Cleveland Public Theatre, Northeast Ohio’s most innovative and adventurous theatre is proud to announce The Director Fellows Program funded by a generous grant from Joan Yellen Horvitz, a long-time friend of CPT.

“The intent of this new initiative is to address Cleveland’s limited pool of directors with experience creating new theatrical work” said Raymond Bobgan, CPT’s Executive Artistic Director. The Director Fellows Program is a year-long residency that provides mentoring, formal classwork and involves Fellows in play creation and directing at least one show in CPT’s season. Two women have been selected as the 2012 Inaugural Director Fellows, Pandora Robinson and Renee Schilling. Each director receives an award of $3,000 and full underwriting of all of their learning and artistic activities during the fellowship.

PANDORA ROBERTSON earned a Master of Arts in Theater Arts from Case Western University. Her extensive portfolio includes directing, acting, dancing and choreography at Great Lakes Theatre Festival, Cleveland Play House, Dobama Theatre, Porthouse Theatre, and Ensemble Theatre. Last season in Big Box, CPT’s festival of new work, Ms. Robinson introduced her original play, Voice Over. This season, she recently created Crash Project a short work forAt-TEN-tion Span and will premiere her new play 13 Most American Dreams in May 2012.

RENEE SCHILLING is a graduate of CSU’s Theatre Program. An actor and director, Ms. Schilling was most recently seen in The Excavation (Theater Ninjas) and as performer and co-author (with Lew Wallace) of 30 Awkward Minutes with Pat and Glenn featured in CPT’s 2011 Big Box series. Ms. Schilling has also directed and developed new work for Ingenuity Festival. At CPT this season, Ms. Schilling created To Fasten Your Seatbelts for At-TEN-tion Span and she directed Lew Wallace in his Big Box solo show Jesus is Dead… and Jerry Garcia is God. Ms. Schilling will also direct Not the Flying Stupendas, a play she is creating with Jill Levin in April 2012.

JOAN YELLEN HORVITZ is an admired couture designer whose work was based in Cleveland. Joan Yellen Couture Designs can be viewed in the permanent collections of the following museums: Kent State Costume collection; The Western Reserve Historical Society, The Chisolm Halle Costume Wing; Ursuline College Historical Costume Study Collection. Ms. Horvitz has designed costumes and sets for dance and theatre. At CPT Ms. Horvitz’s stunning work was seen in Fefu and her Friends, Between Life and Death and most recently Insomnia: The Waking of Herselves. Many local arts organizations and individual artists have benefitted from Ms. Horvitz’s generosity.

13 Most American Dreams May 17 – June 2
Subconscious dreams, daydreams, phobias and fears are explored through movement, music and live streaming video. 13 Most American Dreams offers contrasting snapshots of contemporary culture and its attitudes and relationships to dreaming.

Not The Flying Stupendas April 19 – May 5
After The Flying Stupenadas cancel their performance following a terrible accident, cruel Madame Producer, refusing to refund ticket sales, forces her unskilled staff and family to “perform” magic shows, song and dance routines, bizarre juggling and clowning acts. The show must go on!