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<P>Don't miss the wild and wacky <STRONG>"The Complete History of Theatre --
Condensed!"</STRONG> this coming <STRONG>Saturday, April 18 at 7:30
p.m.</STRONG> at <STRONG>Weathervane Playhouse</STRONG> in Akron.</P>
<P>Presented by the <STRONG>Miller South Commedia troupe</STRONG>, the show is a
freewheeling frolic through theater history from Ancient Greece up to the
present day. </P></FONT><FONT size=2></FONT><FONT face=Arial size=4>
<P>General-admission tickets are $5 each and all proceeds will benefit the
Weathervane Playhouse operating fund.</P></FONT><FONT size=2>
<P></P></FONT><FONT face=Arial size=4>
<P>For tickets, call 330/836-2626 or connect online to </FONT><A
href="http://www.weathervaneplayhouse.com/"><FONT face=Arial
size=4>www.weathervaneplayhouse.com</FONT></A><FONT face=Arial size=4>. Tickets
will also be available at the door beginning one hour before showtime Saturday
night.</FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2> </P></FONT><FONT size=2></FONT><U><FONT
face=Arial><STRONG>
<P>About the Show</P>
<P></U></STRONG><TT><FONT face=Arial size=3>Created by the troupe under the
direction of Wendy S. Duke, "The Complete History of Theatre -- Condensed" is a
romp through theatre history in ways that Oscar Brockett (author of a well-known
college textbook) never imagined! From the roots of theatrical performance in
pre-history through Ancient Egypt and Greece, Asia, Rome, the Dark Ages, the
Renaissance in Europe, American theatre and all the way through 20th Century
"isms" -- this is a living, breathing and highly slapstick time line of theatre
history.</FONT></TT></P>
<P><TT><FONT face=Arial size=3>Excellent entertainment for the novice as well as
the theatre-history buff, "The Complete History of Theatre -- Condensed!" was
created by the troupe and was over four years in the making. The performance is
a perfect example of arts integration -- infusing the standards of acting as
well as social studies in one project.</FONT></P>
<P></P></TT><U><STRONG>
<P>About the Miller South Commedia Troupe</P>
<P></U></STRONG><TT><FONT face=Arial size=3>Miller South School for the Visual
and Performing Arts is a public magnet school for the arts in Akron. The school
received the highest grade on the state of Ohio’s report card of "Excellence
with Distinction." All students must audition to attend the school in a chosen
discipline (drama, music, visual art or dance). The school is located at 1055
East Ave in Akron. </FONT></P></TT><TT>
<P><FONT face=Arial size=3>Miller South drama students receive commedia training
in sixth grade and may audition for the troupe in seventh and eighth grade. For
the past three years, the group has worked with visiting commedia artist Gale
McNeely. Now in its twelfth year, the troupe has performed commedia adaptations
of "Romeo and Juliet," "Richard III," "Hamlet" and "The Tempest." The troupe’s
annual "A Commedia Christmas Carol" continues to delight local audiences. The
troupe has performed for groups and events throughout the area and beyond,
including performances with the Akron Symphony Orchestra; Akron Arts Expo; the
Highland Square Festival; Shakespeare in the Spring at the University of Akron;
Cleveland Public Theatre's Vaudeville Show; the International Thespian Festival
in Lincoln, Nebraska; the Ohio State University's Renaissance Faire; and at
Union Station in Washington, D.C.</FONT></P></TT><U><STRONG>
<P>About the Art of Commedia</P>
<P></U></STRONG><TT><FONT face=Arial size=3>Commedia dell'Arte was born in
Renaissance Italy, as a form of popular market-place comedy featuring masks,
stock characters and lots of physical comedy. It is the ancestor of circus
clowns, harlequinades, vaudeville comics, silent-film comedy stars, and
television sit-coms.</FONT></P></TT><U><STRONG>
<P>About Weathervane Playhouse</P>
<P></U></STRONG>Founded in 1935, Weathervane Playhouse is volunteer-powered
not-for-profit performing-arts organization. </P>
<P>Our mission statement: <I>Weathervane Playhouse and its dedicated volunteers
offer vital performing arts resources for the people of Northeast Ohio. We
create exciting and thought-provoking shows with impressive production values.
Through educational programs and volunteer opportunities for people of all ages
and backgrounds, Weathervane serves the theater community, our patrons and our
volunteers.</I> </P></FONT></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>