Award-Winning Lin-Manuel Miranda Musical, IN THE HEIGHTS, Completes CPH's 108th Season
Posted May 10, 2024 in Press Releases
(Cleveland, OH) Cleveland Play House closes its 2023-2024 season with the heartwarming hit musical, In The Heights from May 11 through June 9, 2024 in the Allen Theatre. With music and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda and book by Quiara Alegría Hudes, In The Heights is directed by James Vásquez, choreographed by Julio Agustín, and music directed by Noah Landis. The production features Michelle Aravena*, Edgar Cavazos*, Aamar-Malik Culbreth, Courtland Davis*, Shadia Fairuz*, Valeria Flores, Alyssa V. Gomez*, Reyna Guerra*, Kirstin Angelina Henry, Luis Herrera*, Chibueze Ihuoma*, Ariella Kvashny*, Rudy Martinez*, Addie Morales*, Joseph Morales*, Liliana Rodriguez*, Amy Romero, Trinidad Snider, Kevin Solis*, Gabriel Subervi, Arik Vega*, and Kalyn West*. Tickets to In The Heights can be purchased exclusively atclevelandplayhouse.com.
In The Heights is Lin-Manuel Miranda’s music-filled love letter to the community of his youth, Washington Heights, NYC. This heartwarming, hip-hop-infused musical tells the story of the corner bodega where the coffee is hot, light, and sweet, the apartment windows are always open, and the cool breeze carries the percussive rhythm of the bustling city and three generations of dreams. The unbearable July heat has the denizens of NYC’s upper west side Washington Heights neighborhood shouting, “¡Que calor!” Several established businesses have closed. Housing costs – and racial tensions – are on the rise. And the once vibrant, now dwindling community must rally together to preserve their culture and their way of life. For this community on the brink of change, In The Heights tells the story of hope, heritage, and healing love.
Long before Hamilton, Moana, and Encanto, the original idea of the hit Broadway musical In The Heights began as a college project for Lin-Manuel Miranda, a budding writer and performer attending Wesleyan University. During his sophomore year in 1999, Miranda began writing a story centered around characters from the NYC neighborhood of his upbringing, Washington Heights. Over the next few years, the musical underwent major plot and structural changes, credited to the new collaboration with the then emerging playwright, Quiara Alegría Hudes, who joined the creative team in 2004.
With a revised script and score, the piece was developed at the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center during a residency at the 2005 Music Theater Conference. The off-Broadway production premiered in 2007 and then transferred to Broadway in 2008, earning four Tony Awards for Best Musical, Original Score, Choreography, and Orchestrations. After two national tours, the acclaimed musical was adapted into a film in 2021.
Much of the dialogue and lyrics in the musical are spoken and sung in Spanish, the language of the immigrants who live in Washington Heights. Miranda’s score authentically captures the rhythms of Afro-Caribbean music unlike other works within the American musical theatre canon. Miranda allows for style and mode to be specific to his characters, incorporating traditional power ballads, high-energy dance scenes, call-and-response, and hip-hop with witty rap lyrics. Though the inspiring Miranda and Hudes musical focuses on a specific place and culture, the themes within the story are universal, focused on the importance of family, following your dreams, and celebrating community.
At the helm of CPH’s production of In The Heights is James Vásquez, a resident artist at The Old Globe Theatre in San Diego, California. Director James Vásquez says, “I’ve directed this show a few times in my career, and yet, if there is one constant I take away every time I revisit this neighborhood, it is the importance of community and family. It’s a theme I’m grateful to always revisit with Lin-Manuel Miranda’s groundbreaking musical.” Vásquez says, “Much like all our communities, [Washington Heights] is a true melting pot of faces, beliefs, and hopes. They fight to remember who they are and where they come from, but also look to the future and dream of who they can become — and ultimately redefine what makes up a family. It’s with great pride that my new Cleveland Play House family gets to bring this story to life for you and your family, be they related or chosen. Though our faces, beliefs, and hopes may differ from each other or the person next door, Lin-Manuel Miranda’s beautifully universal story proves the power of a community when standing up and having each other’s back.”
The creative team for In The Heights includes choreography by Julio Agustín (In The Heights at Hangar Theatre/Geva Theatre), music direction by Noah Landis (Broadway: Hamilton, A Bronx Tale), scenic design by Diggle, costume design by Lex Liang (CPH’s Moriarty, Shakespeare In Love), lighting design by María-Cristina Fusté (CPH’s American Mariachi), sound design by Sharath Patel (CPH’s Frankenstein), wig and hair design by Kellen Eason, casting by Karie Koppel, as well as cultural consultant Inali Pichardo, associate choreographer Amy Romero, stage manager Colt Luedtke*, and assistant stage manager Kitty Wen.
The extraordinary cast of In The Heights features Joseph Morales* (Chicago/National Tour of Hamilton in title role; National Tour of In The Heights) as Usnavi; Trinidad Snider (Artistic Director of Cleveland's Near West Theatre) as Abuela Claudia; Addie Morales* (Tour: Les Mis) as Nina Rosario; Chibueze Ihuoma* (B’way & Tour: Hadestown) as Benny; Kalyn West* (B’way & Tour: The Prom; Tour: Mean Girls) as Vanessa; Michelle Aravena* (B’way: Beetlejuice, Rocky, Jersey Boys) as Camila Rosario; Rudy Martinez* (Regional: Man of La Mancha, Evita, The Addams Family) as Kevin Rosario; and Shadia Fairuz* (B’way Tour: On Your Feet!) as Daniella. Completing the cast is Edgar Cavazos*, Aamar-Malik Culbreth, Courtland Davis*, Valeria Flores, Alyssa V. Gomez*, Reyna Guerra*, Kirstin Angelina Henry, Luis Herrera*, Ariella Kvashny*, Liliana Rodriguez*, Amy Romero, Kevin Solis*, Gabriel Subervi, and Arik Vega*.
The production contains mild profanity; mild sexual innuendo; a drunken brawl; depictions and discussions of looting and violence in the streets; haze; and intense lighting effects. It is recommended for audiences aged 14 and up.
Running May 11 through June 9 in Playhouse Square’s Allen Theatre, evening performances of In The Heights are held Wednesday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m., and on Tuesday evenings at 7:00 p.m. Matinee performances are held on Saturdays and Sundays at 2:30 p.m. There will be no performances of In The Heights on Saturday, June 1, 2024. Instead, the Allen Theatre lobbies will be beautifully transformed to host the CPH Annual Benefit Gala.
Tickets start at $25. Student tickets are $15 (valid student ID required). Ohio Direction/EBT cardholders receive $5 admission to any performance (up to eight tickets). Military personnel and their immediate families receive 50% off tickets. Seniors may receive $10 off tickets. Groups of 20+ can save up to 30% on their purchase. ASL-interpreted and open-captioned performances are available on select performance dates. For additional information about programing and tickets, please visit clevelandplayhouse.com.
This production is sponsored by Cleveland-Cliffs and is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals.
Cleveland Play House celebrates the Northeast Ohio Latino community’s rhythms, colors, and flavors in a free outdoor festival, Carnaval In The Land. The festival takes place on Saturday, May 25 from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in the U.S. Bank Plaza at E 14 St. & Euclid Ave. Community members are invited to join the fun as the Latino and Hispanic businesses that strengthen the city come together to provide an afternoon of engaging community building activities. Festival attendees can expect delicious food, live performances, dance classes, crafts, activities, and much more. This event is perfect for all ages and free for all to attend.
KeyBank is the 2023-2024 season sponsor for Cleveland Play House.
Cleveland Play House recently announced its dynamic “Renaissance” 2024-2025 season. For further details and information, please visitclevelandplayhouse.com.
* denotes members of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.
BIOGRAPHIES
THE ACTING COMPANY
MICHELLE ARAVENA (Camila Rosario) Broadway: Beetlejuice (Miss Argentina), A Bronx Tale (Rosina u/s), Rocky (Angie, Adrian u/s), Jersey Boys, A Chorus Line revival (Trica), The Sound of Music (LCTC). Tours: A Bronx Tale (Rosina), West Side Story (Anita), Jersey Boys, Les Misérables (Fantine u/s), Mamma Mia! (Sophie). Regional: Billy Elliot (Mrs. Wilkinson) at Paramount; Evita (Eva Peron) at Drury Lane and St. Louis Rep; Guys and Dolls (Adelaide) at TUTS; Damn Yankees (Lola) at the Marriot; Bye Bye Birdie (Rose; Jeff Award nom.) and West Side Story (Anita, Jeff Award) both at Drury Lane.
EDGAR CAVAZOS (Ensemble) is a Mexican actor thrilled to be working at Cleveland Play House. Recently, he was part of the workshop of ¡Americano! A new musical at the New 42nd Street Studios. He was also seen at the revival of Evita at NYCC/Encores! and Into the Woods (pre-production) at NYCC/Encores! Other credits include The Metropolitan Opera’s production of Aida. Off-Broadway, national tours: Comfort Women, A New Musical and Jesus Christ Superstar. Regional: On Your Feet! Evita, In The Heights, West Side Story, Jesus Christ Superstar. TV: Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon and NBC Upfronts. Edgar is also part of Ben Platt’s music video, Temporary Love.
AAMAR-MALIK CULBRETH (Swing) is a Cleveland-based performer originally from North Carolina and is grateful and honored to be making his Cleveland Play House debut. Regional: Romeo in Romeo & Juliet, Lysander in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Utah Shakespeare); Youngblood in Jitney (Beck Center); Tiny in Kill Move Paradise, Edmond Hodges in What We Look Like (Dobama Theatre); Benvolio in Romeo & Juliet, Ken u/s in Ain’t Misbehavin’, Seymour/Audrey 2 u/s in Little Shop of Horrors (Idaho Shakespeare); as well as Pippin in Pippin and Everybody in Everybody (Baldwin Wallace).
COURTLAND DAVIS (Graffiti Pete) is an American actor, director, dancer, and singer. He performed on FOX TV’s So You Think You Can Dance (Season 15). He directed and starred in his first short film, Left Alone, which can be seen on his YouTube channel CourtTooReal.
SHADIA FAIRUZ (Daniela) is thrilled to be making her Cleveland Play House debut. She is a New York-based actor, singer, and vocal coach. She was recently seen in the world premiere of the musical Real Women Have Curves at the American Repertory Theater. Broadway: Sing Street (u/s Penny, Sandra); National Tour: On Your Feet! as u/s Gloria Fajardo and Consuelo; On Your Feet! as Gloria Fajardo; In The Heights as Daniela and Camila. Off-Broadway: I Like It Like That, opposite Grammy winner Tito Nieves. TV/Film: Sugar Plum Twist, The Late Show. Education: Master’s in Music, Mannes School of Music.shadiafairuz.com
VALERIA FLORES (Ensemble) is a proud peruana and is grateful to make her Cleveland Play House debut. She is currently studying at music theatre at Baldwin Wallace University and was featured in Pippin (Ensemble, u/s Fastrada). At Paper Mill Playhouse, she received a Rising Star Award nomination, and has choreographed for their New Voices Concert. Credits Chicago (Velma), Sweet Charity (Charity), and Spelling Bee (Olive). @_valeria.flores
ALYSSA V. GOMEZ (Ensemble) is a NYC born, bred, and based Nuyorican actor, director, and founder of CO-OP Productions. As a performer, she was last seen in the world premiere of ¡Americano! at Phoenix Theatre Company. Credits: Motown the Musical (second Broadway national tour); In The Heights (Milwaukee Rep, Seattle Rep, Portland Center Stage, Cincinnati Playhouse); Rent (Ivoryton Playhouse); On Your Feet (Company Manager); Moulin Rouge! The Musical (Assistant Company Manager), ¡Americano! (Asst. Director/Cultural Coordinator) at New World Stages. TV: Royal Pains, Hightown, and Full Frontal with Samantha Bee.alyssavgomez.com
REYNA GUERRA (Ensemble) is a multi-hyphenated artist and entrepreneur, and a proud Afro-Latina born and raised in the Bronx. Tour: Tina: The Tina Turner Musical (Ikette/Ensemble). Off-Broadway: Runaways (NYCC) and West Side Story (Carnegie Hall). Film: In The Heights. Other Credits: The Public Theatre Gala (2016-2018), Hair to Hamilton, and Women of the Public. She is the founder of New Eden Cosmetics.reynaguerra.com
KIRSTIN ANGELINA HENRY (Carla) is a Cleveland native making her CPH debut. Credits include the national tour of Paw Patrol Live Heroes Unite (Ensemble, u/s Rocky, Princess, Liberty, Everest), Guys and Dolls (Sarah Brown), West Side Story (Rosalia), and Heathers (Veronica).
LUIS HERRERA (Ensemble) is thrilled to be making his Cleveland Play House debut. Off-Broadway: Aloha Boricua (Puerto Rican Traveling Theater). Regional: La Havana Madrid (South Coast Repertory), Guys and Dolls (ACT), Rent (ACT), Man of La Mancha (Plaza Theatricals), Sweeney Todd (Park Playhouse), In The Heights (Paramount Theater), and Once On This Island (Porchlight Music Theater). @luisherreraofficial
CHIBUEZE IHUOMA (Benny) is a Nigerian-American actor, musician, and model based in New York. A New Jersey native and a child of immigrants, he was last seen in Cleveland as Orpheus in the touring company of Hadestown. Credits: Hadestown (Broadway), The Lost Boys (Workshop), and Once (Hangar Theater).chibuezeihuoma.com
ARIELLA KVASHNY (Ensemble, U/S Abuela Claudia, Daniela, Camila) is a Southern California native and recent graduate of UCI with a BFA in Musical Theatre and an Honors in Acting. Credits: Eva Peron in Evita (Cygnet Theatre), Gloria Estefan in On Your Feet (Moonlight Stage), La Gente/Pilar, Victoria (u/s) in Destiny of Desire (The Old Globe), Mama Who in How The Grinch Stole Christmas for three years in a row (The Old Globe), and Cindy Lou Huffington in The Marvelous Wonderettes (Welk Theatre).ariellakvashny.com
RUDY MARTINEZ (Kevin Rosario) is making his CPH debut. Regional: Kevin in In The Heights; Quixote in Man of La Mancha; J. Bowden Hapgood in Anyone Can Whistle; Sweeney and Judge Turpin in Sweeney Todd; Baker in Into The Woods; Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof; Scrooge in A Christmas Carol; Che, Magaldi and Peron in Evita; El Gallo in The Fantasticks; Gomez in The Addams Family; Valentin in Kiss of the Spider Woman; Balladeer in Assassins; and George Banks in Mary Poppins. Rudy owns a cake company, Man Bakes Cake, and appeared on Food Network’s Halloween Baking Championship (winner of season one) and Cake Wars (finalist). @manbakescake
ADDIE MORALES (Nina Rosario) recently concluded her run in the Broadway national tour of Les Misérables as Cosette. Favorite regional credits include Evita (Drury Lane Theatre); In The Heights and The Sound of Music (Marriott Theatre); Steel Magnolias (Casa Mañana); West Side Story (Barrington Stage Company, North Carolina Theatre, Lyric Opera of Chicago). TV: Law and Order: SVU. @addie_amber
JOSEPH MORALES (Usnavi De La Vega) is thrilled to return to Washington Heights again after playing Usnavi in the first Broadway national tour of In The Heights. Credits: Hamilton in Hamilton (Original Chicago Company and Original Philip Company); If/Then; Bombay Dreams; Rock of Ages. Regional: Marriott Theatre, Old Globe, Pioneer Theatre, La Jolla Playhouse, East West Players, Paper Mill Playhouse. TV: Chicago Med, Colony. @josephamorales
LILIANA RODRIGUEZ (Ensemble) is thrilled to be making her Cleveland Play House debut. She recently appeared in The Old Globe’s Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! Regional: Sunday In The Park With George (CCAE Theatricals), An American In Paris (MTW), The Wedding Singer, Something Rotten!, On Your Feet! (Moonlight Amphitheatre), Evita (Cygnet Theatre), In The Heights, Catch Me If You Can, All Shook Up (SDMT), I Too Sing America, and 1968: Revolution Remastered (Goodman). Education: Grossmont College. @lilianarodriguez_ 10
AMY ROMERO (Associate Choreographer/Dance Captain, Swing, u/s Carla) is an Afro-Latina and has toured with recording artist Lisa Lisa, and appeared in West Side Story at The Lyric Opera of Chicago and at Teatro Lirico di Cagliari in Italy; On Your Feet! en Español at GALA Hispanic Theatre in Washington, D.C.; On Your Feet! The Story of Emilio & Gloria Estefan at North Carolina Theatre; The Wiz; and the NYC workshop of Thoughts of a Colored Man. National Tours: Legally Blonde and Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood LIVE. @shylah_amy3
TRINIDAD SNIDER (Abuela Claudia) is extremely humbled and honored to make her CPH debut! For the past five years, she has served as the Artistic Director at Near West Theatre, and has performed and directed on various Cleveland stages over the past 35 years. She encourages folks to continue to support their local theatres and artists. Past credits include Dee Dee (The Prom), Mombi (Land of Oz), and Anita (West Side Story).
KEVIN SOLIS (Piraguero) is excited to make his Cleveland Play House debut. Regional: Dallas Theater Center: In The Heights (Piraguero), Into The Woods (u/s Jack, Rapunzel’s Prince, Steward), The Odyssey (Featured Musician), and Babalu: La Vida Es Muy Larga (Orchestra); The Old Globe: How The Grinch Stole Christmas (Papa Who); La Mirada: In The Heights (Piraguero); Casa Mañana: Theater Three: I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change (Man 2); Cara Mía Theater Co: The House on Mango Street (Cousin Louie/Ensemble); and Shakespeare Dallas: Romeo and Juliet (Peter/ Balthasar). @sirkevykev
GABRIEL SUBERVI (Sonny) is grateful make his debut at Cleveland Play House. He is a rising sophomore at Baldwin Wallace University majoring in music theatre. Coming from New Jersey, he received a Rising Star Award from Paper Mill Playhouse for his portrayal of The Doctor and Escapologist in Matilda, and an honorable mention for his portrayal of Jack Kelly in Newsies. Credits: Ed Boone (The Curious Incident of the Dog…), Rum Tum Tugger (Cats), Cedric/Mr. Voldy (Puffs), Benny Southstreet (Guys and Dolls), Freddie Filmore (It’s A Wonderful Life), and Philostrate/Fairy (A Midsummer Night’s Dream), Lt. Shaw (The Secret Garden). @gabesub_75
ARIK VEGA (Ensemble) is originally from West Texas and earned his B.F.A. in musical theatre from Belmont University. Regional: Goodman Theatre, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Marriott Theatre, Drury Lane, Fireside Theatre, and Studio Tenn. He has worked professionally as a ballroom dance instructor and fight choreographer. TV: Chicago Fire, as well as commercials for McDonald’s, Maytag, UPS, and Oak Street Health. @arikvega.
KALYN WEST (Vanessa) Broadway: The Prom (Shelby, u/s Emma, Alyssa). Off-Broadway: The Gardens of Anuncia; Gigantic. Tour: The Prom; Mean Girls. NYC: Nikola Tesla Drops The Beat; The Demise; PopStar. Regional: The Gardens of Anuncia (The Old Globe); Moby Dick (A.R.T.); Hunchback of Notre Dame (Fulton); Prince of Egypt (TheatreWorks); In The Heights (Fulton Theatre); RENT (Casa Mañana); Back Home Again (Lesher Center); The Music Man (Flatrock Playhouse); ASS (Pioneer Theatre). TV/Film: Blue Bloods; Imitation Girl.kalynwest.com
THE CREATIVE TEAM
QUIARA ALEGRÍA HUDES (Book) is a playwright and professor of writing and theatre at Wesleyan University, and native of West Philly, U.S.A. Hailed for her work’s exuberance, intellectual rigor, and rich imagination, her plays and musicals have been performed around the world. They are Water By the Spoonful, winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Drama; In The Heights, winner of the Tony Award for Best Musical and Pulitzer finalist; Elliot, A Soldier’s Fugue, another Pulitzer finalist; Daphne’s Dive; The Good Peaches; Miss You Like Hell; and The Happiest Song Plays Last. Hudes is a playwright-in-residence at New York’s Signature Theater and a proud alum of Philadelphia Young Playwrights.
LIN-MANUEL MIRANDA (Music and Lyrics) is a Pulitzer Prize, Grammy, Emmy and Tony award-winning songwriter, actor, and director. He is the creator and original star of Broadway’s Tony-winning Hamilton and In The Heights. His additional Broadway credits include Freestyle Love Supreme (2020 Special Tony Award recipient, co-founder, guest star), Bring It On: The Musical (co-composer/co-lyricist, Tony nomination for Best Musical), and West Side Story (2009 revival, Spanish translations). Miranda is the recipient of the 2015 MacArthur Foundation Award, the 2018 Kennedy Center Honors, and the 2019 Portrait of a Nation Prize. He received an Emmy Award with Tom Kitt for their song “Bigger” from the 67th Annual Tony Awards. Mr. Miranda and The Miranda Family actively support initiatives that increase the representation of people of color throughout the arts and government, ensure access to women’s reproductive health, and promote resilience in Puerto Rico. His 2021 film credits include In The Heights, Vivo, Encanto and his directorial film debut, tick, tick… BOOM! Additional TV/film credits include Hamilton, His Dark Materials, Fosse/Verdon, We The People, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Curb Your Enthusiasm (2018 Emmy nomination, Guest Actor), Saturday Night Live (2017 Emmy nomination, Guest Actor), Sesame Street, The Electric Company, House, DuckTales, 200 Cartas, The Odd Life of Timothy Green, Moana (2017 Oscar nomination, Grammy Award for Best Original Song) and Mary Poppins Returns. Miranda received his B.A. from Wesleyan University in 2002. He lives with his family in New York.
JAMES VÁSQUEZ (Director) is excited to make his Cleveland Play House debut. He is a resident artist at The Old Globe Theatre, where he directed the world premiere of American Mariachi, the west coast premiere of Tiny Beautiful Things, and their annual production of Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas, among others. Regional: Goodspeed Musicals, Denver Center Theatre Company, Dallas Theatre Center, Children’s Theatre Company, Marriott Theatre, and Two River Theatre; as well as in developmental workshops with South Coast Repertory, La Jolla Playhouse, and Lively McCabe Entertainment. James is an amateur gardener, lover of dogs, and a graduate of the Juilliard School.jamesvasquez.com
JULIO AGUSTÍN (Choreographer) is a New York-based theatrical multihyphenate. His recent directing/choreography credits include Sister Act at Geva Theatre and On Your Feet at North Carolina Theatre. He specializes in Radical Inclusivity (Re-envisioning the Classics with Contemporary Practices) and has received award nominations for La Dulce Caridad at New Haarlem Arts Theatre, NYC; Guys and Dolls at Theatre Under the Stars; and In The Heights at The Hangar Theatre. Performing credits include the original Broadway companies of Fosse, Steel Pier, Never Gonna Dance, Bells Are Ringing revival (Carl), and Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (Ambite), as well as Chicago, the musical. Julio earned his master’s degree in directing from Penn State, and is the author of The Professional Actor’s Handbook: From Casting Call to Curtain Call and “Navigating the Musical Theatre Industry for Latinx Actors” in Latinx Actor Training. JulioAgustin.com
NOAH LANDIS (Music Director) is thrilled to return to Cleveland, where he previously performed with the national tour of A Bronx Tale in 2019. He is a New York-based music director, conductor, pianist, and orchestrator. Broadway/NYC: Hamilton, The Radio City Christmas Spectacular. National tours: Hamilton (Angelica tour), A Bronx Tale (first national), Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella. Regional: In The Heights (Gateway Playhouse, Long Island & Marriott Theatre, Lincolnshire IL), Damn Yankees, Man of La Mancha, How To Succeed… (Marriott Theatre). Proud graduate of Northwestern University.noahlandis.com
DIGGLE (Scenic Designer) is a proud Gay Mexican designer with Indigenous Mexica (Aztec) roots. Selected credits include Travels (Ars Nova); The Harder They Come (Public Theater); The Merry Wives of Windsor, Stir (Old Globe); Cowboy Bob (Alley Theatre); Hair, Dracula: A Feminist Revenge Fantasy, Really (Portland Center Stage); Gruesome Playground Injuries (St. Louis Rep); Fires in the Mirror (Baltimore Center Stage, Long Wharf Theatre); Shakespeare: Call and Response (Public’s Mobile Unit); The Conversationalists (Bushwick Starr); Decky Does a Bronco (Royal Family Productions); and Electra, Fade (DTC). Scenic Design professor for SMU’s graduate design program.diggledesigns.com
LEX LIANG (Costume Designer) is delighted to be back at CPH where he previously designed the world premiere of Ken Ludwig’s Moriarty (CD), Shakespeare in Love (SD/CD), Ken Ludwig’s Baskerville (CD), The Three Musketeers (CD), The Little Foxes (SD/CD), and many others. International/national tours/NYC/off-Broadway: 100+ productions, including the recent world premiere of Judy Gold’s Yes, I Can Say That! Other recent work includes the world premieres of Emma, Mr. Holland’s Opus, The Tattooed Lady, and May We All. Other regional credits include Actor’s Theatre Louisville, Alliance Theatre, Asolo, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Dallas Theatre Center, Denver Center, Geva, Guthrie, La Jolla, Long Wharf, Paper Mill Playhouse, Pasadena Playhouse, Playmaker’s Rep, Portland Center Stage, St. Louis Rep, Syracuse Stage, The Old Globe ... Lex is the founder and principal of LDC Design Associates, the experiential event design and production company in NYC. Recent projects/clients include Absolut Vodka, Operation Smile, Johnson & Johnson, Ubuntu Pathways, Invesco, The Tony Awards Gala, NYFW, NYWFF, and William Hill.LexLiang.com
MARÍA-CRISTINA FUSTÉ (Lighting Designer) has a career in lighting design with credits in New York, Puerto Rico, major U.S. cities, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, México, and the Dominican Republic. She is the founder and executive artistic director of Boundless Theatre Company. Broadway credits include Associate on Jagged Little Pill (2021). Off-Broadway includes Sancocho (WP Theater); Songs About Trains (Working Theater/Radical Evolution); Fur, Mud, and The Conduct of Life (Boundless Theatre Company). Regional credits include Measure for Measure (Chicago Shakespeare Co); American Mariachi (Goodman Theatre, Chicago/Alabama Shakespeare, Cleveland Play House); Anna in the Tropics (Barrington Stage); Sweat (People’s Light Theater); and In The Heights (Westport Country Playhouse/Aurora Theater/Colorado Springs Arts Center). Opera: Cecilia Valdés (Teatro Colón); Tosca, Bluebeard’s Castle, Madama Butterfly, Don Pasquale, and L’Elisir d’Amore (Ópera de Puerto Rico). MFA in lighting design NYU. Awards: Princess Grace Award 2018, Suzi Bass Award 2016/2017, HOLA and ATI Awards 2022. LATA Award 2023.mcfuste.com
SHARATH PATEL (Sound Designer) works nationally and internationally, focusing on experimental, commercial, academic, political, and socially conscious theatre. Recent designs include those for Cleveland Play House, The Alley Theatre, Alliance Theatre, A.C.T., Dallas Theater Center, Portland Center Stage, TheatreWorks of Silicon Valley, Indiana Rep, Asolo Rep, American Rep, Seattle Rep, Artists Rep, Milwaukee Rep, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Cal Shakes, Alabama Shakes, Theatrical Outfit, Seattle Children’s Theatre, Tantrum Theatre, Marin Theatre Company, The Contemporary American Theatre Festival, Arena Stage, Hypokrit Theatre Company, Virginia Stage Company, Geffen Playhouse, East West Players, and Theatrical Outfit. Additional work has taken place in New York City, San Francisco, L.A., D.C., Boston, Norfolk, Raleigh, Aspen, India, France, England, Germany, Romania, and Vietnam. Affiliations: USA829 IATSE, Theatrical Sound Designers and Composers Association, Arts Envoy for the U.S. Department of State, National Respondent for the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival, Resident Artists at Artists Rep. BFA: Ohio University. MFA: Yale School of Drama.sharathpatel.com
KELLEN EASON (Wig Designer) (he/him) is a Portland, Oregon-based wig and make-up designer. Recent designs include Carmen, Lucia di Lammermoor, Luisa Miller, and Deceit Outwitted at Sarasota Opera; The Barber of Seville at Florida Grand Opera; and Porgy and Bess, A Thousand Acres, and Americian Apollo at Des Moines Metro Opera. Recent musical theatre includes Jersey Boys at the Gateway Playhouse.
KARIE KOPPEL (Casting Director) Off- Broadway credits include Deadly Stages,’ Til Death, Queens Girl In The World, Eve Ensler’s Fruit Trilogy, The Gentleman Caller, The Boy Who Danced On Air, and Mother of Invention. Regional credits include Denver Center Theatre, Geva Theatre, Cleveland Play House, Cape Playhouse, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Trinity Rep, Arena Stage, The Magic Theatre, Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, Northern Stage, Arizona Theatre Company, Syracuse Stage, Bucks County Playhouse, and Alabama Shakespeare Festival. National tours include: Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story, Middletown. Feature Films: The Empath, The House of Usher and The Visit; and upcoming Smashing and Red Card. For PBS: Walter Winchell, The Vote, Charles M Russell, and Across The Pacific. Karie is also the director of casting for GFour Productions.
COLT LUEDTKE (Stage Manager) is excited to make his CPH debut! New York credits include Broadway: Funny Girl and Chess (Benefit Concert). Off-Broadway: What The Constitution Means To Me (New York Theatre Workshop), Atlantic Theater Company, New York City Center, The Public Theatre. Regional credits include The 5th Avenue Theatre, Paper Mill Playhouse, Arvada Center, Two River Theater, Northern Stage, Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival, and Illinois Shakespeare Festival.
KITTY WEN (Assistant Stage Manager) is grateful to be returning to Cleveland Play House. CPH credits include Teddy Bear Mountain (SM), The Great Leap (ASM) and Becoming Dr. Ruth (ASM), and Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (PA). Previous stage-management credits include Idaho Shakespeare Festival, Cain Park, Karamu House, Cleveland Public Theatre, Ohio City Theatre Project, Baldwin Wallace, Independence Theatre, and Cassidy Theatre, among others. She previously completed her Disney College Program and Dobama Theatre Internship, and graduated with a BA from Baldwin Wallace University.
EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP
MICHAEL BARAKIVA (Artistic Director) is an Armenian-Israeli American director and writer who has staged new plays, revivals, and classics in New York City and around the country. Michael was appointed Artistic Director of Cleveland Play House in December 2023, where he served as director of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein as well as co-director of CPH’s world premiere production of Ken Ludwig’s Moriarty: A New Sherlock Holmes Adventure. Barakiva’s work has been seen at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Primary Stages, Syracuse Stage, TheatreWorks Silicon Valley, Ensemble Studio Theatre, Shakespeare Santa Cruz, and the Hangar Theatre, where he served as Artistic Director. He founded The Upstart Creatures, a theatre company that creates community through performance and food, as well as the Leadership Initiative Project, which equips historically excluded artists with the tools to succeed in leadership positions. Barakiva has received three Drama League directing fellowships, the Phil Killian Directing Fellowship (OSF), the David Merrick Prize in Drama, and was a Granada Artist-in-Residence at UC Davis. He led a week-long workshop on musical theatre at the International Puppet Theater in Sofia, Bulgaria, and was a presenter at the International University Theatre Festival at UNAM in Mexico City. He served as producer of Summer Camp 6 (Soho Rep) and as the Readings and Workshops Coordinator at New York Stage and Film, as well as a Primary Coach on Season 2 of MTV’s Made. As a writer, Barakiva is the recipient of a Red Bull Commission for his adaptation of John Milton’s Paradise Lost, an EST/Sloan Project Commission, and a co-author of String Theory (Connotation Press). His young adult novels have been named to the Rainbow List, Equality Family Council Reading List, The Barnes and Noble’s Perfect Valentine’s Day YA Novels list, spending over a year as Goodreads #1 LGBTQ YA Novel. Education: Vassar College, The Juilliard School.
RACHEL L. FINK (Managing Director) is thrilled to be returning home to Northeast Ohio after 25 years. Her childhood was filled with fundamental and rich Cleveland arts experiences — and it was at Heights High (Go Tigers!) that Fink’s passion for arts access, social justice, and inclusive, equitable practices was ignited. She carried those values with her as she enrolled at Case Western Reserve University, where an astute professor introduced her to the field of arts administration, and she hasn’t turned back since. The experience at CWRU led to an internship at Cleveland Play House, followed by earning an MFA in theater management at the Yale School of Drama (now the David Geffen School of Drama at Yale). After graduate school, Fink ventured west to Berkeley Repertory Theatre in Berkeley, California, where she founded and grew the Berkeley Rep School of Theatre into a nationally-recognized learning hub which centered theatre as an essential education and engagement tool for all ages, providing direct service and support to more than 300 theatres and 2,000 artists across the San Francisco Bay Area. Most recently, Fink served as the executive director of the Tony Award-winning Lookingglass Theatre Company in Chicago, Illinois. Producing highlights include Plantation! by Kevin Douglas and directed by David Schwimmer; Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, written and directed by David Catlin; Her Honor Jane Byrne, written and directed by J. Nicole Brooks (holiday radio broadcast in partnership with local NPR affiliate, WBEZ); Steadfast Tin Soldier, written and directed by Mary Zimmerman; and Lookingglass Alice, written and directed by David Catlin. Fink has held professional distinctions including co-leading the Professional Association of Chicago Theatres; and serving as a Fellow at the Civic Leadership Academy at the University of Chicago/Harris School of Public Policy; as the US delegate for the British Council’s Cultural Leadership International Programme; as a member of the American Express/Aspen Institute Fellowship for Emerging Nonprofit Leaders inaugural class; and as a 2016 artEquity facilitator cohort member.
ABOUT CLEVELAND PLAY HOUSE
CLEVELAND PLAY HOUSE, founded in 1915 and recipient of the 2015 Regional Theatre Tony Award, is America's first professional regional theatre. Throughout its rich history, CPH has remained dedicated to its mission to inspire, stimulate, and entertain diverse audiences across Northeast Ohio by producing plays and theatre education programs of the highest professional standards. CPH has produced more than 100 world and/or American premieres, and over its long history more than 12 million people have attended over 1,600 productions. Today, Cleveland Play House celebrates the beginning of its second century of service while performing in three state-of-the art venues at Playhouse Square in downtown Cleveland. Cleveland Play House is made possible in part by state tax dollars allocated by the Ohio Legislature to the Ohio Arts Council (OAC). The OAC is a state agency that funds and supports quality arts experiences to strengthen Ohio communities culturally, educationally, and economically. Cleveland Play House is supported in part by the residents of Cuyahoga County through a public grant from Cuyahoga Arts & Culture. clevelandplayhouse.com
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