[NEohioPAL]FREE BACKSTAGE PASS PROGRAM AT SCA

[Megan Brack]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 20, 2005

Contact:	               Karen L. Prasser
		Executive Director
		Solon Center for the Arts
		440.337.1403
		kprasser at solonohio.org=20

BACKSTAGE PASSES AT SOLON CENTER FOR THE ARTS

Solon Center for the Arts is pleased to announce a new program, Backstage =
Passes, every Tuesday in February from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm!

Backstage Passes have been created to introduce students and community =
members to the many career options in the visual and performing arts. Get =
a =93behind-the-scenes=94 perspective from SCA Staff and local professional=
s in the field of your interest - whether it=92s in music, theater, dance =
or art. Discussions will be moderated by students from Solon High School. =
If you are thinking about a career in the visual or performing arts, you =
will want to take advantage of these free sessions to ask questions and =
have an in depth discussion about an exciting future in the arts!

The focus area for February 1 will be Art. Mr. Richard Zimmerman, =
President of ZZ Design, will be at SCA to discuss his career in graphic =
design, architecture, city planning and management. Mr. Zimmerman has his =
degree in Architecture and Business. He has 30 years experience as a =
registered architect and has been a private business owner for more than =
17 years. He also enjoys cartooning! Mr. Michael Butcheck, Artist and =
general manager of the Cleveland Shakespeare Festival, will also be =
speaking. He holds his MA in Arts Administration. For the past ten years, =
he has worked in various community theaters as a set designer, technical =
director and manager while continuing to exhibit his artwork throughout =
Northeast Ohio.=20

The focus area for February 8 will be Dance. Mr. Michael Medcalf, Founder =
and  Executive/Artistic Director of Cleveland Contemporary Dance Theatre =
will be present. Mr. Medcalf is a performer, choreographer, educator and =
founder of one of the most relevant and respected arts organizations in =
Northeast Ohio. Mary Verdi Fletcher, Founder and Executive Director of =
Dancing Wheels, will also be speaking. Considered one of the premier arts =
and disabilities organizations in the country, Dancing Wheels is a =
professional, modern dance company that unifies both stand-up and sit-down =
dancers. Ms. Verdi Fletcher is the driving force behind its efforts. She =
is also one of the company=92s leading dancers.=20

The focus area for February 15 will be Theater. Sean Booker, Featured =
Actor with Cleveland Public Theatre, is a seasoned actor and teacher and =
has an extensive career, having worked throughout the country. Mr. Booker =
is well-known in the Cleveland area for his work with Cleveland Public =
Theatre and Cleveland Signstage Theatre. He has also worked with Ensemble =
Theatre of Cincinnati, Georgia Shakespeare Festival and Indiana=92s =
Bridgework Theatre, to name a few. Mr. Booker will be speaking in addition =
to Jacqi Loewy, Professional Actor, Director, Choreographer and Stage =
Manager. As an actress, Ms. Loewy has performed on Broadway, National TV, =
in film and regional theater. She also has experience with improvisation =
(Second City), as an acting coach, on-camera technique teacher, TV =
production, writer, producer, dance teacher and costumer. Ms. Loewy is an =
Adjunct Faculty member in Dance and Theater at the University of Akron, =
Lake Erie College and Case Western Reserve University.

The focus area for February 22 will be Music. Gerald MacDougall, Director =
of Orchestras for Solon Middle School and Solon High School will be =
speaking. Mr. MacDougall holds Masters Degrees in both Music Theory and =
Cello Performance. While pursuing his Doctorate in Music Theory from =
Eastman School of Music, he continued palying in various ensembles. He =
enjoys sharing his love of music with his students. Patrick Connolly, =
Violist with The Cleveland Orchestra, will also be speaking. Mr. Connolly =
has been a member of The Cleveland Orchestra since 1988 under the =
direction of Maestro Cristoph von Dohnanyi. A graduate of Curtis Institute =
of Music in Philadelphia, Mr. Connolly has performed throughout the world =
with various orchestras including Dallas Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra, =
Denver Chamber Orchestra and Santa Fe Opera, to name a few. He is an =
active chamber player having appeared in concert halls around the =
country.=20

Solon Center for the Arts is located at 6315 SOM Center Road at the corner =
of Bainbridge Road in the Old City Hall building. For tickets and more =
information about upcoming events and classes in art, music, theater and =
dance, call 440.337.1400.

####


Megan Brack
Solon Center for the Arts=20
6315 SOM Center Road
Solon, OH 44139

mbrack at solonohio.org

440.337.1400