The Dobama Collection

Collage of images from the Dobama Collection

The Dobama Theatre was founded by idealistic theater students, Don and Marilyn Bianchi, Barry Silverman and Mark Silverberg as their way of presenting free quality theater for the people of Cleveland. Dobama started as a very small production company that managed to present its first production during the week of May 17, 1960. Barry and Mark left Dobama shortly afterwards, while the Bianchis remained to nurture the theatre on Don’s often proclaimed foundation of Love and Respect, and to develop it into an acclaimed, innovative, and award-winning (if not entirely free) theater.

Although production costs have made an entirely free season impossible, Dobama has always provided at least one weekend or day of free theater, and occasionally, “pay what you can” theater! In addition, The Marilyn Bianchi Children’s Playwriting Festival, established in her memory, is a program that accepts plays submitted by school children, and produces the winning play from each grade. When the budget allows, all of the winning scripts are compiled and published for the children as well.

Joyce Casey
Joyce Casey, Dobama Theatre Artistic Director

Leading Dobama Theatre into its second half-century, Joyce Casey became artistic director after Don Bianchi stepped down in 1991. Joyce is currently heading a massive undertaking of raising funds to remodel Dobama’s new home, the former YMCA part of the Cleveland Heights – University Heights Library.

We hope that this material will help researchers learn more about this unique theater group, its survival in the face of shifting times and realities and its committment to give the people of Cleveland the best and newest plays produced and acted by a dedicated and talented company.

The Dobama Collection is a collaborative digital project between The Cleveland State University Library and the Cleveland Public Library. Forty three Dobama playbills lent to us for digitization by the Cleveland Public Library Literature Department, publicity stills from the Cleveland Press Collection, as well as a chronological listing of Dobama productions through July 2007 compiled by Laura R. Dempsey were all cataloged and indexed in Cleveland Memory to provide this montage of the Dobama's contributions to Cleveland's vibrant theatrical scene.

Link to Don Bianchi Audio File
Dobama Co-founder, Donald Bianchi
Link to John Klein Audio File
John Klein as "The Book"

Credits: This website, the practicum project of Kent State University School of Library and Information Science practicum student, Carolyn Solis, has been realized with the help and generosity of many including Donald Boozer from the Literature Dept. at Cleveland Public Library; Joyce Casey, the Artistic Director at the Dobama Theatre; Teddy Bianchi, widow of Donald Bianchi; and original Dobama company member, Everett Dodrill.