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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>FOR: Rabbit Run Theater<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'> <st1:address w:st="on"><st1:Street
w:st="on">P. O. Box</st1:Street> 235</st1:address>, <st1:Street w:st="on"><st1:address
w:st="on">49 Park St</st1:address></st1:Street>.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'> <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City
w:st="on">Madison</st1:City>, <st1:State w:st="on">OH</st1:State> <st1:PostalCode
w:st="on">44057</st1:PostalCode></st1:place><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'>CONTACT: Karen Ziegler, Director of Marketing<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'> 440-428-5913<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'>DATE: May 21, 2012<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><b><font size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold'>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – <i><span
style='font-style:italic'>A Dickens of a Summer! </span></i>at Rabbit Run
Theater<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>It is definitely not “business as usual” at
Rabbit Run Theater in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Madison</st1:City></st1:place>
this summer.<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'>2012 marks the 200<sup>th</sup> birthday of the world
renowned author, Charles Dickens. In celebration of this literary genius,
Rabbit Run is throwing a birthday bash that will last all summer long.<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><i><font size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial;font-style:italic'>A Dickens of a Summer!</span></font></i><font
face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial'> goes beyond our standard theater
season. It is an enhanced theatrical experience providing numerous events and
opportunities to experience Victorian England, its times and customs.<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'>All of the productions chosen for the summer are based on
the works of Dickens<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>The season opens June 1 with the one-man show, <i><span
style='font-style:italic'>The Mystery of Charles Dickens, </span></i>followed
by the heartwarming musical <i><span style='font-style:italic'>Oliver! </span></i>July
brings the epic <i><span style='font-style:italic'>The Life and Adventures of</span></i>
<i><span style='font-style:italic'>Nicholas Nickleby, </span></i>and<i><span
style='font-style:italic'> </span></i>the summer ends with the musical with no
ending, <i><span style='font-style:italic'>The Mystery of Edwin Drood.<o:p></o:p></span></i></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'>A pop icon of his age, Dickens was immensely popular not
only in his native <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">England</st1:country-region></st1:place>
but throughout the western world, and his popularity has waned little over the
past 140 years. Prolific author (15 novels, hundreds of short stories),
actor, theatrical director, lecturer, advocate for children’s rights and
social critic, Dickens not only entertained the world at large; he changed it
forever.<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><i><u><font size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial;font-style:italic'>The Shows<o:p></o:p></span></font></u></i></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'>The one-actor show, <i><span style='font-style:italic'>The
Mystery of Charles Dickens, </span></i>by Peter Ackroyd, brings to life no less
than 49 of Dickens most beloved and some not-so-loved characters. Rabbit Run
is the only theater to ever produce this show aside from the productions in
London’s West End and on Broadway featuring actor Simon Callow. Actor
and Dickens enthusiast, Mark Cipra, is the featured performer. <i><span
style='font-style:italic'>The Mystery of Charles Dickens </span></i>runs for
two weekends only, June 1 through June 9.<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'>The three-time, Tony Award winning musical <i><span
style='font-style:italic'>Oliver! </span></i>is a family friendly production in
more ways than one. Not only are family members of any age encouraged to come,
but the cast itself is made up of no fewer than nine families who have at least
two family members in the cast. <i><span style='font-style:italic'>Oliver! </span></i>with<i><span
style='font-style:italic'> </span></i>music, lyrics and book by Lionel Bart, runs
from June 15 through June 30. <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><i><font size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial;font-style:italic'>The Life and Adventures of Nicholas
Nickleby, </span></font></i><font face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial'>by
David Edgar<i><span style='font-style:italic'> </span></i>is an epic production
that was phenomenally successful in <st1:City w:st="on">London</st1:City> and <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">New York</st1:State></st1:place>. The show was
originally produced by <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">London</st1:City></st1:place>’s
Royal Shakespeare Company and is considered one of the greatest theatrical
experiences of our time. This two-part show is rarely produced due to its
scope and scale. <i><span style='font-style:italic'>Nickleby </span></i>opens
July 6 and runs to Aug. 5.<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'>Closing out the summer from Aug. 17 through Sept. 1 is <i><span
style='font-style:italic'>The Mystery of Edwin Drood, </span></i>a musical by
Rupert Holmes<i><span style='font-style:italic'>. </span></i>The murder
mystery by the same name was Dickens last and unfinished work as he died before
he could disclose “who-done-it”. Each night the audience decides
who the culprit is making this a show that never ends the same way twice.<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><i><u><font size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial;font-style:italic'>The Events<o:p></o:p></span></font></u></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><i><u><font size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial;font-style:italic'><o:p><span style='text-decoration:none'> </span></o:p></span></font></u></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Show-specific events are planned all summer long to give
Rabbit Run patrons the opportunity to not only see Victorian culture as
depicted in a play but to participate in Victorian culture giving them a
broader theater experience.<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><b><i><font size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic'>A Dickens of a Summer
– A Reading Celebration</span></font></i></b><i><font face=Arial><span
style='font-family:Arial;font-style:italic'> </span></font></i><font
face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial'>is a book reading and discussion
series held in collaboration with the Madison Public Library, the Morley
Library and the Perry Public Library. In this unique literary experience,
participants can read a book, discuss the book and see the play making
Dickens’s incomparable characters come alive. <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'>The featured novels for this series are <i><span
style='font-style:italic'>Oliver Twist </span></i>(Perry Public Library)<i><span
style='font-style:italic'>, Nicholas Nickleby </span></i>(Morley Library)<i><span
style='font-style:italic'> </span></i>and <i><span style='font-style:italic'>The
Mystery of Edwin Drood </span></i>(Madison Public Library)<i><span
style='font-style:italic'>, </span></i>corresponding to the productions at
Rabbit Run. <i><span style='font-style:italic'> </span></i>Participants may
read one or all of the books. <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'>As an added benefit, all participants in the reading program
receive two Rabbit Run Theater show tickets to the production corresponding to
the book in the series. Registration and participation is required to receive
the show tickets. <i><span style='font-style:italic'> </span></i><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'>Kirsten Parkinson, Associate Professor of English at Hiram
is the season-long humanities scholar for this reading program and will give
the presentations and lead the discussions for each of the Dickens works
featured. This book series is funded in part by the Ohio Humanities Council.<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><b><i><font size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic'>A Dickens Dance. </span></font></i></b><font
face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial'> Guests will learn several English
country dances similar to those seen in the feature films <i><span
style='font-style:italic'>Pride and Prejudice, Emma </span></i>and <i><span
style='font-style:italic'>Sense and Sensibility</span></i>. Live music and a
dance caller will be on hand to lead the dances Saturday, June 30, prior to a
performance of the musical <i><span style='font-style:italic'>Oliver!</span></i>
and Sunday, July 29 in between the matinee and evening performance of <i><span
style='font-style:italic'>The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby. </span></i>A
Dickens Dance begins both evenings at 6 p.m. on the grounds of the theater.
Tickets are $8/person (does not include show ticket). Call the box office at
440-428-7092 for reservations.<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><b><i><font size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic'>A Day of Dickens </span></font></i></b><font
face=Arial><span lang=EN style='font-family:Arial'>On three Sundays only, July
22, July 29 and August 5, patrons may see both Part I and Part II of <i><span
style='font-style:italic'>The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby. </span></i>In
between performances they may enjoy a Dickens Dinner on the theater’s
patio. The Dickens dinner is a traditional Englishman’s meal. The boxed
dinner features a choice of either a hearty roast beef sandwich, a chicken
salad sandwich or a cucumber sandwich. Fresh garden vegetables with dressing,
homemade English potato crisps, fresh seasonal fruit with cream, English
shortbread and Welsh tea cake and beverage are all included. Tickets for A Day
of Dickens are $45/person (includes a ticket to Part I and Part II as well as
boxed meal. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span lang=EN style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><i><font size=3 face=Arial><span lang=EN
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic'>The
Frivolity and Fashions of the 1800’s </span></font></i></b><font
face=Arial><span lang=EN style='font-family:Arial'>What did people do for fun
before the electronic revolution and what is with those hoop skirts, anyways?
On Saturday, Aug. 19, guests will participate in popular parlor games of
Victorian England as well as a fashion show of the latest trends, circa 1860.
Light refreshments will be served. Frivolity and Fashions begins at 6 p.m. at
Rabbit Run Theater. Tickets are $8/person (does not include theater ticket).
Period dress is encouraged, but not required.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span lang=EN 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'>A special added bonus for those with an interest in the
Dickens productions at Rabbit Run Theater is a season-long online ticket lottery.
Individuals, both adults and students will have the opportunity to register
online to win a pair of tickets to one of the Dickens productions. Rabbit Run
has committed to providing tickets for every individual performance throughout
the entire season. The online ticket lottery is supported in part by the Ohio
Humanities Council and through the generosity of a private donor. To enter
this free ticket lottery, beginning May 17, visit <a
href="http://www.rabbitrunonline.org/">www.rabbitrunonline.org</a>. One entry
per person per week.<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'>Theater tickets are available by calling the box office at
440-428-7092 or online at <a href="http://www.rabbitrunonline.org/">www.rabbitrunonline.org</a>.
Box office hours are Wednesday through Sunday, 3 to 7 p.m. The onsite box
office opens Wednesday, May 23.<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'>Rabbit Run Theater is located at <st1:address w:st="on"><st1:Street
w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">5648 W. Chapel Rd.</st1:address></st1:Street>,
<st1:City w:st="on">Madison</st1:City></st1:address>. It is one of the few
remaining barn theaters in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">Ohio</st1:State></st1:place>.
The theater operates under the auspices of Rabbit Run Community Arts
Association, a comprehensive fine arts association offering instruction in all
the major disciplines of the fine and performing arts. <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'>RRCAA receives partial funding from the Ohio Arts Council.
Corporate sponsors for the summer include McDonalds of Damon Morgan Corp., Fredon
Corporation, Behm Family Foundation and Phoenix Residential.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=3 face=Arial><span lang=EN style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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