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<P><FONT size=2 face=Arial><STRONG>For Immediate Release</STRONG><BR>March 30,
2011<BR><BR><FONT size=5><STRONG>Cleveland’s Classic Theater</STRONG> Concludes
49th Season<BR>With Shakespeare’s Doubly Delightful Comedy<BR><STRONG><EM><FONT
size=6>The Two Gentlemen of Verona</FONT><BR></EM></STRONG>at the Hanna Theatre,
PlayhouseSquare</FONT><BR><BR><STRONG><FONT size=3><EM>A live onstage band
infuses the production’s contemporary setting<BR>with an infectious and fresh
folk/rock soundscape.</EM></FONT></STRONG><BR></FONT><FONT size=2
face=Arial><BR>CLEVELAND, OH - <STRONG>Great Lakes Theater Festival</STRONG>
(GLTF), Cleveland’s classic theater, concludes its 2010-11 season with William
Shakespeare’s doubly delightful romantic comedy, <EM><STRONG>The Two Gentlemen
of Verona</STRONG></EM> [<EM>Two Gents</EM>]. The production will be performed
in the company’s revolutionary and audience-friendly home at the Hanna Theatre,
PlayhouseSquare, April 8 - 23. 2011. The Festival’s Producing Artistic Director,
Charles Fee, will direct.<BR><BR>The <STRONG>production sponsor</STRONG> of
<EM>The Two Gentlemen of Verona</EM> is <STRONG>PNC</STRONG>. Great Lakes
Theater Festival’s season is generously funded by the <STRONG>citizens of
Cuyahoga County through Cuyahoga Arts and Culture</STRONG>. The Festival
receives additional season support from <STRONG>The Cleveland
Foundation</STRONG> and the <STRONG>Ohio Arts Council</STRONG>. Media sponsors
for GLTF’s 49th season are Cleveland Scene, The Plain Dealer, WCLV 104.9 FM,
WCPN 90.3 FM ideastream and WKSU 89.7 FM.<BR><BR><STRONG>"<EM>Two Gents</EM> is
really one of Shakespeare’s unknown theatrical treasures</STRONG>,” said GLTF
Producing Artistic Director, <STRONG>Charles Fee</STRONG>. “The play is an
absolutely beautiful story about young people coming of age…falling in and out
and back in love. Along the way, it plumbs some extraordinary emotional depths
and it also scales some euphoric heights…but throughout, there resounds a purity
and truthfulness of storytelling that only William Shakespeare could have
achieved. Although he was a young playwright in the early phases of his career
when he wrote <EM>Two Gents</EM>, you can absolutely hear the heartbeat of
classics to come, such as <EM>Romeo and Juliet</EM>, through the voices of
<EM>Two Gents’</EM> characters. And this play is as fresh as it is accessible.
There really is something in it for everyone, whether you’re a Shakespeare
buff…or brand new to his work.”<BR><BR>In <EM>Two Gents</EM>, bosom buddies
Valentine and Proteus are Verona’s closest comrades. But their friendship is put
to the ultimate test when Proteus forsakes his beloved Julia and competes for
the affections of Valentine’s newfound love, the strong-willed Silvia.
Teeming with high comic scenes and rich, romantic language, <EM>Two Gents</EM>
displays Shakespeare’s copious comic powers at their hilarious height. And
in Proteus, the GLTF role for which Tom Hanks won the Cleveland Critics’ Circle
Award for Best Actor in 1978, the Bard gives us one of his most memorable
coming-of-age theatrical creations.<BR><BR><STRONG>A live, onstage band infuses
the The Two Gentlemen of Verona’s contemporary setting with an infectious and
fresh soundscape.</STRONG> “Shakespeare regularly incorporated music and
musicians into his work,” said the production’s director, Charles Fee. “In Two
Gents, the script, in fact, calls for musicians. We’ve really embraced the idea
in our production - and we’re incorporating a full band of live musicians into
the action on stage. The music ranges from contemporary folk to rock…and even
includes some subtle hip hop influences. The result is truly exhilarating. And I
think audiences are going to have an absolute blast with it!”<BR><BR>Great Lakes
Theater Festival’s award-winning and audience-friendly home at the Hanna Theatre
features a visionary “Great Room” inspired design concept that integrates the
artist and audience experience into a single unified environment. Hanna patrons
select from <STRONG>a variety of seating opportunities</STRONG> including
traditional theater seats, club chairs, lounge/bar seats, banquette couches and
private box seating. Arranged in an intimate 550-seat thrust configuration
where the audience surrounds the stage, <STRONG>no seat is further than 12 rows
from the performance</STRONG> at the Hanna. <BR><BR>With <EM>Two
Gents</EM>, <STRONG>GLTF will continue to offer free, live music in the Hanna’s
lounge following Saturday evening performances</STRONG> (non-opening night).
<EM>Nightcap Night Saturdays</EM> encourage patrons to extend their stay at the
Hanna and highlight the GLTF/Hanna experience as one of the most unique
entertainment options in the region. <EM><STRONG>The Roy King Trio</STRONG></EM>
will provide musical entertainment following the Saturday, March 26th
performance in the Hanna lounge. Critically-acclaimed vocalist and theater
artist, <STRONG>Helen Welch</STRONG>, will headline the series, performing after
the show on Saturday, March 19th.<BR><BR><STRONG>Great Lakes Theater Festival’s
Experience Enhancement Series is organized by day of week.</STRONG> The
series highlights the Hanna’s unique amenities and affords patrons access to
Festival artists.<BR><BR>-----<STRONG><EM>“Salon Thursdays”</EM></STRONG>
feature an engaging pre-show discussion with Festival artists beginning one hour
before curtain. (Offered: Apr. 14 & 21)<BR><BR>-----<STRONG><EM>“Happy Hour
Fridays”</EM></STRONG> afford audience members the opportunity to gather and
socialize at the Hanna’s bar early. Savory and sweet hors d’ oeuvres along with
a complete range of beverages are available for purchase ninety minutes before
the show. (Offered: Apr. 8, 15, 22) <BR><BR>-----<STRONG><EM>“Nightcap
Night Saturdays”</EM></STRONG> encourage audience members to stay after the
evening performance and enjoy entertainment performed by the region’s finest
musicians and vocalists while mingling with the GLTF artistic company in the
Hanna’s lounge. The Hanna bar is open until ninety minutes after the
performance. (Offered: Apr. 16 & 23)<BR><BR>-----<STRONG><EM>“Ice Cream
Social Sundays”</EM></STRONG> offer patrons the opportunity to enjoy a London
theatre tradition brought state-side. Audience members are invited to
purchase a cool, personal ice cream treat before the show or at
intermission. Ice cream will be offered at every GLTF performance, but on
“Ice Cream Social Sundays,” the treat is half price. (Offered: Apr. 10
& 17)<BR><BR>-----<STRONG><EM>“Director’s Nights”</EM></STRONG> offer
audiences the opportunity to take part in a pre-show discussion with GLTF’s
Producing Artistic Director, Charles Fee, before preview performances.
(Offered: Apr. 8)<BR><BR>-----<STRONG><EM>“Playnotes Pre-Show
Discussions”</EM></STRONG> inform patrons with illuminating introductions to the
content and history of the play presented by a guest scholar before Saturday
matinee performances. (Offered: Apr. 16 & 23)<BR><BR>GLTF will
continue to afford patrons extraordinary access to its artists and production
process at every Hanna Theatre performance this spring. <STRONG>The Hanna opens
its doors ninety minutes before each performance allowing patrons to observe the
complete pre-show preparation process</STRONG> of GLTF’s actors and technical
staff. Elements traditionally hidden from audiences such as stage combat
rehearsals, dance calls, prop/scenic pre-sets, technical cue rehearsals and
actor warm-ups will be conducted in full view of patrons, offering audiences an
unprecedented glimpse into the theatrical process.<BR><BR><STRONG>The Festival
will continue its <EM>New Deal</EM> pricing initiative this spring </STRONG>-
designed to increase accessibility for audiences. As part of the program,
<STRONG>adult tickets for every performance always begin at $15 and student
tickets for any seat at any show are $13</STRONG> - making the Great Lakes
Theater Festival experience one of the most affordable entertainment options in
the region.<BR><BR>The <STRONG>Opening Night</STRONG> performance of <EM>The Two
Gentlemen of Verona</EM> is scheduled for Saturday, April 9th with a preview
performance slated for the preceding Friday night. Curtain times for all evening
performances will remain at 7:30 p.m., with a 1:30 p.m. curtain time for
Saturday matinees and a 3:00 p.m. curtain time for Sunday matinees. GLTF will
offer a <STRONG>sign-interpreted/ audio-described performance</STRONG> of
<EM>Two Gents</EM> on Sunday, April 10.<BR><BR><STRONG>Single performance
tickets range in price from $15-$70 (Student tickets are $13</STRONG> – any
performance / any seat) and are available by calling (216) 241-6000, by ordering
online </FONT><FONT size=2 face=Arial>at www.greatlakestheater.org </FONT><FONT
size=2 face=Arial>or by visiting the PlayhouseSquare Ticket Office.
<STRONG>Groups of ten or more receive discounts of up to 40%</STRONG> by calling
the Group Sales Department at (216) 241-5490 x302.<BR><BR>Great Lakes Theater
Festival has brought the pleasure, power and relevance of classic theater to the
widest possible audience since 1962. The first resident company of
PlayhouseSquare, GLTF celebrates its 29th year in downtown Cleveland this
season. <STRONG>Festival programming reaches 85,000 adults and students
annually.</STRONG><BR><BR>#
# #<BR><BR><STRONG>Media
Contact:</STRONG><BR>Todd Krispinsky<BR>Marketing and Public Relations
Director<BR>(216) 453-4449<BR><A
href="blocked::mailto:tkrispinsky@greatlakestheater.org">tkrispinsky@greatlakestheater.org</A></FONT><FONT
size=2 face=Arial><BR></FONT></FONT><SPAN></P></DIV></SPAN>
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