[NEohioPAL]Cleveland Premiere! Topdog/Underdog Opens September 30 at the Beck Center

Fri Sep 16 08:45:13 PDT 2005

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For Immediate Release

September 16, 2005

Direct questions to:  (216) 521-2540

Yvette Hanzel, extension 225

Scott Spence, extension 239

=20

Beck Center for the Arts

Presents

Topdog/Underdog

September 30 - October 23, 2005

=20

You are only yourself when no one's watching.

---Suzan-Lori Parks

=20

            Cleveland, Ohio -Beck Center for the Arts will premiere
Suzan-Lori Parks' Topdog/Underdog, opening September 30 through October
23, 2005 in the intimate Studio Theater.

            Topdog/Underdog is a dark comic fable of love and family
identity surrounding two brothers Lincoln and Booth.  The brothers,
whose names were given to them as a joke, generate a lifetime of sibling
rivalry and resentment.  Haunted by the past, the brothers are forced to
confront the shattering reality of their future. Topdog/Underdog is a
funny sad portrait of two men with limited life chances.  What results,
is an electrifying text with a venue for two captivating performances.
Its message is concerned with the universal issues of family dynamics,
power struggles and love.

Topdog/Underdog is perhaps the best-known work of Suzan-Lori Parks, and
earned her the 2002 Pulitzer Prize for drama. She was the first
African-American woman to win that title.

            This Cleveland premier is directed by Dale Shields and
features Ed Onipede Blunt and Jimmie Woody as the brothers, Lincoln and
Booth, respectively.  "Topdog/Underdog is a universal story about the
inherent tensions between brothers." says Shields.  "The two brothers
follow unique game plans to find a catharsis to resolve a conflicted
childhood and disadvantaged adulthood.  I've enjoyed the experience,
along with the script's conflict between fantasy and reality, which
propels a dynamic interplay between two explosive African American
characters.  The language sizzles, pops and electrocutes!"

Sponsoring this Cleveland premiere are 90.3 FM WCPN ideastream,
Cleveland Scene Magazine and Lakewoodbuzz.com. =20

Show times are Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m. and Sundays at 3:00
p.m. For tickets call the Beck Center box office at (216) 521-2540 or
log onto www.beckcenter.org <http://www.beckcenter.org/> . Tickets are
$26 for adults, $23 for seniors (65 and older), and $15 for students (22
and under with ID). All individual ticket sales are subject to a $2
administrative fee per ticket applied at the time of ticket reservation.
Group discounts are available for parties of 12 or more. The Beck
Center for the Arts is located just 10 minutes west of downtown
Cleveland at 17801 Detroit Avenue in Lakewood.

=20

=20

Submitted by:

Fran Storch

Marketing Assistant

The Beck Center for the Arts

17801 Detroit Avenue

Lakewood, Ohio  44107

216-521-2540, ext. 244

=20

My office hours are Tuesdays through Fridays, 9:00 am to 3:00 pm.

=20

What's Happening at the Beck Center

Opening this weekend! Urinetown the Musical

September 16 through October 9 on the Main Stage.

Coming soon! Top Dog/Underdog

September 30 through October 23 in the Studio Theater.

To reserve tickets, call the Box Office at 216-521-2540.

Three's A Charm Beck Benefit at Three Birds restaurant,

September 18, 5:30 to 8:00 p.m.  For reservations, call

216-521-2540, ext. 242.

Register now for Fall classes.  Class catalog available online.

Visit us at www.beckcenter.org or call 216-521-2540, ext. 222.

=20

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<div class=3DSection1>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><b><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'>For Immediate =
Release<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><b><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'>September 16, =
2005<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><b><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'>Direct questions =
to:</span></font></b> 
(216) 521-2540<o:p></o:p></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><st1:PersonName w:st=3D"on"><font size=3D3 =
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span
 style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'>Yvette =
Hanzel</span></font></st1:PersonName>,
extension 225<o:p></o:p></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><st1:PersonName w:st=3D"on"><font size=3D3 =
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span
 style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'>Scott Spence</span></font></st1:PersonName>,
extension 239<o:p></o:p></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal align=3Dright style=3D'text-align:right'><font =
size=3D2
face=3D"Century Gothic"><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century =
Gothic"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal align=3Dcenter =
style=3D'text-align:center'><st1:place w:st=3D"on"><st1:PlaceName
 w:st=3D"on"><b><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;
  font-weight:bold'>Beck</span></font></b></st1:PlaceName><b><span
 style=3D'font-weight:bold'> <st1:PlaceType =
w:st=3D"on">Center</st1:PlaceType></span></b></st1:place><b><span
style=3D'font-weight:bold'> for the Arts<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal align=3Dcenter style=3D'text-align:center'><b><font =
size=3D3
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'>Presents<o:p></o:p></span></f=
ont></b></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal align=3Dcenter =
style=3D'text-align:center'><b><i><font size=3D3
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold;
font-style:italic'>Topdog/Underdog<o:p></o:p></span></font></i></b></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal align=3Dcenter style=3D'text-align:center'><b><font =
size=3D3
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'>September
30 – October 23, 2005<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal align=3Dright =
style=3D'text-align:right;text-autospace:none'><font
size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal align=3Dcenter =
style=3D'text-align:center;text-autospace:none'><i><font
size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;font-style:italic'>You
are only yourself when no one's =
watching.<o:p></o:p></span></font></i></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal align=3Dcenter =
style=3D'text-align:center;text-autospace:none'><font
size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'>---Suzan-Lori
Parks<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'line-height:200%'><b><font size=3D3
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;
font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'line-height:150%'><b><font size=3D3
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;line-height:150%;
font-weight:bold'>         &=
nbsp;  <st1:City
w:st=3D"on">Cleveland</st1:City>, <st1:State =
w:st=3D"on">Ohio</st1:State> </span></font></b>–<st1:place
w:st=3D"on"><st1:PlaceName w:st=3D"on">Beck</st1:PlaceName> =
<st1:PlaceType w:st=3D"on">Center</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>
for the Arts will premiere Suzan-Lori Parks’ <i><span =
style=3D'font-style:
italic'>Topdog/Underdog</span></i>, opening September 30 through October =
23,
2005 in the intimate Studio Theater.<o:p></o:p></p>

&nbsp=
;       Topdog/Underdog is a dark comic =
fable of
love and family identity surrounding two brothers Lincoln and =
Booth.  The
brothers, whose names were given to them as a joke, generate a lifetime =
of
sibling rivalry and resentment.  Haunted by the past, the brothers =
are
forced to confront the shattering reality of their future. Topdog/Underdog is a funny sad =
portrait of
two men with limited life chances.  What results, is an =
electrifying text
with a venue for two captivating performances.  Its message is =
concerned
with the universal issues of family dynamics, power struggles and =
love.<o:p></o:p>

Topdog/Underdog is
perhaps the best-known work of Suzan-Lori Parks, and earned her the 2002
Pulitzer Prize for drama. She was the first African-American woman to =
win that
title.<o:p></o:p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'line-height:150%;text-autospace:none'><font size=3D3
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;line-height:150%'>    &nbsp=
;       This
<st1:place w:st=3D"on"><st1:City =
w:st=3D"on">Cleveland</st1:City></st1:place>
premier is directed by Dale Shields and features Ed Onipede Blunt and =
Jimmie
Woody as the brothers, Lincoln and Booth, respectively.  =
“<i><span
style=3D'font-style:italic'>Topdog/Underdog</span></i> is a universal =
story about
the inherent tensions between brothers.” says Shields.  =
“The
two brothers follow unique game plans to find a catharsis to resolve a
conflicted childhood and disadvantaged adulthood.  I’ve =
enjoyed the
experience, along with the script’s conflict between fantasy and =
reality,
which propels a dynamic interplay between two explosive African American
characters.  The language sizzles, pops and =
electrocutes!”<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'text-indent:.5in;line-height:150%;text-autospace:
none'><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;
line-height:150%'>Sponsoring this <st1:place w:st=3D"on"><st1:City =
w:st=3D"on">Cleveland</st1:City></st1:place>
premiere are 90.3 FM WCPN ideastream, Cleveland Scene Magazine and
Lakewoodbuzz.com.  <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

Show times are Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m. and =
Sundays
at 3:00 p.m.  For tickets call the <st1:place =
w:st=3D"on"><st1:PlaceName
 w:st=3D"on">Beck</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType =
w:st=3D"on">Center</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>
box office at (216) 521-2540 or log onto <a href=3D"http://www.beckcenter.org/">www.beckcenter.org</a>.=

Tickets are $26 for adults, $23 for seniors (65 and older), and $15 for
students (22 and under with ID).  All individual ticket sales are =
subject
to a $2 administrative fee per ticket applied at the time of ticket
reservation.  Group discounts are available for parties of 12 or
more.  The <st1:PlaceName w:st=3D"on">Beck</st1:PlaceName> =
<st1:PlaceType
w:st=3D"on">Center</st1:PlaceType> for the Arts is located just 10 =
minutes west
of downtown <st1:City w:st=3D"on">Cleveland</st1:City> at <st1:Street =
w:st=3D"on"><st1:address
 w:st=3D"on">17801 Detroit Avenue</st1:address></st1:Street> in =
<st1:place w:st=3D"on"><st1:date
 w:st=3D"on"><st1:City =
w:st=3D"on">Lakewood</st1:City></st1:date></st1:place>.<o:p></o:p></span>=
</font></p>

<p class=3DMsoAutoSig><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoAutoSig><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoAutoSig><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Submitted by:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoAutoSig><st1:PersonName w:st=3D"on"><font size=3D2 =
face=3DArial><span
 style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Fran =
Storch</span></font></st1:PersonName><font
size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p=
>

<p class=3DMsoAutoSig><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Marketing Assistant<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoAutoSig><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>The <st1:place w:st=3D"on"><st1:PlaceName =
w:st=3D"on">Beck</st1:PlaceName>
 <st1:PlaceType w:st=3D"on">Center</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> for the =
Arts<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoAutoSig><st1:Street w:st=3D"on"><st1:address =
w:st=3D"on"><font size=3D2
  face=3DArial><span style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>17801 =
Detroit
  Avenue</span></font></st1:address></st1:Street><font size=3D2 =
face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p=
>

<p class=3DMsoAutoSig><st1:place w:st=3D"on"><st1:City w:st=3D"on"><font =
size=3D2
  face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Lakewood</span></font></st1:=
City><font
 size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>, <st1:State
 w:st=3D"on">Ohio</st1:State>  <st1:PostalCode =
w:st=3D"on">44107</st1:PostalCode></span></font></st1:place><font
size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p=
>

<p class=3DMsoAutoSig><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>216-521-2540, ext. 244<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoAutoSig><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoAutoSig><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>My office hours are Tuesdays through Fridays, 9:00 am =
to
3:00 pm.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><b><font size=3D1 color=3Dred face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></sp=
an></font></b></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><b><font size=3D2 color=3Dred face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red;font-weight:bold'>What's Happening at =
the <st1:place
w:st=3D"on"><st1:PlaceName w:st=3D"on">Beck</st1:PlaceName> =
<st1:PlaceType =
w:st=3D"on">Center</st1:PlaceType></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></font></=
b></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><b><font size=3D2 color=3Dblue face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:blue;font-weight:bold'>=
Opening
this weekend!</span></font></b><b><font size=3D1 color=3Dblue =
face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:blue;font-weight:bold'> =
<i><span
style=3D'font-style:italic'>Urinetown the =
Musical</span></i></span></font></b><b><font
size=3D2 color=3Dblue face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:blue;font-weight:bold'><o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D1 color=3Dblue face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:blue'>September 16 through October 9 on =
the Main
Stage.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

C=
oming
soon! Top =
Dog/Underdog<o:p></o:p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D1 color=3Dblue face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:blue'>September 30 through October 23 in =
the
Studio Theater.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D1 color=3Dblue face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:blue'>To reserve tickets, call the Box =
Office at
216-521-2540.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><b><font size=3D1 color=3Dblue face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:blue;font-weight:bold'>T=
hree's A
Charm Beck Benefit</span></font></b><font size=3D1 color=3Dblue =
face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:blue'> at Three Birds
restaurant,<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D1 color=3Dblue face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:blue'>September 18, 5:30 to 8:00 =
p.m.  For
reservations, call<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D1 color=3Dblue face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:blue'>216-521-2540, ext. =
242.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><b><font size=3D1 color=3Dred face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red;font-weight:bold'>Register now for =
Fall
classes.</span></font></b><font size=3D1 color=3Dblue face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:blue'>  Class =
catalog
available online.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

V=
isit us
at www.beckcenter.org or call 216-521-2540, ext. =
222.<o:p></o:p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>

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