• Rough Crossing — July 10, 17, 26, 27, 31, August 8
• Dark of the Moon — July 11, 19, 20, 24, August 1, 9, 10
• Two Gentlemen of Verona – The Rock Musical — July 12, 13, 18, 25, August 2, 3, 7

Cleveland is alive once again this summer with professional theater at Cleveland State University’s Factory Theatre, presented by CSU’s Dramatic Arts Program. Building on the success of 2007’s inaugural season, the 2008 season of Summer Stages features three plays in rotating repertory on the CSU campus from July 10-August 10.

Broadway, film, and television guest artists will once again perform and direct with local professionals and CSU students, as well as conduct master classes and workshops. The company includes drama students from Baldwin-Wallace College and Kent State and Case Western Reserve universities.

“Where else can you see three different shows with the same cast playing different characters in one weekend?” asks Dr. Michael Mauldin, Chair of Dramatic Arts and producer of Summer Stages.

“Last summer, so many people thanked us for bringing professional, local theatre to downtown,” he added. “When I was hired to chair Dramatic Arts in 2006, I walked into this historic performing arts space and felt it was my duty as a new Clevelander to help with the revitalization of downtown. Cleveland has always been known as a theatre town, and I wanted to do my part.”

The 2008 season includes Tom Stoppard’s hysterical farce, Rough Crossing, directed by Cleveland’s own Scott Plate and starring Mauldin and Everett Quinton, 21-year veteran of The Ridiculous Theater Company in New York (July 10, 17, 26, 27, 31, August 8).

The mysterious, Appalachian-themed drama Dark of the Moon is directed by Quinton (July 11, 19, 20, 24, August 1, 9, 10). The third show, Two Gentlemen of Verona – The Rock Musical, is directed and choreographed by internationally-known director Dee Dee Sandt (July 12, 13, 18, 25, August 2, 3, 7).

In 2007, for the first season of Summer Stages, Mauldin called upon fellow professional actors and good friends Quinton, Carl Whidden, Jessica Anderson, and Andrew Call. All have returned for the second season with the exception of Call, who is slated to start pre-production for Broadway’s Brigadoon.

Summer Stages adds After Dark Cabaret

A bonus to Summer Stages is the After Dark Cabaret on Friday and Saturday nights after the show at 10:30 p.m. Four one-hour Broadway-themed performances are scheduled, featuring many of the starring performers whom the audience will have just seen on stage. Guest artists from touring Broadway shows will also take part. Dessert, drinks and performances are provided for a suggested $10 donation.

New – Smarty Pants Pass for $30

Ticket prices are $15 for general, $10 for seniors, and $10 for groups of 10 or more. The Smarty Pants Pass is $30 to see all three shows. Curtain time is 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday.

For tickets or more information on Summer Stages, please call the Box Office at 216.687.2109, go to www.csuohio.edu/theater, or visit the Box Office in the Factory Theatre, located at East 24th Street between Chester & Payne Avenues. Parking is free. The Box Office is open Monday–Friday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Play Descriptions

Rough Crossing
Tom Stoppard’s knockabout farce about two authors, two actors and a composer trying to finish their new musical before their ship arrives in New York. A hilarious spoof on the theatre and its practitioners! Directed by Scott Plate. July 10, 17, 26, 27, 31, August 8

Dark of the Moon
A lyrical and sensual tale of the collision between the world of witches with mountain folk, set in 1920s Appalachia. Directed by Everett Quinton, audience favorite from last year’s The Robber Bridegroom. July 11, 19, 20, 24, August 1, 9, 10

Two Gentlemen of Verona
A wild “happening” rock version of Shakespeare’s classic comedy! A playful and sexy combination not to be missed. Music by Hair’s Galt MacDermot, choreography by internationally known director Dee Dee Sandt. July 12, 13, 18, 25, August 2, 3, 7

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