PRIDE AND PREJUDICE SEPTEMBER 7 - 29 AT THE ALLEN THEATRE
Posted August 27, 2024 in Press Releases
(Cleveland, OH) Cleveland Play House (CPH) is proud to present its upcoming production of Pride and Prejudice. Written by Kate Hamill, this bold and witty adaptation of Jane Austen’s beloved novel is sure to captivate both longtime fans and newcomers, proving that timeless stories can be told with fresh passion and creativity.
Under the visionary direction of Michael Barakiva, CPH’s Artistic Director, the production will run September 7 through September 29, 2024, in the historic Allen Theatre. Tickets start at just $25, making this must-experience show accessible to all.
This production marks Michael Barakiva’s first time directing as Cleveland Play House Artistic Director, following his successful guest directing roles over the past two seasons, directing 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 brings a unique vision to the classic tale, incorporating elements inspired by classic board game design and strategy, promising an imaginative and dynamic staging.
“The moment you walk into the Allen Theatre, you’ll see how the set tells the story of the game of courtship in Regency England,” Barakiva said. “As a lifelong gamer (I post my Wordle result on Facebook every morning), it is especially thrilling to get to work on a production that combines so many of my passions.”
Pride and Prejudice follows the unapologetically outspoken and fiercely independent Elizabeth Bennet, who vows to stay single despite the suffocating expectations of Regency-era society and the relentless meddling of her mother. Jane Austen’s novel, renowned for its sharp social commentary and enduring romance, is revitalized in this theatrical adaptation, where even Elizabeth’s resolve is tested by the irresistible charm, wit, and infuriating allure of Mr. Darcy. This version transforms the original into a refreshingly modern and playful performance that embraces the thrill of finding your perfectly imperfect match.
Rachel L. Fink, Managing Director of Cleveland Play House shares, "As Michael and I launch our first full season at Cleveland Play House, I can’t think of a better kick-off than Kate Hamill's vibrant adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. Hamill, one of America’s most produced playwrights over the past seven seasons, infuses this classic with her signature wit, energy, and modern flair. This fresh take on Austen’s beloved story is sure to captivate Cleveland audiences, offering the perfect blend of tradition and innovation to start our season."
The creative team for Pride and Prejudice features direction by Michael Barakiva, scenic design by Lex Liang, costume design by Olivera Gajic, lighting design by Erica Lauren Maholmes, sound design by Angie Hayes, wig design by Amanda Miller, choreography by Lauren Marousek, production dramaturgy by Craig Joseph, casting by Calleri Jensen Davis, and assistant direction by Esma Eddeb. The production will be stage managed by John Godbout*, assisted by Tyree Franklin.
The extraordinary cast includes Madalyn Baker, Chirstopher M. Bohan*, Ari Derambakhsh*, Reece Dos Santos*, Marianna Gailus*, Byron Johnson, Shunté Lofton*, Colleen Longshaw Jackson*, Brendan Lowry, Christina McSheffrey, Calder Meis, Meredith Nelson, Adam Ortega, Christopher Pedersen*, and Alfredo J. Ruiz*.
The cast will showcase remarkable versatility, with several actors double and triple-cast, transforming into multiple characters before the audience’s eyes. Adding to the excitement, second-year students from the Case Western Reserve University/Cleveland Play House MFA Acting Program will understudy the production, contributing to the future of theater in our community.
Don’t miss this innovative take on a timeless story. Join us for an unforgettable evening of love, laughter, and wit at Cleveland Play House’s Pride and Prejudice. For more information, please visit www.clevelandplayhouse.com.
Keybank is the sponsor of the Cleveland Play House 2024-25 Season.
* denotes members of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.
PERFORMANCE DETAILS:
- Dates: September 7 - 29, 2024
- Location: Allen Theatre, Playhouse Square, Cleveland, OH
- Time: Evening performances are held Wednesday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday evening performances are held at 7:00 p.m. Matinee performances are held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
- Tickets: Starting at $25, available at www.clevelandplayhouse.com or by calling the box office at (216) 241-6000.
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT EVENTS
Join Cleveland Play House for these special pre-show and post-show events:
- Saturday, September 14, 2024 | Board Game Social Night at The Hermit Club at Hofbrauhaus
Join Cleveland Play House at The Hermit Club at Hofbrauhaus right after the 7:30 p.m. performance of Pride and Prejudice on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024. Enjoy classic and Jane Austen-themed board games, with free admission and a cash bar. Play with your friends or challenge the CPH team to a game!
- *Wednesday, September 18, 2024 | Wine Down Wednesday at Parnell’s Pub at Playhouse Square*
Join the Cleveland Play House staff for a pre-show gathering at Parnell's Pub in Playhouse Square on Wednesday, September 18th, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., before the 7:30 p.m. performance of Pride and Prejudice. Tickets for this special event are $45 each when you use the promo code WDW. This price includes one ticket to the 7:30 p.m. performance, along with one complimentary drink ticket, redeemable for a glass of wine or any drink up to $10 in value. Offer limited to those 21 years or older with proper identification, which must be presented at the event. Limited Wine Down Wednesday tickets are available.
- Saturday, September 21, 2024 | Jane Austen Bingo & Tea Party at The Hermit Club at Hofbrauhaus*
Join Cleveland Play House at The Hermit Club at Hofbrauhaus on Saturday, September 21, 2023, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. for a delightful pre-show event. For $65 per person, enjoy tea, pastries, Jane Austen bingo (with prizes every round), and a 2:00 p.m. ticket to Pride and Prejudice. Space is limited! A mobile device is required for bingo. Use the promo code “BINGO” to purchase the bundle when buying your Saturday September 21, 2:00 p.m. tickets.
- Sunday, September 22, 2024 | Inside CPH, Post-show Conversation*: Meet the cast of Pride and Prejudice, following the 2:00 p.m. performance.
- Wednesday, September 25, 2024 | Inside CPH, Pre-show Conversation*: Take a journey into the world of Jane Austen. Pre-show conversation is at 6:45 pm in the Allen Theatre lobby, before the 7:30 p.m. performance.
*Denotes performance ticket must be purchased to participate in the accompanying event. For events requiring a promo code, please visit the Cleveland Play House website at www.clevelandplayhouse.com and select the event date, then enter the promo code to view available seating.
MEDIA CONTACT:
For more information, interview requests and theatrical review ticket requests, please contact:
Angie Hetrick
Director of Marketing and Communications
Cleveland Play House
Phone: (216) 400-7020
Email: AHetrick@clevelandplayhouse.com
MEDIA MATERIALS:
- Media materials can be found here.
- Media professionals requesting a media comp for review, please contact: Angie Hetrick at AHetrick@clevelandplayhouse.com or (216) 400-7020
BIOGRAPHIES
THE CAST
MADALYN BAKER (Ensemble, Understudy: Lizzy Bennet) Madalyn is an actor, illustrator, and musician from Northern California. She earned her BA in Theatre from Fordham University, and is now in her second year of the CWRU/CPH MFA program. Her recent credits include Mechanic/Aunt in Middletown (CPH/CWRU, Sally Bowles in Cabaret (CWRU), and Cathy in The Last Five Years (Soft Belly Theatre). In addition to being an actor, she writes music, and has her own illustrative art brand called Maddle Baddle. She sends much love to everyone in the cast, and most of all to her sister Anna--with whom she has watched the Joe Wright 2005 Pride and Prejudice too many times to count. To learn more about Madalyn, you can check out her work at Madalynbaker.com, @madmaddybaker, and @maddlebaddle.
CHRISTOPHER M. BOHAN (Charlotte Lucas/Mr. Bennet) is thrilled to be making his CPH debut. He teaches acting at Case Western Reserve University, and is an artistic associate with the Great Lakes Michael Chekhov Consortium. Cleveland credits include Doubt, The Pitman Painters and Glengarry Glen Ross (opposite Austin Pendleton) at The Beck Center, and How to be A Respectable Junkie, Peter and the Starcatchers, The Lyons, and The Flick at Dobama. Upcoming films include Unsinkable and Lost and Found in Cleveland. He earned his MFA in Performance from Wayne State University and his a BA in theater and economics from Lehigh University. He is a proud graduate of St. Ignatius High School and is a member of AEA and SAG-AFTRA.
ARI DERAMBAKHSH (Lydia Bennet/Miss De Bourgh) is a New York based actress originally from Los Angeles. She recently played the role of Goli in the 2023 Pulitzer-Prize winning play English at The Old Globe Theatre in San Diego. Additional theatre credits include the world premiere of The Bookstore at NJ Repertory Company, Twelfth Night and The Winter’s Tale at Shakespeare’s Globe in London, and English at Berkeley Repertory Theatre. She has appeared in festivals and readings at The Kennedy Center, Amphibian Stage, Crossroads Theater Co, and Rattlestick NY. Ari received her BFA in Acting from Rutgers University, Mason Gross School of the Arts and Rutgers Conservatory at Shakespeare’s Globe. Website: arideram.com ; @arideram on Instagram.
REECE DOS SANTOS (Mr. Darcy) From New York City by way of Lowell, MA I am thrilled to be in Cleveland, making my CPH debut! TV: The Equalizer (CBS), New Amsterdam (NBC), American Rust (Showtime). Regional: All My Sons (Hartford Stage), Flowers of Hawaii (Chautauqua Theater Co.), A Welcome Guest (CATF), Measure for Measure (Theater at Monmouth), Sofonisba (Theater at Monmouth), Harry Clarke, Shadow of a Gunman, The Learned Ladies (NYU Grad Acting). MFA: NYU Graduate Acting (Class of 2023). Recipient of the Felicia Montealegre Bernstein Scholarship. Gratitude to the entire team, to the patrons who support live theater and my family in the United States and Brazil. May the past inform how we choose to strive for a brighter future! IG: @reece_dossantos
MARIANNA GAILUS (Lizzy Bennet) was born and raised in New York City and is thrilled to be makin her CPH debut. Credits include Broadway: Patriots. New York: cityscrape (Good Apples Collective), Period Sisters (HERE); Regional: Chautauqua, Voices from a Pandemic (Notch Theatre Company Workshop). MFA, Juilliard Group 51. BA, History, Yale University. Juilliard credits include Halina in Indecent, Masha in Three Sisters, Parolles in All’s Well That Ends Well, and Ren in The Extenders (film). Marianna was the 2022 recipient of Juilliard’s Laura Pels Prize in Acting for outstanding achievement. When not onstage, she works on the South Street Seaport Museum’s historic vessels and volunteers at the American Museum of Natural History as a tour guide and exhibit interpreter.
BYRON JOHNSON (Ensemble, Understudy Mr. Darcy) is a Louisiana native originally from New Orleans. As a former collegiate student-athlete, he made a bold shift to acting in 2018. His notable credits include roles in Young Rock on NBC, Walker on CW, and a recurring guest star in SHOWTIME's American Rust. Seeking to enhance his craft, Byron enrolled in CWRU/CPH to explore the stage. Born to the late Byron Johnson and Trudy Johnson, with a sister named Destiny, he remains deeply connected to his roots. Last spring, Byron made his stage debut in Middletown, showcasing his versatility and determination. He continues his relentless pursuit to develop his craft and his desire to become one of the most impactful people in the world. Instagram: @bjohnsonofficial
SHUNTÉ LOFTON (Jane Bennet) is very excited to be returning to Cleveland Play House! She is a recent graduate of the CWRU/CPH MFA Acting Program. Her previous Cleveland credits include: Countess Johanna Von Strack (Amadeus) Prospera (The Tempest), Lucrece (The Liar), Death (Everybody), and F (Passage). She also served as the Assistant Director for Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. She’s had the privilege of growing up all over the world and comes to Cleveland from her new home base in New York. She is thankful to God and to her family for their continued support. A lover of the classics, she has performed her way through over half of Shakespeare’s canon. Some of her favorite credits include: Ophelia (Hamlet) and Princess of France (Love’s Labour’s Lost) with the American Shakespeare Center; Lady Macbeth (Macbeth) and Constance (King John) with the Colorado Shakespeare Festival. She is represented by Dani Super Management and is a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association. Website: shuntelofton.com
COLLEEN LONGSHAW JACKSON (Mrs. Bennet / Lady Catherine) is no stranger to Cleveland Play House and is excited to be making her Allen Stage debut with this amazing group of artists. Colleen is currently the Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer for the City of Shaker Heights. While doing this important work she performs and directs as often as she is able.National Tour: Kiss Me Kate. New York: The Groove Factory. Regional: Hairspray (Northshore Music Theatre), The Full Monty (Northshore Music Theatre). Cleveland: Ain't Misbehavin (Great Lakes Theatre). Ghost (Beck Center for the Arts), Caroline Or Change (Tantrum Theatre, Karamu/Dobama, Mercury Theatre), Blackademics (Cleveland Play House), Pipeline (Cleveland Play House), The Piano Lesson, (Cleveland Play House), A Christmas Carol (Great Lakes Theatre), The Color Purple, (Karamu House), Sister Act (Karamu House, Porthouse Theatre), Hurricane Diane (Dobama Theatre), Twelfth Night (Ohio Shakespeare Theatre), Dreamgirls, (Cain Park), and Aida (Beck Center). For Dorothy. IG: itscolleen_13
BRENDAN LOWRY (Ensemble, U/S Mr. Bingley/Mary Bennet) is a proud CWRU/CPH MFA Acting student entering into his second year of study. You may have recently seen him in the CWRU/CPH production of Middletown (Tour Guide/Astronaut/Landscaper). Originally from Colorado Springs, Colorado, he received his BFA in Musical Theatre from Colorado Mesa University. Brendan is excited to be making his CPH debut and looks forward to two more years exploring and living in the city. @bkylowry / bkylowry.com
CHRISTINA MCSHEFFREY (Ensemble, U/S Lydia Bennet/Miss De Bourgh) is from Phoenix, Arizona, where she got her BA in Theatre at Grand Canyon University, and has since worked as an actor and teaching artist. Some favorite acting credits include: Juliet in Romeo and Juliet and Maria in Twelfth Night (Flagstaff Shakespeare Festival); Miranda in The Tempest (Southwest Shakespeare Company). She taught theatre and voice at The Phoenix Theatre Company, Childsplay Theatre, and Phoenix Conservatory of Music before making the move to the midwest. Christina also enjoys running, singing, and spending time with her friends and family. @chefboyartina
MEREDITH NELSON (Ensemble, U/S Mrs. Bennet/Lady Catherine, Jane Bennet) is an actor, director, and educator originally from Denver, Colorado. She received her undergraduate degree from The University of Evansville and is thrilled to be pursuing her master's with CWRU/Cleveland Playhouse. Some favorite roles she's played include the Librarian in Middletown, Prospera in The Tempest, and Julie in Miss Julie. She is also the co-founder and co-artistic director of Soft Belly Theatre: a local Cleveland theatre company dedicated to producing accessible, courageous work with an open mind and a soft belly. You can find more information about her work at softbellytheatre.com.
CALDER MEISS (Ensemble, u/s Mr. Wickham, Mr. Collins, Miss Bingley) is overjoyed to make his CPH mainstage debut in Pride and Prejudice. You may have seen him in the. CWRU/CPH MFA program's production of Middletown (John Dodge). Other favorite credits include: The Last Night of Ballyhoo (Peachy Weil), Abigail/1702 (John Brown), and Footloose (Ren). He also had the privilege of assistant directing and music supervising Uma Incrocci's To Keep and Bear as a part of Cleveland Play House's New Ground Theatre Festival. He sends his love to Payton and Pandy. BFA, Baylor University. “Cleveland, this is for you!” -LeBron James
ADAM ORTEGA (Ensemble, U/S Mr. Bennet/Charlotte Lucas) is a second-year grad actor in the CWRU/CPH MFA Acting Program. He is glad to be kicking off this semester in a show with such a wonderful cast and crew. Hailing from South Florida, Adam earned his BFA in Acting at The University of Michigan. His other theatre credits include, Cop in Middletown (CWRU/CPH), Don Armado in Love's Labour's Lost (Great River Shakespeare Festival) and Drunk Shakespeare (Off-Broadway). He would like to thank family, friends, and loved ones for all their constant support. Instagram: @adamaortega adamalexisortega.com
CHRISTIAN PEDERSEN (Mr. Bingley/Mary Bennet) is thrilled to be returning to CPH, where he appeared as Sherlock Holmes in Ken Ludwig’s Moriarty and as Karl/Steve in Clybourne Park. Other recent credits include Sense and Sensibility in Nantucket, Ohio State Murders on Broadway, and Harry Potter and the Cursed Child in San Francisco. TV appearances include The Offer, This Is Us, Seal Team, One Life to Live, Superstore, and The Good Wife. Christian is a graduate of the University of Richmond and the NY Conservatory for Dramatic Arts.
ALFREDO J. RUIZ (Mr. Collins/Mr. Wickham/Miss. Bingley) is original from Miami and is currently a NYC-based actor. He is thrilled to be returning to the Cleveland Play House. Selected Regional Credits: The Play That Goes Wrong, Amadeus, Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, and Watching Butterflies (Cleveland Play House); 7 Deadly Sins (Miami New Drama/Drama League Award 2020); Wynwood Stories (Juggerknot Theatre Co.); and The Tempest (Gable Stage). www.alfredojruiz.com
THE CREATIVE TEAM
KATE HAMILL (Playwright) is an actor/playwright. Wall Street Journal’s Playwright of the Year, 2017. Her work includes her play Sense and Sensibility (in which she originated the role of Marianne)—Winner, Off-Broadway Alliance Award 2016; Nominee, Drama League Award; 265+ performances off-Broadway. Other plays include Vanity Fair at the Pearl Theatre (in which she originated the role of Becky Sharp; Nominee, Off-Broadway Alliance Award 2017), Pride and Prejudice at Primary Stages and Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival (originated the role of Lizzy Bennet; Nominee, Off-Broadway Alliance Award). Her plays have been produced off-Broadway, at A.R.T., Oregon Shakespeare Festival, the Guthrie, Seattle Rep, Dallas Theater Center, PlayMaker’s Rep, Folger Theatre (8 Helen Hayes Award nominations; Winner, best production—S&S), Arvada Center and others; upcoming productions at Shakespeare Theatre of DC, A.C.T., Trinity Rep, Portland Center Stage, Syracuse Stage, Pittsburgh Public, Kansas City Rep, Dorset Theatre Festival and more. Upcoming world premieres: Little Women at the Jungle Theater and Primary Stages; Mansfield Park at Northlight Theatre. She is currently working on new adaptations of The Odyssey and The Scarlet Letter, as well as several new original plays (Prostitute Play, In The Mines, Love Poem). Kate was one of the top 20 most-produced playwrights in the country this season. http://www.kate-hamill.com
MICHAEL BARAKIVA (Director) is an Armenian-Israeli American director and writer who proudly serves as the 11th Artistic Director of CPH. His 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 workshops 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, Michael 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 YA novels (One Many Guy, Hold My Hand, Keepers of the Stones and Stars, all published by Macmillan) 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. www.michaelbarakiva.com
LEX LIANG (Scenic 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. Int’l/Nat’l Tours/NYC/Off-B’way: 100+ productions. 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, Goodman, Guthrie, La Jolla, Long Wharf, Maltz Jupiter Theatre, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Paper Mill Playhouse, Pasadena Playhouse, Playmaker’s Rep, Pioneer Theatre, 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, William Hill, and others. www.LexLiang.com @Lex924
OLIVERA GAJIC (Costume Designer) has to her credit, Olivera has 250+ theater, opera, dance, and film productions. Most notably: Jedermann (Salzburg Festival, Austria); God’s Ear (Vineyard Theatre); Film: I am a Seagull; The Lucille Lake Project (Chekhov Project Company) Olivera designs extensively for Arden, Trinity Repertory, and Juilliard School. Her regional work: ART; Guthrie Theater; Long Wharf Theatre; Pig Iron; Two River; Riverside Theatre; Playmakers; California Shakespeare; Shakespeare Santa Cruz; Drury Lane; Hanger; Pennsylvania Shakespeare; Barrington Stage; Theatre Works; American Stage, Actors Shakespeare Project, Folger, Hanger, ASF etc. Olivera has been part of the US National Exhibit at the Prague Quadrennial 2004-2007- 2023; Curtain Call (Lincoln Center); Costume at the Turn of the Century (Moscow, Russia). Olivera is the recipient of the NEA/TCG CDP for Designers, IT Award, TDF/Irene Sharaff Young Master, Barrymore, and Bessie Award Recipient for Outstanding Costume Design. USA-local829 www.oliveragajic.com
ERICA LAUREN MAHOLMES (Lighting Designer) (she/her) is a Kansas City-based USA829 lighting designer. She was a Lighting Apprentice at CPH for the 2019/2020 Season (Into The Breeches, Pipeline, Clue, Merchant of Venice, Getting Near To Baby, Every Brilliant Thing, A Christmas Story) and is thrilled to be returning. She made her Broadway debut as the Assistant Lighting Designer of The Notebook: The Musical and Associate Lighting Designer of Mary Jane (Manhattan Theatre Club). Erica has designed at theaters across the country including: Great Lakes Theater, Idaho Shakespeare Festival, A Red Orchid Theatre, Trinity Rep, First Stage Children’s Theatre, Cape Fear Regional Theatre, Alley Theatre, etc. Erica is an alumna of the Stagecraft Institute of Las Vegas (2016 & 2021), West Chester University (BA), and Illinois State University (MFA). She is a proud member of Black Theatre Network, Design Action, and is an Artistic Board member of Cat’s Cradle Theatre.
ANGIE HAYES (Sound Designer) is based in Cleveland and has designed and mixed sound for productions at many area theaters. Recent design credits include Middletown and The Tempest with CPH and CWRU, Fun Home at Cain Park, The Other Place at Dobama, and Something Rotten at Beck Center. She is the resident sound designer for Dobama Theatre. She has also recorded and sound designed for several podcasts, including Beyond the Habit, Sidewalk, and Munchen, MN. She has a Bachelor Degree in Music from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, with an emphasis in Recording Technology and Music Business.
LAUREN MAROUSEK (Choreographer) is a graduate of Baldwin Wallace University with her BFA in Acting and Dance Minor and a University of Idaho MFA Candidate. Choreographic credits include Beck Center for the Arts: Beautiful (Locally Produced Premiere), Ride the Cyclone (Regional Premiere), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Cleveland Critics Circle Best Choreography Honorable Mention); Ghost; Elf: The Musical (2022 Reprise Production), Matilda (Associate), Shrek The Musical (Associate/Dance Captain); The Cleveland Orchestra at Blossom Music Center: The Sound of Music; Baldwin Wallace University: The Wild Party; Playhouse Square: Bare, Cleveland Musical Theater: Jane Eyre (Assistant - World Premiere); Porthouse Theatre: Man of La Mancha (Assistant). Proud Associate Member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society. Many thanks to Michael and the entire CPH team for the warmest welcome. All my love to Jimmy.
CRAIG JOSEPH (Production Dramaturg) (he/him) joined the CPH staff in September 2021 as the Artistic Associate, and became Literary Director in September 2022. In addition to his daily work in the office, he served as the dramaturg for CPH’s The Three Musketeers. Outside these walls, Craig is the Artistic Director of Seat of the Pants (seatofthepants.org), an ensemble-based, process-driven theatre company that performs throughout Northeast Ohio. He also freelance acts and directs throughout the Midwest with credits at Writers Theatre, TimeLine Theatre, Resonance Works, Dobama, Karamu House, Ensemble Theatre, Canton Symphony, and Akron Symphony, among others. Craig is a Certified Teacher of the Michael Chekhov Technique through the Great Lakes Michael Consortium and a proud founding member of The Greenhouse, a cohort of Ohio-based theatre makers who come together regularly to encourage and provoke one another’s evolution as humans, artists, collaborators, and citizens.
CALLERI JENSEN DAVIS (Casting Directors: James Calleri, Erica Jensen, Paul Davis) is a creative casting partnership of over 20 years located in NYC. They are thrilled to be working with CPH. Awarded 16 Artios Awards for Outstanding Achievement in Casting. Broadway credits include Topdog/ Underdog, The Piano Lesson, For Colored Girls..., Thoughts of a Colored Man, Burn This, Fool for Love, Venus in Fur, Hedwig & The Angry Inch, The Elephant Man (also West End), Of Mice and Men, Hughie, The Visit, 33 Variations, A Raisin in the Sun, Living on Love, Chicago, James Joyce's The Dead. TV credits include Love Life (HBO Max) Queens (ABC), Dickinson (Apple +), The Path (Hulu), Lipstick Jungle, Army Wives, Monk, Hope & Faith, and Ed.www.callerijensendavis.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, he stage managed La Cage Aux Folles at Trinity Repertory Company in Providence, Rhode Island. 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
TYREE FRANKLIN (Assistant Stage Manager) (he/him) is a Cleveland based stage manager and Artist with his BFA in Stage Management from Wright State University. His recent stage management credits includes Velveteen Rabbit: A New Musical at Playhouse Square, BKLYN at Nearwest Theatre, The Bubbly Black Girl who Sheds her Chameleon Skin (Karamu House) The Tempest, The Liar, Everybody, and Passage (Cleveland Playhouse), Langston Hughes’ Black Nativity (Karamu House) Tyree is a new playwright. His play “Tales of a Fat Man” was recently produced at Cleveland Public Theatre’s 2024 Test Flight Series. He would like to thank his family and friends for their continued love and support!
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. To learn more, visit:www.clevelandplayhouse.com.
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