Last Friday nite, Marie and I attended the opening of “Fire on the Water” at Cleveland Public Theatre. It’s a stunning success for CPT and Raymond Bobgan, its Executive Artistic Director (full disclosure, CPT is a client).
”Fire on the Water” is a fast-paced series of short plays inspired by a pivotal moment in Cleveland’s history — the burning of the Cuyahoga River on 22 June 1969.
It’s a story that neither begins nor ends on that infamous night. Rather, it stretches back to the glacial retreat at the end of the last Ice Age (over 13,000 years ago) — before catapulting the audience into the Common Era thru a tangle of myth and memory, Cleveland’s industrial history, the ’69 fire and beyond.
Created by a diverse team of playwrights, directors and actors, the production features original work by CPT and co-producers Theater Ninjas, Talespinner Children’s Theatre, Ohio City Theatre Project and Blank Canvas Theatre.
I think it’s a powerful theatrical event that explores how the environment shapes identity — while celebrating the remarkable recovery of Cleveland’s waterways.
With 6 more performances, it plays thru 14 February — and it’s had terrific buzz. To purchase tickets online, click here.
