Ullom's account of the Cleveland Play House's search for its identity provides a strong paradigm for how this kind of historical project should be done. Working with new archival material, America's First Regional Theatre is a glimpse into the complicated evolution of a cultural treasure. Well-researched, with a strong critical and analytical approach of looking at theatre history through the larger lens of sociology, economics, and politics. - David A. Crespy, University of Missouri, USA and author of Off-Off-Broadway Explosion (2003) and Richard Barr: The Playwrights Producer (2013)
The history of Cleveland Play House is inseparable from that of the community it has served since 1915. Jeffrey Ullom tells the tale of a pioneering arts institution through a century of triumphs and tribulations, juxtaposed with the story of a once mighty, now resurgent metropolitan community. It is a fascinating read for anyone interested in the history of Cleveland Play House, the American theatre, and the Cleveland community. - Kevin Moore, Managing Director, Cleveland Play House