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<H1 style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-no-proof: yes">FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE<BR></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt">May 5,
2009<BR><BR></SPAN><?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on"><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Cleveland</SPAN></B></st1:PlaceName><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> <st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Metropolitan</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">School
Distric<SPAN
class=827415314-05052009>t<BR></SPAN></st1:PlaceType></SPAN></B></st1:place><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Students Present 10th Anniversary
All-City Musica<SPAN class=827415314-05052009>l<BR></SPAN><I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">A Decade of Dreams<BR></I></SPAN></B><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT
size=3>The 10th Anniversary All-City Musical features a special Gala Benefit
Performance to support the District’s All-City Arts Program.<?xml:namespace
prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"
/><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></I></B></H1>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><BR>CLEVELAND, OH
– (May 5, 2009)<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The <B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">Cleveland Metropolitan School District</B>
(CMSD) <B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">will present its</B> <B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">tenth annual All-City Musical, <I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">A Decade of Dreams</I></B><I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"> </I>to<I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"> </I>crown the District’s 2008-09 series of
All-City Arts Programming.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>An
unforgettable collection of inspired musical theater, <B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">A
Decade of Dreams</I></B> <B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">features the
exceptional talents of over sixty CMSD students</B> from across the District in
beloved scenes from the last nine years of All-City Musicals including <B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Little Shop of Horrors, Once On This Island,
The Wiz, West Side Story, Carmen Jones, Hot Mikado, South Pacific, Guys and
Dolls</I></B> and <B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Dreamgirls</I></B>.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The production, directed by
<B>Tony Sias</B><SPAN style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">, director of arts
education for the <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Cleveland</st1:PlaceName>
<st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Metropolitan</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">School District</st1:PlaceType></SPAN>, will take place on the stage
of the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">Hanna</B></st1:PlaceName><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"> <st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Theatre</st1:PlaceName></B></st1:place><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"> at PlayhouseSquare, May 29 – May 31,
2009</B><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">.</I><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The production was conceived by <B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">Tony Sias</B> and <B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">Bill Rudman</B>, executive director of The
Musical Theater Project.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><BR>The tenth
annual All-City Musical</SPAN></B><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">, A Decade of
Dreams, is presented with<B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"> generous
support from The Human Fund </B>which<B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">
has contributed between$100,000 -$150,000 to the Cleveland Metropolitan School
District for a fourth consecutive year </B>to fund its All-City Arts
Programming.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><SPAN
style="COLOR: black">“It is truly exciting to fund things that introduce
students to their creative possibilities. We look forward to expanding those
possibilities as we work to create a new model in career development that
hopefully other cities will emulate,” said <B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">Human Fund co-founder and co-chairman,
Heather Guess</B> regarding the aim of the funds.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Other partners for the All-City Musical
include <B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">The <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Cleveland</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Music</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">School</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> Settlement, Great Lakes Theater
Festival, The Musical Theater Project</B> <B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">and PlayhouseSquare.</B></SPAN><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><o:p></o:p></B></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><BR>Dr.
Eugene T.W. Sanders, CEO of the Cleveland Metropolitan School District
</SPAN></B><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">stated,
“Through the District’s All-City Arts Program, we have the unique opportunity to
provide students an outlet for expression, while cultivating their
creativity.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We celebrate the
program’s meaningfulness, which has enabled us to provide important,
standards-based arts education for our students.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We are extremely grateful to The Human
Fund and all of the All-City Arts Program’s partners for their support over the
past decade.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The value of their
support in providing educational opportunities for our students is
immeasurable.”<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><BR>The 2009
All-City Musical will feature a Gala Benefit performance </SPAN></B><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">slated for <B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">Saturday, May 30 </B>at 7:30 with a VIP
cocktail reception beginning at 6:00 p.m.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>The Gala Benefit performance is designed to <B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">help raise the funds and awareness needed
to ensure the viability and sustainability of the District’s All-City Arts
Program</B>.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>In addition to a
performance of <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">A Decade of Dreams</I>,
the Gala Benefit will <B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">honor individuals
who have been instrumental in supporting </B>arts education for <st1:City
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Cleveland</st1:place></st1:City>’s students. The
honorees include: <B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">Ruthie Brown</B>,
director of community relations, <B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">The
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame & Museum</B>; <B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">Kathleen Cerveny</B>, director of
evaluation and institutional learning, <B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">The Cleveland Foundation</B>; <B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">Deena Epstein</B>, senior program officer
for arts, <B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">The George Gund
Foundation</B>; <B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">Andrew Rayburn &
Heather Guess</B>, founders of <B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">The Human
Fund</B>; and <B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">Thomas Schorgl</B>,
president and CEO of <B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">Community
Partnership for Arts & Culture</B> (CPAC).<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Event supporters include The Cleveland
Foundation, The Cleveland Orchestra, <st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Cleveland</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">State</st1:PlaceType> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">University</st1:PlaceType>, The George Gund Foundation, Kaiser
Permanente, <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">National
City</st1:place></st1:City> (now a part of PNC), Ohio Business Machines, Ozanne
Construction Company, The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, The Sherwick
Foundation and Young Audiences.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
<STRONG><BR></STRONG></SPAN><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">The All-City
Musical is a rewarding experience for the students involved as well as for the
professional artists that collaborate to produce the musical</B>, according to
<B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">Tony Sias</B>, the director of the
production for the seventh consecutive year.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>“The All-City Musical is an
extraordinary program that provides students with a structured standards-based
educational experience that develops individual talents, stimulates critical
thinking, focuses creativity, strengthens social skills and affords students an
informed perspective on the world that they might not have had if they were not
involved in the program,” said Sias in a recent interview about the upcoming
production.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>“These young people are
amazing.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>As a member of the
production team, I find it immensely rewarding to witness and play a significant
role in the growth and development that these students experience over our
intensive All-City Musical rehearsal process.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>They work diligently, remain focused and
emerge from the program with the ability to demonstrate the skill, discipline
and creativity that it takes to be an artist in the theater and a successful
member of our future workforce.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It
is deeply satisfying to be able to share this leg of their journey with
them.”<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><BR>The production
team for the tenth annual All-City Musical is a distinguished group of
professional artists from across <st1:place w:st="on">Northeast
Ohio</st1:place>.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Dr David Manning
Thomas</SPAN></B><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">, a music teacher
at <B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">John Adams High School</B>, will
serve as Musical Director for the production.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>An All-City veteran, <B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">Michael Medcalf</B>, a renowned
choreographer and dancer, will return to the production team for an eighth
consecutive season to create <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">A Decade of
Dreams’ </I>choreography.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The
production’s artistic team also features <B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">Terry J. Martin</B> (scenic designer), <B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">Esther Haberlen</B> (costume designer), <B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">Colleen Dowling</B> (lighting designer) and
<B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">Stan Kozak</B> (sound
designer).<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><BR>Public
performances of <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">A Decade of
Dreams</I></SPAN></B><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> are scheduled for
<B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">Friday, May 29<SUP>th</SUP> at 7:30
p.m</B>., <B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">Sunday, May 31<SUP>st</SUP> at
3:00 p.m. </B>and<B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"> </B>again at<B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"> 7:30 p.m</B>. Tickets for public
performances of<I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"> A Decade of Dreams</I>
are $15.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Seating is general
admission.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Public performance
tickets are available by phone at <B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">(216)
241-6000</B>, online at<SPAN style="COLOR: black"> <B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">www.playhousesquare.org</B> or by visiting
the</SPAN> <B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">PlayhouseSquare Ticket
Office</B>.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><BR>The Gala
Benefit performance</SPAN></B><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> <B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">of <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">A
Decade of Dreams</I></B> is scheduled for <B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">Saturday, May 30<SUP>th</SUP></B> at <B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">7:30 p.m</B>. with a special VIP cocktail
reception preceding the performance at 6:00 p.m.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Tickets for the Gala Benefit performance
range in price from $125 - $225.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Seating is assigned.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>All
proceeds benefit the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Cleveland</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Metropolitan</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">School
District</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>’s All-City Arts Program.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">For complete information about the Gala
Benefit performance <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">A Decade of
Dreams</I></B>, including information on how to purchase tickets or become a
sponsor of the event, visit <B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><A
href="blocked::http://www.decadeofdreams.org/">www.decadeofdreams.org</A></B> or
contact <B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">Andrea Wedren</B> at <B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">(216) 272-1084</B> or via email at <B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><A
href="blocked::mailto:awedren@boomideas.com"><FONT
color=#5a99f0>awedren@boomideas.com</FONT></A>.</B> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><BR>The primary
goal of the <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Cleveland</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Metropolitan</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">School
District</st1:PlaceType> is to become a premier school district in the
<st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">United States of
America</st1:place></st1:country-region>.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">#<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>#<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>#<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; TEXT-TRANSFORM: uppercase; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; TEXT-TRANSFORM: uppercase; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Media
Contact:<BR></SPAN></B><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Todd
Krispinsky<BR></SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Marketing
and Public Relations Director<BR></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">(216) 241-5490 x317<BR></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">tkrispinsky@greatlakestheater.org<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></FONT></DIV></FONT></DIV>
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