Theatre Thursday: Onward!
March 18, 7:00pm - March 21, 5:00pm
Theatre Thursday: Onward!
Thursday, March 18 | 7:00 PM EST
Available on demand now through March 21, 2021 @ 5:00 PM EDT.
Content Advisory: The plays presented contain mature language, adult situations, and suggestive adult themes.
A Live Virtual Program from Cleveland Play House
Focusing on CPH’s core values of Artistry, Community and Life-Long Learning.
Cleveland Play House explores transformative power of storytelling in our next installment of Theatre Thursday. The March edition features excerpts from three exciting narratives that exemplify overcoming obstacles surrounding race, ability, and socio-economic backgrounds. Featuring work by playwrights Gardiner Comfort, Liz Femi and Bianca Sams, the event focuses on the power of storytelling to transform struggles into strengths:
- Take Me to the Poorhouse, written and performed by Liz Femi, directed by Jane Morris
- A fresh glimpse of an African girl eager to reject herself in to order to feel like she belongs. Lizzie, a middle-class Nigerian third grader, dreams of becoming poor to win the heart of her popular classmate. While attempting to make her dreams come true, she meets a 72-year-old “African Matlock,” tackles Voltron – defender of the universe, experiments with Jehri curls, discovers a local cook who serves “secret delights of a cow,” and reluctantly befriends a headstrong young suitor with an over-confident lisp. Inspired by true events, this charming, upside-down Cinderella story for adults is full of wit, wisdom, and heart.
- The Elephant in Every Room I Enter, written and performed by Gardiner Comfort, co-created and directed by Kel Haney
- A strikingly intimate solo piece about an actor living with Tourette’s Syndrome. Gardiner Comfort travels to Washington, DC to attend the Tourette Syndrome Association National Conference. During the week, he encounters others with his neurological disorder and for the first time in his life, he can be himself. Using an erratic and energetic performance style (a nod to the nervous system disorder), and evocative details of his week in DC, Comfort shares a true story that blends comedy, dance and a personal outlook on disability.
- Battle Cry, written by Bianca Sams, directed by Tiffany Nicole Greene, featuring Brian D. Coats, Rikkí Cupe, Stanley Andrew Jackson III, and Liz Mikel. The Director of Battle Cry is a Member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, a national theatrical labor union.
- Battle Cry is the inspirational story about the life and travails of unsung Civil Rights Movement hero Claudette Colvin. On March 2, 1955, 15-year-old Claudette refused to give up her seat on a Montgomery bus – nine months before to Rosa Parks’ defiant act. This new play about personal courage in the face of injustice delves into the life and travails of a passionate yet naïve girl whose impact on the world has been left out of American History. The play looks at issues of class, ethnicity, and politics in the fight for civil rights in America, while also highlighting Claudette’s personal courage in the face of injustice.
Hosted by Adam Kern & Mekala Sridhar
“I am thrilled to welcome Adam Kern and Mekala Sridhar to the Artistic Team at CPH for the 2020-21 virtual season. They have put together a heartfelt and joyous line-up for this month’s Theatre Thursday event. Adam’s background as a director, producer, and video creator and Mekala’s insightful and collaborative dramaturgical skills bring a heightened level of expertise to our virtual programs." - Laura Kepley, CPH Artistic Director
"March Theatre Thursday is filled with work from three remarkable multi-hyphenate artists, who all have expansive bodies of work in acting, writing, education and advocacy. One part joy…two parts eye opening perspective…we jump into someone else’s shoes, and take a few steps with them on their journey." - Adam Kern, CPH Artistic Virtual Programs Manager
Theatre Thursday is a monthly interactive virtual events which will allow audiences to experience the artistry of CPH, connect directly with the makers of our work, and converse with staff and other audience members about the impact of our artistic work in our beloved community.
Theatre Thursday is for CPH fans and anyone interested in learning more about the work of America’s first regional theatre -- onstage, backstage, in the classroom and in the community.
Important Viewing Details:
- The on demand event expires March 21, 2021 @ 5:00 PM EDT.
- The event can be streamed through your computer, laptop, tablet or smartphone via YouTube.
- Registration is required. Viewing is pay-what-you-can beginning at $5 per household.
- After registering below, you will receive a Cleveland Play House Order Receipt sent to the email you provide in the Shipping portion on the next page. Please check your email as it contains the on demand viewing link.
- Content Advisory: The plays presented contain mature language, adult situations, and suggestive adult themes.
- Run time: 85 minutes
In preparation for Theatre Thursday: Let's Get Physical! next month, see how you can share your story!
