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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>Experience the power of
young love in downtown Chardon<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Bob
Abelman<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN
style="COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT
size=3>News-Herald, Chagrin Valley Times, Solon Times, Geauga Times
Courier<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></I></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><SPAN
style="COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>Member,
International Association of Theatre Critics <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></I></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><SPAN
style="COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>This
review appeared in the <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">News-Herald
</I>1/30/09</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>Never in its storied
history has the Geauga Lyric Theatre Guild tackled any of William Shakespeare’s
classic tragedies, comedies or historical works.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>Until now.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Romeo and Juliet</I> comes to downtown
Chardon.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Romeo and Juliet</SPAN></I><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN"> <SPAN
lang=EN>was written early in Shakespeare’s career and features two teenaged
“star-cross’d lovers” whose suicides unite their feuding families and serve as
perpetual reminders of the power and significance of young love. <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It was among Shakespeare's most popular
plays during his lifetime, is one of his most frequently performed plays in
modern times and, according to director Mark Cipra, “still resonates and is long
overdue for local audiences.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It is
must-see theater.”<o:p></o:p></SPAN></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN"><FONT
size=3>Cipra ought to know, having performed as Lear in <I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">King Lear</I>, Caesar in <I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Julius Caesar</I>, King Henry in <I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Henry IV</I>, Menenius in <I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Coriolanus</I>, Capulet in <I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Romeo and Juliet</I>, and Boyet in <I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Love’s Labour’s Lost</I> with the Cleveland
Shakespeare Festival troupe.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He
directed numerous other works by the Bard of Avon.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The man knows his
Shakespeare.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN">What he did not
know upon applying for the director’s position was what the GLTG brain trust had
in mind when it put </SPAN><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Romeo and Juliet</SPAN></I><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> </SPAN><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN">in its 2008-09
season.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN">“</SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">When the show was first announced,” he
recalls, “I thought that the theater wanted scaled-down Shakespeare.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>You know, an abbreviated version set in
modern times with contemporary clothing and a meager attempt at Elizabethan
English.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>This is much easier to do
for a theater inexperienced in things Shakespearean.”<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>Instead, Cipra learned
that the GLTG wanted the real deal and was willing to put tremendous resources
into the production, including elaborate period costuming and fight
choreography.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Cipra figured that
with the right combination of inexperienced-but-enthusiastic young actors and
veteran performers, he could pull this off.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>When the dust settled after auditions,
he knew that GLTG patrons were in for something
special.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>Romeo and Juliet will be
played by Nathan Earley and Kelly Smith, with David Duffield and Civia Wiesner
portraying Juliet’s parents and Greg Super and Kris Thompson portraying Romeo’s
parents.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Other featured players
include Debbie Tapager as Juliet’s Nurse, Marvin Mallory as Friar Lawrence, and
Chad Duwe as Juliet’s vain cousin Tybalt.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>In an innovative bit of
against gender casting, Angela Miloro will be playing Mercutio, Romeo’s closest
friend and advisor on matters of the heart.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>“There were so many
outstanding young women auditioning for Juliet,” says Cipra, “that I had to find
a way to use more of them. Angela combined the grace, language skill
and acting chops to pull off the tomboyish result needed for this
traditionally male role. She'll illuminate some new sides to the
character."<SPAN style="COLOR: red"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>According to producer
Donna Nedrow, one of the reasons for staging <I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Romeo and Juliet</I> is its tie-in with the
local school curriculum.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Students
will bring to this play an existing knowledge of the storyline and clearly drawn
images of the characters from reading the classic work in class.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>That should allow them to take away from
the stage performance a greater understanding and appreciation of the
literature.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>They also may come to
realize the ability of live theater to transform the written word into something
vibrant and memorable.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">To date, students from Lakeside High
School and Chardon’s Middle and High schools will be attending
performances.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>In addition, Cipra
will be visiting local classrooms to discuss the play, and representatives from
</SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Tim's
House, a suicide victim support center in Chardon, will have a table in the
theater lobby during performances to provide resources about suicide
prevention.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">O Romeo, Romeo! <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Wherefore art thou Romeo?<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>At Geauga Theater starting
tonight.</SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT
size=3>Details<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">What:<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Romeo and Juliet</I> </SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-style: italic"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">When: <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>January 30 through February
15 (8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays)</SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>Where:<SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Geauga Theater, 101
Water Street, Chardon.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>Tickets: <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>$10-12<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>Info:<SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>440/286-2255 or </FONT><A
href=""><FONT color=#0000ff size=3>www.geuagatheater.org</FONT></A><FONT
size=3>.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>