Ground Theatre Festival New Ground Theatre Festival (formerly known as FusionFest) is an annual showcase of new theatrical works. Cleveland Play House develops and presents a variety of new work from nationally recognized artists, and each year produces a centerpiece production. Other offerings range from fully produced large-scale collaborations with peer top-tier organizations to solo performances to readings of plays hot off the writer's printer. The Roe Green Award brings a leading American playwright to Cleveland to develop a new project culminating in a public reading and master class. The first winner of this prestigious award was Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Quiara Alegría Hudes, who spent a week in-residency with CPH to present and discuss her play Daphne's Dive in May 2012. Cleveland Play House has showcased many playwrights and their emerging work at New Ground Theatre Festival, including Jordan Harrison (Marjorie Prime, 2013), George Brant (Grounded, 2014), Elizabeth A. Davis (Joe, 2014), Kirsten Greenidge (Little Roe Boat or, Conjecture, 2016), and Eric Coble(Fairfield, 2014, Feed 2016, These Mortal Hosts, 2017). Notable artists Alan Alda, Joel Grey, Margaret Hamilton, Paul Newman, Elizabeth Hartman, Eleanor Parker, June Squibb, Ray Walston, Jack Weston, Grant Show and James Riordan are among the many actors whose careers began at the Play House which also operates the nation's oldest community-based-theatre-education programs. Artistic directors Recent productions 2018–2019 season 2017–2018 season 2016–2017 season 2015–2016 (100th anniversary) season 2014–2015 season References in pop culture In the movie Wet Hot American Summer, when upset about the effort of the actors in a camp play, Amy Poehler as "Susie" says: "OK, stop. I feel like I'm watching regional theatre, you guys. God! Am I in the Cleveland Play House or something? Your craft is a muscle, you need to exercise it. Take a break; think about what you've done." Filmmaker David Wain explained, "The joke was that in saying how bad these campers are, she compares them to a truly respected theater company. I figured why not make a reference to my hometown?" References External links Cleveland Play House Theatres in Cleveland Entertainment companies established in 1915 1915 establishments in Ohio Philip Johnson buildings