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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>Playhouse Square series
is the cure for what ails you<?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><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; 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">Chagrin Valley
Times 2</I>/12/09</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; 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"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>Like a spritz of aerosol
in the wind, the touring company of the Broadway musical <I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Hairspray</I> blew into Playhouse Square
last Friday night and, after a three-day engagement, is
gone.<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>The national tour of <I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Rent</I>, featuring cast members from the
original New York production, was in downtown Cleveland for two weeks in
January, and is here no more.<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'">Legally Blond</SPAN></I><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> was a blur of musical comedy delight
during its short visit to the Palace Theatre and is now a wonderful
memory.<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"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>Unless, of course, you
missed it.<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"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>We live amidst a
spiraling economy, a soaring unemployment rate, a hard-fought war in the
middle-east, record snowfall and whatever personal burdens we bare in
silence.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Couldn’t we all use a
three-hour excursion to a realm of no-risk respite and unadulterated
entertainment?<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Musical theatre is
the ticket and Playhouse Square’s Broadway series is the escapist destination of
choice. <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'">There is no shortage of wonderful
stage productions in the area, including those offered by the <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>community theater nearest you.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>But Playhouse Square offers something
special: the bigger-than-life, big-budget blockbuster musical as performed by
talented, passionate and </SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">effervescent
professional performers.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Housed within downtown’s grand pleasure
palaces, these traveling troupes create a fantasy world complete with amazing
costumes, dazzling scenery, full orchestration, and a storyline to get lost
in.<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"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>In last week’s <I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Hairspray</I>, for example, its 1962, but a
1962 build from candy-coated recollection and vivid imagination.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Baltimore’s Tracy Turnblad, a big girl
with big hair and an even bigger heart, lives to dance. <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>By winning a spot on the local TV dance
program, her life is transformed.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Thanks to huge, beautifully staged musical extravaganzas, all is right
with the world.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Those in the
audience were taken along on this ride and got to experience the characters’
nerf-like trials and triumphs as presented by a team of young artisans overly
eager to please.<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>This is musical theater
therapy at its finest. <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=style1 style="MARGIN: auto 0in"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: windowtext">Missed it?<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Coming soon to Playhouse Square are
productions of <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Spring Awakening</I> and
<I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Mary Poppins</I>.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Winner of 8 Tony Awards including Best
Musical, <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Spring Awakening</I> is a
groundbreaking fusion of morality, sexuality and rock & roll that celebrates
the journey from youth to adulthood with power and poignancy.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">The New York Post</I> noted that the show is
“unmatched by anything in the theatre right now." <I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">The New York Times</I> suggested that it is
"a jolt of genius!" <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Can you use
some of that?<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Mary
Poppins</SPAN></I><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> is… does <I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Mary Poppins</I> really require a
description to establish its transformative powers and the sheer pleasure its
story can generate?<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The song “Just
a Spoonful of Sugar” pretty much says it all.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><SPAN class=style11><SPAN
style="COLOR: windowtext; mso-ansi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt">Combining
the best of the original stories by P. L. Travers and the classic Walt Disney
film, the Tony Award-winning Broadway production of </SPAN></SPAN><I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Mary Poppins</I> <SPAN class=style11><SPAN
style="COLOR: windowtext; mso-ansi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt">is,
according to <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">The NY Daily News</I>, “a
roof-raising, toe-tapping, high-flying extravaganza!” <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>And it will be performed within
driving distance.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><SPAN
class=style11><SPAN
style="COLOR: windowtext; mso-ansi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt">These
two shows come to Cleveland in March and July, respectively, and stay for a very
short time.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Can’t easily afford the
cost of admission or readily avail yourself during the limited run of these
shows?<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>There is always
</SPAN></SPAN><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">I
Love You Because</SPAN></I><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> at
the 14<SUP>th</SUP> Street Theatre at Playhouse Square, which plays throughout
May.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It is, however, a locally
produced production of an off-Broadway show with a small </SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">cast,
minimal staging, and less-than-stellar pedigree.<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'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><FONT
size=3>Nonetheless, it offers a fun and effortless evening’s entertainment
performed by brilliant actors, as are so many other local productions.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>But to experience the true healing
powers of musical theatre, there is no substitution for Broadway productions
home delivered.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></FONT></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>