[NEohioPAL] Press Release! A Midsummer Night's Dream

[Melanie YC Pepe]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: Melanie YC Pepe 
To: Beacon Journal Listings ; Kerry Clawson ; Collins, Kathleen ; Day in the Sun ; Free Times ; Guregian, Elaine ; gwojciak at sunnews.com ; Helms, April ; Kane, Dan ; Northern Ohio Live ; Phelan, Brianna ; Plain Dealer ; Ritchey, David ; Stewart, Faith ; Whelan, Bridget 
Cc: Jan Harcar 
Sent: Tuesday, January 20, 2009 4:55 PM
Subject: Press Release! A Midsummer Night's Dream


NEWS RELEASE
Contact: Melanie YC Pepe(330) 836-2323x17 (not for publication)
Weathervane Ticket Office (330) 836-2626
(PHOTO ATTACHED:  Amanda Davis & Michael Riffle as Hippolyta & Theseus)

WEATHERVANE PLAYHOUSE
Presents
A Midsummer Night's Dream
A partnership with the Ohio Shakespeare Festival\

(January 20, 2009, Akron, Ohio . For Immediate Release) WEATHERVANE PLAYHOUSE in partnership with The Ohio Shakespeare Festival presents A Midsummer Night's Dream. This production is directed by Terry T. Burgler, Co-Artistic Director of Ohio Shakespeare Festival. This production will run for 10 performances from February 10 to 22, 2009.

Shakespeare's lighthearted romantic comedy follows lovers Hermia and Lysander, who defy parental wishes and the king's command to elope. They flee to the forest together, and are followed by Demetrius, who also loves Hermia and hopes to win her affections from Lysander. Helena follows Demetrius and hopes to win him from Hermia! Meanwhile, Bottom the Weaver and his troupe of aspiring "actors" also venture into the woods to rehearse a play. Once inside the woodland realm of King Oberon and Queen Titania, fantasy and reality reverse! The King and Queen of fairies are at war, and Oberon's trickery, aided by his mischievous sprite, Puck, ensnares lovers and laborers alike. The night of midsummer madness brims with mistaken identity, mismatched lovers and mischief-making fairies. What will come at daybreak? Will the mortal couples be happily paired? Will peace restored to the ethereal realm? Join us for this fun filled and uplifting celebration of love lost, transformed and restored.

Terry Burgler (Director) is a professional director, actor, writer and educator with a notable record of achievement over the past thirty years. He has performed on the Globe Theatre stage in London, and has acted and directed at numerous regional theatres across the country, including McCarter Theatre, the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival, Stage/West and Theatre Virgina, where he served for 13 seasons and still ranks as the most successful Artistic Director in that theatre's 50 year history. For four years he was Artistic Director at Porthouse Theatre here in Northeast Ohio, presiding over record-breaking seasons that garnered significant critical praise as well. He resigned his position there to be able to pursue his passion for Shakespeare as one of the two founding Artistic Directors of the Ohio Shakespeare Festival. Mr. Burgler holds a BA with Honors from Princeton University and an MFA from the University of Virginia. He is a member of the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers (SSDC) and Actors' Equity Association (AEA).

The role of Hermia will be played by Amanda Britton of AKRON (Miller South Performing Arts). Her recent roles on the Miller South Stage include Dame Van Winkle in Rip Van Winkle, Explorer in Give and Take and the donkey in Pinocchio. She is also the President of the Miller South Thespian Troupe.
The role of Lysander will be played by Daniel Rylander of STOW. Daniel returns to the Weathervane stage after playing multiple roles here including: Merriman in The Importance of Being Earnest, Benvolio in Romeo and Juliet and Asher, Napthali and The Baker for successive years in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

The role of Helena will be played by Tess Burgler of KENT (College of Wooster). Tess last performed on the Weathervane Stage as Emma Reese in Bloody Murder and Ann Deever in All My Sons. Her recent roles also include Shelby in Steel Magnolias (Couch House), Luciana in Comedy of Errors (Canton Players Guild) and Diedre in I Hate Hamlet (Ohio Shakespeare Festival).
The role of Demetruis will be played by Taylor Lee of SILVER LAKE (Cuyahoga Falls High School). Taylor debuts on the Weathervane Stage after performing in plays at Cuyahoga Falls High School. He is a Shakespeare enthusiast.

The role of Puck will be played by Dylan White of COLUMBIANA (Virtual Learning Academy). Dylan comes to Weathervane from roles on the Stage of Playhouse Square where he played Boy McDuff in MacBeth. His credits also include Levi in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Mayfield Civic Center ), Peter/Apothecary in Romeo and Juliet (Mayfield Civic Center) and Jem in To kill a Mockingbird (Canton Players Guild). He has won the Arthur Award twice for his performances.

The roles of Theseus & Oberon will by played by Michael Riffle of CLEVELAND. Since returning to Cleveland from Rochester, NY this Spring, Michael has performed as Jack in The Boys Next Door (Medina ShowBizz), as Willum in The Nerd (Medina ShowBizz ), as Ben in The Bank Guards (Fourth Wall Productions), as Jack in Two Man Kidnapping Rule (Fourth Wall Productions), as Man in Defender of the Faith (The Bang and the Clatter), and as Feste in Twelfth Night (University of Akron).

The roles of Hippolyta and Titania will be played by Amanda Davis of AKRON (Kent State University). Amanda return to our stage after performing a multitude of roles on our stage, most recently Eve in Children of Eden, Lady Bracknell in The Importance of Being Earnest and The Narrator in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

Other cast & crewmembers include: 

The role of Egeus will be played by Caitie McNeal of AKRON (Miller South Performing Arts)
The role of Philostrate will be played by Erica Johnson of AKRON (Miller South Performing Arts)
The role of Nick Bottom will be played by Richard Crafton of AKRON (Homeschool Student)
The role of Peter Quince will be played by Steven Nunley of UNIONTOWN (Springfield High School)
The role of Flute will be played by Gavin Van Winkle-Bright of AKRON (Miller South Performing Arts)
The role of Tom Snout will be played by Ryan Hinman of CUYAHOGA FALLS (Cuyahoga Falls HS)
The role of Snug will be played by Max Winer of COPLEY (St. Hilary)
The role of Robin Starveling will be played by Zoe Brooks Sapienza of FAIRLAWN (Old Trail School)
The role of First Fairy will be played by Lilly Eleni Romestant of AKRON (St. Vincent-St. Mary HS)
The role of Peasblossom will be played by Addison Roller of MEDINA (Blake Elementary)
The role of Cobweb will be played by Aidan Matney of AKRON (Miller South Performing Arts)
The role of Moth will be played by Theresa Byron of AKRON (Ellet High School)
The role of Mustardseed will be played by Josh Vellequette of STOW (Holy Family School)

The ensemble of Fairies, Attendants and Musicians will be played by:
Rowan Matney of AKRON (Firestone High School, VPA)
Jaime Raglow of AKRON (St. Vincent-St. Mary High School)
Jessica Hartley of CUYAHOGA FALLS (Cuyahoga Falls HS)
Skylie Mazey of AKRON (Miller South Performing Arts)
Calista Pepe of AKRON (Miller South Performing Arts)
Alexander Horvath of MEDINA (Heritage Elementary School)
Sophie Niekamp of AKRON (Miller South Performing Arts)
Sarah Mushenheim of CUYAHOGA FALLS (Cuyahoga Falls High School)
Rachel Ashley of AKRON (Miller South Performing Arts)
Laura Manes

Benjamin Rexroad Stage Manager AKRON
Adam Thatcher Stage Manager AKRON
JJ McAdam Properties Design STOW
John Catlos Costume Design AKRON
Alan Scott Ferrall Scenic Designer/Lighting Design CUYAHOGA FALLS
Kathy Kohl Assistant Technical Director AKRON

Tickets are $10 with a school group rates and special group rates available. Charge by phone at 330-836-2626 with Visa, MasterCard or Discover, Tuesday - Friday 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Performance Dates are as follows:

A Midsummer Night's Dream
February 10 - 22, 2009
10 Performance Dates & Times

Tuesday, February 10 at 10:00 a.m.
Thursday, February 12 at 10:00 a.m.
Friday, February 13 at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, February 14 at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, February 15 at 3:30 p.m.
Tuesday, February 17 at 10:00 a.m.
Thursday, February 19 at 10:00 a.m.
Friday, February 20 at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, February 21 at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, February 22 at 3:30 p.m.

A Midsummer Night's Dream is the third Young Actor Series Production (YAS) of the 2008-2009 season.
The Young Actor Series is sponsored by The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company.

The Ohio Arts Council helped fund this program with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, education excellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans.

Additional season sponsors include:
Akron Community Foundation, OMNOVA Solutions Foundation and The Sisler McFawn Foundation.

** end **

Melanie YC Pepe
Director of Education
Young Actor Series Producer
Weathervane Playhouse

Office Hours:  Mondays ~ Thursdays 9 - 5, Saturdays 9-5
330.836.2626 x 17

We were nominated for ParentsConnect.com's Parents Pick award! Vote for us at ParentsConnect.com/ParentsPicks. 
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