Casting Announced for Clue: A New Comedy at Cleveland Play House
Posted December 16, 2019 in Press Releases
CLEVELAND, OH (December 16, 2019) Cleveland Play House (CPH) is proud to announce the cast of the high-spirited, madcap mystery Clue: A New Comedy. Based on the popular 1985 Paramount Pictures film with screenplay written by Jonathan Lynn, and inspired by the classic Hasbro board game, this new adaptation is written by award-winning playwright Sandy Rustin, with additional materials written by Hunter Foster and Eric Price. Produced in association with Work Light Productions, The Araca Group and Lively McCabe Entertainment, performances will run January 25, 2020 through February 23, 2020 in the Allen Theatre at Playhouse Square.
Led by Director Casey Hushion (Associate Director Mean Girls, Aladdin, The Prom), the cast features Broadway veterans John Treacy Egan (My Fair Lady, Sister Act, Little Mermaid), Kathy Fitzgerald (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Wicked, 9 to 5), Michael Kostroff (Les Miserables, HBO’s The Wire), Alex Mandell (The Play That Goes Wrong, Hand to God), Mark Price (Mary Poppins, All Shook Up), Donna English (Nice Work If You Can Get It), Graham Stevens (In Transit) and Eleasha Gamble (Fiasco Theatre’s Into the Woods), as well as Cleveland and CPH favorites Josh Innerst (CPH’s Ken Ludwig’s Sherwood), Mariah Burks (CPH’s Shakespeare in Love, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee), and Elisabeth Yancey (CPH’s Into the Breeches!).
CPH Artistic Director Laura Kepley says, “Combine a cast of Broadway comic standouts with an hilarious script by Sandy Rustin that is full of mysterious high stakes hi-jinks, directed by the dynamic Casey Hushion, and you have all the makings of a killer night of theatre.”
“With this stage production of Clue, the key is to embrace the spirit of the original material but also to depart from the film and have it stand on its own as a theatre piece” says Director Casey Hushion. “This show combines elements of farce and slapstick comedy with classic mystery and suspense. It is essential to buy into the truth and reality of the play as life and death stakes are at hand,” she says.
Murder and blackmail are on the menu when six mysterious guests assemble at the Boddy Manor for a night they’ll never forget! Was it Mrs. Peacock in the study with the knife? Or was it Colonel Mustard in the library with the wrench? Based on the cult Paramount film, and inspired by the classic Hasbro board game, Clue is the ultimate whodunit that will leave you dying of laughter and keep you guessing until the final twist.
Throughout the rehearsal process, CPH is thrilled to have playwright Sandy Rustin in residence to assist in the creation and written development of the play. The CPH production of Clue: A New Comedy is in preparation for a National Tour scheduled to launch in 2021.
The Creative Team
SANDY RUSTIN (Playwright) is an actress and award-winning playwright and thrilled to be opening her adaptation of Clue at Cleveland Play House. Her comedy The Cottage was presented by Manhattan Theatre Club with Seinfeld’s
Jason Alexander directing, and is in development for a commercial production in NYC. She wrote the book and lyrics for Mattel’s American Girl Live Tour slated for second season in 2020. Last spring, Sandy and collaborator Sarah Saltzberg gave a “thorough feminist scouring” (NY Times) to Rogers and Hart’s I Married an Angel, adapted for New York City Center Encores! Her sketch-comedy musical Rated P…For Parenthood opened Off-Broadway and was optioned for TV development with ABC Studios. Sandy’s play Struck enjoyed critically acclaimed productions at New Jersey Rep and Theatre Raleigh. Her play Houston is the recipient of the New American Musical Award and her comedy Elijah was recently presented as part of Midtown Direct Rep’s “Theatre in the Parlor” Reading Series. Currently, Sandy is adapting the MGM film Mystic Pizza for the stage. She is also developing a new musical for Disney and writing a newly commissioned play as part of Florida Studio Theatre’s The Suffragist Project. Sandy is Founding Co-Artistic Director of Midtown Direct Rep and an advocate forcowdenfoundation.org. A Northwestern University graduate, Sandy is a member of ASCAP, SAG, AEA and The Dramatists Guild, and is represented by Abrams Artists.sandyrustin.com @SandyRustin_
CASEY HUSHION (Director) is currently the Resident Director of Mean Girls (Broadway/National Tour) and Disney’s Aladdin. Other Broadway credits include The Prom, Elf (2012, 2010), In The Heights (Broadway/National Tour), The Drowsy Chaperone (Broadway/National Tour/West End), To Be or Not To Be (Manhattan Theatre Club), and Good Vibrations. Casey directed Call Me Madam at City Center Encores last season. For television, she has choreographed musical sequences for the Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. Casey directed the pre-Broadway production of Nerds at Philadelphia Theatre Company and the Broadway production of Nerds (almost). Off-Broadway, she directed Fat Camp at the ATA Theatre. Casey served as the Artistic Director of North Carolina Theatre for ten years, where she directed twenty productions. A graduate of New York University, Casey has directed at regional theatres such as North Shore Music Theatre, Ogunquit Playhouse, Papermill Playhouse, Riverside Theatre, Walnut Street Theatre, Casa Manana, Music Theatre of Wichita, and Goodspeed Opera House. With the Boston Pops, Casey has staged concert versions of Carousel and A Little Night Music.
The Design Team for Clue includes: scenic design by LEE SAVAGE; costume design by JEN CAPRIO (CPH’s Steel Magnolias, Rich Girl, Fairfield and Well); lighting design by RYAN O’GARA; sound design by JEFF HUMAN; composed by MICHAEL HOLLAND; hair, wig and makeup design by J. JARED JANAS; fight choreography by KEVIN INOUYE (CPH’s Into the Breeches!, Pipeline). Additional creative team members include: JOHN GODBOUT (Production Stage Manager) and MARYANN MORRIS (Assistant Stage Manager).
CPH is proud to recognize Hyster-Yale Group, Inc. as Presenting Sponsor of Clue: A New Comedy. Additional support is provided by Great Lakes Brewing Company and Bob and Linnet Fritz.
Ticket Information
Tickets range from $20-$97, with $15 rush tickets for currently enrolled students (valid student ID required). Young Professional discounts are available with our YP-CPH Membership. Ohio Direction/EBT cardholders receive $5 admission to any performance for up to 8 tickets. CPH is a proud Blue Star Theatre and offers military members a 50% discount on tickets to any performance throughout the season. Military members interested in attending use the promo code: BLUST to receive the discount.
Single tickets can be purchased by calling the Box Office at 216.241.6000 or by visiting clevelandplayhouse.com. Groups of 10 or more can save up to 30% off single ticket prices by contacting CPH Groups Sales at 216.400.7011. Subscriptions are still available at the best low rates with amazing perks. Subscribe today and save up to 30%, with flexible small packages available, by calling the CPH Subscription Office at 216.640.8800 or by visiting clevelandplayhouse.com/subscribe.
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
About Hasbro
Hasbro (NASDAQ: HAS) is a global play and entertainment company committed to Creating the World's Best Play Experiences. From toys and games to television, movies, digital gaming and consumer products, Hasbro offers a variety of ways for audiences to experience its iconic brands, including NERF, MY LITTLE PONY, TRANSFORMERS, PLAY-DOH, MONOPOLY, LITTLEST PET SHOP and MAGIC: THE GATHERING, as well as premier partner brands. The Company's Hasbro Studios and its film label, Allspark Pictures, are building its brands globally through great storytelling and content on all screens. Through its commitment to corporate social responsibility and philanthropy, Hasbro is helping to make the world a better place for children and their families. Learn more at www.hasbro.com, and follow us on Twitter (@Hasbro & @HasbroNews) and Instagram (@Hasbro).
About Paramount Pictures Corporation
Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), a global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment, is a unit of Viacom a leading content company with prominent and respected film, television and digital entertainment brands. Paramount controls a collection of some of the most powerful brands in filmed entertainment, including Paramount Pictures, Paramount Animation, Paramount Vantage, Paramount Classics, Insurge Pictures, MTV Films, and Nickelodeon Movies. PPC operations also include Paramount Home Media Distribution, Paramount Pictures International, Paramount Licensing Inc., and Paramount Studio Group.
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