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November 24 - December 23, 2017 , Allen Theatre

A Christmas Story

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

Presented by

WOW

He’s back! One boy. One holiday wish. And a world that seems to be conspiring to make certain it doesn’t come true. The record-breaking show returns to the CPH stage in all its pink-bunny-suit, glowing-leg-lamp, triple-dog-daring glory. The perfect holiday treat for the entire family.

Photos & Videos Download Hi Res Photos

Jake Spencer (Ralphie) and Laura Perrotta (Miss Shields). Photo Credit: Roger Mastroianni.

From left to right: Christopher Gerson (The Old Man), Jake Spencer (Ralphie), Madeleine Maby (Mother), Jeff Talbott (Ralph), Sam Spencer (Randy). Photo Credit: Roger Mastroianni.

Jeff Talbott as Ralph. Photo Credit: Roger Mastroianni.

Christopher Gerson (The Old Man) and Madeleine Maby (Mother). Photo Credit: Roger Mastroianni.

From left to right: Christopher Gerson (The Old Man), Sam Spencer (Randy), Madeleine Maby (Mother), Jake Spencer (Ralphie). Photo Credit: Roger Mastroianni.

From left to right: Jake Spencer (Ralphie), Jeff Talbott (Ralph). Photo Credit: Roger Mastroianni.

Jake Spencer as Ralphie. Photo Credit: Roger Mastroianni.

Left: Jeff Talbott (Ralph). Front car from left to right: Madeleine Maby (Mother), Christopher Gerson (The Old Man). Back car from left to right: Jake Spencer (Ralphie), Sam Spencer (Randy). Photo Credit: Roger Mastroianni.

From left to right: Jake Spencer (Ralphie), Katie Schuler (Esther Jane). Photo Credit: Roger Mastroianni.

From left to right: Jeff Talbott (Ralph), Jake Spencer (Ralphie), Samone Cummings (Helen), Katie Schuler (Esther Jane). Photo Credit: Roger Mastroianni.

Christopher Gerson (The Old Man) and Madeleine Maby (Mother). Photo Credit: Roger Mastroianni.

From left to right: Joey Daso (Scut Farkas/Understudy: Ralphie), Jake Spencer (Ralphie). Photo Credit: Roger Mastroianni.

From left to right: Sam Spencer (Randy), Madeleine Maby (Mother), Jake Spencer (Ralphie). Photo Credit: Roger Mastroianni.

From left to right: Jeff Talbott (Ralph) and Jake Spencer (Ralphie). Photo Credit: Roger Mastroianni.

Christopher Gerson as The Old Man. Photo Credit: Roger Mastroianni.

Foreground: Jake Spencer (Ralphie). Background from left to right: Madeleine Maby (Mother), Sam Spencer (Randy) Christopher Gerson (The Old Man). Photo Credit: Roger Mastroianni.

Jeff Talbott as Ralph. Photo Credit: Roger Mastroianni.

Laura Perrotta as Miss Shields. Photo Credit: Roger Mastroianni.

From left to right: Jake Spencer (Ralphie) and Sam Spencer (Randy). Photo Credit: Roger Mastroianni.

From left to right: Nolan Tiech (Flick) and Joey Daso (Scut Farkas/Understudy: Ralphie). Photo Credit: Roger Mastroianni.

Christopher Gerson (The Old Man) and Madeleine Maby (Mother). Photo Credit: Roger Mastroianni.

From left to right: Katie Schuler (Esther Jane) and Samone Cummings (Helen). Photo Credit: Roger Mastroianni.

Front: Jake Spencer (Ralphie). Back: Jeff Talbott (Ralph). Photo Credit: Roger Mastroianni.

From left to right: Madeleine Maby (Mother) and Christopher Gerson (The Old Man). Photo Credit: Roger Mastroianni.

Foreground left to right: Tyler Thompson (Schwartz) and Nolan Tiech (Flick). Background left to right: Samone Cummings (Helen), Jake Spencer (Ralphie) and Katie Schuler (Esther Jane). Photo Credit: Roger Mastroianni.

From left to right: Jeff Talbott (Ralph) and Christopher Gerson (The Old Man). Photo Credit: Roger Mastroianni.

From left to right: Tyler Thompson (Schwartz), Katie Schuler (Esther Jane), Jeff Talbott (Ralph), Samone Cummings (Helen), Nolan Tiech (Flick). Photo Credit: Roger Mastroianni.

Laura Perrotta as Miss Shields. Photo Credit: Roger Mastroianni.

From left to right: Madeleine Maby (Mother), Sam Spencer (Randy), Christopher Gerson (The Old Man), Jake Spencer (Ralphie), Jeff Talbott (Ralph). Photo Credit: Roger Mastroianni.

From left to right: Jake Spencer (Ralphie), Tyler Thompson (Schwartz) and Nolan Tiech (Flick). Photo Credit: Roger Mastroianni.

Jeff Talbott (Ralph). Photo Credit: Roger Mastroianni

From left to right: Madeleine Maby (Mother) and Sam Spencer (Randy). Photo credit: Roger Mastroianni.

Jake Spencer as Ralphie. Photo Credit: Roger Mastroianni

Artists

Ella Brokaw

Ella Brokaw

(Understudy: Helen and Esther Jane) is excited to be a part of her first production with Cleveland Play House. A recent cast member of School House Rock (Beck Center for the Arts), Ella began acting classes at age 7. Now 10, she keeps busy when off stage more(Understudy: Helen and Esther Jane) is excited to be a part of her first production with Cleveland Play House. A recent cast member of School House Rock (Beck Center for the Arts), Ella began acting classes at age 7. Now 10, she keeps busy when off stage with soccer, basketball, choir, and spending time with her family and friends.

Samone Cummings

Samone Cummings

(Helen) is extremely proud to be making her first appearance at Cleveland Play House. Most recently seen as the shadow, king and jester in The Knight and The Shadow at Dobama Theater for Marilyn Bianchi kid’s playwriting festival. Samone began acting at the age of five with her more(Helen) is extremely proud to be making her first appearance at Cleveland Play House. Most recently seen as the shadow, king and jester in The Knight and The Shadow at Dobama Theater for Marilyn Bianchi kid’s playwriting festival. Samone began acting at the age of five with her church as an angel in Jesus is Born. Now eleven, in the seventh grade at Dike School of The Arts, Samone has been cast in a number of local productions including 2 runs as Ensemble Theater in Objectively Reasonable: A Community Response to the Shooting of Tamir Rice 11/22/14 (Playwrights Local); Ensemble in Maya the Poet (Station Hope); Annie Moffat in Little Women (Hathaway Brown Theater Institute); and a variety of school productions. Samone trained with Dike School of the Arts, Hathaway Brown Theater Institute; Tri-C Creative Arts Dance Academy; and Karamu choir. When Samone is off stage she studies voice, dance and piano. She also enjoys making clothes for her doll collection and ministering at her church.

Joseph Daso

Joseph Daso

(Scut Farkas/Understudy: Ralphie) is hyped to make his debut on the Cleveland Play House stage! He began his journey into the world of singing, acting, and dancing at the Beck Center for the Arts in Lakewood at the age of 7. His favorite previous roles include Michael Banks in more(Scut Farkas/Understudy: Ralphie) is hyped to make his debut on the Cleveland Play House stage! He began his journey into the world of singing, acting, and dancing at the Beck Center for the Arts in Lakewood at the age of 7. His favorite previous roles include Michael Banks in Mary Poppins and Billy Kopecki in Big, The Musical (Beck Center for the Arts); Jewell Estes in Floyd Collins (Blank Canvas Theatre); and Young Clyde in Bonnie and Clyde (French Creek Theatre). Joey lives in Lakewood, is 13 years old, and enjoys playing the marimba and drumset, composing music, and browsing through dank memes on Reddit.

Christopher Gerson

Christopher Gerson

(The Old Man) is thrilled to be returning to Cleveland Play House as The Old Man. Some recent credits include Fennyman in Shakespeare in Love and the title role in Richard III at the Great River Shakespeare Festival, Horatio in Hamlet at The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, The more(The Old Man) is thrilled to be returning to Cleveland Play House as The Old Man. Some recent credits include Fennyman in Shakespeare in Love and the title role in Richard III at the Great River Shakespeare Festival, Horatio in Hamlet at The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, The Price at Triad Stage, and The Little Prince at The Pearl Theatre in New York. Other NY credits include the Red Bull Theater, Lark Theatre Company, and New Georges. Regional credits include South Coast Repertory, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Actors’ Theatre of Louisville, Pioneer Theatre, Actor’s Gang, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, and A Noise Within. Television and Film credits include The Good Fight, Mr. Robot, Younger, Desperate Housewives, Days of our Lives, Chicago Hope, The Language of Kickball, Fort Greene, Echo’s Hammer, Darwin: The Series.

Madeleine Maby

Madeleine Maby

(Mother) is thrilled to be back at Cleveland Play House doing A Christmas Story! Favorite NY credits include Weekend at an English Country Estate and The Girl in the Flammable Skirt (The Ateh Theater Group); And to the Republic and The Tragedy of King Arthur (Guerrilla Shakespeare Project); and more(Mother) is thrilled to be back at Cleveland Play House doing A Christmas Story! Favorite NY credits include Weekend at an English Country Estate and The Girl in the Flammable Skirt (The Ateh Theater Group); And to the Republic and The Tragedy of King Arthur (Guerrilla Shakespeare Project); and Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (Atlantic Theater Company). Favorite regional credits include Boeing-Boeing, Witness for the Prosecution, and The 39 Steps at The Barnstormers Theatre in New Hampshire. In addition to being a theater actor, Madeleine is also an award winning audiobook narrator.

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

Arthur Schmiedl

Arthur Schmiedl

(Understudy: Flick, Schwartz, Scut Farkas) is thrilled to be making his Cleveland Play House debut with the 2017 production of A Christmas Story. Recently, Arthur portrayed the role of William in Johnny Appleseed at the Lantern Theatre, a play which was developed in the Children’s Series at Cleveland Play more(Understudy: Flick, Schwartz, Scut Farkas) is thrilled to be making his Cleveland Play House debut with the 2017 production of A Christmas Story. Recently, Arthur portrayed the role of William in Johnny Appleseed at the Lantern Theatre, a play which was developed in the Children’s Series at Cleveland Play House. Arthur is a proud sixth grader at Monticello Middle School. As a musician he has studied the bass for five years with Dr. Anne Gilbert at the Music Settlement School. He is an avid swimmer and has been a member of the Cleveland Heights Tiger Sharks swim team for three seasons, and is also a speed skater with the Cleveland Heights Skating Club. Arthur is also a fan of the musical Hamilton as well as the Harry Potter series.

Katie Schuler

Katie Schuler

(Esther Jane) is thrilled to be making her debut at the Cleveland Play House. She has just finished performing as part of the ensemble in Bonnie and Clyde at French Creek Theater. Katie also appeared at French Creek Theatre in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat this past more(Esther Jane) is thrilled to be making her debut at the Cleveland Play House. She has just finished performing as part of the ensemble in Bonnie and Clyde at French Creek Theater. Katie also appeared at French Creek Theatre in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat this past spring. Katie loves to sing and dance. She has completed 8 years of dance with experience in tap, ballet, and contemporary. Besides performing, Katie also enjoys playing volleyball, painting, and spending time with family. She is 10 years old and in fifth grade at St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception in Avon, Ohio.

Sam Spencer

Sam Spencer

(Randy) is thrilled to reprise his role as Randy at Cleveland Play House. He got to know the character as understudy in 2016, and made his Randy stage debut last season. Other credits include: Ensemble in Gypsy (Beck Center for the Arts), Ensemble in The Music Man in Concert more(Randy) is thrilled to reprise his role as Randy at Cleveland Play House. He got to know the character as understudy in 2016, and made his Randy stage debut last season. Other credits include: Ensemble in Gypsy (Beck Center for the Arts), Ensemble in The Music Man in Concert (Cain Park), and Arthur in Princess Diana the Musical (Geauga Lyric Theatre). Sam has trained with CPH Theatre Academy and Chagrin Valley Little Theatre. He is happy to be playing little-brother to his real-life big-brother, Jake. Sam is a third grader at Timmons Elementary in Bainbridge, Ohio, and likes wrestling, Legos, video games and food.

Jake Spencer

Jake Spencer

(Ralphie) is honored to be returning to Cleveland Play House and his holiday home on “Cleveland Street,” with the cast and crew of A Christmas Story. He appeared as Ralphie in the production last year, and was previously seen as Flick and Randy. Jake is a sixth grader at more(Ralphie) is honored to be returning to Cleveland Play House and his holiday home on “Cleveland Street,” with the cast and crew of A Christmas Story. He appeared as Ralphie in the production last year, and was previously seen as Flick and Randy. Jake is a sixth grader at Kenston Middle School and has been performing since age six. Theatre credits include Fleance in Macbeth (Great Lakes Theatre), Dill in To Kill a Mockingbird (Brecksville Theatre), and Michael Banks in Mary Poppins (Geauga Lyric Theatre). Film credits include The Autumn Prince, which was selected for the 2018 Cleveland International Film Festival. Jake has received training through CPH Theatre Academy and Chagrin Valley Little Theatre. He is proud to be sharing the stage with his real-life brother Sam. In his free time, Jake likes playing video games, shoe shopping and testing out hot sauces.

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

Tyler Thompson

Tyler Thompson

(Schwartz) is so elated to be a part of the cast of A Christmas Story here at Cleveland Play House. Tyler is currently a sixth grader at St Agatha St. Aloysius. He set his mind on acting on stage two years ago after seeing a play at the Beck more(Schwartz) is so elated to be a part of the cast of A Christmas Story here at Cleveland Play House. Tyler is currently a sixth grader at St Agatha St. Aloysius. He set his mind on acting on stage two years ago after seeing a play at the Beck Center for the Arts, shortly after that landing his first role as Lazarus in God Spell at Near West Theater. Tyler enjoyed being a part of the ensemble at the Cultural Centre in the production of The Music Man. Tyler’s most recent role was in the musical production of The Wiz where he had several roles: The Winged Monkey, a Munchkin and an Emerald City Citizen. In his down time he loves drawing, dancing, swimming, and making music videos. His dream is to make it to the big screen.

Nolan Tiech

Nolan Tiech

(Flick) is excited and honored to have his debut performance here at Cleveland Play House! Nolan has been on stage since he was five years old in numerous community theatre, University, and Youth Theatre productions. Some of his favorite roles include: Ralphie in A Christmas Story: The Musical more(Flick) is excited and honored to have his debut performance here at Cleveland Play House! Nolan has been on stage since he was five years old in numerous community theatre, University, and Youth Theatre productions. Some of his favorite roles include: Ralphie in A Christmas Story: The Musical and Tiny Tim in Scrooge (Fort Findlay Playhouse); Pugsley Addams in The Addams Family (The University of Findlay); Lefou in Beauty and the Beast, Charlie Buckett in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, and JoJo in Seussical, the Musical (Findlay Youtheatre). Nolan can also be seen in a commercial for Hope House through Timber and Frame Productions. He enjoys singing with The Hancock County Children’s Choir and recently performed for American Young Voices in Washington D.C. Nolan is a sixth grade student at Donnell Middle School in Findlay, Ohio. When off stage, he enjoys reading, playing video games, hanging out with friends and family, and playing the bass in the school orchestra.

Vaughn Ullom

Vaughn Ullom

(Understudy: Randy) is so excited to be working on his first production with Cleveland Play House. Vaughn has performed locally with Playmakers Youth Theatre and has participated in workshops and performances with Inlet Dance Theatre and The Lillian and Betty Ratner School drama program. When he is not involved more(Understudy: Randy) is so excited to be working on his first production with Cleveland Play House. Vaughn has performed locally with Playmakers Youth Theatre and has participated in workshops and performances with Inlet Dance Theatre and The Lillian and Betty Ratner School drama program. When he is not involved in theatre productions, Vaughn enjoys playing the violin and guitar, singing as a soloist in his church choir, and he simply loves sports – frequently watching and playing both baseball and soccer.

Michael Boll

(Lighting Designer) is a Cleveland-based Lighting Designer. His Cleveland Play House designs include Where Did We Sit on the Bus?, Pipeline, Native Gardens, An Iliad, The Invisible Hand, The Good Peaches, The Little Foxes, Venus in Fur, Every Good Boy Deserves Favor, In the Next Room or the more(Lighting Designer) is a Cleveland-based Lighting Designer. His Cleveland Play House designs include Where Did We Sit on the Bus?, Pipeline, Native Gardens, An Iliad, The Invisible Hand, The Good Peaches, The Little Foxes, Venus in Fur, Every Good Boy Deserves Favor, In the Next Room or the vibrator play, and Stew and the Negro Problem. Productions with the CWRU/CPH MFA Acting Program include Macbeth, Metamorphoses, The Winter's Tale, An Orchard, and Angels in America: Millennium Approaches. Other Cleveland lighting design work includes Cleveland Public Theatre, Karamu House, Cain Park, Cleveland Museum of Art, Dobama Theatre and Beck Center for the Arts. Off-Broadway credits include The Moliere Cycle (Classic Stage Company), Songs for a New World (George Street Playhouse), Dog Sees God (SoHo Playhouse) and The Moonlight Room (Associate Lighting Designer, Beckett Theatre). His work has also been seen at the N.Y. Fringe Festival, La MaMa E.T.C., HERE Arts Center, and Yale Cabaret.

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.

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.

Tom Humes

(Assistant Stage Manager) returns for his sixth season as a resident member of the stage management staff at Cleveland Play House. Selected area stage management credits include Memphis, Rock of Ages, Godspell, The Frogs, Smokey Joe's Café, Avenue Q, Pippin, and Oliver! (Cain Park); Le Nozze di Figaro more(Assistant Stage Manager) returns for his sixth season as a resident member of the stage management staff at Cleveland Play House. Selected area stage management credits include Memphis, Rock of Ages, Godspell, The Frogs, Smokey Joe's Café, Avenue Q, Pippin, and Oliver! (Cain Park); Le Nozze di Figaro and Cosi Fan Tutte (The Cleveland Orchestra); Tosca, La Boheme, and Lucia Di Lammermoor (Opera Cleveland); Caroline, or Change (Dobama Theatre and Karamu House); and History Boys (Beck Center for the Arts). He is a proud member of both Actors' Equity Association and the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE). He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre with a minor in Mathematics from Bowling Green State University.

Laura Kepley

Laura Kepley

(Artistic Director) (she/her) became Artistic Director of Cleveland Play House in 2013, and has directed numerous CPH mainstage productions, including The Crucible; Sweat; The Diary of Anne Frank; In the Next Room, or the vibrator play; Into the Breeches!; Every Brilliant Thing; and the world premieres of Tiny Houses, more(Artistic Director) (she/her) became Artistic Director of Cleveland Play House in 2013, and has directed numerous CPH mainstage productions, including The Crucible; Sweat; The Diary of Anne Frank; In the Next Room, or the vibrator play; Into the Breeches!; Every Brilliant Thing; and the world premieres of Tiny Houses, The Good Peaches, Fairfield, and A Carol for Cleveland. She joined CPH in 2010, having arrived from Trinity Repertory Company in Providence, Rhode Island, where she was Resident Director and Artistic Associate for four seasons and Interim Director of the Brown/Trinity Rep M.F.A. in Directing Program for one. She has also at Playhouse Square clevelandplayhouse.com 25 directed for The Alliance Theatre, Asolo Repertory Theatre, Chautauqua Theater Company, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Contemporary American Theatre Festival, Syracuse Stage, Trinity Rep, and The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, among others. A native Ohioan, Laura received her undergraduate degree from Northwestern University and her Master of Fine Arts from Brown University/Trinity Rep. She is a Drama League Fellow, a recipient of the 2009– 2011 National Endowment for the Arts/Theatre Communications Group Career Development Program for Directors, and a member of Leadership Cleveland’s Class of 2021. Locally, she has been recognized with multiple Outstanding Director commendations from The Cleveland Critics Circle, a Cuyahoga Community College Smart Business Smart Women Award, and a Crain’s Cleveland Woman of Note designation.

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

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.

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.

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.

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Crafting Clue: A Costume Shop's Process on a Paramount Classic

Crafting Clue: A Costume Shop's Process on a Paramount Classic

By Patrick Fretwell When asked what makes costume crafting Cleveland Play House’s new stage production of Clue different than any other CPH sho...

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