Photo Flash: Inside the Home of THE FAMILY CLAXON

Cleveland Public Theatre (CPT) is proud to announce the world premiere of The Family Claxon, a dark comedy by Eric Coble, 2016/2017 Nord Family Foundation Catapult Fellow, and directed by Craig J. George. The Family Claxon is onstage October 5 - 28, 2017, in CPT's historic Gordon Square Theatre.

Andrew is throwing a party for old Grandad Claxon's 150th birthday as a last-ditch effort to finally get the higher-ups to notice him. His plan for promotion might just work since Grandad is the company's founding father. If only Andrew's wife would stop losing jobs and their daughter would stop blogging, while neighbors desperately flood into their home because of nearby rampages and plumbing explosions. And did we mention the Guatemalan Flu that makes house pets spontaneously combust? The Family Claxon is an insane romp into the absurdity of life in our communally duct-taped home.

According to Eric, "The Family Claxon is my first foray into true absurdist comedy, waving a not-so-fond farewell to reality even as I dig into greater, more disturbing truths beneath." Eric's work is hailed as "hilariously funny" (New York Times) and Eric was named "A Playwright to Watch: An unqualified original with rich and idiosyncratic works" (American Theatre).

According to The Family Claxon producer and CPT Executive Artistic Director, Raymond Bobgan:"Everyone in the Cleveland theatre world knows who Eric Coble is. His work is produced at theatres all over the city, and nationally and internationally, because he's really good at what he does-and it's genuinely great to work with him. But for Eric to work at Cleveland Public Theatre requires something special... because we don't produce the same kind of theatre most other theatres produce. We are Cleveland's cutting edge theatre so it had to be outside the mainstream. It had to be extraordinary... and The Family Claxon totally delivers. Cleveland Public Theatre is super excited to be working with Eric, once again, on a play we feel is edgy and cool, and speaks to this time in an unconventional way."

CPT's New Play Development
CPT is a leader in providing platforms for new work and emerging artists locally and nationally. Nurturing artists whose work goes beyond conventional theatre in style and content, New Play Development at CPT seeks to create extraordinary new works of theatre. Our nationally recognized approach is a blend of structure and customization, supporting artists at various points in their creative process. Rigor and joy are at the core of the process, leading to risk, surprise, delight and discovery as we deepen the ongoing work of our craft-to explore the human condition while championing consciousness and compassion.

About Catapult
Catapult is the most extensive of CPT's new play development programs, intended to move projects from early to mid-development phase to being "production-ready." Each process is customized to the work; projects may receive a series of readings, significant rehearsal time and/or workshop productions. Artists selected for Catapult receive funding support through the Nord Family Foundation Playwright Fellowship.

Cast and Crew of The Family Claxon

The cast is Abraham McNeil Adams, Ananias J. Dixon, MaryAnn Elder, Colleen Longshaw,* JP Peralta, Olivia Scicolone, Hillary Wheelock, Victoria Zajac. (*Actor appears courtesy of Actors' Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.)

The Family Claxon was written by Eric Coble, 2016/2017 Nord Family Foundation Catapult Fellow. The production team is Raymond Bobgan (Producer); Elizabeth Cammett (Stage Manager); Benjamin Gantose (Lighting Designer); Alison Garrigan (Costume Designer); James Gillen Kosmatka (Sound Designer); Ismael Lara (Assistant Director); Ryan T. Patterson (Scenic Designer).

Ticket & Show Information

The Family Claxon (October 5-28, 2017) previews Thursday, October 5, 6, 7 & 12 (no show October 9). Press Night is Friday, October 13 and the show runs through Saturday, October 28. 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 $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. (Reserve early! - CPT never charges any ticket fees, ever.)

Photo Credit: Steve Wagner

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