Thu 5/9-Sun 5/19
For the 14th year, the Cleveland Play House presents its New Ground Theatre Festival, where theatergoers can see productions of new plays in various stages of development.
Among the playwrights whose new work is being performed is Cleveland Heights-based Eric Coble (pictured). His The Hat Box (or, The Inheritance) will get readings, while students from Cleveland Play House’s Theatre Academy will perform his Feed, which was commissioned by the CPH.
The students will also perform Kristin Idaszak’s Wildfire and the Bird Scouts. Mark Kendall will perform his own piece The Magic Negro and Other Blackity Blackness, while Melissa Green & Sarah Saltwick’s Egress will get a workshop production and Alexis Scheer’s Christina an irreverent passion will get a reading.
It’s worth noting that the majority of the playwrights are women, whose works still are less frequently staged than men’s. One has to wonder if that has anything to do with the fact that the Cleveland Play House is led by a woman artistic director, Laura Kepley. For whatever reason it’s a good sign.
Find a full schedule of performances here, along with descriptions of the plays.