Cleveland's Contemporary Stage
2490 Lee Boulevard Suite 325 
Cleveland Heights, OH 44118   dobama@dobama.org
Office (216) 932-6838     Box office (216) 932-3396

Our Mission

Intimate, edgy, sometimes heart-filled, Dobama is a small professional theater dedicated to premiering outstanding plays written by today's established and emerging playwrights. Through its educational programming, Dobama Theatre nurtures the development of theatre artists and builds new audiences for the arts while provoking an examination of our contemporary world.

Our Education Mission

Our educational programming seeks to awaken interest, enkindle imaginations and provide training in theater arts to artists and non-artists of all ages. Our programs mine the community for new voices all the while affirming the necessity of political and social consciousness or point of view. Our educational approach is geared toward developing and applying practical skills through the process of creating new theater experiences.

History of Dobama Theatre

Dobama Theatre was founded in 1959 by Donald and Marilyn Bianchi, Barry Silverman and Mark Silverberg. During the past 47 years, Dobama has worked consistently to professionally produce plays of consequence not previously offered at other area theaters. The Theatre is committed to innovative programming, professional performance standards, nurturing new playwrights, developing new audiences, and educational outreach. In addition to offering a unique theater experience to Cleveland audiences, Dobama is dedicated to the nurturing and development of area theater artists. Dobama began employing equity artists in 1995 and the cultivation of new writers is a major focus of all Dobama's programming.

Each year Dobama produces from three to six mainstage plays. Ninety-eight percent of our mainstage productions have been Cleveland, American or World premieres. Dobama's reputation for being professional, innovative, and forward-thinking has led to numerous honors including nineteen awards from the Cleveland Critics Circle, an Outstanding Achievement in Theatre Award from the Ohio Theatre Alliance, and two Theatre Excellence Awards from Northern Ohio Live magazine for productions of Tony Kushner's "Angels in America" and Margaret Edson's "Wit".

The Marilyn Bianchi Kids' Playwriting Festival, the first event of its kind in the country, inspires the creation of plays by area first through twelfth graders. Currently in its 29th year, the Festival encourages and rewards the creative expression of hundreds of area students. Award winning plays are published in an annual book and professionally produced by Dobama Theatre. As part of the Festival, Dobama offers a weekend of free theater to area families and has provided teacher and student workshops.

The Night Kitchen offers late-night programming that involves young adults, ages 15 to 30, both as audience members and participants. For nine years, Night Kitchen has been committed to the cultivation of new audiences. Since that time Dobama has seen this venue cultivate the talents of young playwrights, actors, directors, and designers. Night Kitchen productions mirror Dobama's Mainstage values of cultivating original work and producing plays that address contemporary issues. Like our Mainstage productions, it is a vehicle for developing new writers, addressing world issues, and attracting theatergoers of all ages.