Welcome back to Opening Acts. In this edition of the newsletter, we’re covering:
- What is NNPN and the Rolling World Premieres we talk so much about?
- A special trip for Student Theatre Enrichment Program (STEP) artists
- An invitation into our “Open Home”
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Keep Those New Plays Rolling
Haunted (2026)
If you’re not in theatre circles, you may not be aware of the National New Play Network (NNPN), unless you read our marketing materials (humor us, and say you do 😊) and have seen their purple and white logo and lettering that says “NNPN” with the words “National New Play Network Rolling World Premiere” next to it.
So, what is it? Started in 1998, the National New Play Network is an alliance of theatres across the country, including CPT, dedicated to developing and preserving new plays through workshops, catalog, and production. NNPN has contributed millions of dollars to new work. Based in Florida, the organization’s most popular services include the New Play Exchange, a digital platform that allows artists to upload their plays along with their bios and contact information, making it easy for national and international producers to find their work.
Br’er Cotton (2018)
NNPN’s other popular platform for artists is the National New Play Network Rolling World Premiere program, started in 2004 as an opportunity for playwrights to have their play developed in three or more different cities over the course of a year, allowing them unique productions (casts, sets, directors, etc.) at each stop.
A Xmas Cuento Remix (2020)
Cleveland Public Theatre has been a part of eight Rolling World Premieres, including our recent production of Haunted by Tara Moses, which marked the first time an Indigenous artist was featured and included our fellow Future of American Theatre Cohort members Company One (Boston) and Native Voices (Los Angeles). Other Rolling World Premieres in which CPT participated include: Funny, Like An Abortion by Rachel Bublitz (2024), can it touch it? by francisca da silveira (2023), Panther Women: An Army for the Liberation by India Nicole Burton (2022), A Xmas Cuento Remix by Maya-Malan-Gonzalez (2020), Br’er Cotton by Tearrance Arvelle Chisholm (2018), in a word by Lauren Yee (2015), and Dontrell, Who Kissed the Sea by Nathan Alan Davis (2015).
in a word (2015)
If you’d like to learn more about the National New Play Network and how you can support new work, visit www.nnpn.org.
Photos by Steve Wagner
STEP Go to Suffs
L to R: CPT Director of Education Melissa Crum with STEP Performance Ensemble members and friends Nathan Thorpe, Alyssa Cunningham, Sam Gallo, and Lynx Vergez
In February, artists from CPT’s Student Theatre Enrichment Program (STEP) seized the opportunity to attend Suffs at Playhouse Square, the Tony-winning musical about the women’s suffrage movement. The play’s director, Leigh Silverman, recorded a video message thanking the STEP artists for coming, which put a personal touch on a special evening.
“It was beautiful to share the experience of Suffs with some of our STEP artists. It brought about great conversation around the Women’s Suffrage movement and the ways we can engage with social change now. As artists, they felt moved by the piece and inspired to keep making art and using their voices. The fact that the director of the show took the time to send a personal video encouraging them made the evening all the more special.”
—Melissa Crum, CPT Director of Education
L to R: Sam Gallo, Alyssa Cunningham, Nathan Thorpe, and Lynx Vergez in the audience for Suffs
“Open Home, Open House”
Concept drawing of proposed renovations by Marous Brothers Construction, Perspectus, and Process Creative Studios
In February, we launched “Open Home, Open House: A Tour of Existing and Future Buildings.” These monthly tours offer community members behind-the-scenes looks at where CPT has been and where our renovations are taking us. These are FREE tours featuring CPT Executive Artistic Director Raymond Bobgan and Director of Development Melissa Waddell, and they also include light appetizers and beverages.
Upcoming Tour Dates
April 16 @ 5:30pm (RSVP by April 14)
May 14 @ 5:30pm (RSVP by May 13)
If you’d like to join an upcoming tour, RSVP to Development Associate Jen Shepard at jshepard@cptonline.org or 216-631-2727 ext. 226.
Thank you for reading Opening Acts!
We look forward to sharing more with you soon.
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