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<h1><strong>PRESS RELEASE</strong><br>
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</h1>
<p align="right">Date: 10-23-08</p>
<hr align="center" color="black" noshade="noshade" size="2"
width="100%">
<p>Contact: Andrew Rothman<br>
From: Chagrin Valley Little Theatre </p>
<p style="display: block; margin-left: 32px;">40 River Street<br>
Chagrin Falls, OH 44122<br>
Phone: 440-247-8955<br>
E-mail: <a moz-do-not-send="true" href="mailto:cvlt@cvlt.org">cvlt@cvlt.org</a><br>
Website: <a moz-do-not-send="true" href="http://www.cvlt.org/">www.cvlt.org</a></p>
<h4 align="center"> PRESS PHOTOS TO BE POSTED SOON AT: <a
moz-do-not-send="true" href="http://www.cvlt.org/promo">www.CVLT.org/promo</a></h4>
<h2>Chagrin Valley Little Theatre goes "Over the Rainbow" for the
Holidays </h2>
<p>CHAGRIN FALLS, OH - <em>The Wizard of Oz</em> arrived on the
big screen nearly seventy years ago, was reissued in theaters ten and
sixteen years after its debut, and has appeared regularly on television
since 1959. There can hardly be a person living in the US today who
hasn't seen the movie at least once. Presenting such familiar material
on a community theater stage can be a very daunting task, but Chagrin
Valley Little Theatre, which will begin a five-weekend run of <em>Oz</em>
on November 21, is prepared for the challenge.</p>
<p>The stage adaptation of <em>The Wizard of Oz</em> was
developed by The Royal Shakespeare Company in the late 1980s, using
John Kane's reworking of the motion picture screenplay, and the
well-loved music and lyrics by Harold Arlen and E.Y. Harburg. At the
helm of CVLT's production is director Greta Rothman, who has directed
special event shows such as <em>Murder By The Falls</em> at CVLT in
the past, and makes her main season debut with this show. Ms. Rothman
is uniquely suited to the task, as a life-long <em>Oz</em> fanatic
with a sizeable collection of memorabilia related to the film. Original
author L. Frank Baum himself could not have chosen a more suitable hand
to mount this surprisingly complicated work. Using her intimate
knowledge of the movie, Ms. Rothman intends to remain as true as
possible to the <em>Oz</em> film that we all know and love, with the
occasional wink at modern audiences to keep things fresh. The orchestra
will be led by musical director John Krol, and the cast will be
choreographed by Pamela LaForce. Technical director Edmond Wolff's
scenic and lighting design will be given a 21st century boost by
digital video and audio effects from Andrew Rothman (the director's
younger brother).</p>
<p>The cast is led by Alex Marzullo, a senior at Hudson High
School, in the role of Kansas' most famous fictional resident, 'Dorothy
Gale'. By her side on the yellow brick road are fellow Hudson senior
Jace Craft as 'Scarecrow', Guy Custer as 'Tinman', and Mark DePompei as
'Lion'. Marzullo, Craft and DePompei all held leading roles in last
year's hit holiday musical, <em>Honk!</em> Vying for her dead sister's
ruby slippers will be Laurel Bryant as the 'Wicked Witch of the West',
with Paula Pike waving the magic wand of 'Glinda, the Good Witch of the
North.' An ensemble of twenty additional actors of all ages will serve
as the various Munchkins, talking trees, Winkies, and flying monkeys
that the quartet encounter on their way to see the Wizard, played by
Don Bernardo. CVLT expects this production of <em>The Wizard of Oz</em>,
which appeared twice to high attendance crowds in the late 1990s, to be
its most ambitious and successful version yet.</p>
<p>Chagrin Valley Little Theatre's <em>The Wizard of Oz</em>
will be performed on Friday and Saturday nights at 8 PM from November
21 to December 19, with 2 PM matinee performances on November 30 and
December 7. Tickets are $16 for regular admission, and $12 for students
and seniors. The holiday fun at CVLT continues with the annual
childrens' <em>Holiday Show and Gingerbread Tea </em> on December 13
and 14 ($6/$8), <em>The Eight: Reindeer Monologues</em>, a dark
Christmas comedy for mature audiences at the River Street Playhouse
from November 28 to December 13 (all seats $8), and the Christmas music
concert on December 21.</p>
<p>Tickets for all CVLT shows and events can be purchased online
24 hours a day at <a moz-do-not-send="true" href="http://www.CVLT.org">www.CVLT.org</a>,
or
by calling the Box Office at 440-247-8955 between 1 and 6 PM, Monday
through Saturday.</p>
<p>Chagrin Valley Little Theatre is generously funded by Cuyahoga
County residents through Cuyahoga Arts and Culture and is supported by
the Ohio Arts Council. CVLT was voted 'Best Community Theatre' by
Cleveland Magazine Readers, and 'Best Theatre Group' on the Fox 8
HotList in 2007</p>
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