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<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold'>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>February 11, 2008<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:place w:st="on"><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Northeast Ohio</span></font></st1:place><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arial'> Performing
Arts List<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=2
face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><font size=2
face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold'>***********<i><span
style='font-style:italic'>MEDIA ALERT</span></i>***********<br>
<br>
<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><font size=4
face=Arial><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold'>Thomas
Q. Fulton Named Director <br>
of Chagrin Falls Performing <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Arts</st1:PlaceName>
<st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Academy</st1:PlaceType></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=2
face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><i><font size=2
face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arial;font-style:italic'>First
set of auditions to be held February 20, 2008<o:p></o:p></span></font></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><br>
The newly formed <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Chagrin</st1:PlaceName>
<st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Falls</st1:PlaceType> <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Performing</st1:PlaceName>
<st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Arts</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Academy</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>,
a new college preparatory program in the Mayfield Excel Technical Education
Career Consortium, announced its director today. Thomas Q. Fulton, a highly
regarded theatre teacher, actor and director was named to the position. The
Performing Arts Academy, located in Chagrin Falls School System’s newly
constructed $6M, state of the art Performing Arts Center, joins a wealth of
programs designed to provide expanded options to all students in the
consortium. These include college preparatory, tech prep, school-to-work, and
other educational learning opportunities. Through the close cooperation
of school personnel, parents, and business and industry, students have exciting
choices to grow, learn and prepare themselves for the future. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arial'>The
Excel Technical Educational Career Consortium consists of nine schools in
northeast <st1:State w:st="on">Ohio</st1:State>, including: </span></font><st1:City
w:st="on"><strong><b><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-weight:normal'>Aurora</span></font></b></strong></st1:City><strong><b><font
size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-weight:normal'>,
Beachwood, <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Chagrin</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">Falls</st1:PlaceType>, Mayfield,</span></font></b></strong><b><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arial;font-weight:
bold'> </span></font></b><st1:City w:st="on"><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Orange</span></font></st1:City><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arial'>, Richmond
Heights</span></font><strong><b><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-weight:normal'> Solon, South Euclid-Lyndhurst, and
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">West</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Geauga</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Local</st1:PlaceName>
<st1:PlaceType w:st="on">School Districts</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>.
Juniors and seniors from each of these schools are eligible to audition for the
Academy. More information about the Excel-TECC can be found at the
consortium’s website: <a
href="http://www.mayfieldschools.org/exceltecc/webtecc/about.htm"><font
face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial'>http://www.mayfieldschools.org/exceltecc/webtecc/about.htm</span></font></a>
<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></strong></p>
<p><b><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arial;
font-weight:bold'>THE ACADEMY<br>
</span></font></b><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
11.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>The Performing Arts Academy program will
consist of training and performance education in all aspects of theatre from
basic acting to musical theatre to Shakespeare and beyond. The training will
include daily acting class, plus classes alternating between voice, movement,
theatre history and audition labs. The acting classes will consist of sessions
of improvisation, scene study, movement, voice and characterization based on
the Stanislavski technique of actor development. Electives in Shakespeare,
styles, directing, stage combat, dance, singing, technical theatre and many
others will be offered over the two year, half-day program.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:black'>The Chagrin Falls Performing Arts Academy
productions will include one-act plays, full scale productions and student
directed projects.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:black'>A complete description of the Chagrin Falls
Performing Arts Academy can be viewed at <a
href="http://www.tomfulton.com/chagrinacademy">http://www.tomfulton.com/chagrinacademy</a>
<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><b><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:black;font-weight:bold'>ELIGIBILITY & AUDITIONS</span></font></b><font
size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black'><br>
Students who will become junior or seniors next fall are eligible for
admission. Admission is by audition and interview. Auditions for the
Performing Arts Academy will be held on February 20, 2008 at <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Mayfield</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">High School</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>.
Additional audition times will be made available for students who cannot attend
the Feb 20 audition. Students should contact their home-school guidance
counselor for the necessary forms and information.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold'>THE DIRECTOR<br>
</span></font></b><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Thomas Q. Fulton Jr. is a highly regarded theatre
professional in <st1:place w:st="on">Northeast Ohio</st1:place>. His award
winning work as a director, actor and teacher spans 25 years. Tom has served as
Artistic Director of several professional theatre companies and worked on the
stage for many theatre institutions throughout northeast <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State
w:st="on">Ohio</st1:State></st1:place>.<br>
<br>
In 1975, he founded and headed </span></font><strong><b><font size=2
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Center Repertory Theatre</span></font></b></strong><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arial'>, a L.O.R.T.
"C" company located in <st1:Street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">Playhouse
Square</st1:address></st1:Street> in downtown <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City
w:st="on">Cleveland</st1:City></st1:place>. There, his work included such
critically acclaimed productions as <em><i><font face=Arial><span
style='font-family:Arial'>Vanities</span></font></i></em>, by Jack Heifner,
which became the 2nd longest-running play in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City
w:st="on">Cleveland</st1:City></st1:place> history with a production run of
just over a year; <em><i><font face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial'>Streamers</span></font></i></em>,
by David Rabe; and the world premiere of Michael Paller's moving adaptation of <em><i><font
face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial'>A Christmas Carol.</span></font></i></em><br>
<br>
In 1980, <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Fulton</st1:City></st1:place>
became Artistic Director for the </span></font><strong><b><font size=2
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Phoenix Theatre Ensemble</span></font></b></strong><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arial'>, a company
of actors, directors and playwrights, who worked and trained together to
develop a production style that arose from the collective creative minds and
talents. It was at <st1:City w:st="on">Phoenix</st1:City>, that <st1:City
w:st="on">Fulton</st1:City> began a professional actor training program
focusing on the Stanislavski system of actor development, which he brings to
the </span></font><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on"><strong><b><font
size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Chagrin</span></font></b></strong></st1:PlaceName><strong><b><font
size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:11.0pt'> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">Falls</st1:PlaceType> <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Performing</st1:PlaceName>
<st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Arts</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Academy</st1:PlaceType></span></font></b></strong></st1:place><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arial'>. A number
of acclaimed productions were mounted at Phoenix Theatre under Tom’s
direction, among them: Chekhov’s <em><i><font face=Arial><span
style='font-family:Arial'>The Three Sisters</span></font></i></em>, winner of
the Cleveland Critics' Circle Award for Best Professional Production, <em><i><font
face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial'>Getting Out, Cyrano De Bergerac, The
Seagull, Midsummer Night’s Dream, Our Town, Ashes </span></font></i></em>and
<em><i><font face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial'>Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.</span></font></i></em><br>
<br>
After a 5 year stint with the Cleveland Play House, <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City
w:st="on">Fulton</st1:City></st1:place> took the reigns of the</span></font><strong><b><font
size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:11.0pt'> Cleveland Theatre
Company</span></font></b></strong><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arial'>. Ultimately the company formed an alliance
with The Factory Theatre at <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Cleveland</st1:PlaceName>
<st1:PlaceType w:st="on">State</st1:PlaceType> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">University</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>,
in associate directorship with actor/director Wayne S. Turney. Here Fulton
directed <em><i><font face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial'>Hamlet, 'night
Mother, The Cherry</span></font></i></em><i><span style='font-style:italic'> <em><i><font
face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial'>Orchard,</span></font></i></em></span></i>
his own adaptation of Chekhovs' <em><i><font face=Arial><span style='font-family:
Arial'>Uncle Vanya</span></font></i></em>, and others; acting in <em><i><font
face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial'>King Lear</span></font></i></em>, <em><i><font
face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial'>Man and Superman, Uncle Vanya</span></font></i></em>
and <em><i><font face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial'>Two Rooms</span></font></i></em>.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold'>FIRST CLASS<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Classes for the Academy begin September, 2008 at the
beginning of the school year.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Contact Information:<br>
<br>
<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>EXCEL-TECC<b><span style='font-weight:bold'><br>
</span></b><st1:Street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">6116 Wilson Mills Road</st1:address></st1:Street><br>
Mayfield Village OH 44143<br>
Mr. Joe Hayes: <br>
440-995-6761<b><span style='font-weight:bold'> <o:p></o:p></span></b></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Academy Website<b><span style='font-weight:bold'><br>
</span></b><a href="http://www.tomfulton.com/chagrinacademy">www.tomfulton.com/chagrinacademy</a>
<br>
<br>
</span></font><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:
Arial'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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