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<p class=MsoNoSpacing align=center style='text-align:center'><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNoSpacing align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span
style='font-size:14.0pt'>Ohio Shakespeare Festival Opens King Lear<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNoSpacing align=center style='text-align:center'><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNoSpacing align=center style='text-align:center'><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNoSpacing><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Ohio Shakespeare Festival,
performing for the ninth summer at beautiful Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens in
Akron, will present William Shakespeare’s tragedy <i>King Lear</i>,
beginning July 29, and running until August 15.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNoSpacing><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNoSpacing><i><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>King Lear</span></i><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'> will feature OSF Artistic Director Terry Burgler in
the title role, with his “sharper than a serpent’s tooth”
daughters played by company members Dede Klein (Regan), Holly Humes (Goneril)
and Tess Burgler (Cordelia). Also featured in the cast are OSF audience
favorites Andrew Cruse (Edgar) and Eric Lualdi (Edmund), along with Timothy
Champion, Robert Hawkes, Tom Stephan, Henry Bishop and David McNees. Partially
because of the enormous size of the role of Lear himself, coupled with the
character’s required advancing age, <i>King Lear</i> is not performed as
frequently as many of Shakespeare’s other tragic masterpieces. Murder,
madness, pride, disloyalty and greed all swirl within this royal family. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNoSpacing><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNoSpacing><i><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>King Lear</span></i><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'> will preview on July 29, with special $12 pricing
that night only for all seats (festival seating.) Regular performances begin
Friday, July 30 and run through Sunday August 15. Performances are Thursday,
Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights at 8pm, with a Greenshow of songs, dances
and a Shakespeare parody performed by the younger OSF Company members each
evening at 7:30. Stan Hywet’s grounds open at 6pm for picnicking in a
wide variety of scenic locations, and concessions are available.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNoSpacing><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNoSpacing><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Tickets are $30 for reserved
seating (the first 100 seats closest to the stage), or $25 for festival (open)
seating. Student tickets are $15, and further discounts on adult tickets are
available for OSF and Stan Hywet Members. Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens is
located at 714 N. Portage Path in Akron. Reservations may be made any time
through OSF’s web site at </span><a href="http://www.ohioshakespeare.com"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>www.ohioshakespeare.com</span></a><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>, or by calling the box office at (330) 673-8761 daily
(except Mondays) between noon and 5pm.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNoSpacing><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNoSpacing><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNoSpacing align=center style='text-align:center'><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>Ohio Shakespeare Festival<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNoSpacing align=center style='text-align:center'><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>507 E. Crain Avenue<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNoSpacing align=center style='text-align:center'><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>Kent, OH 44240<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNoSpacing align=center style='text-align:center'><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>330-673-8761 box office<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNoSpacing align=center style='text-align:center'><a
href="http://www.ohioshakespeare.com"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>www.ohioshakespeare.com</span></a><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNoSpacing align=center style='text-align:center'><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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