<html><head><style type="text/css"><!-- DIV {margin:0px;} --></style></head><body><div style="font-family:times new roman, new york, times, serif;font-size:12pt"><div>Straw Hat Theatre at the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Ashtabula Arts Center</span> will open its 42nd season on June 6 with <span style="font-weight: bold;">“<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Last_Five_Years">The Last Five Years</a>.”</span> The production, directed by Connor O’Brien and Brint Learned will play for two weekends on <span style="font-weight: bold;">June 6, 7, 8, 12, 13, and 14</span>. All shows begin at 8 p.m.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.connorobrien.com/filedump/Last_Five_Years_Web_Small_PNG.png">[ Click to view poster ]</a><br></div><br>Written by Tony-Award winning <a href="http://www.jasonrobertbrown.com/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Jason Robert Brown</span></a>, and appearing
off-Broadway in 2002, it has quickly become a favorite of regional theater audiences.<br><br>Charting a couple's turbulent five year relationship from its beginning to its end, the story is told in a structurally inventive way. While “Jamie” tells the story of his blossoming romance from beginning to end, “Cathy” describes the shifting dynamics of events from the end of their relationship and works back towards their first date. The story underscores the truth that even in the closest of relationships, each person can see the world in a very different way. <br><br>Playing the role of “Cathy” will be <a href="http://www.amieecollier.com/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Amiee Collier</span></a> of Cleveland. No stranger to the Northeast Ohio stage, Collier has appeared in countless productions at The Cleveland Public Theater, Lakeland Theatre, The Beck Center for the Arts, Mercury Summer Stock, Hilltop Players, Theater West Virginia
and has won numerous awards including Times Tribune Best Actress 2007 for “Jekyll and Hyde” and 2006 for “Sunday in the Park with George”.<br><br>Playing the role of “Jaime” will be <a href="http://www.myspace.com/connorobrien"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Connor O’Brien</span></a> of Ashtabula. After studying opera at the Eastman School of Music in New York, and since touring the country as a professional vocalist, O'Brien's other notable theater performances have included leading roles in “Miss Saigon” in both Ohio (Times Tribute Award 2004) and Pennsylvania, “Damn Yankees,” “Guys and Dolls,” and “Forever Plaid”. <br><br>O’Brien has also been a featured soloist with both the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and the Cleveland Orchestra, served as executive music supervisor to the Discovery Channel, and along with his band has performed with several national tours, including Ashlee Simpson, Huey Lewis and
The News, Edwin McCain, Kevin Bacon, and Mariah Carey.<br><br>Tickets are $10 adults, $9 seniors and $8 students. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Arts Center at <span style="font-weight: bold;">(440) 964-3396</span>. The Arts Center is located at <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?ie=UTF-8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&q=arts+center&near=Ashtabula,+OH&fb=1&dtab=2&reviews=1&cid=7516045910873058043&li=lmd">2928 W. 13th Street in Ashtabula</a>. Parking is on-site and free. <br><div><span class="808500418-28052008"></span> </div><div><span class="808500418-28052008"><strong>Ashtabula Arts Center</strong><br><a href="http://www.artscenternews.com/">www.artscenternews.com</a></span></div><div><span class="808500418-28052008">2928 W 13th St<br>Ashtabula, OH
44004<br>(440) 964-3396</span></div></div></div><br>
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