[NEohioPAL] Don't miss Two Plays by Gao Xingjian at CPT! Must-see theatre!

[Mindy Herman]

Cleveland Public Theatre is proud to present:

 

Between Life and Death and The Other Shore

Two Plays by Gao Xingjian

 

Directed by Raymond Bobgan and Holly Holsinger

Onstage now through June 14

Gordon Square Theatre

The critics are raving about Two Plays by Gao Xingjian:

"One of the most thoroughly invigorating and rewarding evenings of
locally produced theater in many months. A mesmerizing verbal and visual
tapestry...a must-see...." - Tony Brown, Plain Dealer 

"The combined artistry of Bobgan and Holsinger results in peerless solo
and ensemble performances, like watching a series of paintings in the
third dimension." - Fran Heller, Cleveland Jewish News

"When it comes to exercising the brain, many plays are woefully
equipped. But there is a challenging and exhilarating exception that
that rule now at CPT. Two Plays is a polished and provocative production
that will stretch your mind." - Christine Howey, Cleveland Scene 

On Between Life and Death: 

"Anne McEvoy is haunting and unforgettable, while Joan Horvitz' design
and Neil Sapienza's video projections are so stunning the audience
gasped out loud. The piece, directed by Holly Holsinger, was as good as
any cutting edge work I've ever seen at BAM or Lincoln Center." - Linda
Eisenstein, Cool Cleveland 

"Anne McEvoy completely bares her soul, and that of her character, by
subjugating herself totally to her art in a consummate and selfless
performance." - Tony Brown, The Plain Dealer 

"Anne McEvoy plumbs the psychological depths of her character's longing
and loneliness, her sexuality and tormented past. It is a performance
rife with integrity and emotion." - Fran Heller, Cleveland Jewish News

"A visually riveting production...the overall effect is compelling and
oddly shattering, both in the moment and in retrospect." - Christine
Howey, Cleveland Scene 

On The Other Shore: 

"Director Raymond Bobgan orchestrates dance and movement as well as
light and darkness, to fashion a theatrical event that is as fascinating
as it is confounding." - Christine Howey, Cleveland Scene 

"The 10-member ensemble flows like concurrent waves under Bobgan's
disciplined direction. Their synchronized martial arts, melodic
chanting, and lyrical dialogue satisfy both eye and ear." - Fran Heller,
Cleveland Jewish News

"Raymond Bobgan's ensemble rendering of Gao's earlier play makes it
clear why the work is banned in China: it's an imagistic deconstruction
of the perils of herd mentality." - Linda Eisenstein, Cool Cleveland



Tickets on sale now!  

Visit www.cptonline.org <http://www.cptonline.org/>  to purchase online
or call 216.631.2727!

 

CPT presents the Ohio Premieres of two plays by Chinese playwright Gao
Xingjian, winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2000, now living
in exile in France. Don't miss your chance to see these inventive,
adventurous and highly original works.

 

This is the kind of theatre you will only see at CPT!

The Other Shore, titled as a reference to the Buddhist concept of
enlightenment, is a non-narrative journey of collective and individual
longing directed by CPT Executive Artistic Director Raymond Bobgan. The
play is grand in its vision and provides for imaginative staging and
unconventional acting choices. Actors take on multiple roles and the
line between audience and actors at times is slightly blurred. Between
Life and Death, directed by Holly Holsinger, is a haunting story of one
woman's recollections at the end of her life. Told through monologue,
dance, and images the play utilizes a fragmented approach to character,
with two performers playing the primary role-dancer and actor, and
delves into modern themes of identity, alienation and the desire for
redemption.

Two Plays by Gao Xingjian

Onstage May 23 - June 14

Gordon Square Theatre

The Other Shore features Misael Alvarado, Michael Andrews-Hinders, Kelly
Elliot, Faye Hargate, Nick Koesters*, Val Kozlenko, Anne McEvoy, Adam
Seeholzer, Kalindi Stockton, Darius Stubbs and Nadia Tarnawsky.
(*-Member, Actor's Equity Association)

 

Between Life and Death features Mark Cipra, Melissa Crum and Anne McEvoy

 

Written by Gao Xingjian

Directed by Raymond Bobgan and Holly Holsinger

Lighting Design: Josh Heidinger

Costume Design for The Other Shore: Inda Blatch-Geib

Costume Design and Design Coordinator for Between Life and Death: Joan
Horvitz

Production Stage Manager: Lauren Calevich

Videographer for Between Life and Death: Neil Sapienza

Technical Director/Production Manager: Curtis L. Young

Assistant Director: John Paul Soto 

Showtimes:  Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00pm, Sundays at
3:00pm

Tickets:  General Admission $18 | Seniors $15 | Thursdays $10

 

Tickets on sale now!  

Visit www.cptonline.org <http://www.cptonline.org/>  to purchase online
or call 216.631.2727!

 

About Gao Xingjian:

Born in Ganzhou, China (1940), Gao Xingjian was educated in Chinese
schools before the revolution and was once forced to burn a suitcase
full of manuscripts when he was sent to a re-education camp. He started
writing again after his release, but his plays and stories still aroused
concern from party officials. In 1986, his play The Other Shore was
banned. He fled the country and settled in Paris, where he still lives
today. In addition to his plays, Gao Xingjian has authored the books
Soul Mountain (1999) and One Man's Bible (2002), and he also exhibits
his ink paintings around the world. 

When Gao Xingjian won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2000, he became
the only Chinese writer to achieve such international acclaim. The
Chinese University Press is the first publisher of his work in the
English language. Indeed, The Other Shore is one of the few works by the
author available in English today. The Other Shore: Plays by Gao
Xingjian contains five of Gao's most recent works: The Other Shore
(1986), Between Life and Death (1991), Dialogue and Rebuttal (1992),
Nocturnal Wanderer (1993), and Weekend Quartet (1995). With original
imagery and in beautiful language, these plays illuminate the realities
of life, death, sex, loneliness, and exile. The plays also show the
dramatist's idea of the tripartite actor, a process by which the actor
neutralizes himself and achieves a disinterested observation of his self
in performance. An introduction by the translator describes the
dramatist and his view on drama.


Two Plays by Gao Xingjian is presented in part by the National Endowment
for the Arts and The Walter and Jean Kalberer Foundation. Cleveland
Public Theatre is grateful for season support from Forest City
Enterprises, Charter One Bank, The Cleveland Foundation, Cleveland
Magazine, The George Gund Foundation, Jakprints, Deborah and Ron Ratner,
DH Ellison Architects and The Ohio Arts Council. Cleveland Public
Theatre gratefully acknowledges the citizens of Cuyahoga County for
their support through Cuyahoga Arts and Culture.

____

 

Mindy Herman

Communications Director

Cleveland Public Theatre

6415 Detroit Ave.

Cleveland, OH  44102

[p] 216.631.2727 x 203

[f]  216.631.2575

mherman at cptonline.org

www.cptonline.org

www.myspace.com/cptonline

 

 

 

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