Cleveland Play House's SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE to Benefit Texas Theatre Devastated by Hurricane Harvey

Cleveland Play House (CPH) and Cleveland State University (CSU) will host an Arts Industry Night 6:30PM performance September 10th of Shakespeare in Love, with a portion of the proceeds to the Alley Theatre in Houston, Texas. Funds will be allocated to the Alley Employee Flood Assistance Fund to directly help the employees of the theatre affected by the devastation of Hurricane Harvey.

All tickets that evening will be $20 each - reduced from the normal range of $25-90 - with a portion of each ticket being donated. Additionally, there will be items available for sale to boost the donation, including autographed show posters, props from the production and more.

CPH Arts Industry Night is offered on one Sunday evening per production and includes a specially-priced ticket to those involved in the arts. For this performance, CPH and CSU are inviting everyone, Arts Industry and non-Industry theatre-lovers alike, to take advantage of this special price, and opportunity to help out one of our sister theatres. That evening's performance was also a CSU Department of Theatre and Dance benefit, and they have generously volunteered to donate a portion of that evening's ticket proceeds towards the relief fund.

"Upon hearing of the devastation Hurricane Harvey has had upon the Alley Theatre, CPH wanted to extend a showing of support," said Laura Kepley, CPH Artistic Director, "Last year Dean Gladden, Managing Director of the Alley, gave me a tour of their beautiful, newly renovated building when I was there for my husband's production of Grounded. Many in our cast have worked at the Alley and have friends and colleagues there. Our hearts go out to our sister theatre in their time of need."

"The CSU Department of Theatre and Dance is proud to participate with CPH in trying to provide some assistance for the distressing situation in Houston" states Lynn Deering, Chair, CSU Dept. of Theatre and Dance.

The Alley Theatre of Houston is home to a resident company of actors, and the theatre itself had just undergone a $46.5 million dollar renovation in 2015, much of which has been destroyed by the natural disaster. CPH and The Alley Theatre have co-produced performances together, and have both been granted the Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre. Most recently CPH teamed up with the Alley to produce Disney's Freaky Friday during the 2016-17 theatre season. The CPH/Alley ties go further, as Alley's Managing Director Dean Gladden held the same position with CPH for 19 years. Cleveland Play House is hopeful to raise funds to assist the Alley's employees in this time of need, and so the theatre can be operational and entertaining Houston audiences very soon.

Industry Night Texas Benefit will take place during the 6:30PM Sunday evening September 10th performance of Shakespeare in Love, playing on stage at the Allen Theatre at Playhouse Square. Tickets for the Industry Night Texas Benefit are available by calling (216) 241-6000, and will be available online at www.clevelandplayhouse.com for the promotional rate beginning September 6th.

Cleveland Play House founded in 1915 and recipient of the 2015 Regional Theatre Tony Award, is America's first professional regional theatre. Throughout its rich history, CPH has remained dedicated to its mission to inspire, stimulate and entertain diverse audiences in Northeast Ohio by producing plays and theatre education programs of the highest professional standards. CPH has produced more than 100 world and/or American premieres, and over its long history more than 12 million people have attended over 1,600 productions. Today, Cleveland Play House celebrates the beginning of its second century of service while performing in three state-of-the art venues at Playhouse Square in downtown Cleveland.

Cleveland Play House is made possible in part by state tax dollars allocated by the Ohio Legislature to the Ohio Arts Council (OAC). The OAC is a state agency that funds and supports quality arts experiences to strengthen Ohio communities culturally, educationally, and economically.

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