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<p class=MsoBodyTextIndent style='margin-left:0in'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoBodyText><b><font size=4 face=Arial><span style='font-size:13.0pt;
font-family:Arial;text-decoration:none'>INTERNATIONAL SHOWCASE OF PERFORMING
ARTS FOR YOUTH RETURNS TO PLAYHOUSESQUARE <o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoBodyText><st1:date Year="2009" Day="21" Month="1" w:st="on"><b><font
size=4 face=Arial><span style='font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Arial;text-decoration:
none'>JANUARY 21-24, 2009</span></font></b></st1:date><font size=4 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Arial;text-decoration:none'> </span></font><i><font
size=4 face=Arial><span style='font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Arial;font-style:
italic'><o:p></o:p></span></font></i></p>
<p class=MsoBodyText align=left style='text-align:left'><font face=Arial><span
style='font-family:Arial;text-decoration:none'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:150%;text-autospace:none'><st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on"><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:
11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:Arial'>Cleveland</span></font></st1:City><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:
Arial'>, <st1:State w:st="on">OH</st1:State></span></font></st1:place><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:
Arial'> –<i><span style='font-style:italic'> </span></i>International
Performing Arts for Youth (IPAY) has selected PlayhouseSquare as the conference
host for the 2009 International Showcase of Performing Arts for Youth
(Showcase). </span></font><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:Arial;color:black'>Held
annually in major cities throughout <st1:place w:st="on">North America</st1:place>,
Showcase is the only conference in the country that is dedicated entirely to
live arts programming for youth. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:150%;text-autospace:none'><font size=2
color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;
font-family:Arial;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:150%;text-autospace:none'><font size=2
face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:Arial'>IPAY
and Showcase play a critical role in supporting artists and the performing arts
centers and school districts who present them. 2008 keynote speaker Julie
Andrews elocuted, “I firmly believe that providing young people with
excellent, innovative arts and literacy programs is the key to growing
compassionate, contributive citizens of the future - men and women who can
transcend the challenges of our time and preserve the grace and health of our
planet. IPAY represents the finest young audience presenters, performing
artists and educators, which puts them at the forefront of this important
effort.”<font color=black><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:150%;text-autospace:none'><font size=2
color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;
font-family:Arial;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:150%;text-autospace:none'><font size=2
color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;
font-family:Arial;color:black'>“We look forward to returning to <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Cleveland</st1:City></st1:place> for Showcase
2009. The staff is experienced in hosting this conference, the technical
support for the artists is top-notch, the theaters are beautiful and the city
is a most gracious host for all of our national and international
guests,” stated <st1:PersonName w:st="on">Daniel Student</st1:PersonName>,
administrative director of IPAY. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:150%;text-autospace:none'><font size=2
color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;
font-family:Arial;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:150%;text-autospace:none'><font size=2
color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;
font-family:Arial;color:black'>PlayhouseSquare hosted Showcase in 2005 and
2007, both of which brought more than 350 presenters, artists, educators and
exhibitors from around the world to <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Cleveland</st1:City></st1:place>.
>From this experience, the Arts <st1:PersonName w:st="on">Education</st1:PersonName>
Department at PlayhouseSquare created a manual for hosting the conference which
has been used by the <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Annenberg</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">Center</st1:PlaceType> in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Philadelphia</st1:City></st1:place>
and by the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:150%;text-autospace:none'><font size=2
color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;
font-family:Arial;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:150%;text-autospace:none'><font size=2
color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;
font-family:Arial;color:black'>“We are pleased that Showcase will return
to PlayhouseSquare in 2009,” said <st1:PersonName w:st="on">Art Falco</st1:PersonName>,
president and CEO of PlayhouseSquare. “It is an honor to host this
conference of international magnitude, and to welcome performing artists,
presenters and arts educators from across the globe to our facilities and to
downtown <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Cleveland</st1:City></st1:place>
for four days.” Showcase 2009 will be held in PlayhouseSquare’s
theaters and in the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Idea</st1:PlaceName>
<st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Center</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> at PlayhouseSquare.
<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:150%;text-autospace:none'><font size=2
color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;
font-family:Arial;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:150%;text-autospace:none'><font size=2
color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;
font-family:Arial;color:black'>The Arts <st1:PersonName w:st="on">Education</st1:PersonName>
Department at PlayhouseSquare will manage the logistics for Showcase 2009.
“It is a lot of work, but it’s also very exciting to bring so many
different people together who are all committed to presenting the best in arts
education programming and youth theater,” explained <st1:PersonName
w:st="on">Colleen Porter</st1:PersonName>, director of arts education at
PlayhouseSquare and vice president of programming for IPAY.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:150%;text-autospace:none'><font size=2
color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;
font-family:Arial;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:150%;text-autospace:none'><font size=2
color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;
font-family:Arial;color:black'>It is expected that Showcase 2009 will have
economic benefits for downtown <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Cleveland</st1:City></st1:place>
with several hundred attendees booking hotel rooms, dining in local
restaurants, using business services and enjoying entertainment. Attendees
travel to the conference from across North America, the <st1:country-region
w:st="on">United Kingdom</st1:country-region> and from countries such as The
Netherlands, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Germany</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region
w:st="on">France</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Denmark</st1:country-region>,
<st1:country-region w:st="on">Belgium</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region
w:st="on">Australia</st1:country-region> and <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region
w:st="on">Iceland</st1:country-region></st1:place>.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoBodyText align=left style='text-align:left;line-height:150%'><b><u><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:
Arial;font-weight:normal'><o:p><span style='text-decoration:none'> </span></o:p></span></font></u></b></p>
<p class=MsoBodyText align=left style='text-align:left;line-height:150%'><b><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:
Arial;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none'>About IPAY<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoBodyText align=left style='text-align:left;line-height:150%'><b><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:
Arial;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none'>The mission of International
Performing Arts for Youth (IPAY) is to create professional and educational
opportunities supporting meaningful performing arts experiences for young
audiences in <st1:place w:st="on">North America</st1:place>. IPAY is a membership
organization for artists, presenters, managers, agents, producers,
administrators, educators and students who work or study in the field of
performing arts for youth.<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoBodyText align=left style='text-align:left;line-height:150%'><b><u><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:
Arial;font-weight:normal'><o:p><span style='text-decoration:none'> </span></o:p></span></font></u></b></p>
<p class=MsoBodyText align=left style='text-align:left;line-height:150%'><b><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:
Arial;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none'>About Arts <st1:PersonName
w:st="on">Education</st1:PersonName> at PlayhouseSquare<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:150%'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:Arial'>PlayhouseSquare
places incredibly strong emphasis on arts education and believes that it is
essential to improving the quality of life in our community. Through a variety
of workshops and classes designed for people of all ages, the PlayhouseSquare
Arts <st1:PersonName w:st="on">Education</st1:PersonName> Department offers
avenues to discovery, appreciation and development in and through the
performing arts, connecting participants with national and international
artists in unique and meaningful ways. PlayhouseSquare initiates
collaboration among educators, artists and other community organizations, and
actively forms mutually beneficial partnerships with local arts organizations
to create and present arts education experiences of the highest quality.
Always striving to fulfill its role as an asset to the <st1:place w:st="on">Northeast
Ohio</st1:place> community, PlayhouseSquare is an active leader in advocating
arts education both locally and within the performing arts industry.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoBodyText align=left style='text-align:left;line-height:150%'><b><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:
Arial;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;line-height:150%;
text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
line-height:150%;font-family:Arial'>###<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:150%'><b><i><font size=1 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:9.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold;
font-style:italic'>PlayhouseSquare is a not-for-profit performing arts center
whose mission is presenting and producing a wide variety of quality performing
arts, advancing arts education and creating a destination that is a superior
location for entertainment, business and housing, thereby strengthening the
economic vitality of the region.</span></font></i></b><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:Arial'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Trade Gothic LT Std"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trade Gothic LT Std"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
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w:st="on"><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
Arial'>Cindi Szymanski</span></font></st1:PersonName><font face=Arial><span
style='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'>Communications Manager, <st1:PersonName
style="BACKGROUND-POSITION: left bottom; BACKGROUND-IMAGE: url(res://ietag.dll/#34/#1001); BACKGROUND-REPEAT: repeat-x"
tabIndex="0"
ns1_x003a_style="BACKGROUND-POSITION: left bottom; BACKGROUND-IMAGE: url(res://ietag.dll/#34/#1001); BACKGROUND-REPEAT: repeat-x"
w:st="on">Education</st1:PersonName>al Programs</span></font><font face=Arial><span
style='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'>tel 216-348-5258</span></font><font face=Arial><span
style='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'>fax 216-771-7136</span></font><font face=Arial><span
style='font-family:Arial'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
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w:st="on"><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
Arial'>1501 Euclid Ave., Suite 200</span></font></st1:address></st1:Street><font
face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:place
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w:st="on"><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
Arial'>Cleveland</span></font></st1:City></st1:place><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>, <st1:State
style="BACKGROUND-POSITION: left bottom; BACKGROUND-IMAGE: url(res://ietag.dll/#34/#1001); BACKGROUND-REPEAT: repeat-x"
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w:st="on">OH</st1:State> <st1:PostalCode w:st="on">44115</st1:PostalCode></span></font><font
face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><u><font size=2 color=blue face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:blue'>p</span></font></u><font
face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial'><a
href="http://www.playhousesquare.org/ArtsEducation"><font size=2><span
style='font-size:10.0pt'>layhousesquare.org</span></font></a><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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