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style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'><font size=4><span style='font-size:14.0pt;
font-weight:bold'><o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b style='mso-bidi-font-weight:
normal'><font size=4 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:14.0pt;
font-weight:bold'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b style='mso-bidi-font-weight:
normal'><font size=4 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:14.0pt;
font-weight:bold'>The Largely Literary Theater Company’s <i style='mso-bidi-font-style:
normal'><span style='font-style:italic'>The Tell-Tale Play<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal 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-weight:bold;
font-style:italic'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></font></i></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b style='mso-bidi-font-weight:
normal'><font size=4 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:14.0pt;
font-weight:bold'>A Two-act Collection of Poems and Stories by Edgar Allan Poe<i
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'><span style='font-style:italic'><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal 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-weight:bold;
font-style:italic'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></font></i></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b style='mso-bidi-font-weight:
normal'><font size=4 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:14.0pt;
font-weight:bold'>Returns to the Kent Stage for Benefit Performances<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b style='mso-bidi-font-weight:
normal'><u><font size=5 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:18.0pt;
font-weight:bold'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></font></u></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=5 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
20.0pt'><span style='mso-tab-count:1'> </span></span></font>The
Largely Literary Theater Company’s <i style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'><span
style='font-style:italic'>The Tell-Tale Play,</span></i> an acclaimed two-act
collection of poems and stories by Edgar Allan Poe, returns to the Kent Stage
for two performances, at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 17 and 18. The shows
will be staged as benefits for the historic downtown Kent theater.</p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><span style='mso-tab-count:1'> </span>“This
is not only an ideal way to celebrate the Halloween season and Poe, whose 200<sup>th</sup>
birthday is in January, it’s also a chance to support this fabulous Kent
landmark,’’ said Mark Dawidziak, artistic director and co-founder of the
Largely Literary Theater Company.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>Designed for high school students and older, the play
features three popular area actors – Tom Stephan, Sara Showman and Alex J.
Nine. They interpret Poe’s works, telling the audience along the way about the
writer’s short but eventful life and career.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>Tickets are $10 general admission, $8 for seniors and
stduents. For reservations, call 330-677-5005 or go to <a
href="http://www.kentstage.org/">www.kentstage.org</a>. The Kent Stage is
located at 175 East Main Street.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>Perhaps best known for its acclaimed three-person
version of Charles Dickens’ <i style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'><span
style='font-style:italic'>A Christmas Carol, </span></i>the Largely Literary
Theater Company specializes in faithful adaptations of great literary works.
Its dual mission is to promote interest in literature and live theater.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><span style='mso-tab-count:1'> </span>Three
of Poe’s classic short stories are presented in <i style='mso-bidi-font-style:
normal'><span style='font-style:italic'>The Tell-Tale Play</span></i>: “The
Tell-Tale Heart,” “The Cask of Amontillado” and “The Masque of the Red Death.”
Also included are three of his major poems: “The Raven,” “Annabel Lee” and “The
Bells.” Other poems in the play are “Alone,” “Eldorado,” “Dreamland” and
“Spirits of the Dead.”</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><span style='mso-tab-count:1'> </span>The
set for the Largely Literary Theater Company production is relatively simple.
The lights go up on three lecterns – one covered in rich velvety material –
arranged before a succession of black curtains.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>There are three chairs set behind the lecterns, with
assorted pillars, candelabra and gothic set pieces establishing the mood. The
three actors enter, dressed in period costumes, acknowledge each other, open
their scripts, then Showman steps forward, stopping down stage and center, to
welcome the audience.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>Before the first offering, Stephan’s interpretation of
“The Tell-Tale Heart,” the three actors take a moment or two to tell the
audience about “Poe’s brief, brilliant and tortured life.” Born in Boston on
January 19, 1809, Poe “spent only 40 years on this planet,” yet he “found the
time to create the detective story and write a couple dozen of the most
influential horror stories ever put to paper.”</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>The popular image of Poe is that of a doomed genius,
and the stereotype, we learn, certainly has its roots in reality. But the
collected works of Poe span seventeen volumes and include not only poems,
terror tales and mystery stories, but satire, essays, literary criticism and
comic pieces.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><span style='mso-tab-count:1'> </span><i
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'><span style='font-style:italic'>The
Tell-Tale Play, </span></i>however, celebrates Poe as the master of the
macabre, making it a wonderfully tricky Halloween theater treat.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><span style='mso-tab-count:1'> </span></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><span style='mso-tab-count:1'> </span>The
Largely Literary Theater Company was founded by Dawidziak and Showman in late
2001. In addition to <i style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'><span
style='font-style:italic'>A Christmas Carol</span></i>)<i style='mso-bidi-font-style:
normal'><span style='font-style:italic'> </span></i>and <i style='mso-bidi-font-style:
normal'><span style='font-style:italic'>The Tell-Tale Play, </span></i>the
company offers shows based on the works of such authors as Mark Twain and Robert
Louis Stevenson.<i style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'><span style='font-style:
italic'>.</span></i></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><span style='mso-tab-count:1'> </span>Dawidziak,
the company’s artistic director, is the TV critic at the Cleveland Plain
Dealer. His 11<sup>th</sup> book, <i style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'><span
style='font-style:italic'>The Bedside, Bathtub & Armchair Companion to
Dracula, </span></i>was just published. His previous books include a novel, <i
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'><span style='font-style:italic'>Grave
Secrets, </span></i>and such non-fiction works as <i style='mso-bidi-font-style:
normal'><span style='font-style:italic'>Mark My Words: Mark Twain on Writing,
The Columbo Phile: A Casebook, The Barter Theatre Story: Love Made Visible, The
Night Stalker Companion </span></i>and <i style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'><span
style='font-style:italic'>Horton Foote’s The Shape of the River: The Lost
Teleplay About Mark Twain.<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><i style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-style:italic'><span
style='mso-tab-count:1'> </span></span></font></i>For
bookings, contact Dawidziak and Showman at the Largely Literary Theater
Company: 330-923-8350 or at <a href="mailto:hlgrouch@megsinet.net">hlgrouch@sbcglobal.net</a>
</p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'>COMPANY
BIOS for <i style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'><span style='font-style:italic'>The
Tell-Tale Play<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><span style='mso-tab-count:1'> </span><b
style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'><span style='font-weight:bold'>Alex J. Nine</span></b>
has acted or directed at most of the theaters in the greater Akron area. An
Akron native, he is a Kenmore High School and University of Akron graduate.
Some of his favorite roles are Freddie in <i style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'><span
style='font-style:italic'>Noises Off</span></i> at Hudson Players, Brick in <i
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'><span style='font-style:italic'>Cat on a Hot
Tin Roof</span></i> at Weathervane Playhouse and Hamlet at Coach House Theatre
(for which he won his first of four Royal Coach Awards). Other notable roles
include include Oberon, Lysander and Demetrius in <i style='mso-bidi-font-style:
normal'><span style='font-style:italic'>A Midsummer Night’s Dream</span></i>,
Master Ford in <i style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'><span style='font-style:
italic'>The Merry Wives of Windsor</span></i>, Leonard Vole in <i
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'><span style='font-style:italic'>Witness for
the Prosecution</span></i>, William Blore in <i style='mso-bidi-font-style:
normal'><span style='font-style:italic'>Ten Little Indians</span></i>, John
Proctor in <i style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'><span style='font-style:italic'>The
Crucible</span></i>, Shep Henderson in <i style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'><span
style='font-style:italic'>Bell, Book and Candle</span></i>, Joe Pendleton in <i
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'><span style='font-style:italic'>Heaven Can
Wait</span></i> and Willum Cubbert in <i style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'><span
style='font-style:italic'>The Nerd</span></i>. He directed Neil Simon’s <i
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'><span style='font-style:italic'>Broadway
Bound </span></i>at Coach House, where he has appeared in eleven shows,
including <i style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'><span style='font-style:italic'>Chapter
Two, Crimes of the Heart, 6 Rms Riv Vu, Private Lives </span></i>and <i
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'><span style='font-style:italic'>The Real
Thing. </span></i>He is currently a member of the Stow Players’ Production
Committee and he directed another Neil Simon comedy, <i style='mso-bidi-font-style:
normal'><span style='font-style:italic'>The Sunshine Boys</span></i>, at Stow
this year. For four years, he was a member of the Board of Trustees for Tree
City Players in Kent, serving as vice president for three of those years.
During those years, he directed seven shows for the company, ranging from
Shakespeare’s <i style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'><span style='font-style:
italic'>Love’s Labours Lost</span></i> to William</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Saroyan’s <i style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'><span style='font-style:
italic'>Hello, Out There!</span></i> and Eileen Moushey’s <i style='mso-bidi-font-style:
normal'><span style='font-style:italic'>My Fatal Valentine</span></i>. His
directing credits also include <i style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'><span
style='font-style:italic'>The Odd Couple</span></i> and <i style='mso-bidi-font-style:
normal'><span style='font-style:italic'>The Foreigner</span></i> at North
Canton Playhouse and <i style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'><span
style='font-style:italic'>Communicating Doors</span></i> at Hudson Players.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><span style='mso-tab-count:1'> </span><b
style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'><span style='font-weight:bold'>Sara Showman</span></b>
has appeared in many productions in Ohio since moving to the Akron area in
1983. She has worked with professional companies, as well as college,
children’s and community theaters. She has appeared at Kent State, Weathervane,
Coach House Theatre, the Beck Center for the Performing Arts, the Canton
Players Guild, Porthouse Theatre Company, the Working Theater and Actors Summit
Theater. An Equity membership candidate, she earned a bachelor of fine arts
degree in acting and directing from Kent State University. Favorite roles
include Bella in <i style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'><span style='font-style:
italic'>Lost in Yonkers</span></i>, Melissa in <i style='mso-bidi-font-style:
normal'><span style='font-style:italic'>Love Letters</span></i>, Clara in <i
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'><span style='font-style:italic'>I’m Not
Rappaport</span></i> and Shirley in <i style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'><span
style='font-style:italic'>Shirley Valentine</span></i>. She also has appeared
in four Shakespeare productions at Stan Hywet. Before moving to Ohio, she
appeared in several productions for theater companies in her native Tennessee,
including <i style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'><span style='font-style:italic'>Another
Part of the Forest</span></i>, <i style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'><span
style='font-style:italic'>A Little Night Music</span></i>, <i style='mso-bidi-font-style:
normal'><span style='font-style:italic'>A Streetcar Named Desire</span></i>, <i
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'><span style='font-style:italic'>Ten Little
Indians</span></i> and <i style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'><span
style='font-style:italic'>Inherit the Wind. </span></i>She is the co-founder
and managing director of the Largely Literary Theater Company, playing 15 roles
in <i style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'><span style='font-style:italic'>A
Christmas Carol</span></i> and developing storytelling programs for all ages<i
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'><span style='font-style:italic'>.</span></i>
</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><span style='mso-tab-count:1'> </span><b
style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'><span style='font-weight:bold'>Tom Stephan</span></b>
combined his acting avocation with his vocational pursuits for 31 years before
he retired from English and drama teaching at Stow-Munroe Falls High School. He
was recognized as a “child star" at the age of seven when he first
appeared onstage in Canton, Ohio, but it was actually at the age of 21 when he
began teaching school that the drama bug bit once more. He started with a
supporting role in a Stow Players production, and has now been seen in over 70
major productions in the greater Akron-Canton area, including the Weathervane
Playhouse, Coach House Theater, Goodyear Theater, the old Bath Players, and the
Players Guild of Canton. He has won three Best Actor and one Best Supporting
Actor Awards from the Weathervane Playhouse, and was honored by the State
Department of Education for implementation of a middle school program called
“Drama in the Classroom.” For 15 years he has either succumbed as murder victim
or triumphed as scoundrel in numerous “Mysteries by Moushey,” audience
interactive murder mysteries, in the Akron/Cleveland/Canton area. Several years
ago he branched out into radio and TV , serving as spokesman and voice-over
talent for commercial and industrial work. As a retired teacher, he intends to
pursue acting, voice work, radio-TV, commercial work, and all other performance
ventures that look both interesting and lucrative. He played Ebenezer Scrooge for
six consecutive years in the Largely Literary Theater Company’s three-person
adaptation of <i style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'><span style='font-style:
italic'>A Christmas Carol. </span></i><span style="mso-spacerun:
yes"> </span></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>-- 30 --</span></font></p>
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