Cleveland Play House to Present CLYBOURNE PARK, 3/21-4/13

Only one play in history has received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, Broadway's Tony Award for Best Play, and London's Olivier Award for Best New Play. Securing the "Triple Crown" of theatre has made Bruce Norris' Clybourne Park one of the most acclaimed American plays in recent memory, earning accolades from such diverse critics as Entertainment Weekly ("indisputably, uproariously funny") to The New Yorker ("superb, elegantly written and hilarious"). Cleveland Play Housewill present this wickedly funny and fiercely provocative play from March 21 - April 13 in the Allen Theatre at PlayhouseSquare.

Tackling the timely issues of race and real estate with biting humor, Clybourne Park covers subjects particularly relevant and important to Cleveland today. The play is Norris' modern answer to Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun and takes place in the same fictional neighborhood the Younger family moves at the end of that classic play.

The first act of Clybourne Park is set in 1959 where a white couple has unknowingly sold their home to a black family, causing an uproar in their all-white neighborhood. Act Two fast forwards 50 years to 2009 when a young white couple buys the same house with plans to rebuild and gentrify their piece of the predominantly black, but changing, neighborhood. Although taking place 50 years apart, both acts devolve from conversations rooted in political correctness to emotion-fueled debates hilariously highlighting the way we talk - or don't talk - about hot-button subjects.

"The award-winning Clybourne Park is a dangerous and thrilling play that will have audiences gasping and laughing in equal measure," states CPH Artistic Director Laura Kepley. "As thoughtful as it is challenging, we believe the play will inspire invigorating discussions about change, opportunity and the future of our local and global neighborhoods. CPH will host post-show discussions after every performance, moderated by CPH artistic staff and a member of the cast."

Clybourne Park contains strong language and mature themes.

Clybourne Park Cast

Kristen Adele (Francine/Lena), Bernard Bygott (Kenneth), Jessica Kitchens (Betsey/Lindsay), Christian Pedersen (Karl/Steve), Jim Poulos (Jim/Tom), Remi Sandri (Russ/Dan), Roya Shanks (Bev/Kathy), Daniel Morgan Shelley (Albert/Kevin)

Clybourne Park Creative Team

Bruce Norris (Playwright), Mark Cuddy (Director), G.W. Mercier (Scenic and Costume Designer), Ann G. Wrightson (Lighting Designer), Lindsay Jones (Sound Designer), John Godbout (Stage Manager) and Tom Humes (Assistant Stage Manager).

This production of Clybourne Park is a co-production with Geva Theatre Center in Rochester, New York.

Clybourne Park Special Events

Tech Tuesday: Clybourne Park
March 17, 2014 @ 7:00pm - 8:30pm
This is a special presentation, taking place on a Monday. Hear from the director, then sit in on a technical rehearsal ("tech") to see how set, lights, sound, costumes and actors all come together as opening night nears! RSVP required. InsideCPH@clevelandplayhouse.com

Behind-the-Scenes: Creating a World
March 15, 2014 @ 12:30pm - 2:00pm
To put 50 years of one home's history on stage, the creative team of Clybourne Park - and every CPH show - must perform theatrical alchemy: turn words on a page into a complete and seamless world on the stage. We'll take a deep dive into the research and resources required for a director and designers to make this magic happen.

Season Extra: Beneatha's Place
April 7, 2014 @ 7:00pm - 9:00pm

Noted writer-director Kwame Kwei-Armah's play responds to his perception that Clybourne Park perpetuates "the connotation... that whites build and blacks destroy." Join the Clybourne cast for a special reading of this play and TalkBack.

TalkBack: Breath and Imagination
Audiences will want to talk about what they've seen in Clybourne Park and CPH will host a TalkBack in the theatre immediately following every performance.

Clybourne Park will take place March 21 - April 13, 2014 in the Allen Theatre at PlayhouseSquare. Tickets range in price from $45-$72 each. Students under the age of 25 with a valid ID will be offered a special $15 ticket price. Tickets are also just $25 for anyone under age 35, sponsored by Scene Magazine. To order single tickets please call 216-241-6000 or visit www.clevelandplayhouse.com. Groups of 10+ save up to 40% off single ticket prices; call 216-400-7027.