[NEohioPAL]Opening This Weekend! Beck Center for the Arts presents Porgy and Bess, September 15 - October 8

Wed Sep 13 13:19:32 PDT 2006

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

August 28, 2006

For more information: (216) 521-2540

Yvette A. Hanzel, extension 225

Scott Spence, extension 239

=20

=20

Beck Center for the Arts

is proud to present

Porgy and Bess

Music by George Gershwin

Libretto by DuBose Heyward

Lyrics by Ira Gershwin and DuBose Heyward

Directed by Scott Spence

Musically Directed and Conducted by Stuart Raleigh

September 15 - October 8, 2006

=20

=20

            Lakewood, OH - Beck Center has the rare opportunity to
present the famed American Folk Opera, Porgy and Bess, opening September
15 through October 8, 2006 on the Mackey Main Stage.

Directed by Scott Spence and conducted by Stuart Raleigh, Porgy and
Bess, tells the story of Porgy, a crippled black man living in the slums
of Charleston, South Carolina, and his attempts to rescue Bess from the
clutches of Crown, her pimp, and Sportin' Life, the drug dealer.
Experience Gershwin's folk opera, which dynamically blends vocal and
orchestral music with the drama of Catfish Row.

Porgy and Bess was not widely accepted in the United States as a
legitimate opera until the late 1970s and 80s.  It is now considered
part of the standard operatic repertoire.  Beck Center however, plans to
return the opera to its musical theater roots, using much of the sung
text as dialogue.  A practice very common to its original production in
the 1930s and 40s.

"As Beck Center artistic director, it is an honor to have been given the
rights to produce Porgy and Bess," says Spence.  "As the director of the
production it is both a privilege and a challenge to direct this folk
opera." =20

Porgy and Bess features William Clarence Marshall* as Porgy, Dionne
Bennett as Bess, Karen Clark-Green as Serena, Brian Keith Johnson* as
Crown and Devon Settles as Sportin' Life. =20

                        Director and Beck Center Artistic Director Scott
Spence, is well known to West Shore audiences, most recently through his
direction of A Man of No Importance and Urinetown The Musical at the
Beck Center.  He recently received the Northern Ohio Live Award of
Achievement Nomination for his selection of the 05/06 Professional
Theater Season at Beck Center.  Under his artistic direction, Beck and
was honored by The Scene Magazine, which named Beck Center the "Best
Theatre Company" of 2002 and 2004.

Beck Center's production of Porgy and Bess is sponsored by Cox
Communications.   Programming at the Beck Center is made possible
through the generous support of The Cleveland Foundation, the George
Gund Foundation, The John P. Murphy Foundation and the Kulas Foundation.

Show times are Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m. and Sundays at 3:00
p.m. Additional Thursday night performances are scheduled for September
28 and October 5 at 8:00 p.m. For tickets to Porgy and Bess call the
Beck Center box office at (216) 521-2540 or log onto www.beckcenter.org
<http://www.beckcenter.org/> . Ticket prices are $26 for adults, $23
for seniors and $15 for students (22 and under with I.D.). All
individual ticket sales are subject to a $2.00 administrative fee per
ticket applied at the time of purchase. Group discounts are available
for parties of 12 or more. Rush tickets for students (22 and under with
I.D.) are offered for $10 each on Sundays and Thursdays only, 30 minutes
prior to curtain, based on availability. Convenient on-site parking for
$2. Beck Center for the Arts is located just 10 minutes west of
downtown Cleveland at 17801 Detroit Avenue in Lakewood. =20

###

=20

* William Clarence Marshall and Brian Keith Johnson appear courtesy of
Actor's Equity Association, the union of actors and stage managers.

=20

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<div class=3DSection1>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><b><font size=3D2 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold'>FOR IMMEDIATE =
RELEASE:<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><st1:date Month=3D"8" Day=3D"28" Year=3D"2006" =
w:st=3D"on"><font
 size=3D2 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'>August 28, 2006</span></font></st1:date><font
size=3D2><span style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>For more information: (216) =
521-2540<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>Yvette A. Hanzel, extension 225<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><st1:PersonName w:st=3D"on"><font size=3D2 =
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span
 style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'>Scott =
Spence</span></font></st1:PersonName><font
size=3D2><span style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'>, extension =
239<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal align=3Dcenter style=3D'text-align:center'><font =
size=3D2
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>

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

<p class=3DMsoNormal align=3Dcenter style=3D'text-align:center'><font =
size=3D3
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'>is proud to =
present<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal align=3Dcenter =
style=3D'text-align:center'><b><i><font size=3D4
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:14.0pt;font-weight:bold;
font-style:italic'>Porgy and Bess<o:p></o:p></span></font></i></b></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal align=3Dcenter style=3D'text-align:center'><font =
size=3D2
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt'>Music by =
<st1:PersonName
w:st=3D"on">George</st1:PersonName> =
Gershwin<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal align=3Dcenter style=3D'text-align:center'><font =
size=3D2
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt'>Libretto by =
DuBose
Heyward<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal align=3Dcenter style=3D'text-align:center'><font =
size=3D2
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt'>Lyrics by Ira =
Gershwin
and DuBose Heyward<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal align=3Dcenter style=3D'text-align:center'><font =
size=3D2
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt'>Directed by =
Scott Spence<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal align=3Dcenter style=3D'text-align:center'><font =
size=3D2
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt'>Musically =
Directed and
Conducted by Stuart Raleigh<o:p></o:p></span></font></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
15 – <st1:date Month=3D"10" Day=3D"8" Year=3D"2006" =
w:st=3D"on">October 8, 2006</st1:date><o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal align=3Dcenter style=3D'text-align:center'><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'><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 style=3D'line-height:200%'><font size=3D3 =
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%'>    &nbsp=
;       <st1:City w:st=3D"on"><b><span
 style=3D'font-weight:bold'>Lakewood</span></b></st1:City><b><span
style=3D'font-weight:bold'>, <st1:State =
w:st=3D"on">OH</st1:State></span></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> has the rare opportunity =
to
present the famed American Folk Opera, <i><span =
style=3D'font-style:italic'>Porgy
and Bess</span></i>, opening September 15 through <st1:date Month=3D"10" =
Day=3D"8"
Year=3D"2006" w:st=3D"on">October 8, 2006</st1:date> on the Mackey Main =
Stage.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

Directed
by <st1:PersonName w:st=3D"on">Scott Spence</st1:PersonName> and =
conducted by
Stuart Raleigh, Porgy
and Bess, tells the =
story of
Porgy, a crippled black man living in the slums of <st1:place =
w:st=3D"on"><st1:City
 w:st=3D"on">Charleston</st1:City>, <st1:State w:st=3D"on">South =
Carolina</st1:State></st1:place>,
and his attempts to rescue Bess from the clutches of Crown, her pimp, =
and
Sportin' Life, the drug dealer.  Experience Gershwin’s =
folk opera,
which dynamically blends vocal and orchestral music with the drama of =
Catfish
Row.<o:p></o:p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%'><i><font size=3D3
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span lang=3DEN =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;
font-style:italic'>Porgy </span></font></i><span lang=3DEN>and Bess was =
not
widely accepted in the <st1:place w:st=3D"on"><st1:country-region =
w:st=3D"on">United
  States</st1:country-region></st1:place> as a legitimate opera until =
the late
1970s and 80s.  It is now considered part of the standard operatic =
repertoire. 
<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> however, plans to return =
the
opera to its musical theater roots, using much of the sung text as =
dialogue.  A
practice very common to its original production in the 1930s and =
40s.</span><o:p></o:p></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%'><font =
size=3D3
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%'>“As
<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> artistic director, it is =
an honor
to have been given the rights to produce <i><span =
style=3D'font-style:italic'>Porgy
and Bess</span></i>,” says Spence.  “As the director of =
the
production it is both a privilege and a challenge to direct this folk
opera.”  <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%'><i><font size=3D3
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;
font-style:italic'>Porgy and Bess</span></font></i> features William =
Clarence
Marshall* as Porgy, Dionne Bennett as Bess, Karen Clark-Green as Serena, =
Brian
Keith Johnson* as Crown and Devon Settles as Sportin’ Life<span
class=3Dspelle>.  </span><o:p></o:p></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'line-height:200%'><b><font size=3D1 =
face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-size:5.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family:Arial;font-weight:b=
old'>           &n=
bsp;            =
</span></font></b>Director
and Beck Center Artistic Director <st1:PersonName w:st=3D"on">Scott =
Spence</st1:PersonName>,
is well known to <st1:PlaceName w:st=3D"on">West</st1:PlaceName> =
<st1:PlaceType
w:st=3D"on">Shore</st1:PlaceType> audiences, most recently through his =
direction
of <i><span style=3D'font-style:italic'>A Man of No Importance =
</span></i>and<i><span
style=3D'font-style:italic'> Urinetown The Musical</span></i> 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>. 
He recently received the <u>Northern Ohio Live</u> Award of Achievement
Nomination for his selection of the 05/06 Professional Theater Season at =
<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>. 
Under his artistic direction, Beck and was honored by <u>The Scene =
Magazine</u>,
which named <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> the “Best Theatre =
Company”
of 2002 and 2004.<o:p></o:p></p>

<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>’s
production of Porgy and Bess =
is
sponsored by Cox Communications.   Programming 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>
is made possible through the generous support of The Cleveland =
Foundation, the <st1:PersonName
w:st=3D"on">George</st1:PersonName> Gund Foundation, The John P. Murphy
Foundation and the Kulas Foundation.<o:p></o:p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%'><font =
size=3D3
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%'>Show
times are Fridays and Saturdays at <st1:time Hour=3D"20" Minute=3D"0" =
w:st=3D"on">8:00
 p.m.</st1:time> and Sundays at <st1:time Hour=3D"15" Minute=3D"0" =
w:st=3D"on">3:00
 p.m.</st1:time>  Additional Thursday night performances are =
scheduled for September
28 and October 5 at <st1:time Hour=3D"20" Minute=3D"0" w:st=3D"on">8:00 =
p.m.</st1:time> 
For tickets to <i><span style=3D'font-style:italic'>Porgy and =
Bess</span></i> 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 <font color=3Dblack><span style=3D'color:black'><a
href=3D"http://www.beckcenter.org/"><font color=3Dblack><span =
style=3D'color:black'>www.beckcenter.org</span></font></a></span></font>.=

Ticket prices are $26 for adults, $23 for seniors and $15 for students =
(22 and
under with I.D.).  All individual ticket sales are subject to a =
$2.00
administrative fee per ticket applied at the time of purchase.  =
Group discounts
are available for parties of 12 or more.  Rush tickets for students =
(22 and
under with I.D.) are offered for $10 each on Sundays and Thursdays only, =
30
minutes prior to curtain, based on availability.  Convenient =
on-site parking
for $2.  <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:City =
w:st=3D"on">Lakewood</st1:City></st1:place>. =
 <o:p></o:p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal align=3Dcenter style=3D'text-align:center'><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><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><i><font size=3D2 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic'>* William Clarence Marshall =
and Brian
Keith Johnson appear courtesy of Actor’s Equity Association, the =
union of
actors and stage managers.</span></font></i><font size=3D2><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></font></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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