Cleveland Play House Announces Major New Musical in Collaboration with Seattle Rep
Posted April 23, 2026 in Press Releases
Two Unlikely Heroes,
One Epic Musical Adventure!
CLEVELAND PLAY HOUSE AND
SEATTLE REP UNITE FOR
THE WORLD PREMIERE OF
MAJOR NEW MUSICAL
FREAK THE MIGHTY
FREAK THE MIGHTY
Book & Lyrics by Anthony Drewe | Music by Ryan Fielding Garrett
Based on the Novel by Rodman Philbrick
Directed by Michael Barakiva
Choreography by Patrick McCollum
A Co-Production with Seattle Rep
May 22 – June 21, 2026
Allen Theatre
(CLEVELAND, OH) – Cleveland Play House (CPH) will launch the world premiere of Freak The Mighty, a soaring new musical based on the beloved young adult novel by Rodman Philbrick, in a landmark co-production with Seattle Rep. With book and lyrics by Olivier and Tony Award-winning writer Anthony Drewe (Mary Poppins) and music by Ryan Fielding Garrett, a Baldwin Wallace University alum and rising musical theatre composer, Freak The Mighty runs May 22 through June 21, 2026 in the Allen Theatre at Playhouse Square.
Freak The Mighty follows the adventures of two unlikely friends—Maxwell Kane and Kevin “Freak” Avery. Though they feel like outsiders, together they transform into “Freak The Mighty,” a heroic duo empowered to take on the world. This major new musical celebrates friendship, resilience, and community in the face of adversity, connecting to the dreamer in all of us.
CPH Managing Director Rachel L.Fink says “We’re proud to bring Freak The Mighty to Cleveland as a world premiere, in collaboration with Seattle Rep and Junkyard Dog Productions, exactly the kind of new, ambitious work that defines Cleveland Play House. There’s something exciting about being in the room as a piece comes to life, and Cleveland audiences get to be part of that. This is one of those moments, and the unique chance to say that you saw it here first.”
Freak The Mighty features Netza Jimenez* (Maxwell Kane), Cornelius Kittrell* (Kevin Avery/Freak), Spencer LaRue* (Blade, Ensemble), Wade McCollum* (Kenny “Killer” Kane), Caleb Miofsky* (Bones, Ensemble, u/s Maxwell Kane), Ryah Nixon* (Loretta Lee, Ensemble), Analise Rios (Molly, Nurse, Ensemble), Bart Shatto* (Mr. Donelli, Ensemble, u/s Grim), Kanoa Sims* (Gwen Avery), Nicole Sumlin* (Dr. Spivak, Mrs. Johnson, Ensemble, u/s Gwen), Astrid Van Wieren* (Gram), Harter Clingman* (Iggy, Ensemble), Christopher Gurr* (Grim), Anita Hollander (Mrs. Price, Ensemble, u/s Gram), Mikaela Ray (Swing), Nicolas Vivar (u/s Kevin Avery/Freak), Alec Michael Ryan (u/s Kenny, Iggy, Mr. Donelli), and Kooper Campbell (u/s Blade, Bones).
The creative team includes Anthony Drewe (Book and Lyrics), Ryan Fielding Garrett (Composer, Arranger, Vocal Arranger), Michael Barakiva (Director), Patrick McCollum (Choreographer), Wilson Chin (Scenic Designer), Suzanne Chesney (Costume Designer), Miriam Nilofa Crowe (Lighting Designer), Ken Travis (Sound Designer), Ora Jewell-Busche (Wig Designer), Patrick Sulken (Music Director), Stage managers Jessica C. Bomball*, John Godbout*, Assistant Stage Manager Tyree Franklin, Christian Kelly-Sordelet (Fight Choreographer), Scott Wasserman (Orchestrations), Hayley Jannielli (Voice & Dialect Coach), The Telsey Office (Casting Director), and Access Consultants Talleri McRae and Sofiya Cheyenne.[DG1]
“This is a major new American musical, and we are thrilled that Cleveland audiences will experience it at the ground level,” says director Michael Barakiva. “Freak The Mighty is a story about healing, found family, and seeing strength where the world expects weakness—exactly the kind of hopeful, emotionally rich theatre we need right now.”
ABOUT THE MUSICAL
Set in a working
