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<TITLE>Gee’s Bend is Sewn into Cleveland Play House Season </TITLE>
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<P ALIGN=CENTER><B><I><FONT SIZE=4 FACE="Arial">Gee’s Bend</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=4 FACE="Arial"> is Sewn into Play House Season<BR>
</FONT><I></I><I><FONT FACE="Arial">Play based on the world famous quilters of Gee’s Bend, Alabama </FONT></I></B></P>
<P><B><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">CLEVELAND (January 10, 2008) –</FONT></B><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"></FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Gee’s Bend</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">, the true story of a community of the world-renowned quilters from rural Alabama will be produced on the Baxter Stage of The Cleveland Play House at 85<SUP>th</SUP> and Euclid from February 1-24, 2008.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">“</FONT><I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Gee’s Bend</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"> represents the kind of event we dream of producing: a deeply moving story about an extraordinary group of individuals that has great resonance in our community,” says</FONT><B> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Michael Bloom, Cleveland Play House Artistic Director.</FONT></B></P>
<P><B><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Playwright Elyzabeth Gregory Wilder</FONT></B><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">, an Alabama native, first became aware of the quilts of Gee’s Bend when they were first publicly unveiled at the Whitney Museum of Art in New York. Upon viewing the quilts (which were also exhibited at the Cleveland Museum of Art in 2004), Wilder realized that there had to be a story behind the quilts that yearned to be told. The Alabama Shakespeare Festival offered Wilder a commission to develop a play based on the quilts and quilters, and after visiting Gee’s Bend several times beginning in 2004, quilter Mary Lee Bendolph left Wilder with the charge to “just write it honest.” </FONT></P>
<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">The characters in the play</FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Gee’s Bend</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"> are meant to be a composite of the women I have talked to and read about,” says Wilder. “The play is not solely about the quilts, but rather, the quilts become the backdrop for a much bigger journey.”</FONT></P>
<P><I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Gee’s Bend</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">, the play, was first read at the 2006 Southern Writers’ Project Festival of New Plays, and received its world premiere in February 2007 both at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival in Montgomery.</FONT></P>
<P><I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Gee’s Bend</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"> spans 60 years and three generations of women, using just four actors to provide an intimate portrait of a small, rural community that amplifies American political and artistic history.</FONT></P>
<P><B><FONT FACE="Arial">ABOUT</FONT><I> <FONT FACE="Arial">GEE’S BEND</FONT></I></B>
<BR><I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Gee’s Bend</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"> is the story of a young woman, Sadie, who discovers herself in an isolated world beginning in the late 1930s and into the turn of the 21<SUP>st</SUP> century. Her home on the “bend” has always been humble, and hard work is essential for survival. When the time is right, Sadie’s mother, Alice, introduces her to the art and tradition of quilting, which opens Sadie up to a new, creative world, and proves that her heart is as strong and as beautiful as the quilts she creates.</FONT></P>
<P><B><FONT FACE="Arial">ABOUT THE CAST</FONT></B>
<BR><B><FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">SHANÉSIA DAVIS</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"></FONT></B> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">(Nella) has performed extensively in regional theatres throughout the country, including Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Kansas City Repertory Theatre (multiple credits), Northlight Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre (multiple credits), Centerstage, Southcoast Repertory Theatre, Royal George Theatre, Goodman Theatre (multiple credits), San Diego Repertory Theatre, Court Theatre (multiple credits) and Victory Gardens Theatre. She was a series regular on the television show “Early Edition,” and also appeared on “Missing Persons,” “Gabriel’s Fire” and ”Making a Case for Murder: The Howard Beach Story.” Her film credits include roles in</FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Damaged Goods</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">,</FONT><B><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"></FONT></B><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Only Child</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"> (short),</FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Morning Due</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"> (short),</FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">The Weatherman</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">,</FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Uncle Nino</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">,</FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Life Sentence</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">,</FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Chicago Cab</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"> and</FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">With Honors.</FONT></I></P>
<P><B><FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">WENDELL B. FRANKLIN</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"></FONT></B> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">(Macon) performed in the off-Broadway production of</FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Speak Truth to Power</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"> at The Culture Project. His regional theatre credits include performances at the Weston Playhouse, Billie Holiday Theatre, Arkansas Repertory Theatre, Illinois Shakespeare Festival (multiple credits), Pennsylvania Centre Stage (multiple credits) and Penn State University (multiple credits). He has appeared on television in “Law and Order” and “Church Detectives.” Mr. Franklin holds a</FONT><B><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"></FONT></B> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Master of Fine Arts in Acting from Penn State University.</FONT></P>
<P><B><FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">ERIKA L</FONT><FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=1 FACE="Arial">a</FONT><FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">VONN</FONT></B><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"> (Sadie) has performed on Broadway in</FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">The Lion King</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"> and off-Broadway in</FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Portraits</FONT></I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">at Union Square Theatre and</FONT><I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"> Another Story</FONT></I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">at Ubu Repertory Theatre. Ms. LaVonn’s regional theatre credits include roles at Arizona Theatre Company (multiple credits), Portland Center Stage, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Denver Theatre Center, The Schubert Theatre (Massachusetts), The Kennedy Center (multiple credits), Delaware Theatre Company, McCarter Theatre, Crossroads Theatre and The Organic Theatre.</FONT></P>
<P><B><FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">WANDACHRISTINE</FONT></B><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"> (Alice/Asia) has been seen in regional theatre productions at the</FONT><B><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"></FONT></B> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Court Theatre, Hartford Stage Company, Dallas Theatre Center, Portland Center Stage, Apollo Theater, Theatre Works, Santa Monica Playhouse, Mark Taper Forum, MC Cadden Place Theatre, Los Angeles Theatre Center, The Hudson Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre, Cherry County Playhouse, Chicago Theatre Company (multiple credits), Goodman Studio Theatre, Victory Gardens Theatre, Carter Studio, Illinois Theatre Company (multiple credits), Second City and Bryn Mawr Theatre. Her television credits include roles on “ER,” “The Justice League,” “Scarface,” “How We Are,” “The Bold and the Beautiful,” “Judging Amy,” “General Hospital,” “Frank Leaves for the Orient,” “One World,” “L.A. Doctors,” “The PJs,” “Arli$$,” “Missing Persons,” “The Untouchables,” “Goodnight My Sweet Wife. . . A Killing in Boston,” “The Mary Thomas Story,” “Open Admissions” and “The Killing Floor.” Wandachristine has several film credits to her name, including</FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">The Engagement</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">,</FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Mr. and Mrs. Jones</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">,</FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Passing Minds</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">,</FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">A Lover for My Husband</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">,</FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Patch Adams</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">,</FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Temporary Girl</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">,</FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">City of Angels</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">,</FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">A Family Thing</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">,</FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Reasons</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">,</FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Richie Rich</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">,</FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Folks</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">,</FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Backdraft</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">,</FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Men Don’t Leave</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"> and</FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Clara’s Heart.</FONT></I></P>
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<P><B><FONT COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial">ABOUT THE CREATIVE TEAM</FONT></B>
<BR><B><FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">ELYZABETH GREGORY WILDER</FONT></B><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"> (Playwright) was raised on a houseboat in Alabama. Her play</FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Fresh Kills</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"> was produced at the Royal Court in London, directed by Tony nominee Wilson Milam.</FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Gee’s Bend</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"> was commissioned by the Alabama Shakespeare Festival where it premiered in February, 2007. Other plays include</FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">The First Day of Hunting Season</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"> (Ensemble Studio Theatre) and</FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">The Spirit of Ecstasy</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">. She is currently completing commissions for the Alabama Shakespeare Festival (</FONT><I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">The Furniture of Home</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">) and the Denver Center (</FONT><I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">The Bone Orchard</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">). Ms. Wilder is a graduate of the dramatic writing program at New York University and has written for television. </FONT></P>
<P><B><FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">SHIRLEY JO FINNEY</FONT></B><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"> (Director) is an award winning director who has worked all over the country. She recently directed the critically-acclaimed East Coast Premiere of</FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Stick Fly</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"> at the McCarter Theatre Center. Her directing stints also include such notable theatres as The Kennedy Center, Pasadena Playhouse, the Goodman Theatre, the Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Crossroads Theatre Company, Actors Theatre of Louisville (Humana Festival), The Mark Taper Forum, and the Sundance Theatre Workshop. She has received an LA Theatre Ovation Award nomination, the NAACP Image Award, the Drama Critics Award, Backstage West, and LA Weekly Award for Best Director for her production of</FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Yellowman</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">. Ms. Finney is featured in</FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Infiniti in Black</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">, a national ad campaign for Infiniti. She has directed several episodes of the series “Moesha”</FONT><I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"></FONT></I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">and has received the International Black Filmmakers Award for the film</FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Remember Me</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">. She is an alumna of the American Film Institute’s Directors Workshop for Women. She holds a Master of Fine Arts degree from UCLA. She has been an Artist-In-Residence at Columbia College in Chicago and guest director and lecturer at USC and UCLA. Ms. Finney is also a member of the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers, The Directors’ Guild and the Screen Actors’ Guild.</FONT></P>
<P><B><FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">MICHAEL VAUGHN SIMS</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"></FONT></B> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">(Scenic Designer) was raised in Selma, Alabama during the years following the Civil Rights Movement. He was a member of the first class of the Selma City Public Schools to attend racially-integrated classes from first through twelfth grades. His father, a Baptist preacher, served a rural church located about ten miles from Gee’s Bend.</FONT><B> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">CPH:</FONT></B><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"></FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">The Old Settler</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"></FONT><B> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">BROADWAY:</FONT></B><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"></FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">The Scarlet Pimpernel</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"> (Associate),</FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">High Society</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"> (Assistant),</FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">The Lion King</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"> (Assistant)</FONT><B> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">OFF-BROADWAY:</FONT></B><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"></FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">The Torch Bearers</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">, Drama Department;</FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Annie Warbucks</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"> (Assistant), Variety Arts Theatre</FONT><B> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">REGIONAL:</FONT></B><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"> The Old Globe, Guthrie Theatre, South Coast Repertory Theatre, Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, Yale Repertory Theatre, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, George Street Playhouse, Center Stage, Florida Stage, Clarence Brown Theatre, Dad’s Garage, Juilliard Drama Division, The Acting Company, Chautauqua Theatre Company, TheatreWorks/USA</FONT><B> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">FILM:</FONT></B><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"></FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Practical Magic</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"> (Illustrator)</FONT><B> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">EDUCATION:</FONT></B><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"> Master of Fine Arts, Yale School of Drama</FONT><B> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">OTHER CREDITS:</FONT></B> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">2006 San Diego Critics’ Circle Award for</FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">A Body of Water</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">, The Old Globe; 1994 Drama-Logue Award for</FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Pterodactyls</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">, South Coast Repertory Theatre</FONT></P>
<P><B><FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">MYRNA COLLEY-LEE</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"></FONT></B> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">(Costume Designer)</FONT><B> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">CPH:</FONT></B><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"></FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">The Piano Lesson</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">,</FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Forrest City, The Amen Corner</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"></FONT><B> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">OFF-BROADWAY:</FONT></B><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"></FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Becoming Adele</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">, The Harold Clurman Theatre; Brecht’s</FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Mother Courage</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">, New York Public Theatre;</FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">The Pirates of Penzance</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">, Delacorte Theatre</FONT><B> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">REGIONAL:</FONT></B><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"> St. Louis Black Repertory Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre, Theatre Virginia, Studio Arena Theatre, Portland Center Stage, Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, Arizona Theatre Company, Actors Theatre of Louisville, The Cincinnati Playhouse, Seattle Repertory Theatre</FONT><B> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">FILM:</FONT></B><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"></FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Frederick Douglass, An American Life</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">;</FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Long Day’s Journey Into Night</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">;</FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Booker T. Washington: The Legacy and The Life</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"></FONT><B> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">EDUCATION:</FONT></B><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"> Master of Fine Arts, Temple University</FONT><B> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">OTHER CREDITS:</FONT></B><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"> Founder of the SonEdna Foundation, Commissioner for the Mississippi Arts Commission, recent solo exhibition of costumes and renderings at the Mississippi Museum of Art</FONT></P>
<P><B><FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">VICTOR EN YU TAN</FONT></B><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"> (Lighting Designer)</FONT><B> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">CPH:</FONT></B><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"></FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Room Service</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"></FONT><B> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">BROADWAY:</FONT></B><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"></FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Macbeth</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">,</FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">As You Like It</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">,</FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Romeo and Juliet</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"></FONT><B> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">OFF-BROADWAY:</FONT></B><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"></FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Joy Luck Club</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">,</FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Tea</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">,</FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Cambodia Agonistes</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">, and over 35 productions for Pan Asian Rep; premiere of</FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Sheila’s Day</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">; premieres of</FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">For Colored Girls</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">,</FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Spell #7</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">,</FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Dance and the Railroad</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">,</FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Fob</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">,</FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">The Colored Museum</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"> and over 20 other productions for the NY Shakespeare Festival; premieres of the Yiddish musicals</FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">The Golden Land</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"> and</FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">On Second Avenue</FONT></I><I><B></B></I><B> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">REGIONAL:</FONT></B><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"> McCarter Theatre, Kansas City Repertory Theatre, Sacramento Theatre Company, Virginia Stage, Colorado Shakespeare Festival, Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Mark Taper Forum, Pasadena Playhouse, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Hartford Stage, Cincinnati Playhouse, Crossroads Theatre, Indiana Playhouse, American Repertory Theatre, Asolo Theatre, The Kennedy Center, Dallas Theatre Center, Syracuse Stage, Capital Repertory Theatre, Goodspeed Opera House, George Street Theatre, Berkshire Theatre Festival, Barrington Stage, Studio Arena, TheatreVirginia, Pittsburgh Public Theatre, Geva Theatre, American Music Theatre Festival, Brooklyn Academy of Music, Sacramento Opera, Florida State Opera</FONT><B> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">OTHER CREDITS:</FONT></B><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"> The premiere of</FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">The Young Lady of Rwanda</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"> directed by Michael Bloom for the Kansas City Repertory Theatre and the premiere of</FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Ikebana</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"> for the Pasadena Playhouse.</FONT></P>
<P><B><FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">JAMES C. SWONGER</FONT></B><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"> (Resident Sound Designer)</FONT><B> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">CPH:</FONT></B><I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"> The Chosen, Bunnicula, Man of La Mancha, Trumbo, Lincolnesque, The Clean House, Cuttin’ Up, Of Mice and Men, RFK, Rabbit Hole, Dream a Little Dream, Custody of the Eyes, Well, A Streetcar Named Desire, A Christmas Story, I Am My Own Wife, Room Service, Bad Dates, Restoring the Sun, Rounding Third, The Real Thing, The Piano Lesson, John Henry,</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"></FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Tuesdays with Morrie</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">,</FONT><I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"> Plaid Tidings</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">,</FONT><I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"> Crowns,</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"></FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Hurlyburly</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"></FONT><B> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">REGIONAL:</FONT></B><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"> Cleveland’s Lyric Opera, Utah Festival Opera Company, Utah’s Pioneer Theatre Company, Baltimore’s Center Stage, New Jersey’s George Street Playhouse, Yale Repertory Theater</FONT><B> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">OTHER CREDITS:</FONT></B><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"> designed the premiere productions of</FONT><I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"> The Tragic Demise of Whaleship Essex, Swinging on a Star: A Tribute to the Music of Johnny Burke, Tangents,</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"> and</FONT><I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"> The Count of Monte Cristo</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">, adapted by Charles Morey; designed sound system installations for restaurants, theatres, and churches; former adjunct professor for the University of Utah’s Fine Arts program</FONT></P>
<P><B><FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">JOHN GODBOUT</FONT></B><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"> (Stage Manager)</FONT><B> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">CPH:</FONT></B><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"></FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">A Christmas Story</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">,</FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">The Chosen</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">,</FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Man of La Mancha</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">,</FONT><I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Lincolnesque, The Clean House, Of Mice and Men, RFK, Rabbit Hole, Custody of the Eyes, Well, A Streetcar Named Desire, I Am My Own Wife, Rounding Third, Tuesdays with Morrie, Enchanted April, Cookin’ at the Cookery, The Underpants, The Dinner Party, Forest City, Dirty Blonde, Crumbs from the Table of Joy, A Tuna Christmas, Bright Ideas, Frank Langella’s Cyrano, I Hate Hamlet, The Amen Corner, The Waverly Gallery, Dinner with Friends</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"></FONT><B> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">REGIONAL:</FONT></B><I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"></FONT></I> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Shakespeare and Company; Capital Repertory Theatre; Arkansas Repertory Theatre; Northern Stage; American Stage; Worcester Foothills Theatre; Seaside Music Theatre</FONT></P>
<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Founded in 1915, The Cleveland Play House is the first permanently established professional theatre in the United States. More than 12 million people have attended over 1,300 productions at The Play House – including more than 130 American and/or World Premieres. Today, under the leadership of Artistic Director Michael Bloom and Managing Director Kevin Moore, The Cleveland Play House is an artist-driven theatre that serves the Greater Cleveland community by holding true to its mission:</FONT></P>
<P><I><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">To produce plays of the highest professional standards that inspire, stimulate, and entertain our diverse audiences, and to conduct training and educational programs that enhance the quality of life for those we serve and help to insure the future of theatre.</FONT></I></P>
<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">The Ohio Arts Council helps to fund The Cleveland Play House with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans.</FONT></P>
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<P><B><FONT COLOR="#800080" FACE="Californian FB">Alison Bibb-Carson</FONT></B>
<BR><FONT COLOR="#800080" SIZE=2 FACE="Californian FB">Associate Director of Communications and Marketing</FONT>
<BR><FONT COLOR="#800080" SIZE=2 FACE="Californian FB">The Cleveland Play House</FONT>
<BR><FONT COLOR="#800080" SIZE=2 FACE="Californian FB">8500 Euclid Avenue</FONT>
<BR><FONT COLOR="#800080" SIZE=2 FACE="Californian FB">Cleveland, Ohio 44106</FONT>
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<BR><FONT COLOR="#0000FF" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">SEEING</FONT><FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">IS</FONT><FONT COLOR="#0000FF" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">BELIEVING...www.clevelandplayhouse.com</FONT>
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