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<body class='hmmessage'><div dir='ltr'><P style="TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><B><SPAN style="COLOR: #1d1d1d"><FONT face="Times New Roman"><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>THE UGLY DUCKLING is Deaf!<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Who knew!?!<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></B></P>
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<P style="TEXT-INDENT: 30pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 16pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman"><SPAN style="COLOR: black">Adapted from the 1843 tale by Hans Christian Andersen, this production of <B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><I>The Ugly Duckling</I> tells of a homely little bird born Deaf in a barnyard</B>! </SPAN>He is rejected by his neighbors<SPAN style="COLOR: black"> but much to his delight and surprise, he becomes a beautiful swan, the most beautiful bird of all. Our story presents the main character as Deaf and explores the additional challenges he faces in a world filled with animals who can hear.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="TEXT-INDENT: 30pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 16pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman"><SPAN style="COLOR: black">Featuring the brilliant talent of <B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">Sign Stage On Tour,</B> this family production is performed in <B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">American Sign Language, mime, and spoken English simultaneously by Deaf and hearing actors. <A name=_GoBack></A>All of the actors sign onstage!</B><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">Spoken English is provided by hearing actors via special mics</B>.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></SPAN>Sign Stage on Tour successfully combines the beauty of American Sign Language, the imagination of mime, and the richness of theatrical text while providing a wonderful evening of entertainment for the whole family!<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="COLOR: black">A Meet and Greet Party after the performance</SPAN></B><SPAN style="COLOR: black"> allows the audience to socialize with the actors!<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Proceeds from ticket and food sales will <B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">benefit the CCCD Schools for the Deaf in Jamaica and the local Deaf community</B>.</SPAN><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="TEXT-INDENT: 30pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 16pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman">Sign Stage On Tour evolved from Cleveland Signstage Theatre (formerly Fairmount Theatre of the Deaf) which was founded in 1975 by one Deaf actor, Brian Kilpatrick, and one hearing actor, Charles Saint Clair. This unique form of theatre integrated the experiences of two distinct cultures. Its mission is to present engaging educational programs that combined theatre arts, American Sign Language and Deaf issues in order to create greater sensitivity to deafness and other diversity issues.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>In 2001, Sign Stage on Tour was created as an equal but separate “touring arm” of Signstage Theatre. Created by William Morgan (Signstage Theatre’s current Artistic Director) and Erin LaFountain (the name was slightly different but the distinctive technique of sign language theatre has continued unchanged. <o:p></o:p></FONT></P>
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<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><FONT face="Times New Roman"><I><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The Ugly Duckling </I>will be hosted by Signs of Grace Deaf Fellowship at Grace Church in Middleburg Heights on Friday, April 5 at 7 pm. <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Doors open at 6:00 pm.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Tickets are $10 each but children age 5 and under receive free tickets.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Reserved seating is available for our Deaf audience members.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>To purchase tickets, contact Grace Church 440-243-4885 or order online at </FONT><A href="http://www.gracecma.org/"><FONT face="Times New Roman">www.gracecma.org</FONT></A><FONT face="Times New Roman"> and </FONT><A href="http://www.signsofgrace.org/"><FONT face="Times New Roman">www.signsofgrace.org</FONT></A><FONT face="Times New Roman">.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></FONT></B></P>
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<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT face="Times New Roman"><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Windwood Productions (Producer) credits include national tours of <I>The Music Man, Cabaret, Bye Bye Birdie, Little Women, Altar Boyz, Seven Brides For Seven Brothers, Big River, Stuart Little, Charlie & the Chocolate Factory and Winnie the Pooh. </I> <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
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