GRAND CONCOURSE

by Heidi Schreck

Having dedicated her life to religious service as a nun, Shelley runs a Bronx soup kitchen with unsentimental efficiency, but lately her heart’s not quite in it. Her brisk nature masks an unsettling fear that her efforts are meaningless. When Emma — an idealistic but confused college dropout — arrives to volunteer, her reckless mix of generosity and self-involvement pushes Shelley to the breaking point. With keen humor and startling compassion, Heidi Schreck’s play navigates the mystery of faith, the limits of forgiveness, and the pursuit of something resembling joy.

Directed by Craig Joseph, assistant directed by Natalie Sander Kern, and produced by Michael Glavan, the production stars Rachel Gold, Zyrece Montgomery, Jonathan Rodriguez, and George Roth.

Kate Beckley stage manages, with costume design by Mia Jones, sound design by Angie Hayes, and props design by Lisa L. Wiley.

CONTENT ADVISORY: profanity, mild sexual innuendo

GRAND CONCOURSE is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. — www.concordtheatricals.com

October 11–27, 2024
Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 PM / Sundays at 2:30 PM

Christ Episcopal Church
3445 Warrensville Center Rd
Shaker Heights, OH 44122

AMERIKIN

by Chisa Hutchinson

When new father Jeff Browning receives the results of an ancestry test that he’s taken to gain admittance to a white supremacist brotherhood, he gets an unexpected surprise. What transpires garners the attention of a prominent Black journalist — attention that Jeff (and his small town) aren’t sure they want. A dark comedy about the lengths we’ll go to to feel connected to something larger than ourselves, AMERIKIN makes a passionate and provocative case for walking a mile in someone else’s shoes — regardless of the cost.

Directed by Craig Joseph, produced and assistant directed by Jeannine Gaskin, the production stars Michael Glavan*, Chennelle Bryant Harris, Mugs Johnson, Rachel Lee Kolis, Andy Knode*, Katherine Nash, and Geoffrey Short.

Sam Landgraf stage manages, with scenic design by Alan Costa, costume design by Victoria Mearini, sound design by Megan Slabach, lighting design by Micah Harvey, props design by Mia Jones, and cultural consultancy by Martine Kei Green-Rogers.

CONTENT ADVISORY: racial slurs, descriptions of suicide, postpartum depression, and a visible gun

*denotes member of Actors’ Equity

March 14–30, 2025
Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 PM / Sundays at 2:30 PM

LatinUs Theater Company
2937 West 25th St
Cleveland, OH 44113

THE FIRST SNOW OF SUMMER

by Eric Coble

In the face of an oncoming natural disaster, a family gathers at their childhood home in the mountains of Colorado. As the clock ticks, old wounds open and new opportunities for connection arise, even as mysterious omens encroach from the surrounding woods. Amidst laughter, tears, and unexpected outbursts, the clan is forced to confront who and what is worth saving when the end draws near. Seat of the Pants is thrilled to present this world premiere by Cleveland-based, award-winning playwright, Eric Coble.

Co-directed by Anne McEvoy and Craig Joseph, produced by Abraham Adams, the production stars Melissa Brobeck*, Samantha Cocco, Jacki Dietz, Fabio Polanco*, Juliette Regnier, and Neda Spears.

Charlene Hartley stage manages, with scenic design by Ron Newell, costume design by Abbie Hagen, sound design by Maggie Hamilton, lighting design by Ayron Lord, and props design by Erin Ocampo.

CONTENT ADVISORY: profanity

THE FIRST SNOW OF SUMMER is produced by special arrangement with The Gersh Agency, 9465 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 600, Beverly Hills, CA 90212.

*denotes member of Actors’ Equity

June 13–29, 2025
Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 PM / Sundays at 2:30 PM

The Darl Center for the Arts
5437 Broadway Ave
Cleveland, OH 44127

THE WOMEN OF LOCKERBIE

by Deborah Brevoort

July 2024

"The startling caliber of unflinching expressionism from all the performers in this heart-wrenching story of communal connection and healing is extraordinary. It’s an expressionism, certainly a poetry, at once terrifying and painful, sincere and credible. And ultimately inspiring." (Tom Wachunas, ArtWach)

BACH AT LEIPZIG

by Itamar Moses

March–April 2024

"The actors perform admirably under the direction of Michael Glavan, with each one contributing unique and stellar moments to the ensemble effort … all hail to the cast that turns in yeoman, often inventive work, and manages to make the show quite delightful ..." (Christine Howey, Cleveland Scene)

TROUBLE IN MIND

by Alice Childress

November 2023

"A strong and vital production of the work by renowned Black playwright Alice Childress … this is a play that asks questions and doesn't provide answers. And the cast does a remarkable job of keeping those questions alive and intriguing under the supple direction of Jeannine Gaskin." (Christine Howey, Cleveland Scene) 

OUR COUNTRY’S GOOD

by Timberlake Wertenbaker

August 2022

"Our Country’s Good exposes the viewer to a part of history not well known to many. The overly-long script gets a creditable staging by Seats of the Pants Productions. It is worth the sit for anyone interested in probing theater." (Roy Berko, Cool Cleveland)

THE ABSOLUTE BRIGHTNESS OF LEONARD PELKEY

by James Lecesne

August 2021

"All [nine] characters come to credible life thanks to Craig Joseph’s remarkable performance acumen. From the timbre of his various accents (New Joisey, Britain, Germany) to the detailed nuances of body language, his expressivity is riveting, at once fiery, poignant and not without a generous dose of edgy humor. He turns the playwright’s words into specific, tangible people with attitudes — funny, happy, frightened, angry, mournful —  switching from one to the next with astonishing speed and precision." (Tom Wachunas, ArtWach)

APPLES IN WINTER

by Jennifer Fawcett

August 2021

"[Anne] McEvoy gives a brilliant performance as Miriam, who's alternately nervous, apologetic, funny and heartbreaking. Under the direction of Jamie Koeth, we feel the deep mourning of a loving mother through all of McEvoy's soulful performance." (Kerry Clawson, The Akron Beacon Journal)

WHEN WE WERE YOUNG AND UNAFRAID

by Sarah Treem

March 2020

“[Craig Joseph] not only understands the script and how to hone his actors’ performances, but nicely blocks the movements to take advantage of Aurora Community Theatre’s quirky thrust stage … The cast, headed by Derdriu Ring and Amy Fritsche, is outstanding. The rest of the cast rises to their level, with each fleshing out a real person. [This is] a superb production, with high quality direction and acting, thus making it a perfect vehicle to “celebrate” the issues of womanhood in this era of angst.” (Roy Berko, Cool Cleveland)

RIPCORD

by David Lindsay-Abaire

November 2019

"Dede Klein is unwaveringly unpleasant and even imposing as Abby, who addresses everyone with contempt and condescension. Similarly well cast is April Deming as Marilyn, the kind of woman who tries to keep things upbeat and copacetic, no matter what. Benjamin Gregg is steadily amusing as Scotty, the facility aide who does his best to remain polite in extreme circumstances. Shani Ferry and Micah Harvey contribute to the fun as Marilyn’s daughter and son-in-law. James Alexander Rankin, as someone from Abby’s past, arrives for a dramatically resonant scene amidst all the craziness." (Dan Kane, The Canton Repository)

SMOKEFALL

By Noah Haidle

August 2019

"[Smokefall] is mounted here by Seat of the Pants Productions, ... always on the look-out for powerful, challenging stage literature. [They've] found it again. And again, [they have] assembled a superbly accomplished ensemble to articulate it.” (Tom Wachunas, ArtWach)

THE END OF THE TOUR

by Joel Drake Johnson

March-April 2019

“Well-paced, with clearly-developed characters and high-quality acting. The overall effect is respect and awe for the cast and director. This is a must-see production.” (Roy Berko, Cool Cleveland)

MOLLY SWEENEY

by Brian Friel

November 2018

“A beautiful sense of melancholy pervades … this gracefully written and performed play, … an achingly quiet work with big ideas.” (Kerry Clawson, The Akron Beacon Journal)

THE CHRISTIANS

 by Lucas Hnath

August 2017

“Lucas Hnath’s writing doesn’t succumb to preachy histrionics, melodramatic propaganda, or obtuse Christian apologetics. What we get instead is the uncanny sensation that these actors aren’t really acting so much as offering an unabashedly honest look at the complex reality of ideological impasses. Their sincerity is so palpable and disarming that we become not merely passive witnesses to a church’s plight, but engaged, sympathetic neighbors sharing the innermost spiritual struggles of a once harmonious community. Church as microcosm of our turbulent times?” (Tom Wachunas, ArtWach)

CHESAPEAKE

by Lee Blessing

June 2017

“Mr. Joseph IS the play, as it’s a one-man affair. So it would be a hollow compliment to say you can’t take your eyes off him. There’s nothing else to look at in this production – no set, no props, no lighting changes. This nearly two-hour (with an intermission) monologue is delivered in a black box. And yet it explodes with all the complicated colors and textures of clashing ideas and personalities. Joseph is a proverbial and otherwise riveting man of a thousand faces (and voices to match) who brings Blessing’s tale – maddeningly compelling and preposterous – to cantankerous and hilarious life. He does so with memorable panache, and an astonishingly keen ability to balance both comedic absurdities and searing drama with startling credibility.” (Tom Wachunas, ArtWach)

THAT CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON

by Jason Miller

May 2017

“Only five minutes in, as each perfectly-cast man performs his role with both gusto and the finest nuance, audience members forget that this is a staged reading. We don’t even notice the scripts in the actors’ hands because, quite frankly, there are too many other fascinating dynamics occurring onstage.” (Albert Clay, The Voice)

THE BEST MAN

by Gore Vidal

August 2016

“All eleven members of this excellent cast are remarkably adept at articulating the play’s uneasy balance between biting sarcasm and credible human drama….Stephanie Cargill has crafted a remarkably poignant rendering of dignity amid woundedness, tempered with a measure of emotional detachment both chilling and sad in her role of Mrs. Russell.” (Tom Wachunas, ArtWach)

PICNIC

by William Inge

August 2015

“Once again, Seat of the Pants demonstrates remarkable acuity for drawing out compelling realism from cast members. They truly own their roles, imbuing Inge’s language - which on paper can sometimes seem hoakey and histrionic – with visceral authenticity. Additionally, The Black Box Theatre is made all the more intimate by Micah Harvey’s artful set that cuts across the floor so that we in the audience, viewing it from two sides, feel like neighbors peering into the shared back yard where most of the story unfolds.” (Tom Wachunas, ArtWach)

GOD OF CARNAGE

by Yasmina Reza

October 2012

“And, oh, how fun to watch this foursome transform and unravel from the safety of one’s seat! A superb cast… this is some of the finest ensemble acting I’ve ever seen on a local stage, brimming with energy and inspired details that seem utterly of the moment… This terrifically juicy and entertaining production deserves to be seen.”   (Dan Kane, The Canton Repository)