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<br><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 16px; "><div style="text-indent: 0in !important; padding-top: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana; "><div style="text-indent: 0in !important; ">First Grace Arts is delighted to offer a special Broadway Master Class with award-winning lyricist/playwright and director Bill Russell!</div><div style="text-indent: 0in !important; "><br style="text-indent: 0in !important; "></div><div style="text-indent: 0in !important; ">Mr. Russell with coach a selection of local student and aspiring writers and actors as they present songs and excerpts from their work in a studio setting. </div><div style="text-indent: 0in !important; "><br style="text-indent: 0in !important; "></div><div style="text-indent: 0in !important; ">Mr. Russell will also field questions from observers about song and stage craft, and talk about his career. Mr. Russell's complete bio is below. </div><div style="text-indent: 0in !important; "><br style="text-indent: 0in !important; "></div><div style="text-indent: 0in !important; ">Any aspiring writers or performers interested in participating in the class should contact JT Buck at jtbuck@hotmail.com or 330-212-6709 by December 1st. </div><div style="text-indent: 0in !important; "><br style="text-indent: 0in !important; "></div><div style="text-indent: 0in !important; ">Tickets for observers of the class are only $5 and may be paid at the door. Reservations, which can be made by calling or emailing the number above, are highly encouraged since space is very limited. </div><div style="text-indent: 0in !important; "><br style="text-indent: 0in !important; "></div><div style="text-indent: 0in !important; ">Bill Russell is coming to Akron in conjunction with First Grace Arts' production of his musical 'Elegies for Angels, Punks and Raging Queens' on December 14th at 7:30PM. </div><div style="text-indent: 0in !important; "><br style="text-indent: 0in !important; "></div><div style="text-indent: 0in !important; ">The master class will be held at First Grace United Church of Christ, 350 S. Portage Path (@ W. Exchange St.) in Akron. </div><div style="text-indent: 0in !important; "><br style="text-indent: 0in !important; "></div><div style="text-indent: 0in !important; ">visit www.firstgraceucc.org for more info. </div><div style="text-indent: 0in !important; "><br style="text-indent: 0in !important; "></div><br style="text-indent: 0in !important; ">JT Buck Arts Director First Grace United Church of Christ 350 S. Portage Path Akron, OH 44320 Office: 330-762-8469 Cel: 330-212-6709 jtbuck@ameritech.net www.firstgraceucc.org<div style="text-indent: 0in !important; "><br style="text-indent: 0in !important; "></div><div style="text-indent: 0in !important; "><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in !important; margin-top: 0em !important; margin-right: 0em !important; margin-bottom: 0em !important; margin-left: 0em !important; padding-top: 0em !important; padding-right: 0em !important; padding-bottom: 0em !important; padding-left: 0em !important; "><b style="text-indent: 0in !important; ">Bill Russell </b><span style="font-weight: normal; text-indent: 0in !important; ">wrote the book and lyrics for the critically acclaimed Broadway musical<span style="text-indent: 0in !important; "> </span></span><b style="text-indent: 0in !important; "><i style="text-indent: 0in !important; ">Side Show, </i></b><span style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-indent: 0in !important; ">receiving a Tony nomination for book and sharing a nomination with composer Henry Krieger for score.<span style="text-indent: 0in !important; "> </span>He also directed that show at the Park Square Theatre in St. Paul.</span><b style="text-indent: 0in !important; "><i style="text-indent: 0in !important; "> </i></b><span style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-indent: 0in !important; "><span style="text-indent: 0in !important; "> </span>Mr. Russell co-wrote the book and lyrics for Off-Broadway’s long-running musical </span><b style="text-indent: 0in !important; "><i style="text-indent: 0in !important; ">Pageant</i></b><span style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-indent: 0in !important; "> (with collaborators Frank Kelly, Albert Evans and Robert Longbottom)</span><b style="text-indent: 0in !important; "><i style="text-indent: 0in !important; ">, </i></b><span style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-indent: 0in !important; ">and directed it at the King’s Head Theatre in London.<span style="text-indent: 0in !important; "> </span>That production transferred to the West End, received two Olivier Award nominations and won that prestigious prize for “Best Supporting Performance in a Musical” for Miles Western’s portrayal of Miss West Coast.<span style="text-indent: 0in !important; "> </span>Bill subsequently directed </span><b style="text-indent: 0in !important; "><i style="text-indent: 0in !important; ">Pageant</i></b><span style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-indent: 0in !important; "> in Chicago and Los Angeles and at the University of Kansas.<span style="text-indent: 0in !important; "> </span>He authored the book and lyrics for<span style="text-indent: 0in !important; "> </span></span><b style="text-indent: 0in !important; "><i style="text-indent: 0in !important; ">Elegies for Angels, Punks and Raging Queens</i></b><span style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-indent: 0in !important; "> (music by Janet Hood), directing it in New York and in London’s Fringe and West End, among many others, including a celebrity benefit</span><b style="text-indent: 0in !important; "><i style="text-indent: 0in !important; "> </i></b><span style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-indent: 0in !important; ">in New York which was recorded by Fynsworth Alley.<span style="text-indent: 0in !important; "> </span></span><b style="text-indent: 0in !important; "><i style="text-indent: 0in !important; ">Everything’s Ducky </i></b><span style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-indent: 0in !important; ">(written with Henry Krieger and Jeffrey Hatcher)</span><b style="text-indent: 0in !important; "><i style="text-indent: 0in !important; "> </i></b><span style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-indent: 0in !important; ">premiered with TheatreWorks of California and subsequently received several successful regional productions, garnering the Will Glickman Award for Best Play (S.F. Bay area) and the “Backstage West” Garland Award for Best Score.<span style="text-indent: 0in !important; "> </span>A revised version under the new title </span><b style="text-indent: 0in !important; "><i style="text-indent: 0in !important; ">Lucky Duck</i></b><span style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-indent: 0in !important; "> was directed by John Rando (“Urinetown”) at the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego and Bill directed a version at the Boston Conservatory which is being licensed by Theatrical Rights Worldwide.<span style="text-indent: 0in !important; "> </span>Mr. Russell’s latest creation with Henry Krieger </span><b style="text-indent: 0in !important; "><i style="text-indent: 0in !important; ">Up in the Air</i></b><span style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-indent: 0in !important; ">, premiered at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. under the direction of Amon Miyamoto, who also conceived the project.<span style="text-indent: 0in !important; "> </span>Bill’s other credits as Bookwriter/Lyricist include:<span style="text-indent: 0in !important; "> </span>Off-Broadway’s<span style="text-indent: 0in !important; "> </span></span><b style="text-indent: 0in !important; "><i style="text-indent: 0in !important; ">Fourtune<span style="text-indent: 0in !important; "> </span></i></b><span style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-indent: 0in !important; ">and </span><b style="text-indent: 0in !important; "><i style="text-indent: 0in !important; ">The Texas Chainsaw Musical </i></b><span style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-indent: 0in !important; ">(co-author), </span><b style="text-indent: 0in !important; "><i style="text-indent: 0in !important; ">Family Style<span style="text-indent: 0in !important; "> </span></i></b><span style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-indent: 0in !important; ">(Minneapolis) and </span><b style="text-indent: 0in !important; "><i style="text-indent: 0in !important; ">Kept</i></b><span style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-indent: 0in !important; "> (with Henry Krieger and Steven Chbosky)</span><b style="text-indent: 0in !important; "><i style="text-indent: 0in !important; ">, </i></b><span style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-indent: 0in !important; ">which premiered at TheatreWorks of California and was subsequently performed at the Edinburgh Festival.<span style="text-indent: 0in !important; "> </span>He adapted the book of<span style="text-indent: 0in !important; "> </span></span><b style="text-indent: 0in !important; "><i style="text-indent: 0in !important; ">Call Me Madam<span style="text-indent: 0in !important; "> </span></i></b><span style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-indent: 0in !important; ">(starring Tyne Daly) for City Center Encores!<span style="text-indent: 0in !important; "> </span>His credits as Lyricist include the </span><b style="text-indent: 0in !important; "><i style="text-indent: 0in !important; ">Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular</i></b><span style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-indent: 0in !important; ">, the official theme for </span><b style="text-indent: 0in !important; ">Gay Games</b><span style="font-weight: normal; text-indent: 0in !important; "> and the women’s duo</span><b style="text-indent: 0in !important; "><i style="text-indent: 0in !important; ">Jade & Sarsaparilla</i></b><span style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-indent: 0in !important; ">.<span style="text-indent: 0in !important; "> </span>Mr. Russell’s directing credits include John Augustine’s</span><b style="text-indent: 0in !important; "><i style="text-indent: 0in !important; "> Generation X, </i></b><span style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-indent: 0in !important; ">the comedy team of </span><b style="text-indent: 0in !important; "><i style="text-indent: 0in !important; ">Monteith and Rand </i></b><span style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-indent: 0in !important; ">(on and off Broadway and at theaters around the nation) and Jeff Mandels’ </span><b style="text-indent: 0in !important; "><i style="text-indent: 0in !important; ">And Somewhere Men Are Laughing</i></b><span style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-indent: 0in !important; "> for the 2007 New York International Fringe Festival</span><b style="text-indent: 0in !important; "><i style="text-indent: 0in !important; ">.<span style="text-indent: 0in !important; "> </span></i></b><span style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-indent: 0in !important; "><span style="text-indent: 0in !important; "> </span><span style="text-indent: 0in !important; "> </span>He has been honored with two Gilman/Gonzalez-Falla Commendation Awards and honorary doctorates from his first alma mater, Morningside College and the Boston Conservatory.<span style="text-indent: 0in !important; "> </span>For more, please visit www.billrussell.net.</span></p><div><br></div></div></div></span><br> <br /><hr />Bing brings you maps, menus, and reviews organized in one place. <a href='http://www.bing.com/search?q=restaurants&form=MFESRP&publ=WLHMTAG&crea=TEXT_MFESRP_Local_MapsMenu_Resturants_1x1' target='_new'>Try it now.</a></body>
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