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<p class=MsoNormal><b><u><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>NEWS
RELEASE
<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>CONTACT:
</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Missy
S. Toms, 216.521.2540 x22 or <a href="mailto:mtoms@beckcenter.org">mtoms@beckcenter.org</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>
April 24, 2009<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoBodyText><b><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoBodyText align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span
style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Your
Entertainment Escape in Lakewood<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoBodyText align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span
style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Beck Center
Unveils 2009/2010 Professional Theater Season<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Lakewood, OH—</span></b><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>The Beck Center for
the Arts is proud to announce its 2009/2010 professional theater season
featuring many crowd favorites and laughs on the Mackey Main Stage. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>As the school year begins, join us for a
childhood rite-of-passage with the Tony Award-winning musical <i>The 25<sup>th</sup>
Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee</i>. The laughs come at you non-stop, and the
music is original and tuneful. Look for special celebrity guest
"spellers" at each and every performance!</span><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>The Beck is also proud to continue its
tradition of providing spectacular holiday entertainment for the entire family
with the highly anticipated return of the musical <i>Peter Pan</i>,
everyone’s favorite tale of a boy who<span style='color:red'> </span>wouldn’t
grow<span style='color:red'> </span>up. The performances regularly sold out in
2008.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>The
season continues into 2010 with the regional premiere of Mark Twain’s <i>Is
He Dead?</i> This hilarious farce was written by Twain in 1898. Unearthed in
2003 from the Twain archives, it was faithfully adapted by David Ives and had
its world premiere in December 2007.<span style='color:red'> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Spring brings us a cornerstone in American
musical theater, <i>Fiddler on the Roof</i>, the first production of this
classic on the Beck’s stage. Kalliope Stage's former artistic director,
Paul Gurgol, makes his Beck directorial<span style='color:red'> </span>debut
alongside one of Cleveland's most talented actors—George Roth as Tevye,
the Milkman.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>And wrapping up our season is the local
premiere of Mel Brooks’ deliriously funny musical <i>The Producers</i>.
As someone once noted, "There won't be a dry seat in the house!"<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>“The 2009/2010 Beck professional
theater season fills me with great hope,” says Artistic<span
style='color:red'> </span>Director Scott Spence. “Not only is Beck able
to continue to offer some amazing local premieres of recent Broadway successes,
but we are able to give our theater goers many great laughs along the way. And
who doesn't need that in these challenging times?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Subscriptions for the 2009/2010 professional
theater season are now available. (The holiday show <i>Peter Pan</i> is not
part of the subscriber<span style='color:red'> </span>series.) For more
information, contact Linda Hefner at the Beck Center Box Office at 216.521.2540
ext. 29. Individual ticket sales begin August 3, 2009. Beck Center is located
at 17801 Detroit Avenue in Lakewood, just 10 minutes west of downtown
Cleveland. Free onsite parking is available.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><i><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>The
25th Annual<span style='color:red'> </span>Putnam County Spelling Bee <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Music
and Lyrics by William Finn <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Book
by Rachel Sheinkin<br>
Directed by Scott Spence<b><br>
September 18 – October 18, 2009<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><br>
</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Six
adolescent outsiders learn that winning isn’t everything and that losing
doesn’t necessarily make you a loser. The show’s Tony Award-winning
creative team has produced the unlikeliest of hit musicals about the
unlikeliest of heroes: a quirky yet charming cast of characters for whom a
spelling bee is the one place where they can stand out and fit in at the same
time. <span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><i><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><i><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Peter
Pan <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>A
musical based on the play by James M. Barrie<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Music
by Mark Charlap and Jule Styne<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Lyrics
by Carolyn Leigh, Betty Comden and Adolph Green<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Directed
by Scott Spence<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>December 4, 2009 – January 3, 2010<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Back by popular demand! The Lost Boys,
Darling children, and the dastardly Captain Hook return for another high-flying
musical adventure in Neverland. A holiday treat for the entire family.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><i><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Is
He Dead? <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>A
New Comedy by Mark Twain<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Adapted
by David Ives<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Directed
by Matthew Earnest<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>February 5 – 28, 2010</span></b><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Written by Twain in 1898, <i>Is He Dead?</i>
richly intermingles elements of burlesque, farce, and social satire. A group of
poor artists in Barbizon, France, stage the death of a friend to drive up the
price of his paintings. In order to make this scheme succeed, the artists hatch
some hilarious plots involving cross-dressing, a full-scale fake funeral,
lovers’ deceptions, and much more. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><i><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Fiddler
on the Roof <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Book
by Joseph Stein<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Music
by Jerry Bock <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Lyrics
by Sheldon Harnick<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Directed
by Paul Gurgol<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>March 26 – April 25, 2010<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><br>
</span></b><i><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Fiddler
on the Roof</span></i><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>
has touched audiences around the world with its humor, warmth, and honesty.
It’s universal theme of tradition cuts across barriers of race, class,
nationality, and religion, leaving audiences crying tears of laughter, joy, and
sadness. The Beck production features George Roth as Tevye.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><i><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>The
Producers <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Book
by Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Music
and Lyrics by Mel Brooks<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Directed
by Scott Spence<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>July 16 – August 22, 2010<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><br>
</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Bialystock
and Bloom! Those names should strike terror and hysteria in anyone familiar
with Mel Brooks’ classic cult comedy film. Now a big Broadway musical, <i>The
Producers</i> once again sets the standard for modern, outrageous, in-your-face
humor. A truly “boffo” hit, winning a record 12 Tony Awards. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Programming at the Beck Center is made
possible through the generous support of the Ohio Arts Council. <span
style='color:black'>Beck Center gratefully acknowledges the generous funding
provided by the citizens of Cuyahoga County through Cuyahoga Arts and Culture.<b> <o:p></o:p></b></span></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>Beck Center for the Arts is a
not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization that offers professional theater
productions</span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>
on two stages, <span style='color:black'>arts education programming in dance,
music, theater, visual arts, early childhood, and creative arts therapies for
special needs students, and gallery exhibits featuring local and regional
artists.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>###<span
style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Missy S.
Toms<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Director
of Marketing & External Affairs<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Beck
Center for the Arts<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>17801
Detroit Avenue<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Lakewood,
OH 44107<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><a
href="mailto:mtoms@beckcenter.org">mtoms@beckcenter.org</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>216.521.2540,
ext. 22<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:gray'>Posted by:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:gray'>Fran Storch<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:gray'>Beck Center for the Arts<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:gray'>Publications Manager<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:gray'>17801 Detroit Avenue<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:gray'>Lakewood, OH 44107<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:gray'>(216) 521-2540 x20<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
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