Mission and Artistic Statement

Mission Statement

Cleveland Public Theatre's mission is to raise consciousness and nurture compassion through groundbreaking performances and life-changing education programs.

CPT develops new, adventurous work; and nurtures Northeastern Ohio artists—particularly those whose work is inventive, intelligent, and socially conscious.

CPT's acclaimed education programs engage communities in devising new works that speak to contemporary issues, and empower participants to work for positive change in our community.

2025 – 2026 Artistic Statement

Luminous

This is a time for us to shine our light out in a special way.

Luminous, not like the sun,
the moon illuminates in the time of darkness,
reminding us in the long night,
the sun still shines,
and will rise again.

Yes, this is a moment for the moon to light our path.
And if our current purpose can be
reflecting light,
then our work is also to scrub and polish,
for if we are to reflect like the moon,
we must also be open and clear.

But we must remember to breathe here,
and not float away,
in this the place where our inner spirit struggles and plays,
where the imagination can explore new ideas, new worlds,
and find a refuge for healing and comfort.

This lunar light shines on those who must meet in the night: freedom seekers, stargazers, forbidden lovers, fire singers, guardians and protectors,

yes, we all share this source, this illumination.

And we tell the stories.
We speak of illusions of excellence, the reflection of heartbreak, and seeing our self in an electrical mirror. We tell of mourning and love and laughter as we clothe ourselves in our memories. And as the moon has so many faces, so we can hold our multiplicity of identities as we revel in Hanin حنين , and learn to listen in a neighbor’s garden, or wait until the light will come to reclaim the very land and lake we love, or hope to fly into the star and join in the light our mind imagined. We tell of owls, we dance on streets with ancestors, we dance naked (or nearly naked), and laugh out loud, but for real, and we remember our ancestors and the light they shine.

And we will launch new ways to travel the maze, softly (or not so soft).

And there are so many other stories to be unwrapped; to be birthed (and did I mention the moon and childbirth?) in testing ground for fledgling visions.

We will dream of Jacob’s ladder on a hard wood floor,

or out on a fire-escape as we traverse these earth-bound paths,
ascending, descending, we dream of that place where gravity will not hold us quite so tight,
so we may walk lighter,
And with more light.
Ever reflective.

Luminous.