ABOUT RAY CASPIO

Ray Caspio (b. 1979, they/he) is a performance and conceptual artist, and educator. Their art is one of exposure. Caspio creates atmospheric works ranging from confessional to camp/satirical to sincere in an inquiry into memory, Queer identity, trauma, loss, the grotesque of society, and profound emotion. They possess a visceral vulnerability and irreverent humor that opens an authentic conduit between the artist and their audience collaborators. Their performances have been recognized as “magical” and “intensely honest and unflinching,” with Ray being called “a shapeshifter” and “one [person] tour de force.” Caspio’s creations have been performed at The Cleveland Museum of Art (CMA), BorderLight Fringe, Theater Ninjas, and Cleveland Public Theatre’s Pandemonium. Caspio’s work appeared on “Best of” lists for Scene Magazine and WCPN’s The Sound of Applause. Ray was profiled by Scene as “The Thespian'' of 2014. Caspio founded Michael Chekhov Center Cleveland to share their understanding of Chekhov’s psychophysical performance principles with Northeast Ohio artists. Ray received a 2016 Creative Workforce Fellowship for their performance work. Through the revealing of cathartic truths of their inner life, Caspio inspires the questions: Who am I? Who are you? Who are we? What is this space we inhabit, together? And what does it mean to be alive?

ABOUT OHIO CITY THEATRE PROJECT
Actively involved in the Cleveland area since 2012, Ohio City Theatre Project (OCTP) strives to create world class theatrical experiences that are experienced intellectually and touch the heart. OCTP uses creative innovation to drive civic dialog about contemporary issues and connects with regional partners to develop synergistic opportunities for local artists to produce new theatrical work and impactful education programs.

OCTP is led by Executive Artistic Director Pandora Robertson. OCTP has produced the premieres of new works by Northeast Ohio artists, which include the film But to work! (2021) as well as the plays Central Concern (2019 premiere, 2022 Borderlight Festival Producer’s Choice Award), Incendiaries (2016 premiere, 2018 Ohio Arts Council Individual Excellence Award for playwriting), Snake Oil (2015), Free Radical and The Late Night Sketchbook (2014), Summer Storefront (2013), Living Storefront: A Night of New Theatre (2012), as well as productions of Eugène Ionesco’s The Bald Soprano (2013) and Matt Larsen’s Kid Mystery (2012).