[NEohioPAL]CPT Welcomes Back Tony Award Winning SanFrancisco Mime Troupe for two nights only

Tue Oct 22 10:17:11 PDT 2002

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CLEVELAND PUBLIC THEATRE
WELCOMES BACK THE SAN FRANCISCO MIME TROUPE
in Mr. Smith Goes to Obscuristan
Written by Josh Kornbluth, Michael Gene Sullivan, and the Troupe
October 25 at 8:00pm and
October 26 at 2:00pm and 8:00pm

CPT is proud to welcome back the world-renowned San Francisco Mime Troupe
with Mr. Smith Goes to Obscuristan, an original political musical satire
driven by the events of September 11th and their aftermath.  Co-written by
Josh Kornbluth, author and star of “Haiku Tunnel,” and Michael Gene
Sullivan, author of last year’s Mime Troupe hit 1600 Transylvania Avenue,
the play examines how quickly democratic ideals are discarded when there is
money involved. Performances for this limited engagement are in Cleveland
Public Theatre’s Gordon Square Theatre on Friday, October 25 at 8:00pm and
Saturday, October 26, at 2:00pm and 8:00pm. The San Francisco Mime Troupe
band will perform music one half hour before each performance. Ticket prices
are $20.00 for regular tickets, $18.00 for students and seniors and $10.00
for children 10 and under. For more information and reservations, please
call 216.631.2727.

In Mr. Smith Goes to Obscuristan the President of the United States has a
problem: his well-earned reputation of using the War on Terrorism to advance
corporate interests is getting in the way of his actual foreign policy –
advancing corporate interests!  The Administration needs to convince the
world that it puts democracy before profits, and it needs an unimportant
place to use as an example.  So, when the President-For-Life of the tiny
country of Obscuristan announces first time ever elections, the US sends
9-11 fireman hero Jeff Smith as its official Election Observer.  Smith, a
true believer in America as a beacon of freedom in a dark world, vows to
help Obscuristan achieve American-style democracy.  And when a reformist
leader announces his intention to challenge for the Obscuristani presidency,
it proves to Smith the enduring strength of democracy.

That is, until oil is discovered in Obscuristan.

Will the President-For-Life keep his pledge to have elections?  Or will the
War on Terrorism be used to enforce the status quo?  Will the oilmen in
Washington cynically endorse democracy over profit for public relations?  Or
has their hero Mr. Smith become an obstacle to an even greater plan?  And
what, exactly, is “American-style” democracy?

Never a company to shy away from tackling large political questions, the San
Francisco Mime Troupe has been producing socially relevant musical theater
since 1959, a testament to the Troupe’s broad constituency and its ability
to speak their thoughts.  The Troupe’s emphasis has remained on the ensemble
not the ego, on multiculturalism, equal wages, mentoring, and theater of the
highest quality.

The San Francisco Mime Troupe won its first OBIE Award in 1968 for "uniting
theater and revolution and grooving in the parks."  Since then, two more
OBIE’s, the coveted Tony Award (for excellence in regional theater), the Bay
Area Media Alliance's Golden Gadfly Award for Lifetime Achievement, and
numerous Bay Area Theatre Critics' Circle Awards have been added to the list
of the company's many honors.

Mr. Smith Goes to Obscuristan is written by Josh Kornbluth, Michael Gene
Sullivan, and the Mime Troupe Collective, with music by Jason Sherbundy and
lyrics by award-winning longtime Mime Troupe member Bruce Barthol.  Michael
Gene Sullivan and Keiko Shimosato co-direct the Mime Troupe ensemble of
actors including Velina Brown, Michael Carreiro, Amos Glick, Ed Holmes,
Keiko Shimosato, Michael Gene Sullivan, and Victor Toman.

San Francisco Mime Troupe's Mr. Smith Goes to Obscuristan was written in
collaboration with Josh Kornbluth, theatrical monologist and filmmaker.
Josh has dreamed of running away to join the Mime Troupe since 1972 when his
father took him to see “Dragon Lady’s Revenge” in New York City during Nixon
’s “Christmas Bombing” of Vietnam.  Says Josh of that long ago performance
of the Mime Troupe, “The tortured topics of Vietnam and the drug trade were
not just brought vividly to life, but were dramatized in comedy and song,
tremendous goofiness delivered with exquisite craft.”  Josh brings his
narrative voice to a full complement of colorful characters and a Mime
Troupe style plot.

Performances of the San Francisco Mime Troupe are made possible in part by
the National Endowment for the Arts, the California Arts Council, the City
of San Francisco Grants for the Arts, and the William and Flora Hewlett
Foundation.

Cleveland Public Theatre’s Presentation of The San Francisco Mime Troupe is
made possible by event sponsors: Cleveland Fair Trade Coalition, United
Labor Agency, Cleveland Peace Action

Cleveland Public Theatre’s Presenting Series is made possible through the
generous support of The George Fund Foundation, The Ohio Arts Council and
the Cleveland Foundation/BASICS program. Cleveland Public Theatre is one of
14 arts organizations participating in BASICs; a five-year program of the
Cleveland Foundation. BASICs organizations receive operating support,
customized technical assistance and grants to help build capacity to manage
the necessary risk-taking of their art forms.

Jeff Syroney
Director of Marketing and Public Relations
Cleveland Public Theatre
216.631.2727 ext. 203
jsyroney at cptonline.org
www.cptonline.org

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<H3 style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" align=3Dcenter><SPAN=20
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PUBLIC THEATRE <?xml:namespace prefix =3D o ns =3D=20
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<H3 style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" align=3Dcenter><FONT=20
face=3DArial>WELCOMES BACK THE SAN FRANCISCO MIME TROUPE <I=20
style=3D"mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-WEIGHT: normal"><o:p></o:p></H3>
<H1 style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in" align=3Dcenter><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">in Mr.=20
Smith Goes to Obscuristan<o:p></o:p></H1>
<H2 style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" align=3Dcenter><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Written by Josh Kornbluth, =
Michael Gene=20
Sullivan, and the Troupe<o:p></o:p></H2>
<H2 style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" align=3Dcenter><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: Arial">October 25 at 8:00pm and=20
</H2>
<H2 style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" align=3Dcenter><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: Arial">October 26 at 2:00pm and=20
8:00pm</H2>
<B=20
style=3D"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"> 
<SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: =
12.0pt"><o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-tab-count: =
1">           =20
<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: =
12.0pt">CPT is=20
proud to welcome back the world-renowned San Francisco Mime Troupe with =
<I=20
style=3D"mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Mr. Smith Goes to =
Obscuristan<I=20
style=3D"mso-bidi-font-style: normal">, an original political =
musical satire=20
driven by the events of September 11th and their =
aftermath.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">  Co-written by Josh Kornbluth, =
author and=20
star of =93Haiku Tunnel,=94 and Michael Gene Sullivan, author of last =
year=92s Mime=20
Troupe hit 1600 Transylvania =
Avenue,=20
the play examines how quickly democratic ideals are discarded when there =
is=20
money involved. Performances for this limited engagement are in =
Cleveland Public=20
Theatre=92s Gordon Square Theatre on Friday, October 25 at 8:00pm and =
Saturday,=20
October 26, at 2:00pm and 8:00pm. The San Francisco Mime Troupe band =
will=20
perform music one half hour before each performance. Ticket prices are =
$20.00=20
for regular tickets, $18.00 for students and seniors and $10.00 for =
children 10=20
and under. For more information and reservations, please call =
216.631.2727.=20
<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-FAMILY: Arial">In <I=20
style=3D"mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Mr. Smith Goes to Obscuristan =
the=20
President of the United States has a problem: his well-earned reputation =
of=20
using the War on Terrorism to advance corporate interests is getting in =
the way=20
of his actual foreign policy =96 advancing corporate interests!<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">  The Administration needs to =
convince the=20
world that it puts democracy before profits, and it needs an unimportant =
place=20
to use as an example.  So, =
when the=20
President-For-Life of the tiny country of Obscuristan announces first =
time ever=20
elections, the US sends 9-11 fireman hero Jeff Smith as its official =
Election=20
Observer.  Smith, a true =
believer in=20
America as a beacon of freedom in a dark world, vows to help Obscuristan =
achieve=20
American-style democracy.  =
And when=20
a reformist leader announces his intention to challenge for the =
Obscuristani=20
presidency, it proves to Smith the enduring strength of=20
democracy.<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> <o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: Arial">That is, until oil is =
discovered in=20
Obscuristan. <o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> <o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Will the President-For-Life =
keep his=20
pledge to have elections?  =
Or will=20
the War on Terrorism be used to enforce the status quo?<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">  Will the oilmen in Washington =
cynically=20
endorse democracy over profit for public relations?<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">  Or has their hero Mr. Smith =
become an=20
obstacle to an even greater plan? =20
And what, exactly, is =93American-style=94=20
democracy?<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> <o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Never a company to shy away =
from=20
tackling large political questions, the San Francisco Mime Troupe has =
been=20
producing socially relevant musical theater since 1959, a testament to =
the=20
Troupe=92s broad constituency and its ability to speak their =
thoughts.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">  The Troupe=92s emphasis has =
remained on=20
the ensemble not the ego, on multiculturalism, equal wages, mentoring, =
and=20
theater of the highest quality.<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">The San=20
Francisco Mime Troupe won its first OBIE Award in 1968 for "uniting =
theater and=20
revolution and grooving in the parks." =20
Since then, two more OBIE=92s, the coveted Tony Award (for =
excellence in=20
regional theater), the Bay Area Media Alliance's Golden Gadfly Award for =

Lifetime Achievement, and numerous Bay Area Theatre Critics' Circle =
Awards have=20
been added to the list of the company's many =
honors.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal=20
style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><I =

style=3D"mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: =
12.0pt"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></I></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal=20
style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><I =

style=3D"mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: =
12.0pt">Mr.=20
Smith Goes to Obscuristan<SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: =
12.0pt"> is=20
written by Josh Kornbluth, Michael Gene Sullivan, and the Mime Troupe=20
Collective, with music by Jason Sherbundy and lyrics by award-winning =
longtime=20
Mime Troupe member Bruce Barthol. =20
Michael Gene Sullivan and Keiko Shimosato co-direct the Mime =
Troupe=20
ensemble of actors including Velina Brown, Michael Carreiro, Amos Glick, =
Ed=20
Holmes, Keiko Shimosato, Michael Gene Sullivan, and Victor=20
Toman.<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">San=20
Francisco Mime Troupe's Mr. =
Smith Goes to=20
Obscuristan was written in collaboration with Josh Kornbluth, =
theatrical=20
monologist and filmmaker.  =
Josh has=20
dreamed of running away to join the Mime Troupe since 1972 when his =
father took=20
him to see =93Dragon Lady=92s Revenge=94 in New York City during =
Nixon=92s =93Christmas=20
Bombing=94 of Vietnam.  =
Says Josh of=20
that long ago performance of the Mime Troupe, =93The tortured topics of =
Vietnam=20
and the drug trade were not just brought vividly to life, but were =
dramatized in=20
comedy and song, tremendous goofiness delivered with exquisite =
craft.=94<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">  Josh brings his narrative =
voice to a=20
full complement of colorful characters and a Mime Troupe style=20
plot.<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-FAMILY: Arial">Performances of the San =
Francisco Mime=20
Troupe are made possible in part by the National Endowment for the Arts, =
the=20
California Arts Council, the City of San Francisco Grants for the Arts, =
and the=20
William and Flora Hewlett Foundation.<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> <o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: =
12.0pt">Cleveland=20
Public Theatre=92s Presentation of The San Francisco Mime Troupe is made =
possible=20
by event sponsors: <SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: =
12.0pt">Cleveland=20
Fair Trade Coalition, United Labor Agency, Cleveland Peace=20
Action<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; =
mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">Cleveland=20
Public Theatre=92s Presenting Series<SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: =
12.0pt">=20
<SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; =
mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">is=20
made possible through the generous support of The George Fund =
Foundation, The=20
Ohio Arts Council and the Cleveland Foundation/BASICS program. Cleveland =
Public=20
Theatre is one of 14 arts organizations participating in BASICs; a =
five-year=20
program of the Cleveland Foundation. BASICs organizations receive =
operating=20
support, customized technical assistance and grants to help build =
capacity to=20
manage the necessary risk-taking of their art=20
forms.<o:p></o:p> 
Jeff Syroney Director of =
Marketing and=20
Public Relations Cleveland Public Theatre 216.631.2727 ext.=20
203 jsyroney at cptonline.org www.cptonline.org=20
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