A creative exercise blending comedy, storytelling, music production developed by Ramon Rivas II. December 23 at Happy Dog's basement bar.About this Event
ABOUT THE SHOW
NEEDLE DROP was developed by Ramon Rivas II as part of an arts incubator at Cleveland Public Theater in 2026. Every session is a unique, organic experience that helps audience members explore how sound informs feelings, thoughts and creative actions impact on our shared surroundings. Audience choices set the creative dominos in motion.
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
RAMON RIVAS II
Stand up comedian, music producer and eminent Latino from Lorain, OH. Comedy has been featured on Sirius/Xm comedy stations, his own Comedy Central half hour special streaming on Paramount+, a spot on HBO Latinos Entre Nos Latin comedy series streaming on HBOMax and he’s been professionally high in those, appearances on BROAD CITY, CRASHING and as a celebrity judge on COOKING ON HIGH the cannabis cooking show on Netflix.
STEPHANIE GINESE
Stephanie Ginese (ji-nay-say). Mother, author, comedian. Writing instructor & loud talker. From South Lorain, Ohio. Daughter to an equally loud, Puerto Rican mother & a stylish, Calabrian father. published with some rad journals like the Pinch Journal at University of Memphis, Wax Nine Journal, Cleveland Review of Books,Columbia Books on Architecture and the City, and others. debut collection of poetry, Unto Dogs, was released in July of 2022 on Grieveland; centered on themes of Puerto Rican nationalism, reproductive violence, and spirituality.
As a comedian, performed at Hilarities, The Cleveland Comedy Festival, The Columbus Comedy Festival, and more. the co-creator of the Con Tú Variety Show. a 2023 Cleveland Arts Prize recipient, a 2024 Creative Impact Fund Awardee, & currently living and working in the great city of Cleveland.
TJ MACLIN
Bio: TJ Maclin is a Cleveland-based stand-up comedian, filmmaker, and storyteller whose comedy blends sharp observation, vulnerability, and a lived-in sense of humor. His work often explores adulthood, family, growing up Black and working class, and the strange emotional math of feeling behind in life while still trying to become yourself. TJ brings a grounded, narrative style to the stage—funny, reflective, and unafraid to sit in the uncomfortable parts of a story until the laugh breaks through.
He has performed at Hilarities and Funny Bone Cleveland, co-wrote and starred in the animated mini-series Daytime Noir alongside Jeron Braxton and Jay Ellis of Insecure, now streaming on Hulu, and co-produces and co-created the Con Tú Variety Show. His debut comedy special, Late Bloomer, is available now on YouTube.
CHIMI
As a Nigerian-born interdisciplinary artist based in the Midwest, CHIMI drwas from ancestral knowledge of rhythm, and liberating practices of free will to build improvised, altar like atmospheres.
She has collaborated and toured internationally with musical powerhouses like Mourning [A] BLKstar, Lonnie Holley, Moor Mother and Lee Baines. Her work encompasses, sound, performance, installation, and visual arts.
In 2024, she was awarded Cleveland Public Theater's Premiere Fellowship. In 2025 took 1st place at the Groundhog Show for her visual art work.
CHIMI's work has been featured at Grace Exhibition Space, Spaces Gallery, Waterloo Arts, Harlan Levey Projects, Galerie Papillon, Ulia Art Project, Le Delta Namur and New York Live Arts.
Agenda
🕑: 07:00 PM
DOORS OPEN
🕑: 07:30 PM
SHOW WARM UP BEGINS
🕑: 08:00 PM - 09:30 PM
NEEDLE DROP Sessions
Event venue
Happy Dog, 5801 Detroit Avenue, Cleveland, United States
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups — all the happenings, one place.