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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Retro <I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Radio Bo</I>y shows forward
thinking</SPAN></B><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><?xml:namespace
prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"
/><o:p></o:p></SPAN></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: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Bob
Abelman<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">News-Herald,
Chagrin Valley Times, Solon Times, Geauga Times
Courier<o:p></o:p></SPAN></I></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Member,
International Association of Theatre Critics <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></I></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">This
commentary appeared in the <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">News-Herald
</I>11/20/09</SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">The Geauga Lyric
Theater Guild has discovered a way to put rears in the tiers of its community
theater amidst dwindling audiences for the performing arts.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Last weekend the
Geauga Theater offered the world premiere of <I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Radio Boy</I>, an original drama written by
Chesterland-based playwright Joanne Durante.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The story follows the life of young
Davey Foster, whose family moves to Chardon to find work during The Great
Depression.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><BR></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><BR></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">The production is a
radio drama within a drama.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>As
Davey listens to the radio on one side of the stage, the audience witnesses the
enactment of the big-band musical numbers and melodramatic skits in the radio
station studio on the other side of the stage.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Soon, the stories being told on the
radio morph into a narration of Davey’s life.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>“Boundaries blur in this drama,”
suggests director Mark Cipra, “as the play’s focus shifts between the staged
radio drama, Davey’s troubled world and Davey’s fertile
imagination.”<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">By staging an
original play by a local playwright, the GLTG brain-trust generated a buzz that
worked its way through the local community weeks before the production
opened.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The buzz still exists.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>There is certainly a place for yet
another production of <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Annie</I> in a
community theater’s schedule, but the staging of something original and
innovative shakes up the entertainment landscape.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The landscape needs shaking in order to
revitalize interest and inspire attendance.<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"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">By bringing in a
well-credentialed director to spearhead this production, the GLTG opened up
avenues for artistic vision that expand homegrown sensibilities and bypass
long-held, self-induced creative constraints.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Known directors also attract regional
talent to community theaters, which can supplement, diversify and energize the
local talent pool. <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">This production also
put the “community” back in community theater.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Radio Boy</I> served as a fundraising
initiative to help transform property on historic Chardon Square into a
full-service, multi-discipline center for the arts and arts education.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Art instructors donated original
artworks for a silent auction. <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Some
local business contributed items for sale during intermission. <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Others provided 1930’s artifacts for
display in the lobby. <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>In turn,
their advertisements worked their way into the on-stage radio program.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">The Sunday matinee
performance was a gift to the community.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>It was a pay-what-you-can affair that attracted over 180 folks, some who
could not normally afford a ticket. <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Area schools received free tickets for
one of the productions, introducing live theater to the next generation of
potential patrons. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><BR>Originality,
vision and community are key ingredients for the success of a community theater
during a time of intense competition for entertainment dollars. <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>So is quality. <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Unfortunately, <I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Radio Boy</I> was conceived, written and
staged in just four months.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>This
was not nearly enough time to fine-tune the complex script, handpick talent and
crew, and coordinate and work out all the technical details in this ambitious
production.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>More time would have
allowed the large ensemble cast and band members to better ready themselves for
what was the equivalent of a live radio broadcast each evening.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Originality, vision and community will
bring people to community theaters.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Quality will bring them back.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Former
GLTG board president Andy Wyatt, current board president Greg Pribulsky, and
executive director </SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Chris Cipriani should
be applauded. They engaged in what most community theater organizations fail to
even envision.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">This endeavor should
be seen as a beginning rather than as a means to an end.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Here’s hoping for future installments of
<I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Radio Boy</I> on the Geauga Theater
stage, turning a stand-alone drama into episodic productions.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The playwright can explore the role of
radio in the lives of other families touched by the technology and showcase even
more of the huge catalog of big band music.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The GLTG can continue its new-found
tradition of inviting members of the local community to be a part of the
festivities and, perhaps, pay what they can.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Here’s hoping other
community theaters follow suit.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>