[NEohioPAL]Cleveland Play House Extends ELLA Through April 22

Fri Mar 23 13:04:10 PDT 2007

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The Cleveland Play House Production of ELLA Extended
Show extended for 5 additional performances

CLEVELAND (March 23, 2007) -- Ella, the musical play about "The First Lady
of Song," Ella Fitzgerald, will enjoy an extended run in The Cleveland Play
House's Bolton Theatre, through April 22, 2007. Broadway musical star Tina
Fabrique delivers a look into the life, struggles, and heartbreaks of the
legendary singer.

Conceived by Rob Ruggiero and Dyke Garrison, and directed by Rob Ruggiero,
Ella first came to life in 2005 when it premiered as Ella: Off the Record at
TheatreWorks in Hartford, Conn.  

Ella has been honored with several nominations for the Carbonell Award, for
its run at Florida Stage: Tina Fabrique for lead actress, Rob Ruggiero for
best director, and Danny Holgate for music direction.  

CPH is presenting Ella in conjunction with the Arizona Theatre Company,
Asolo Repertory Theatre and San Jose Repertory Theatre in the Bolton
Theatre, March 23-April 22, 2007.

ABOUT ELLA
Shortly after the death of her sister in 1966, Ella Fitzgerald struggles
with rehearsals for a sold-out concert in Nice, France. But during the show,
the very private Ella not only rallies but offers a rare, emotional glimpse
into her life. The performance includes hit songs such as, "They Can't Take
That Away From Me," "That Old Black Magic" and "A-Tisket, A-Tasket."   

ABOUT THE ENSEMBLE
TINA FABRIQUE (Ella Fitzgerald) returns to The Cleveland Play House having
played Mother Vera in Abyssinia and Amanda in The Glass Menagerie. Recently
completing a very successful run at Arizona Theatre Company, Ms. Fabrique is
pleased to be here once again in Ella. Her Broadway credits include: Dessa
Rose at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts; Ragtime, Bring in 'Da Noise,
Bring in 'Da Funk, Truly Blessed, How to Succeed in Business Without Really
Trying, The Gospel at Colonus and Harlem Song. National Tours include: The
Wiz, Bubbling Brown Sugar, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Once on This
Island, South Pacific with Robert Goulet, How to Succeed, and Queenie Pie.
Other New York credits include: 70, Girls, 70 for City Center Encores!,
Angel Levine at Jewish Repertory and Shades of Harlem at the Village Gate.
Regional credits include: Mother Shaw in Crowns, Hattie in Kiss Me, Kate, Ma
in Ma Rainey's Black Bottom at Arena Stage, Mama Morton in Chicago at
Ogunquit Theater, Quilly in The Old Settler at Actors Theater of Louisville
and at Westport Theater and The Narrator in Joseph and the Amazing
Technicolor Dreamcoat at North Shore Music Theater. Tina created the role of
Mother Vera in Abyssinia at Musical Theater Works, Arena Stage, and
Goodspeed Opera House. Ms. Fabrique was featured soloist with the Duke
Ellington Orchestra for several years touring throughout Europe and the
United States. She has also starred with the Harlem Gospel Singers on tour
in Europe for several years. In the summer of 2005, Ms. Fabrique's voice
could be heard singing the theme song to the documentary Mad Hot Ballroom.
She is also the original voice of the "Reading Rainbow" theme song. Her
television credits include: "Law & Order: Criminal Intent," "When I Grow
Up," "The Today Show," "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," "Mike Mulligan's
Steam Shovel," "All My Children" and "One Life to Live."

GEORGE CALDWELL (Piano/Conductor) is a veteran of Broadway, having conducted
several shows such as Black and Blue and Play On!, as well as having served
in orchestra pits for such hits as Bring In 'Da Noise, Bring in 'Da Funk and
The Full Monty. In addition to providing musical direction for the European
tour of Black and Blue and serving as Associate Conductor for the tour of
Body and Soul in Europe, Mr. Caldwell has also served as Musical Director
for the original musical Thunder Knocking on the Door, as well as Golden Boy
at Long Wharf Theatre and multiple productions of Cookin' at the Cookery.
Mr. Caldwell played for three years with the Duke Ellington Orchestra under
the direction of Ellington's son Mercer, and seven years with the Count
Basie Orchestra under the direction of Frank Foster and Grover Mitchell. The
Count Basie Orchestra received a Grammy Award with Mr. Caldwell at the piano
for the recording, "The Count Basie Orchestra Live at the Manchestra
Craftman's Guild" (with New York Voices). Mr. Caldwell composed and arranged
the music for the award-winning short film, Rolling in Dough. His recording
credits include diverse musical styles, from original cast albums for
Broadway shows such as Play On! and Body and Soul, to Jazzin' with Tito
Puente.

RODNEY HARPER (Drums) has previously appeared in The Cleveland Play House
production of Cookin' at the Cookery. He has also worked in national and
international productions of Ain't Misbehavin', Bubbling Brown Sugar,
Blackbirds of Broadway, Satin Sweet, Dreamgirls, Purlie and Williams and
Walker. He has been fortunate to work with legendary artists such as Sonny
Stitt, Jimmy McGriff and Hank Crawford, Dakota Staton, Billy Eckstein, Della
Reese and Marlena Shaw, as well as R&B revivals with the Coasters, the
Drifters and the Marvelettes.

CLIFTON KELLEM (Bass) has performed with a variety of jazz artists,
including Uhmar Rhameen, Cornell Rochester, Byard Lancaster, Christian
Sands, Web's Fleet, Mike Tromebetta Big Band, Willie Williams, Legends of
Jazz Big Band, Dr. Guthrie Ramsey and George Benson. He has worked in the
orchestras of several casinos in Atlantic City, performing with such
headliners as Diahann Carroll, Vic Damone, Jerry Lewis, Rodney Dangerfield,
Shirley Bassey, Petula Clark, George Burns, Milton Berle, Carol Channing,
Bill Cosby and Flip Wilson. He has toured with Musiqology and Billy Paul in
South America and with John Blake and Monet Sudler throughout the east
coast. A native of Philadelphia, Mr. Kellem studied bass at Temple
University with Ed Arian and Henry Scott of the Philadelphia Orchestra. He
also studied jazz styles with bassists Tyrone Brown, Lee Smith and Jack Six.
He has played on recordings featuring Barbara Montgomery, Cornell Rochester,
Vaneesa Handy, Hot News, Haitian Church of God, Ramundo Sanchez, I.C.E.,
Monet Sudler and Musiqology.

GEORGE ROTH (Norman Granz) has performed extensively in the United Kingdom,
including a West End appearance in Brighton Beach Memoirs for the Royal
National Theatre of Great Britain at the Aldwych Theatre. Other London
appearances include work at Embassy Theatre, Hammersmith Studio and Viceroy
Theatre. Regionally, throughout the UK, Mr. Roth has performed at Wolsey
Theatre, Ipswich and Crucible Theatre, Sheffield. He previously appeared in
The Cleveland Play House production of Americans, and has extensive credits
throughout Cleveland: Hamlet, A Man of No Importance, The Diary of Anne
Frank, Beck Center for the Arts; Nickel and Dimed, Great Lakes Theater
Festival/Cleveland Public Theatre; Uncle Tom's Cabin, Cleveland Public
Theatre; Highway Ulysses, Dobama Theatre; Amadeus, As You Like It, You Can't
Take It With You, Merry Wives of Windsor, Julius Caesar, Taming of the
Shrew, A Midsummer Night's Dream, A Christmas Carol, Much Ado About Nothing,
Great Lakes Theater Festival; West Side Story, Cain Park; The Sunshine Boys,
Visions of Right, Halle Theater. Mr. Roth's other U.S. regional credits
include work at Contemporary American Theater of Columbus, Sacramento
Theatre Company, Los Angeles Theatre Center, and Matrix Theater.  He's been
seen on television's "Murphy Brown," "Love and War," "Doing Time on Maple
Drive," "Get a Life," "The Human Factor," "Capital City," "Tailspin," "Fully
Clothed, Non-Dancing Girls," "A&E Biography of Isaac Newton," "A&E Biography
of Howard Carter," "Civil War Journals," "The Assassination of Abraham
Lincoln," and "Mummies." His film work includes roles in Batman, The Russia
House, Nightbreed, and Foreign Body. Mr. Roth earned his BA from Yale
University and his MBA from Case Western Reserve University. He has studied
acting at Central School of Speech and Drama and HB Studios in New York.

BRIAN SLEDGE (Trumpet) has performed as the trumpeter of the ska band The
Toasters, but Mr. Sledge's musical background stems from a nearly 35-year
history of swing and jazz. Coming from a musical family, which includes the
likes of family R&B group Sister Sledge and renowned singer Percy Sledge, he
began playing trumpet at the age of five. At the age of seven, he performed
his first swing concert with his family swing band Bill Sledge & His 5
Hammers. By the time he was fifteen, he had played a solo duet with
trumpeter Harry James at the Roseland Ballroom in New York. Mr. Sledge has
performed with musical giants such as Wynton Marsalis, Lionel Hampton Big
Band, Illinois Jacquet Big Band, Panama Francis & The Savoy Sultans, Arvell
Shaw & The Louis Armstrong Legacy Band, Clark Terry, and The Fabulous Ink
Spots, to name a few. He also appeared on HBO's hit TV series "Oz." These
days, Mr. Sledge is running his own business, Riffin Enterprises, and is
continuing the legacy of his father's swing band, Sledge & The Hammers.

ABOUT THE CREATIVE TEAM
JEFFREY HATCHER (Playwright) has authored the book for the Broadway musical,
Never Gonna Dance. Off-Broadway, he has had several plays produced,
including Three Viewings and A Picasso at Manhattan Theatre Club; Scotland
Road and The Turn of the Screw at Primary Stages; Tuesdays with Morrie (with
Mitch Albom) at Minetta Lane Theatre; Murder by Poe and The Turn of the
Screw with The Acting Company; Neddy at The American Place Theatre; and
Fellow Travelers at Manhattan Punchline. His plays-among them, Compleat
Female Stage Beauty, Murderers, Mercy of a Storm, Smash, To Fool the Eye,
and Work Song (with Eric Simonson) -have been seen at such theatres as The
Cleveland Play House, Arizona Theatre Company, Yale Repertory Theatre, The
Old Globe, South Coast Repertory, Seattle Repertory Theatre, Intiman
Theatre, Florida Stage, The Empty Space, California Theatre Center, Madison
Repertory Theatre, Illusion Theater, Denver Center Theatre Company, Oregon
Shakespeare Festival, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Milwaukee Repertory
Theater, The Repertory Theater of St. Louis, Cincinnati Playhouse in the
Park, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Philadelphia Theatre Company, Coconut
Grove Playhouse, Asolo Repertory Theatre, City Theatre, Studio Arena Theatre
and dozens more in the U.S. and abroad. Mr. Hatcher wrote the screenplays
for Stage Beauty and Casanova, as well as authoring episodes of the Peter
Falk series "Columbo." He is a member and/or alumnus of The Playwrights'
Center, The Dramatists Guild of America, Writers Guild of America and New
Dramatists.

ROB RUGGIERO (Director and Co-Conceiver) is a freelance professional
director and the Associate Artistic Director at TheaterWorks in Hartford,
Connecticut where, over the course of 13 years, he has directed many
critically acclaimed productions. He made his Off-Broadway debut directing
All Under Heaven, which also toured nationally, including successful runs in
Florida and Los Angeles. Mr. Ruggiero's body of work includes both plays and
musicals and his productions have been seen in numerous regional theatres
around the country, including Pittsburgh Public Theater, Barrington Stage
Company, Great Lakes Theater Festival, The Muny and The Repertory Theatre of
St. Louis, where last October his hugely successful revival of Take Me Out
kicked off their "Off Ramp" series. This production received nine Kevin
Kline Award nominations and won three -- including one for "Best Director of
a Play" -- and was remounted at TheaterWorks this fall. 

DYKE GARRISON (Co-Conceiver) wrote his first produced play, They Also Serve,
as a Shubert Playwright Fellow at Occidental College. He went on to write a
number of shorter pieces which have been seen at the One Act Theatre, The
Marsh, and The Guild Theatre, among others. His full-length works include
Meadow in the Sky, The Finish Line, Shall We Dance and Dead Languages. His
musical, What's On Tonight?, was produced on San Francisco's own Broadway
and his one-man show for Ken Dixon, All Present, appeared at Theatre
Rhinoceros. His one-woman show about Pearl S. Buck, All Under Heaven,
written for and with Valerie Harper, premiered at Ms. Buck's alma mater,
Randolph Macon, and went on to productions in New York, Los Angeles and
Florida. Mr. Garrison has studied playwriting with Sam Shepard and Oskar
Eustis. He is a member of the Playwrights Lab of San Francisco and former
President of the Board of Directors for the Playwrights Foundation.

DANNY HOLGATE (Musical Director) has served as Musical Director and Arranger
for Don't Bother Me - I Can't Cope and Bubbling Brown Sugar. He performed
the musical supervision and arrangements for Eubie, Guys and Dolls
(revival), Rainbow Jones and was Dance Arranger for Odyssey and It's Nice To
Be Civilized. Mr. Holgate also performed the role of Jimmy Powers in Lady
Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill in New York and was the Musical Supervisor
and Arranger for the show. His pre-Broadway shows include Daddy Goodness;
Two Faces of Africa; Golden Boy (revival); Stringbean; Sweet and Hot;
Aretha, Queen of Soul; Blackbirds of Broadway; Cookin' at the Cookery and a
revival of Storyville. For the past 20 years, he has been a vocal coach,
putting together club acts or arrangements for numerous performers and for
many years, he was the Conductor and Arranger for the legendary Cab
Calloway.

MICHAEL SCHWEIKARDT (Scenic Design) collaborated on the American premiere of
Frank McGuinness' The Bird Sanctuary for Pittsburgh Public Theater, as well
as Donald Margulies' Collected Stories and Joe Sutton's Restoring the Sun.
For Bluelight Theatre Company, Mr. Schweikardt designed Golden Boy, Waiting
For Lefty, The Big Knife, The Seagull and Amazing Grace. Other credits
include All Under Heaven and Tallulah Hallelujah. He has worked at Syracuse
Stage, Philadelphia Theatre Company, Williamstown Theatre Festival,
Julliard, New York University, HB Playwrights Foundation & Theatre, Abington
Theatre Company, Barrington Stage Company, Florida Stage Opera, Riverside
Theatre, SoHo Repertory Theatre, The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey,
Sacramento Music Circus, Contemporary Stage Company, Alabama Shakespeare
Festival and TheatreWorks.

ALEJO VIETTI (Costume Designer) has designed costumes in New York for
productions of Tryst, Roulette, The Last Sunday in June, 16 Wounded, 2 X
Tennessee, The Wau Wau Sisters, Servicemen, Waiting for Godot, Five Flights,
Love's Labour's Lost, Measure for Measure, Othello and Of a White Christmas.
He has designed at theatres across the country, including The Cleveland Play
House, Alley Theatre, Colorado Ballet Company, Hartford Stage, Long Wharf
Theatre, Pasadena Playhouse, Signature Theatre, Barrington Stage Company,
TheaterWorks, Hangar Theatre, Rockland Opera, Columbia University, as well
as for Donetsk Opera in Ukraine. For television, he has designed costumes
for VH1, MTV, FOX and HBO.

JOHN LASITER (Lighting Designer) was the Associate Lighting Designer for the
Broadway production of David Copperfield's Dreams and Nightmares.
Off-Broadway, he has designed for Bluelight Theatre Company and Music
Theatre Group. Regionally, Mr. Lasiter has also designed for Actors Theatre
of Louisville, CENTERSTAGE, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Dallas Theater
Center, George Street Playhouse, Geva Theatre Center, Milwaukee Repertory
Theater, New Mexico Repertory Theatre, Pittsburgh Public Theater, South
Coast Repertory, Syracuse Stage and Virginia Stage Company. He has designed
for opera productions with Eos Orchestra, The Curtis Institute of Music,
Glimmerglass Opera, Manhattan School of Music, Opera Delaware, Opera
Carolina and Skylight Opera Theatre. Mr. Lasiter has also designed lighting
for dance performances at Ballet Memphis, Danzantes Unidos de California,
Danzantes Unidos New Mexico, Irene Hultman Dance, Nora Reynolds Dance and
Randy James Dance Works.

MICHAEL C. MICELI (Sound Designer) was the Audio Consultant for Ridge
Theater's Jennie Richee and Ella at Florida Stage and San Diego Repertory
Theatre. His sound design credits include The Devil's Music, Crowns and
Ain't Misbehavin' at Hartford Stage and Ella: Off the Record at
TheatreWorks, as well as associate sound design for Floyd & Clea Under the
Western Sky at Hartford Stage. Mr. Miceli has worked with a variety of
artists and clients across the nation, including Nickelodeon, the
Connecticut Forum, Center for Creative Youth and Yale School of Drama. He is
currently the Audio Supervisor for Hartford Stage and the founder of his
production consulting company, Miceli Production, LLC.
# # #
As the country's first permanently established professional theatre, founded
in 1915, The Cleveland Play House has produced plays for 91 years. More than
12 million people have attended over 1,300 productions at The Cleveland Play
House - more than 130 of which were American and/or World Premieres. At
300,000 square feet, the Philip Johnson-designed Cleveland Play House
complex houses five performance spaces, making it the largest regional
theatre complex in the United States.

The Ohio Arts Council helped to fund The Cleveland Play House with state tax
dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence and cultural
enrichment.

ELLA Fact SHEET

What:  	Ella
	Written by Jeffrey Hatcher
	Conceived by Rob Ruggiero and Dyke Garrison
	Co-production with Arizona Theatre Company, Asolo Repertory Theatre
and San Jose Repertory Theatre

Where:	Bolton Theatre, The Cleveland Play House, 8500 Euclid Avenue,
Cleveland, Ohio

When:	Preview Performances:		Friday - Tuesday, March 23, 24, 25
and 27, 2007
Opening Night:	            		Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Final Performance:		Sunday, April 22, 2007

Who:		Cast
		Ella Fitzgerald	Tina Fabrique
		Norman Granz	George Roth
		Piano/Conductor	George Caldwell
                             Drums	Rodney Harper
                             Bass	Clifton Kellem
                             Trumpet	Brian Sledge

                        Creative Team:
				Playwright:			Jeffrey
Hatcher
				Director/Co-Conceiver:		Rob Ruggiero

		Co-Conceiver:			Dyke Garrison
		Musical Director:			Danny Holgate
		Scenic Design:			Michael Schweikardt
		Costume Design:			Alejo Vietti
		Lighting Design: 			John Lasiter
		Sound Design:			Michael C. Miceli
		Stage Manager:			Bruno Ingram

Times:
Tuesday-Saturday Evenings:		8:00 pm
Saturday Matinee:			4:00 pm
Sunday Matinee:				2:00 pm
Early Curtain:				Tuesday, April 10, 7:00 pm
There will be no performances on Tuesday, April 17 and Wednesday, April 18

Prices:  Tickets start at $39.00

For Single Tickets: Call (216) 795-7000, ext. 4, or visit
www.clevelandplayhouse.com <http://www.clevelandplayhouse.com > 

Groups of 10 of more SAVE!!! Call Lisa Craig, (216) 795-7000, ext. 235

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<P ALIGN=3DCENTER><B><FONT SIZE=3D4 FACE=3D"Arial Narrow">The Cleveland =
Play House Production of<I> ELLA</I> Extended</FONT></B></P>

<P ALIGN=3DCENTER><B><I><FONT FACE=3D"Arial Narrow">Show extended for 5 =
additional performances</FONT></I></B></P>
<BR>

<P><B><FONT FACE=3D"Arial Narrow">CLEVELAND (March 23, 2007) =
--</FONT><I> <FONT FACE=3D"Arial =
Narrow">Ella,</FONT></I></B><I></I><FONT FACE=3D"Arial Narrow"> the =
musical play about “The First Lady of Song,” Ella =
Fitzgerald, will enjoy an extended run in The Cleveland Play =
House’s Bolton Theatre, through April 22, 2007. Broadway musical =
star Tina Fabrique delivers a look into the life, struggles, and =
heartbreaks of the legendary singer.</FONT><B></B></P>

<P><FONT FACE=3D"Arial Narrow">Conceived by Rob Ruggiero and Dyke =
Garrison, and directed by Rob Ruggiero,</FONT><I> <FONT FACE=3D"Arial =
Narrow">Ella</FONT></I><FONT FACE=3D"Arial Narrow"> first came to life =
in 2005 when it premiered as</FONT><I> <FONT FACE=3D"Arial Narrow">Ella: =
Off the Record</FONT></I><FONT FACE=3D"Arial Narrow"> at TheatreWorks in =
Hartford, Conn.  </FONT></P>

<P><I><FONT FACE=3D"Arial Narrow">Ella</FONT></I><FONT FACE=3D"Arial =
Narrow"> has been honored with several nominations for the Carbonell =
Award, for its run at Florida Stage: Tina Fabrique for lead actress, Rob =
Ruggiero for best director, and Danny Holgate for music direction.  =
</FONT></P>

<P><FONT FACE=3D"Arial Narrow">CPH is presenting</FONT><I> <FONT =
FACE=3D"Arial Narrow">Ella</FONT></I> <FONT FACE=3D"Arial Narrow">in =
conjunction with the Arizona Theatre Company, Asolo Repertory Theatre =
and San Jose Repertory Theatre in the Bolton Theatre, March 23-April 22, =
2007.</FONT><B></B><B></B></P>

<P><B><FONT FACE=3D"Arial Narrow">ABOUT</FONT></B><B><I> <FONT =
FACE=3D"Arial Narrow">ELLA</FONT></I></B>

Shortly after the death of her sister in =
1966, Ella Fitzgerald struggles with rehearsals for a sold-out concert =
in Nice, France. But during the show, the very private Ella not only =
rallies but offers a rare, emotional glimpse into her life. The =
performance includes hit songs such as, “They Can’t Take =
That Away From Me,” “That Old Black Magic” and =
“A-Tisket, A-Tasket.”

<P><B><FONT FACE=3D"Arial Narrow">ABOUT THE ENSEMBLE</FONT></B>

TINA FABRIQUE (Ella Fitzgerald) returns to The Cleveland Play =
House having played Mother Vera in Abyssinia and Amanda =
in The Glass Menagerie. =
Recently completing a very successful run at =
Arizona Theatre Company, Ms. Fabrique is pleased to be here once again =
in Ella. Her Broadway credits include: Dessa Rose at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts; Ragtime, Bring in ‘Da =
Noise, Bring in ‘Da Funk, Truly =
Blessed, How to Succeed in Business Without Really =
Trying, The Gospel at Colonus and Harlem =
Song. National Tours =
include: The Wiz, Bubbling Brown =
Sugar, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Once on This Island, South =
Pacific with Robert =
Goulet, How to =
Succeed, and Queenie Pie. Other New York credits include: 70, Girls, 70 for City =
Center Encores!, Angel =
Levine at Jewish Repertory =
and Shades of =
Harlem at the Village Gate. =
Regional credits include: Mother Shaw in Crowns, Hattie =
in Kiss Me, Kate, Ma in Ma =
Rainey’s Black Bottom at =
Arena Stage, Mama Morton in Chicago at Ogunquit =
Theater, Quilly in The Old =
Settler at Actors Theater of =
Louisville and at Westport Theater and The Narrator in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor =
Dreamcoat at North Shore Music =
Theater. Tina created the role of Mother Vera in Abyssinia =
at Musical Theater Works, Arena Stage, and Goodspeed Opera House. Ms. =
Fabrique was featured soloist with the Duke Ellington Orchestra for =
several years touring throughout Europe and the United States. She has =
also starred with the Harlem Gospel Singers on tour in Europe for =
several years. In the summer of 2005, Ms. Fabrique's voice could be =
heard singing the theme song to the documentary Mad Hot Ballroom. She is also the original voice of the "Reading =
Rainbow" theme song. Her television credits include: “Law =
& Order: Criminal Intent,” “When I Grow Up,” =
“The Today Show,” “Law & Order: Special Victims =
Unit,” “Mike Mulligan's Steam Shovel,” “All My =
Children” and “One Life to Live.”

GEORGE CALDWELL (Piano/Conductor) is a veteran of Broadway, =
having conducted several shows such as Black and Blue =
and Play On!, as well as having served in orchestra pits for =
such hits as Bring In ‘Da =
Noise, Bring in ‘Da Funk =
and The Full Monty. In addition to providing musical direction for =
the European tour of Black and =
Blue and serving as Associate =
Conductor for the tour of Body and =
Soul in Europe, Mr. Caldwell has =
also served as Musical Director for the original musical Thunder Knocking on the Door, as well as Golden Boy at Long Wharf =
Theatre and multiple productions of Cookin’ at the Cookery. Mr. Caldwell played for three years with the Duke Ellington =
Orchestra under the direction of Ellington’s son Mercer, and seven =
years with the Count Basie Orchestra under the direction of Frank Foster =
and Grover Mitchell. The Count Basie Orchestra received a Grammy Award =
with Mr. Caldwell at the piano for the recording, “The Count Basie =
Orchestra Live at the Manchestra Craftman’s Guild” (with New =
York Voices). Mr. Caldwell composed and arranged the music for the =
award-winning short film, Rolling =
in Dough. His recording credits =
include diverse musical styles, from original cast albums for Broadway =
shows such as Play =
On! and Body and Soul, to Jazzin’ with Tito =
Puente.

RODNEY HARPER (Drums) has previously appeared in The Cleveland =
Play House production of Cookin’ at the Cookery. He has also worked in national and international productions =
of Ain’t =
Misbehavin’, =
Bubbling Brown Sugar, Blackbirds =
of Broadway, Satin Sweet, Dreamgirls, =
Purlie and Williams and =
Walker. He has been fortunate to =
work with legendary artists such as Sonny Stitt, Jimmy McGriff and Hank =
Crawford, Dakota Staton, Billy Eckstein, Della Reese and Marlena Shaw, =
as well as R&B revivals with the Coasters, the Drifters and the =
Marvelettes.

CLIFTON KELLEM (Bass) has performed with a variety of jazz =
artists, including Uhmar Rhameen, Cornell Rochester, Byard Lancaster, =
Christian Sands, Web’s Fleet, Mike Tromebetta Big Band, Willie =
Williams, Legends of Jazz Big Band, Dr. Guthrie Ramsey and George =
Benson. He has worked in the orchestras of several casinos in Atlantic =
City, performing with such headliners as Diahann Carroll, Vic Damone, =
Jerry Lewis, Rodney Dangerfield, Shirley Bassey, Petula Clark, George =
Burns, Milton Berle, Carol Channing, Bill Cosby and Flip Wilson. He has =
toured with Musiqology and Billy Paul in South America and with John =
Blake and Monet Sudler throughout the east coast. A native of =
Philadelphia, Mr. Kellem studied bass at Temple University with Ed Arian =
and Henry Scott of the Philadelphia Orchestra. He also studied jazz =
styles with bassists Tyrone Brown, Lee Smith and Jack Six. He has played =
on recordings featuring Barbara Montgomery, Cornell Rochester, Vaneesa =
Handy, Hot News, Haitian Church of God, Ramundo Sanchez, I.C.E., Monet =
Sudler and Musiqology.

GEORGE ROTH (Norman Granz) has performed extensively in the =
United Kingdom, including a West End appearance in Brighton Beach Memoirs for the Royal National Theatre of Great Britain =
at the Aldwych Theatre. Other London appearances include work at Embassy =
Theatre, Hammersmith Studio and Viceroy Theatre. Regionally, throughout =
the UK, Mr. Roth has performed at Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich and Crucible =
Theatre, Sheffield. He previously appeared in The Cleveland Play House =
production of Americans, and has =
extensive credits throughout Cleveland: Hamlet, A Man of No Importance, The Diary of Anne =
Frank, Beck Center for the =
Arts; Nickel and =
Dimed, Great Lakes Theater =
Festival/Cleveland Public Theatre; Uncle Tom’s Cabin, =
Cleveland Public Theatre; Highway =
Ulysses, Dobama =
Theatre; Amadeus, As You Like It, =
You Can’t Take It With You, Merry Wives of Windsor, Julius Caesar, =
Taming of the Shrew, =
A Midsummer Night’s Dream, A Christmas =
Carol, Much Ado About Nothing, =
Great Lakes Theater Festival; West =
Side Story, Cain Park; =
The Sunshine Boys, Visions of =
Right, Halle Theater. Mr. =
Roth’s other U.S. regional credits include work at Contemporary =
American Theater of Columbus, Sacramento Theatre Company, Los Angeles =
Theatre Center, and Matrix Theater.  He’s been seen on =
television’s “Murphy Brown,” “Love and =
War,” “Doing Time on Maple Drive,” “Get a =
Life,” “The Human Factor,” “Capital City,” =
“Tailspin,” “Fully Clothed, Non-Dancing Girls,” =
“A&E Biography of Isaac Newton,” “A&E =
Biography of Howard Carter,” “Civil War Journals,” =
“The Assassination of Abraham Lincoln,” and =
“Mummies.” His film work includes roles in Batman, The Russia House, =
Nightbreed, and Foreign Body. Mr. Roth earned his BA from Yale University and his MBA from =
Case Western Reserve University. He has studied acting at Central School =
of Speech and Drama and HB Studios in New York.

BRIAN SLEDGE (Trumpet) has performed as the trumpeter of the =
ska band The Toasters, but Mr. Sledge’s musical background stems =
from a nearly 35-year history of swing and jazz. Coming from a musical =
family, which includes the likes of family R&B group Sister Sledge =
and renowned singer Percy Sledge, he began playing trumpet at the age of =
five. At the age of seven, he performed his first swing concert with his =
family swing band Bill Sledge & His 5 Hammers. By the time he was =
fifteen, he had played a solo duet with trumpeter Harry James at the =
Roseland Ballroom in New York. Mr. Sledge has performed with musical =
giants such as Wynton Marsalis, Lionel Hampton Big Band, Illinois =
Jacquet Big Band, Panama Francis & The Savoy Sultans, Arvell Shaw =
& The Louis Armstrong Legacy Band, Clark Terry, and The Fabulous Ink =
Spots, to name a few. He also appeared on HBO's hit TV series =
“Oz.” These days, Mr. Sledge is running his own business, =
Riffin Enterprises, and is continuing the legacy of his father’s =
swing band, Sledge & The Hammers.

<P><B><FONT FACE=3D"Arial Narrow">ABOUT THE CREATIVE TEAM</FONT></B>

JEFFREY HATCHER (Playwright) has authored the book for the =
Broadway musical, Never Gonna =
Dance. Off-Broadway, he has had =
several plays produced, including Three Viewings =
and A Picasso at Manhattan Theatre Club; Scotland Road and The Turn of the =
Screw at Primary =
Stages; Tuesdays with =
Morrie (with Mitch Albom) at =
Minetta Lane Theatre; Murder by =
Poe and The Turn of the Screw with The Acting Company; Neddy at =
The American Place Theatre; and Fellow Travelers at =
Manhattan Punchline. His plays—among them, Compleat Female Stage Beauty, Murderers, =
Mercy of a Storm, Smash, To Fool the Eye<FONT FACE=3D"Arial =

Narrow">, and Work =
Song (with Eric Simonson) =
—have been seen at such theatres as The Cleveland Play House, =
Arizona Theatre Company, Yale Repertory Theatre, The Old Globe, South =
Coast Repertory, Seattle Repertory Theatre, Intiman Theatre, Florida =
Stage, The Empty Space, California Theatre Center, Madison Repertory =
Theatre, Illusion Theater, Denver Center Theatre Company, Oregon =
Shakespeare Festival, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Milwaukee Repertory =
Theater, The Repertory Theater of St. Louis, Cincinnati Playhouse in the =
Park, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Philadelphia Theatre Company, =
Coconut Grove Playhouse, Asolo Repertory Theatre, City Theatre, Studio =
Arena Theatre and dozens more in the U.S. and abroad. Mr. Hatcher wrote =
the screenplays for Stage =
Beauty and Casanova, =
as well as authoring episodes of the Peter Falk series =
“Columbo.” He is a member and/or alumnus of The =
Playwrights’ Center, The Dramatists Guild of America, Writers =
Guild of America and New Dramatists.

ROB RUGGIERO (Director and Co-Conceiver) is a freelance =
professional director and the Associate Artistic Director at =
TheaterWorks in Hartford, Connecticut where, over the course of 13 =
years, he has directed many critically acclaimed productions. He made =
his Off-Broadway debut directing All Under Heaven, which =
also toured nationally, including successful runs in Florida and Los =
Angeles. Mr. Ruggiero’s body of work includes both plays and =
musicals and his productions have been seen in numerous regional =
theatres around the country, including Pittsburgh Public Theater, =
Barrington Stage Company, Great Lakes Theater Festival, The Muny and The =
Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, where last October his hugely successful =
revival of Take Me Out =
kicked off their “Off Ramp” =
series. This production received nine Kevin Kline Award nominations and =
won three -- including one for “Best Director of a Play” -- =
and was remounted at TheaterWorks this fall.

DYKE GARRISON (Co-Conceiver) wrote his first produced =
play, They Also =
Serve, as a Shubert Playwright =
Fellow at Occidental College. He went on to write a number of shorter =
pieces which have been seen at the One Act Theatre, The Marsh, and The =
Guild Theatre, among others. His full-length works include =
Meadow in the Sky, The Finish Line, Shall We =
Dance and Dead Languages. His musical, What’s On Tonight?, =
was produced on San Francisco’s own Broadway and his one-man show =
for Ken Dixon, All =
Present, appeared at Theatre =
Rhinoceros. His one-woman show about Pearl S. Buck, All Under Heaven, written for and with Valerie Harper, premiered at Ms. =
Buck’s alma mater, Randolph Macon, and went on to productions in =
New York, Los Angeles and Florida. Mr. Garrison has studied playwriting =
with Sam Shepard and Oskar Eustis. He is a member of the Playwrights Lab =
of San Francisco and former President of the Board of Directors for the =
Playwrights Foundation.

DANNY HOLGATE (Musical Director) has served as Musical Director =
and Arranger for Don’t =
Bother Me – I Can’t Cope and Bubbling Brown =
Sugar. He performed the musical =
supervision and arrangements for Eubie, Guys and Dolls (revival), Rainbow =
Jones and was Dance Arranger =
for Odyssey and It’s Nice To Be Civilized. Mr. Holgate also performed the role of Jimmy Powers =
in Lady Day at =
Emerson’s Bar and Grill in =
New York and was the Musical Supervisor and Arranger for the show. His =
pre-Broadway shows include Daddy =
Goodness; Two Faces of Africa; Golden Boy (revival); Stringbean; =
Sweet and Hot; Aretha, Queen of Soul; =
Blackbirds of Broadway; =
Cookin’ at the Cookery and a revival of Storyville. For the past =
20 years, he has been a vocal coach, putting together club acts or =
arrangements for numerous performers and for many years, he was the =
Conductor and Arranger for the legendary Cab Calloway.

MICHAEL SCHWEIKARDT (Scenic Design) collaborated on the American =
premiere of Frank McGuinness’ The Bird Sanctuary for =
Pittsburgh Public Theater, as well as Donald Margulies’ =
Collected Stories and Joe Sutton’s Restoring the Sun. For Bluelight Theatre Company, Mr. Schweikardt =
designed Golden =
Boy, Waiting For Lefty, The Big =
Knife, The Seagull and Amazing =
Grace. Other credits =
include All Under =
Heaven and Tallulah Hallelujah. He has worked at Syracuse Stage, Philadelphia Theatre Company, =
Williamstown Theatre Festival, Julliard, New York University, HB =
Playwrights Foundation & Theatre, Abington Theatre Company, =
Barrington Stage Company, Florida Stage Opera, Riverside Theatre, SoHo =
Repertory Theatre, The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, Sacramento =
Music Circus, Contemporary Stage Company, Alabama Shakespeare Festival =
and TheatreWorks.

ALEJO =
VIETTI (Costume =
Designer) has =
designed costumes in New York for productions of Tryst, Roulette, The Last Sunday in June, 16 =
Wounded, 2 X =
Tennessee, The =
Wau Wau Sisters, Servicemen, Waiting for Godot, Five Flights, Love's Labour's =
Lost, =
Measure for =
Measure, Othello and Of a =
White Christmas. He has designed at theatres across the country, including The =
Cleveland Play House, Alley =
Theatre, Colorado Ballet Company, Hartford Stage, Long Wharf Theatre, =
Pasadena Playhouse, Signature Theatre, Barrington Stage Company, =
TheaterWorks, Hangar Theatre, Rockland Opera, Columbia University, as well as for Donetsk =
Opera in Ukraine. For television, he has designed costumes for VH1, MTV, =
FOX and HBO.

JOHN LASITER (Lighting Designer) was the Associate Lighting =
Designer for the Broadway production of David =
Copperfield’s Dreams and =
Nightmares. Off-Broadway, he has =
designed for Bluelight Theatre Company and Music Theatre Group. =
Regionally, Mr. Lasiter has also designed for Actors Theatre of =
Louisville, CENTERSTAGE, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Dallas =
Theater Center, George Street Playhouse, Geva Theatre Center, Milwaukee =
Repertory Theater, New Mexico Repertory Theatre, Pittsburgh Public =
Theater, South Coast Repertory, Syracuse Stage and Virginia Stage =
Company. He has designed for opera productions with Eos Orchestra, The =
Curtis Institute of Music, Glimmerglass Opera, Manhattan School of =
Music, Opera Delaware, Opera Carolina and Skylight Opera Theatre. Mr. =
Lasiter has also designed lighting for dance performances at Ballet =
Memphis, Danzantes Unidos de California, Danzantes Unidos New Mexico, =
Irene Hultman Dance, Nora Reynolds Dance and Randy James Dance =
Works.

MICHAEL C. MICELI (Sound Designer) was the Audio Consultant for =
Ridge Theater’s Jennie =
Richee and Ella at =
Florida Stage and San Diego Repertory Theatre. His sound design credits =
include The Devil’s =
Music, Crowns =
and Ain’t =
Misbehavin’ at Hartford =
Stage and Ella: Off the =
Record at TheatreWorks, as well =
as associate sound design for Floyd & Clea Under the Western Sky at Hartford Stage. Mr. Miceli has worked with a =
variety of artists and clients across the nation, including Nickelodeon, =
the Connecticut Forum, Center for Creative Youth and Yale School of =
Drama. He is currently the Audio Supervisor for Hartford Stage and the =
founder of his production consulting company, Miceli Production, =
LLC.

<P ALIGN=3DCENTER><B><I><FONT FACE=3D"Arial Narrow"># # =
#</FONT></I></B></P>

As the =
country’s first permanently established professional theatre, =
founded in 1915, The Cleveland Play House has produced plays for 91 =
years. More than 12 million people have attended over 1,300 productions =
at The Cleveland Play House – more than 130 of which were American =
and/or World Premieres. At 300,000 square feet, the Philip =
Johnson-designed Cleveland Play House complex houses five performance =
spaces, making it the largest regional theatre complex in the United =
States.

<P ALIGN=3DCENTER><I><FONT SIZE=3D2 FACE=3D"Arial Narrow">The Ohio Arts =
Council helped to fund The Cleveland Play House with state tax dollars =
to encourage economic growth, educational excellence and cultural =
enrichment.</FONT><B></B></I><B></B><B></B></P>
<BR>

<P ALIGN=3DCENTER><B><I><FONT SIZE=3D4 FACE=3D"Arial Narrow">ELLA Fact =
SHEET</FONT></I></B></P>
<BR>

<P><B><FONT FACE=3D"Arial Narrow">What:  </FONT><I> <FONT =
FACE=3D"Arial Narrow">Ella</FONT></I></B><I></I>

<BR><B>       </B> <FONT =
FACE=3D"Arial Narrow">Written by Jeffrey Hatcher</FONT>

<BR>        <FONT FACE=3D"Arial =
Narrow">Conceived by Rob Ruggiero and Dyke Garrison</FONT>

<BR>        <FONT FACE=3D"Arial =
Narrow">Co-production with Arizona Theatre Company, Asolo Repertory =
Theatre and San Jose Repertory Theatre</FONT>
</P>

<P><B><FONT FACE=3D"Arial Narrow">Where: </FONT></B> <FONT =
FACE=3D"Arial Narrow">Bolton Theatre, The Cleveland Play House, 8500 =
Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio</FONT>
</P>

<P><B><FONT FACE=3D"Arial Narrow">When:  </FONT></B> <FONT =
FACE=3D"Arial Narrow">Preview Performances:   =
        Friday – Tuesday, March =
23, 24, 25 and 27, 2007<BR>
Opening Night:  =
            =
            Wednesday, =
March 28, 2007<BR>
Final Performance:      =
        Sunday, April 22, 2007</FONT>
</P>

<P><B><FONT FACE=3D"Arial Narrow">Who:   </FONT></B> =
       <U></U><U><B> <FONT =
FACE=3D"Arial Narrow">Cast</FONT></B></U>
<UL><UL>
<P><FONT FACE=3D"Arial Narrow">Ella Fitzgerald Tina Fabrique</FONT>

<BR><FONT FACE=3D"Arial Narrow">Norman Granz    George =
Roth</FONT>

<BR><FONT FACE=3D"Arial Narrow">Piano/Conductor George Caldwell</FONT>
</UL></UL>
<P><FONT FACE=3D"Arial =
Narrow">          &nbsp=
;            =
      Drums      =
Rodney Harper</FONT>

<BR><FONT FACE=3D"Arial =
Narrow">          &nbsp=
;            =
      Bass       =
Clifton Kellem</FONT>

<BR><FONT FACE=3D"Arial =
Narrow">          &nbsp=
;            =
      Trumpet    Brian =
Sledge<BR>
</FONT>

<BR><FONT FACE=3D"Times New =
Roman">           =
            <=
/FONT><U></U><U><B></B></U><U><B> <FONT FACE=3D"Arial Narrow">Creative =
Team:</FONT></B></U>
<UL><UL><UL><UL>
<P><FONT FACE=3D"Arial Narrow">Playwright:     =
        =
        Jeffrey Hatcher<BR>
Director/Co-Conceiver:          =
Rob Ruggiero    =
       </FONT>=20
</UL></UL>
<P><FONT FACE=3D"Arial Narrow">Co-Conceiver:   =
        =
        Dyke Garrison</FONT>

<BR><FONT FACE=3D"Arial Narrow">Musical =
Director:       =
        =
        Danny Holgate</FONT>

<BR><FONT FACE=3D"Arial Narrow">Scenic Design:  =
        =
        Michael Schweikardt</FONT>

<BR><FONT FACE=3D"Arial Narrow">Costume Design: =
        =
        Alejo Vietti</FONT>

<BR><FONT FACE=3D"Arial Narrow">Lighting Design: =
       =
        =
        John Lasiter</FONT>

<BR><FONT FACE=3D"Arial Narrow">Sound Design:   =
        =
        Michael C. Miceli</FONT>

<BR><FONT FACE=3D"Arial Narrow">Stage Manager:  =
        =
        Bruno Ingram</FONT>
</P>
</UL></UL>
<P><B><FONT FACE=3D"Arial Narrow">Times:</FONT></B>

<BR><FONT FACE=3D"Arial Narrow">Tuesday-Saturday =
Evenings:      =
        8:00 pm</FONT>

<BR><FONT FACE=3D"Arial Narrow">Saturday =
Matinee:       =
        =
        4:00 pm</FONT>

<BR><FONT FACE=3D"Arial Narrow">Sunday Matinee: =
        =
        =
        2:00 pm</FONT>

<BR><FONT FACE=3D"Arial Narrow">Early Curtain:  =
        =
        =
        Tuesday, April 10, 7:00 =
pm</FONT>

<BR><I><FONT FACE=3D"Arial Narrow">There will be no performances on =
Tuesday, April 17 and Wednesday, April 18</FONT></I>
</P>

<P><B><FONT FACE=3D"Arial Narrow">Prices: </FONT></B> <FONT =
FACE=3D"Arial Narrow">Tickets start at $39.00</FONT><B></B>
</P>

<P><B><FONT FACE=3D"Arial Narrow">For Single Tickets:</FONT></B> <FONT =
FACE=3D"Arial Narrow">Call (216) 795-7000, ext. 4, or </FONT><FONT =
COLOR=3D"#000000" FACE=3D"Arial Narrow">visit</FONT><U></U><U><B> =
</B></U><A HREF=3D"http://www.clevelandplayhouse.com "><U><B><FONT =
COLOR=3D"#000000" FACE=3D"Arial =
Narrow">www.clevelandplayhouse.com</FONT></B></U><U><B></B></U></A><U><B>=
</B></U><B></B><B></B>
</P>

<P><B><FONT FACE=3D"Arial Narrow">Groups of 10 of more =
SAVE!!!</FONT></B> <FONT FACE=3D"Arial Narrow">Call Lisa Craig, (216) =
795-7000, ext. 235</FONT>
</P>
<BR>

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