[NEohioPAL] Immediate Release: The "Brides of the Bath" emerge from their tubs in CPT's THE DROWNING GIRLS (April 17-May 3)

[Cathleen O'Malley]

For Immediate Release
Contact:  Cathleen O'Malley
216.631.2727 ext. 212
comalley at cptonline.org<mailto:comalley at cptonline.org>



April 9, 2013



Cleveland Public Theatre supports emerging director

THE DROWNING GIRLS
Onstage April 17-May 03


Cleveland, OH -Cleveland Public Theatre (CPT) Executive Artistic Director, Raymond Bobgan announces the regional premiere of The Drowning Girls, written by Beth Graham, Charlie Tomlinson & Daniela Vlaskalic and directed by 2013/14 Joan Yellen Horvitz Director Fellow, Melissa Therese Crum. The production will take place in CPT's intimate Storefront Studio theatre.

About the Show
With their first look at him, their lungs filled with air; with their last look at him, their lungs filled with water.
Based on the infamous "Brides in the Bath" murders of early 20th century England, The Drowning Girls tells the true story of three women who were allegedly wooed, wed, insured and murdered by the same man. In this touching and hauntingly beautiful script, Alice, Bessie and Margaret surface from the still waters of their bathtubs to deliver their post-mortem testimony, augmented by traditional and original music sung a cappella, composed and arranged by CPT's 2014 Kulas Composer Fellow, Sam Fisher. The production features period costumes (by Inda Blatch-Geib) and antique bathtubs filled with water onstage (set design by Val Kozlenko). Lighting by Ben Gantose sets a mood that is both haunting and evocative.

About the Joan Yellen Horvitz Director Fellows Program
The Director Fellows Program is a year-long residency that provides mentoring, formal classwork and practical work. Fellows assistant direct, create new work and direct at least one show in CPT's season. Cleveland Public Theatre's 2013/2014 Director Fellows are Melissa Therese Crum and Caitlin Lewins* (*whose original devised work, Left In Ink, will premiere May 2014). "The intent of this new initiative is to address Cleveland's limited pool of directors with experience creating new theatrical work," said Raymond Bobgan, CPT's Executive Artistic Director. Each Director Fellow receives an award of $3,000 and full underwriting of all of their learning and artistic activities during the fellowship, culminating in a production in spring of 2014.


About the Director
Melissa Therese Crum is a Cleveland based performer, director, educator and creator of original work. Melissa currently works as a teaching artist for PlayhouseSquare, piloting a new educational program. She has also worked with Great Lakes Theater, where she toured throughout Northeastern Ohio performing and teaching classical drama. She was the lead teaching artist for The Musical Theatre Project's Kids Love Musicals program, teaching children to explore themselves and the world around them through musical theatre. Melissa also piloted TMTP's Intergenerational Program, working to bring people of all ages together to connect through the arts. Melissa worked as a lead teaching artist for Cleveland Public Theatre's Brick City Theatre program, creating original work with youth living in public housing. She has been a co-creator of several original works at CPT including: Inquietude, a part of Pandemonium and Seppuku in CPT's Big Box Series. CPT performing credits include: Airwaves, The Loush Sisters Do the Nutcracker, Tender Napalm, The Most Magic Show on Earth! (Director/Conceiver), Earth Plays, Seppuku, Fever/Dream and Between Life and Death. Melissa has a BA in Theatre Arts from Cleveland State University and has recently trained with Raymond Bobgan in the direction of devised work.


About Joan Yellen Horvitz

Joan Yellen Horvitz is an admired couture designer whose work was based in Cleveland. Joan Yellen Couture Designs can be viewed in the permanent collections of the Kent State Museum Costume collection; The Western Reserve Historical Society, The Chisolm Halle Costume Wing; and Ursuline College Historical Costume Study Collection. Ms. Horvitz has designed costumes and sets for dance and theatre. At CPT Ms. Horvitz's stunning work was seen in Fefu and her Friends, Between Life and Death and most recently Insomnia: the Waking of Herselves. Many local arts organizations and individual artists have benefitted from Ms. Horvitz's generosity.



Cast and Crew of The Drowning Girls

The Drowning Girls was written by Beth Graham, Charlie Tomlinson & Daniela Vlaskalic. The CPT production is directed by Melissa Therese Crum, 2013/14 Joan Yellen Horvitz Director Fellow.



The three woman cast of The Drowning Girls is Jaime Bouvier (Margaret), Natalie Green (Alice) and Sarah Kunchik (as Bessie).


Complete creative and production team includes Melissa Therese Crum (Director), Inda Blatch-Geib (Costume Designer), Ben Gantose (Lighting Designer), Val Kozlenko (Set Designer), Sam Fisher (Sound Design), Donna Pedaci (Dramaturg) and Cameron Cerny (Stage Manager).


Ticket & Show Information

The Drowning Girls previews Thursday, April 17 and runs Friday, April 18 through May 3. Performances are Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Monday at 7:00pm in CPT's Storefront Studio Theatre, 6415 Detroit Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44102.



Tickets are $12 - $18.

All Thursday and Monday shows are just $12! Student and Senior discounts ($3 off) are available for Friday and Saturday performances.



**Every Friday is FREE BEER FRIDAY at CPT. Audience members are invited to mingle with the artists after the show and enjoy a drink or two on CPT.**


Tickets are available for purchase at www.cptonline.org<http://www.cptonline.org> or by phone at (216) 631-2727 x 501.


For more information about The Drowning Girls or other upcoming CPT productions, please visit cptonline.org<http://www.cptonline.org> or contact Cathleen O'Malley, Director of Audience Engagement & Media Relations at (216) 631-2727 x 212 or comalley at cptonline.org<mailto:comalley at cptonline.org>.

Cathleen O'Malley
Director of Audience Engagement & Media Relations
Cleveland Public Theatre
(216) 631-2727 x 212

See what's playing tonight, go to www.cptonline.org<http://www.cptonline.org/>

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.neohiopal.org/pipermail/neohiopal-neohiopal.org/attachments/20140409/abc1d48f/attachment.htm>