Close
close
Menu
Search Location
‹ back
King James

Now On Stage:
King James
Season's Greetings

Up Next:
Season's Greetings
‹ back

Our theatres are located at
1407 Euclid Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44115

‹ back

in your community:

    at Cleveland Play House:

    CWRU/CPH MFA

    ‹ back
    ‹ back

    November 11 - December 2, 2013 ,

    The Whipping Man

    written by Matthew Lopez
    directed by Giovanna Sardelli

    Advisory: Recommended for ages 12 and up. Contains strong language and one scene of explicit physical trauma.

    April, 1865: the Civil War is drawing to a close. Caleb DeLeon, a Jewish Confederate soldier, returns wounded from the battlefield to find his family home in ruins, abandoned by everyone except Simon and John, two former slaves, who were raised as Jews in the DeLeon home. As the three men reunite to celebrate Passover, they uncover a tangle of secrets... ties that bind them together and that, ultimately, could cost each man his freedom.

    Photos & Videos Download Hi Res Photos

    From left: Shawn Fagan, Russell G. Jones in the Cleveland Play House production of The Whipping Man directed by Giovanna Sardelli in Second Stage at PlayhouseSquare, November 2 - December 2, 2012. Photo credit: Roger Mastroianni. © 2012 Roger Mastroianni

    Russell G. Jones in the Cleveland Play House production of The Whipping Man directed by Giovanna Sardelli in Second Stage at PlayhouseSquare, November 2 - December 2, 2012. Photo credit: Roger Mastroianni. © 2012 Roger Mastroianni

    From left: Shawn Fagan, Avery Glymph in the Cleveland Play House production of The Whipping Man directed by Giovanna Sardelli in Second Stage at PlayhouseSquare, November 2 - December 2, 2012. Photo credit: Roger Mastroianni. © 2012 Roger Mastroianni

    From left: Shawn Fagan, Russell G. Jones in the Cleveland Play House production of The Whipping Man directed by Giovanna Sardelli in Second Stage at PlayhouseSquare, November 2 - December 2, 2012. Photo credit: Roger Mastroianni. © 2012 Roger Mastroianni

    Shawn Fagan in the Cleveland Play House production of The Whipping Man directed by Giovanna Sardelli in Second Stage at PlayhouseSquare, November 2 - December 2, 2012. Photo credit: Roger Mastroianni. © 2012 Roger Mastroianni

    Avery Glymph in the Cleveland Play House production of The Whipping Man directed by Giovanna Sardelli in Second Stage at PlayhouseSquare, November 2 - December 2, 2012. Photo credit: Roger Mastroianni. © 2012 Roger Mastroianni

    From left: Avery Glymph, Russell G. Jones, Shawn Fagan in the Cleveland Play House production of The Whipping Man directed by Giovanna Sardelli in Second Stage at PlayhouseSquare, November 2 - December 2, 2012. Photo credit: Roger Mastroianni. © 2012 Roger Mastroianni

    From left: Russell G. Jones, Shawn Fagan in the Cleveland Play House production of The Whipping Man directed by Giovanna Sardelli in Second Stage at PlayhouseSquare, November 2 - December 2, 2012. Photo credit: Roger Mastroianni. © 2012 Roger Mastroianni

    From left: Avery Glymph, Russell G. Jones, Shawn Fagan in the Cleveland Play House production of The Whipping Man directed by Giovanna Sardelli in Second Stage at PlayhouseSquare, November 2 - December 2, 2012. Photo credit: Roger Mastroianni. © 2012 Roger Mastroianni

    From left: Russell G. Jones, Shawn Fagan in the Cleveland Play House production of The Whipping Man directed by Giovanna Sardelli in Second Stage at PlayhouseSquare, November 2 - December 2, 2012. Photo credit: Roger Mastroianni. © 2012 Roger Mastroianni

    Shawn Fagan in the Cleveland Play House production of The Whipping Man directed by Giovanna Sardelli in Second Stage at PlayhouseSquare, November 2 - December 2, 2012. Photo credit: Roger Mastroianni. © 2012 Roger Mastroianni

    Cleveland Play House production of The Whipping Man directed by Giovanna Sardelli in Second Stage at PlayhouseSquare, November 2 - December 2, 2012. Photo credit: Roger Mastroianni. © 2012 Roger Mastroianni

    From left: Shawn Fagan, Russell G. Jones in the Cleveland Play House production of The Whipping Man directed by Giovanna Sardelli in Second Stage at PlayhouseSquare, November 2 - December 2, 2012. Photo credit: Roger Mastroianni. © 2012 Roger Mastroianni

    From left: Russell G. Jones, Shawn Fagan in the Cleveland Play House production of The Whipping Man directed by Giovanna Sardelli in Second Stage at PlayhouseSquare, November 2 - December 2, 2012. Photo credit: Roger Mastroianni. © 2012 Roger Mastroianni

    Artists

    Shawn Fagan

    Shawn Fagan

    (Caleb) played the title role in Wife to James Whelan at Mint Theater Company, earning him a BackstageMemorable New York Stage Performance of 2010 award. Other New York City acting credits include The Misanthrope at The Pearl, Peninsula at Soho Rep, Freakshow and Dearest Eugenia Haggis with Clubbed more(Caleb) played the title role in Wife to James Whelan at Mint Theater Company, earning him a BackstageMemorable New York Stage Performance of 2010 award. Other New York City acting credits include The Misanthrope at The Pearl, Peninsula at Soho Rep, Freakshow and Dearest Eugenia Haggis with Clubbed Thumb, Milk ‘n’ Honey and Ajax: 100% Fun with LightBox. Favorite regional theatre acting work includes Prince Hal/Henry V in The Making of a King: Henry IV & V at Playmakers Repertory Company; Hugh in The Voysey Inheritance at The Denver Center for The Performing Arts; Hamlet in the world premiere of Wittenberg at Arden Theatre Company; Texas in Intimations for Saxophone at Arena Stage, directed by Anne Bogart; The Shakespeare Theatre Company (Washington D.C.); Dallas Theater Center; Arden Theatre Company; Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey; American Players Theatre; and Utah and Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festivals.

    Avery Glymph

    Avery Glymph

    (John) is pleased to return to Cleveland Play House, having previously performed in The Whipping Man, directed by Giovanna Sardelli. Most recently, he appeared in Residence, at the Humana Festival of New American Plays with the Actors; Theatre of Louisville. Regional credits include All The Way at the Repertory more(John) is pleased to return to Cleveland Play House, having previously performed in The Whipping Man, directed by Giovanna Sardelli. Most recently, he appeared in Residence, at the Humana Festival of New American Plays with the Actors; Theatre of Louisville. Regional credits include All The Way at the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis (St. Louis Critics Circle Best Ensemble and Production), Intimate Apparel at Dorset Theatre Festival; The Tempest, Coriolanus and Wallenstein with Shakespeare Theatre Company; The Whipping Man at The Old Globe; Race at TheatreWorks Hartford; and Angels in America with PlayMakers Repertory Company and Syracuse Stage. Broadway: The Tempest. New York: McReele at Roundabout; Antony and Cleopatra and Troilus and Cressida at NY Shakespeare Festival; Hope is the Thing with Feathers with The Drama Department; ‘Maid at Lincoln Center; Lost Creek Township (Regional Tony Season) at Crossroads Theatre ; Fences at Cape Fear Theatre. Film & Television: Forever, The X-Files, A Gifted Man, Ugly Betty, Oz, Law & Order and more. Training: B.F.A. The North Carolina School of the Arts; M.F.A. Shakespeare Theatre Company’s Academy for Classical Acting at George Washington University.

    Russell G. Jones

    Russell G. Jones

    (Simon) is a New York City-based multidisciplinary theatre artist who hails from Shaker Heights, Ohio. He is an Obie Award winner for originating the role of Christian in 2009’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play Ruined and a Screen Actors Guild Award winner as part of the ensemble ofTraffic. Other theatre work more(Simon) is a New York City-based multidisciplinary theatre artist who hails from Shaker Heights, Ohio. He is an Obie Award winner for originating the role of Christian in 2009’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play Ruined and a Screen Actors Guild Award winner as part of the ensemble ofTraffic. Other theatre work includes The Power of Duff, The Powerhouse Theater/Vassar; Our Lady of 121st Street, Union Square Theater; God, The Crackhouse and The Devil, La MaMa; and In Arabia We'd All Be Kings, Center Stage New York. A member of LAByrinth Theater Company since 1995, he has worked as a teaching artist throughout the New York tri-state area for 15 years and has served on LAByrinth’s education team since its inception, helping to create its master class and intensive ensemble workshops. Jones has been seen on four versions of Law & Order and never as the criminal. He is currently creating a theatrical exploration to empower cross-cultural dialogue about race, called The Blind Spot.

    Denitsa Bliznakova

    (Costume Designer) has upcoming productions at San Diego Opera and The Old Globe Theatre. Previous design work includes productions at San Jose Repertory Theatre, The Old Globe, Falcon Theatre, A Noise Within, New Rep, Long Wharf Theatre, and others. Highlights include The Merry Wives of Windsor at The Old more(Costume Designer) has upcoming productions at San Diego Opera and The Old Globe Theatre. Previous design work includes productions at San Jose Repertory Theatre, The Old Globe, Falcon Theatre, A Noise Within, New Rep, Long Wharf Theatre, and others. Highlights include The Merry Wives of Windsor at The Old Globe; working with Garry Marshall onHappy Days, the Musical at Falcon Theatre; and Diva at Williamstown Theatre Festival. Design and stylist credits for other media include music videos for various artists and films. A Bulgarian born costume designer, her academic background includes a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Fashion Design at the Parsons School of Design in Paris and New York and a Master of Fine Arts in Theatre from Brandeis University. She is currently an associate professor at San Diego State University where she leads the MFA Costume Design program.

    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, John stage managed A New Brain at Barrington Stage Company. John has also stage managed at North Shore Music Theatre, Capital Repertory Theatre, The more(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, John stage managed A New Brain at Barrington Stage Company. 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.

    Matthew Lopez

    (Playwright) has seen his play The Whipping Man – since its New York premiere last year in a sold-out, extended run at Manhattan Theatre Club – become one of the most widely produced new American plays. The MTC production, directed by Doug Hughes and starring Andre Braugher, earned Lopez more(Playwright) has seen his play The Whipping Man – since its New York premiere last year in a sold-out, extended run at Manhattan Theatre Club – become one of the most widely produced new American plays. The MTC production, directed by Doug Hughes and starring Andre Braugher, earned Lopez the John Gassner Playwriting Award from Outer Critics Circle. Before arriving in New York, The Whipping Man premiered at Luna Stage in Montclair, New Jersey, and was subsequently produced at Penumbra Theatre Company, Barrington Stage and The Old Globe. His play Somewhere premiered last year at The Old Globe under the direction of Giovanna Sardelli and will be re-mounted in January 2013 at TheatreWorks in Palo Alto. Other works includeReverberation, The Legend of Georgia McBride and The Sentinels, which premiered last year in London. Lopez was recently named the 2012/13 Aetna Playwriting Fellow at Hartford Stage in Connecticut. He is a New York Theatre Workshop Usual Suspect, a past member of the Ars Nova Play Group, and a recent artist-in-residence at The Old Globe. Lopez is also a staff writer on the HBO series The Newsroom.

    Robert Mark Morgan

    (Scenic Designer) designed Into the Breeches!, Sweat, The Diary of Anne Frank, All the Way, A Christmas Story, The Whipping Man, The Glass Menagerie, Emma, and Bill W. and Dr. Bob for Cleveland Play House. Other credits include Wizard of Oz, Fiddler on the Roof, Les Misérables, West Side more(Scenic Designer) designed Into the Breeches!, Sweat, The Diary of Anne Frank, All the Way, A Christmas Story, The Whipping Man, The Glass Menagerie, Emma, and Bill W. and Dr. Bob for Cleveland Play House. Other credits include Wizard of Oz, Fiddler on the Roof, Les Misérables, West Side Story, Billy Elliot, and Seussical The Musical (The Muny in St. Louis); exhibit designer for Avatar the Exhibition (Experience Music Project in Seattle); Fallen Angels (Asolo Repertory Theatre); Joshua's Boots (Opera Theatre of St. Louis and Amarillo Opera); The Rainmaker, A Moon for the Misbegotten (2007 Prague Design Quadrennial); The Dazzle (A.C.T. San Francisco); The Giver, The Diary of Anne Frank, Jesus Hates Me, and House of the Spirits (Denver Center for the Performing Arts); Saint Joan, Jekyll & Hyde, Ordinary Nation, Rabbit Hole, Fall of Heaven, and 4000 Miles (Repertory Theatre of St. Louis); The Subject Tonight is Love (Alliance Theatre Company); Just Stopped by to See the Man and The Whipping Man (The Old Globe); and numerous Utah Shakespeare Festival productions in the 2012/13 season. Robert is a Teaching Professor at Washington University in St. Louis and Director of the Beyond Boundaries Program in interdisciplinary education. morgansetdesign.com

    Elissa Myers Casting, Paul Fouquet, CSA

    (Casting) credits include Poisoner’s Handbook, Becoming Helen Keller, and Mystery of Matter, PBS. Other PBS projects include The Abolitionists, Dolley Madison, Alexander Hamilton, John and Abigail Adams, Benjamin Franklin (Emmy Award), Liberty (Peabody Award), God in America, People vs. Leo Frank, Louisa May Alcott, Great Performances (Artios Award in more(Casting) credits include Poisoner’s Handbook, Becoming Helen Keller, and Mystery of Matter, PBS. Other PBS projects include The Abolitionists, Dolley Madison, Alexander Hamilton, John and Abigail Adams, Benjamin Franklin (Emmy Award), Liberty (Peabody Award), God in America, People vs. Leo Frank, Louisa May Alcott, Great Performances (Artios Award in Outstanding Achievement in Casting), and Murder Of A President for American Experience. Feature films include Hank and Asha (Audience Award at Slamdance 2013) and The Union. Theatre credits include seven Broadway shows, including Tony nominated Having Our Say, as well as 26 Off-Broadway shows. Regional theatre casting in the past two years includes Denver Center, Geva Theatre, Cleveland Play House, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Magic Theatre, Arena Stage, Alley Theatre, George Street Playhouse, and Arizona Theatre Company. The office has so far received 16 nominations and has won three Artios Awards for Outstanding Achievement in Casting.

    Giovanna Sardelli

    Giovanna Sardelli

    (Director) is happy to return to CPH where she directed the critically acclaimed productions of Mr. Wolf by Rajiv Joseph and The Whipping Man by Matthew Lopez. Sardelli is an award-winning director who has worked on numerous plays by Rajiv Joseph (over 10 productions), including the recent West Coast more(Director) is happy to return to CPH where she directed the critically acclaimed productions of Mr. Wolf by Rajiv Joseph and The Whipping Man by Matthew Lopez. Sardelli is an award-winning director who has worked on numerous plays by Rajiv Joseph (over 10 productions), including the recent West Coast premiere of his play Guards at the Taj which was selected by TheatreMania as one of its Favorite Regional Productions of 2015. Sardelli has also directed world premieres of plays by Theresa Rebeck, Lynn Rosen, Joe Gilford, Jeff Augustine, Lauren Yee and Zoe Kazan among others. She has worked off-Broadway at Cherry Lane Theatre, Second Stage Theatre, Vineyard Theatre, The Playwrights Realm, Women’s Project Theater, Ensemble Studio Theatre and Roundabout Theatre Company. She has directed numerous productions for Dorset Theatre Festival, where she is the Resident Director, Barrington Stage Company, Actors Theatre of Louisville, The Old Globe, Hartford Stage, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Hudson Stage Company, San Francisco Playhouse and TheatreWorks Silicon Valley. Sardelli works extensively with new plays and has been part of The Lark Play Development Center since it was formed. She has also developed plays at the Sundance Theatre Lab, The O’Neill Theater Center, Playwrights’ Center, New York Stage & Film, Ensemble Studio Theatre and many other places. Giovanna spent several years on the faculty of the Dance Department and the Graduate Acting Program of NYU, the program from which she received her MFA. She is also a graduate of their Director’s Lab. Though she is based in NYC, Sardelli is the Director of New Works for TheatreWorks Silicon Valley.

    James C. Swonger

    (Sound Designer) has designed sound for many Cleveland Play House productions including The Good Peaches (world premiere), Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, Breath and Imagination, Good People, The Devil’s Music: The Life and Blues of Bessie Smith, Bell, Book and Candle, The Game’s Afoot (world premiere), Bill more(Sound Designer) has designed sound for many Cleveland Play House productions including The Good Peaches (world premiere), Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, Breath and Imagination, Good People, The Devil’s Music: The Life and Blues of Bessie Smith, Bell, Book and Candle, The Game’s Afoot (world premiere), Bill W. and Dr. Bob, Heaven’s My Destination (world premiere), Noises Off!, Gee’s Bend, and I Am My Own Wife. CWRU/CPH MFA Acting Program credits include The Fifth of July, The Philadelphia Story, The Three Sisters, Twelfth Night, and An Orchard. Additional credits include Cleveland’s Lyric Opera Company, Utah Festival Opera & Musical Theatre, Pioneer Theatre Company, Centerstage Theatre, George Street Playhouse, Yale Repertory Theatre, and premiere productions of why i had to dance, The Tragic Demise of the Whaleship Essex and Swinging on a Star: A Tribute to the Music of Johnny Burke.

    Japhy Weideman

    (Lighting Designer) designed lighting for Cyrano de Bergerac and will soon design The Nance on Broadway. Other New York credits include 4000 Miles, Slow Girl, All-American, Stunning, and What Once We Feltat Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts; Sons of the Prophet, Tigers Be Still, Roundabout Theatre Company; All more(Lighting Designer) designed lighting for Cyrano de Bergerac and will soon design The Nance on Broadway. Other New York credits include 4000 Miles, Slow Girl, All-American, Stunning, and What Once We Feltat Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts; Sons of the Prophet, Tigers Be Still, Roundabout Theatre Company; All New People, Warrior Class, The Talls, Second Stage; Wild With Happy, The Singing Forest, The Public/New York Shakespeare Festival; Jack Goes Boating (Drama Desk/Lucille Lortel nomination), Last Days of Judas Iscariot, Little Flower of East Orange, LAByrinth Theatre Company; and Frankenstein, Soho Rep (Drama Desk nomination). Regional Theatre includes A.C.T. San Francisco, Berkeley Rep, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Houston Grand Opera, Huntington Theatre, La Jolla Playhouse, Magic Theatre, The Old Globe, Santa Fe Opera, The Shakespeare Theatre, Signature Theatre, Westport, and Williamstown. International credits include West End, Royal Shakespeare Company, La Scala, Nederlandse Opera, Edinburgh Festival, Epidaurus Greece, and the National Theater of Korea.

    CPH Donor Generosity is Worthy of a Curtain Call!

    CPH Donor Generosity is Worthy of a Curtain Call!

    CPH Donor Generosity is Worthy of a Curtain Call! We have been honored by the outpouring of support we have received from you in reaction to this cri...

    Read the full story

    Don't miss a thing. Sign up for our newsletter.

    Get behind the scenes info, sneak peeks, show news and more.

    Submit

    Tickets

    Education

    Support Us

    Visit

    Calendar

    Donate

    • facebook
    • twitter
    • instagram
    • flickr
    • youtube
    • pinterest

    Our Theatres

    Allen Theatre

    Allen Theatre

    Helen Theatre

    Helen Theatre

    Outcalt Theatre

    Outcalt Theatre

    Box Office Phone Hours:
    Tuesday - Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

    (216) 400-7096 • boxoffice@clevelandplayhouse.com

    Outside of these hours:
    Leave a voicemail or send an email, and we will get back to you within 1-2 business days.
    Contact Playhouse Square Box Office. More info here.

    The Allen, Helen and Outcalt theatres are located at Playhouse Square
    1407 Euclid Avenue Cleveland, OH 44115

    Administrative Offices and Education Center
    1901 E. 13th Street, Suite 200 Cleveland, OH 44114 (216) 400-7000

    Production Center
    7401 Shoreway Commerce Parkway (formerly Detour Avenue), Cleveland, OH 44103

    FORM