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<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><font size=4
face="Trade Gothic LT Std Cn"><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Trade Gothic LT Std Cn";
font-weight:bold'>PlayhouseSquare and <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Oberlin</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">College</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>
<br>
Present Premiere of the Choreopoem <br>
“Why I Had to Dance”<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><font size=4
face="Trade Gothic LT Std Cn"><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Trade Gothic LT Std Cn";
font-weight:bold'>Written by Ntozake Shange, Choreographed and Directed by
Dianne McIntyre<br>
<br>
<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:150%'><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City
w:st="on"><font size=2 face="Trade Gothic LT Std"><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
line-height:150%;font-family:"Trade Gothic LT Std"'>Cleveland</span></font></st1:City><font
size=2 face="Trade Gothic LT Std"><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:
150%;font-family:"Trade Gothic LT Std"'>, <st1:State w:st="on">OH</st1:State></span></font></st1:place><font
size=2 face="Trade Gothic LT Std"><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:
150%;font-family:"Trade Gothic LT Std"'> – The PlayhouseSquare Community
Engagement & Education Department and Oberlin College Department of Theater
& Dance are proud to present the premiere of the choreopoem “Why I
Had to Dance,” written by Ntozake Shange and choreographed and directed
by Dianne McIntyre, in February. These two respected institutions have been
collaborating for nearly a year to make this one-of-a-kind premiere a reality. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:150%'><font size=2
face="Trade Gothic LT Std"><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;
font-family:"Trade Gothic LT Std"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:150%'><font size=2
face="Trade Gothic LT Std"><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;
font-family:"Trade Gothic LT Std"'>“PlayhouseSquare and <st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Oberlin</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">College</st1:PlaceType>
are perfectly suited for this collaboration,” said David S.
Goodman, vice chair of the PlayhouseSquare Board of Trustees
Community Engagement & Education Committee and an alumnus of <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Oberlin</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">College</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>. “The combination of
Oberlin's excellence in the performing arts with PlayhouseSquare's
world-class performance facilities is formidable, and the two institutions
share a passion for arts education."<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:150%'><font size=2
face="Trade Gothic LT Std"><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;
font-family:"Trade Gothic LT Std"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:150%'><font size=2
face="Trade Gothic LT Std"><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;
font-family:"Trade Gothic LT Std"'>The “Why I Had to Dance” project
actually started in 2007<b><span style='font-weight:bold'> </span></b>when
barrier-breaking poet, playwright and novelist Ntozake Shange gave dance artist
Dianne McIntyre a task – to develop her poem into a compelling
dance-theater work. McIntyre spent some time working on the piece at PlayhouseSquare
in 2010 and it was seen in previews in May of that year.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:150%'><font size=2
face="Trade Gothic LT Std"><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;
font-family:"Trade Gothic LT Std"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:150%'><font size=2
face="Trade Gothic LT Std"><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;
font-family:"Trade Gothic LT Std"'>“This is a ‘dream’ process.
The kind you hear and read about writers and choreographers having support to
do with a creative team and envying them,” explained McIntyre. “The
Launch program at PlayhouseSquare is the only initiative I know of in this
region of the country that could have given me the chance to try out some ideas
of putting Ntozake Shange’s poem into action. Not only was I given ideal
rehearsal space, theater space, time and a budget for a creative team and
performers for a brief period, I also got direct feedback from the audience
discussions. The audience comments have guided the shape of the piece for this
premiere.”<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:150%'><font size=2
face="Trade Gothic LT Std"><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;
font-family:"Trade Gothic LT Std"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:150%'><font size=2
face="Trade Gothic LT Std"><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;
font-family:"Trade Gothic LT Std"'>She went on to say, “In late 2010 when
I mentioned the project to Oberlin’s president, he immediately expressed
interest and then offered to help produce the work. Oberlin’s support
with masterfully styled costumes and a theatrically dynamic set, rehearsal space,
crew, and designers joined with PlayhouseSquare’s support to bring
together every ingredient necessary to create a platform for a potentially
memorable work. This unique journey is a lesson in how institutions can
collaborate to bring a firm foundation to the visions of eager artists. I am
honored to be in the middle of this whole festive happening and to bring Ms.
Shange’s inimitable work to the <st1:place w:st="on">Northeast Ohio</st1:place>
public.” <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:150%'><font size=2
face="Trade Gothic LT Std"><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;
font-family:"Trade Gothic LT Std"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:150%'><font size=2
face="Trade Gothic LT Std"><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;
font-family:"Trade Gothic LT Std"'>Described by Shange as an a-historical
version of her discovery of the different eras of black dance, “Why I Had
to Dance” explores the connectivity of black dance from generation to
generation and from region to region.<br>
<br>
<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:150%'><font size=2
face="Trade Gothic LT Std"><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;
font-family:"Trade Gothic LT Std"'>“Why I Had to Dance” premieres
at <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Oberlin</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">College</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> February 9-11 and then moves to
PlayhouseSquare for performances February 17 and 18. All five performances
begin at <st1:time Hour="20" Minute="0" w:st="on">8 p.m.</st1:time> Each</span></font><font
size=2 face="Trade Gothic LT Std"><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:
150%;font-family:"Trade Gothic LT Std"'> evening opens with “Unexpected
Journeys,” another new piece choreographed by Dianne McIntyre with
Oberlin student collaborators. “Unexpected Journeys” is directed by
Oberlin Associate Professor Caroline Jackson Smith.</span></font> <font size=2
face="Trade Gothic LT Std"><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;
font-family:"Trade Gothic LT Std"'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
line-height:150%'><font size=2 face="Trade Gothic LT Std"><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Trade Gothic LT Std"'>Tickets
for the February 9-11 performances at Oberlin College are $4-$8 in advance and
can be purchased online at oberlin.edu, by calling 440-775-8169 or at the
Central Ticket Service box office in the lobby of the Hall Auditorium on the
Oberlin College campus (Monday – Friday, 12-5 p.m.).<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
line-height:150%'><font size=2 face="Trade Gothic LT Std"><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Trade Gothic LT Std"'>Tickets
for the February 17 and 18 performances at PlayhouseSquare are $10 and can be
purchased online at playhousesquare.org, by calling 216-241-6000 or at the
PlayhouseSquare Ticket Office (<st1:Street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">1519
Euclid Ave.</st1:address></st1:Street>). <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
line-height:150%'><font size=2 face="Trade Gothic LT Std"><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Trade Gothic LT Std"'>Ntozake
Shange is best known for her Obie award winning play <i><span style='font-style:
italic'>for colored girls who have considered suicide when the rainbow is enuf</span></i>.
This seminal work had a major impact internationally on theater, women's
studies, American literature and African American culture. In December
2011, Shange published a new book of essays and creative works called <i><span
style='font-style:italic'>lost in language</span></i>: <i><span
style='font-style:italic'>or how i found my way to the arts</span></i>. This
volume contains the poem "Why I Had to Dance."<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
line-height:150%'><font size=2 face="Trade Gothic LT Std"><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Trade Gothic LT Std"'>Dianne
McIntyre, awarding-winning choreographer, has frequently collaborated with Ms.
Shange. A <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Cleveland</st1:City></st1:place>
resident, she creates work for concert dance, theater and film. Her credits
include more than 30 plays for regional theater, on Broadway, Off-Broadway and
in London; <i><span style='font-style:italic'>Miss Evers’ Boys, </span></i>for
which she received an Emmy nomination, and other television productions; and the
film <i><span style='font-style:italic'>Beloved,</span></i> produced by Oprah
Winfrey and Disney, <b><span style='font-weight:bold'><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
line-height:150%'><font size=2 face="Trade Gothic LT Std"><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Trade Gothic LT Std"'>The
creative team also includes Dennis Dugan (lighting design), Chris Flaherty
(costume design), Michael Grube (set design) and Jim Swonger (sound design).
The dancers for “Why I Had to Dance” are Percy Foster, Nikki Kelly,
Francine Saunders and <st1:country-region w:st="on">Kenya</st1:country-region>
Woods of <st1:City w:st="on">Cleveland</st1:City>; Lawrence Lemon of Columbus,
OH; and Brittany Monachino of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Rochester</st1:City>,
<st1:State w:st="on">NY</st1:State></st1:place>. Bill Ransom of <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Cleveland</st1:City></st1:place> is the drummer.</span></font><font
size=2 face="Trade Gothic LT Std"><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:
150%;font-family:"Trade Gothic LT Std"'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:150%'><font size=2
face="Trade Gothic LT Std"><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;
font-family:"Trade Gothic LT Std"'>“Why I Had to Dance” is made
possible in part by the LAUNCH artist residency program of PlayhouseSquare, </span></font><font
size=2 face="Trade Gothic LT Std"><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:
150%;font-family:"Trade Gothic LT Std"'>designed to promote invention and
innovation in performance and to foster new relationships between <st1:place
w:st="on">Northeast Ohio</st1:place> artists and the public. </span></font><font
size=2 face="Trade Gothic LT Std"><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:
150%;font-family:"Trade Gothic LT Std"'>As a not-for-profit organization,
PlayhouseSquare relies on charitable giving to present the LAUNCH program and
similar experiences to the community. “Our donors and sponsors make it
possible for us to provide this opportunity for local artists to focus on the
development of a specific project and, when appropriate, to enable members of
our community to engage with the project,” explained <st1:PersonName
w:st="on">Colleen Porter</st1:PersonName>, vice president of community
engagement and education at PlayhouseSquare. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:150%'><font size=2
face="Trade Gothic LT Std"><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;
font-family:"Trade Gothic LT Std"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:150%'><font size=2
face="Trade Gothic LT Std"><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;
font-family:"Trade Gothic LT Std"'>Artists selected for the LAUNCH program
receive rent-free use of space in the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Idea</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Center</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>
at PlayhouseSquare, production subsidy and media relations and marketing
support. Interested <st1:place w:st="on">Northeast Ohio</st1:place>
performance artists may download the LAUNCH application at
playhousesquare.org/launch.</span></font><font size=2 face="Trade Gothic LT Std"><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Trade Gothic LT Std"'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:150%'><font size=2
face="Trade Gothic LT Std"><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;
font-family:"Trade Gothic LT Std"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:150%'><font size=2
face="Trade Gothic LT Std"><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;
font-family:"Trade Gothic LT Std"'>PlayhouseSquare understands its vital role
as an educator in our community, and is committed to providing arts learning
opportunities of the highest quality to enrich the lives of students, families,
teachers and adults. PlayhouseSquare’s Community Engagement &
Education Department is unique in the performing arts industry for the variety
of programs it offers, the partnerships it initiates and the access it provides
students, educators and aspiring artists to performing arts professionals.
Since its inception in 1998, the Community Engagement & Education Department
has offered thousands of events, workshops, classes and more, most with minimal
or no fees, to people of all ages from all areas of Northeast Ohio. The
generous support of individual and corporate donors and foundations makes it
all possible.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:150%'><font size=2
face="Trade Gothic LT Std"><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;
font-family:"Trade Gothic LT Std"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:150%'><font size=2
face="Trade Gothic LT Std"><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;
font-family:"Trade Gothic LT Std"'>Ranked consistently among the nation’s
top liberal arts schools, <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Oberlin</st1:PlaceName>
<st1:PlaceType w:st="on">College</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> is committed to
rigorous academics, artistic and musical excellence, and social justice.
Founded in 1833, Oberlin was the first institution of higher education in <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">America</st1:country-region></st1:place>
to adopt a policy to admit students of color (1835) and the first college to
award bachelor’s degrees to women (1841) in a coeducational program.
Oberlin’s distinct history of challenging intellectual and social
conventions shapes the student experience today, which fosters strong bonds
among a diverse community of bright and talented students from around the
world.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:150%'><u><font size=2 color="#333333"
face="Trade Gothic LT Std"><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;
font-family:"Trade Gothic LT Std";color:#333333'><o:p><span style='text-decoration:
none'> </span></o:p></span></font></u></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;line-height:150%'><font
size=2 color="#333333" face="Trade Gothic LT Std"><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
line-height:150%;font-family:"Trade Gothic LT Std";color:#333333'>###<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:150%'><b><i><font size=1
face="Trade Gothic LT Std"><span style='font-size:9.0pt;line-height:150%;
font-family:"Trade Gothic LT Std";font-weight:bold;font-style:italic'>PlayhouseSquare
is a not-for-profit performing arts center whose mission is presenting and
producing a wide variety of quality performing arts, advancing arts education
and creating a destination that is a superior location for entertainment,
business and housing, thereby strengthening the economic vitality of the
region.<o:p></o:p></span></font></i></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:150%'><b><i><font size=1
face="Trade Gothic LT Std"><span style='font-size:9.0pt;line-height:150%;
font-family:"Trade Gothic LT Std";font-weight:bold;font-style:italic'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></i></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:150%'><b><i><font size=1
face="Trade Gothic LT Std"><span style='font-size:9.0pt;line-height:150%;
font-family:"Trade Gothic LT Std";font-weight:bold;font-style:italic'>PlayhouseSquare
receives public support with local tax dollars from Cuyahoga Arts &
Culture, to preserve and enrich our region’s artistic and cultural
heritage.</span></font></i></b><i><font size=2 face="Trade Gothic LT Std"><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Trade Gothic LT Std";
font-style:italic'><o:p></o:p></span></font></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Trade Gothic LT Std"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trade Gothic LT Std"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Trade Gothic LT Std"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trade Gothic LT Std"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><img width=293 height=148 id="_x0000_i1025"
src="cid:image001.jpg@01CCE5A5.93E191E0" border=0></span></font><font
face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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