[NEohioPAL]CPT extends Blue Sky Transmission with a special benefit performance on Oct 6, 2002

Wed Sep 25 14:42:23 PDT 2002

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CLEVELAND PUBLIC THEATRE

EXTENDS CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED WORLD PREMIERE PRODUCTION OF

BLUE SKY TRANSMISSION:

A TIBETAN BOOK OF THE DEAD

With Special Benefit Performance on October 6, 2002

9/24/02

Cleveland, OH – Executive Director James Levin and Artistic Director Randy
Rollison are proud to announce the World Premiere of Blue Sky Transmission:
A Tibetan Book of the Dead will be extended to include a special benefit
performance on Sunday, October 6, 2002. Now one of Cleveland Public Theatre’
s most successful box office and artistic successes, Blue Sky Transmission:
A Tibetan Book of the Dead has played to sold out houses and strong advanced
sales throughout its four-week run. The benefit performance tickets cost
$30.00 each and will assist in the transportation of the production to New
York City’s La MaMa Theatre in December. Tickets are still available for the
final weekend run of the production. For more box office information, please
call 216.631.2727.

The production is a world premiere, inspired and evoked by The Tibetan Book
of The Dead, a sacred text of Tibetan Buddhists. The book is traditionally
read at the time of one’s death by a spiritual teacher and serves as a guide
through the “in-between-places” or Bardo, connecting death and rebirth. Blue
Sky Transmission: A Tibetan Book of the Dead reveals the thematic structure
of the book by telling the story of Allison, a lawyer and mother, whose
overwhelming “to do” list will never be completed due to an inconvenient
interruption—her own death. After a dramatic transition, Allison finds
herself in a psychedelic world of mystical images and haunting songs both
familiar and strange. Guided by a mysterious escort who interprets the words
of the book along her journey, she is confronted by a stream of choices that
brings her face to face with the nature of her life, past and future.

Cleveland Public Theatre’s presentation of Blue Sky Transmission will not be
a literal adaptation of The Tibetan Book of the Dead; rather, a “Western”
exploration of Eastern concepts of death through the eyes, ears, and mind of
this contemporary American woman. “This is, by far, the most ambitious
production undertaken by CPT in its history,” says Executive Director James
Levin.

The participation of the project’s leading collaborators, director Raymond
Bobgan and composer Halim El-Dabh, is funded by the prestigious National
Theatre Artist Residency Program grant of $100,000. Developed by Theater
Communications Group and the Pew Charitable Trusts and fully funded by the
Trusts, this grant is an unprecedented effort to foster artistic
partnerships between theatre artists and theatre companies. Cleveland Public
Theatre is one of only fifteen leading American theatre companies selected
to receive this grant. Resident Director, Raymond Bobgan (Artistic Director
of Wishhounds, a Cleveland based experimental theatre ensemble) and
international composer Halim El-Dabh have been in residency at Cleveland
Public Theatre for the past season researching and preparing for this unique
production. El-Dabh will create the intricate original score for the
production. El-Dabh has collaborated closely with Martha Graham, John Cage
and Leonard Bernstein and composed the score “Sound and Lights of the
Pyramids of Giza” which has played daily at the site of the Great Pyramid in
Egypt since 1961.

Rehearsals for Blue Sky Transmission: A Tibetan Book of the Dead began on
June 4, 2002 with an international ensemble of sixteen artists (see
biographies). The cast includes Cleveland based actors as well as performers
from New York City, Los Angeles and Toronto. The production team consists of
New York Costume Designer Karen Young, CPT Resident Lighting Designer Trad A
Burns, and from Trinidad, Set Designer Michael Guy James whose work has been
featured in the Cleveland Museum of Art’s Parade The Circle. Contributing to
the original script are three local writers: playwright Mike Geither, and
poet Patricia Harusame Leebove and National Poetry Slam Champion, Ray
McNiece. The design and artistic team will collaborate over a four-month
development and rehearsal period.

After receiving its world premiere in Cleveland, Blue Sky Transmission: A
Tibetan Book of the Dead is scheduled to run for four weeks at New York City
’s experimental theatre, La Mama Theatre, ETC. This partnership is an
especially poignant homecoming for Executive Director James Levin who began
his theatrical career as a company member and protégé of Ellen Stewart at La
Mama in 1979. Since its founding, Cleveland Public Theatre has modeled
itself after La Mama’s dedication to social justice issues and innovative,
cutting edge live performance.

As a companion to this production, Cleveland Public Theatre will offer a
series of lectures, forums and discussions centered around the concepts of
dying, death and the afterlife. These events will examine death from many
different perspectives: spiritual, emotional, literary and artistic. These
discussions will include a Comparative Religion panel with representatives
from several major religions in the Cleveland area discussing individual
religious beliefs on death and the afterlife, and how those beliefs help
inform each religion’s tenets for living a good life; A forum featuring
several hospice care workers will examine preparation of the terminally ill
for death, and what lessons are to be learned from the dying; An open book
discussion of the Bardo Thodol, more commonly known as The Tibetan Book of
the Dead will be held at a  local independently owned bookstore; Finally, a
Japanese film that imagines an alternate view of the afterlife will be
presented by Cleveland Film Works at Cleveland Public Theatre sometime in
August. All forums, panels and discussions are free and open to the general
public. Times and dates for these events are to be announced in August. For
more information, please call 216.631.2727.

The mission of Cleveland Public Theatre is to inspire, nurture, challenge,
amaze, educate and empower

artists and audiences, in order to make the Cleveland Public a more
conscious and compassionate community.

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PUBLIC THEATRE <?xml:namespace prefix =3D o ns =3D=20
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align=3Dcenter><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: =
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CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED WORLD PREMIERE PRODUCTION =
OF<o:p></o:p></STRONG></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoSubtitle style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center" =

align=3Dcenter><I><SPAN style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT =
size=3D5><STRONG>BLUE SKY=20
TRANSMISSION:<o:p></o:p></STRONG></FONT></SPAN></I></P>
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align=3Dcenter><I><SPAN style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT =
size=3D5><STRONG>A TIBETAN=20
BOOK OF THE DEAD<o:p></o:p></STRONG></FONT></SPAN></I></P>
<P class=3DMsoSubtitle style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center" =

align=3Dcenter><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: =
12.0pt">With=20
Special Benefit Performance on October 6, =
2002<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; =
mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">9/24/02<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 11.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; =
mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"> <o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: =
12.0pt">Cleveland,=20
OH<SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; =
mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">=20
=96 Executive Director James Levin and Artistic Director Randy Rollison =
are proud=20
to announce the World Premiere of <SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: =
12.0pt">Blue=20
Sky Transmission: A Tibetan Book of the Dead<SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; =
mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">=20
will be extended to include a special benefit performance on Sunday, =
October 6,=20
2002. Now one of Cleveland Public Theatre=92s most successful box office =
and=20
artistic successes, <SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: =
12.0pt">Blue=20
Sky Transmission: A Tibetan Book of the Dead<SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; =
mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">=20
has played to sold out houses and strong advanced sales throughout its =
four-week=20
run. The benefit performance tickets cost $30.00 each and will assist in =
the=20
transportation of the production to New York City=92s La MaMa Theatre in =
December.=20
Tickets are still available for the final weekend run of the production. =
For=20
more box office information, please call =
216.631.2727.<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; =
mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"> <o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; =
mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">The=20
production is a world premiere, inspired and evoked by The =
Tibetan=20
Book of The Dead, a sacred text of Tibetan Buddhists. The book is=20
traditionally read at the time of one=92s death by a spiritual teacher =
and serves=20
as a guide through the =93in-between-places=94 or Bardo, =
connecting death and=20
rebirth. Blue Sky Transmission: A Tibetan Book of the Dead =
reveals the=20
thematic structure of the book by telling the story of Allison, a lawyer =
and=20
mother, whose overwhelming =93to do=94 list will never be completed due =
to an=20
inconvenient interruption=97her own death. After a dramatic transition, =
Allison=20
finds herself in a psychedelic world of mystical images and haunting =
songs both=20
familiar and strange. Guided by a mysterious escort who interprets the =
words of=20
the book along her journey, she is confronted by a stream of choices =
that brings=20
her face to face with the nature of her life, past and=20
future.<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; =
mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"> <o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; =
mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">Cleveland=20
Public Theatre=92s presentation of Blue Sky Transmission will not =
be a=20
literal adaptation of The Tibetan Book of the Dead; rather, a =
=93Western=94=20
exploration of Eastern concepts of death through the eyes, ears, and =
mind of=20
this contemporary American woman. =93This is, by far, the most ambitious =

production undertaken by CPT in its history,=94 says Executive Director =
James=20
Levin.<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; =
mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">The=20
participation of the project=92s leading collaborators, director =
<SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: =
12.0pt">Raymond=20
Bobgan<SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; =
mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">=20
and composer <SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: =
12.0pt">Halim=20
El-Dabh<SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; =
mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">,=20
is funded by the prestigious <SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: =
12.0pt">National=20
Theatre Artist Residency Program<SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; =
mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">=20
grant of $100,000. Developed by <SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: =
12.0pt">Theater=20
Communications Group<SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; =
mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">=20
and the <SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: =
12.0pt">Pew=20
Charitable Trusts<SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; =
mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">=20
and fully funded by the Trusts, this grant is an unprecedented effort to =
foster=20
artistic partnerships between theatre artists and theatre companies. =
Cleveland=20
Public Theatre is one of only fifteen leading American theatre companies =

selected to receive this grant. Resident Director, Raymond =
Bobgan<SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: =
12.0pt">=20
<SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; =
mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">(Artistic=20
Director of Wishhounds, a Cleveland based experimental theatre ensemble) =
and=20
international composer Halim El-Dabh<SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: =
12.0pt">=20
<SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; =
mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">have=20
been in residency at Cleveland Public Theatre for the past season =
researching=20
and preparing for this unique production. El-Dabh will create the =
intricate=20
original score for the production. El-Dabh has collaborated closely with =

<SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: =
12.0pt">Martha=20
Graham<SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; =
mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">,=20
<SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: =
12.0pt">John=20
Cage<SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; =
mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">=20
and <SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: =
12.0pt">Leonard=20
Bernstein<SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; =
mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">=20
and composed the score =93Sound and Lights of the Pyramids of Giza=94 =
which has=20
played daily at the site of the Great Pyramid in Egypt since=20
1961.<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: =
12.0pt"> <o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: =
12.0pt">Rehearsals=20
for Blue Sky Transmission: A Tibetan Book of the Dead began on =
June 4,=20
2002 with an international ensemble of sixteen artists (see =
biographies). The=20
cast includes Cleveland based actors as well as performers from New York =
City,=20
Los Angeles and Toronto. The production team consists of New York =
Costume=20
Designer Karen Young, CPT Resident Lighting Designer Trad A =
Burns,=20
and from Trinidad, Set Designer Michael Guy James whose work has =
been=20
featured in the Cleveland Museum of Art=92s Parade The Circle. =
Contributing=20
to the original script are three local writers: playwright Mike =
Geither,=20
and poet Patricia Harusame Leebove and National Poetry Slam =
Champion,=20
Ray McNiece. The design and artistic team will collaborate over a =

four-month development and rehearsal period.<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: =
12.0pt"> <o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: =
12.0pt">After=20
receiving its world premiere in Cleveland, Blue Sky Transmission: A =
Tibetan=20
Book of the Dead is scheduled to run for four weeks at New York =
City=92s=20
experimental theatre, La Mama Theatre, ETC. This partnership is =
an=20
especially poignant homecoming for Executive Director James Levin who =
began his=20
theatrical career as a company member and prot=E9g=E9 of Ellen =
Stewart at La=20
Mama in 1979. Since its founding, Cleveland Public Theatre has modeled =
itself=20
after La Mama=92s dedication to social justice issues and innovative, =
cutting edge=20
live performance.<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: =
12.0pt"> <o:p></o:p>
<FONT=20
face=3DArial>As a companion to this production, Cleveland Public Theatre =
will=20
offer a series of lectures, forums and discussions centered around the =
concepts=20
of dying, death and the afterlife. These events will examine death from =
many=20
different perspectives: spiritual, emotional, literary and artistic. =
These=20
discussions will include a Comparative Religion panel <SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">with representatives from several =
major=20
religions in the Cleveland area discussing individual religious beliefs =
on death=20
and the afterlife, and how those beliefs help inform each religion=92s =
tenets for=20
living a good life; A forum featuring several hospice care workers will =
examine=20
preparation of the terminally ill for death, and what lessons are to be =
learned=20
from the dying; An open book discussion of the <I=20
style=3D"mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Bardo Thodol, more commonly =
known as <I=20
style=3D"mso-bidi-font-style: normal">The Tibetan Book of the Dead =
will be=20
held at a  local =
independently owned=20
bookstore; Finally, a Japanese film that imagines an alternate view of =
the=20
afterlife will be presented by Cleveland Film Works at Cleveland Public =
Theatre=20
sometime in August. All forums, panels and discussions are free and open =
to the=20
general public. Times and dates for these events are to be announced in =
August.=20
For more information, please call=20
216.631.2727.<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: =
12.0pt">The=20
mission of Cleveland Public Theatre is to inspire, nurture, challenge, =
amaze,=20
educate and empower<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: =
12.0pt">artists=20
and audiences, in order to make the Cleveland Public a more conscious =
and=20
compassionate community.<o:p></o:p></DIV></BODY></HTML>

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