CLEVELAND: Cleveland Play House (CPH) has announced its 2020-21 season, featuring a mix of virtual performances, programs, and events.

“Since the pandemic began, we have been wrestling with the safety and economic challenges posed by this crisis,” said artistic director Laura Kepley in a statement. “We are committed to meeting this moment with creativity, resilience, and compassion for the wellness of our community. We will resume in-person programming when it is safe and possible to do so. In the meantime, in this digital season we will bring you the same passion and purpose that appears on our stages, but in the form of unique, interactive stories, events, and experiences. CPH is not going dark—we are going online! This will be a first for Cleveland Play House; but as America’s first regional theatre, I am confident that, if we band together we can rise to this challenge.”

The programming will include the Theatre Thursday series, a live and interactive virtual program that will be presented on the third Thursday of every month by Kepley and CPH artistic directing fellow Stori Ayers. The series will run through April 15.

The virtual events will kick off with CLUEbaret: A Comedic Musical Cabaret (Oct. 10), an evening of songs and high jinks featuring cast members from CPH’s production of Clue: A New Comedy, which was staged in January. The guests will include Mariah Burks, John Treacy Egan, Donna English, Eleasha Gamble, John Innerst, Michael Kostroff, Alex Mandell, Mark Price, Graham Stevens, and Elizabeth Yancey. Casey Hushion will direct.

The season will continue with the 2021 New Ground Theatre Festival (May 2021), including commissions of Cleveland-inspired stories from playwrights George Brant, Vichet Chum, Jessica Dickey, Chelsea Marcantel, and Charly Evon Simpson. Dates and titles will be announced in March.

Founded in 1915, the Cleveland Play House produces musicals and plays in addition to providing educational programming.