About Cleveland Core Ensemble

Since his first full production at CPT in 1994, Pinocchio Rising, Raymond Bobgan has been creating premiere performances through an organic, evolving ensemble process. Raymond often collaborates with a group of artists over the years, continuing his research in long-term artistic relationship. In 2012, this work was given a name, Cleveland CORE Ensemble, and is dedicated to developing unique theatre practices, investigating the potential of the craft of acting, and creating a distinctive body of theatrical works. The ultimate purpose of the ensemble goes beyond the creation of individual performances, as it also influences the broader artistic work of CPT and informs the pedagogical practices for our education programs. Most recent works include Reverie Oracle (2023) and Candlelight Hypothesis (2022).

Artist Biographies

RAYMOND BOBGAN (Director)

Raymond Bobgan creates new performances that are bold, multilayered, and highly physical through an ever-evolving ensemble process. Raymond’s work has been seen in Romania, Brazil, Denmark, Serbia, South Korea, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and Canada, and has been featured in American Theatre magazine, Canadian Theatre Review, Theatre Journal, and in Lisa Wolford’s book Grotowski’s Objective Drama Research.

Hosea Billingsley (ENSEMBLE MEMBER)

Hosea Billingsley is honored to have the opportunity to return and be a part of another magical and beautiful CPT piece. Hosea is a Cleveland native and an alum of Cleveland State University.

katie boissoneault (ENSEMBLE MEMBER)

Katie Boissoneault is an actress, costumer, and writer. She was a costume PA for the film White Noise, a costume secretary for Shooting Stars, and a costume designer for the short film Partnr. She is a co-writer and editor for the comic book series Excavator, and a voice actress for the podcast It’s All Been Done Radio Hour. She appeared as Daisy in the film The Cough, as a nurse in Trapped in the Elevator. Katie graduated from Miami University with a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre. She is currently a freelancer and part time employee for BAS Broadcasting.

jordan ficyk (ENSEMBLE MEMBER)

Jordan Ficyk is an actor, scientist, and writer. He has performed at various area theatres including the Helen Lab Theatre, CSU black box, and Playhouse Square. He is thrilled to be returning to CPT and for the unique work done here.

kynnedy (ENSEMBLE MEMBER)

Kynnedy is excited to perform at Cleveland Public Theatre once again. Her previous work includes Entry Point, Test Flight, Candlelight Hypothesis and Reverie Oracle. She also performed in Our Lady of Common Sorrows for the 2023-2024 season.

brooke lynlee (ENSEMBLE MEMBER)

Brooke Lynlee is a Cleveland-based actor and arts educator. Past performances at Cleveland Public Theatre include Evvie Hopegoode in the Test Flight workshop production Showin’ Up Black, Asha/Ensemble in Candlelight Hypothesis, and Ensemble in 10 Minutes to Midnight. Other notable credits include Gayle/Young Debbie in To My White Friends Who Know Me, Marsha Lyons in Stonewallin’, and several plays at Cleveland State University, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in theatre arts. Brooke is also the education associate at Cleveland Public Theatre.

Colleen Mccaughey (ENSEMBLE MEMBER)

Colleen McCaughey is a stage manager, performer, and singer. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in both theatre and political science from Allegheny College. From 2013-2015, she worked in New York City as a stage manager for various theatre companies including The Play Company, The Flea Theater, and Lincoln Center, while serving as the administrative associate for Dixon Place Theater. Originally from Hudson, Ohio, Colleen has appeared onstage in several Northeast Ohio theatre productions, most recently at CPT in The Loush Sisters Love Dick’ns: Oops… They Did it Again! (2019); Molly Andrews-Hinder’s ensemble piece Emergence (2019); and Raymond Bobgan’s Candlelight Hypothesis (2022). She served as stage manager for several CPT productions since 2016, most recently as the stage manager for the world premiere of American Dreams at CPT, and toured the virtual show nationally with Working Theater in Fall 2020.

martinique mims (ENSEMBLE MEMBER)

Martinique Mims is a slam poet and children’s book author of Through the Colors of a Butterfly. She has performed in several Mixed Media series, including the Socially Distanced, The Wandering, and Distant Shores at the Borderlight Theater Festival. She is a teaching artist at Rainey Institute, instructing youth in her class Storytelling Through Dance. When she is not busy dancing or writing, Martinique is working as a Fellow with a food and policy organization called FoodFirst on her project Unconventional Spaces: Connecting Food, Art and Community.

nnamdi okpala (ENSEMBLE MEMBER)

Nnamdi Okpala is an actor and arts educator. He has performed with Ensemble Theatre, Dobama Theatre, Cleveland State University, Cleveland Play House and other area theatres. Notable past roles include George Murchison in Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin In The Sun, Eddie in Shadow of the Run’s Railroaded, Popcorn Vendor in Shadow of the Run’s Dreamwalkers, and Macduff in William Shakespeare’s Macbeth. He recently played Kevin/Albert in Clybourne Park at Ensemble Theatre. Nnamdi received his BA in Acting at Cleveland State University where he performed in Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare and She Kills Monsters by Qui Nguyen. He is currently a teaching artist for Cleveland Play House.

kat shy (Ensemble Member)

Kat Shy is a local theater artist and musician born and raised in the Cleveland area. She attended the University of Central Florida, later transferred to Cleveland State University, and completed her studies there in 2012. Kat has appeared on stage (and virtually) at various theaters, including, but not limited to, Dobama Theatre, Ensemble Theater, convergence-continuum, and of course, Cleveland Public Theatre. Some more notable credits include Jenny in John by Annie Baker (Dobama), Orangutan / Madeleine Mays in Water by the Spoonful (Ensemble), and Ensemble / Water Spirit in Fire on the Water (CPT).

kalindi stockton (Ensemble Member)

Kalindi’s performance history at Cleveland Public Theatre began with SAFMOD- a performance troupe of capoeira, ballet, bboy, stilting and percussions (Odyssey, Moments Captured, Imbue). For several seasons after, Kalindi performed at CPT with MegLouise Dance, Morrison Dance, and Siren Dance. She presented her own choreography (Vis-a-Vis) for CPT’s Big Box along with Maree ReMalia. Ms. Stockton has presented work in New York, Detroit, and Israel. The Other Shore written by Gao Xingian; directed by Raymond Bobgan, was Kalindi’s first performance in a play. Most recently, Kalindi performed with the ensemble in Candlelight Hypothesis directed by Raymond Bobgan. If you’ve been to CPT’s Pandemonium, you may have spotted Kalindi meandering, drifting, hiding and seeking in collaborative or solo performance art.

Alija Toles (Ensemble Member)

Alija Toles, an alum of CPT’s STEP program, is a singer and actor originating in Cleveland, Ohio, though he will go further than the borders of his city. He is more than thankful to be able to work with this group of creatives.

ANASTASÍA UROZHAEVA (ENSEMBLE MEMBER)

Anastasía is a Russian actress living in Cleveland who has performed with Cleveland Public Theatre since Entry Point 2018.She appeared in When the She’ll Broke by Faye Hargate. Her credits include Dialogue Dance Company performance 1518 that toured in Russia, Whisper’s Thread (Pandemonium 2018: Labyrinth of Desire), Crevice, Moth, & Star (Ohio City Street Festival 2018), Cuerpo de Mujer, Alma de Diosa (Teatro Público de Cleveland, ¡OBRAS EN EVOLUCIÓN! A Festival of New Play Readings 2018), Masks of Flight (creation rehearsals), Fire on the Water, Crevice, Moth, & Flame (Pandemonium 2019: Alchemy), Awakenings: A Virtual Gala (Pandemonium 2020: Awakenings), Dream Rust Workshop (a hypothesis project), Dragon Hypothesis, When the Seed Opens (Pandemonium 2021: The Break of Dawn). Anastasía attended Cleveland State University, where she majored in Theatre Arts and studied Spanish. After graduating, she has primarily performed at Cleveland Public Theatre, collaborating and working in new play development. In addition, Anastasía has taught, and assistant directed for acting education programs, including being Assistant Director of Global Teen Performance Project at CPT and Teaching Artist for STEP and Brick City Theatre. In 2019, she traveled to Moscow, Russia, with Professor Holsinger to work on an acting master class exchange with student actors of Raikin School of Theatre (Satyricon Theatre).

Eric wloszek (Ensemble Member)

Eric is a local Cleveland artist who has a love for human connection. He has worked with Raymond and the Core Ensemble for several years. CPT Core credits include two original works, Dragon Hypothesis (Blind Man) and Dream Rust Hypothesis (Clay), which both premiered on Zoom. The latter premiered on The Kennedy Center’s Website through a special series called Arts Across America. Eric has helped support the Core Ensemble in creation periods for several original pieces such as Masks of Flight and Candlelight Hypothesis. Another CPT credit includes Good at Heart (Mr. Kleiman), which premiered at the BorderLight International Theatre Festival in 2019. Local film credits include two original short films, Hobby and Julie of the Jury, which were official selections at the 2021 and 2019 Cleveland International Film Festivals respectfully. Eric graduated with a BA in Theatre from Cleveland State University in December 2019.