<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<HTML><HEAD>
<META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1">
<META content="MSHTML 6.00.2800.1627" name=GENERATOR>
<STYLE></STYLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><FONT face=Arial size=4><STRONG><U>Opening
Friday!</U></STRONG></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><FONT face=Arial size=2><STRONG></STRONG></FONT> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><FONT face=Arial size=2><STRONG>Straw Hat Theatre at the Ashtabula
Arts Center</STRONG></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><FONT face=Arial size=2><STRONG>2928 West 13th Street in
Ashtabula</STRONG></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><FONT face=Arial size=2><STRONG>presents</STRONG></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><FONT face=Arial><FONT size=2><STRONG> <?xml:namespace prefix
= o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"
/><o:p></o:p></STRONG></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><FONT face=Arial size=5><STRONG>“Disney’s Beauty and the
Beast”</STRONG></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><FONT face=Arial><FONT
size=2><STRONG> <o:p></o:p></STRONG></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><FONT face=Arial size=2><STRONG>July 31, August 1, 2, 7, 8, 9,13,
14 and 15.</STRONG></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><FONT face=Arial size=2><STRONG>All Straw Hat shows begin at 8:00
p.m.</STRONG></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><STRONG><FONT face=Arial size=2>For tickets:
440-964-3396</FONT></STRONG></P>
<P class=content style="MARGIN: auto 0in; TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: windowtext; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt"><FONT
face=Arial><FONT size=2>As the curtain rises on this family favorite which is
based on Disney’s Academy-Award winning animated feature, audiences will be
swept into the heart of provincial life in a lovely French town and then be
transported into a mysterious and magical castle where objects come to life, a
Beast lurks, and a Beauty finds true love! </FONT></FONT></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: windowtext; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt"><FONT
face=Arial><FONT size=2>The show will feature all of the favorite characters
from the movie plus all of the favorites songs as well.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=content style="MARGIN: auto 0in; TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: windowtext; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt"><FONT
face=Arial><FONT size=2><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"></SPAN></FONT></FONT></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: windowtext; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt"><FONT
face=Arial><FONT size=2>The production will be directed by Lisa Marie French of
Madison.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>French who began her
career as a professional dancer with McGill Danse of Montreal, Quebec, has
choreographed and directed for community theater, high schools, colleges and
more.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Some of her recent credits
include “A Chorus Line,” “My Fair Lady,” “Godspell,” “Miracle on 34th Street”
and “Jekyll & Hyde.”<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Since
2003, she has spent her summers serving as the Coordinating Director of Rabbit
Run Community Arts Association Children’s
Theatre.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma"><FONT face=Arial><FONT
size=2>Walk-ins are welcome to any “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast” performance
if seating is available, however advance sale purchases are recommended.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Walk-in tickets are $14 for patron
seating, $12 adults and $11 seniors/students. <STRONG>Advance tickets can be
purchased by calling the Arts Center at (440) 964-3396. <U>Those purchasing
advance tickets will receive a $2 per ticket discount off of the regular, box
office ticket prices.<o:p></o:p></U></STRONG></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=content style="MARGIN: auto 0in; TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt"><FONT
face=Arial><FONT size=2>With music by Alen Menken and lyrics by Howard Ashman
& Tim Rice and book by Linda Woolverton. “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast” was
originally directed by Robert Jess Roth and originally produced by Disney
Theatrical Productions.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=content style="MARGIN: auto 0in; TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt"><FONT
face=Arial><FONT size=2>“Disney’s Beauty and the Beast” is presented through
special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI).<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>All authorized performance materials are
also supplied by MTI, 421 West 54th Street, New York, NY
10019.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt"><FONT
face=Arial><FONT size=2>The Ashtabula Arts Center is funded in part by the Ohio
Arts Council.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Pamela Hammond<BR>Public Relations/Marketing
Coordinator<BR>Ashtabula Arts Center<BR>Phone/Fax: 440.964.3396<BR></FONT><A
href="mailto:aac@ashartscenter.org"><FONT face=Arial
size=2>aac@ashartscenter.org</FONT></A></DIV></BODY></HTML>