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<DIV align=center><B><I><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT size=3><FONT color=#000000>SUMMER NIGHTS AND FIREFLIES BY BIANCA SAMS PREMIERES AT </FONT></FONT></SPAN></I></B></DIV>
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<DIV class=EC_EC_EC_MsoNormal style="BACKGROUND: white" align=center><B><I><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT size=3><FONT color=#000000>CLEVELAND PUBLIC THEATRE BIG BOX SERIES TONIGHT!</FONT></FONT></SPAN></I></B></DIV>
<DIV class=EC_EC_EC_MsoNormal style="BACKGROUND: white" align=center><B><I><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT size=3><FONT color=#000000>DIRECTED BY TONY SIAS</FONT></FONT></SPAN></I></B></DIV>
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<DIV class=EC_EC_EC_MsoNormal style="BACKGROUND: white"><FONT size=3><FONT color=#000000><STRONG><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Actress Bianca Sams, in association with Cleveland Public Theater, proudly present the world premiere of <I>Summer Nights and Fireflies</I>, written by Sams and directed by Tony Sias, at Cleveland Public Theater, tonight and tomorrow, Sunday, January 18, 2009 located at 6415 Detroit Ave., Cleveland, Ohio, 44102.<SPAN> </SPAN><I>Summer Nights and Fireflies</I> is part Cleveland Public Theater’s Black Box Series</SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">that promotes new performance projects by local artists</SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">.</SPAN></STRONG><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></SPAN></FONT></FONT></DIV>
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<DIV class=EC_EC_EC_MsoNormal style="BACKGROUND: white"><FONT size=3><FONT color=#000000><I><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Summer Nights and Fireflies</SPAN></I><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> takes us to a tiny sawmill town in eastern Texas, the home of Zandra Richards.<SPAN> </SPAN>She's a beautiful twenty-something Black Texan, brash and sassy with a dash of sweet honey to boot.<SPAN> </SPAN>But in her eyes you can see there is a story deeper then what is on the outside.<SPAN> </SPAN>Bianca Sams’ riveting tale of Zandra’s quest for survival reveals an emotional journey into the past. </SPAN></FONT></FONT></DIV>
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<DIV class=EC_EC_EC_MsoNormal style="BACKGROUND: white"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT size=3><FONT color=#000000>Tony Sias, director (as well as producer along with Sams’) makes a cameo appearance.<SPAN> </SPAN>Sams was seen Cleveland Public Theater’s critically acclaimed 2007 production of <I>In the Continuum</I>, which Sias also directed.<SPAN> </SPAN><I>Summer Nights and Fireflies</I> mark their second collaboration.<SPAN> </SPAN></FONT></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
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<DIV class=EC_EC_EC_MsoNormal style="BACKGROUND: white"><FONT size=3><FONT color=#000000><I><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Summer Nights and Fireflies</SPAN></I><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> includes an impeccable cast of talent from the Cleveland area including Kimberly Brown (Zandra) last seen in <I>In the Continuum</I> at Cleveland Public Theatre; Saidah Mitchell (Clarice) - <EM><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Waiting to End Hell</SPAN></EM> at Karamu; Lawrence Charles Farmer (Sean) - theatre major at Cleveland State University - ensemble member in Cain Park’s 2008 production of <EM><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">The Wiz</SPAN></EM>; Jerome Anderson (Raymond) - <EM><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Waiting to End Hell</SPAN></EM> at Karamu and Major Fisher (Nelson).</SPAN></FONT></FONT></DIV>
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<DIV class=EC_EC_EC_MsoNormal style="BACKGROUND: white"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT size=3><FONT color=#000000>Cleveland Metropolitan School District All-City Arts Program (ACAP) is strongly represented with talent in <I>Summer Nights and Fireflies</I>.<SPAN> </SPAN>ACAP talent includes Johnathon Jackson (Paul), senior at Cleveland School of the Arts (<EM><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Dreamgirls); </SPAN></EM>Tywon Cunningham (Tyrone), junior at John Hay School of Architecture and Design (<EM><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Gullah: Africans in America)</SPAN></EM> and Janai' Brown (Mona), junior at John Hay School of Architecture and Design (<EM><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Secrets).</SPAN></EM></FONT></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
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<DIV class=EC_EC_EC_MsoNormal style="BACKGROUND: white"><FONT size=3><FONT color=#000000><EM><SPAN style="FONT-STYLE: normal; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Director Sias returns to stage after a lengthy absence from acting, portraying Mr. Howard.<SPAN> </SPAN>Mr. Sias, who hails from Jackson, Mississippi, is director of arts education for the Cleveland Metropolitan School District which includes serving as artistic director for the CMSD All-City Arts Program.<SPAN> </SPAN>Sias </SPAN></EM><SPAN>was last seen in <I>Duet for Duke</I> at the Tri-C Jazz Festival in 2007.<SPAN> </SPAN>Sias received his Bachelor of Science degree from Jackson State University and his M.F.A. from Ohio University.<SPAN> </SPAN></SPAN></FONT></FONT></DIV>
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<DIV class=EC_EC_EC_MsoNormal style="BACKGROUND: white"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT size=3><FONT color=#000000>Playwright, Bianca Sams, is a recent graduate of New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts.<SPAN> </SPAN>She has studied Shakespearean verse at the prestigious Royal Academy for Dramatic Arts in London. <SPAN> </SPAN>In addition, Bianca writing professors include Richard Wesley, Beth Turner, George Malko, John Guerre and Kenneth Lonergan.<SPAN> </SPAN>The California native is a multi-talented artist appearing in print ads, commercials and has done voice-over work.<SPAN> </SPAN>Ms. Sams can be currently seen in the film adaptation of <I>Rent</I>.</FONT></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
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<DIV class=EC_EC_EC_MsoNormal style="BACKGROUND: white"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT size=3><FONT color=#000000><STRONG>The cast includes: Kimberly Brown (Zandra); Saidah Mitchell (Clarice); Lawrence Charles Farmer (Sean); Jerome Anderson (Raymond); Major Fisher (Nelson); Johnath on Jackson (Paul); Tywon Cunningham (Tyrone<EM><SPAN style="FONT-STYLE: normal; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">)</SPAN></EM>; Janai' Brown (Mona) and Tony Sias (Mr. Howard).</STRONG></FONT></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
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<DIV class=EC_EC_EC_MsoNormal style="BACKGROUND: white"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT size=3><FONT color=#000000>Ticket prices are $15 (general admission) and $12 (students and seniors).<SPAN> </SPAN>Tickets may be purchased by visiting </FONT><SPAN style="COLOR: blue"><A href="http://www.cptonline.org/"><FONT color=#0068cf>www.cptonline.org</FONT></A></SPAN><FONT color=#000000> or by calling the box office at 216.631.2727 (x.212).<SPAN> </SPAN>MasterCard, Visa and Discover are accepted.<SPAN> </SPAN>All credit card sell are final, no refunds or exchanges.<SPAN> </SPAN>For more information call 216.631.2727</FONT></FONT></SPAN><BR></DIV></DIV></DIV><br /><hr />Windows Live™ Hotmail®: Chat. Store. Share. Do more with mail. <a href='http://windowslive.com/explore?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_t1_hm_justgotbetter_explore_012009' target='_new'>Check it out.</a></body>
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