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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0in;text-align:center;line-height:normal">
<b><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Cleveland Public Theatre presents<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0in;text-align:center;line-height:normal">
<b><span style="font-size:20.0pt"><a href="https://www.cptonline.org/performances/seasons/2022-2023/breakout-session-or-frogorse-2/">Breakout Session (or Frogorse)</a></span></b><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-size:20.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<b><span style="font-size:16.0pt">By Nikkole Salter</span></b><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><br>
</span></b><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Directed by Beth Wood</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0in;text-align:center;line-height:normal">
<i><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Can society legislate a change of heart?<br>
A Continued World Premiere play inspired by Cleveland's Consent Decree with the U.S. Department of Justice.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
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<b><span style="font-size:14.0pt">OCTOBER 27 – NOVEMBER 12, 2022<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Cleveland, OH
</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt">– Cleveland Public Theatre (CPT) is proud to present the continued world premiere of
<i>Breakout Session (or Frogorse) </i>by Nikkole Salter, directed by Beth Wood, onstage in CPT’s James Levin Theatre from October 27 through November 12, 2022.
<i>Breakout Session (or Frogorse) </i>was commissioned by CPT with funding from the National New Play Network (NNPN). Having been preempted by Covid-19 in the 2019/2020 season, and again in the 2021/2022 season, the production is making its continued World
Premiere. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><b><u><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">ABOUT the PLAY<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Can a society legislate a change of heart? In <i>Breakout Session (or Frogorse)</i>, inspired by Cleveland’s Consent Decree with the U.S. Department of Justice,
a corporate training company is vying for the contract for anti-bias training with Cleveland’s Police Department. When the white facilitator tosses the approved curriculum out the window, the session spirals. Can a mantis shrimp and a crocodile teach us about
building trust and the strength of vulnerability?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">In 2017, CPT and nationally renowned award-winning playwright Nikkole Salter were awarded a National New Play Network (NNPN) Commission supporting the development
of <i>Breakout Session (or Frogorse), </i>a new play inspired by Cleveland's Consent Decree with the U.S. Department of Justice.
<i>Breakout Session (or Frogorse)</i> is born from an extensive research and interview process. Before setting pen to paper, Nikkole came to Cleveland to meet with community members, individuals working tirelessly in social justice, and the Policing Commission.
She spent an hour and a half in conversation with former Mayor Frank Jackson and former Chief of Police Calvin D. Williams. The play asks the question: “how can we build two-way bridges of trust between us amidst systemic racism?”
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">According to Raymond Bobgan, CPT Executive Artistic Director:
<i>“Nikkole's voice is bold and subtle, layering in unexpected discoveries as her work unfolds. She guides audiences down the path of self- and social critique, until even long-held beliefs and biases begin unraveling. We were thrilled when Nikkole accepted
this commission because we believed her unique voice could support our community’s work against oppression and toward equity.”</i><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><i><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:105%">ABOUT NATIONAL NEW PLAY NETWORK (NNPN)</span></u></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:105%"><br>
National New Play Network (NNPN) is an alliance of professional theatres that collaborate in innovative ways to develop, produce, and extend the life of new plays. Founded in 1998, NNPN continues to revolutionize the new play landscape through the strength
of its Member Theatres, collaborate efforts, and its nationally recognized programs and services for artists and organizations.
<a href="http://www.nnpn.org">www.nnpn.org</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:105%"><br>
<b><u>CAST and CREW of <i>Breakout Session (or Frogorse)</i></u></b><span style="color:black;background:white"><br>
The cast includes Joey Florez Jr., Joshua McElroy, Troian Soo, Tina D. Stump*, Nicole Sumlin*, Beth Wood</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:105%;color:black;background:white">The creative production team includes
</span><i><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:105%">Producer </span></i><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:105%">Raymond Bobgan;
<i>Director and Co - Video Designer</i> - Beth Wood; <i>Associate Director</i> - Sheffia Randall;
<i>Scenic, Lighting, Co-Video Designer</i> - Benjamin Gantose; <i>Costume Design</i> - Inda Blatch-Geib;
<i>Composer & Sound Designer</i> - Obediya Jones-Darrell; <i>Stage Manager</i> - Julie C. Okuley; and
<i>Assistant Stage Manager and Sound Operator</i> Solomon Dooley.</span><em><b><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;font-style:normal"><o:p></o:p></span></b></em></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><i><span style="font-size:12.0pt">*Actor appears courtesy of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.</span><o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><b><u><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p><span style="text-decoration:none"> </span></o:p></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><b><u><span style="font-size:12.0pt">TICKET and SHOW INFORMATION<br>
</span></u></b><b><i><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><a href="https://www.cptonline.org/performances/seasons/2022-2023/breakout-session-or-frogorse-2/">Breakout Session (or Frogorse)</a></span></i></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt"> preview is Thursday, October
27. <b>Press Night is Friday, October 28 </b>and the show runs through November 12, 2022. Performances are Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Monday nights at 7:30pm in CPT’s James Levin Theatre, located at 6415 Detroit Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44102 in the heart
of the Gordon Square Arts District. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;text-align:justify;line-height:normal">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt"><a href="https://www.cptonline.org/plan-your-visit/"><b>Click here</b></a><b> for COVID-19 Safety Protocols.</b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="Body" style="text-align:justify"><b><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:windowtext">EVERY TICKET is “</span></b><a href="https://www.cptonline.org/uncategorized/cleveland-public-theatre-announces-expanded-choose-what-you-pay-ticketing-practice/"><b><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Choose
What You Pay</span></b></a><b><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:windowtext">”
</span></b><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:windowtext">and will be offered online, over the phone, and at the Box Office.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;text-align:justify;line-height:normal">
<b><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;text-align:justify;line-height:normal">
<b><span style="font-size:12.0pt">PURCHASE TICKETS </span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt">at
<a href="http://www.cptonline.org"><b>www.cptonline.org</b></a> or call the CPT Box Office at 216.631.2727 ext. 501<b>.
</b>Reserve early! CPT never charges any ticket fees, ever.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Body" style="text-align:justify"><b><i><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:windowtext"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></b></p>
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