The Cleveland Play House has announced the lineup for the final season in its current home, and there's plenty to entertain theatergoers of all stripes. It's also the last chance for audiences to see a performance in the Philip Johnson-designed complex on Euclid Avenue.
In fall 2011, the Play House is expected to move into PlayhouseSquare's Allen Theatre, which will be transformed into a three-theater complex that will also house Cleveland State University's Dramatic Arts Program. Since 1915, more than 12 million people have attended productions at The Play House, and the upcoming fall shows are the final opportunity for Cleveland theater patrons to experience the debut of a fresh season in the Drury and Bolton theaters.
Main stage productions kick off in September with The 39 Steps (September 17 - October 10), a hit Broadway comedy in which a cast of four creates more than 150 characters in an affectionate spoof of one of the all-time great spy movies. Kite Runner (October 15 - November 7), adapted for the stage by Matthew Spangler and based on the novel by Khaled Hosseini, follows two friends in a powerful story of friendship, family and redemption. This year's holiday fare is This Wonderful Life (November 26 - December 19), a re-imagining of the classic Frank Capra film It's a Wonderful Life in which a single actor portrays more than 20 Bedford Falls citizens.
In 2011, the Play House season offers up Backwards in High Heels: The Ginger Musical (January 7 - 30), a toe-tapping account of Ginger Rogers' life on and off the silver screen. The Horton Foote classic The Trip to Bountiful (February 4 - 27) will be performed for the first time by an African American cast; and an adaptation of Chaim Potok's novel My Name is Asher Lev (March 4 - 27) explores art, family, religion and loyalty. Finally, "time-traveling comedy" Legacy of Light (April 8 - May 1) anchors the 2011 FusionFest.
For more information on the 2010-2011 season, tickets and subscriptions, visit The Cleveland Play House online.
