Photo Flash: Cleveland Public Theatre Presents GLORIA By Branden Jacobs-Jenkins

Cleveland Public Theatre (CPT) is proud to present Gloria by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, directed by Beth Wood (CPT's Associate Artistic Director & Director of Production), onstage in CPT's Gordon Square Theatre from March 23 through April 13, 2019.

A group of bickering editorial assistants at a prestigious magazine are chasing the dream: a book deal before they turn 30 and a shot at fame when an ordinary day at the office becomes a living nightmare. The stakes for who gets the story skyrocket when crisis offers an opportunity for a career-defining moment. Inside America's media machine, who has the right to tell whose story? Simultaneously funny and shocking, Gloria is an adrenaline rush of a show skewering the opportunistic culture of modern media.

According to CPT's Executive Artistic Director, Raymond Bobgan: "This biting, and beautiful play is simultaneously hilarious and eerily reflective of disturbing contemporary practices. Inside Gloria, we consider questions like, 'Why are cultures that focus on productivity, ambition, and self-service dominating our work and personal lives? When toxicity is so prevalent, how do we truly invest in those around us? How do we create empathy, build community, and connect with each other?' It's also about agency and ownership of experiences and stories. Who can tell and sell whose story?"

Gloria was a finalist for the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and received nominations for the 2016 Lucille Lortel Awards for Outstanding Play, and the 2016 Drama League Awards for Outstanding Production of a Broadway or Off-Broadway Play. The New York Times called Gloria a "whip-smart satire of fear and loathing in a beleaguered industry under siege [exploring] the cannibal culture cycles that grip and warp Americans' attention these days."

CPT's production of Gloria includes sudden, loud gunshots, and graphic violence. For additional context about the production, we strongly encourage you to click the link at the bottom of this press release to read the content warning. NOTE: includes spoilers. You can also contact the Box Office with questions at 216.631.2727 x501 or boxoffice@cptonline.org.

The cast includes Isaiah Betts, Sally Groth*, Keith Kornajcik, Michael Prosen, Sarah Maria Yannie, Evangeline Zhiyi Han, and is directed by Beth Wood. The creative production team includes Raymond Bobgan - Producer; Maes Lunaria M. - Stage Manager; Inda Blatch-Geib - Costume & SFX Designer; Benjamin Gantose - Lighting & Scenic Designer; Kevin Inouye - Fight Designer; and James Kosmatka - Sound Designer.

*Actor appears courtesy of Actors' Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.

Gloria previews March 23 & 28. Press Night is Friday, March 29 and the show runs through April 13. Performances are Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Monday nights at 7:30pm in CPT's historic Gordon Square Theatre, located at 6415 Detroit Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44102 in the heart of the Gordon Square Arts District.

Tickets are $15-35. Students/Seniors receive $5 off on Friday and Saturday nights. Previews, Thursdays, and Mondays are $15.

PURCHASE TICKETS at www.cptonline.org or call the CPT Box Office at 216.631.2727 ext. 501. Group discounts are available-call the Box Office to inquire. (Reserve early! - CPT never charges any ticket fees, ever.)

Photo Credit: Steve Wagner