Photo Flash: First Look at RED ASH MOSAIC at Cleveland Public Theatre

Cleveland Public Theatre (CPT) presents the world premiere of Red Ash Mosaic, created by Raymond Bobgan and Cleveland Core Ensemble and directed by Raymond Bobgan. Red Ash Mosaic is onstage now through June 17th, 2017, in CPT's historic Gordon Square Theatre. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Set in a modern America filled with fears and forgetting, Red Ash Mosaic reaches back to the cradle of our civilization and a crux of our future - the resource-rich and archaeologically potent Nile valley. Based loosely on The Egyptian Book of the Dead (or Coming Forth by Day), the story follows one man as he strives to unite the seemingly irreconcilable forces of his life, memory and splintered selves.

Ashis an experiment in theatrical form, with interwoven and contradictory narrative threads, powerful physical action, chanting and poetic texts - designed not to show, but to invoke; not a presentation, but a transmission. Beginning in the daily doldrums of a video game store, Red Ash Mosaic erupts into a fracturing of realities and parallel lives launching into an otherworldly land of dreams, spirits and the awakening of one man as he confronts his own death/life.

Conceived over three years, Red Ash Mosaic is the culmination of a collaborative ensemble-based process which engages actors in the authorship of the play. According to Red Ash Mosaic creator and director Raymond Bobgan: "I think theatre is best when the artists making it are on their own journey of self-discovery; so I feel compelled to experiment, to keep learning and growing. My work develops from deep encounters between director and actors, collaborating artists and the audience. I endeavor to empower each artist to explore his or her personal source material - dreams, memories, reflections - and to participate in creating unique performance."

In 2012, Executive Artistic Director Raymond Bobgan began working with a group of actors to create Rusted Heart Broadcast. The principles of this work were guided by Raymond's long experience in ensemble theatre creation. Raymond formed a core group of actors to continue working together as an ensemble company, aligning with the Network of Ensemble Theaters (a national organization of which CPT is a member) which defines ensembles as "a group of individuals dedicated to collaborative creation, committed to working together consistently over years to develop a distinctive body of work and practices."

As part of its growth, the group has claimed a name-Cleveland Core Ensemble-and is working on a multitude of projects, including the full scale creation and production of Red Ash Mosaic. The ensemble is made up of Raymond Bobgan, Dionne Atchison, Faye Hargate, Adam Seeholzer and Darius Stubbs. On occasion, other actors will work inside the ensemble as guests and the ensemble will continue to be part of other theatrical projects, both independently and as company members. The purpose of the ensemble goes beyond the creation of new work, as it also influences the approach to theatre throughout the season, instills core values in the broader artistic work of CPT, contributes to CPT's community work in events like Station Hope and forms the pedagogical basis for CPT's education programs.Click here to read more about Cleveland Core Ensemble.

The cast is Cleveland Core Ensemble: Dionne Atchison, Raymond Bobgan, Faye Hargate, Adam Seeholzer, Darius Stubbs AND Holly Holsinger, Colleen McCaughey, Sarah Moore.

Red Ash Mosaic was created by Raymond Bobgan and Cleveland Core Ensemble. The production team is Raymond Bobgan (Director and Scenic Designer), Benjamin Gantose (Lighting Designer) Holly Holsinger and Irene Mack-Shafer (Co-Costume Designers), Matthew Ryals (Sound Designer and 2016/2017 Kulas Foundation Theatre Composer Fellow), Maura Krause (Dramaturg) and Colleen McCaughey (Stage Manager).

**Due to the intimate nature of the performance, there is absolutely NO LATE SEATING. Doors close at show time - please plan accordingly.**

Tickets are $12 - $30. Students/Seniors receive $3 off on Friday and Saturday nights. All Thursdays and Mondays are $12.Friday/Saturday previews are $20. Purchase tickets at www.cptonline.org or call the CPT Box Office at (216) 631-2727 x 501. Group discounts are available - call the Box Office to inquire.

Photo Credit: Steve Wagner

Adam Seeholzer, Faye Hargate, Raymond Bobgan, Darius Stubbs, Sarah Moore
Faye Hargate, Holly Holsinger, Darius Stubbs, Adam Seeholzer, Raymond Bobgan
Adam Seeholzer, Faye Hargate, Raymond Bobgan, Darius Stubbs, Sarah Moore
Darius Stubbs, Adam Seeholzer, Faye Hargate, Holly Holsinger, Raymond Bobgan, Colleen McCaughey
Faye Hargate, Adam Seeholzer, Darius Stubbs, Holly Holsinger
Adam Seeholzer, Holly Holsinger, Darius Stubbs, Raymond Bobgan
Faye Hargate, Adam Seeholzer, Holly Holsinger, Raymond Bobgan
Holly Holsinger, Darius Stubbs, Sarah Moore