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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'">The hills are alive
with <SPAN class=lightgrey1><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN
style="COLOR: windowtext">Fräulein Maria</SPAN></I></SPAN><?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><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></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
review appeared in the <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Times </I>papers<I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"> </I>12/3/09</SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><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'">When a Broadway
musical makes the transition to the big screen, it is impossible to see any
subsequent stage production of that musical and not have the now-iconic
cinematic images pop into one’s head.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Try watching a local production of <I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">The Sound of Music</I> and not see visions
of Julie Andrews and the Alps.<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 is exactly what
choreographer Doug Elkins, of New York’s Doug Elkins and Friends Dance Company,
is banking on in his production of <SPAN class=lightgrey1><I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN style="COLOR: windowtext">Fräulein
Maria</SPAN></I></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 class=lightgrey1><I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: windowtext; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Fräulein</SPAN></I></SPAN><I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">
Maria</SPAN></I><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">, which played at the
sold-out Hanna Theatre for a limited engagement on November 20<SUP>th</SUP> and
21<SUP>st</SUP>, is a free-associative dance parody of <I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">The Sound of Music</I>.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It is performed to the vocal and musical
soundtrack of the </SPAN><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN">Rodgers
and Hammerstein film </SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">classic, merging
dance with theater and nostalgic movie memories. <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'">Elkins wants our
cherished, collective reminiscences of the stoic von Trapp family, the devout
Abby nuns and the ever-effervescent Maria to spring forth and run smack into his
bizarre but absolutely delightful creation. <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'">How bizarre?<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Maria is played by three dancers, Cindy
Chung Camins, Kevin Fitzgerald Ferguson</SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">
</SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">and
Donnell Oakley.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The demure eldest
daughter Liesl is played by a large Black man in a pink dress who, during
“Sixteen Going on Seventeen,” dances with Rolfe, who is an even larger Black
man.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>“Do-Re-Mi,” “Edelweiss” and
all the show’s magically melodic tunes are enacted with an absurd but remarkably
fluid concoction of ballet, modern dance, hip hop, voguing (model-like posing)
and other dance forms. They could not be more out of sync with and, in some
cases, counterpoint to the material.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>They are wonderful to watch.<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 result is a love
letter to the original work—a funny, moving, innovative interpretation of a
treasured piece of Hollywood entertainment.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Every dance number embraces,
deconstructs and manipulates our memories of <I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">The Sound of Music</I>.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The 13 performers in the troupe are
top-notch professionals who work their way through Mr. Elkin’s choreography with
astounding energy, athleticism and precision.<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 class=lightgrey1><I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: windowtext; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Fräulein</SPAN></I></SPAN><I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">
Maria</SPAN></I><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> was created in 2006,
has been exclusively performed in New York City over the last few years, and is
on a mini-tour of the country.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It
returns to New York in December, where it will be presented in repertory with
the Bang Group’s <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">NUT/CRACKED</I> as a
holiday extravaganza at Dance Theater Workshop.<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'">For the Cleveland
production, five local dancers—Ellen Ressler Hoffman of Cleveland Heights, Amy
Miller of Shaker Heights, Rebecca Nicklos of Cleveland, Marie Zvosec of Elyria
and Kelly Brunk, a member of GroundWorks Dance Theater in Cleveland—were
recruited for inclusion in the ensemble.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Several months after being taught the choreography, they were reunited
with Elkins’ troupe for the Hanna Theatre performances.<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'">Doug Elkins and
Friends Dance Company was brought to Ohio courtesy of DANCECleveland.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>This season, DANCECleveland has sought
out dance companies and dance performances that have a strong connection to the
local community or generate a personal connection to the work for local
audiences.<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'">In January, the Bill
T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company will be coming to the Ohio Theatre.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It will be performing </SPAN><I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN">Fondly
Do We Hope... Fervently Do We Pray</SPAN></I><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN">,
a piece that uses dance and music to envision the America that might have been
had Abraham Lincoln completed the Reconstruction.</SPAN><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'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">In February, the
Aspen Santa Fe Ballet will be performing at the Ohio Theatre.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Now in its second decade of operation,
the company is committed to presenting contemporary classical dance with an
emphasis on commissioning new works.<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'">In May, Pilobolus
will be performing at the Palace Theatre.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>The company’s performances are a </SPAN><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN">physical
interaction between the bodies of the dancers, creating exaggerations and
contortions of the human form.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN></SPAN><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'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Over the next few
months, dance continues to take the stage at PlayhouseSquare to offer a few of
our favorite things.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>