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<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><a href="https://www.cptonline.org/performances/seasons/2022-2023/can-i-touch-it/"><b><span style="font-size:20.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#0563C1">can
I touch it?</span></b></a></span><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;line-height:115%"><br>
</span></b><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%">Written by Francisca Da Silveira<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
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<b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%">Directed by India Nicole Burton</span></b><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;line-height:115%"><br>
</span></b><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%">National New Play Network Rolling World Premiere</span></b><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%"><br>
April 20 – May 13, 2023</span></b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%">Cleveland Public Theatre (CPT) presents the National New Play Network Rolling World Premiere of
<b><i>can i touch it?</i></b> by </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><a href="https://www.blackburnprize.org/"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#0563C1">Susan Smith Blackburn Prize finalist</span></a></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%">
Francisca Da Silveira who is making her Cleveland debut with the production. It will be directed by CPT and National New Play Network alum India Nicole Burton.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<b><u><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black;background:white">ABOUT THE PLAY</span></u></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black;background:white"><br>
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#222222">Shay Solomon’s got a lot going on between trying to find funding for her daughter to go to college, trying not to fire an opinionated rogue employee who happens to be her niece, and dealing with the white
banker who’s trying to touch her hair—that is, her Black beauty supply store which is on the brink of foreclosure in the midst of ongoing neighborhood gentrification.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<b><i><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#222222">can i touch it?</span></i></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#222222"> takes an often-humorous look at the politics of the Black hair care industry while prompting a dialogue about the inequities that
entrepreneurs face within a community on the verge of forced change. <b>NNPN Rolling World Premiere.</b></span><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><a href="https://www.cptonline.org/can-i-touch-it-community-partners/"><b><span style="color:#0563C1">ANCILLARY EVENTS FOR “can I touch it?”</span></b></a></span><u><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#222222"><o:p></o:p></span></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt">April 20 – May 13: Hairitage: Don’t Touch My Hair – </span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Art exhibition by artist/photographer
<a href="https://www.cptonline.org/can-i-touch-it-community-partners/"><span style="color:#0563C1">Ryan Harris.</span></a></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt">April 21: Meet Playwright Francisca Da Silveira in Partnership with Project 400!</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt">April 30: The Business of Black Beauty – </span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><a href="https://www.cptonline.org/can-i-touch-it-community-partners/"><span style="color:#0563C1">Three beauty entrepreneurs</span></a>
and activists share their experiences with gentrification and more. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><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"><b><u><span style="font-size:12.0pt">TICKET and SHOW INFORMATION</span></u></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><br>
EVERY TICKET is <a href="https://www.cptonline.org/uncategorized/cleveland-public-theatre-announces-expanded-choose-what-you-pay-ticketing-practice/">
<span style="color:#0563C1">Choose What You Pay</span></a> starting at $1. <b>PURCHASE TICKETS
</b>at </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><a href="http://www.cptonline.org"><b><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:blue">www.cptonline.org</span></b></a></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"> 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="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Sundays are Covid-Conscious performances when patrons are required to wear masks.
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><a href="https://www.cptonline.org/plan-your-visit/"><b><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:blue">Click here</span></b></a></span><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt"> for
all COVID-19 Safety Protocols.</span></b><b><i><span style="font-size:12.0pt">The James Levin Theatre is ADA-compliant featuring a ramped entrance and an all-gender, wheelchair accessible restroom.</span></i></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><b><i><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Every
<b>Friday is Free Bev Friday at CPT</b>. Mingle with the artists after the show and discuss the performance in a lively, social atmosphere – your drinks are on CPT.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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