Cleveland Public Theatre Presents FIRE ON THE WATER

Cleveland Public Theatre (CPT) Executive Artistic Director Raymond Bobgan is proud to present a reimagining of the celebrated Cleveland-original production, Fire on the Water. Fire on the Water is presented in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of the burning of the Cuyahoga River. The production is onstage from February 14 through March 2, 2019, in CPT's historic Gordon Square Theatre.

Led by CPT's Executive Artistic Director Raymond Bobgan (Conceiver, Lead Playwright, Co-Director) and CPT's 2018/2019 National New Play Network (NNPN) Producer in Residence India Nicole Burton (Co-Director), Fire on the Water weaves together multiple short works created by some of Northeast Ohio's most compelling theatre makers, including John Dayo-Aliya, Alison Garrigan (Talespinner Children's Theatre), Cathleen O'Malley, Jeremy Paul (Maelstrom Collaborative Arts), Darius J. Stubbs, and Dr. Mary E. Weems. The show will feature original music composed by CPT's 2018/2019 Kulas Theatre Composer Fellow, Buck McDaniel.

Fire on the Water, the acclaimed multimedia theatrical event, returns to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the 1969 burning of the Cuyahoga River in an all-new version. Fire on the Water is a fast-paced series of short plays inspired by this pivotal moment in Cleveland's history. Created by a team of playwrights, directors, and actors, the production features original work woven into a powerful production exploring how the environment shapes identity, while celebrating the remarkable recovery of Cleveland's waterways.

According to CPT Executive Artistic Director Raymond Bobgan: "Rivers and bays burned across the United States-this was nothing new. What made the 1969 fire so important was the national attention Cleveland received, and the response from our leaders Carl and Louis Stokes. The action they took ultimately led to the formation of the Clean Water Act. As Clevelanders, we can be both ashamed of the history and destruction we have wrought on our environment, and we can be proud of our leadership in repairing the damage. Now, we sit at a critical point where we must remember our responsibility to the future. The intent of Fire on the Water is not to create a 'commercial' for the environment or to promote a series of practices like recycling. The idea has always been to look at the fundamental, spiritual, imaginary, and creative worlds shaping the way we understand the environment. What happens when we remember the environment is not a lifeless, purely physical phenomenon, but something in which we and our interior selves, our dream selves, connect with?"

Fire on the Water weaves together a dynamic assortment of short theatrical works based on historical events, reinterpreted in a textured and multimedia pageant that includes comedy and satire, original mythology, dramatic monologue, puppetry and movement, layered with live music, and unfolding over multiple stages in CPT's historic Gordon Square Theatre. Described as a "360 degree" experience, audience members will be seated in 100 rolling office chairs during the show to best enjoy the dynamic performances happening above, around, and between them.

The Fire on the Water ensemble cast includes Courtney Nicole Auman, Luka Blackhill, Sidney Edwards, Faye Hargate, Brinden Harvey, Shatara Jordan, Michael Levin, Kim Martin, Terah McGowan, Daniel McKinnon, Mary-Francis R. Miller, Zach Palumbo, Adam Seeholzer, Kat Shy, Anastasia Urozhaeva, and Hillary Wheelock.

The Fire on the Water creative production team includes Raymond Bobgan - Conceiver & Lead Playwright; India Nicole Burton* & Raymond Bobgan - Co-Directors; John Dayo-Aliya, Alison Garrigan, Cathleen O'Malley, Jeremy Paul, Darius J. Stubbs, Dr. Mary E. Weems - Contributing Playwrights; Alison Garrigan, Cathleen O'Malley, Jeremy Paul, Darius J. Stubbs - Contributing Directors; Maelstrom Collaborative Arts, Talespinner Children's Theatre - Collaborating Companies; Jennifer Caster** - Stage Manager; Alison Garrigan - Costume Designer; T. Paul Lowry - Video & Scenic Designer; Benjamin Gantose - Lighting Designer; Buck McDaniel*** - Composer, Sound Designer, & Music Director.

Fire on the Water previews February 14. Press Night is Friday, February 15 and the show runs through March 2. Performances are Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Monday nights at 7:30pm in CPT's Gordon Square Theatre, located at 6415 Detroit Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44102, in the heart of the Gordon Square Arts District.

Tickets are $15-35. Students/Seniors receive $5 off on Friday and Saturday nights. Thursdays, and Mondays are $15.

PURCHASE TICKETS at www.cptonline.org or call the CPT Box Office at 216.631.2727 ext. 501. Group discounts are available-call the Box Office to inquire. (Reserve early! - CPT never charges any ticket fees, ever.)

The Gordon Square Theatre is ADA compliant featuring a ramped entrance and an all gender, wheelchair accessible restroom.

Every FRIDAY is Free Beer Friday at CPT. Mingle with the artists after the show and discuss the performance in a lively, social atmosphere-your drinks are on CPT.

Every SATURDAY show will be followed by a post-show discussion with NE Ohio "Sustainability Heroes." Stick around after the show, grab a beer or refill your canteen, and join an energetic and informative conversation with some of the individuals working to preserve and protect our precious waterways.

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