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<div class=Section1>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold'>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:date Month="12" Day="15" Year="2007"><font size=2
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-weight:
bold'>December 15, 2007</span></font></st1:date><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold'>Direct questions to:</span></font><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'> (216)
521-2540<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Yvette Hanzel, ext. 225<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoBodyText><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Dawn Youngs, ext. 223<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoBodyText><font size=4 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoBodyText align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoBodyText align=center style='text-align:center'><st1:place><st1:PlaceName><font
size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"'>Beck</span></font></st1:PlaceName><font
size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"'>
</span></font><st1:PlaceType><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"'>Center</span></font></st1:PlaceType></st1:place><font
size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"'>
for the Arts<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoBodyText align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"'>Teen
Theater presents<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoBodyText align=center style='text-align:center'><b
style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'><i style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'><font
size=4 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";
font-weight:bold;mso-bidi-font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;mso-bidi-font-style:
normal'>The </span></font></i></b><st1:City><st1:place><b style='mso-bidi-font-weight:
normal'><i style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'><font size=4
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";
font-weight:bold;mso-bidi-font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;mso-bidi-font-style:
normal'>Laramie</span></font></i></b></st1:place></st1:City><b
style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'><i style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'><font
size=4 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";
font-weight:bold;mso-bidi-font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;mso-bidi-font-style:
normal'> Project<o:p></o:p></span></font></i></b></p>
<p class=MsoBodyText align=center style='text-align:center;line-height:200%'><st1:date
Month="1" Day="18" Year="2008"><b style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'><font
size=4 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:14.0pt;line-height:200%;
font-family:"Times New Roman";font-weight:bold;mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>January
18-27, 2008</span></font></b></st1:date><b style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'><font
size=4 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:14.0pt;line-height:200%;
font-family:"Times New Roman";font-weight:bold;mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'><o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%'><span
style='mso-tab-count:1'> </span><b style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'><span
style='font-weight:bold;mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>Lakewood, OH </span></b>–
Beck Center for the Arts Teen Theater presents <i style='mso-bidi-font-style:
normal'><span style='font-style:italic;mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>The Laramie
Project</span></i>, a deeply moving play by Moisés Kaufman and members of the
Tectonic Theater Project, in the intimate Studio Theater, January 18 through
27, 2008.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span><i style='mso-bidi-font-style:
normal'><span style='font-style:italic;mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>The Laramie
Project</span></i> is a poignant drama about bigotry and tolerance, fear and
courage, hate and hope.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>Show times are </span></font><st1:time
Hour="19" Minute="30">7:30 p.m.</st1:time> Fridays and Saturdays and <st1:time
Hour="15" Minute="0">3 p.m.</st1:time> Sundays.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>
</span>Audience members are invited to participate in talk-back discussions
with a panel of area experts after each Sunday matinee.<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>For tickets, call the Beck Center Box Office
at 216-521-2540.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%'>On </span></font><st1:date
Month="10" Day="7" Year="1998">October 7, 1998</st1:date>, Matthew Shepard, a
young gay college student from <st1:place><st1:City>Laramie</st1:City>, <st1:State>Wyoming</st1:State></st1:place>,
was tied to a fence on the outskirts of town, brutally beaten and left to
die.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>After his murder, members of the
Tectonic Theater Project, a New York-based theater company, traveled to <st1:City><st1:place>Laramie</st1:place></st1:City>
to interview residents and chronicle the town’s loss of innocence.<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span><i style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'><span
style='font-style:italic;mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>The Laramie Project</span></i>
is not a retelling of the crime story but the town’s reaction to it.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%'>Directed
by Dan Kilbane, <i style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'><span style='font-style:
italic;mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>The Laramie Project</span></i> is based on
resident interviews, the company members’ own journal entries and
published news reports.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>“Two of my
goals working with this remarkable group of young actors, is for the audience
to realize that bigotry and hatred are issues that we continue to battle
everyday.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>And with this younger
generation of performers, I hope to convey that there is still hope that we are
going in the right direction as a community.” remarked Kilbane.<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>“Also, I am honored to return to the </span></font><st1:place><st1:PlaceName>Beck</st1:PlaceName>
<st1:PlaceType>Center</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> where I was once a part of
the teen theater program myself.”<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>
</span>A cast of 14 young actors portray more than sixty characters –
from rural ranchers to university professors – in a series of short scenes
in three acts.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%'><font size=3
color=black face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:
200%;color:black'>Cast members for <i style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'><span
style='font-style:italic;mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>The Laramie Project </span></i>are
students from the </span></font><st1:place><st1:PlaceName><font color=black><span
style='color:black'>Beck</span></font></st1:PlaceName><font color=black><span
style='color:black'> </span></font><st1:PlaceType><font color=black><span
style='color:black'>Center</span></font></st1:PlaceType></st1:place><font
color=black><span style='color:black'>’s Theater Education program.<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>They have participated in core theater
classes at </span></font><st1:place><st1:PlaceName><font color=black><span
style='color:black'>Beck</span></font></st1:PlaceName><font color=black><span
style='color:black'> </span></font><st1:PlaceType><font color=black><span
style='color:black'>Center</span></font></st1:PlaceType></st1:place><font
color=black><span style='color:black'>.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>
</span>In these classes, students explore basic acting skills through
improvisation and theater games.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>They
study method acting, as well as develop singing and acting techniques.<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>In addition, they have had introduction to
theater appreciation and basic theater terminology.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%'><st1:PersonName><font
size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
line-height:200%;color:black'>Tickets</span></font></st1:PersonName><font
color=black><span style='color:black'> for <i style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'><span
style='font-style:italic;mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>The Laramie Project </span></i>are
$10 for adults and $8 for children (12 and under).<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>Discounts are available for groups of 13 or
more.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>To reserve tickets, call the Beck
Center Box Office at 216-521-2540.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>
</span>Convenient, free on-site parking is available.<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span></span></font><st1:place><st1:PlaceName><font
color=black><span style='color:black'>Beck</span></font></st1:PlaceName><font
color=black><span style='color:black'> </span></font><st1:PlaceType><font
color=black><span style='color:black'>Center</span></font></st1:PlaceType></st1:place><font
color=black><span style='color:black'> for the Arts is located at </span></font><st1:Street><st1:address><font
color=black><span style='color:black'>17801 Detroit Avenue</span></font></st1:address></st1:Street><font
color=black><span style='color:black'> in </span></font><st1:City><st1:place><font
color=black><span style='color:black'>Lakewood</span></font></st1:place></st1:City><font
color=black><span style='color:black'>, just ten minutes west of downtown </span></font><st1:City><st1:place><font
color=black><span style='color:black'>Cleveland</span></font></st1:place></st1:City><font
color=black><span style='color:black'>.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoBodyText style='text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in;line-height:
200%'><i style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family:"Times New Roman";
font-style:italic;mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>The Laramie Project</span></font></i><font
size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;
font-family:"Times New Roman"'> is sponsored by Cox Communications, Music Is
Elementary, Lakewoodbuzz.com, and the Ohio Arts Council.<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>Programming at the </span></font><st1:place><st1:PlaceName><font
size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;
font-family:"Times New Roman"'>Beck</span></font></st1:PlaceName><font
size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;
font-family:"Times New Roman"'> </span></font><st1:PlaceType><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;
font-family:"Times New Roman"'>Center</span></font></st1:PlaceType></st1:place><font
size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;
font-family:"Times New Roman"'> is made possible through the generous support
of The Cleveland Foundation, The George Gund Foundation, The John P. Murphy
Foundation, The Kulas Foundation, The Eva L. & Joseph M. Bruening
Foundation, The Abington Foundation, and the Thomas H. White Foundation.<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>The </span></font><st1:place><st1:PlaceName><font
size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;
font-family:"Times New Roman"'>Beck</span></font></st1:PlaceName><font
size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;
font-family:"Times New Roman"'> </span></font><st1:PlaceType><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;
font-family:"Times New Roman"'>Center</span></font></st1:PlaceType></st1:place><font
size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;
font-family:"Times New Roman"'> also gratefully acknowledges <span
style='mso-bidi-font-weight:bold'>the citizens of </span></span></font><st1:place><st1:PlaceName><font
size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;
font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-weight:bold'>Cuyahoga</span></font></st1:PlaceName><font
size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;
font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-weight:bold'> </span></font><st1:PlaceType><font
size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;
font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-weight:bold'>County</span></font></st1:PlaceType></st1:place><font
size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;
font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-weight:bold'> for their support
through Cuyahoga Arts and Culture. </span></font><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;
font-family:"Times New Roman"'><span style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%'><st1:place><st1:PlaceName><font
size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
line-height:200%;color:black'>Beck</span></font></st1:PlaceName><font
color=black><span style='color:black'> </span></font><st1:PlaceType><font
color=black><span style='color:black'>Center</span></font></st1:PlaceType></st1:place><font
color=black><span style='color:black'> for the Arts is a comprehensive arts
organization which offers professional theater productions on two stages, arts
education classes in dance, music, theater, and visual arts, and art exhibits
featuring local and regional artists.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;line-height:200%;
mso-outline-level:1'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%'>###<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoAutoSig><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black;mso-no-proof:yes'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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