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November 29 - December 22, 2013 , Allen Theatre

A Christmas Story

written by Philip Grecian
based on the motion picture written by Jean Shepherd, Leigh Brown and Bob Clark

directed by John McCluggage

One boy. One holiday wish. And a world that seems to be conspiring to make certain it doesn’t come true. In honor of the 30th anniversary of the beloved film, we bring back one of the most popular shows in Cleveland Play House history in an all-new production. The perfect holiday treat for the entire family.

Photos & Videos Download Hi Res Photos

Matthew Taylor as Ralphie. Photo credit: Roger Mastroianni.

From left: Cole Emerine as Flick, Lee Greene as Schwartz, John Cugel as Scut Farkas, Matthew Taylor as Ralphie, Maggie Lacey as Mother, and Skipper Rankin as Randy. Photo credit: Roger Mastroianni.

From left: Michael Heintzman as The Old Man, Matthew Taylor as Ralphie, Skipper Rankin as Randy, and Maggie Lacey as Mother. Photo credit: Roger Mastroianni.

From left: Michael Heintzman as The Old Man, Matthew Taylor as Ralphie, and Maggie Lacey as Mother. Photo credit: Roger Mastroianni.

From left: Michael Heintzman as The Old Man, Matthew Taylor as Ralphie, Maggie Lacey as Mother, Skipper Rankin as Randy, and Jeff Talbott as Ralph. Photo credit: Roger Mastroianni.

Michael Heintzman as The Old Man and Maggie Lacey as Mother. Photo credit: Roger Mastroianni.

From left: Lee Greene as Schwartz, Cole Emerine as Flick, Matthew Taylor as Ralphie, Cameron Danielle Nelson as Helen, and Carisa Tanner as Esther Jane. Photo credit: Roger Mastroianni.

From left: Matthew Taylor as Ralphie and Jeff Talbott as Ralph. Photo credit: Roger Mastroianni.

From left: Maggie Lacey as Mother, Matthew Taylor as Ralphie, and Michael Heintzman as The Old Man. Photo credit: Roger Mastroianni.

From left: Maggie Lacey as Mother, Matthew Taylor as Ralphie, and Michael Heintzman as The Old Man. Photo credit: Roger Mastroianni.

Maggie Lacey as Mother. Photo credit: Roger Mastroianni.

From left: Matthew Taylor as Ralphie and Skipper Rankin as Randy. Photo credit: Roger Mastroianni.

From left: Matthew Taylor as Ralphie, Lee Greene as Schwartz, Carisa Tanner as Esther Jane, Cameron Danielle Nelson as Helen, and Cole Emerine as Flick. Photo credit: Roger Mastroianni.

Matthew Taylor as Ralphie and Maggie Lacey as Mother. Photo credit: Roger Mastroianni.

From left: Michael Heintzman as The Old Man, Matthew Taylor as Ralphie and Maggie Lacey as Mother. Photo credit: Roger Mastroianni.

Jeff Talbott as Ralph and Matthew Taylor as Ralphie. Photo credit: Roger Mastroianni.

From left: Maggie Lacey as Mother, Matthew Taylor as Ralphie, Michael Heintzman as The Old Man, and Skipper Rankin as Randy in the Cleveland Play House production of A Christmas Story in the Allen Theatre at PlayhouseSquare, November 29 - December 22, 2013. Photo credit: Roger Mastroianni.

Artists

John Cugel

John Cugel

(Scut Farkas) most recently appeared as Michael in Peter Pan: A Musical Adventure with Mercury Summer Stock. This is his second performance with Cleveland Play House. He played Eddie Podolak, Jr., in CPH’s world premiere production of A Carol for Cleveland last December. Cugel has also performed in several more(Scut Farkas) most recently appeared as Michael in Peter Pan: A Musical Adventure with Mercury Summer Stock. This is his second performance with Cleveland Play House. He played Eddie Podolak, Jr., in CPH’s world premiere production of A Carol for Cleveland last December. Cugel has also performed in several Heights Youth Theatre and StageCrafters productions including Princess and the Pea, The Wiz, Pippin and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. When not performing onstage, he enjoys playing baseball, traveling and spending time with his friends and family. Cugel is a sixth grade student at Gesu School in University Heights. He also attends St. Vitus Slovenian Language School.

Cole Emerine

Cole Emerine

(Flick/Ralphie Understudy) is already a stage veteran: A Christmas Story at Cleveland Play House marks his ninth performance in three years. Emerine has worked with Opera Cleveland and Beck Center for the Arts. Recent acting credits include the Rum Tum Tugger in Cats, Charlie Bradley inThe Best Christmas Pageant more(Flick/Ralphie Understudy) is already a stage veteran: A Christmas Story at Cleveland Play House marks his ninth performance in three years. Emerine has worked with Opera Cleveland and Beck Center for the Arts. Recent acting credits include the Rum Tum Tugger in Cats, Charlie Bradley inThe Best Christmas Pageant Ever and Augustus Gloop in Willy Wonka. This past summer, he made numerous promotional character appearances as Ralphie for CPH’s celebration of the 30th anniversary of the A Christmas Story film. When not on the stage singing or acting, Emerine enjoys being a defenseman on his travel hockey team, studying the guitar, and writing his own songs and plays. He is a fifth grade student at Avon Heritage North in Avon, Ohio.

Lee Greene

Lee Greene

(Schwartz) is a 13-year-old, eighth grade student at Cuyahoga Heights Middle School and the older of two siblings. Greene caught the acting bug at the age of 6 while participating in many theatre classes and musical productions at the Beck Center for the Performing Arts, including The Lion the more(Schwartz) is a 13-year-old, eighth grade student at Cuyahoga Heights Middle School and the older of two siblings. Greene caught the acting bug at the age of 6 while participating in many theatre classes and musical productions at the Beck Center for the Performing Arts, including The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, Horton Hears a Who and Seussical the Musical. He has a love for music and plays the trumpet in the middle school band. He takes voice lessons from his father. Lee most recently played Schwartz in Cleveland Play House’s 2013 production of A Christmas Story.

Michael Heintzman

Michael Heintzman

(The Old Man) is the writer/actor/producer on JERRY The Series at www.funnyordie.com/msh. Off-Broadway credits include Neddy, American Place Theatre; A Cup of Coffee, Soho Rep; Epic Proportions and Best Half Foot Forward, Manhattan Punch Line; and Separating the Men from the Bull, co-written by Heintzman and produced at New more(The Old Man) is the writer/actor/producer on JERRY The Series at www.funnyordie.com/msh. Off-Broadway credits include Neddy, American Place Theatre; A Cup of Coffee, Soho Rep; Epic Proportions and Best Half Foot Forward, Manhattan Punch Line; and Separating the Men from the Bull, co-written by Heintzman and produced at New York’s Yale Cabaret and Minneapolis’ Jungle Theater. Regional theatres include Missouri Rep, Studio Arena, Arena Stage, Pasadena Playhouse, Syracuse Stage, Pioneer Theatre Company, New Playwrights’ Theatre, and Capital Rep. Television and film includes ED, Third Watch, Law and Order,Murphy Brown, Quantum Leap, Remember WENN, Red Dwarf,The Early Days, Paper Man, Pretty Bird, and A Dog’s Year. As a playwright, Heintzman is a four-time finalist for the Heideman Award at Actors Theatre of Louisville. Alongside Separating the Men from the Bull, his plays include The Story of God, Magic Moment and Under the Hood (the latter two were semi-finalists at the O’Neill National Playwrights Conference).

Maggie Lacey

Maggie Lacey

(Mother) is a Fox Fellow at the Cleveland Play House, where she last appeared in A Christmas Story. Broadway credits include Our Town, Inherit the Wind and Tony-nominated Dividing the Estate. Off-Broadway credits includeThe Orphans’ Home Cycle, Signature Theatre; The Milktrain Doesn’t Stop Here Anymore, Roundabout Theatre Company; and more(Mother) is a Fox Fellow at the Cleveland Play House, where she last appeared in A Christmas Story. Broadway credits include Our Town, Inherit the Wind and Tony-nominated Dividing the Estate. Off-Broadway credits includeThe Orphans’ Home Cycle, Signature Theatre; The Milktrain Doesn’t Stop Here Anymore, Roundabout Theatre Company; and Big Times, Women’s Expressive Theater, which she co-wrote. She recently appeared in The Marriage of Figaro,McCarter Theatre. Other regional credits include Hartford Stage, Long Wharf Theatre, Seattle Repertory Theatre, and Arena Stage. Film and television includes The Life Before Her Eyes, Our Town, Satisfaction, Elementary, and The Good Wife. Ms. Lacey holds an MFA from NYU and is a recipient of a Fox Fellowship Grant for Extraordinary Potential. She and CPH are participants in the Fox Foundation Resident Actor Fellowships, funded by the William and Eva Fox Foundation and administered by Theatre Communications Group.

Cameron Danielle Nelson

Cameron Danielle Nelson

(Helen) is honored to perform in A Christmas Story for Cleveland Play House this season. Past favorite credits include five seasons of A Christmas Carol (Tiny Tim, Sarah Crachit), Great Lakes Theater; Plain and Fancy(Miller Daughter) Kent State University; The Sound of Music, (Briggita), Damn Yankees (ensemble) and Annie more(Helen) is honored to perform in A Christmas Story for Cleveland Play House this season. Past favorite credits include five seasons of A Christmas Carol (Tiny Tim, Sarah Crachit), Great Lakes Theater; Plain and Fancy(Miller Daughter) Kent State University; The Sound of Music, (Briggita), Damn Yankees (ensemble) and Annie Get Your Gun(Little Jake), Porthouse Theatre; Annie (Annie), Caryl Crane Youth Theatre; The Nerd (Thor), Weathervane Community Playhouse; and Fiddler of the Roof (Bielke) Beck Center for the Arts. Nelson has also appeared in several short films: Lucky Duck, Flight to India and Voyage to Russia, Bully on Elm Street, and Death and Taxes. When offstage, she studies ballet, tap, jazz and lyrical dance, and she takes piano and clarinet lessons. She is also very active in school, participating in choir, chess club, drama club, k-kids, newspaper club, and CYO volleyball, and she is an alter server at church.

Laura Perrotta

Laura Perrotta

(Miss Shields) is a native New Yorker who has called Cleveland home for the last 21 years. She has appeared on television, Off-Broadway, toured nationally, and worked regionally. She’s appeared at Cleveland Play House as Mrs. van Daan in The Diary of Anne Frank, and as Miss Shields in more(Miss Shields) is a native New Yorker who has called Cleveland home for the last 21 years. She has appeared on television, Off-Broadway, toured nationally, and worked regionally. She’s appeared at Cleveland Play House as Mrs. van Daan in The Diary of Anne Frank, and as Miss Shields in A Christmas Story. Last Fall she was Emma Arkadina in Stupid F---ing Bird at Dobama Theater, and in the Spring had the great pleasure to open in KINDERTRANSPORT as Evelyn at Ensemble Theater before the world shut down. She looks forward to returning to the theater soon both onstage and off. laura-perrotta.com

Skipper Rankin

Skipper Rankin

(Randy) landed the role of Randy in last year’s Cleveland Play House production of A Christmas Story after his debut performance as the understudy in A Carol for Cleveland. Highlights of his favorite performances include playing the title role inOliver! and Ragtime, Near West Theatre; Peter Pan, Beachwood more(Randy) landed the role of Randy in last year’s Cleveland Play House production of A Christmas Story after his debut performance as the understudy in A Carol for Cleveland. Highlights of his favorite performances include playing the title role inOliver! and Ragtime, Near West Theatre; Peter Pan, Beachwood Community Theater; andThe Wizard of Oz, The Beck Center for the Arts. Rarely will you encounter Skipper when he is not tap dancing, quoting lines or singing songs from his favorite Broadway shows, such as Kinky Boots, Les Misérables and Hairspray. When he isn’t tapping and singing, he is a middle school student and runs cross country at Lake Ridge Academy.

Jack Ryan

Jack Ryan

(Understudy) is still new to the stage, making his debut this year as Chip the Teacup in Lakewood High School’s production of the musical Beauty and the Beast. Ryan also enjoys performing with the Lincoln Singers, and he is learning to play the cello. He is a student in more(Understudy) is still new to the stage, making his debut this year as Chip the Teacup in Lakewood High School’s production of the musical Beauty and the Beast. Ryan also enjoys performing with the Lincoln Singers, and he is learning to play the cello. He is a student in the fifth grade at Lincoln Elementary School. When not acting or singing, he enjoys playing soccer, baseball, video games and watching Godzilla movies.

Jeff Talbott

Jeff Talbott

(Ralph) is full of Christmas cheer and happy to be back sharing it with his family at CPH after opening the season in Into the Breeches! He has been on Broadway (Sly Fox, Fortune’s Fool); Off-Broadway (Abundance, Such Good Friends, Home of the Brave); and has extensive regional credits, more(Ralph) is full of Christmas cheer and happy to be back sharing it with his family at CPH after opening the season in Into the Breeches! He has been on Broadway (Sly Fox, Fortune’s Fool); Off-Broadway (Abundance, Such Good Friends, Home of the Brave); and has extensive regional credits, including his most recent: the regional premiere of Oslo. Other regional credits: The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, The Odd Couple, Race, circle mirror transformation, Frost/Nixon, and Doubt at theatres including Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Pioneer Theatre Company, Paper Mill Playhouse, Goodspeed Opera House, Actors’ Theatre of Louisville, and Yale Repertory Theatre, among many others. He has been on film (Julie & Julia) and TV (The Blacklist, Orange is the New Black, Unforgettable, Boardwalk Empire, The Sopranos, all the Law & Orders, One Life to Live, and As the World Turns). As a writer, his plays include The Submission (Laurents/Hatcher Award, Outer Critics Circle’s John Gassner Award; off-Broadway at MCC Theater); The Gravedigger’s Lullaby (Off-Broadway at TACT); i (Pioneer Theatre Company) and Civics and Humanities for Non-Majors (commissioned and produced by Montclair State University). He writes musicals with composer Will Van Dyke. They have written Imagine Harry, Wintersong, Seven Broken Hearts, and The Circle and the Wheel. They have also released an EP of their songs called A View of the River (available on iTunes). Jeff is a graduate of the Yale School of Drama. jefftalbott.com

Carisa Tanner

Carisa Tanner

(Esther Jane) spent the last five years performing with Twinsburg Community Theatre in productions ofAnnie (stage orphan); The Wizard of Oz (Lula-bye League); andPeter Pan, the Musical (Children of the World ensemble). She recently competed in The Event, an international talent competition held in Orlando, Florida. She also had more(Esther Jane) spent the last five years performing with Twinsburg Community Theatre in productions ofAnnie (stage orphan); The Wizard of Oz (Lula-bye League); andPeter Pan, the Musical (Children of the World ensemble). She recently competed in The Event, an international talent competition held in Orlando, Florida. She also had an impromptu appearance in The Wizard of Oz at The Ed Mirvish Theatre in Toronto, Canada. Currently she is a student in Mrs. Henretty’s fifth grade class at Dodge Intermediate School. When not performing onstage, Tanner enjoys spending time with family and friends, singing, swimming, Rainbow looming, water parks, and jumping on hotel room beds

Matthew Taylor

Matthew Taylor

(Ralphie) is in the sixth grade at Jackson Memorial Middle School in Massillon. After attending the Academy of Cinema and Television’s Satellite Program in Cleveland in 2008–09, he landed his first theatre role of Randy in A Christmas Story here at Cleveland Play House in 2009. He also performed more(Ralphie) is in the sixth grade at Jackson Memorial Middle School in Massillon. After attending the Academy of Cinema and Television’s Satellite Program in Cleveland in 2008–09, he landed his first theatre role of Randy in A Christmas Story here at Cleveland Play House in 2009. He also performed in Children of Eden and Honk Jr. at Fairmont Performing Arts Conservatory (FPAC) in 2010. Canton Players Guild credits include Turkey Boy in A Christmas Carol (2011), and he was in their original production Wishes ... Just a DreamAway (2012). Taylor’s Great Lakes Theater roles include Tiny Tim (2010) and Turkey Boy (2012) in A Christmas Carol. He played Dill in To Kill a Mockingbird (2012) and Shmuel in The Boy in the Striped Pajamas (2013) with Magical Theatre Company. He is currently in their traveling production ofBunnicula, portraying Toby. Outside of theatre, he loves everything about computers and spending time with friends.

Philip Grecian

(Adapter) began his career as a ventriloquist and magician at the age of four. He started working at Colorado’s Creede Repertory Theatre at age 18 where his plays continue to be produced and where he has returned as a guest performer. After touring the Midwest in Androcles and the more(Adapter) began his career as a ventriloquist and magician at the age of four. He started working at Colorado’s Creede Repertory Theatre at age 18 where his plays continue to be produced and where he has returned as a guest performer. After touring the Midwest in Androcles and the Lion, Philip became artistic/managing director and resident playwright of the community theatre he founded. He resigned in 1976 to create a professional theatre where he served as producer and artistic director. Philip has also worked as a writer/director in film, video and audio production. His adaptation of A Christmas Carol has become an annual tradition around the U.S., and his radio dramatization of Dracula! is now a staged radio production. Other plays include the widely popular The Velveteen Rabbit, The Dragon of Nitt, and Lion and the Lyre.

John McCluggage

John McCluggage

(Director) is delighted to return to Cleveland Play House and A Christmas Story. He has directed, taught, and performed throughout the country over the past 30 years. Credits include Enchanted April, Cyrano, A Flea in Her Ear, Phantom, Fiddler on the Roof, Old Wicked Songs, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, more(Director) is delighted to return to Cleveland Play House and A Christmas Story. He has directed, taught, and performed throughout the country over the past 30 years. Credits include Enchanted April, Cyrano, A Flea in Her Ear, Phantom, Fiddler on the Roof, Old Wicked Songs, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, As You Like It, and The Pajama Game. Theatres include San Jose Repertory Theatre (associate artistic director), The Barnstormers Theatre, Studio Arena Theatre, Webster University Conservatory of Theatre Arts, Cabrillo Stage, Children’s Musical Theatre of San Jose, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, the Clurman, and Beckett Theatres in New York and Seacoast Repertory Theatre (artistic director). Like Buck Hill Productions on Facebook!

David Kay Mickelsen

(Costume Designer) returns for his 23rd production at Cleveland Play House, having recently designed costumes for The Diary of Anne Frank; All the Way; A Christmas Story; Bell, Book and Candle; and In the Next Room, or the vibrator play. He has designed more than 400 productions at regional more(Costume Designer) returns for his 23rd production at Cleveland Play House, having recently designed costumes for The Diary of Anne Frank; All the Way; A Christmas Story; Bell, Book and Candle; and In the Next Room, or the vibrator play. He has designed more than 400 productions at regional theatres across the country including Guthrie Theater, Denver Center for the Performing Arts, Arizona Theatre Company, Geffen Playhouse, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Ford’s Theatre, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Williamstown Theatre Festival, The Children’s Theatre Company of Minneapolis; Seattle, Tennessee, Missouri, San Diego, and New Mexico Repertory Theatres, Sundance Theatre Festival; Oregon, Utah, Colorado, and Illinois Shakespeare Festivals. Originally from Canby, Oregon; David now makes his home in Long Beach, California. David is the Vice Chairman of The Western Region of United Scenic Artists 829.

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

Jean Shepherd

(Author/Screenwriter) was a radio, television and film personality, writer and actor. For almost three decades, he told stories — culled from his youth in Indiana, his adventures in the Army Signal Corps, and tales of the obscure and infamous — to eager radio audiences. He was on the air more(Author/Screenwriter) was a radio, television and film personality, writer and actor. For almost three decades, he told stories — culled from his youth in Indiana, his adventures in the Army Signal Corps, and tales of the obscure and infamous — to eager radio audiences. He was on the air in Cincinnati from 1950 to 1954 and on WOR in New York from 1956 to 1977. Acting credits include The Goodman Theatre, on Broadway in Leonard Sillman's New Faces and Voice of the Turtle, and the film The Light Fantastic. He also did baseball sportscasts for the Toledo Mudhens and Armed Forces Radio. He created humorous narratives for PBS television collectively called Jean Shepherd's America, which later continued on PBS’ New Jersey Network as Shepherd's Pie. PBS/WGBH's American Playhouse teleplay credits include The Phantom of the Open Hearth, The Great American Fourth of July and Other Disasters, Ollie Hopnoodle's Haven of Bliss, and The Star-Crossed Romance of Josephine Cosnowski. He is best known for co-writing and narrating the film A Christmas Story (1983). He also wrote a number of novels including The America of George Ade, In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash; Wanda Hickey's Night of Golden Memories and Other Disasters, The Ferrari in the Bedroom, and A Fistful of Fig Newtons. Jean Shepherd died on October 16, 1999.

CPH Festival of Trees is a Fundraising Success

CPH Festival of Trees is a Fundraising Success

By Jenifer Warren Cleveland Play House’s Festival of Trees continues to bring holiday cheer to thousands while providing important support for ...

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

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1901 E. 13th Street, Suite 200 Cleveland, OH 44114 (216) 400-7000

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