New Ground Theatre Festival Announces 2013 Lineup

From May 2-11, 2013, Cleveland Play House (CPH) will showcase a variety of new work from nationally recognized artists in its annual New Ground Theatre Festival. The centerpiece of this showcase of new work by America's most exciting playwrights is the world premiere production of Rich Girl, written by Victoria Stewart and directed by CPH Artistic Director Michael Bloom, featuring Tony Award-nominated actresses Dee Hoty and Liz Larsen. A festival highlight this year is an interdisciplinary presentation in partnership DANCE Cleveland of three performances of The Better Half by Chicago-based Lucky Plush Productions, with the help of funding from Arts Midwest Touring Fund with support from the National Endowment for the Arts, and National Dance Project of the New England Foundation for the Arts.

For the second consecutive year, the Roe Green Award brings a leading American playwright to Cleveland to develop a new project. The 2013 winner is Jordan Harrison, who will be developing his script Marjorie Prime, culminating in a public reading starring Cleveland's own Dorothy Silver. This award is made possible by the generous support of New Ground Theatre Festival Honorary Producer Roe Green.

Past Festival interdisciplinary collaborators have included The Cleveland Orchestra, GroundWorks DanceTheatre, and Verb Ballet. CPH's partnership with DANCECleveland is the first between these two arts organizations. For the 2013 New Ground Theatre Festival, they join together to present the Cleveland debut of Lucky Plush Productions, an interdisciplinary company that is rooted in theatre. Founded in Chicago in 1999, Lucky Plush Productions has become known for its playful and witty commentary on contemporary culture and its artful integration of dance, theatre and visual design.

Adding a theatrical element to modern dance, this acclaimed dance theater company will perform The Better Half, a lively and witty spin on the noir film classic Gaslight with elements of The Bourne Identity and Ingmar Bergman'sScenes from a Marriage tossed in for good measure. Created by company Founder and Artistic Director Julia Rhoads with Leslie Burbaum Danzig of 500 Clown, The Better Half is a playful look at contemporary relationships, combining dance and theater in a work that is emotionally rich, funny and full of revealing surprises.

In addition to Rich Girl and The Better Half, the New Ground Theatre Festival lineup includes a public reading of a new play by Jordan Harrison, the 2013 winner of the annual Roe Green Award awarded to a nationally recognized playwright. The award includes a $7,500 cash prize; a week-long residency including rehearsals; a Master Class with CPH Playwrights' Unit, Case Western Reserve University and Cleveland State University students; and a public reading of a new play. Harrison was selected for his script Marjorie Prime, and the reading will star Cleveland's own Dorothy Silver in the title role.

New Ground will also feature the reading of a play that is being considered as a fully-staged production for the 2014 Festival -- Informed Consent by Deborah Zoe Laufer. Rounding out the Festival are performances of Becoming Liv Ullman, a hilarious new play by and featuring the star of Rich Girl, Crystal Finn; and Margie and Mike, CPH's Classroom Matinee show for children written by CPH Director of Education Pamela DiPasquale.

Tickets to New Ground Theatre Festival events go on sale March 22. Discounts are available when seeing more than one New Ground Theatre Festival event, for CPH subscribers, and for anyone under age 30. For tickets and more information, call (216) 241-6000 or go online at www.clevelandplayhouse.com.

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