[NEohioPAL] "Summer Nights and Fireflies" Tonight (Jan. 17) and Tomorrow (Jan. 18) @ Cleveland Public Theater!

[Donnell Hodges]

SUMMER NIGHTS AND FIREFLIES BY BIANCA SAMS PREMIERES AT 


CLEVELAND PUBLIC THEATRE BIG BOX SERIES TONIGHT!
DIRECTED BY TONY SIAS
 

 
Actress Bianca Sams, in association with Cleveland Public Theater, proudly present the world premiere of Summer Nights and Fireflies, written by Sams and directed by Tony Sias, at Cleveland Public Theater, tonight and tomorrow, Sunday, January 18, 2009 located at 6415 Detroit Ave., Cleveland, Ohio, 44102.  Summer Nights and Fireflies is part Cleveland Public Theater’s Black Box Series that promotes new performance projects by local artists.
 
Summer Nights and Fireflies takes us to a tiny sawmill town in eastern Texas, the home of Zandra Richards.  She's a beautiful twenty-something Black Texan, brash and sassy with a dash of sweet honey to boot.  But in her eyes you can see there is a story deeper then what is on the outside.  Bianca Sams’ riveting tale of Zandra’s quest for survival reveals an emotional journey into the past. 
 
Tony Sias, director (as well as producer along with Sams’) makes a cameo appearance.  Sams was seen Cleveland Public Theater’s critically acclaimed 2007 production of In the Continuum, which Sias also directed.  Summer Nights and Fireflies mark their second collaboration.  
 
Summer Nights and Fireflies includes an impeccable cast of talent from the Cleveland area including Kimberly Brown (Zandra) last seen in In the Continuum at Cleveland Public Theatre; Saidah Mitchell (Clarice) - Waiting to End Hell at Karamu; Lawrence Charles Farmer (Sean) - theatre major at Cleveland State University - ensemble member in Cain Park’s 2008 production of The Wiz; Jerome Anderson (Raymond) - Waiting to End Hell at Karamu and Major Fisher (Nelson).
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Cleveland Metropolitan School District All-City Arts Program (ACAP) is strongly represented with talent in Summer Nights and Fireflies.  ACAP talent includes Johnathon Jackson (Paul), senior at Cleveland School of the Arts (Dreamgirls); Tywon Cunningham (Tyrone), junior at John Hay School of Architecture and Design (Gullah: Africans in America) and Janai' Brown (Mona), junior at John Hay School of Architecture and Design (Secrets).
 
Director Sias returns to stage after a lengthy absence from acting, portraying Mr. Howard.  Mr. Sias, who hails from Jackson, Mississippi, is director of arts education for the Cleveland Metropolitan School District which includes serving as artistic director for the CMSD All-City Arts Program.  Sias was last seen in Duet for Duke at the Tri-C Jazz Festival in 2007.  Sias received his Bachelor of Science degree from Jackson State University and his M.F.A. from Ohio University.  
 
Playwright, Bianca Sams, is a recent graduate of New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts.  She has studied Shakespearean verse at the prestigious Royal Academy for Dramatic Arts in London.  In addition, Bianca writing professors include Richard Wesley, Beth Turner, George Malko, John Guerre and Kenneth Lonergan.  The California native is a multi-talented artist appearing in print ads, commercials and has done voice-over work.  Ms. Sams can be currently seen in the film adaptation of Rent.
 
The cast includes: Kimberly Brown (Zandra); Saidah Mitchell (Clarice); Lawrence Charles Farmer (Sean); Jerome Anderson (Raymond); Major Fisher (Nelson); Johnath on Jackson (Paul); Tywon Cunningham (Tyrone); Janai' Brown (Mona) and Tony Sias (Mr. Howard).
 
Ticket prices are $15 (general admission) and $12 (students and seniors).  Tickets may be purchased by visiting www.cptonline.org or by calling the box office at 216.631.2727 (x.212).  MasterCard, Visa and Discover are accepted.  All credit card sell are final, no refunds or exchanges.  For more information call 216.631.2727
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