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<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: right" align="right"><span style="COLOR: black"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
</font></font></span></p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: right" align="right"><span style="COLOR: black"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Contact: Christine McBurney</font></font></span></p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: right" align="right"><span style="COLOR: black"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">216-295-4258</font></font></span></p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: right" align="right"><span style="COLOR: black"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">24 Hour Box Office: 216-295-4287 or
</font><a href="http://www.tix.com" target="_blank"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">www.tix.com</font></a></span></p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align="center"><b><span style="COLOR: black"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"></font></font></span></b> </p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align="center"><b><span style="COLOR: black"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Shaker Theatre presents New Stages 29: Festival of New Plays</font></font></span></b></p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align="center"><b><span style="COLOR: black"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"><span> </span>Written, Directed, Produced & Performed by Students</font></font></span></b></p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align="center"><b><span style="COLOR: black"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"><font face="times new roman"></font></font></font></span></b> </p>
<p><span style="COLOR: black"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">The Theatre Arts Department of Shaker Heights High School presents the twenty-ninth festival of new plays, written, directed, produced, and performed by students in our intimate black
box theatre, Stage 3. Five one-act plays will be presented as part of a full season of theatrical events, which began with Mary Zimmerman’s
<i>Metamorphoses </i>in December and concludes with the Spring Ensemble Show in May.</font></font></span></p>
<p><span style="COLOR: black"><font face="times new roman" size="3"></font></span> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="COLOR: black"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman" color="#3366ff">The plays are:
<i>Before You Fall </i>written by senior Isabelle Storm, directed by senior Sabrina Paskewitz;
<i>Edd’s</i> written by junior Allegra Verlezza, directed by senior Gabe Gordon; <i>
The Guy on the Couch</i> written by junior Joshua Barnett, directed by senior Taran Brown;
<i>Turkey</i> written by junior Graham Fine, directed by junior Jonah Weinstein; and
<i>The World Spins Madly On </i>written by senior Natalie Vicchio, directed by senior Michael Thomas.</font></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="COLOR: black"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"></font></span> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">Performances are at
<strong><span style="COLOR: black">8:00 pm on Wednesday, March 16 and Thursday, March 17</span></strong>. Performances on
<strong><span style="COLOR: black">Friday, March 18 and Saturday, March 19 are at 7:00 pm
<u>AND</u> 9:15 pm</span></strong>. All performances are in Shaker Heights High School Stage 3. Seating is limited and all seats are reserved. Note: Mature Content. Tickets are $10.00 for adults, $5.00 for students and senior adults, and may be purchased
in on line at </font><a href="http://www.tix.com/" target="_blank"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">www.tix.com</font></a><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"> or by calling the
<strong><span style="COLOR: black">24 Hour Reservation Hotline at 216-295-4287.</span></strong></font></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"><strong><span style="COLOR: black"><font face="times new roman"></font></span></strong><strong><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; COLOR: black"></span></strong></font></font> </p>
<p><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"><i><span style="COLOR: black">New Stages</span></i><span style="COLOR: black">, now in its twenty-ninth continuous year, was begun by retired Shaker Theatre Arts Department founder, James Thornton, in 1983. Having
developed it out of a playwriting class, Thornton considered <i>New Stages</i> to be the most significant thing we do as a theatre program.
</span></font></font></p>
<p style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1in"><span style="COLOR: black"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">“The fall show is flashier and on a larger scale. The Spring Ensemble Show provides our most polished and sophisticated performances.<span>
</span>Across the line, if you ask Shaker Theatre alumni what their most memorable moments were, they will most likely recall those moments shared in
<i>New Stages</i>. To my knowledge, no other high school in the country has a new play series of this design.” </font></font></span></p>
<p><span style="COLOR: black"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Department Chair, Christine McBurney adds that "<i>New Stages</i> provides an exciting guided learning experience for students that is unparalleled. A diverse group of students works
closely together, learning how to communicate ideas and with each other, how to problem solve, collaborate, and tell stories that impact an audience.”</font></font></span></p>
<p><span style="COLOR: black"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"><font face="times new roman"></font></font></font></span> </p>
<p><span style="COLOR: black"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">This year’s
<i>New Stages</i> provides working and learning opportunities for more than 65 students. Over 29 years, the series has involved more than a thousand students in the creation of new works for the theatre. Among Shaker Theatre alums are:</font></font></span></p>
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; COLOR: black"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Carter Bays ’93, five-time Emmy-nominated writer for
<i>Late Night with David Letterman. </i>Bays is also a writer and producer for <i>
American Dad</i> and <span style="COLOR: windowtext">executive producer, head writer, and co-creator of
<i>How I Met Your Mother</i>, which was nominated for best comedy in 2009.<span>
</span></span></font></font></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; COLOR: black"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Jamie Babbit, ’89, writer/director of the film,
<i>But I’m a Cheerleader, The Quiet, </i>and <i>Itty Bitty…Committee.<span> </span>
</i>Television directing credits include “Ugly Betty, “Dirty Sexy Money,” “The L Word,” “Gossip Girl,” “Gilmore Girls,” and more.</font></font>
</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; COLOR: black"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">David Wain, ’87, writer/director of the film,
<i>Wet Hot American Summer</i>, <i>The Ten </i><span>and<i> Role Models</i></span>.<i><span>
</span></i>Writing credits include “Mad TV, “The State,” “Stella,” and more. He is currently directing an upcoming comedy
<i>Wanderlust.</i></font></font> </li><li class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; COLOR: black"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">The late Louis Schechter, ’83, Los Angeles film producer and director whose credits include
<i>Proximity, Next Action Star, and Bet Your Life.</i>.</font></font> </li><li class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; COLOR: black"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Michelle Federer, ’91, New York stage actress, the original Nessarose in Broadway’s
<i>Wicked</i> and who recently appeared Off Broadway in <i>Anon</i>, and in the film
<i>Flannel Pajamas</i>.</font></font> </li><li class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; COLOR: black"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Michael McElroy, ’84, New York Tony nominated stage actor,
<i>Big River</i>, <i>Rent, Miss Saigon</i>, <i>Angels in America</i>, <i>Some Men</i>.<span>
</span>Now a Professor at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts.</font></font> </li><li class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; COLOR: black"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Andrew Kober ’02.<span>
</span>An original member of the Tony-nominated production of <i>Hair</i> on Broadway and in London.</font></font>
</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; COLOR: black"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Halle Morse ’05.<span>
</span>In the current production of <i>Mama Mia </i>on Broadway.</font></font> </li><li class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; COLOR: black"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Laura Jacqmin,’00
<span style="COLOR: #333333">recipient of the second annual Wasserstein Prize, established in memory of the esteemed playwright Wendy Wasserstein, who died in 2006. The $25,000 prize is awarded for an outstanding script by a young woman who has not yet received
national attention. </span></font></font> </li><li class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; COLOR: black"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Sara Knowlton, ’86, television, film and New York stage actress.<span>
</span>TV includes “House,” “Ugly Betty,” “As the World Turns,” and more.</font></font>
</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; COLOR: black"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Betsy Hogg, ’06, appeared Off Broadway in
<i>The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie</i> with Cynthia Nixon and on Broadway in <i>The Crucible</i> with Liam Neeson and Laura Linney and
<i>Fiddler on the Roof</i> with Harvey Fierstein.<span> </span>She appeared in the film,
<i>Rocket </i>Science and on television’s “Law and Order.”</font></font> </li><li class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; COLOR: black"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Gabrielle Perrin, ’87, former casting director for all West Coast operations for the television channel,
<i>Nickelodeon</i>.</font></font> </li><li class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; COLOR: black"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Two English Speaking Union Cleveland Shakespeare Competition winners, Valerie Kilmer (2009) and David Wemer (2010)</font></font>
</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; COLOR: black"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">and many others…</font></font></li></ul>
<p><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"><b><span style="COLOR: black">Stage 3</span></b><span style="COLOR: black">—Shaker Heights High School’s intimate black box theatre—was the vision of student Amy Silberman, ’81.<span>
</span>For her Senior Project, she drew a design for a black box theatre and identified the space in the basement of the school.<span>
</span>Amy was the catalyst for turning the former fallout shelter into a performing space. Stage 3, dedicated in her memory, is the perfect venue for
<i>New Stages</i>, seating only 84 people and usually selling out every performance.
</span></font></font></p>
<p><font size="3"><font face="times new roman"><span style="COLOR: black"></span></font></font> </p>
<p><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"><b><span style="COLOR: black">The award-winning Theatre Arts Department</span></b><span style="COLOR: black"> at Shaker Heights High School offers 8 daily theatre classes, produces 4 major productions and 3 showcases,
and involves nearly 300 students each year. </span></font></font></p>
<p><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"><span style="COLOR: black"><font face="times new roman"></font></span></font></font> </p>
<p><span style="COLOR: black"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">The program hosts numerous on-going
<b>Guest Artists</b>, including:</font></font></span></p>
<p style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in"><span style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol"><span><font size="3">·</font><span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">
</span></span></span><span style="COLOR: black"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Residencies with Matt Thornton, ’92 of
<span> </span>Pilobolus Dance Theatre</font></font></span></p>
<p style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in"><span style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol"><span><font size="3">·</font><span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">
</span></span></span><font face="Times New Roman"><span style="COLOR: black"><font size="3">Geoff Bullen,</font></span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 18pt; COLOR: black">
</span><span style="COLOR: black"><font size="3">Assistant Director at London’s Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA)</font></span></font></p>
<p style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in"><span style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol"><span><font size="3">·</font><span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">
</span></span></span><span style="COLOR: black"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Seth Gordon, former Associate Artistic Director at the Cleveland Play House and current Associate Artistic Director at St. Louis Repertory Theatre</font></font></span></p>
<p style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in"><span style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol"><span><font size="3">·</font><span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">
</span></span></span><span style="COLOR: black"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Actor Derdriu Ring</font></font></span></p>
<p style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1in"><span style="COLOR: black"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">and Associate Guest Artists
</font></font></span></p>
<p style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in"><span style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol"><span><font size="3">·</font><span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">
</span></span></span><span style="COLOR: black"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">James Thornton, Founder of the Shaker Theatre Arts Department & Creator of the Ensemble Program</font></font></span></p>
<p style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in"><span style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol"><span><font size="3">·</font><span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">
</span></span></span><span style="COLOR: black"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Wendy Lynne, Movement Specialist & Director</font></font></span></p>
<p style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in"><span style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol"><span><font size="3">·</font><span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">
</span></span></span><span style="COLOR: black"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Katie Daley, Poet</font></font></span></p>
<p style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in"><span style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol"><span><font size="3">·</font><span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">
</span></span></span><span style="COLOR: black"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Megan Pitcher, Costumer</font></font></span></p>
<p style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in"><span style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol"><span><font size="3">·</font><span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">
</span></span></span><span style="COLOR: black"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Bruce Jennings, Musician</font></font></span></p>
<p style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in"><span style="COLOR: black"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"><font face="times new roman"></font><b></b></font></font></span> </p>
<p><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"><b><span style="COLOR: black">Faculty and staff include</span></b><span style="COLOR: black">:
</span></font></font></p>
<p style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in"><span style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol"><span><font size="3">·</font><span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">
</span></span></span><span style="COLOR: black"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Theatre Arts Department Chair Christine McBurney, who teaches (or has taught) Dramatic Literature & Writing, Film as Art, IB Theatre Arts, Junior Ensemble, Acting, Improv,
Shakescenes, Theatre I,and<span> </span>Theatre Management.</font></font></span></p>
<p style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in"><span style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol"><span><font size="3">·</font><span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">
</span></span></span><span style="COLOR: black"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Ensemble Program Director Erik Johnson, who teaches Junior, Advanced and Senior Ensembles, Theatre I, and Theatre Management.</font></font></span></p>
<p style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in"><span style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol"><span><font size="3">·</font><span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">
</span></span></span><span style="COLOR: black"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Chuck Tisdale, Technical Designer and Auditorium Manager.</font></font></span></p>
<p style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in"><span style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol"><span><font size="3">·</font><span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">
</span></span></span><span style="COLOR: black"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Rick Jennings, Stage Manager</font></font></span></p>
<p style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in"><span style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol"><span><font size="3">·</font><span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">
</span></span></span><span style="COLOR: black"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Julia Rossi, Box Office Manager</font></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"></font> </p>
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<p><span style="COLOR: black"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"></font></span> </p>
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<div class="BodyFragment"><font size="2">
<div class="PlainText">Christine McBurney<br>
Theatre Arts Dept. Chair & International Baccalaureate Theatre Arts Instructor<br>
Shaker Heights High School<br>
15911 Aldersyde Dr.<br>
Shaker Heights, OH 44120<br>
216.295.4258<br>
216.295.4277 fax</div>
<div class="PlainText"><a href="http://www.shaker.org/about/schools/high/departments/theatre/" target="_blank">http://www.shaker.org/about/schools/high/departments/theatre/</a></div>
<div class="PlainText"> </div>
<div class="PlainText"><font face="times new roman">Follow Shaker Heights High School Theatre Arts Department on Facebook</font></font></div>
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