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<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;mso-pagination:none;
mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:21.0pt;
font-family:ArialMT">First Grace Arts musical 'John and Jen' shows the cost of
war at home; sheds light on Akron's homeless Veterans.</span><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:ArialMT;color:#500051"></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:ArialMT">(April
25</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:ArialMT">^th</span><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:ArialMT">, 2011-Akron Ohio-FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE)<span style="color:#500051"></span></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:ArialMT"> <span style="color:#500051"></span></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Times-Roman">First
Grace Arts will offer a concert staging of <i>john & jen</i></span><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Times-Roman">, a contemporary musical by
Broadway composer Andrew Lippa (<i>The Addams Family, You’re a Good Man Charlie
Brown)</i></span><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Times-Roman"> on
Friday May 20</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Times-Roman">^th</span><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Times-Roman"> and Saturday May 21^st<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">  </span>at 8pm.  Performances will be held
at First Grace UCC in West Akron.</span><span style="font-size:13.0pt;
font-family:ArialMT"></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Times-Roman"> </span><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:ArialMT;color:#500051"></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Times-Roman">The
show will be used to attract recognition and funding for Valor Home, Akron’s
brand new homeless shelter specifically designed for veterans, set to break
ground in May.  </span><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:
ArialMT;color:#500051"></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:ArialMT;
color:#500051"> </span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Times-Roman">Admission
is by freewill offering.  The Friday performance will feature an optional
Gala ticket price of $15 for the show, which includes a light buffet and
cast meet-n-greet prior to the show.  The goal is to raise at least $1,500
to help with the construction of Valor Home.</span><span style="font-size:13.0pt;
font-family:ArialMT;color:#500051"></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Times-Roman"> </span><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:ArialMT;color:#500051"></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Times-Roman"><i>john
and jen</i></span><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Times-Roman"> takes
a look at the complexities of relationships between brothers and sisters,
parents and children set against the background of a changing America between
1950 and 1990.  You’ll experience an intimate look inside all of the
realities of family from the joys of love and companionship to challenges of
sibling rivalry, substance abuse, political divide and the effects of war at
home. <i>john and jen</i></span><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Times-Roman">
will take you on a journey through bravery, rivalry, hurt, loss and finally
healing.</span><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:ArialMT"></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Times-Roman"> </span><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:ArialMT;color:#500051"></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Times-Roman">The
show is directed by JT Buck, with Tara Shooks as Jen and Johnny Luoma as John.
Musical Director is Deborah “Ingy” Ingersoll.</span><span style="font-size:
13.0pt;font-family:ArialMT;color:#500051"></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Times-Roman"> </span><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:ArialMT;color:#500051"></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Times-Roman">Valor
Home will provide transitional housing for homeless veterans in Summit County,
Ohio and is scheduled to open its doors in early 2012. The Department of
Veterans Affairs (VA) estimates that around 1000 veterans experience
homelessness in a calendar year.  In June of 2010, Family & Community
Services, Inc. submitted a proposal to the VA for funding to build and operate
a new facility in Akron. The City of Akron donated the land for the project.
The City wants to help develop a “veterans corridor” along South Waterloo Rd.
This corridor will consist of the VA outpatient Clinic, The Summit County
Veterans Service Commission, and Valor Home. This area is becoming a one-stop
shop for any veteran in need.</span><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:
ArialMT"></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Times-Roman"> </span><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:ArialMT;color:#500051"></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Times-Roman"> </span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Times-Roman"><b>Ticket
and Performance Information</b></span><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:
ArialMT;color:#500051"></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Times-Roman">“John
and Jen” will be presented Friday May 21</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Times-Roman">^st</span><span style="font-size:13.0pt;
font-family:Times-Roman"> and Saturday May 22</span><span style="font-size:
11.0pt;font-family:Times-Roman">^nd</span><span style="font-size:
13.0pt;font-family:Times-Roman"> at 8pm in the sanctuary of First
Grace United Church of Christ 350 S. Portage Path, Akron Ohio.  Admission
is based on a free will donation given the night of the show.</span><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:ArialMT;color:#500051"></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Times-Roman"> </span><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:ArialMT;color:#500051"></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Times-Roman">$15
Pre-sale Premium tickets featuring hors devours for Friday May 21</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Times-Roman">^st</span><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Times-Roman"> must be reserved by Wednesday
May 19</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Times-Roman">^th</span><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Times-Roman"> by calling JT Buck at <span style="color:#0006CF">330-762-8469</span>. </span><span style="font-size:
13.0pt;font-family:ArialMT;color:#500051"></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Times-Roman"> </span><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:ArialMT;color:#500051"></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Times-Roman">For
more information on this performance and others please visit <a href="http://www.firstgracearts.org/"><span style="color:#0006CF">www.firstgracearts.org</span></a></span></p>




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