The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
‘GOLDEN’ MOMENT
CPT’s Y-Haven project gives men on road to recover chance to create, perform
Inspiring is the word that comes up multiple times when Cleveland Public Theatre’s Audience Engagement & Media Relations Director Caitlin Lewins describes the power of the annual CPT/YHaven Theatre Project. ¶ “It’s sort of core to what Cleveland Public Theatre is about,” Lewins said. “It’s really an important part of our programming and our mission.” ¶ Cleveland Public Theatre and Y-Haven present “Golden,” which is created and performed by the residents of Y-Haven, a branch of the Greater Cleveland YMCA. Free performances take place Nov. 3 and 5 at Cleveland Public Theatre’s Gordon Square Theatre in Cleveland. There’s also a benefit performance Nov. 4 at the Detroit Avenue venue.
For nearly 20 years, the Cleveland Public Theatre and Y-Haven partnership project has introduced theater arts to formerly homeless men recovering from substance-abuse and mentalhealth challenges.
As they work with Cleveland Public Theatre artists to create an original performance based on their personal experiences, participants develop skills and capacities designed to help support their sobriety and transition them to employment, permanent housing and independent living.
“I can speak personally: The CPT/Y-Haven Theatre Project is my favorite time of the year, because you’re witnessing these men who are getting on stage for the first time and sharing their personal stories and their heart” Lewins said.
“These are men who will say things like, ‘This is the first time I completed a project.’ These men are overcoming so much, and witnessing them let their artistry come through really motivates you to work to change the things you need to change.”
Y-Haven provides transitional housing, recovery services, treatment for mental illness, educational training, vocational services and permanent housing placement to men who are homeless.
The Cleveland-based nonprofit — which aims to help men live free of drugs and alcohol, become self-sufficient and end their homelessness — has the capacity to serve 113 single homeless men at a time in its transitional housing program, as well as 14 veterans. The outfit also oversees the Open Door re-entry program, which serves up to 45 men at a time leaving prison with no place to go.
When residents graduate from the primary treatment phase, case managers focus treatment plans tied to employment, permanent housing, relapse prevention and education and training program.
As for this year’s production, “Golden,” Lewins said the narrative revolves around a group of friends who have been separated by time but get together for a buddy fishing trip.
“All of the buddies are fishing, and they reel in a mysterious treasure box filled with gold from the bottom of the lake,” Lewins said. “The men sort of have to decide what’s important.
“Is it retrieving the money for themselves so they can support their families? Is it continuing these great relationships? How do you confront your greed? And do our choices make our destiny, or are we destined to whatever fate the universe is throwing at us?”
From a pure theatrical experience, the notion of the men taking the stage for the first time and somehow magically creating a coherent production worthy of an audience could be a stretch for some theatergoers. That said, what audience can expect from “Golden” is a raw, honest experience, which, after all, is the definition of good acting.
“A lot of people say it’s one of their favorite times to come to Cleveland Public Theatre,” Lewins sad. “They’re inspired by the talent of these men, who have not performed before and are creating an original show for the first time. The audience is usually in awe.”