CPT’s Student Theatre Enrichment Program (STEP) is a rigorous arts-based program that provides hands-on job training and engages youth from Cleveland families in a powerful learning experience that develops job skills, academic achievement, and interpersonal skills. As part of this eight-week summer program, youth ages 14–19 work together to create, produce, perform, and tour their own play. This program is the longest-running arts-based workplace development program in Cleveland and is an international model for engaging youth. Since its beginning in 1994, STEP has received multiple awards and recognitions including those from the City of Cleveland, The President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities, and the National Endowment for the Arts. Through STEP, teens see themselves as a positive and inspirational force and watch as their work has an impact on the larger Cleveland community.

STEP is a paid artistic opportunity. This year’s program will run June 8–August 2, Monday–Friday, 11am–5pm. Performances are scheduled during afternoons and evenings on weekdays and weekends from July 23 through August 2. Read More ›

Cleveland Public Theatre (CPT) is hiring Teaching Artists for our nationally recognized Student Theatre Enrichment Program (STEP) 2026. Available roles are temporary, full-time positions beginning June 1, 2026 and ending no later than August 5, 2026. Exact start dates depend on the role. The STEP Technical Assistant earns $650/week, the STEP Teaching Artist earns $685/week, and the STEP Technical Director and Lead Teacher earns $850/week. Set salaries are based on candidate experience and range of skills.  Read More ›

Cleveland Public Theatre (CPT) is hiring a Manager of Grants and Municipal Relations which is a core part of the CPT staff and will make a meaningful contribution to life at CPT and its success. CPT will be accepting applications for this position until the role is filled.

To apply for the position, send an email to Melissa Waddell, Director of Development, at careers@cptonline.org. Subject line should read: [LAST NAME], GRANTS MANAGER. The email should include two attachments: a resume and a two-page cover letter describing your history, passion, why you are interested in this position, and what you have to offer. Candidates selected for an interview will be asked to provide writing samples and may be asked to provide additional materials. No phone calls, please.  Read More ›

Cleveland Public Theatre’s Executive Artistic Director Raymond Bobgan is proud to announce the promotion of Associate Producer Paige Conway to Associate Artistic Director, a role that is part of CPT’s senior leadership team. In the four years Paige has been a part of CPT, she has demonstrated grace under pressure and a knack for working with and bringing together artists and staff of all walks of life. A consummate team player and visionary, she has shown great artistry as a director first with Funny, Like an Abortion and last season with The Body Play, with both productions receiving popular and critical acclaim. She has also brought great insight and creativity to the annual Pandemonium benefit and Test Flight new play development series. We look forward to seeing what this next chapter brings for CPT and the Greater Cleveland theatre community.
Read More ›

Cleveland Public Theatre’s Executive Artistic Director Raymond Bobgan is proud to announce the promotion of Melissa Crum, former Artistic and Education Associate and Interim Director of Education, to the official role of Director of Education. Melissa takes over from former Director of Education Nicole Sumlin, who left the organization last summer to pursue other opportunities. Read More ›

Cleveland Public Theatre (CPT) is hiring an Operations Apprentice who will become part of the CPT team and contribute to life at CPT and its success while gaining hands-on experience in arts administration and producing.

Reviews of candidates will begin immediately. To apply for the position, send an email to Marguerite Hannah, general manager, at careers@cptonline.org by Tuesday, December 23 with the subject line: YOUR LAST NAME, Operations Apprentice. Your email should include two attachments: a resume and a two-page cover letter highlighting relevant experience and explaining your interest in the apprenticeship. No phone calls or emails please.

Operations Apprentice Job Description — Six-Month Full-Time Paid Apprenticeship

Cleveland Public Theatre (CPT) is seeking an Operations Apprentice, an early-career arts administrator or producer eager to explore multiple facets of a high-impact, socially engaged arts organization. This is a cross-departmental position offering hands-on experience in artistic management, education, event production, and front-of-house operations.

Read More ›

SoftLaunch 2026 Applications open

SoftLaunch is a performance festival that seeks bold experimentation, innovation, and complete reinvention of what theatre can be. (Think installation art, immersive performance, shows for intimate audiences, and way beyond all that—it can be as far out as your imagination will take you!) 

This weekend-long festival takes place January 15, 16 and 17, 2026 at 7pm. Audience members receive a pass and can wander as they wish to see (and be a part of) various performance experiments. We are seeking work that ranges from workshop to fully produced. Pieces or experiences outside the theatrical play format, not plays, or at least, not the way we are used to thinking about plays. We are only interested in projects that do not fit typical theatre form, not pieces in a normal theatre setting, even if that piece is radical.   Read More ›

The PILOT Project 

The PILOT Project is a learning community guided by Cleveland Public Theatre’s Executive Artistic Director, Raymond Bobgan, with the explicit goal to explore new forms and new innovations in theatrical performance. This is a workshop where artists will become PILOTs (in a sense) who navigate the expansive complexities of theatrical performance. This work is inspired by Raymond’s successful “Directing Creation” course but will be more of a group process and discussion platform. As a learning community, we will engage in stimulating knowledge exchanges around different theatre-inspired performance trends and ideate around new forms and fresh possibilities. This workshop is a free offering for all artists accepted. Read More ›