STUDENT THEATRE ENRICHMENT PROGRAM (STEP) 2024: Carved, An Adaptation of Carlo Collodi’s Pinocchio

July 25, 2024 - August 04, 2024

Times and locations vary, see below. Be sure to bring a lawn chair or blanket to our outdoor performances!

FREE

An enchanted stick is carved into existence by a grief ridden woodworker. Seeing the human world through new eyes, this mystical being goes on an adventure to discover what it means to be “real” inside of a world filled with twists and tangles. Mistakes are made but returns to a magical repair shop offer chances to try again. Our characters learn to build a compass for living life, with guidance from the spirits of the natural world.

Tour Schedule

July 25, Thurs. at 7pm, Herman Park, 6198 Herman Ave.

July 27, Sat. at 1pm, Romanian Cultural Gardens, 870 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

July 29, Mon. at 7pm, Shrine Church of St. Stanislaus. Due to inclement weather, this performance will now be held indoors at the church's social center's basement located at 6601 Baxter Ave. (note that the building is not wheelchair accessible).

July 30, Tues. at 7pm, Halloran Park, 3550 W. 117th St. Due to inclement weather this performance is cancelled.

July 31, Wed. at 6pm, Outhwaite Homes Community Center, 2452 E. 46 & Quincy Ave.**

Aug. 1, Thurs. at 6pm, Riverside Park Estates Community Center, 17800 Parkmount Ave.  **

Aug. 3, Sat. at 7pm, Lincoln Park (as part of Arts In August), (at W. 14 and Starkweather Ave.)

Aug. 4, Sun at 7pm, Cleveland Public Theatre, 6415 Detroit Ave.

**Free Ice Cream by Signature Slush & Cream will be available at these performances while supplies last.

Producer Raymond Bobgan
Director of Education Nicole Sumlin
Program Director Melissa Crum
Teaching Artists Graham Callahan, Melissa Crum, Fiona Finneran, Tyree Franklin, Quenisha Moss, Avery LaMar Pope, Kadijah Wingo.
Choreographer Eugene Sumlin
Stage Manager and Administrative Assistant Fiona Finneran

Education Associate Brooke Myers
Tech Lead Graham Callahan
Tech Assistant Tyree Franklin
Costume Designer Inda Blatch-Geib
Assistant Designer & Crafts Person Dred Geib
Crafts Person Ennin Geib
Wardrobe Supervisor Olivia Wolfram

Set Construction Support Patrick Stoops

CLICK HERE for bios!

Performance Ensemble Aneesah Ali, Kionne Allen, Javion Battle, Shaneya Berkley, Jayla Carter, Samantha Gallo, Arihsay Gonzalez Rivera, Monica G. Guardado*, Cheyenne Hall, Takiya Long, Lakarrion McNeal, Cearia Mango, Gabrielle Muleba, Chantel Roberts, Nico Smith, August Sumlin*, Nathan Thorpe, Eva Vergez, Aaliyah Wagner, William Willis

Tech Team Le’lani Aikens, Maison Aikens, Samantha Aikens, Xavier Aikens, Kelsey Arnold, La’ Shyia Brown, Cortas Carson, Rhionnan Ford, Nate Griffith, Arland Jackson, Jerez LaVette

*Assistant Directors

Very special thanks to: Council President Blaine A. Griffin and Councilpersons Kerry McCormack, Richard A. Starr, Kevin Conwell, Danny Kelly, Rebecca Maurer, Jenny Spencer, and Charles J. Slife.

Made possible through the generous support of: City of Cleveland Division of Recreation, Cleveland City Council and the City of Cleveland’s Office of Prevention, Intervention, and Opportunity for Youth and Young Adults; Cleveland Foundation, Brewer-Garrett; Dollar Bank Foundation; First Federal Lakewood; Martha Holden Jennings Foundation; David & Inez Myers Foundation; LAND Studio; PNC Bank; Third Federal Savings & Loan; William M. Weiss Foundation

Special thanks to these Community Partners: Bellaire-Puritas Development Corporation; Burten, Bell, Carr Development, Inc.; City of Cleveland Department of Community Development; City of Cleveland Division of Special Events; Cleveland Metropolitan School District; Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority; Northwest Neighborhoods CDC; Slavic Village Development; Tremont West Development Corporation, and The Iron Ward and West Town Community Development Corporation.

STEP 2023: The Midnight Mist

What is STEP?

CPT’s Student Theatre Enrichment Program (STEP) is a rigorous arts-based program that provides hands-on job training, engaging Cleveland youth from families defined as low-income in a powerful learning experience that develops job skills, academic achievement, and interpersonal skills. As part of this eight-week summer program, youth, ages 14-19, work together to create, produce, perform, and tour their own play. This program is the longest-running arts-based, workplace development program in Cleveland and is an international model for engaging youth. Since its beginning in 1994, STEP has received multiple awards and recognitions including those from the City of Cleveland, The President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities, and the National Endowment for the Arts. Through STEP, teens see themselves as a positive and inspirational force, and watch as their work has an impact on the larger Cleveland community.