Beth Wood News

It's that time of year when local theatre offerings center on 'peace on earth' and how each of us should be kind and better (e.g., Great Lakes Theater's A CHRISTMAS CAROL), family holiday memories (Cleveland Play House's A CHRISTMAS STORY), and musical escapes (Beck Center's MARY POPPINS and PlayhouseSquare's ELF).

Cleveland Public Theatre's Executive Artistic Director, Raymond Bobgan, announces the return of a holiday favorite, The SantaLand Diaries by David Sedaris, adapted by Joe Mantello, produced by the Cleveland Theatre and presented at the Outcalt Theatre at Playhouse Square this holiday season.

Cleveland Public Theatre (CPT) presents the return of The Loush Sisters-a martini-loving, naughty-but-nice comedic duo-in their latest original show, The Loush Sisters Love Dick'ns: Great Expectations. The show runs 4 weekends, from November 27-December 19 onstage at CPT's historic Gordon Square Theatre.

Cleveland Public Theatre's Executive Artistic Director Raymond Bobgan announces the 2015-2016 Season, which delivers on CPT's mission of raising consciousness and nurturing compassion through theatre that is daring, relevant and socially-conscious.

What are the feelings of a husband and wife when they want to conceive a child, but can't? What are the ramifications for that childless family when they are given the opportunity to adopt the 'perfect' child? What is it like when that family becomes aware that their child is autistic? How do parents cope with a child who screams when he becomes frustrated and doesn't have the words to express his needs or habitually follows a pattern over and over, such as reading the same book again and again, or can't socialize with others? What emotionally happens to that family when that child disappears?

Cleveland Public Theatre (CPT) Executive Artistic Director Raymond Bobgan presents the National New Play Network Rolling World Premiere of in a word by Lauren Yee. Previous work by playwright Yee has been called 'savvy and affecting' (Time Out Chicago on Samsara) and her characteristic 'surreal plot twists and idiosyncratic tone...serve to advance an unabashedly heartfelt message about the value of love and human relationships.' (Washington Post on The Hatmaker's Wife)

Cleveland Public Theatre (CPT) Executive Artistic Director Raymond Bobgan presents the National New Play Network Rolling World Premiere of in a word by Lauren Yee. Previous work by playwright Yee has been called 'savvy and affecting' (Time Out Chicago on Samsara) and her characteristic 'surreal plot twists and idiosyncratic tone...serve to advance an unabashedly heartfelt message about the value of love and human relationships.' (Washington Post on The Hatmaker's Wife)

In October of 2012, when Cleveland Public Theatre first staged, STANDING ON CEREMONY THE GAY MARRIAGE PLAYS, 'same sex marriage was legal in nine states (Connecticut, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Vermont and Washington and the District of Columbia).' At the same time, '30 states had added language to their constitutions banning same-sex marriage.'

The hilarious holiday favorite, The SantaLand Diaries by David Sedaris, adapted by Joe Mantello and produced by Cleveland Public Theatre, makes its return to PlayhouseSquare this holiday season, Nov. 28 - Dec. 21, starring native Clevelander Eric Schmiedl as "Crumpet."

The hilarious holiday favorite, The SantaLand Diaries by David Sedaris, adapted by Joe Mantello and produced by Cleveland Public Theatre, makes its return to PlayhouseSquare this holiday season, Nov. 28 - Dec. 21, starring native Clevelander Eric Schmiedl as "Crumpet."

Greater Cleveland is blessed with a vital theatre scene. It is the purpose of the TIMES THEATRE TRIBUTES to recognize theatrical experiences that, in the view of this reviewer, were excellent and deserve recognition.

Cleveland Play House, with license from the American Foundation for Equal Rights (AFER) and Broadway Impact, will produce a one-night-only staged reading of '8,' a play chronicling the historic trial in the federal constitutional challenge to California's Proposition 8, written by Academy Award-winning screenwriter and AFER Founding Board Member Dustin Lance Black.

If you went to college, and took a course in poetry, you'll find yourself morphing back and wishing that your professors had had a romp in the grass, and expressed themselves with such absurd hysterical language, as the duo in THERE IS A HAPPINESS THAT MORNING IS, which is getting a fine production at CPT.

Cleveland Public Theatre is noted for championing works by local artists. The theatre's newest offering, EARTH PLAYS (Part Two of the Elements Cycle) invited directors, performers and writers to focus on the themes of the earth and sustainability, using the technique of devised theater.

Every era has its controversies. Since theatre represents the era from which it comes, here in the United States, attitudes about the women's movement were presented by feminist plays. The Black movement found African American writers sending forth their messages. Today, with the Gay rights movement in full swing, it is only logical that some of that community's issues reach the forefront.

Cleveland Public Theatre's mission is to raise consciousness and nurture compassion through ground breaking new, adventurous work. Under the guidance of Artistic Director Raymond Bobgan, the theatre challenges audiences mainly strong works. Included in the winners have been this season's ANTELBELLUM, and past offerings such as DARWINNI, THE COMUPPANCE OF MAN, BLUE SKY TRANSMISSION: A TIBETAN BOOK OF THE DEAD, and INSOMNIA THE WAKING OF HERSELVES. Some other offerings have confounded more than excited.

In 1939, Hattie McDaniel was the first African-American to win an Oscar for her portrayal of Mammy in GONE WITH THE WIND. She was also the first African American to be an invited guest to attend the Oscars. Ironically, she was required to sit alone at the back of the Cocoanut Grove, the site of the award ceremonies, a far distance from the white performers in the movie.

In partnership with Great Lakes Theater Festival, the PlayhouseSquare Community Engagement & Education Department is hosting the Cleveland Branch Finals of the annual English-Speaking Union's (ESU) National Shakespeare Competition on Saturday, February 27. Students from 38 Northeast Ohio schools are participating. Cuyahoga County Public Library Executive Director Sari Feldman will deliver the event's keynote address at 9:00 a.m.

In partnership with Great Lakes Theater Festival, the PlayhouseSquare Community Engagement & Education Department is hosting the Cleveland Branch Finals of the annual English-Speaking Union's (ESU) National Shakespeare Competition on Saturday, February 27. Students from 38 Northeast Ohio schools are participating. Cuyahoga County Public Library Executive Director Sari Feldman will deliver the event's keynote address at 9:00 a.m.