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<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:5.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:
5.0pt;margin-left:0in;text-autospace:none'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>For Immediate Release<br>
For additional information contact: <br>
Neil Thackaberry (330) 342-0800<br>
Hudson, Ohio <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='mso-margin-top-alt:5.0pt;margin-right:
0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt;margin-left:0in;text-align:center;text-autospace:none'><font
size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><br>
</span></font><b><font size=4><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-weight:bold'>Regional
Premier of An American Musical<br>
Main-Travelled Roads<br>
Opens at Actors’ Summit</span></font></b> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:5.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:
5.0pt;margin-left:0in;text-autospace:none'><b><i><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold;
font-style:italic'>Main-Travelled Roads</span></font></i></b> will have its
regional premiere at Actors’ Summit, Hudson’s professional Equity
theater. The intimate musical set in rural 19th century Wisconsin will be
presented by Actors’ Summit from September 18 through October 5. The play
with music by Paul Libman and book & lyrics by Dave Hudson, was first
performed by American Folklore Theatre in August, 2007. The September 18th
performance is a preview with the official opening on Friday, September 19th.
Performances are given on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m. and
Sunday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:5.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:
5.0pt;margin-left:0in;text-autospace:none'><b><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'>The Play<br>
<i><span style='font-style:italic'>Main-Travelled Roads</span></i></span></font></b>,
the winner of the 2007 Richard Rogers Award, is a bright, funny, romantic
musical based on the short stories of Hamlin Garland. Garland was born 7 years
before and a few miles south of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s birth date &
place. Set in turn-of-the-century Wisconsin, the warm and honest portraits of
life in the rural Midwest are lively, touching, heartfelt, and timeless. <br>
Hamlin Garland was born in West Salem, Wisconsin, in 1860. After moving with
his family to a succession of homesteads in Iowa and South Dakota, he went to
Boston in 1884, determined to embark on a literary career. His first success
was Main-Travelled Roads, a collection of short stories published in 1891. He
moved to Chicago in 1893, lectured widely on literary topics, and agitated for
a realistic American literature through a number of essays, some of which were
revised into his 1894 manifesto, Crumbling Idols.<br>
<b><i><span style='font-weight:bold;font-style:italic'>Main-Travelled Roads</span></i></b>
was developed in part at the Stages 2006 Festival of New Musicals in Chicago
and at Madison Repertory Theater’s Fall Festival of New Plays. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:5.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:
5.0pt;margin-left:0in;text-autospace:none'><b><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'>The Cast<br>
</span></font></b>Three Actors’ Summit regulars and one new member of the
acting company comprise the cast. Keith Stevens returns for his tenth
production, Kathleen Culler makes her sixth appearance and C.J. Bonde appears
for the tenth time at Actors’ Summit. Making his Actors’ Summit
debut is Equity actor Stephen Brockway.<br>
Stephen Brockway, a native of Cuyahoga Falls, has Off-Broadway/NYC credits that
include: Blane in Trolls (Actors' Playhouse), Lon in Meet Me in St. Louis,
Leonard (Chico) Marx in Minnie's Boys in Concert, The Gondoliers (New York
Gilbert and Sullivan Players, at City Center). National Tours include: Doody in
Grease, Marley, Fezziwig and others in A Christmas Carol, Carousel. Local
credits include: Tony in West Side Story (Porthouse Theatre), Mr. Shove in The
Gamblers (Kennedy's at Playhouse Square), David Wills in Taking Sides (Cleveland
Stage Company), Simon Zealotes in Jesus Christ Superstar (Porthouse Theatre).
Stephen has a BM in Musical Theatre from Baldwin-Wallace College and
Conservatory of Music.<br>
In addition to her work at Actors’ Summit C.J. Bonde has performed at
Great Lakes Theater Festival; Playhouse Square’s 14th Street Theatre;
Carousel; Acting Out; Beck; Cain Park; CCC-E; Fine Arts; Halle; HYT; Kalliope;
Mercury SS; Adelphia television; independent and industrial films. After
capturing the 2008 Regional Shakespeare Competition title and the Thomas Joynes
Award, CJ emerged as a National Semi-Finalist in the National Shakespeare
Competition at NYC’s Lincoln Center. A recent second year apprentice with
Young Audiences of Northeast Ohio’s ArtWorks Program, CJ can also be seen
in the Expect Respect touring troupe. <br>
Kathleen Culler has performed in productions at The Cleveland Play House,
Weathervane Playhouse, the Beck Center, Player's Guild Theatre, and Magical
Theatre Company. She holds a B.A. in musical theatre from Point Park University
Conservatory of Performing Arts, located in Pittsburgh. <br>
Keith E. Stevens New York City credits include: The Snob (Actors Studio),
Audience (Brooklyn Playwright’s Collective), Last Train to Nibroc, Fool
for Love, The Honey Makers and the world premiere of 2:51 (all at Circle in the
Square Downtown), Deserters (Bernie West Theater), Loader #26 (Theater for a
New City/New York Fringe Festival) and Big Al (ASDS). Additional regional
credits: As You Like It, Eurydice, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Suburbia,
and Betrayal. Keith holds a MFA in Acting from The Actors Studio Drama School
and a BA in Theater from Cleveland State University. He is a lifetime member of
the Actors Studio. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:5.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:
5.0pt;margin-left:0in;text-autospace:none'><b><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'>Directing
Team<br>
</span></font></b>Making her Actors’ Summit directorial debut is Sasha
Thackaberry. Previously, she has worked at Actors' Summit in a variety of
capacities, from stage manager to choreographer to actor. With her dance
company, illuminata dance theater, she has produced and staged full
evening-length dance theater works, including g(r)o(w)ing up and AVA, based on
the novel by Carole Maso. Her BFA is from The University of Akron, and her MAT
is from Kent State University. <br>
Evie Morris returns to Actors’ Summit as Musical Director. She freelances
throughout Northeast Ohio as a musical director, pit player, accompanist,
private piano teacher, and vocal coach. Her most-recent stage appearance was in
the 5-month run of We Gotta Bingo at Playhouse Square, where she played Mary Ed
Sullivan and also served as musical director. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:5.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:
5.0pt;margin-left:0in;text-autospace:none'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'><br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Performance Schedule</span></b><br>
<b><i><span style='font-weight:bold;font-style:italic'>Main-Travelled Roads</span></i></b>
will have a preview performance on September 18. The official opening on
Friday, September 19 will be followed by a reception with the cast. Regular
performances continue through October 5, Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays at
8:00 p.m. and Sundays at 2:00 p.m. Following each performance, there will be an
opportunity for the audience to discuss the play with members of the cast. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:5.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:
5.0pt;margin-left:0in;text-autospace:none'><b><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'>Tickets<br>
</span></font></b>Tickets are $28 on Fridays & Saturdays, $25 on Thursdays
& Sundays. All full time students with ID are $7 at all performances.
Seniors receive a $3 discount at all regular Thursday and Sunday performances.
Season subscriptions and discounted coupon books are available. Group discounts
are available for parties of 10 or more. <br>
Tickets can be purchased on line at <a href="http://www.actorssummit.org/">www.actorssummit.org</a>
or by phone by calling (330) 342-0800. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:5.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:
5.0pt;margin-left:0in;text-autospace:none'><b><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'>Web site<br>
</span></font></b>Actors’ Summit Theater can be found on the web at
ww.actorssummit.org. <br>
<br>
<o:p></o:p></p>
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font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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