[NEohioPAL]CPT Premieres Hip-Hop Satire This Weekend

Tue Apr 22 10:21:04 PDT 2003

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Cleveland Public Theatre

Premieres Original Hip-Hop Satire Entitled

BLISS

Friday April 25 - Sunday May 4, 2003

Cleveland Public Theatre announces Bliss, a new play developed by CPT’s
inner-city youth theatre, STEP (Student Theatre Enrichment Program).  A
radical social satire with hip-hop roots, Bliss takes place in a
near-futuristic society where Omni, the world’s largest, slickest
mega-corporation dominates media through the illusion of free choice. When
Omni decides that it needs yet another boost in its music department, four
youths are selected, manipulated and packaged to fit the image of freedom,
diversity and authenticity—just what the people want. In the youths’ climb
to stardom, they must confront the lies of the present and their individual
dreams of the past.  Bliss opens at 8:00pm on Friday, April 25, 2003 and
runs through Sunday, May 4, 2003. Performances are at 8:00pm on Fridays and
Saturdays, and 3:00pm on Sundays at Cleveland Public Theatre. Admission is
$3.00. For more information call 216.631.2727.

Cleveland Public Theatre Resident Director Raymond Bobgan returns from a
highly successful New York Off-Broadway run of Blue Sky Transmission: A
Tibetan Book of the Dead to direct this group of emerging actors.  Bobgan’s
renown for stunning visual imagery and deep ensemble work with actors brings
out highly disciplined and energetically charged performances from this
talented group of young people.

The performance is the culmination of a nearly year long process of
creation.  The play was first initiated last summer under the direction of
Jeffery Allen, CPT’s Education Director.  After a first draft performance in
August 2002, four student writers, working with playwright Chris Seibert and
dramaturg Julie Regimbal, rewrote the script to clarify its story, and
heighten its comedic effect and social commentary.   The result of these
efforts was presented as a staged reading in December 2002 following a
rigorous rehearsal process.  This spring’s production of Bliss will mark the
first time a STEP original work will be presented for a two-week run in CPT’
s Gordon Square Theatre.

STEP is a one of a kind program created by Cleveland Public Theatre,
presented through The City of Cleveland’s Youth Employment Opportunity
Program (YEOP), in partnership with the Cleveland Municipal School District.
Now in its eleventh year, CPT’s Student Theatre Enrichment Program offers
low-income, Cleveland youth the opportunity to explore the art of theatre
while experiencing the rigors of holding a job.  During the summer session,
the students are paid wages to participate in a five-week program in which
they learn skills that not only teach the beauty and elegance of theatre and
language but also increase their employability in today’s competitive work
environment. The program culminates in a fully staged play, written,
designed and performed by the students themselves. Fall and spring
programming, conducted after school, offers the students advanced acting and
writing workshops with a stipend upon completion.  Skills learned throughout
the year include carpentry, set design, voice and movement skills, acting,
small group communication and management, enhanced literacy, computer
skills, conflict resolution, and writing and editing. The City of Cleveland
has awarded CPT’s Student Theatre Education Program the Outstanding
Employment and Training Program Award of Distinction four years in a row.
Cleveland Public Theatre’s Education and Outreach Program was recently
awarded a significant grant by the National Endowment for the Arts to
support its Creative Community Partnerships.

STEP is made possible through the generous support of The City of Cleveland
Workforce Investment Act, The Youth Employment Opportunity Program (YEOP),
in partnership with the Cleveland Municipal School District, The Raymond
John WEAN Foundation, The George Gund Foundation, the Cleveland Browns
Foundation, The Ohio Arts Council, The Cleveland Foundation/BASICS program
and Community Shares. 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.

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.

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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Hip-Hop Satire Entitled<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
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align=3Dcenter><SPAN=20
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April 25 - Sunday May 4, 2003<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
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align=3Dcenter><FONT=20
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<SPAN=20
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mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Cleveland Public Theatre=20
announces <SPAN=20
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12.0pt">Bliss<SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; =
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a new play developed by CPT=92s inner-city youth theatre, STEP (Student =
Theatre=20
Enrichment Program).  A =
radical=20
social satire with hip-hop roots, <SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: =
12.0pt">Bliss<SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; =
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<SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; =
mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">takes=20
place in a near-futuristic society where Omni, the world=92s largest, =
slickest=20
mega-corporation dominates media through the illusion of free choice. =
When Omni=20
decides that it needs yet another boost in its music department, four =
youths are=20
selected, manipulated and packaged to fit the image of freedom, =
diversity and=20
authenticity=97just what the people want. In the youths=92 climb to =
stardom, they=20
must confront the lies of the present and their individual dreams of the =

past.  <SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: =
Arial">Bliss<SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> =
<SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; =
mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">opens=20
at 8:00pm on Friday, April 25, 2003 and runs through Sunday, May 4, =
2003.=20
Performances are at 8:00pm on Fridays and Saturdays, and 3:00pm on =
Sundays at=20
Cleveland Public Theatre. Admission is $3.00. For more information call=20
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">Cleveland=20
Public Theatre Resident Director Raymond Bobgan returns from a highly =
successful=20
New York Off-Broadway run 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
to direct this group of emerging actors. =20
Bobgan=92s renown for stunning visual imagery and deep ensemble =
work with=20
actors brings out highly disciplined and energetically charged =
performances from=20
this talented group of young people. <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
performance is the culmination of a nearly year long process of =
creation.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">  The play was first initiated =
last summer=20
under the direction of Jeffery Allen, CPT=92s Education Director.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">  After a first draft =
performance in=20
August 2002, four student writers, working with playwright Chris Seibert =
and=20
dramaturg Julie Regimbal, rewrote the script to clarify its story, and =
heighten=20
its comedic effect and social commentary.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">   The result of these =
efforts was=20
presented as a staged reading in December 2002 following a rigorous =
rehearsal=20
process.  This spring=92s =
production=20
of <SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: =
12.0pt">Bliss<SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; =
mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">=20
will mark the first time a STEP original work will be presented for a =
two-week=20
run in CPT=92s Gordon Square Theatre. <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"> <o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; =
mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">STEP=20
is a one of a kind program created by Cleveland Public Theatre, =
presented=20
through The City of Cleveland=92s<SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: =
12.0pt">=20
Youth Employment Opportunity Program<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">YEOP<SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; =
mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">),=20
in partnership with the Cleveland Municipal School District.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">  Now in its eleventh year, =
CPT=92s Student=20
Theatre Enrichment Program offers low-income, Cleveland youth the =
opportunity to=20
explore the art of theatre while experiencing the rigors of holding a =
job.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">  During the summer session, the =
students=20
are paid wages to participate in a five-week program in which they learn =
skills=20
that not only teach the beauty and elegance of theatre and language but =
also=20
increase their employability in today=92s competitive work environment. =
The=20
program culminates in a fully staged play, written, designed and =
performed by=20
the students themselves. Fall and spring programming, conducted after =
school,=20
offers the students advanced acting and writing workshops with a stipend =
upon=20
completion.  Skills =
learned=20
throughout the year include carpentry, set design, voice and movement =
skills,=20
acting, small group communication and management, enhanced literacy, =
computer=20
skills, conflict resolution, and writing and editing. The City of =
Cleveland has=20
awarded CPT=92s Student Theatre Education Program the Outstanding =
Employment and=20
Training Program Award of Distinction four years in a row. Cleveland =
Public=20
Theatre=92s Education and Outreach Program was recently awarded a =
significant=20
grant by the National Endowment for the Arts to support its Creative =
Community=20
Partnerships.<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-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: =
12.0pt">STEP=20
is made possible through the generous support of The City of =
Cleveland=20
Workforce Investment Act, The Youth Employment Opportunity Program =
(YEOP), in=20
partnership with the Cleveland Municipal School District, The Raymond =
John WEAN=20
Foundation, The George Gund Foundation, the Cleveland Browns Foundation, =
The=20
Ohio Arts Council, The Cleveland Foundation/BASICS program and Community =
Shares.=20
Cleveland Public Theatre is one of 14 arts organizations participating =
in=20
BASICs, a five-year program of the Cleveland Foundation. BASICs =
organizations=20
receive operating support, customized technical assistance and grants to =
help=20
build capacity to manage the necessary risk-taking of their art=20
forms.<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: 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 artists and audiences, in order to make the =
Cleveland Public=20
a more conscious and compassionate community.<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: =
12.0pt"><SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-tab-count: =
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;       =20
<SPAN=20
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12.0pt"><SPAN=20
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3">           &nbs=
p;           =20
  =20
<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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