The goal of Big Box is to support new work and local artists.

CPT provides:
– The James Levin Theatre
– Basic production staff, stage management, box office support
– Marketing and advertising support

The artists provide the rest!

The writers, directors, actors, and designers selected for Big Box dedicate themselves to creating new and original work, or stretching their artistic powers by working in new disciplines.

WEEK #6: FEBRUARY 9 – 11 (DOUBLE BILL)
DIVORCING BATMAN, DATING ALL OF GOTHAM CITY

JESUS IS DEAD… JERRY GARCIA IS GOD

DIVORCING BATMAN, DATING ALL OF GOTHAM CITY

Written and Performed by Melissa Barber*
Directed by Paula Kline-Messner
Producer: Melissa Barber
Associate Producer: Jan Wolf
Graphic Designer: Kimberly Ceja
*Actor appears courtesy of Actors’ Equity Association

Our heroic divorcee was married to a man who enjoyed dressing up like Batman… for Halloween. No hot nights in the Batcave, just passing out candy and going to costume parties in suburban Gotham. After 15 years, their marriage fizzled for some serious reasons, most importantly because Batman revealed he didn’t love her. Following a heartbreaking divorce, she still believed in marriage, love and passion, so she started dating… all of Gotham City. In her vulnerable state, she tried everything: online dating, dating services, blind dates, dating old friends, co-workers, older men and more. Our heroine shares her vulnerabilities, mistakes, faith, wacky imagination and courageous break-throughs as she shares her journey of self-discovery after divorce.

Artist Bios:
Melissa Barber is an accomplished singer, actress and director. She has written numerous cabaret and musical theatre review shows and most recently has written several children’s stories. Ms. Barber has performed throughout greater Cleveland in venues such as PlayhouseSquare, Cain Park and Berea Summer Theatre. In New York City she performed her solo cabarets at Don’t Tell Mama, Upstairs at Rose’s Turn and The Duplex. Ms. Barber earned her B.A. degrees in musical theatre and music business from Otterbein College.

Visit www.melissabarber.net for more information.

JESUS IS DEAD… AND JERRY GARCIA IS GOD

Written and Performed by Lew Wallace
Directed by Renee Schilling

It is the end of the world…maybe…and one man remains trapped in a bathroom stall. Now, he must track the journey of his life and discover some clue as to what it all meant and whether he understood any of it. As the sole survivor of the apocalypse is he at all qualified to represent the human race? Answers do not come so easily when the only words left are graffiti upon the wall. Jesus is Dead…and Jerry Garcia is God is the story of a man left over.

Artist Bios:
Lew Wallace is a recent graduate from the Cleveland State University Department of Theatre and Dance. As a student, his credits include McCann in The Birthday Party, George H. Jones in Machinal, Dr. Rank in A Doll’s House, Tony Lumpkin in She Stoops to Conquer, and Matt in The Fantasticks. As a company member of CSU Summer Stages, credits include John in Dark of the Moon, Captain Tempest in Return to the Forbidden Planet, and Maxim Gorky in Chekhov in Yalta. He was also a part of Theatre Ninjas’ The Excavation, where he appeared as Dr. Felix and various other roles. For CPT he has appeared as a Shadow in Open Mind Firmament, as Jordan/Mike in Don’t Call Me Fat, as well as The Everything is Everything Project, which was involved in last season’s Big Box series.

Renee Schilling, a graduate of Cleveland State University, is an Artistic Fellow at Cleveland Public Theatre for the 2011 – 2012 season. She is very excited to be directing Not the Flying Stupendas written by Jill Levin at CPT this spring. Recent acting credits include The Excavation with the Theater Ninjas and 30 Awkward Minutes with Pat and Glenn (Co-Written with Lew Wallace).