume Designer) are superb, adding the festive mood as well as the context for each piece. The excellent musicians are Sara Arafat and Maria DiDonato. The powerful ensemble consists of Sarah Arafat, Tania Benites, Dar’jon Marquise Bentley, Cait Butler, Dr. Nickol Calhoun, Sylka Edmondson, Brook Myers, Drew Pope, Andrew Aaron Valdez, and Katie Wells, The show runs through December 18, 2021 at Cleveland Public Theatre.

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