<!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 6.00.6000.16890" name=GENERATOR>
<STYLE></STYLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY bgColor=#ffffff>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Weathervane
Playhouse’s Celebrates the Opening of its<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></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-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">75<SUP>th</SUP>
Season by Showcasing the Musical Genius of<o:p></o:p></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-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Stephen
Sondheim<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p><FONT
size=2> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<H1 style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><EM><FONT
size=5>Musical revue on stage from Sept. 10 to 27,
2009<o:p></o:p></FONT></EM></SPAN></H1>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Weathervane
Playhouse celebrates the opening of its 75<SUP>th</SUP> anniversary season with
<B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Putting it Together</I></B>, a delightful
salute to legendary Broadway songwriter Stephen Sondheim.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">A
cast of four men and four women serves up a merry, musical mix that celebrates
the man behind such terrific Broadway musicals as <I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Company, Follies, A Funny Thing Happened on
the Way to the Forum, “Little Night Music</I> and <I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Sweeney Todd</I>.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoBodyText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">With
more than two dozen songs from his personal Hit Parade, <B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Putting it Together</I></B> showcases
Sondheim’s sophisticated Broadway songbook. <I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Putting it Together</I> promises an
enchanting night at the theater with musical numbers witty, wise, wistful and
wonderful.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoBodyText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">The
musical revue’s title comes from a song from the composer’s 1984 musical <I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Sunday in the Park with George</I>, which
was inspired by a painting by the 19<SUP>th</SUP> century French painter Georges
Seurat.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoBodyText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Among
his peers and his critics, Sondheim enjoys a reputation as the most innovative,
most influential and most important composer and lyricist in modern Broadway
history. Among his many honors and accomplishments, Sondheim has won seven Tony
Awards, a Pulitzer Prize, two Grammy Awards and an Oscar. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Weathervane’s
production of <B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Putting it Together</I></B> is directed by
<B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">Terry Burgler</B>, the co-artistic
director of Ohio Shakespeare Festival. Mr. Burgler’s other directorial credits
for Weathervane include <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">A Midsummer
Night’s Dream</I> (2009) and <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Ragtime: The
Musical</I> (2008).</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">John
Ebner is musical director.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<DIV
style="BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 1pt solid; PADDING-RIGHT: 4pt; BORDER-TOP: windowtext 1pt solid; PADDING-LEFT: 4pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 1pt; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext 1pt solid; PADDING-TOP: 1pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt solid; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div">
<H3 style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">The
“Putting It Together” Ensemble and their Hometowns<o:p></o:p></SPAN></H3></DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Tim
Anderson (Broadview Heights)<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Amanda
Davis (Akron)<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Greg
Emanuelson (North Canton)<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Alan
Scott Ferrall (Cuyahoga Falls)<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Rachel
Fichter (Streetsboro)<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Stephanie
Newport (Canton)<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Melissa
Owens (Akron)<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Scott
Shriner (Akron)<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<DIV
style="BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 1pt solid; PADDING-RIGHT: 4pt; BORDER-TOP: windowtext 1pt solid; PADDING-LEFT: 4pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 1pt; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext 1pt solid; PADDING-TOP: 1pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt solid; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div">
<H3 style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><STRONG><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">About
the </SPAN></STRONG><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Putting
It Together</SPAN></I><STRONG><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">
Creative Team</SPAN></STRONG><STRONG><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></STRONG></H3></DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><STRONG><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></STRONG></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><STRONG><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">TERRY
BURGLER</SPAN></STRONG><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">
(director) – a Northeast Ohio-based professional director, actor, writer and
educator – returns to Weathervane after previously directing <I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">A Midsummer Night’s Dream</I> (2009) and <I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Ragtime: The Musical</I> (2008). He has
performed on the Globe Theatre stage in London, and has acted and directed at
numerous regional theatres across the country, including McCarter Theatre, the
Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival, Stage/West and TheatreVirgina, where he
served for 13 seasons and still ranks as the most successful Artistic Director
in that theatre's 50-year history. For four years he was Artistic Director at
Porthouse Theatre on the grounds of Blossom Music Center in Cuyahoga Falls,
presiding over record-breaking seasons that garnered significant critical praise
as well. He resigned his position there to be able to pursue his passion for
Shakespeare as one of the two founding artistic directors of the Ohio
Shakespeare Festival. He holds a B.A. degree with Honors from Princeton
University and an M.F.A. degree from the University of Virginia. He is a member
of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society and Actors' Equity
Association. As an actor, his previous Shakespearean roles include Polonius,
Falstaff, Prospero, Touchstone, Sir Toby Belch, Mercutio, Bottom and
Iago.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><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: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">JOHN
EBNER </SPAN></B><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">(musical
director, conductor, keyboards) <SPAN style="COLOR: black">is glad to be back at
Weathervane Playhouse. His last appearance was as Musical Director for <I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Ragtime</I> in which he was awarded both a
Chanticleer and a Marquee Award. He has also worked extensively as a
keyboardist, rehearsal pianist and musical director for the Ohio Shakespeare
Festival, Coach House, Carousel Dinner Theater, the Players Guild of Canton and
Kent State University. John has been a music teacher for more than 30 years,
teaching in the Plain Local Schools for the last 22 years. He has performed with
Arthur Fiedler of the Boston Pops Orchestra and the Academy Award-winning Paul
Williams. John has a bachelor’s and master’s degree in music from The University
of Akron, with further study at Ashland University and Kent State
University.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<DIV
style="BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 1pt solid; PADDING-RIGHT: 4pt; BORDER-TOP: windowtext 1pt solid; PADDING-LEFT: 4pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 1pt; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext 1pt solid; PADDING-TOP: 1pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt solid; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div">
<P class=MsoNormal
style="BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BORDER-TOP: medium none; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-TOP: 0in; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">The
<I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Putting it Together</I> Backstage Team
and their Hometowns<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P></DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Stage
Manager – Barbie Trotter (Akron)<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Assistant
Stage Manager – Mike Groom (Barberton)<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Scenic
Designer/Technical Director – Alan Scott Ferrall (Cuyahoga
Falls)<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Costume
Co-Designers – Adam Thatcher and Jasen J. Smith (both of
Akron)<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Lighting
Designer – Mike Sferro (Medina)<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Sound
Designer – Robyn Cooper (Uniontown)<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Properties
Designer – Todd Dieringer (Wadsworth) <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Assistant
Technical Director – Kathy Kohl (Akron)<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<DIV
style="BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 1pt solid; PADDING-RIGHT: 4pt; BORDER-TOP: windowtext 1pt solid; PADDING-LEFT: 4pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 1pt; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext 1pt solid; PADDING-TOP: 1pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt solid; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div">
<H3 style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">About
the Musical Revue and its Songwriter/Composer<o:p></o:p></SPAN></H3></DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<H2 style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><U>The
Show<o:p></o:p></U></SPAN></H2>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p><SPAN
style="TEXT-DECORATION: none"><U> </U></SPAN></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">In
the early 1990s, English theater producer Cameron Mackintosh persuaded composer
Stephen Sondheim to create a sequel of sorts to his popular revue <I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Side by Side by Sondheim</I>, which had
played in London and on Broadway in the late 1970s. The new revue came to be
known as <B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Putting It Together</I></B>, and it opened
at the Old Fire Station Theatre in Oxford, England in London in the winter of
1992 with a cast that featured Diana Rigg (from TV’s “The Avengers”).
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Next,
the show crossed the Atlantic Ocean when Manhattan Theatre Club produced the
show at New York City Center in the spring of 1993. Starring Julie Andrews, this
off-Broadway production ran for 96 performances. Sondheim continued to tinker
with the show, cutting a few songs and adding others – and in the fall of 1998,
the show played in its newest incarnation at the Mark Taper Forum in Los
Angeles, California. This time, the cast included Carol Burnett, who would
continue with the show when it journeyed next to Broadway. In the fall of 1999,
<I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Putting it Together</I> opened at Ethel
Barrymore Theatre in New York and played for a total of 101 performances.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<H2 style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><U>The
Creator<o:p></o:p></U></SPAN></H2>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Born
in New York City in 1930, composer and lyricist <B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">Stephen Sondheim</B> studied piano from a
very young age. His parents divorced when he was 10 years old, and he and his
mother moved to Bucks County, Pennsylvania, where a close neighbor was the
playwright, lyricist and theater producer Oscar Hammerstein II, who had a son
Stephen's age.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Here,
the older Hammerstein served as a role model for the budding young composer; he
tutored Sondheim in writing for the theater all the way through his student
years at Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts. After graduation, he
studied with the avant-garde composer Milton Babbit while attempting to secure a
job in the theater. He did find jobs writing for television and was soon
introduced to two playwrights – Burt Shevelove and Arthur Laurents – who would
play large roles in his developing career.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">At
the age of 25, he secured the job of writing lyrics to go with Leonard
Bernstein’s music for what would become a landmark Broadway musical, <I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">West Side Story</I>, which featured a script
by Laurents and stage direction by Jerome Robbins. Fresh from the success of
this show, Sondheim next wrote the lyrics for composer Jule Styne’s songs for <I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Gypsy</I>, another hit show with a book by
Laurents and stage direction by Robbins.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Sondheim’s
first show as both composer and lyricist was the 1962 musical <I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the
Forum</I>, which won the 1963 Tony Award for Best Musical and enjoyed a two-year
run on Broadway. Sondheim’s 1971 musical <I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Company</I> – a biting, realistic look at
love and marriage in modern New York City – represented a sort of historic
breakthrough for Sondheim as an artist. The show broke away from Broadway’s past
and initiated Sondheim as one of the most innovative and adventurous composers
in musical theater.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Over
the next 30 years, Sondheim continued to create, innovate and re-invent the
Broadway musical with such shows as <I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Follies</I> (1971), <I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">A Little Night Music</I> (1973), <I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Pacific Overtures</I> (1976), <I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet
Street</I> (1979), <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Merrilly We Roll
Along</I> (1981), <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Sunday in the Park with
George</I> (1984), <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Into the Woods</I>
(1987), <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Assassins</I> (1990) and <I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Passion</I> (1994). <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Practically
peerless in his accolades and accomplishments, Sondheim has won seven Tony
Awards, a Pulitzer Prize, two Grammy Awards and an Oscar. In 2008, Sondheim
received a special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement from the American Theatre
Wing. Meanwhile, on Broadway at the time, two of his shows – <I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Gypsy</I> and <I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Sunday in the Park with George</I> – were
enjoying successful, critically praised revivals.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<DIV
style="BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 1pt solid; PADDING-RIGHT: 4pt; BORDER-TOP: windowtext 1pt solid; PADDING-LEFT: 4pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 1pt; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext 1pt solid; PADDING-TOP: 1pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt solid; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div">
<H3 style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Ticket
and Performance Information<o:p></o:p></SPAN></H3></DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Putting
it Together</SPAN></I></B><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">
plays on the Weathervane Mainstage between Sept. 10 and 27,
2009.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">The
low-cost preview performance is Thursday, Sept. 10 at 7:30 p.m.; the official
opening-night performance is Friday, Sept. 11 at 8 p.m.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Between
Sept. 10 and 25, performance days and times are Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Fridays
and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2:30 p.m.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Tickets
for the Sept. 10 preview performance only are $18. Tickets for performances
after Sept. 10 are $24. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">$21
tickets for seniors and college students are available for Thursday and Sunday
performances. Tickets for children ages 17 or younger are $19.50 at all
performances after Sept. 10.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">For
tickets, call the Weathervane Box Office at 330/836-2626 or connect online to <A
href="http://www.weathervaneplayhouse.com/"><FONT
color=#800080>www.weathervaneplayhouse.com</FONT></A>.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">*
* *<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><FONT
size=2>Weathervane Playhouse and its dedicated volunteers offer vital performing
arts resources for the people of Northeastern 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.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p><FONT
size=2> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></I></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: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><FONT
size=2>The Ohio Arts Council helped fund this program with state tax dollars to
encourage economic growth, education excellence and cultural enrichment for all
Ohioans.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></I></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: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p><FONT
size=2> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></I></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: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><FONT
size=2>Additional 2009-2010 season sponsors:<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></I></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: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><FONT
size=2>1590 WAKR<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></I></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: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><FONT
size=2>89.7 WSKU-FM<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></I></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: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><FONT
size=2>The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company</FONT></SPAN></I><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Janis Harcar<BR>Director of
Advancement<BR>Weathervane Playhouse<BR>330-836-2323 X16<BR><A
href="http://www.weathervaneplayhouse.com">www.weathervaneplayhouse.com</A></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>