<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line">FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line"> </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">August 1, 2012</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">CONTACTS: </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Linda Hengst,
Executive Director – Ohioana Library, <a href="mailto:lhengst@ohioana.org">lhengst@ohioana.org</a>;
614-466-3831<br>
Patty Donahey Geiger, PDG Communications, <a href="mailto:patty@pdgcommunications.com">patty@pdgcommunications.com</a>
614-325-6178<b></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt"> </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b> </b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b>OHIOANA LIBRARY </b><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line">“On the Road”</span> MEETS CLEVELAND</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b>AUTHOR JEANNIE EMSER SCHULTZ AND </b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b>GOES BACKSTAGE AT </b><b><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line">PlayhouseSquare</span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohioana
Library, a Columbus-based non-profit organization, recently launched a new
program, “On the Road,” a series of statewide literary adventures that explores
how a sense of place has inspired Ohio writers since the 1800s. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">On <b>Saturday, Sept. 8</b>, Ohioana will be “on the road” to Cleveland for <b>“The Curtain Rises on PlayhouseSquare,”</b>
a backstage, on stage and behind-the-scenes tour of these historic
theatres. Beginning at <b>10 a.m., at The State Theatre, 1519 Euclid
Ave</b>., Jeannie Emser Schultz, author of <i>Playhouse
Square: An Entertaining History</i>, will guide the group through the theatres,
talking with them about the incredible renovation and also the story behind the
story—how PlayhouseSquare became an inspiration to her. They will also be joined by author John
Vacha, who wrote <i>Showtime in Cleveland:
The Rise of a Regional Theater Center.</i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“The experience at
Playhouse Square is the perfect example of “a sense of place” and how it can
influence writing. Both of these
wonderful Ohio authors have been inspired by Cleveland’s theatres and their
drama—onstage and off,” said Ohioana executive director Linda Hengst. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“We also realize that in
addition to the authors’ stories, another important aspect of the “On the Road”
experiences is the way they bring people who love to read into an exciting
environment where they can meet and interact with the authors. We’re all enjoying that!”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i> </i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As Hengst points out,
the drama of PlayhouseSquare is not limited to the stage. It’s a convoluted
tale of rescue and restoration with unexpected plot twists that lead to a
satisfying, happy ending. Built as vaudeville houses in the 1920s, the five
once-grand theatres had fallen into a state of decay by the 1970s and were slated
for demolition. Theatre lovers banded together and saved them from becoming
nothing but parking lots. The 34-year restoration resulted in the creation of
eight stages, making PlayhouseSquare the second-largest performing arts center
outside of New York’s Lincoln Center.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The “On the Road”
PlayhouseSquare tour will include visiting lobbies, dressing rooms and
rehearsal halls in these opulent structures.
A panel discussion with the authors will follow the tour and a copy of
Vacha’s book, <i>Showtime in Cleveland: The
Rise of a Regional Theatre Center</i> will be included in the ticket price. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">On September 15, Ohioana
Library “On the Road” will again visit Northeast Ohio with “The Mysteries of
Amish Country” trip, and in the spooky month of October, date TBA, “On the
Road” will be back in Cleveland with the Lolly the Trolley <i>Torso Tour</i>, retracing the murderous route of Cleveland’s Torso
Killer, circa 1930s, and talking with the author who has researched and written
about the serial murders.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u>“The Curtain Rises on PlayhouseSquare”</u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u> </u></b></p>
<ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal">Time: 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">Where: The State Theatre, 1519 Euclid Ave.,
Cleveland, 44115</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">Tickets: $35/Ohioana members; $40/nonmembers
(includes copy of <i>Showtime in
Cleveland: The Rise of a Regional Theatre Center</i></li>
<li class="MsoNormal">For more information or to make a
reservation for this tour or other Ohioana programs, visit <a href="http://www.ohioana.org/">www.ohioana.org</a> or call 614-466-3831</li>
</ul>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><b><i><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";layout-grid-mode:line"> </span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Ohioana’s mission is to: recognize and encourage the
creative accomplishments of Ohioans, preserve and expand a permanent archive of
books, manuscripts, and other materials by Ohioans and about Ohio, and
disseminate information about the work of Ohio writers, musicians, and other
artists to researchers, schools, and the general public. Ohioana is a 501-C-(3) not for profit
organization supported by memberships, subscription, gifts, grants, and a
subsidy from the State of Ohio. </span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">###</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p><div><br></div><br><br>