Cleveland Play House Announces 2012-13 Season

Artistic Director Michael Bloom announces the lineup for the 97^th consecutive season of Cleveland Play House, its second at PlayhouseSquare in downtown Cleveland. Two world premieres and contemporary work contribute to the variety of entertainment Bloom has designed for the 2012-13 Season.

“Cleveland Play House has experienced an extraordinary transformation in our first season downtown,” reflects Bloom on the institution’s three new state-of-the-art venues. “And we’ve seen record-breaking single ticket sales.” Building on that success, Bloom remarks, “With five contemporary plays, including two world premieres, next season affirms the company’s commitment to its vision of being a top-tier Contemporary Theatre. Our exciting second season at PlayhouseSquare will bring even more variety, breadth and quality to our audiences and keep CPH in The National Theatre conversation about new work.”

The 2012-13 Season includes two world premieres. The first, A Carol for Cleveland, is a family-friendly fable for the holidays adapted by Eric Coble from a story by Cleveland’s master mystery novelist, Les Roberts. The second world premiere is Rich Girl by Victoria Stewart that Bloom describes as “a clever and hip comedy about love and money in the age of CNBC,” to be produced in the Second Stage. It is also the anchor production for the New Ground Theatre Festival in May of 2013. Northeast Ohio is known for being the cradle of professional football, so the city of Cleveland is the perfect place for a production of last year’s Broadway hit Lombardi, which Bloom notes is “not just a sports play but a family drama about integrity, teamwork and second chances.” Also in the new season, CPH rediscovers a lost classic in Bell, Book and Candle, “one of the wittiest romantic comedies written by an American playwright,” remarks Bloom. The Devil’s Music: The Life and Blues of Bessie Smith will turn the Allen Theatre into a jazz club whenperformer Miche Braden captures the soulful singing style and the feisty essence of the “Empress of the Blues.” Two acclaimed dramas complete the season lineup. The Whipping Man, to be produced in the Second Stage, “is an utterly surprising and suspenseful period piece set just after the Civil War,” says Bloom. “And the Tony Award nominee Good People is in my opinion the best play written so far in this century.”

Subscriptions for all seven plays are available now at prices ranging from $105 (for currently enrolled students under age 25 with valid ID) to $357, with extra discounts for educators. Additional pricing will be available for a number of flexible partial season packages. To purchase subscriptions or receive more information, call 216-400-7096 or go to www.clevelandplayhouse.com. Group tickets (10 or more) are available now at savings up to 50% for orders received before April 30th. Tickets for individual performances will range from $15 (for currently enrolled students under age 25 with valid ID) to $69 and will go on sale August 19th.

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