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size=3> <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></H1>
<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>June 26,
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 Release: July 8, 2012<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">Straw
Hat Theatre Presents “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">One of the most successful rock musicals of all time,
“Godspell” by John Michael Tebelak and Stephen Schwartz and directed by James
Stover will play for two more weekends, July 20 – 22 & 26 – 28 on the Straw
Hat Theatre stage at the Ashtabula Arts Center. All Straw Hat Theatre shows
begin at 8:00 p.m.</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">Created as a college project by John-Michael Tebelak in
1970, “Godspell” is a modern retelling of the story of Jesus based on the Gospel
According to St. Matthew.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It was
re-scored by Stephen Schwartz before moving to off-Broadway in 1971 where it
became one of the longest-running off-Broadway musicals. It moved to Broadway in
1976 and played an additional 527 performances to make a total of 2,214
performances over its seven year run.</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=Default><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">The playful and ever-popular score by Stephen Schwartz
(“Wicked”) adds an exciting dimension to the parables of Jesus. Song by song the
story unfolds as characters test the values of brotherhood and friendship and
cause us all to think about what we can do in our own heads and hearts to make
changes for the better. </FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=Default><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">Directed by James Stover the cast includes Jordan
Sandidge, Alex VanAllen, Tiffani Murphy, Matthew Osborne, Marti Cole, Tywan
“Tank” Jackson, Alli Woolard, Anthony Colby, Sarah Altonen and Mat Pecek as
“Jesus.”</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=Default><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">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>