[NEohioPAL] Cleveland Play House Presents Tartuffe- 80s Style!

[Geoff Short]

One Pious Fraud. One Gullible Fool…

What Could Go Wrong?


CLEVELAND PLAY HOUSE GIVES MOLIÈRE’S SHARPEST SATIRE

AN ‘80s SITCOM TWIST


TARTUFFE

by Molière

 Translated by Ranjit Bolt

 Directed by Jason O’Connell


April 5 – 26, 2026

 Outcalt Theatre


(CLEVELAND, OH) – Cleveland Play House (CPH) brings a riotous burst of neon nostalgia to the Outcalt Theatre with Tartuffe, Molière’s classic con-man comedy of hypocrisy and deception—reimagined with a full‑tilt 1980s sitcom twist! Directed by Jason O’Connell and featuring a fresh, fast‑moving translation by Ranjit Bolt, Tartuffe runs April 5 through April 26, 2026.


ABOUT THE PLAY

Get ready for a laugh-out-loud night of theatre! When the head of the household falls hook, line, and halo for a smooth-talking con artist, the rest of the family can only watch in disbelief as their home (and their fortune!) teeters on the brink. Cue the chaos: outrageous schemes, rapid-fire jokes, and a house full of larger-than-life characters scrambling to expose the fraud before it’s too late. It’s a madcap comedy of blind faith, family disfunction, and perfectly-timed punchlines that will have you laughing all the way home.


Director Jason O’Connell draws inspiration from iconic ‘80s-era sitcoms and sensational headlines to heighten the play’s satire. “Tartuffe has always been about a community dazzled by a fraud,” says O’Connell. “Setting it amid the bright colors, bold laughs, and outsized personalities of 1980s television lets the comedy sparkle while keeping the story’s sting intact.” Cleveland Play House Managing Director Rachel Fink says “One of the great gifts of comedy is that it gives us permission to laugh at things that might otherwise feel uncomfortable to name. For centuries, satire has helped societies look at themselves more clearly, and Tartuffe by Molière remains one of the sharpest examples of that tradition.”


Tartuffe features Tom Ford* (Tartuffe), Chris Thorn* (Orgon), Kristine Zbornik* (Madame Pernelle), Brendan Lowry* (Valere), Calder Meis* (Cleante), Brianna Miller* (Elmire), Adam Ortega* (Damis), Christina McSheffrey* (Mariane), Madalyn Baker* (Madam Loyal), Meredith Nelson* (Dorine), Byron Johnson* (Officer), Alexandre De Foy (Ensemble), and Jade Moujaes (Ensemble).


The creative team features Director Jason O’Connell,  Scenic Designer Raul Abrego, Costume Designer An‑lin Dauber,  Lighting Designer Dawn Chiang,  Sound Designer Jacqueline Herter, Wig Designer Rueben D. Echoles, Fight Choreographer Dusten A. Welch,  Movement Coach Kenya Woods, Intimacy Coordinator Nina Domingue, Vocal Coach Hayley Jannielli,  Production Dramaturg Jeffrey Ullom,  Casting Calleri Jensen Davis, Stage Manager Byron F. Abens*, and  Assistant Stage Manager Camille Henderson.


PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

Performances run Friday, April 5through Sunday, April 26, 2026, in the Outcalt Theatre at Playhouse Square. Performance times are Wednesday through Sunday at 7:30 PM, with weekend matinees on Saturdays and Sundays at 2:00 PM.


Pay What You Will tickets are available for Sunday evening performances, expanding access to this vivacious and timely comedy.


For tickets and more information, visit clevelandplayhouse.com or call the Box Office at 216.241.6000. Tickets are on sale now and expected to move quickly due to limited seating in the Outcalt.

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