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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b>TITUS: A GRAND AND GORY ROCK MUSICAL<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'>Onstage March 6 – 22<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><i>“Limbs are torn off, tongues are cut out…and everybody sings.”<o:p></o:p></i></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><b>Cleveland, OH</b> – Cleveland Public Theatre’s Executive Artistic Director Raymond Bobgan is proud to present the world premiere of <i>TITUS: A Grand and Gory Rock Musical</i>, conceived and directed by Craig J. George, with original music by Dennis Yurich and Alison Garrigan. Based on William Shakespeare’s infamously gory tale of revenge and retribution (<i>Titus Andronicus</i>), Cleveland Public Theatre’s <i>TITUS </i>adapts the classical text into a rock musical featuring searing vocals, shocking stage gore and a gritty post-industrial design that ties classical elements into an aesthetic that is decidedly “rust belt chic.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><u>About the Show: <o:p></o:p></u></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'>Cleveland Public Theatre production takes a no-holds-barred approach to the gruesome action of Shakespeare’s text, with special effects and copious amounts of stage blood designed by local special effects master P.J. Toomey. (“The blood budget is more than my salary,” quips Mr. George.) The original score, composed by longtime Cleveland rockers Dennis Yurich and Alison Garrigan, promises audiences a hummable, catchy soundtrack in the tradition of musical theatre, but spiked with a rock-and-roll sensibility along the vein of <i>Hedwig and the Angry Inch </i>and <i>The Rocky Horror Picture Show</i>.<u><o:p></o:p></u></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'>Bobgan describes <i>TITUS</i> as a “bloody, bawdy and ballsy” production that will hold wide appeal for the Cleveland audience. On CPT’s decision to produce the work, Bobgan explains: “The first production of my first season as Executive Artistic Director was a Shakespeare play conceived by Craig—it was awesome. Recently, while he was in town directing <i>Standing on Ceremony</i>, we got to talking and this wild idea started to emerge. Yes, there are a lot of “takes” on Shakespeare, but <i>TITUS: A Grand and Gory Rock Musical</i> is a version that you would only expect in Cleveland at CPT!”<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'>Director Craig J. George explains his interpretation of Shakespeare’s text: “The combination of comedy and tragedy, and the plot line itself, is so bizarre, but in some ways, very relatable. These kinds of things are still happening—revenge cycles—and they were happening back then, almost 1500 or 2000 years ago, all the way to ancient Rome. The revenge cycle, once it gets started, just feeds itself. That is ultimately what this play is about; the origins of violence. And yet, the way it’s written—but not often performed—is an entertaining play. There is comedy that [Shakespeare] intentionally wrote into it; bad puns, word play used in bad taste. We’re embracing that quality from the very first moments of the play. It’s a deadly serious story, but it’s fun, too.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><u><o:p><span style='text-decoration:none'> </span></o:p></u></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><u>Plot Synopsis:<o:p></o:p></u></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><i>TITUS </i>follows Shakespeare’s story of a Roman general, Titus Andronicus (played by Dana Hart), who has returned from ten years of war to find all but four of his twenty five sons killed in battle. He is accompanied by his captive-bride Tamora, Queen of the Goths (Alison Garrigan), along with her three sons and her secret lover, Aaron the Moor (Lawrence Charles). In adherence to Roman ritual, Titus sacrifices one of Tamora’s sons to honor the death of his own, thus enraging Tamora and setting off the bloody cycle of revenge that drives the play. Considered by many to be the Elizabethan equivalent of a modern-day “slasher film,” <i>Titus Andronicus </i>is one of the Bard’s less produced works, due in no small part to the seemingly relentless string of violent acts. And yet, in another similarity with the modern day horror genre, Shakespeare’s text is full of humor, including wordplay, bawdy wit, and an over-the-top sensibility that provides relief from the show’s gruesome themes.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><u><o:p><span style='text-decoration:none'> </span></o:p></u></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'>The production design offers a “mashup of Roman antiquity and a rock concert,” featuring an industrial-inspired scenic design (by Todd S. Krispinsky) and costumes (by Jenniver Sparano) that blend a contemporary gothic look with classical elements.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><u>Cast and Crew of <i>TITUS: A Grand and Gory Rock Musical<o:p></o:p></i></u></p><p class=MsoNormal><i>TITUS: A Grand and Gory Rock Musical </i>was conceived and directed by Craig J. George, with music by Dennis Yurich and Alison Garrigan. Musical Direction by Brad Wyner and Choreography by Martin Cèspedes.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><i>TITUS </i>features an all-Cleveland cast of Dana Hart* (as Titus), Alison Garrigan (Tamora, Queen of the Goths) and Lawrence Charles (Aaron), with Amiee Collier, Jon Conley, Ryan Edlinger, Val Kozlenko, Justine Kunstler, Pat Miller, Matt O’Shea, Christopher Sanders and Justin Williams. <i>*Appears courtesy of Actors Equity Association.</i><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>The <i>TITUS </i>band is Brad Wyner (Conductor, Keyboards), John Fitzpatrick Pringpuangkeo (Guitar), Tim Pringpuangkeo (Upright & Electric Bass) and Richard Kline (Drums).<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Complete creative team includes Craig J. George (Creator/Director), Dennis Yurich & Alison Garrigan (Music), Brad Wyner (Music Direction), Martìn Cèspedes (Choreographer), Jenniver Sparano (Costume Designer), Carlton Guc (Sound Designer), Dusten Welch (Fight Choreographer), Todd S. Krispinsky (Set Designer), P.J. Toomey (Special Effects Designer) and Ben Gantose (Lighting Designer). <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Production team includes Lauren Calevich (Stage Manager), Cyrus Taylor (Sound Operator) and Aaron Rutz (Assistant Stage Manager).<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><u>Performance Details & Tickets:</u><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Preview performance of <i>TITUS: A Grand and Gory Rock Musical </i>is Thursday, March 6 at 7:30pm. Show opens <b>Friday, March 7 and runs through Saturday, March 22, 7:30pm </b>in CPT’s Gordon Square Theatre, 6415 Detroit Avenue in Cleveland’s Gordon Square Arts District. <b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class=Body><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=Body><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>Performances are <b>Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Monday at 7:30pm</b>, with a special matinee performance on <b>Sunday, March 16<sup>th</sup> at 3:00pm.</b> Opening night reception is Friday, March 7 with free food and drinks after the show. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=Body><i><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p><p class=Body><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>Tickets are $12 – $28.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=Body><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>Take advantage of $12 tickets on Monday and Thursday shows. Student and Senior discounts ($3 off) are available for Friday and Saturday performances.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=Body><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=Body><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>Every Friday</span></b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'> 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. Group discounts are available. Call James Kosmatka, CPT Director of Patron Services at (216) 631-2727 x203 for more information.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=Body><i><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal>Tickets are available for purchase online at <a href="http://www.cptonline.org">www.cptonline.org</a> or by phone at (216) 631-2727 x 501.<o:p></o:p></p><div style='mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:double windowtext 6.75pt;padding:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in'><p class=MsoNormal style='border:none;padding:0in'><o:p> </o:p></p></div><p class=Default><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal>CPT develops new, adventurous work; and nurtures Northeastern Ohio artists – particularly those whose work is inventive, intelligent and socially conscious. For more information about <b><i>TITUS: A Grand and Gory Rock Musical</i></b> or to arrange an interview, please visit <a href="http://www.cptonline.org">cptonline.org</a> or contact Cathleen O’Malley, Director of Audience Engagement & Media Relations at (216) 631-2727 x 212 or <a href="mailto:comalley@cptonline.org">comalley@cptonline.org</a>. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Cathleen O’Malley<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"'>Director of Audience Engagement & Media Relations<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"'>Cleveland Public Theatre<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"'>(216) 631-2727 x 212<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>See what's playing tonight, go to </span></i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><a href="http://www.cptonline.org/"><i><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:blue'>www.cptonline.org</span></i></a></span><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>