Stereophonic takes the stage at Cleveland’s Playhouse Square

CLEVELAND — Andrew Gombas is a member of the cast touring the country with Stereophonic, a Tony Award-winning play about a band on the brink of making it big.

They’re stopping at Cleveland’s Playhouse Square for three weeks, but it’s not Gombas’ first visit to the region.

“I started my career here 15 years ago,” he said. “To come back and be doing this show in this building, it’s like being in some kind of Greek temple. It’s such a giant, incredible theater, so it blows my mind.”

Gombas grew up in Chicago but came to Cleveland to teach performing arts to kids across Northeast Ohio through the Great Lakes Theater. 

“It was life-changing for me,” he said. “At the time I wasn’t sure, like, do I want to be an actor? Do I want to be a musician? Do I want to be a teacher? And that program is really what solidified my decision to pursue a career in the performing arts.”

Gombas is proud of where his experience in Cleveland has landed him. Stereophonic follows the rise of a British-American band recording an album in studio in the 70s. Cast members like Cornelius McMoyler, who plays the drummer in the band, actually play and record on stage in real time. 

“As much as it just looks like stage business back here, guitars are really getting tuned,” McMoyler said. “And, I’m really adjusting the height on my snare at a certain point in every show. So, I mean, that’s the best part about this show is you don’t have to pretend that you’re washing dishes or something. This kitchen is real in that sense.”

Stereophonic is showing at Playhouse through Jan. 25, but Gombas hopes it’s not his last time in the city.

“Cleveland is an amazing place to be an artist,” he said. “There’s such an incredible community here that fosters the arts, and I still dream of moving back here and just continuing the life I had here because this is one of my favorite places to live.”