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<span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: Arial;">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</span><br style="font-family: Arial;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">February 2, 2012</span><br style="font-family: Arial;">
<br style="font-family: Arial;">
<font style="font-weight: bold; font-family: Arial;" size="4">Agatha Christie’s Murder Mystery Masterpiece</font><br style="font-weight: bold; font-family: Arial;">
<font size="6"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: Arial;">THE MOUSETRAP
</span></font><br style="font-weight: bold; font-family: Arial;">
<font size="4"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: Arial;">Commences Second Half of Great Lakes Theater’s
</span><br style="font-weight: bold; font-family: Arial;">
<span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: Arial;">50th Anniversary Season at the Hanna Theatre
</span></font><br style="font-weight: bold; font-family: Arial;">
<font size="3"><br style="font-weight: bold; font-family: Arial;">
<span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic;">The Queen of Mystery’s world-renowned whodunit celebrates
</span><br style="font-weight: bold; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic;">
<span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic;">60 years this season as the longest running play in theater history.</span><br style="font-weight: bold; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic;">
<br style="font-weight: bold; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic;">
<span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic;">Great Lakes Theater’s production is one of 60 official stagings
<br>
worldwide that will commemorate the play’s diamond anniversary. </span></font><br style="font-family: Arial;">
<br style="font-family: Arial;">
<br style="font-family: Arial;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">CLEVELAND, OH - <span style="font-weight: bold;">
Great Lakes Theater</span> (GLT), Cleveland’s Classic Company, commences the second half its 50th anniversary season with Agatha Christie’s murder mystery masterpiece,
<span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">The Mousetrap</span>. The production will be performed in the company’s revolutionary and audience-friendly home at the
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Hanna Theatre, PlayhouseSquare, March 9-25. 2012</span>.
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Drew Barr </span>directs the production; the first staging of Christie’s classic in the company’s history.</span><br style="font-family: Arial;">
<br style="font-family: Arial;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Great Lakes Theater’s 2012 spring productions and educational programs are sponsored by PNC.
</span>The classic theater company is generously funded by the <span style="font-weight: bold;">
citizens of Cuyahoga County through Cuyahoga Arts and Culture </span>and receives additional season support from
<span style="font-weight: bold;">The Cleveland Foundation</span> and the <span style="font-weight: bold;">
Ohio Arts Council</span>. Media sponsors for GLT’s 50th season are Cleveland Scene, The FORM Group, The Plain Dealer, WCLV 104.9 FM, WCPN 90.3 FM ideastream and WKSU 89.7 FM. The Mousetrap is presented by special arrangement with SAMUEL FRENCH, INC.</span><br style="font-family: Arial;">
<br style="font-family: Arial;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">The Mousetrap</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> is the longest running theatrical production in history.
</span>The iconic play has been running continuously in London for the past sixty years - accumulating over 24,500 performances. T<span style="font-weight: bold;">o commemorate the play’s diamond anniversary, sixty official productions have been licensed worldwide.
Great Lakes Theater’s staging numbers among the sixty.</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">
The Mousetrap</span> is based on a radio play called <span style="font-style: italic;">
Three Blind Mice</span> which Agatha Christie originally wrote for the occasion of Queen Mary’s 80th birthday in 1947. Christie subsequently adapted it into a stage play several years later.
</span><br style="font-family: Arial;">
<br style="font-family: Arial;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Mysterious twists and thrilling turns abound when a group of strangers stranded in a guest house during a snowstorm discover that a murderer is in their midst. Whodunnit? Is it one of the suspicious newlyweds or the spinster
with the curious background? Perhaps it’s the architect, the retired Army major or the strange man running from his past. In an evening of exhilarating intrigue, Agatha Christie’s greatest mystery unfolds to a surprising conclusion. The identity of the killer
in the play is a closely guarded secret and, famously, audiences for <span style="font-style: italic;">
The Mousetrap</span> must take a pledge not to reveal whodunit.</span><br style="font-family: Arial;">
<br style="font-family: Arial;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">“All I previously knew of Christie’s play before beginning my work was its astonishing performance history and the legendary contract of secrecy forged between its performers and audiences,” said
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Drew Barr, the director of GLT’s production</span>. According to Barr, the classic play continues to pose provocative questions to contemporary audiences sixty years after its creation. “What is it that excites us so about stories
of murder and revenge? In the sixty-plus years since Agatha Christie first told the tale [<span style="font-style: italic;">The Mousetra</span>p], audiences’ hunger for such material seems only to have grown more voracious and more sophisticated. Is it our
ever-increasing proximity to other people in a world that seems to shrink through over-population and mass communication that heightens our curiosity, and perhaps our understanding, of ‘the evil that men do?’ The steadfastness of the millions of audience members
who have maintained <span style="font-style: italic;">The Mousetrap</span>’s secret notwithstanding, do we grow less curious about who commits a crime as we grow more titillated by why?”</span><br style="font-family: Arial;">
<br style="font-family: Arial;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">For GLT, Drew Barr most recently directed a critically acclaimed production of Chekhov’s
<span style="font-style: italic;">The Seagull </span>in 2009. Other GLT productions include
<span style="font-style: italic;">The Crucible</span> (2008), <span style="font-style: italic;">
Arsenic and Old Lace</span> (2007), <span style="font-style: italic;">Love’s Labour’s Lost</span> (2006),
<span style="font-style: italic;">You Can’t Take It With You</span> (2005), <span style="font-style: italic;">
The Taming of the Shrew</span> (2004) and <span style="font-style: italic;">Tartuffe
</span>(2003).</span><br style="font-family: Arial;">
<br style="font-family: Arial;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Great Lakes Theater’s award-winning home at the Hanna Theatre</span> features a visionary “Great Room” inspired design that integrates the artist and audience experience into a single unified
environment. Hanna patrons select from a <span style="font-weight: bold;">variety of seating opportunities
</span>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
<span style="font-weight: bold;">audience surrounds the stage, no seat is further than 12 rows</span> from the performance at the Hanna.
</span><br style="font-family: Arial;">
<br style="font-family: Arial;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">With <span style="font-style: italic;">The Mousetrap</span>,
<span style="font-weight: bold;">GLT will continue to offer free, live music in the Hanna’s lounge following Saturday evening performances</span> (non-opening night).
<span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Nightcap Night Saturdays </span>
encourage patrons to extend their stay at the Hanna and highlight the GLT/Hanna experience as one of the most unique entertainment options in the region.
<span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">The Joe Hunter Trio</span> will provide musical entertainment following the
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Saturday, March 17th </span>performance in the Hanna lounge.
<span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">The Roy King Trio </span>will perform after the show on
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Saturday, March 24th.</span></span><br style="font-family: Arial;">
<br style="font-family: Arial;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Great Lakes Theater’s Experience Enhancement Series is organized by day of week.
</span>The series highlights the Hanna’s unique amenities and affords patrons access to GLT artists.</span><br>
<br style="font-family: Arial;">
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Salon Thursdays</span> feature an engaging
<span style="font-weight: bold;">pre-show discussion</span> with GLT artists beginning one hour before curtain.
<span style="font-style: italic;">(Offered: Mar. 15 & 22)<br>
<br>
</span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Happy Hour Fridays</span> afford audience members the opportunity to
<span style="font-weight: bold;">gather and socialize at the Hanna’s bar early</span>. Savory and sweet hors d’ oeuvres along with a complete range of beverages are available for purchase ninety minutes before the show.
<span style="font-style: italic;">(Offered: Mar. 19, 16, 23) <br>
<br>
</span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Nightcap Night Saturdays</span> encourage audience members to stay after the evening performance and
<span style="font-weight: bold;">enjoy live music</span> while <span style="font-weight: bold;">
mingling with the GLT artistic company </span>in the Hanna’s lounge. The Hanna bar is open until ninety minutes after the performance.
<span style="font-style: italic;">(Offered: Mar. 17 & 24)<br>
<br>
</span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Ice Cream Social Sundays
</span>offer patrons the opportunity to enjoy a London theatre tradition brought state-side. Audience members are invited to
<span style="font-weight: bold;">purchase a cool, personal ice cream treat</span> before the show or at intermission. Ice cream will be offered at every GLT performance, but on Ice Cream Social Sundays, the treat is half price.
<span style="font-style: italic;">(Offered: Mar. 11, 18, 25)<br>
<br>
</span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Director’s Nights
</span>offer audiences the opportunity to take part in a <span style="font-weight: bold;">
pre-show discussion</span> with GLT’s Producing Artistic Director, Charles Fee, before preview performances. (Offered: Mar. 9)<br>
<br>
</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Playnotes Pre-Show Discussions
</span>inform patrons with illuminating introductions to the content and history of the play presented by a guest scholar before Saturday matinee performances. (Offered: Mar. 17 & 24)</span></li></ul>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">GLT will continue to afford patrons extraordinary access to its artists and production process at every Hanna Theatre performance this spring.
<span style="font-weight: bold;">The Hanna opens its doors ninety minutes before each performance allowing patrons to observe the complete pre-show preparation process
</span>of GLT’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.</span><br style="font-family: Arial;">
<br style="font-family: Arial;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The <span style="font-weight: bold;">Opening Night</span> performance of
<span style="font-style: italic;">The Mousetrap</span> is scheduled for Saturday, March 10th 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. GLT will offer a
<span style="font-weight: bold;">sign-interpreted/ audio-described</span> performance of The Mousetrap on Sunday, March 11.</span><br style="font-family: Arial;">
<br style="font-family: Arial;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Single performance tickets range in price from $15-$70 (Student tickets are $13</span> – any performance / any seat) and are available by calling (216) 241-6000, by ordering online at
</span><a href="http://www.greatlakestheater.org/" target="_blank">www.greatlakestheater.org</a>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">or by visiting the PlayhouseSquare Ticket Office.
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Groups of ten or more receive discounts of up to 40%</span> by calling (216) 241-5490 x302.</span><br style="font-family: Arial;">
<br style="font-family: Arial;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Great Lakes Theater, Cleveland’s Classic Company</span>, has brought the pleasure, power and relevance of classic theater to the widest possible audience since 1962.
<span style="font-weight: bold;">The first resident company of PlayhouseSquare</span>, GLT celebrates its 30th year in downtown Cleveland this season. On its main stage and through its extensive education programming,
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Great Lakes Theater positively impacts 85,000 adults and students annually.</span></span><br style="font-family: Arial;">
<br style="font-family: Arial;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"># # #</span><br style="font-family: Arial;">
<br style="font-family: Arial;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold;">FOR MORE INFORMATION</span><br style="font-family: Arial;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Todd Krispinsky</span><br style="font-family: Arial;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Marketing and Public Relations Director</span><br style="font-family: Arial;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">(216) 241-5490 x317</span><br style="font-family: Arial;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">tkrispinsky@greatlakestheater.org</span><br>
<div style="font-family: Arial;">
<div style="font-size: 13px;">www.greatlakestheater.org <br>
<br>
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Great Lakes Theater</span><br>
<span style="font-style: italic;">Cleveland's Classic Company @ the Hanna Theatre, PlayhouseSquare</span><br>
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