<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto"><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 18pt; color: black;">CPT ANNOUNCES AUDITIONS FOR </span><b><span style="font-size: 18pt; color: red;">S</span></b><span style="font-size: 18pt;">TUDENT<b> <span style="color: red;">T</span></b>HEATRE<b><span style="color: rgb(84, 130, 53);"> </span><span style="color: red;">E</span></b>NRICHMENT<b><span style="color: rgb(84, 130, 53);"> </span><span style="color: red;">P</span></b>ROGRAM<b><span style="color: rgb(112, 48, 160);"> </span></b><span style="color: black;">(STEP)</span></span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;"><b><span style="color: black;"> </span></b><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="color: red;"><a href="outlook-data-detector://0" style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193);"><b><span style="color: red;">Wednesday, February 16 from 6:00-8:30pm</span></b></a></span><b><span style="color: black;"> OR </span><u><span style="color: red;"><span dir="ltr">Sunday, March 6 from 1:30-4:00pm</span></span></u><span style="color: red;"> </span><span style="color: black;">on Zoom!</span></b><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;"><b><span style="color: black;">cleveland PUBLIC theatre</span></b><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: red;">S</span></b><span style="color: red;">tudent <b>T</b>heatre Enrichment <b>P</b>rogram </span><b><span style="color: black;">(STEP)</span></b><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">CPT’s STEP is a summer arts-based job training program that engages Cleveland teens in a powerful 8-week intensive that focuses on excellence in performance, play creation, physical theatre, writing, production, and set design/construction. <span style="color: black;">Youth ages 14-19 work together to create, produce, perform, </span><b><span style="color: red;">and tour</span></b><span style="color: red;"> </span><span style="color: black;">an original piece that they create as an ensemble. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">This program is the longest-running performing arts-based, workplace development program in Cleveland and is an international model for </span>successfully<span style="color: black;"> engaging youth. Since its beginning in 1994, STEP has received multiple awards and recognitions, including those from The City of Cleveland, The President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities, and the National Endowment for the Arts. Through STEP, teens see themselves as a positive and inspirational force, and watch as their work has an impact on the larger Cleveland community.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><ul type="disc" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><li class="xmsonormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(41, 41, 41); background-color: white;"><strong><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">Youth must be 14 – 19 yrs. old </span></strong><em><b><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">(Cuyahoga County residents)</span></b></em><o:p></o:p></li><li class="xmsonormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: black; background-color: white;"><strong><span style="color: rgb(41, 41, 41); border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">The STEP Ensemble is selected by audition:</span></strong><o:p></o:p></li><ul type="disc" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><li class="xmsonormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: black; background-color: white;"><strong><span style="color: red; border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">Performing Ensemble </span></strong><strong><span style="color: rgb(41, 41, 41); border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">Audition – Perform a 1-minute piece (dance, monologue, or song)</span></strong><o:p></o:p></li><li class="xmsonormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(41, 41, 41); background-color: white;"><strong><span style="color: red; border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">Tech Ensemble </span></strong><strong><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">Audition – Prepare to </span></strong><strong><span style="color: black; border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">speak about technical experiences.</span></strong><o:p></o:p></li><li class="xmsonormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: black; background-color: white;"><b><span style="color: rgb(41, 41, 41);">Youth should expect to remain for the full audition session</span></b><b> </b><o:p></o:p></li><ul type="disc" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><li class="xmsonormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: black; background-color: white;"><b><span style="color: red;">Performance Ensemble </span></b><b>Audition (<span dir="ltr" style="text-decoration: underline;">6:00-8:30pm</span>)</b><o:p></o:p></li><li class="xmsonormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: black; background-color: white;"><b><span style="color: red;">Tech Ensemble </span></b><b>Audition (<span dir="ltr" style="text-decoration: underline;">6:00-7:30pm</span>)</b><o:p></o:p></li></ul></ul><li class="xmsonormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(41, 41, 41); background-color: white;"><strong><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">Must RSVP by contacting Nicole Sumlin, </span></strong><span class="markmnrn37mma"><b><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">CPT Education Director, </span></b></span><span class="markmnrn37mma"><b><span style="color: black; border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">or Allyse Corbin, Education Associate</span></b></span><strong><span style="color: black; border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;"> </span></strong><strong><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">(info below)</span></strong><o:p></o:p></li></ul><ul type="disc" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><li class="xmsonormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(255, 192, 0); background-color: white;"><strong><span style="color: rgb(41, 41, 41); border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">By Email or Phone: share name, confirmation, and current phone number</span></strong><o:p></o:p></li></ul><ul type="disc" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><li class="xmsonormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(41, 41, 41); background-color: white;"><strong>Must complete STEP Registration</strong><strong><span style="color: black;"> Form</span></strong><strong>: </strong><o:p></o:p></li><li class="xmsonormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: black; background-color: white;"><span class="markf1at07ne9"><b><span style="color: rgb(41, 41, 41); border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">S</span></b></span><strong><span style="color: rgb(41, 41, 41); border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">TEP </span></strong><strong><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">runs </span></strong><span style="color: red;"><a href="outlook-data-detector://2" style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193);"><b><span style="color: red; border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">June 13 – August 7</span></b></a><strong><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;"> (</span></strong><a href="outlook-data-detector://3" style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193);"><b><span style="color: red; border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in; text-decoration: none;">August 8</span></b></a><b>th<strong><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">, rain date) </span></strong></b></span><strong><span style="color: rgb(41, 41, 41); border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">including a two</span></strong><strong><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">-</span></strong><strong><span style="color: rgb(41, 41, 41); border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">week outdoor performance tour!</span></strong><strong><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;"> Non-performance sessions occur <span dir="ltr" style="text-decoration: underline;">Monday-Friday</span> and run <span dir="ltr" style="text-decoration: underline;">from</span></span></strong><strong><span style="color: red; border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;"><span dir="ltr" style="text-decoration: underline;">12-6pm</span></span></strong><strong><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">.</span></strong><o:p></o:p></li><li class="xmsonormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: black; background-color: white;"><strong><span style="color: rgb(41, 41, 41); border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">Students will receive a </span></strong><strong><span style="color: red; border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">stipend</span></strong><strong><span style="color: rgb(41, 41, 41); border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;"> for their participation at the end of the program</span></strong><strong><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">.</span></strong><o:p></o:p></li><li class="xmsonormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: black; background-color: white;"><strong><span style="color: rgb(41, 41, 41); border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">The program will be in-person as much as possible,</span></strong><strong><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;"> strictly </span></strong><strong><span style="color: rgb(41, 41, 41); border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">following safety procedures</span></strong><strong><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">.</span></strong><o:p></o:p></li><li class="xmsonormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: black; background-color: white;"><strong><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">Students will need to secure their own transportation for sessions at CPT and performances. Public transportation</span></strong><strong><span style="color: rgb(41, 41, 41); border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;"> </span></strong><strong><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">support is available. </span></strong><o:p></o:p></li></ul><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="color: black;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;"><b>Auditions will be held </b><span style="color: red;"><a href="outlook-data-detector://4" style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193);"><b><span style="color: red;">Wednesday,</span></b></a><b><u> February 16, 2022 from 6:00pm-8:30pm on Zoom</u> </b></span><b>AND<span style="color: red;"> <u><span dir="ltr">Sunday, March 6 from 1:30-4:00pm</span></u> </span>on Zoom! <span style="color: black;">Youth auditioning </span>to be part of the <span style="color: black;">STEP Perform</span>ance<span style="color: black;">Ensemble are only required to attend one of the scheduled sessions.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: black;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: black;">Students interested in joining the </span><span style="color: red;">Tech Ensemble </span><span style="color: black;">must attend a session </span></b><span style="color: red;"><a href="outlook-data-detector://5" style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193);"><b><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;">on</span></b><b><span style="color: red;"> Wednesday, May 26</span></b></a><a href="outlook-data-detector://5" style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193);"><b><sup><span style="color: red;">th</span></sup></b></a><a href="outlook-data-detector://5" style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193);"><b><span style="color: red;"> from 6:00-7:30pm</span></b></a></span><b><span style="color: rgb(112, 173, 71);"> </span>on<span style="color: rgb(112, 173, 71);"> </span><span style="color: black;">Zoom.</span><span style="color: rgb(237, 125, 49);"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: rgb(237, 125, 49);"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: black;">**</span><span style="color: red;">IMPORTANT: </span><span style="color: black;">Parents and guardians </span>of all interested youth are asked <span style="color: black;">to attend the first 30 minutes of the audition meeting to learn more about STEP and </span>to ask any questions that may arise<span style="color: black;">!**<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="color: red;"> </span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;"><b><span style="color: black;">Questions? Contact: <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="color: rgb(84, 130, 53);"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><b>Nicole Sumlin, CPT Education Director or Allyse Corbin, Education Associate<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;"><b><a href="mailto:nsumlin@cptonline.org" style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193);"><span style="color: windowtext;">nsumlin@cptonline.org</span></a> <a href="mailto:acorbin@cptonline.org" style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193);"><span style="color: windowtext;">acorbin@cptonline.org</span></a><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><b><a href="tel:216.631.2727;203" style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193);"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;">216.631.2727 ext. 203</span></a> <span dir="ltr" style="text-decoration: underline;">216.390.8352</span></b></p></body></html>