Cleveland Public Theatre Marks Decade of Playwright Development With TEST FLIGHT
Cleveland Public Theatre will showcase new playwrights with this series.
Cleveland Public Theatre has announced the 10th anniversary of its quintessential play development series, Test Flight, back with six established and up-and-coming Northeast Ohio playwrights.
This year's event will run January 29 through February 14 and feature a double bill each weekend. There will be pieces by Molly McFadden, fresh off her successful run at Edinburg Festival Fringe, and a dance theatre piece by Assembly for the Arts 2025 Creative Impact Awardee Elizabeth Pollert and more. The last weekend Feb. 12 – Feb. 14 features a double bill of CPT's two community ensembles Teatro Público de Cleveland and Masrah Cleveland Al-Arabi. The two companies have been dreaming of working together for a few years, so we are excited for this collaboration which expands on CPT's mission to “raise consciousness and nurture compassion…"
Since 2017, Test Flight has given 53 local playwrights a platform and resources towards self-producing. To be selected, playwrights submit their projects in teams that usually include a producer and director so they can focus on the creative process. Previously, playwrights were responsible for writing and producing including coming up with their own show images which they continue to do.
Once teams are selected, they receive workshops on producing to marketing, minimal marketing support, production support and a stipend and percentage of the box office.
Productions are staged with minimal sets, props and costumes and are often performed with script in hand.
Several productions that were developed through Test Flight have gone on to receive full productions such as Showin' Up Black by Jeanne Madison, Our Lady of Common Sorrows by Jaiie Dayo Aliya, ALTER by Tania Benites, Panther Women: An Army for the Liberation by India Nicole Burton which received the highly sought National New Play Network Rolling World premiere in Chicago and Indiana. The musical Everything is Okay (and other Helpful Lies) by Melissa Crum and Caitlin Lewins received a reading at the prestigious New York Musical Festival after its CPT run.
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A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum Near West Theatre (4/16-5/02) |
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Godspell Western Reserve Playhouse (7/17-7/26) |
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Honk! Near West Theatre (2/12-2/28) |
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Dear Evan Hansen Short North Stage - Garden Theater (1/23-2/14) |
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Mean Girls Senney Theatre (6/10-8/09) |
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A Christmas Carol: The Musical Ohio Star Theater (11/18-12/15) PHOTOS |
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Sweeney Todd Short North Stage - Garden Theater (9/26-10/17) |
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Cinderella, Tne Enchanted Edition Lorain Community Music Theater (7/23-7/26) |
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Pippin Short North Stage - Garden Theater (8/06-8/29) |
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Rush at Rocket Arena Rocket Arena (9/17-9/18) |