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.



2023/2024 Artistic Statement

Making Waves

Yep, it’s time to make some waves. It’s time
to incite ripples across our communities,
across our region, and beyond!

And this is not just “hard work” because we
will be together. The artists of Cleveland
have taught me over and over to expect
magic and joy as we call out, call up, sing
out, and raise the tide.

This season is about getting out and
living life, engaging in honesty, and asking
ourselves and each other to level up.

Yes, it’s time to ask the big questions of
fate, and faith, and forgiveness. (Our Lady
of Common Sorrows)

Yes, it’s time to reach out and ask for our
own liberty,
to simultaneously break with tradition and
seek our heritage,
to remember our ancestors, and set things
right (The Outstretched Hand),

And we will call up our shadows and
experiment with new ways of being that
may go too far until we question what we
wanted all along (Alter)

as we dive into the truth that can only be
seen in the light of mortality in a Requiem
that is an awakening, a birth.

And our steps will be like waves, and we
will walk with others through 12 steps that
require 12,000 steps. (Y-Haven)

We will test new things that have never
flown before. (Reverie Oracle)
And we will dance… in so many forms and
ways. Yes. We will dance.

And we will laugh at the worst jokes about
the worst of all times,
(Funny like An Abortion)
and it will be inappropriate,
and stupid,
and we will laugh until we cry— because it’s
funny until it is not.
And that is the time to listen, and feel, and
hear, and listen again.

Because in this place,
I have witnessed a massive wave—

a wave of listening of hearing,
a torrent of seeing,
When you know what it is to feel truly seen,
and what it means to give that gift to
another.

Raymond Bobgan, CPT Executive Artistic Director