Cleveland Play House Celebrates 100 Seasons with Centennial Celebration Weekend Oct. 23
Posted September 23, 2015 in Press Releases
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media contact:
Kelly Luecke
Cleveland Play House Celebrates 100 Seasons
with Centennial Celebration Weekend Oct. 23 – 25
Community Open House
Performances by Tony and Academy Award Winner & CPH Alum Joel Grey
Performances of Arthur Miller’s The Crucible
Behind-the-Scenes Tours & Demonstrations
Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
Exhibits, Plays, Children’s Activities,
and More!
CLEVELAND, OH (September 22, 2015) To celebrate its 100th anniversary, Cleveland Play House (CPH) will host a Centennial Celebration Weekend Oct. 23 – 25, which will include a free community open house, along with a variety of performances, activities, presentations, and behind-the-scenes tours. As America’s first professional regional theatre, Cleveland Play House has proudly provided Northeast Ohio audiences with bold, distinctive, thrilling theatre and groundbreaking education programs since its inception in 1915. Throughout the years, CPH’s desire to have a continuous dialogue with the community has always been an integral part of their mission. The Centennial Celebration Weekend will give community members the opportunity to intermingle with many of the creative minds who bring CPH productions to life, and to get a glimpse of what the future holds for this groundbreaking organization.
CPH Artistic Director Laura Kepley adds: “All weekend long, we’ll be honoring our past and looking ahead to the next century by hosting performances, presentations, and get-togethers. We’ll reunite our extended CPH family, and introduce new friends to the nation’s first regional theatre. Come celebrate with us, and be a part of theatre history!”
Many familiar faces will be in attendance at the Centennial Celebration Weekend, including CPH alum and Tony and Academy Award-winning performer Joel Grey, who will be starring in Joel Grey: Up Close and Personal for two performances only on the Allen Theatre stage. Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, which is part of CPH’s 2015-16 Season, will be taking place in the Outcalt Theatre, and many other performances and events will be taking place in the various venues of the Allen Theatre complex at Playhouse Square. CPH will also host its annual Hall of Fame Luncheon, where it will induct 3 new members who have contributed to the vibrant history of CPH.
CPH’s longevity is the result of its loyal and sharp audiences, dedicated board members, generous donors, creative and passionate employees, and its commitment to tell stories that matter by producing works that are socially relevant, inspire audiences, and create a dialogue within the community. Whether nurturing new work through its annual New Ground Theatre Festival, or collaborating with an up-and-coming playwright through its Playwrights’ Unit, CPH is constantly looking to push artistic boundaries while producing plays of the highest professional standards. CPH’s standard of excellence was recognized at the national level this year when it was awarded with the prestigious 2015 Regional Theatre Tony Award. Those in attendance at the Centennial Celebration Weekend will have the opportunity to see the Tony for themselves on display at the event.
Cleveland Play House is proud to have KeyBank as the Centennial Season Sponsor and Dominion as the Centennial Community Outreach Sponsor.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Most performances/events are FREE to the general public unless otherwise noted.
*Denotes performances/events that require a paid ticket.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23
5:30 – 7:30 p.m. ALUMNI WELCOMING RECEPTION Cibrèo Privato • 2037 E. 14th Street Get together with friends old and new in an informal gathering to kick off the Centennial Celebration Weekend! Complimentary hors d’oeuvres and cash bar. RSVP Required.
7:30 p.m. The Crucible* (Outcalt Theatre)
Arthur Miller’s controversial American classic about accusations of witchcraft in the town of Salem. Part of CPH’s 2015-16 Season. Directed by CPH Artistic Director, Laura Kepley.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 24
11:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. COMMUNITY OPEN HOUSE INCLUDES:
PERFORMANCES
*Denotes performances that require a paid ticket.
Please note that certain performances that require a paid ticket do not take place within the Community Open House timeframe of 11:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Joel Grey: Up Close and Personal* (Allen Theatre) @ 7:30 p.m.
Tony and Academy Award winner (and Cleveland Play House alum!) Joel Grey is live on stage in this enchanting event that includes an interview, rare film clips, and songs from his over 50 years in show business.
The Crucible* (Outcalt Theatre) @ 2:30 and 7:30 p.m.
Arthur Miller’s controversial American classic about accusations of witchcraft in the town of Salem. Part of CPH’s 2015-16 Season. Directed by CPH Artistic Director, Laura Kepley.
Cabaret Stage (Kalberer Lobby)
Performance by the 2018 class of the Case Western Reserve University/Cleveland Play House MFA Acting Program, and returning program alums.
Kicked and No Silly Season (The Helen)
The University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital Classroom Matinee: A Touring Program.
NY Shakespeare Exchange presents ShakesBEER, NYC's Original Shakespearean Pub crawl (Allen Theatre bar and lobbies)
Scenes performed by Case Western Reserve University/Cleveland Play House alums and faculty
CPH Centennial Plays (The Helen)
New short plays written by CPH Playwrights Unit and other local writers, inspired by CPH’s 100 years. Performed by the CWRU/CPH class of 2018, its alums and faculty.
Stage Combat Scenes (Pop-up locations)
Stage combat performances led by members of the CWRU/CPH class of 2016, staged by Program Director Ron Wilson.
Welcome Wagon (Underneath the Allen Theatre Euclid Ave. marquee)
Local musicians, including CPH alums, will play under the Allen Theatre Euclid Avenue marquee.
PRESENTATIONS & DISCUSSIONS
“The Road to 100” (Allen Theatre)
Panel discussion led by CPH Managing Director Kevin Moore, featuring former CPH leaders, designers and performers.
Producing History: The Cleveland Play House Founders and their Scrapbooks (The Helen)
Led by Melissa A. Hubbard of the CWRU Kelvin Smith Library. Covering the 108 scrapbooks kept by the CPH Women’s Committee.
The Crucible Pre-Show Conversation (The Outcalt Theatre)
BEHIND-THE-SCENES TOURS & DEMOS
BACKSTAGE TOUR OF The Crucible (Outcalt Theatre)
Go backstage on the set of The Crucible with CPH Director of Production Joe Martin and Technical Director Cameron Michalak.
Costume Quick Changes (Fasenmyer West)
CPH Costume Shop Manager Jeffrey Van Curtis provides a backstage glimpse at the fast-paced action of the costume quick change.
Scenic Painting (Fasenmyer West)
Learn about the artistry of Scenic Painting with CPH Charge Scenic Artist Rachael Claxton.
Wigs (Fasenmyer West)
Join ‘Wigs and Whiskers’ co-owner and Wig Designer Mary Martin as she shows you how the right wig can make the character.
CPH Community Birthday Card (Kalberer Lobby)
KIDS ZONE ACTIVITIES AND EXHIBITS
Activity Fair hosted by the CPH Education Department.
Cleveland Theatre Expo (Hall of Mirrors)
Cleveland Theatre Expo highlighting local theatre companies.
BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION
Singing, celebration, and cake at 5:30 p.m.!
Sunday, October 25
11:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. CPH HALL OF FAME AND LUNCHEON* (Cibrèo Privato • 2037 E. 14th Street)
Honoring a new class of those who have contributed to the vibrant history of CPH. Inductees will be announced soon!
2:30 p.m. The Crucible* (Outcalt Theatre)
Arthur Miller’s controversial American classic about accusations of witchcraft in the town of Salem. Part of CPH’s 2015-16 Season. Directed by CPH Artistic Director, Laura Kepley.
2:30 p.m. Joel Grey: Up Close and Personal* (Allen Theatre)
Tony and Academy Award winner (and Cleveland Play House alum!) Joel Grey is live on stage in this enchanting event that includes an interview, rare film clips, and songs from his over 50 years in show business.
Event schedule updates coming soon. Please visit http://www.clevelandplayhouse.com/centennial-celebration for details and RSVP info.
Ticket Information for performances/events that require a paid ticket:
Joel Grey: Up Close and Personal (Allen Theatre)
Saturday 7:30 pm • Sunday 2:30 pm
The Crucible (Outcalt Theatre)
Friday 7:30 pm • Saturday 2:30 & 7:30 pm • Sunday 2:30 pm
Tickets for Joel Grey: Up Close and Personal and The Crucible start at just $20 each. To order single tickets please call 216-241-6000 or visit clevelandplayhouse.com. Current Cleveland Play House Subscribers and CPH alums will receive priority seating and a discount by calling 216-400-7096. Groups of 10+ receive a discount off single ticket prices; call 216-400-7027.
CPH HALL OF FAME AND LUNCHEON
Sunday, October 25 • 11:30 am – 2:00 pm
Cibrèo Privato • 2037 E. 14th Street
Tickets are $100 (group tables for up to 10 are available for $1000 per table) of which a portion may be tax deductible. Call CPH Subscriber Services at 216.400.7096 to make your reservations.
Special Offer: Purchase any ticket to the Hall of Fame Luncheon and receive a 50% discount on your ticket to The Crucible (October 23 – 25 performances) and/or Joel Grey: Up Close and Personal (October 24 – 25 performances). Discount available only when eligible events are purchased at the same time through CPH Subscriber Services at 216.400.7096*
*Offer not valid with any other discount, promotion, or on prior sales. Valid on select seating locations.
Founded in 1915, Cleveland Play House is America’s first professional regional theatre and recipient of the 2015 Regional Theatre Tony Award®. Throughout its rich history, Cleveland Play House has remained dedicated to its mission to inspire, stimulate and entertain diverse audiences in Northeast Ohio by producing plays and theatre education programs of the highest professional standards. It 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 CPH productions. Cleveland Play House looks toward its centennial while performing in three state-of-the art venues atPlayhouse Square in downtownCleveland.
The Ohio Arts Council helps fund Cleveland Play House with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans. We also thank the residents ofCuyahogaCountyfor supporting Cleveland Play House through Cuyahoga Arts & Culture.
# # #
