STUDENT THEATRE ENRICHMENT PROGRAM (STEP) 2026: GETTING BACK TO ONCE UPON A TIME

July 23, 2026 - August 02, 2026

Times and locations vary, see below. Be sure to bring a lawn chair or blanket to our outdoor performances!

FREE

Cleveland Public Theatre’s Student Theatre Enrichment Program (STEP) presents Getting Back to Once Upon a Time, a new play incorporating story, music, spoken word and dance. The 60-minute show takes us on a mythical journey about an intimate community that attempts to understand what stories mean and why they matter while striving to maintain the joy and hope that stories bring.

This FREE family-friendly original show is being performed by the student artists of Cleveland Public Theatre’s STEP program in a neighborhood near you.

TOUR SCHEDULE*
Thursday, July 23 at 7pm |Herman Park, 6198 Herman Ave.
Friday, July 24 at 1pm | Woodhill Station West, 9511 Buckeye Rd.
Sunday, July 26 at 1pm | Lake Pool Park, 1341 W. 85th St.
Tuesday, July 28 at 6pm | Outhwaite Homes Community Center, 2452 E. 46th St & Quincy
Wednesday, July 29th at 7pm | Halloran Park, 3550 W. 117th St.
Thursday, July 30th at 6pm| Riverside Park Estates Community Ctr., 17800 Parkmount Ave.
Saturday, August 1st at 1pm| Romanian Cultural Gardens, 870 MLK Jr. Blvd.
Sunday, August 2nd at 7pm| Cleveland Public Theatre, 6415 Detroit Ave.

*Locations, dates and times are subject to change. 

Click here to learn more about STEP.

For accessibility needs, please inquire with individual locations.  Note that the performance on Sun., Aug. 2 at Cleveland Public Theatre has access to a wheelchair and gender-neutral restroom.


Ensemble Members:

Performers: Aaliyah Wagner, Aaron T. Dowdell Jr., Ailene McCluney, Aleena Brown, Antony Thorpe, Arihsay Gonzalez Rivera, Cashed, Chanty Roberts, Danashia Jefferson, DeAndre Chapman Jr.,Eva Vergez, Fernando Martinez, Gabriella Carol Silva, Harold Earl Watts III, Jameer Battle, Javion Battle, Jayla Alvarado, Joe'Nathan Wilson, Lynx Vergez, Makayla Taylor, Marlin Bell, Nathan Thorpe, Nico Smith, Paris Craig, Sabina Cha, Sasha Lee, Shianne Monae Patterson, Tah’V’yheer Zuber, Taryn Potts

Tech Team: A'mirr Edmonds, Arland Jackson, Avi Schaffer, Dreama Ellison, Ebubechuwku Oranugo, Emilison Cedeno, Josiah Ragsdale, Nate Griffith, Rylee Stamper


The Creative Production Team Includes:

Producer | Raymond Bobgan
Director of Education | Melissa Crum
Program Director | Avery LaMar Pope
Teaching Artists | Cassandra Miller, Angus Williams, Kyra Kelley
Stage Manager| Bea Shakow
Technical Director|Tom West
Technical Lead|Cas Ziemer
Tech Assistant | Bradford Eason
Costumes & Specialty Props | Inda Blatch-Geib
Wardrobe Supervisor|Sofia Thornhill


Very special thanks to: Council President Blaine A. Griffin and Councilpersons Richard Starr, Austin Davis, Kevin Conwell, Nikki Hudson, Tanmay Shah, and Charles J. Slife.

Made possible through the generous support of: Cleveland City Council and the Mayor’s Office of Prevention, Intervention, and Opportunity for Youth and Young Adults; Brewer-Garrett; Dollar Bank Foundation; First Federal Lakewood; KeyBank Foundation; Martha Holden Jennings Foundation; David & Inez Myers Foundation; PNC Bank; William M. Weiss Foundation

Special thanks to these Community Partners: Burten, Bell, Carr Development, Inc., City of Cleveland Department of Community Development, City of Cleveland Division of Special Events, Cleveland Metropolitan School District, Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority, Northwest Neighborhoods CDC, Slavic Village Development, Tremont West Development Corporation, The Iron Ward, Westown Community Development Corporation, and West Park Kamm’s Neighborhood Development 


STEP 2025: TO SHAKE THE SLEEPING SELF (INSPIRED BY DON QUIXOTE)


STEP is ALSO SUPPORTED BY CPT’S SEASON SPONSORS