<div dir="ltr"><p class="gmail-Default" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black"><b><span style="font-size:16pt">Cleveland Public Theatre
announces Auditions for <br>
the Rolling World Premiere of</span></b><span style="font-size:16pt"></span></p>
<p class="gmail-Default" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black"><b><span style="font-size:22pt">can i touch it?</span></b><span style="font-size:22pt"></span></p>
<p class="gmail-Default" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black"><b><span style="font-size:16pt">By Francisca Da Silveira</span></b></p>
<p class="gmail-Default" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black"><b><span style="font-size:11pt">Directed
by India Nicole Burton</span></b></p>
<p class="gmail-Default" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black"><span style="font-size:16pt"> </span></p>
<p class="gmail-Default" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black"><b><span style="font-size:11.5pt">Looking to cast the
following roles… </span></b><span style="font-size:11.5pt"></span></p>
<p class="gmail-Default" style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.5in;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black"><span style="font-size:11pt">-<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"Times New Roman"">
</span></span><b><span style="font-size:11pt">Shay: </span></b><span style="font-size:11pt">early/mid 40s; Black;
whatever style, she wears it like a boss. think viola davis. <b></b></span></p>
<p class="gmail-Default" style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.5in;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black"><span style="font-size:11pt">-<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"Times New Roman"">
</span></span><b><span style="font-size:11pt">Ruth: </span></b><span style="font-size:11pt">late teens; Black; she’s
gone natural after years of perms and is still getting used to it.<b></b></span></p>
<p class="gmail-Default" style="margin:0in 0in 0in 1in;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Courier New"">o<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"Times New Roman""> </span></span><b><span style="font-size:11pt">Also, Lili: </span></b><span style="font-size:11pt">early
20s; Black<b></b></span></p>
<p class="gmail-Default" style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.5in;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black"><span style="font-size:11pt">-<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"Times New Roman"">
</span></span><b><span style="font-size:11pt">Meeka: </span></b><span style="font-size:11pt">early 20s; Black; it’s
short, shaved on the sides. think punk. <b></b></span></p>
<p class="gmail-Default" style="margin:0in 0in 0in 1in;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Courier New"">o<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"Times New Roman""> </span></span><b><span style="font-size:11pt">Also, Beth: </span></b><span style="font-size:11pt">early/mid
40s; White<b></b></span></p>
<p class="gmail-Default" style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.5in;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black"><span style="font-size:11pt">-<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"Times New Roman"">
</span></span><b><span style="font-size:11pt">Mark: </span></b><span style="font-size:11pt">early/mid 40s; White; he
might be thinning at the top. it’s probably all that 3-in-1 head and shoulders.<b></b></span></p>
<p class="gmail-Default" style="margin:0in 0in 0in 1in;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Courier New"">o<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"Times New Roman""> </span></span><b><span style="font-size:11pt">Also, Nicky:</span></b><span style="font-size:11pt"> mid 30s; White<b></b></span></p>
<p class="gmail-Default" style="margin:0in 0in 0in 1in;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Courier New"">o<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"Times New Roman""> </span></span><b><span style="font-size:11pt">Also, Leo: </span></b><span style="font-size:11pt">early/mid
40s; White<b></b></span></p>
<p class="gmail-Default" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black"><span style="font-size:11pt"> </span></p>
<p class="gmail-Default" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black"><i><span style="font-size:11pt">*We are open to seeing both Equity
and Non-Equity actors for these auditions.</span></i></p>
<p class="gmail-Default" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black"><span style="font-size:11pt"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Cleveland Public Theatre is committed to diversity
and encourages all its employers to engage in a policy of equal employment
opportunity designed to promote a positive model of inclusion. As such, CPT encourages
performers of all races, ethnicities, gender identities, sexual orientations,
and ages, as well as performers with disabilities, to attend every audition.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"> </span></p>
<p class="gmail-Default" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black"><span style="font-size:11pt"> </span></p>
<p class="gmail-Default" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black"><b><span style="font-size:11.5pt">About The Play… </span></b><span style="font-size:11.5pt"></span></p>
<p class="gmail-Default" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black"><span style="font-size:11pt">Shay is many things - a
business owner, a single mom, a community leader - but there’s one thing she’s
definitely not: a pawn in United Bank’s efforts to buy up foreclosed real
estate in the heart of Boston’s Black community. At risk of losing her own
store to the bank, she is forced to choose between a personal fight for her
family’s livelihood and a moral fight against gentrification. When pushed to
her limits, Shay finds herself in the fantastical peaceful place where women of
color have to recede into when they get asked stupid ass questions. Using
devices like double casting through onstage wig changes, <i>can i touch it?</i>
examines themes of Black hair politics, social exclusion and the racial
inequity Black owned businesses face every day.</span></p>
<p class="gmail-Default" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black"><span style="font-size:11pt"> </span></p>
<p class="gmail-Default" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black"><b><span style="font-size:11.5pt">About The Process… </span></b><span style="font-size:11.5pt"></span></p>
<p class="gmail-Default" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black"><span style="font-size:11pt">This rehearsal process will be
conventional in nature and based in script analysis, character analysis, and
emotional arc. Actors will be asked to make strong proposals, be generous, and
meet deadlines given.</span></p>
<p class="gmail-Default" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black"><span style="font-size:11pt"> </span></p>
<p class="gmail-Default" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black"><span style="font-size:11pt">Rehearsals will begin around
mid-March. Rehearsals are 5-6 times a week, with evening weekday rehearsals and
some daytime weekend rehearsals. </span></p>
<p class="gmail-Default" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black"><br></p>
<p class="gmail-Default" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black"><span style="font-size:11pt">Performances begin with First
Preview April 20. The production opens on April 22.</span></p>
<p class="gmail-Default" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black"><i><span style="font-size:11pt">can i touch it?</span></i><span style="font-size:11pt"> runs April 20 – May 13, Thu/Fri/Sat/Mon at 7:00pm,
with 1 Sunday matinee in the James Levin Theatre. </span></p>
<p class="gmail-Default" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black"><span style="font-size:11pt"> </span></p>
<p class="gmail-Default" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black"><span style="font-size:11pt"> </span></p>
<p class="gmail-Default" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black"><b><span style="font-size:11.5pt">Content Disclosures about
The Play… </span></b><span style="font-size:11.5pt"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><i><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif">can i touch
it?</span></i><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"> includes frank
descriptions and depictions of racism against Black people and women.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif">All actors will
be wigged.</span></p>
<p class="gmail-Default" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black"><i><span style="font-size:11pt"> </span></i></p>
<p class="gmail-Default" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black"><span style="font-size:11pt"> </span></p>
<p class="gmail-Default" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black"><b><span style="font-size:11.5pt"> </span></b></p>
<p class="gmail-Default" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black"><b><span style="font-size:11.5pt">Important Information about
COVID-19… </span></b><span style="font-size:11.5pt"></span></p>
<p class="gmail-Default" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black"><span style="font-size:11pt">All artists and staff members
working on <i>can i touch it?</i> are required to be fully vaccinated for
COVID-19. </span></p>
<p class="gmail-Default" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black"><span style="font-size:11pt"> </span></p>
<p class="gmail-Default" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black"><b><span style="font-size:11.5pt"> </span></b></p>
<p class="gmail-Default" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black"><b><span style="font-size:11.5pt">Auditions… </span></b></p>
<p class="gmail-Default" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black"><b><span style="font-size:11.5pt">Thursday, June 30, 6:30pm – 9:00pm</span></b></p>
<p class="gmail-Default" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black"><b><span style="font-size:11.5pt">Saturday, July 2, 1:00pm – 4:00pm</span></b><span style="font-size:11.5pt"></span></p>
<p class="gmail-Default" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black"><i><span style="font-size:11.5pt">Callbacks, if needed, will
be on Tuesday, July 5, at 6:00pm. </span></i><span style="font-size:11.5pt"></span></p>
<p class="gmail-Default" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black"><b><span style="font-size:11.5pt">Auditions are by appointment
only and will be scheduled in 10-minute increments. </span></b><i><span style="font-size:11.5pt">Prepared auditions will be individual, but you may be
asked to stay and read with a fellow actor. Actors should plan to stay at the
audition for up to 75 minutes, though you may be released sooner. The director,
India Nicole Burton, will be watching the auditions. All actors will be
required to wear a mask when not actively auditioning.</span></i></p>
<p class="gmail-Default" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black"><span style="font-size:11.5pt"> </span></p>
<p class="gmail-Default" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black"><b><span style="font-size:11.5pt">What to Prepare… </span></b><span style="font-size:11.5pt"></span></p>
<p class="gmail-Default" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Wingdings">§ </span><span style="font-size:11pt">Prepare
both a comedic and a dramatic monologue. Combined, the monologues should be
less than 5 minutes, total. </span></p>
<p class="gmail-Default" style="margin:0in 0in 0.25pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Wingdings">§ </span><span style="font-size:11pt">Some actors may be asked to do cold readings from
sides provided by CPT at the audition. </span></p>
<p class="gmail-Default" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Wingdings">§ </span><span style="font-size:11pt">Headshot
and R</span><span style="font-size:10.5pt">é</span><span style="font-size:11pt">sum</span><span style="font-size:10.5pt">é </span></p>
<p class="gmail-Default" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"> </span></p>
<p class="gmail-Default" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black"><span style="font-size:11pt">To schedule an audition
appointment, please email </span><a href="mailto:auditions@cptonline.org" style="color:blue"><span style="font-size:11pt">auditions@cptonline.org</span></a><span style="font-size:11pt">. <b>Please include [can i touch it Auditions] in your
subject line. Be sure to include your name, email address, phone number,
preferred audition time, Covid-19 vaccination status, and role you are
auditioning for in your email. Send a copy of your headshot and resume as an
attachment to your email. </b>No phone calls please. </span></p>
<p class="gmail-Default" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black"><span style="font-size:11pt"> </span></p>
<p class="gmail-Default" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black"><span style="font-size:11pt"> </span></p>
<p class="gmail-Default" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black"><b><span style="font-size:11pt">About
the Playwright: </span></b><span style="font-size:11pt"></span></p>
<p class="gmail-Default" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black"><b><span style="font-size:11pt">Francisca Da Silveira</span></b><span style="font-size:11pt"> is a Cape Verdean-American playwright and Boston
native who holds a BFA in Dramatic Writing from New York University’s Tisch
School of the Arts and an MSc in Playwriting from the University of Edinburgh.
She has been featured in ArtsBoston, The LA Times and American Theatre
Magazine. Her plays have been developed with Theatre503 (London), The Traverse
Theatre (Edinburgh), Company One Theatre (Boston), The Fire This Time Festival
(New York), The Playwrights Realm (New York), The Public Theater (New York) and
La Jolla Playhouse (San Diego). Fran’s play NOT-FOR-PROFIT (OR THE EQUITY,
DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION PLAY) was featured in The Playwrights’ Realm’s INK’D
Festival in April 2021 and in La Jolla Playhouse’s DNA New Works Series in July
2021. Her play CAN I TOUCH IT? was featured in the National New Play Network’s
2020 National Showcase of New Plays and in 2022-2023 will receive a Rolling
World Premiere at Company One Theatre (Boston), Rogue Machine Theatre (Los
Angeles) and Cleveland Public Theatre (Cleveland).<br>
<br>
Fran was a 2020-2021 Playwrights Realm Writing Fellow and is currently a member
of The Public Theater’s 2020-2023 Emerging Writers Group and a 2022-2023 Jerome
Fellow with the Playwrights’ Center. She is working on commissions from the
University of Virginia’s Drama Department and Brooklyn-based theater Colt
Coeur.</span></p>
<p class="gmail-Default" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:windowtext"> </span></p>
<p class="gmail-Default" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black"><b><span style="font-size:11pt;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial">About the Director:</span></b><b><span style="font-size:11pt;color:windowtext;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif">India Nicole
Burton</span></b><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"> is an actress,
director, playwright, devisor, and producer. She is a native of Akron, OH and
graduated from The University of Akron in 2011 with a BA in Theatre Arts with
an emphasis on performance. Upon graduating, India founded Ma’Sue Productions,
an African American theatre company located in Akron, Ohio. She has directed,
produced, and performed in several of Ma’Sue’s plays and was co-artistic director
until 2015. India recently ended a virtual national tour of <i>American Dreams</i>
by Leila Buck in 2020, where she played the role of Briana Coffman. She originated
this character when it had its world premiere at Cleveland Public Theatre in
2018. India’s directing credits <i>include for colored girls who have
considered suicide / when the rainbow is enuf</i> (Heads Up Productions),<i>The
Laramie Project</i> (Heads Up Productions), <i>Daybreak’s Children</i> (Ma’Sue
Productions<i>), A Happening on Imperial</i> (Ma’Sue Productions), <i>Fire on
the Water</i> (Cleveland Public Theatre, co-directed<i>), Panther Women: An
Army for the Liberation</i> (in development at Cleveland Public Theatre), <i>“inside
out” </i>by Francisca Da Silveira (Company One, as part of their C1:
Inauguration project<i>) Welcome to the Taj Mahal (Motel)</i> By Riti Sachdeva,
The Playwrights Center (Workshop). India’s assistant directing credits include the
2014 production of <i>The Color Purple</i> at Karamu House<i>, A brownsville
song (b-side for tray)</i> at Dobama Theatre, Cleveland Public Theatre’s <i>Barbecue
and Good at Heart</i>, featured in Border Light International Theatre + Fringe
Festival. India is a board member for New World Performance Lab, a two-year
recipient of the NNPN Producer in Residence program for Cleveland Public
Theatre and a 2021 recipient of the NNPN Bridge Program grant. She was also a
cast member of <i>American Dreams</i>, which was nominated for a Drama League
Award in 2021. She is also a Room in the House 2021/22 Fellow at The Karamu
House Inc. India is currently receiving her MFA in playwriting from The
University of Nebraska’s Creative writing program. She is also the recipient of
The National New Play Networks Rolling World Premiere for her play she wrote
and directed when it premiered at Cleveland Public Theatre in 2022, <i>Panther
Women: An Army for the Liberation</i>.</span></p></div>