Ensemble Theatre presents its first commission in its 44 year history!
A young girl loses her mother as she stands on the precipice of adulthood. A visitor arrives who brings hope and, all at once, an event that should shatter her stands to make her stronger. Young Ruth takes advice from an older version of herself helping to guide her as she changes the world. The Prospect of Equality presents Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s story as we would often wish to see our own, with advice from our older selves, telling us that the fight ahead will truly one day be worth the struggle. * World Premiere NEW Play!

Directed by Celeste Cosentino. | Notre Dame College Performing Arts Center. | May 24-June 9, 2024
Fridays & Saturdays @7:30. Sundays @2:00.
Run Time: 1 hr & 45min. There will be one 10 minute intermission.

Writing The Prospect of Equality gave me deeper insight into Ruth Bader Ginsburg not only as a judge, which we know quite a lot about, but also as a Jewish woman, mother and wife. It was particularly important for me to focus on and highlight her struggles and successes, and shed brighter light on the relationships that helped move her forward, along with her own determination and grit. -Rachel Zake

MEET THE CAST :

Erin Moran (Young Ruth) is the Cultural Arts & Nature Manager or Artistic Director for French Creek Theatre/Nature Center with the Lorain County Metro Parks. She can often be seen acting in puppet shows, puppeteering or directing at French Creek. Formerly Erin has worked for The Mandel Jewish Community Center's Playmakers Youth Theatre and The Francine and Benson Pilloff Family Performing Arts Camp as the Assistant Director. She's worked with companies such as Imaginos Productions, Radio on the Lake, Northeast Ohio Creatives, Blank Canvas Theatre, Dobama Theatre, and was seen in last year's Borderlight Festival. Past roles include, All Shook Up "Ensemble" (French Creek Theatre) The Bog of Cats "Caroline Cassidy" (Ensemble Theatre), Next to Normal "Natalie" (University of Notre Dame), Shrek the Musical "Donkey" (Silhouette Productions), Radium Girls "Grace Fryer", Shakespeare's Henry V "Henry V", Rabbit Hole "Becca" (all at Saint Mary's College). She would like to thank Rachel Zake and Celeste Consentino for their continued support and talents during this exciting process. And lastly she would like to thank her family and friends for their support and love.

Laura Perrotta* (RBG) A native New Yorker, she’s called Cleveland home for over 20 years. Favorite performances include Emma Arkadina in “Stupid Fucking Bird” at Dobama, Petronella Van Daan in “The Diary of Anne Frank” at Cleveland Play House, Lady Macbeth in “Macbeth”, Elizabeth Proctor in “The Crucible”, Princess Puffer in “The Mystery of Edwin Drood”, Arkadina in “ The Seagull”, Fraulein Schneider in “Cabaret” and Amanda Prynne in “Private Lives” at Great Lakes Theater, Evelyn in “Kindertransport” at Ensemble, and as Jessie in “Night, Mother” with Dorothy Silver. Recent performances include that of Grace Hanna in the feature film “ Lost and Found in Cleveland” and Yevgenia in “Describe the Night” at Ensemble, for which she received an honorable mention from Cleveland Critics Circle.

Nicholas Chokan (Young Martin) wishes to express his gratitude and appreciation to Celeste, Rachel, and everyone else at Ensemble. He is honored to be a member of this cast and crew. Recent credits include; NEOMFA Playwrights Festival at Convergence Continuum- (Wo)Mansville and Distant Stars, People, Places & Things at Playhouse Square thru None Too Fragile, Step Nine at Borderlight CLE 2023, and Bulletproof Backpack at Tri-C West. Nicholas can be seen around Downtown as Moses Cleaveland and George Worthington as part of Take A Hike CLE. He would like to dedicate this show's run to Jean, Joe & Frank Szudy. Thank you for supporting live theatre! 

Keenan Carosielli (Marc/Stephen Wiesenfeld) is eager to make his second appearance at Ensemble Theatre having recently played multiple roles in the “ensemble” as well as the U/S for Eilif in Mother Courage and Her Children. Keenan had the pleasure of appearing in Cyrano de Bergerac as an ensemble member and in 1970 as Casey Pedersen. He would like to thank August James Scarpelli for giving him the opportunity at Western Reserve Playhouse. Keenan would not be here without his loved ones and would like to thank his brother, sister, Aunt Tee, grandmother, father, and mother for all of their love. Finally, Keenan dedicates this performance to his grandfather, John Anthony Carosielli.

Samantha Cocco (Margie/Sharron Frontiero) returns to Ensemble Theatre after her Cleveland theatrical debut here in 2017 in The Phantom Tollbooth. She has appeared in over 60 local shows since 2017, most often at convergence-continuum and Karamu House, and is currently engaged in the national tour of To My White Friends Who Know Me. She is also a playwright, having produced her first full-length show Temptation of Adam at Cleveland Public Theatre in March 2024. She will produce her piece Whatever You Conceive Him To Be at Borderlight Fringe Festival this summer. She is a higher education professional and holds a masters degree in nonprofit administration. Follow her at samanthacocco.com and @coccotheactor. Love and gratitude always to her mom, Lark. Thank you for supporting local theatre

Doug Sutherland (Morris Ginsburg/Martin) Since moving to Cleveland from LA, Doug has appeared in Skylight, Oleanna, The Butcher of Baraboo and Prodigal Son at none too fragile. He also appeared in The Other Place at Dobama and The Language Archive at Clague Playhouse. Other theatre highlights include:  Act One Ensemble member at Williamstown Theatre Festival, Bargain and the Butterfly and Eternal Thou (South Coast Rep. Studio), Stranger Things (Ko Theatre Festival), Flu Season, Brothers Karamazov and Eurydice (Circle X Theatre Co)., Book of Pedantry and Wonder (Boston Court Pasadena). TV/Film highlights: Bones, Criminal Minds, Scrubs, Significant Other and Hide and Seek.  Here's to all of the friends and supporters of Ensemble Theatre.

Claudia Lief Zalevsky (Sally Reed/Elena Kagan) is excited to make her Ensemble debut- thank you Celeste, Becca and Rachel! Claudia has a BA in theatre from Baldwin Wallace.  Local credits include Mercury Theatre's 'Clue' (Miss Scarlet) and 'My Son Pinocchio' (Blue Fairy). Claudia can be seen in various comedic roles in Zalevsky Halloween Productions (2023 still in pre/post production). Claudia owes this performance to her husband, Dan, who pushed her to get back on stage, keeps her constantly laughing and impresses her daily with his research skills and cooking abilities. Claudia is most proud of her incredible, kind and talented children, Liam, Claire and the Hankenator. 

Dan Zalevsky (Charles Moritz/Antonin Scalia) is thrilled to be once again returning to the Ensemble Theatre stage. His recent Ensemble credits include Mother Courage and Her Children (The Chaplain), The River (The Man), & Clybourne Park (Karl/Steve). Dan has a BA in Theatre from the University of Northern Colorado. New York credits: Vital Theatre’s The Tempest (Trinculo), Emerging Artists Theatre’s The Gay Naked Play (Dan), founding member/writer/performer with the award-winning sketch comedy group, Fearsome (Upright Citizen’s Brigade Theatre and the People’s Improv Theatre, NYC). Cleveland theatre credits: Mercury Theatre’s Clue (Professor Plum) as well as their reading of Lost in Yonkers (Uncle Louie), Heights Youth Theatre’s alumni production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (Boris). Dan would like to thank his amazing wife, Claudia for her support & strength. This would not be possible without her. Thanks to Liam, Claire & Hank for their energy, humor and love. 

Ariana Starkman (Assistant Director/Swing) is overjoyed to be back at Ensemble Theatre after recently performing in Mother Courage. She has a BA in Theatre and Social Change from UPitt, and spent significant amounts of time studying acting in Arezzo, Moscow, and London. Other credits include Tilly (She Kills Monsters), River (Appropriate), and Mary Magdalene (Fissures of Men). Ariana is trained in ten stage combat weapons, is a Consent-Forward Artist with Intimacy Directors and Coordinators, and is Program Manager for a Cleveland non-profit focused on somatics. A heartfelt thank you to all who support her — including you, the audience. www.arianastarkman.com; IG: @ariana.starkman 

Meet The Playwright & Crew:

Rachel Zake (Playwright) is a writer, actor, and director. Her plays have been seen onstage at various Ohio venues. Rachel has been acting for over 30 years (Playhouse Square, Dobama Theatre, Ensemble Theatre, Cain Park, Playwrights Local, and Halle Theatre, and various films, TV shows, and commercials). She is President of the Board of Directors for Dobama Theatre, and a member of SAG-AFTRA, The Dramatists Guild of America and Dobama Theatre’s Playwrights’ GYM. She also served as Artistic Director of Playmakers Youth Theatre in Beachwood, OH. She has published four books: Two People are Coming out of a Building (2014, fiction), The Nomad Diaries (2017, nonfiction), Pants Off/Dance Off: A Gentleman's Guide (2019, nonfiction) and The Actuality of Us: Leiland & Emmeline (2021, fiction). Next up, Rachel is thrilled to direct Madagascar Jr for young actors at Cain Park (on stage July 2024). Thank you to Celeste, Ensemble Theatre, and the cast for the incredible opportunity to bring her words to life! Much love to Craig, Ryder and Aria and, of course, the unparalleled RBG.

Celeste Cosentino (Executive Artistic Director/Director)

Becca Moseley (Production Stage Manager/General Manager)

Ariana Starkman (Assistant Director/Swing)

Ian Hinz (Set & Lighting Design)

Jill Kenderes (Costume Design)