CONNI'S AVANT GARDE RESTAURANT Returns To CPT This Winter

Cleveland Public Theatre (CPT) presents the return of NYC-based Conni's Avant Garde Restaurant, one of CPT's most celebrated holiday entertainments. The production is onstage from November 29 - December 22, 2018, in CPT's historic Gordon Square Theatre. Conni's Avant Garde Restaurant earned accolades in TimeOut NYC and The Village Voice, was a winner of a New York Innovative Theater Award in 2012, and was selected as a "10 Best of the Year" pick by The Plain Dealer in 2011.

Hailed as "devilish dinner theatre" by the New York Daily News, one of CPT's most popular holiday entertainments is BACK! This hilarious musical performance includes crazy cabaret, comedy, dancing, game show competitions, violence, and a five-course meal. The performers cook and serve the feast, using fresh, locally-sourced ingredients-each course served through musical and choreographed sequences. Conni's Avant Garde Restaurant: A Snowball's Chance is an eclectic, bizarre, and delightful night at the theatre like no other. You won't want to miss this!

Equally celebrated by New York City's theatre and local food community, Conni's Avant Garde Restaurant will transform Cleveland Public Theatre into a lush banquet hall-complete with a fully functional, visible kitchen. This unique holiday feast will unfold throughout the evening, orchestrated by director of mise-en-scène, Hair Messerschmidt, with special treats from Cleveland's own Davenport's Divine Delicacies, and holiday cheer dispensed by Doctor Peterson and his nursing staff.

Produce for the menu will be sourced from local family farms and the West Side Market. The 2018 menu is detailed below:

-assorted phyllo cups (whipped feta, sweet butternut squash, & mushroom tapenade)
-potato leek soup
-today's waldorf salad with mixed greens, apples, grapes, celery root, cranberries, with veganaisse dressing & praline topping
-roasted turkey with gravy & cornbread dressing, green bean casserole with toasted almonds & pesto, & classic cranberry compote
-vegetarian option: vegetable & brown rice stuffed cabbage roll braised in blistered tomato stew
-chocolate bundt cake with bourbon whipped cream

WE ACCOMMODATE SPECIAL DIETARY REQUESTS!
Are you (or a member of your party) vegan, vegetarian, or have dietary restrictions? Please notify the Box Office at least 24 hours in advance, we'll let the chef know, and make every attempt to accommodate. Email the Box Office at boxoffice@cptonline.org or call 216-631-2727 x501 and leave a message.

THE CREATIVE PRODUCTION TEAM
Conni's Avant Garde Restaurant, the fictional ensemble originally created by Justin Badger, Jeffrey Fracé, Thomas Gissendanner, Connie Hall, Kelly Hayes, Jerusha Klemperer, Peter Lettre, Rachel Murdy, Deborah Philips, and Peter Richards, presents A Snowball's Chance, with material contributed by the current ensemble under the direction of Cynthia Croot.

The cast of characters includes Muffin Character Hanshake (star of stage and screen), Shihu Shallnotbenamed (performance arsonist), Spackle Barrymore, (vaudevillian veteran), Lady T Rose (road-weary rock goddess), Areese RR De La Fuente (mixer of sound art cymatics), Doctor Peterson (freelance psychiatric and OB/GYN practitioner), Hair Messerschmidt (master of mise-en-scène), Sue James (general manager), and Triple D (local chef).

The creative production team includes Raymond Bobgan - Producer; Beth Wood - Line Producer; Connie Hall - Producing Director & Original Creator; Rachel Murdy - Original Creator; Cynthia Croot - Director; David M. Barber - Scenic & Costume Designer; Jennifer Caster - Production Stage Manager*; Ashley Davenport - Chef; Wes Calkin - Lighting Designer; and Kasey Gilder - Sound Designer.

*Production Stage Manager appears courtesy of Actors' Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.

Conni's Avant Garde Restaurant: A Snowball's Chance previews Thursday, November 29. Press Night is Friday, November 30 and the show runs through Saturday, December 22. Performances are Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights in CPT's historic Gordon Square Theatre, located at 6415 Detroit Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44102 in the heart of the Gordon Square Arts District.

Doors open at 6:30pm for hors d'oeuvres and preshow entertainment. Show starts promptly at 7:00pm. Tickets are $35-75 and include a five-course meal and table wine.

Early Bird and Group Discounts available. Order by November 15 for 15% off each ticket. Purchase 10 tickets or more by November 15 and get 20% off your entire purchase! Use the code CONEARLYBIRD when purchasing online.

PURCHASE TICKETS at www.cptonline.org or call the CPT Box Office at 216.631.2727 ext. 501. Group discounts are available-call the Box Office to inquire. (Reserve early! - CPT never charges any ticket fees, ever.)