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October 13 - November 4, 2018 , Outcalt Theatre

Sweat

By Lynn Nottage
Directed by Laura Kepley

Run time: 2 hours, 30 minutes (includes 15 minute intermission)

The American Dream has its back up against the wall in this Pulitzer Prize-winning drama. In Reading, PA, there’s talk of union lock-outs, massive lay-offs, and jobs going overseas. As rumors quickly become reality, a group of life-long friends gather at their local bar to joke and blow off steam while struggling to stand together as everything else falls apart. Inspired by true stories, Sweat is a compelling portrait of pride and survival in the Rust Belt.

Photos & Videos Download Hi Res Photos

Foreground from left to right: Nancy Lemenager (Tracey) and Nehessaiu deGannes (Cynthia). Background from left to right: Robert Ellis (Stan) and Chris Seibert (Jessie). Photo credit: Roger Mastroianni

From left to right: Robert Ellis (Stan) and Nehessaiu deGannes (Cynthia). Photo credit: Roger Mastroianni

From left to right: Nancy Lemenager (Tracey) and Robert Ellis (Stan). Photo credit: Roger Mastroianni

From left to right: Nehessaiu deGannes (Cynthia), Xavier Cano (Oscar), Robert Ellis (Stan), and Jimmie Woody (Brucie). Photo credit: Roger Mastroianni

The cast of Sweat. Photo credit: Roger Mastroianni

From left to right: Nancy Lemenager (Tracey) and Xavier Cano (Oscar). Photo credit: Roger Mastroianni

Foreground: Jack Berenholtz (Jason) and Brooks Brantley (Chris). Background: Robert Ellis (Stan). Photo credit: Roger Mastroianni

From left to right: Nehessaiu deGannes (Cynthia) and Nancy Lemenager (Tracey). Photo credit: Roger Mastroianni.

From left to right: Brooks Brantley (Chris) and Jimmie Woody (Brucie). Photo credit: Roger Mastroianni

Foreground left to right: Nancy Lemenager (Tracey) and Nehessaiu deGannes. Background from left to right: Xavier Cano (Oscar) and Robert Ellis (Stan). Photo credit: Roger Mastroianni.

From left to right: Chris Seibert (Jessie), Xavier Cano (Oscar), Robert Ellis (Stan), Brooks Brantley (Chris) and Jack Berenholtz (Jason). Photo credit: Roger Mastroianni

From left to right: Robert Ellis (Stan) and Xavier Cano (Oscar). Photo credit: Roger Mastroianni

From left to right: Brooks Brantley (Chris) and Robert Barry Fleming (Evan). Photo credit: Roger Mastroianni

Jack Berenholtz (Jason). Background left to right: Xavier Cano (Oscar) and Robert Ellis (Stan). Photo credit: Roger Mastroianni

From left to right: Nancy Lemenager (Tracey) and Robert Ellis (Stan). Photo credit: Roger Mastroianni

The cast of Sweat. Photo credit: Roger Mastroianni.

Artists

Jack Berenholtz

Jack Berenholtz

(Jason) recently appeared in the off-Broadway workshop of Good Grief at the Vineyard Theatre, and in the world premiere of Scapino at the Gulfshore Playhouse in Florida. Other New York credits include Nightmare Dream (FringeNYC), Henry IV Pt. 1 (Extant Theatre), 3.31.93 (Lynn Redgrave Theater), Progeny (Riverside Theatre), and more(Jason) recently appeared in the off-Broadway workshop of Good Grief at the Vineyard Theatre, and in the world premiere of Scapino at the Gulfshore Playhouse in Florida. Other New York credits include Nightmare Dream (FringeNYC), Henry IV Pt. 1 (Extant Theatre), 3.31.93 (Lynn Redgrave Theater), Progeny (Riverside Theatre), and Antigone (Connelly Theatre). Other regional credits include Our Town, Henry V, Bedlam, and Engine of Our Ruin (Chautauqua Theater Company); Next Thing and Beyond Therapy (Williamstown Theatre Festival); and Twelfth Night, And Give Us the Shadows, and Ten Unknowns (The Schoolhouse Theater). Television credits include HBO’s The Deuce, and film credits include The Black Monk and Bandito, shown at the Tribeca, Cannes, Soho International, and Beverly Hills Film Festivals. He received an MFA from NYU Grad Acting, the recipient of the Ron Van Lieu Scholarship.

Brooks Brantly

Brooks Brantly

(Chris) is a classically trained actor and a Morehouse College graduate. He received his MFA from the University of Connecticut and currently resides in Los Angeles. He is the first recipient of the Kenny Leon directing fellowship at the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta, GA. He was also a member more(Chris) is a classically trained actor and a Morehouse College graduate. He received his MFA from the University of Connecticut and currently resides in Los Angeles. He is the first recipient of the Kenny Leon directing fellowship at the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta, GA. He was also a member of the Guthrie Experience program in Minneapolis, MN. Past credits include Warhorse (1st National Tour/North America/Japan), Significant Other (Broadway/Off-Broadway), FLY (Off-Broadway), Gleam, Superior Donuts, Othello, The Whipping Man, Hampton 10-10, 2017 ABC Talent Showcase & The Michael J. Fox Show. Brooks is excited to make his Cleveland Play House debut and is looking forwarding to being a part of the CPH family.

Xavier Cano

Xavier Cano

(Oscar) New York credits include the revival of Grease on Broadway (Sonny LaTierri), the revival of RENT at New World Stages, Michael John Lachiusa's Giant at the Public Theater, Paul Simon's The Capeman at the Delacorte in Central Park, Julianne Moore's Freckleface Strawberry also at New World Stages , more(Oscar) New York credits include the revival of Grease on Broadway (Sonny LaTierri), the revival of RENT at New World Stages, Michael John Lachiusa's Giant at the Public Theater, Paul Simon's The Capeman at the Delacorte in Central Park, Julianne Moore's Freckleface Strawberry also at New World Stages , and Lucky Guy at the Little Schubert. International credits include the 50th Anniversary tour of West Side Story (Chino) and favorite regional credits include the National Tour of If/Then starring Idina Menzel, Usnavi in In The Heights at Geva Theatre, Gabey in On The Town at the Finger Lakes Musical Theatre Festival, Paul in A Chorus Line at Broadway Sacramento, Ritchie Valens in Buddy Holly Story at Ogunquit Playhouse, Dick in Dames at Sea at the Bay Street Theatre, and Juan in Altar Boyz at Bristol Riverside. Xavier has studied at the William Esper Studio in NYC and is an alum of the University of Miami. ig: @iamxman website: xaviercano.actor

Nehassaiu deGannes

Nehassaiu deGannes

(Cynthia) (she/her) played Cynthia in CPH’s Sweat, and recently appeared in the national rolling premiere of My Lord, What A Night at Florida Studio Theatre, Arena Stage’s Flash Acts Festival, and as Isabella/ Pompey in Measure for Measure at Shakespeare & Co. Her off-Broadway credits include Is God Is more(Cynthia) (she/her) played Cynthia in CPH’s Sweat, and recently appeared in the national rolling premiere of My Lord, What A Night at Florida Studio Theatre, Arena Stage’s Flash Acts Festival, and as Isabella/ Pompey in Measure for Measure at Shakespeare & Co. Her off-Broadway credits include Is God Is at Soho Rep and SEAGULLMACHINE at LaMaMa. She has worked regionally at Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Studio Theatre D.C., Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Luna Stage, and WAM, and across the Great Lakes at Theatre Aquarius, Stratford Festival of Canada, and elsewhere. She received a Berkshire Theatre Critics Award for her triple-hitter as Nell Gwynne/Lady Davenant/Maria in Or, and The Wall Street Journal’s Best Actor Citation for her portrayal of Esther in Intimate Apparel. She plays Krystal Rullan in the Ice-T produced indie feature Equal Standard. Her poetry book, Music for Exile, was published by Tupelo Press in 2021. She teaches at Princeton.

Robert Ellis

Robert Ellis

(Stan) returns to Cleveland Play House where he has also appeared in Galileo, A Soldier’ Tale, A Carol For Cleveland, and The Little Foxes. Other Northeast Ohio credits include Peter and the Starcatcher; The Norwegians; and Circle, Mirror, Transformation (Dobama Theatre); Of Mice and Men and Dog Eat more(Stan) returns to Cleveland Play House where he has also appeared in Galileo, A Soldier’ Tale, A Carol For Cleveland, and The Little Foxes. Other Northeast Ohio credits include Peter and the Starcatcher; The Norwegians; and Circle, Mirror, Transformation (Dobama Theatre); Of Mice and Men and Dog Eat Dog (Ensemble Theatre); The Foreigner, Annie Get Your Gun, and The Art of Dining (Porthouse Theatre); and appearances at Cleveland Public Theatre, None Too Fragile, and The Beck Center. Regional credits include Oldcastle Theatre Company in Vermont and The Hippodrome State Theatre in Florida. A proud member of AEA and SAG-AFTRA, Bob has extensive commercial and film credits including; Proximity, Telling Lies in America, Dreaming on Christmas, Mad Town and the upcoming The Last Summer. Ellis is a founding member of Something Dada and Cabaret Dada Improvisational Theatre. For the last 23 years, he has been a Professor of Theatre and Speech at Cuyahoga Community College.

Nancy Lemenager

Nancy Lemenager

(Tracey) Lincoln Center: The World Premier of Sarah Ruhl’s How to Transcend a Happy Marriage. Broadway: Chicago, Twyla Tharp and Billy Joel’s Movin’ Out, Never Gonna Dance, Kiss Me Kate, Dream, How to succeed…, and Guys and Dolls.. Regionally: Sex with Strangers (Cincinnati Playhouse), What We’re Up Against by more(Tracey) Lincoln Center: The World Premier of Sarah Ruhl’s How to Transcend a Happy Marriage. Broadway: Chicago, Twyla Tharp and Billy Joel’s Movin’ Out, Never Gonna Dance, Kiss Me Kate, Dream, How to succeed…, and Guys and Dolls.. Regionally: Sex with Strangers (Cincinnati Playhouse), What We’re Up Against by Theresa Rebeck (World Premier: The Alley), Other Desert Cities (Pioneer), Benediction (World Premier: Denver Center), God of Carnage (Emelin), Sense and Sensibility (Actors Theatre of Louisville), Romeo and Juliet (Virginia Stage), Smart Cookie (World Premiere: Alliance Theatre). Carnegie Hall Debut 2004: Skitch Henderson and the New York Pops. Film/TV: Oceans 8, The First Purge, Jessica Jones, Madame Secretary, Gypsy, Elementary, Girls, The Good Wife, Nurse Jackie, 30 Rock, Law and Order, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, and Law & Order: SVU. Adjunct professor at Pace University. Proud member of The Actors Center.

Chris Seibert

Chris Seibert

(Jessie) is a Cleveland-based multidisciplinary collaborative artist. This year she premiered Reckoning with choreographer Kora Radella (Double Edge Dance), touring to Roulette (NY) this fall. She is currently developing her solo performance Fa(r)ther for touring in 2019. Chris originated and performed in the plays Insomnia and Ancestra at Cleveland more(Jessie) is a Cleveland-based multidisciplinary collaborative artist. This year she premiered Reckoning with choreographer Kora Radella (Double Edge Dance), touring to Roulette (NY) this fall. She is currently developing her solo performance Fa(r)ther for touring in 2019. Chris originated and performed in the plays Insomnia and Ancestra at Cleveland Public Theatre with long-time collaborator actor/director Holly Holsinger. She has worked extensively with CPT, members of Cleveland Core Ensemble, and composer/director Raymond Bobgan, appearing in American Falls, Akarui, Osama the Hero, the multi­media solo performance Cut to Pieces created with Bobgan, and F*** Me Love Me Aphrodite created with Adam Seeholzer and Darius Stubbs. Chris’ work has garnered her recognition and support from the Ohio Arts Council, Chesterfield Writer’s Film Project (LA), Chicago C.A.A.P., and DirectorsLabChicago. In 2010, Chris was an inaugural recipient of the CAC Creative Workforce Fellowship, a program of the Community Partnership for Arts and Culture.

Jimmie Woody

Jimmie Woody

(Brucie) last appeared at CPH as Paul in 8. He most recently performed a workshop production of his one-man show Tale of a Geminirising at Cleveland Public Theatre. His local credits include Cholly in The Bluest Eye (Karamu House), Macbeth in Voodoo Macbeth (Ensemble Theatre), Julio in The more(Brucie) last appeared at CPH as Paul in 8. He most recently performed a workshop production of his one-man show Tale of a Geminirising at Cleveland Public Theatre. His local credits include Cholly in The Bluest Eye (Karamu House), Macbeth in Voodoo Macbeth (Ensemble Theatre), Julio in The Mother F***ker With The Hat (Dobama Theatre), William in Lobby Hero, and Booth in Top Dog/Underdog (The Beck Center for the Arts). Jimmie directed and performed the role of Dionysus in Cleveland Public Theatre’s production of The Bacchae of Euripides, translated by Wole Soyinka. His New York credits include Hollis in Hollis Mugley’s Only Wish (Joseph Papp Public Theater) directed by Robert Ohara, Pozzo in Waiting for Godot at The Oscar Hammerstein Theatre, The Spaniard in Cymbeline at New Shakespeare Festival, and Azdak in The Caucasian Chalk Circle (LaMama ETC), directed by Andrei Serban. Jimmie received his M.F.A. in acting from Columbia University.

Alan C. Edwards

(Lighting Designer) selected light and/or set design credits include: The Royale, The Mountaintop (Cleveland Play House). Regional: Chad Deity (Asolo Rep, Miami New Drama); Lights Out: Nat King Cole (People’s Light); Stagger Lee (Dallas Theater Center); Henry IV p2, Fingersmith (Oregon Shakespeare Festival); Twisted Melodies (Centerstage Baltimore); Proud To more(Lighting Designer) selected light and/or set design credits include: The Royale, The Mountaintop (Cleveland Play House). Regional: Chad Deity (Asolo Rep, Miami New Drama); Lights Out: Nat King Cole (People’s Light); Stagger Lee (Dallas Theater Center); Henry IV p2, Fingersmith (Oregon Shakespeare Festival); Twisted Melodies (Centerstage Baltimore); Proud To Present (The Guthrie); Sweeney Todd (Connecticut Repertory Theatre); Detroit '67 (Chautauqua Institute); The Piano Lesson, A Delicate Balance (Yale Rep); Hedwig & the Angry Inch (Yale Cabaret); Maria de Buenos Aires (Mill City Opera); Acis & Galatea (Madison Opera); Carmen (Tri-Cities Opera). Off-Broadway in New York: Harry Clarke (Vineyard) [Lucille Lortel Award]; Kill Move Paradise [Drama Desk Nom.], Crowndation, Carnaval (National Black Theatre); The First Noel, Antigone, Macbeth, The Tempest, Dutchman (Classical Theatre of Harlem). Broadway: Assoc. LD to Jennifer Tipton: The Testament of Mary. He received his MFA in design from the Yale School of Drama. alancedwards.com

Robert Barry Fleming

Robert Barry Fleming

(Evan) formerly the Director of Artistic Programming at Arena Stage, currently serves as the Associate Artistic Director at Cleveland Play House and has been named the incoming Artistic Director of Actors Theatre of Louisville (June 1, 2019). Some of his most recent directing/choreography credits include: Ken Ludwig's Sherwood: The more(Evan) formerly the Director of Artistic Programming at Arena Stage, currently serves as the Associate Artistic Director at Cleveland Play House and has been named the incoming Artistic Director of Actors Theatre of Louisville (June 1, 2019). Some of his most recent directing/choreography credits include: Ken Ludwig's Sherwood: The Adventures of Robin Hood, The Royale, Between Riverside and Crazy (CPH); Next to Normal and Caroline, or Change (Tantrum Theater); and Destiny of Desire (OSF). Arena Stage world-premieres commissioned, developed, and/or championed under his watch include the 2017 Tony Award-winning Best Musical, Dear Evan Hansen; Mary Kathryn Nagle’s Sovereignty; John Strand’s The Originalist; Katori Hall’s Blood Quilt; Karen Zacarías’ Destiny of Desire; 2017 Pulitzer Prize winner, Sweat by Lynn Nottage; and the upcoming Roundabout production of Toni Stone by Lydia Diamond. He directed the 2018 CPH New Ground Theatre Festival reading of the new musical, Minton's Place, by acclaimed contemporary music composer, Nolan Williams, Jr. with libretto by Pulitzer-Prize-nominated playwright, Nikkole Salter. Robert was an Associate Producer for the Off-Broadway premiere of The Two Character Play by Tennessee Williams. He was also an Associate Professor (tenured) and Chair of the University of San Diego Theatre Arts and Performance Studies Department. Select acting credits include Broadway: Ragtime directed by Frank Galati, Stand-up Tragedy directed by the late Ron Link; Off-Broadway: Insurrection: Holding History by Robert O'Hara at The Public, and joining AEA with the national tour of Cats (Original Bus and Truck and German companies). Regional: The Old Globe, The Guthrie, A Contemporary Theater, The Mark Taper Forum with the world premiere of George C. Wolfe's Jelly's Last Jam. TV: The Emmy Award-winning Disney Channel series Adventures in Wonderland, Family Matters, The George Carlin Show. Film: The Oscar Award-winning L.A. Confidential and Twilight of the Golds. robertbarryfleming.com

John Godbout

(Stage Manager) was Cleveland Play House's resident stage manager from 2001 to 2008 and returned to CPH in the fall of 2011. "Most recently, John stage managed A New Brain at Barrington Stage Company. John has also stage managed at North Shore Music Theatre, Capital Repertory Theatre, The more(Stage Manager) was Cleveland Play House's resident stage manager from 2001 to 2008 and returned to CPH in the fall of 2011. "Most recently, John stage managed A New Brain at Barrington Stage Company. John has also stage managed at North Shore Music Theatre, Capital Repertory Theatre, The Weston Playhouse, Berkshire Theatre Festival, Arkansas Repertory Theatre, Northern Stage, Seaside Music Theatre, and Porthouse Theatre.

Tom Humes

(Assistant Stage Manager) serves as an Assistant Professor for the School of Theatre and Dance at Kent State University, where he teaches courses in Stage Management, Production Management, Theatre Management, and an intro course to computing software for the theatre practitioner. Tom has been a part of the more(Assistant Stage Manager) serves as an Assistant Professor for the School of Theatre and Dance at Kent State University, where he teaches courses in Stage Management, Production Management, Theatre Management, and an intro course to computing software for the theatre practitioner. Tom has been a part of the stage management teams with: Porthouse Theatre, Cain Park, Cleveland Play House, McCarter Theatre Center, Dobama Theatre, Beck Center for the Arts, Karamu House, Cleveland Orchestra and Opera Cleveland. He has been an assistant production manager, events production manager, and senior production manager/assistant to the general manager at Cain Park. He is also a member of the I.A.T.S.E. Tom is twice published, with a recent book review of Stage Management Theory as a Guide to Practice: Cultivating a Creative Approach featured in Theatre Topics and he contributed to the book, Off Headset: Essays on Stage Management Work, Life, and Career with his essay, “Maximum Flexibility”.

Thom Jones

(Vocal Coach) is the head of Voice and Speech for Brown University/Trinity Repertory Company's Master of Fine Arts in Acting and Directing and has coached voice, dialects, and text extensively in theatre, film, and television. Theatres where he has coached include: The Public Theater, Shakespeare in the Park, more(Vocal Coach) is the head of Voice and Speech for Brown University/Trinity Repertory Company's Master of Fine Arts in Acting and Directing and has coached voice, dialects, and text extensively in theatre, film, and television. Theatres where he has coached include: The Public Theater, Shakespeare in the Park, Noel Coward Theatre (London’s West End), Yale Repertory Company, Dallas Theater Center, McCarter Theatre, Cleveland Play House, The Huntington Theatre, Trinity Repertory Company, Hartford Stage, Actor’s Theatre of Louisville, Syracuse Stage, Cincinnati Playhouse, Long Wharf Theatre, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Hangar Theatre. For Film and Television, he has voice, dialect and text coached numerous actors, including: Nicole Kidman, Ben Mendelsohn, Sissy Spacek, Alan Rickman, Vanessa Redgrave, Robin Williams, Emma Watson, Andra Day, Miles Teller, Jennifer Hudson, Bill Skarsgard, Lashana Lynch, Lakeith Stanfield, Aaron Eckhart, Katey Segal, Ciaran Hinds, David Oyelowo, Amy Adams, Lily Rabe, Mel Gibson, Olivia Cooke, Tye Sheridan, Simon Peg, Mark Rylance, Sherie Rene Scott, Sienna Miller, Brendan Gleeson, Melissa Leo, Emily Van Camp, Blythe Danner, Logan Lerman, Linda Emond, Ryan Reynolds, and others, as well as for directors Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorcese, Lee Daniels, Ridley Scott, Ben Younger, and others.

Laura Kepley

Laura Kepley

(Director) (she/her) became Artistic Director of Cleveland Play House in 2013, and has directed numerous CPH mainstage productions, including The Crucible; Sweat; The Diary of Anne Frank; In the Next Room, or the vibrator play; Into the Breeches!; Every Brilliant Thing; and the world premieres of Tiny Houses, The more(Director) (she/her) became Artistic Director of Cleveland Play House in 2013, and has directed numerous CPH mainstage productions, including The Crucible; Sweat; The Diary of Anne Frank; In the Next Room, or the vibrator play; Into the Breeches!; Every Brilliant Thing; and the world premieres of Tiny Houses, The Good Peaches, Fairfield, and A Carol for Cleveland. She joined CPH in 2010, having arrived from Trinity Repertory Company in Providence, Rhode Island, where she was Resident Director and Artistic Associate for four seasons and Interim Director of the Brown/Trinity Rep M.F.A. in Directing Program for one. She has also at Playhouse Square clevelandplayhouse.com 25 directed for The Alliance Theatre, Asolo Repertory Theatre, Chautauqua Theater Company, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Contemporary American Theatre Festival, Syracuse Stage, Trinity Rep, and The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, among others. A native Ohioan, Laura received her undergraduate degree from Northwestern University and her Master of Fine Arts from Brown University/Trinity Rep. She is a Drama League Fellow, a recipient of the 2009– 2011 National Endowment for the Arts/Theatre Communications Group Career Development Program for Directors, and a member of Leadership Cleveland’s Class of 2021. Locally, she has been recognized with multiple Outstanding Director commendations from The Cleveland Critics Circle, a Cuyahoga Community College Smart Business Smart Women Award, and a Crain’s Cleveland Woman of Note designation.

Lex Liang

(Costume Designer) is delighted to be back at CPH where he previously designed Shakespeare in Love (SD/CD), Ken Ludwig’s Baskerville (CD), The Three Musketeers (CD), The Little Foxes (SD/CD) and many others. Int’l/Nat’l Tours/NYC/Off-B’way: 100+ productions, including Judy Gold’s Yes, I Can Say That! currently playing at Primary Stages, more(Costume Designer) is delighted to be back at CPH where he previously designed Shakespeare in Love (SD/CD), Ken Ludwig’s Baskerville (CD), The Three Musketeers (CD), The Little Foxes (SD/CD) and many others. Int’l/Nat’l Tours/NYC/Off-B’way: 100+ productions, including Judy Gold’s Yes, I Can Say That! currently playing at Primary Stages, directed by BD Wong. Other recent work includes the world premieres of Emma, Mr. Holland’s Opus, The Tattooed Lady, and May We All. Other Regional: 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, Woolly Mammoth, ... 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, William Hill, and others. www.LexLiang.com @Lex92

Kevin Moore

(Managing Director) is in his thirteenth season at Cleveland Play House, recipient of the 2015 Regional Theatre Tony Award. During his tenure, CPH made its historic relocation to the Allen Theatre in partnership with Playhouse Square and Cleveland State University. He serves on the Board of Directors of Theatre more(Managing Director) is in his thirteenth season at Cleveland Play House, recipient of the 2015 Regional Theatre Tony Award. During his tenure, CPH made its historic relocation to the Allen Theatre in partnership with Playhouse Square and Cleveland State University. He serves on the Board of Directors of Theatre Forward, Arts Cleveland, and the Commission on Economic Inclusion. From 1998 to 2007, Kevin was Managing Director of Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company in Washington, D.C. where he helped lead the funding and construction of an award-winning new theatre facility. Previous positions include Director of Marketing at La Jolla Playhouse in San Diego, California. He is a former president of both the National New Play Network and the League of Washington Theatres. Kevin teaches theatre management at Cleveland State University and is an adjunct professor in the Department of Theater at Case Western Reserve University. He is a graduate of Moorhead (MN) State University, holds a Master of Arts in Arts Administration from Indiana University, and is a member of the Leadership Cleveland Class of 2009.

Robert Mark Morgan

(Scenic Designer) designed Into the Breeches!, Sweat, The Diary of Anne Frank, All the Way, A Christmas Story, The Whipping Man, The Glass Menagerie, Emma, and Bill W. and Dr. Bob for Cleveland Play House. Other credits include Wizard of Oz, Fiddler on the Roof, Les Misérables, West Side more(Scenic Designer) designed Into the Breeches!, Sweat, The Diary of Anne Frank, All the Way, A Christmas Story, The Whipping Man, The Glass Menagerie, Emma, and Bill W. and Dr. Bob for Cleveland Play House. Other credits include Wizard of Oz, Fiddler on the Roof, Les Misérables, West Side Story, Billy Elliot, and Seussical The Musical (The Muny in St. Louis); exhibit designer for Avatar the Exhibition (Experience Music Project in Seattle); Fallen Angels (Asolo Repertory Theatre); Joshua's Boots (Opera Theatre of St. Louis and Amarillo Opera); The Rainmaker, A Moon for the Misbegotten (2007 Prague Design Quadrennial); The Dazzle (A.C.T. San Francisco); The Giver, The Diary of Anne Frank, Jesus Hates Me, and House of the Spirits (Denver Center for the Performing Arts); Saint Joan, Jekyll & Hyde, Ordinary Nation, Rabbit Hole, Fall of Heaven, and 4000 Miles (Repertory Theatre of St. Louis); The Subject Tonight is Love (Alliance Theatre Company); Just Stopped by to See the Man and The Whipping Man (The Old Globe); and numerous Utah Shakespeare Festival productions in the 2012/13 season. Robert is a Teaching Professor at Washington University in St. Louis and Director of the Beyond Boundaries Program in interdisciplinary education. morgansetdesign.com

Maryann Morris

(Stage Manager) is a Cleveland native who also proudly Stage Manages. Recent mainstage works include Every Brilliant Thing, Pipeline, CPH’s Borderlight reading of Our Dad is in Atlantis, Native Gardens, An Iliad, The Royale, The Diary of Anne Frank, ASM’ed The Good Peaches, hand-over SM’ed A Christmas Story and more(Stage Manager) is a Cleveland native who also proudly Stage Manages. Recent mainstage works include Every Brilliant Thing, Pipeline, CPH’s Borderlight reading of Our Dad is in Atlantis, Native Gardens, An Iliad, The Royale, The Diary of Anne Frank, ASM’ed The Good Peaches, hand-over SM’ed A Christmas Story and Sweat, and ASM’ed How I Learned to Drive, as well as Stage Managing several CPH New Ground Theatre works such as Grand Concourse and Fairfield. Other current and recent collaborations include Letters from Zora featuring Vanessa Bell Calloway at Karamu House, Havana Hop with Paige Hernandez, Eric Schmiedl’s stage adaptation of the graphic novel Incognegro by Mat Johnson, My Mother Has 4 Noses with Jonatha Brooke, The Dazzle Awards at Playhouse Square, and May 4th Voices presented by The Maltz Museum of Jewish History and Kent State University's Democracy Symposium.

Lynn Nottage

(Playwright) is a Pulitzer Prize winning playwright and a screenwriter. Her plays have been produced widely in the United States and throughout the world. Her most recent play, Mlima's Tale, premiered at the Public Theater in May 2018. In the spring of 2017, Sweat (Pulitzer Prize, Obie Award, more(Playwright) is a Pulitzer Prize winning playwright and a screenwriter. Her plays have been produced widely in the United States and throughout the world. Her most recent play, Mlima's Tale, premiered at the Public Theater in May 2018. In the spring of 2017, Sweat (Pulitzer Prize, Obie Award, Susan Smith Blackburn Prize, Tony Nomination, Drama Desk Nomination) moved to Broadway after a sold out run at The Public Theater. It premiered and was commissioned by Oregon Shakespeare Festival American Revolutions History Cycle/Arena Stage. Other plays include By The Way, Meet Vera Stark (Lilly Award, Drama Desk Nomination); Ruined (Pulitzer Prize, OBIE, Lucille Lortel, New York Drama Critics’ Circle, Audelco, Drama Desk, and Outer Critics Circle Award); Intimate Apparel (American Theatre Critics and New York Drama Critics’ Circle Awards for Best Play); Fabulation, or The Re-Education of Undine (OBIE Award); Crumbs from the Table of Joy, Las Meninas, Mud, River, Stone, Por’knockers, and POOF!. She developed This Is Reading, a performance installation based on two years of interviews, at the Franklin Street, Reading Railroad Station in Reading, PA in July 2017. She is working with composer Ricky Ian Gordon on adapting her play Intimate Apparel into an opera, commissioned by The Met/LCT. Nottage is currently writing the book for the world premiere musical adaptation of Sue Monk Kidd's novel The Secret Life of Bees, with music by Duncan Sheik and lyrics by Susan Birkenhead. She is writer/producer on the Netflix series She's Gotta Have It, directed by Spike Lee. Nottage is the recipient of a MacArthur "Genius Grant" Fellowship, Steinberg "Mimi" Distinguished Playwright Award,PEN/Laura Pels Master Playwright Award, Merit and Literature Award from The Academy of Arts and Letters, Columbia University Provost Grant, Doris Duke Artist Award, The Joyce Foundation Commission Project & Grant, Madge Evans-Sidney Kingsley Award, Nelson A. Rockefeller Award for Creativity, The Dramatists Guild Hull-Warriner Award, the inaugural Horton Foote Prize,Helen Hayes Award, the Lee Reynolds Award, and the Jewish World Watch iWitness Award. Her other honors include the National Black Theatre Fest's August Wilson Playwriting Award, a Guggenheim Grant, Lucille Lortel Fellowship and Visiting Research Fellowship at Princeton University. She is a graduate of Brown University and the Yale School of Drama. She is also an Associate Professor in the Theatre Department at Columbia School of the Arts. Nottage is a board member for BRIC Arts Media Bklyn, Donor Direct Action, Dramatist Play Service, Second Stage and the Dramatists Guild. She recently completed a three-year term as an Artist Trustee on the Board of the Sundance Institute. She is member of The Dramatists Guild and WGAE.

Elissa Myers Casting, Paul Fouquet, CSA

(Casting) credits include Poisoner’s Handbook, Becoming Helen Keller, and Mystery of Matter, PBS. Other PBS projects include The Abolitionists, Dolley Madison, Alexander Hamilton, John and Abigail Adams, Benjamin Franklin (Emmy Award), Liberty (Peabody Award), God in America, People vs. Leo Frank, Louisa May Alcott, Great Performances (Artios Award in more(Casting) credits include Poisoner’s Handbook, Becoming Helen Keller, and Mystery of Matter, PBS. Other PBS projects include The Abolitionists, Dolley Madison, Alexander Hamilton, John and Abigail Adams, Benjamin Franklin (Emmy Award), Liberty (Peabody Award), God in America, People vs. Leo Frank, Louisa May Alcott, Great Performances (Artios Award in Outstanding Achievement in Casting), and Murder Of A President for American Experience. Feature films include Hank and Asha (Audience Award at Slamdance 2013) and The Union. Theatre credits include seven Broadway shows, including Tony nominated Having Our Say, as well as 26 Off-Broadway shows. Regional theatre casting in the past two years includes Denver Center, Geva Theatre, Cleveland Play House, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Magic Theatre, Arena Stage, Alley Theatre, George Street Playhouse, and Arizona Theatre Company. The office has so far received 16 nominations and has won three Artios Awards for Outstanding Achievement in Casting.

Jane Shaw

(Sound Designer) for Cleveland Play House: Sweat; The Royale; Shakespeare in Love (original music); All the Way; Steel Magnolias; The Crucible; The Little Foxes; Grounded; A Carol for Cleveland; and In the Next Room, or the vibrator play. Her credits include Engagement Party (Hartford Stage), Actually (MTC), Annie Get more(Sound Designer) for Cleveland Play House: Sweat; The Royale; Shakespeare in Love (original music); All the Way; Steel Magnolias; The Crucible; The Little Foxes; Grounded; A Carol for Cleveland; and In the Next Room, or the vibrator play. Her credits include Engagement Party (Hartford Stage), Actually (MTC), Annie Get Your Gun (Bay Street), They Promised Her the Moon (Old Globe), Oo Bla Dee (Two River), and productions at Theatre for a New Audience, New York Theatre Workshop, the Mint Theater, Asolo, Northern Stage, Dorset Theater Festival, and American Repertory Theater. Ms. Shaw’s sound designs have earned a Drama Desk, Bessie Award, Henry Award, Connecticut Critics Circle Awards, Premios ACE 2012, Meet the Composer grant, Theatre Communication Group's Career Development Program and nominations for two Lortels, Henry Hewes and Elliot Norton awards. She was born in Kansas and lives in Brooklyn.

Christina Traister

(Fight Choreographer) is thrilled to be returning to Cleveland Play House after having served as the fight director for The Invisible Hand. She is an Associate Professor of Acting & Stage Combat in the School of Music, Theatre & Dance at the University of Michigan. Professional fight more(Fight Choreographer) is thrilled to be returning to Cleveland Play House after having served as the fight director for The Invisible Hand. She is an Associate Professor of Acting & Stage Combat in the School of Music, Theatre & Dance at the University of Michigan. Professional fight directing and teaching venues include the American Conservatory Theater, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, The American Shakespeare Collective (TASC), Shakespeare Santa Cruz, San Francisco Shakespeare Festival, Michigan Shakespeare Festival, Purple Rose Theatre Company, Williamston Theatre, BoarsHead Theatre, Stormfield Theatre, North Carolina School of the Arts, Michigan State University, University of San Diego, University of California-Santa Cruz, the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, Adrian College, and Hillsdale College. She has also taught stage combat classes at numerous conferences both nationally and internationally. Christina holds an MFA in Acting from the Alabama Shakespeare Festival, and a BFA in Acting from the University of Michigan. She also serves as the Head Coordinator for the SAFD's National Stage Combat Workshop.

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Meet CPH Managing Director Rachel Fink

Meet CPH Managing Director Rachel Fink

MEET RACHEL FINK, CPH’S NEW MANAGING DIRECTOR! By Craig Joseph, Literary Director What are you looking forward to as you return to Cleveland...

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Our Theatres

Allen Theatre

Allen Theatre

Helen Theatre

Helen Theatre

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Outcalt Theatre

The Allen, Helen and Outcalt theatres are located at Playhouse Square
1407 Euclid Avenue Cleveland, OH 44115

Administrative Offices and Education Center
1901 E. 13th Street, Suite 200 Cleveland, OH 44114 (216) 400-7000

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7401 Detour Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44103

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