[NEohioPAL]Final Weekend For CPT's BLISS - Read The Review

Thu May 1 10:15:21 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.

Suits Steer The Teen Trends In Cleveland Public Theatre's BLISS

By Scene Reviewer

Christine Howey

Giant corporations have always had a raging lust for the youth market.
Mega-businesses like 'em tender and innocent, so they can instill brand
loyalties that will generate profits for decades. And there's no better
doorway into the minds of kids than through their music. The corporations'
music, that is, since so much of what passes for genuine youth-oriented
musical artistry is either manipulated beforehand or co-opted after the
fact.

This is the insightful premise behind Bliss, an original hip-hop satire
written and performed by participants in the Student Theatre Enrichment
Program (STEP). The program, implemented by Cleveland Public Theatre, is a
yearlong academic enrichment and job-training effort for at-risk youth ages
14 to 20. After a year of writing, revising, and rehearsing, they've finally
hit the CPT stage with a production that is hip, energetic, and
laugh-out-loud funny in places. Sure, it isn't polished, but there's some
real talent on display, and that's gotta be worth the ridiculously
reasonable three-buck admission price.

After a slow and somewhat awkward opening, Bliss takes us inside the offices
of Omni, the all-powerful corporation of the future (meaning about two
minutes from now), where the cynical Daryl and conflicted Veronica (Danielle
Edelman) are plotting to create the next hot rap group. Daryl (played with
infectious sleaziness by Chris Rock look-alike Quinton Perry) reminds his
cohort that the band needn't be real, it "just has to look authentic." So
they find four unlikely teenagers and turn them into the corporation's idea
of what the pubescent public wants: a law-abiding suburban kid (Courtney
Hill) is morphed into the career criminal Ex-Con, a devout Chicago girl
(RaQuel Robinson) becomes sexy Miss Bling, and a sex-fixated homey (Troy
Congress) turns into the weepy, soulful Baby Boy. Also, in a blast of
satiric inspiration Terry Southern would have loved, a white southern gal
(Amanda Clark) is transformed into a dashiki-clad, militant Caucasian Nubian
Vegetarian with a dieting jones. Other cast members who ably take on
multiple roles include Owen A. Marroquin, Theresa M. Mills, and Mequel
Moultrie.

Each member of the new band, dubbed "Diversity," is taught how to dress and
behave onstage by the flaming talent coach Bobby Bobby (comical Jerome
Fuller in full, flouncing-fairy mode). Each singer is also assigned an Omni
product to push and is hooked on a short leash, until the corporation earns
back the money it has invested. Of course, their first song goes double
platinum, and all seems cool, until the kids start to realize how they've
been duped. Co-directors Raymond Bobgan and Chris Seibert keep the pace
rolling (often literally, on casters) and the jokes sharp.

While some of the young performers occasionally allow enthusiasm to
overwhelm enunciation, the company as a whole is to be saluted for creating
a viable and entertaining theatrical work. And hats off to Cleveland Public
Theatre and producer Jeffery Allen for supporting both the STEP program and
this rewarding production.

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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Public Theatre<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"=20
align=3Dcenter><B><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 16pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: =
12.0pt">Premieres </SPAN></B><B><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 16pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: =
12.0pt">Original=20
Hip-Hop Satire Entitled<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
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align=3Dcenter><I><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 18pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: =
12.0pt"><STRONG><FONT=20
size=3D7>BLISS</FONT></STRONG></SPAN></I></P>
<P class=3DMsoSubtitle style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center" =

align=3Dcenter><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 18pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: =
12.0pt">Friday=20
April 25 - Sunday May 4, 2003<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoSubtitle style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center" =

align=3Dcenter><FONT=20
size=3D5> 
<SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; =
mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Cleveland Public Theatre=20
announces <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
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; =
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">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"><SPAN=20
class=3D590065814-01052003>Suits Steer The =
Teen Trends=20
In Cleveland Public Theatre's BLISS
<SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; =
mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><SPAN=20
class=3D590065814-01052003><FONT=20
size=3D4>By Scene Reviewer
<SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; =
mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><SPAN=20
class=3D590065814-01052003><FONT=20
size=3D4>Christine Howey
<SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; =
mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><SPAN=20
class=3D590065814-01052003> <o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: =
12.0pt"><o:p><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: =
12.0pt">Giant=20
corporations have always had a raging lust for the youth market.=20
Mega-businesses like 'em tender and innocent, so they can instill brand=20
loyalties that will generate profits for decades. And there's no better =
doorway=20
into the minds of kids than through their music. The corporations' =
music, that=20
is, since so much of what passes for genuine youth-oriented musical =
artistry is=20
either manipulated beforehand or co-opted after the fact. =
<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: =
12.0pt">This is=20
the insightful premise behind Bliss, an original hip-hop =
satire=20
written and performed by participants in the Student Theatre Enrichment =
Program=20
(STEP). The program, implemented by Cleveland Public Theatre, is a =
yearlong=20
academic enrichment and job-training effort for at-risk youth ages 14 to =
20.=20
After a year of writing, revising, and rehearsing, they've finally hit =
the CPT=20
stage with a production that is hip, energetic, and laugh-out-loud funny =
in=20
places. Sure, it isn't polished, but there's some real talent on =
display, and=20
that's gotta be worth the ridiculously reasonable three-buck admission =
price.=20
<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: =
12.0pt">After a=20
slow and somewhat awkward opening, Bliss takes us inside the =
offices of=20
Omni, the all-powerful corporation of the future (meaning about two =
minutes from=20
now), where the cynical Daryl and conflicted Veronica (Danielle Edelman) =
are=20
plotting to create the next hot rap group. Daryl (played with infectious =

sleaziness by Chris Rock look-alike Quinton Perry) reminds his cohort =
that the=20
band needn't be real, it "just has to look authentic." So they find four =

unlikely teenagers and turn them into the corporation's idea of what the =

pubescent public wants: a law-abiding suburban kid (Courtney Hill) is =
morphed=20
into the career criminal Ex-Con, a devout Chicago girl (RaQuel Robinson) =
becomes=20
sexy Miss Bling, and a sex-fixated homey (Troy Congress) turns into the =
weepy,=20
soulful Baby Boy. Also, in a blast of satiric inspiration Terry Southern =
would=20
have loved, a white southern gal (Amanda Clark) is transformed into a=20
dashiki-clad, militant Caucasian Nubian Vegetarian with a dieting jones. =
Other=20
cast members who ably take on multiple roles include Owen A. Marroquin, =
Theresa=20
M. Mills, and Mequel Moultrie. <o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: =
12.0pt">Each=20
member of the new band, dubbed "Diversity," is taught how to dress and =
behave=20
onstage by the flaming talent coach Bobby Bobby (comical Jerome Fuller =
in full,=20
flouncing-fairy mode). Each singer is also assigned an Omni product to =
push and=20
is hooked on a short leash, until the corporation earns back the money =
it has=20
invested. Of course, their first song goes double platinum, and all =
seems cool,=20
until the kids start to realize how they've been duped. Co-directors =
Raymond=20
Bobgan and Chris Seibert keep the pace rolling (often literally, on =
casters) and=20
the jokes sharp. <o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: =
12.0pt">While=20
some of the young performers occasionally allow enthusiasm to overwhelm=20
enunciation, the company as a whole is to be saluted for creating a =
viable and=20
entertaining theatrical work. And hats off to Cleveland Public Theatre =
and=20
producer Jeffery Allen for supporting both the STEP program and this =
rewarding=20
production.<o:p></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: =
3">           &nbs=
p;           &nbsp=
;        <SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: =
12.0pt"><SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-tab-count: =
3">           &nbs=
p;           &nbsp=
;<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-tab-count: 1">   
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
</BODY></HTML>

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