Cleveland Public Theatre presents BARBECUE by Robert O'Hara

Cleveland Public Theatre (CPT) is proud to announce the regional premiere of Barbecue, a dark comedy by Robert O'Hara (Bootycandy, Antebellum) and directed by CPT Associate Artistic Director Beth Wood. Barbecue is onstage February 16th - March 11th, 2017 in CPT's historic Gordon Square Theatre.

Barbecue is set in an airy outdoor pavilion in a nameless Middle American city, where the pill-popping, chain-smoking, whiskey-swilling and foul-mouthed O'Mallery family has gathered to share some barbecue and straight talk with their trainwreck of a sister Barbara-whose spiral of drugs and recklessness has forced her siblings to stage an open-air "intervention." When the story twists to reveal two parallel families - one white, one black - the event becomes raucous and unpredictable, as racial politics collide with family values, survival instinct and America's fascination with self-destruction as entertainment.

Hailed as "fearless" (New York Theatre Guide), Barbecue is propelled by crackling dialogue and a vigorous 10-person cast. Following its east coast premiere, The New Yorker raved: "Barbecue manages to roast its raw characters, while at the same time basting the audience in juicy observations about race and class, truth and 'authenticity,' and modern addictions, including to fame."

According to Barbecue director Beth Wood (who also directed O'Hara's Antebellum for CPT in 2012): "O'Hara has a gift for setting up a situation so that we think we know what we're watching, and then pulls the rug out from under us. But he does so in a way that doesn't remove the audience from the play, but rather asks that we think deeper about what we've just seen. He is utterly unapologetic-asking hard questions, skewering society, our behavior, stereotypes-but with such a beautiful, fierce command of language, that the work can't help but demand response."

Cast and Crew of Barbecue

The cast is Ashley Aquilla, Tonya Broach, Scott A. Campbell, Teresa DeBerry, MaryAnn Elder, Sally Groth*, Katrice Monee Headd, Jill Levin, Ray McNiece and Pamela Morton. (*Actor appears courtesy of Actors' Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.)

Barbecue was written by Robert O'Hara. The production team is Raymond Bobgan (Producer); Beth Wood (Director), Benjamin Gantose (Lighting Designer); Ryan T. Patterson (Scenic Designer); Inda Blatch-Geib (Costume Designer); Kerry McCarthy (Sound Designer), India Nicole Burton (Assistant Director); TiaMarshae E. Sanford (Stage Manager).

Ticket & Show Information

Barbecue (February 16 - March 11, 2017) previews Thursday, February 16, 17, 18 and 23 (no show February 20). Press Night is Friday, February 24 and the show runs through Saturday, March 11.

Performances are Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Monday nights at 7:30pmin CPT's Gordon Square Theatre, located at 6415 Detroit Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44102, in the heart of the Gordon Square Arts District.

Tickets are $12 - $30. Students/Seniors receive $3 off on Friday and Saturday nights. All Thursdays and Mondays are $12.Friday/Saturday previews are $20.

PURCHASE TICKETS at www.cptonline.org or call the CPT Box Office at (216) 631-2727 x 501. Group discounts are available - call the Box Office to inquire. (Reserve early! - CPT never charges any ticket fees, ever.)

The Gordon Square Theatre is ADA-accessible, featuring a ramped entrance, patron elevator and gender-neutral, wheelchair-accessible restroom.

Every Friday is Free Beer Friday at CPT. Mingle with the artists after the show and discuss the performance in a lively, social atmosphere - your drinks are on CPT.