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<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><U><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">Press
Release<o:p></o:p></SPAN></U></B></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT
size=3>Contact: Pamela Hammond<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></B></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT
size=3>(440) 964-3396<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></B></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT
size=3>Ashtabula Arts Center<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></B></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT
size=3>2928 West 13<SUP>th</SUP> St., Ashtabula, OH
44004<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></B></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><A
href="mailto:aac@ashartscenter.org"><SPAN style="COLOR: windowtext"><FONT
size=3>aac@ashartscenter.org</FONT></SPAN></A><o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><A
href="http://www.ashartscenter.org/"><SPAN style="COLOR: windowtext"><FONT
size=3>www.ashartscenter.org</FONT></SPAN></A><o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
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style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><A
href="http://www.artscenternews.com/"><SPAN style="COLOR: windowtext"><FONT
size=3>www.artscenternews.com</FONT></SPAN></A><o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<H1 style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><FONT size=3>July 9,
2012<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></H1>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT
size=3>For Immediate Release<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></B></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Kill date:
July 28, 2012</SPAN></B><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><U><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></U></B></FONT></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-line-height-alt: 12.0pt"
class=MsoNormal align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><U><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></U></B></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-line-height-alt: 12.0pt"
class=MsoNormal align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><U><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">A
New Director Joins Straw Hat Theatre’s “Godspell”<o:p></o:p></SPAN></U></B></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-line-height-alt: 12.0pt"
class=MsoNormal align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><U><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></U></B></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman">The third show of the Straw Hat season is one of the
biggest off-Broadway and Broadway successes of all time.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>“Godspell” by John Michael Tebelak and
Stephen Schwartz and directed by James Stover will play for three weekends, July
13 - 15, 20 - 22, 26 – 28. </FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><SPAN style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">Director James
Stover is a native</SPAN> of Ashtabula and currently lives and works in
Philadelphia. He's recently directed the world premiere of “Hazardous” for
Philadelphia Theatre Workshop and the Philadelphia premiere of “The Amish
Project” for The Renegade Company. He's worked as assistant director for
Broadway's 24-Hour Plays (Tony Nominee Thomas Kail, director), Off-Broadway's
“The Temperamentals” (Drama Desk Nominee Jonathan Silverstein, director) and the
new musical “Like You Like It” (Drama Desk Nominee Igor Goldin, director). A
proud member of Actor's Equity (the union of professional actors), he's
performed at regional theatres in ten different states (including the Walnut
Street Theatre, McCarter Theatre, Virginia Musical Theatre and Utah Shakespeare
Festival) as well as in the new musical “Yank!” (starring Tony Nominee Bobby
Steggert), the National Tour of “My Soul is a Witness” and the Off-Broadway
Revival of “Tea and Sympathy.” He's made a guest appearance on “Law & Order”
and appeared in six independent feature films.</FONT></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>“James
Stover participated in numerous shows at the Arts Center as he was growing up,”
says Theater/Music Coordinator Kimberly Godfrey. “He’s returned over the years
to lead<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>events and workshops for us
and we’re thrilled to have him back this summer to work with the cast and crew
of ‘Godspell.’ His programs are always such a big success.” </FONT></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=Default><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman">Based on the Gospel According to St. Matthew, “Godspell”
is a modern retelling of the story of Jesus from beginning to end, using
engaging parables and music that brings the story to life with ever-popular
songs such as “God Save the People,” “By My Side,” “All Good Gifts” and the
favorite, “Day by Day.” </FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=Default><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"></FONT></SPAN> </P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=Default><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman">The show celebrates Jesus’ messages of love, forgiveness,
and joy as part of a fun and high-energy experience that emphasizes the fact
that those messages are still just as relevant today as they were in his own
time.</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">All Straw Hat Theatre shows begin at 8:00 p.m.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Tickets are on sale now.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Box office ticket prices are $14 for
adults and<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>$12 for seniors and
students. Advance-sale, pre-paid tickets will receive a $2 discount per ticket.
Tickets can be purchased at the Ashtabula Arts Center box office or by phone at
(440) 964-3396.<SPAN
style="mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 12pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><STRONG><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">The Ashtabula Arts Center is funded in part by the Ohio
Arts Council.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></STRONG></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: 12pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"
class=MsoNormal align=center><STRONG><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt"><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman">###</FONT></SPAN></STRONG><SPAN
style="COLOR: fuchsia"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Pamela Hammond<BR>Public Relations/Marketing
Coordinator<BR>Ashtabula Arts Center<BR>2928 West 13th Street<BR>Ashtabula OH
44004<BR>(440) 964-3396<BR><A
href="mailto:aac@ashartscenter.org">aac@ashartscenter.org</A><BR><A
href="http://www.ashartscenter.org">www.ashartscenter.org</A><BR><A
href="http://www.artscenternews.com">www.artscenternews.com</A></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>