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<h4><font class="Apple-style-span" size="5">Weathervane Playhouse Opens its 79<sup>th</sup> Season with the Hilarious,
Roller-Skating</font></h4>
<h6><font class="Apple-style-span" size="5">Musical Adventure “Xanadu”</font></h6>
<h6><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="5">Humorous, Satirical Spoof of the Cult-Classic 1980
Film Celebrates Following Your Dreams in Pursuit of Truth, Beauty and Love</font></i></h6><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="5">Grab
your leg warmers and roller skates! Weathervane Playhouse travels back to the
1980s to open its 79<sup>th</sup> season with the hilarious, roller-skating musical
adventure <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Xanadu</i> – the campy musical
comedy that celebrates following your dreams no matter what obstacles cross
your path! See it live on stage from Sept. 5 to 22, 2013.</font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="5"><strong><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-weight:normal">Xanadu</span></i></strong><span style="font-family: Arial; "> follows
the journey of a magical and beautiful Greek muse, Kira, who descends from the
heavens of Mount Olympus to Venice Beach, California in 1980. She’s on a quest
to inspire a struggling artist, Sonny, to achieve the greatest artistic
creation of all time – the first roller disco! (Hey, it's 1980, after all!)</span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="5">But when Kira falls into forbidden love with the mortal
Sonny, her jealous sisters take advantage of the situation and chaos abounds!
Even when faced with the threat of eternal banishment to the underworld, Kira
finds that she must maneuver around her scheming sisters in order to make
Sonny’s dream come true – and do it while wearing roller skates!</font></span></p><div style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><span style="font-family:Arial"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="5">This
silly yet endearing musical comedy rolls along to the original hit score
composed by pop-rock legends Jeff Lynne and John Farrar, and includes such
1980s-era hits as "Magic," "All Over the World,"
“Suddenly," "I'm Alive," "Evil Woman," "Have You
Never Been Mellow?" and "Xanadu" – to name just a few! – and is
based on the Universal Pictures cult-classic movie of the same title, which
starred Olivia Newton-John and Gene Kelly.</font></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="5">Weathervane Playhouse’s production of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:
normal">Xanadu</i> is directed and choreographed by Gwen Arment with musical
direction by John Ebner</font></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-large; "> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="5">In addition to the normal, reserved seating in Weathervane’s
240-seat Founders Theater, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Xanadu</i>’s
audience members are also able to purchase tickets to see the show from right
ON THE STAGE itself! A limited number of on-stage seats are available for every
performance, providing a fun, up-close, and slightly interactive experience to
match the show’s overall absurdity.</font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><font class="Apple-style-span" size="5"> </font></o:p></p>
<div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;
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<h3><font class="Apple-style-span" size="5"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-family:Arial">Xanadu
</span></i><span style="font-family:Arial">Performance and Ticket Information<o:p></o:p></span></font></h3>
</div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; "><o:p><font class="Apple-style-span" size="5"> </font></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="5"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-family: Arial; ">Xanadu </span></i><span style="font-family: Arial; ">plays on
the Weathervane Playhouse Founders Theater stage between Sept. 5 to 22, 2013.</span></font></p><div style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><span style="font-family:Arial"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="5">The
low-cost preview performance is Thursday, Sept. 5 at 7:30 p.m.; the official
opening-night performance is Friday, Sept. 6 at 8 p.m.</font></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><span style="font-family:Arial"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="5">Between
Sept. 5 and 22, 2013, the performance days and times are Thursdays at 7:30
p.m., Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2:30 p.m.</font></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="5">Tickets for the Sept. 5 preview performance only are $19
each. Tickets for performances after Sept. 5 are $25 each.</font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="5">For performances after Sept. 5, $21 tickets for seniors are
available for Thursday and Sunday performances. Tickets for children (ages 17
or younger) and college students are $7.50 each at all performances (including
the June 6 preview performance). Additional discounts for groups of 10 or
larger are also available.</font></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-large; "> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="5">Additionally, Weathervane Playhouse’s production of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Xanadu</i> will feature a limited number of
on-stage seats for audience members. Ticket prices for on-stage seating range
between $7.50 and $20.</font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="5">The Weathervane Playhouse Box Office is open Mondays between
10 a.m. and 4 p.m., Tuesdays through Fridays between 10 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. and
is also open beginning one hour before each performance. For tickets, visit or
call the Weathervane Box Office at 330-836-2626 during Box Office hours or
connect online to <a href="http://www.weathervaneplayhouse.com/"><span class="MsoPageNumber"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; ">www.weathervaneplayhouse.com</span></span></a>.</font></span></p>
<div style="border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-top-color: windowtext; border-right-color: windowtext; border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-left-color: windowtext; border-top-width: 1pt; border-right-width: 1pt; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-width: 1pt; padding-top: 1pt; padding-right: 4pt; padding-bottom: 1pt; padding-left: 4pt; position: static; z-index: auto; ">
<h3><span style="font-family:Arial"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="5">The <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Xanadu</i>
Cast</font></span></h3></div><p class="MsoNormal"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="5"><strong><span style="font-family:Arial">RACHEL BALKO</span></strong><span style="font-family: Arial; "><br>
Clio/Kira</span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="5"><strong><span style="font-family:Arial">SCOTT MIESSE</span></strong><span style="font-family: Arial; "><br>
Sonny Malone</span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="5"><strong><span style="font-family:Arial">THOMAS BAUMGARDNER</span></strong><span style="font-family: Arial; "><br>
Danny Maguire, Zeus</span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="5"><strong><span style="font-family:Arial">PATRICK DUKEMAN</span></strong><span style="font-family: Arial; "><br>
Calliope, Aphrodite</span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="5"><strong><span style="font-family:Arial">KATHY ASHCROFT</span></strong><span style="font-family: Arial; "><br>
Melpomene, Medusa</span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="5"><strong><span style="font-family:Arial">KEVIN LAMBES</span></strong><span style="font-family: Arial; "><br>
Thalia, Siren, Alter Danny, Tubes Singer and other characters</span></font><strong><span style="font-family:Arial"><o:p><font class="Apple-style-span" size="5"> </font></o:p></span></strong></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="5"><strong><span style="font-family:Arial">ISABELLE POST</span></strong><span style="font-family: Arial; "><br>
Euterpe, Siren, Andrews Singer and other characters</span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="5"><strong><span style="font-family:Arial">TAYLOR NICOLE BRYAN</span></strong><span style="font-family: Arial; "><br>
Erato, Siren, Andrews Sister and other characters</span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="5"><strong><span style="font-family:Arial">BRETT GREGORY PARR</span></strong><span style="font-family: Arial; "><br>
Terpsicore, Siren, Tubes Singer and other characters</span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="5"><strong><span style="font-family:Arial">HANNAH CONKLE</span></strong><span style="font-family: Arial; "><br>
Pit Singer</span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="5"><strong><span style="font-family:Arial">MADDIE MAZZOLA</span></strong><span style="font-family: Arial; "><br>
Muse/Pit Singer</span></font><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-large; "> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="font-family:Arial"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="5">CINDI SHAMA<o:p></o:p></font></span></strong></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="5">Featured Skater</font></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-large; "> </span></p>
<div style="border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-top-color: windowtext; border-right-color: windowtext; border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-left-color: windowtext; border-top-width: 1pt; border-right-width: 1pt; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-width: 1pt; padding-top: 1pt; padding-right: 4pt; padding-bottom: 1pt; padding-left: 4pt; position: static; z-index: auto; "><p class="MsoNormal" style="border:none;mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;
padding:0in;mso-padding-alt:1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="5"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:
normal"><span style="font-family: Arial; ">The<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"> Xanadu </i>Backstage Team</span></b></font></p></div><p class="MsoNormal"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="5"><strong><span style="font-family:Arial">GWEN ARMENT</span></strong><span style="font-family: Arial; "><br>
Director and Choreographer</span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="5"><strong><span style="font-family:Arial">JOHN EBNER</span></strong><span style="font-family: Arial; "><br>
Musical Director</span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="5"><strong><span style="font-family:Arial">JEFF BIXBY</span></strong><span style="font-family: Arial; "><br>
Stage Manager</span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="5"><strong><span style="font-family:Arial">MADDIE MAZZOLA</span></strong><span style="font-family: Arial; "><br>
Assistant to the Director and Dance Captain</span></font><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-large; "> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="5"><strong><span style="font-family:Arial">DAVID RUGGLES</span></strong><span style="font-family: Arial; "><br>
Lighting Designer</span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="font-family:Arial"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="5">JORDAN PRIDDY<o:p></o:p></font></span></strong></p><p class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="font-family:Arial"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="5">BRIANNA MACHUGA<o:p></o:p></font></span></strong></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="5">Properties Co-Designers</font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="5"><strong><span style="font-family:Arial">AUDREY FLIEGEL</span></strong><span style="font-family: Arial; "><br>
Sound Designer</span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="5"><strong><span style="font-family:Arial">JASEN J. SMITH</span></strong><span style="font-family: Arial; "><br>
Costume Designer</span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="5"><strong><span style="font-family:Arial">ALAN SCOTT FERRALL</span></strong><span style="font-family: Arial; "><br>
Scenic Designer and Technical Director</span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="5"><strong><span style="font-family:Arial">KATHY KOHL</span></strong><span style="font-family: Arial; "><br>
Assistant Technical Director</span></font></p>
<div style="border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-top-color: windowtext; border-right-color: windowtext; border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-left-color: windowtext; border-top-width: 1pt; border-right-width: 1pt; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-width: 1pt; padding-top: 1pt; padding-right: 4pt; padding-bottom: 1pt; padding-left: 4pt; position: static; z-index: auto; ">
<h3><em><span style="font-style:normal"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="5">About the Show’s Director and
Choreographer</font></span></em></h3></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="5"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-family: Arial; ">GWEN
ARMENT</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial; "> </span><span style="font-family: Arial; ">is delighted to
be back at Weathervane Playhouse for <b><i>Xanadu </i></b>after
directing it's award winning <b><i>The Drowsy Chaperone</i></b> last
year. She was raised in Cuyahoga Falls and went on to do her
undergraduate work at the Indiana University School of Music and her Masters in
Theater History at Hunter College in Manhattan. She also studied
acting at London’s National Theater. Based in New York City,
she performed there as well as on tour and in regional theaters before
beginning a career in producing, directing and teaching, inspired by her friend
and mentor, the late Bick Goss. In NYC she has directed at the
Abingdon Theatre, Theatre 315, The Theatre Arts Center for the NYMF festival,
Ensemble Studio Theatre, and for Musical Mondays Theatre Lab, among others. Outside
of NYC theaters include the South Jersey Regional Theater; Arundel Barn
Playhouse in Maine; Charles Playhouse in Boston, Pennsylvania Stage Company,
Mishler Theatre in Altoona, PA, and at the Royal Palm in Florida where she
received Carbonell nominations for both choreography and performing. Most
recently Gwen directed and choreographed <b><i>Reefer Madness</i></b> at Ohio Northern University.
As a teacher of professional actors, alongside guest faculty instructors from
London's Royal National Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company, Gwen
produced and taught Shakespeare workshops in New York City and
at Western Connecticut State University. In 2004 she
co-founded and currently remains the artistic director/producer for Hell’s
Kitchen Musicals (HKM), which helps develop new work. HKM produced the new
musical <b><i>Peg O’ My Heart</i></b> for NYC's 2011 Midtown
International Theatre Festival. It won the award for best musical. Among the
many celebrated artists with whom Gwen has worked are Gower Champion, Bob Hope,
Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Dionne Warwick, Barbara Eden, and Eva Gabor.
When performing Lola in <b><i>Damn Yankees</i></b>, she danced Bob
Fosse’s original choreography, having been taught and supervised by the
original Lola, Gwen Verdon. When not directing or producing, Gwen teaches
voice privately. She thanks Vasili and Jerry for their help in Greek
pronunciations, Scott Ferrall for bringing her to Weathervane, a marvelous cast
and crew, and her husband, Steve, for his continuous support for her love of
the arts. This one's for you Bick.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; "><o:p><font class="Apple-style-span" size="5"> </font></o:p></span></p>
<div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;
mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt"><div style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; padding-top: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; "><em><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:
normal"><span style="font-style:normal"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="5">About the Show’s Musical Director<o:p></o:p></font></span></b></em></div>
</div><div style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><span style="font-family:Arial"><o:p><font class="Apple-style-span" size="5"> </font></o:p></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="5"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-family: Arial; ">JOHN EBNER</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial; "> </span><span style="font-family: Arial; ">is glad to be back at the Weathervane Playhouse. In past
seasons, he was musical director for Ragtime, Putting It Together and The
Drowsy Chaperone, receiving a Chanticleer and YACTA Marquee Award for Ragtime
and another Chanticleer for The Drowsy Chaperone. John has worked extensively
in a variety of ways as music director, keyboardist and accompanist for Canton
Cabaret, Carousel Dinner Theatre, Coach House, Ohio Shakespeare Festival,
Player’s Guild of Canton, Western Reserve Playhouse and Voices of Canton. He
has performed with Arthur Fiedler, Paul Williams and a Billy Joel Tribute band
at Cleveland’s House of Blues. John is a retired music teacher and continues to
work with local schools in Stark and Summit Counties. It is great to work again
with Gwen, Scott, Patrick and Tom and our fantastic cast, orchestra and crew.
John is also excited to spend some of his free time with twin grand daughters
Anna and Natalie.</span></font><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-large; "> </span></p>
<div style="border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-top-color: windowtext; border-right-color: windowtext; border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-left-color: windowtext; border-top-width: 1pt; border-right-width: 1pt; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-width: 1pt; padding-top: 1pt; padding-right: 4pt; padding-bottom: 1pt; padding-left: 4pt; position: static; z-index: auto; ">
<h3><em><span style="font-style:normal"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="5">About the Show’s Production History</font></span></em></h3></div><p class="MsoNormal"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="5"><strong><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-weight:normal">Xanadu</span></i></strong><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;font-weight:normal"> is a humorous spoof of the 1980
movie of the same name, which starred Olivia Newton-John and Gene Kelly. Upon
its release to theaters, the movie received mixed and even negative critical
reviews. In fact, one critic declared, “</span></strong><span style="font-family: Arial; ">In a word, Xana-don't".</span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="5"><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;font-weight:normal">The
soundtrack of the movie, by contrast, was a big hit in record stores and on the
radio. </span></strong><span style="font-family: Arial; ">It was certified Double Platinum in the United States and
Gold in the United Kingdom, and also spent one week atop the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Cashbox</i> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:
normal">Record World</i> Pop Albums charts. The soundtrack contained five Top
20 singles: "Magic" by Olivia Newton-John, "Xanadu" by
Olivia Newton-John and Electric Light Orchestra, "All Over the World"
by Electric Light Orchestra, "I'm Alive" by Electric Light Orchestra
and "Suddenly" by Olivia Newton-John and Cliff Richard. Thanks</span><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;font-weight:normal"> to countless airings on
television, the movie version of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Xanadu</i>
developed somewhat of a cult following over the years – not a bad fate for a
film that barely broke even at the box office in 1980.</span></strong></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="5"><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;font-weight:normal">The
stage-musical version of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Xanadu</i></span></strong><span style="font-family: Arial; "> began
previews on Broadway on May 23, 2007 at the Helen Hayes Theatre and opened on
July 10, 2007. It closed on September 28, 2008 after 49 previews and 512
performances. It earned the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding New
Broadway Best Musical and the Drama Desk Award for Best Book. The show was also
nominated for four Tony Awards (Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical, Best
Actress in a Musical and Best Choreography). Following its Broadway production,
the show ran successfully on a national tour across the United States.</span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="5"><span style="font-family: Arial; ">(Sources:
Music Theatre International, the Internet Broadway Database and Wikipedia)</span><o:p></o:p></font></i></p><div style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><o:p><font class="Apple-style-span" size="5"> </font></o:p></div>
<div style="border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-top-color: windowtext; border-right-color: windowtext; border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-left-color: windowtext; border-top-width: 1pt; border-right-width: 1pt; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-width: 1pt; padding-top: 1pt; padding-right: 4pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 4pt; position: static; z-index: auto; "><div style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; padding-top: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; "><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:
normal"><span style="font-family:Arial"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="5">About the Show’s Creators</font></span></b></div></div><div style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="5"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:
normal"><span style="font-family:Arial">DOUGLAS CARTER BEANE (book)</span></b><span style="font-family:Arial"> is an American playwright and screenwriter. His
works include the screenplay for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">To Wong
Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar</i>, and several plays including <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">The Nance</i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:
normal">The Country Club</i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">The Little
Dog Laughed</i> (which was nominated for the 2007 Tony Award for Best Play) and
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">As Bees in Honey Drown </i>(which
Weathervane Playhouse produced in 2002). Beane often writes works with
sophisticated, “drawing room" humor. In addition to writing the book for
the musical <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Xanadu</i>, he also wrote the
books for the Broadway musicals <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Sister
Act</i> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Lysistrata Jones</i>. Most
recently, the Rodgers and Hammerstein Organization hired him to write a new
book for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Rodgers and Hammerstein’s
Cinderella</i>, which opened on Broadway in March and is still running today.
As artistic director of the New York theater company Drama Dept., he produced
over 40 productions, including acclaimed revivals of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:
normal">As Thousands Cheer</i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">June Moon</i>
and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">The Torchbearers</i> and world
premiere works by Paul Rudnick, David Sedaris and Wendy Wasserstein. He resides
in New York City with his partner, composer Lewis Flinn and their son, Cooper.</span></font></div><p class="MsoNormal"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="5"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-family: Arial; ">JEFF LYNNE
(music and lyrics)</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial; "> formed the Electric Light Orchestra – or E.L.O. – in
the 1970s. The group gradually developed from cult favorites into one of the
70s' leading recording acts, scoring international success with several
platinum-selling albums, including “A New World Record” and “Out Of The Blue.”
Lynne worked as both a composer and a producer with the group, but he abandoned
his creation in 1986. The artist then assumed an increasingly backroom role,
but won praise for his production work with George Harrison (“Cloud Nine”),
Randy Newman (“Land Of Dreams”) and Roy Orbison (“Mystery Girl”) and he has
also contributed his distinctive production qualities to much of Tom Petty’s
recent output. Lynne's work with Orbison coincided with his position as “Otis
Wilbury” in the Traveling Wilburys, an informal “supergroup” completed by
Orbison, Harrison, Tom Petty and Bob Dylan. This particularly prolific period
was also marked by his work with Brian Wilson on the ex-Beach Boys' first
long-awaited solo album. In recent years, Lynne has produced the Beatles lost
tapes, notably “Free as a Bird” and “Real Love.” He co-produced Paul
McCartney's “Flaming Pie” in 1997.</span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="5"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-family: Arial; ">JOHN
FARRAR (music and lyrics) </span></b><span style="font-family: Arial; ">is an Australian-born music producer, songwriter,
arranger, singer and guitarist. As a musician, Farrar is a former member of
several rock and roll groups including The Mustangs (1963–64), The Strangers
(1964–70), Marvin, Welch & Farrar (1970–73), and The Shadows (1973–76); in
1980 he released a solo album. As a songwriter and producer he worked with
Olivia Newton-John from 1971 to 1989. He wrote her No. 1 hit singles:
"Have You Never Been Mellow?" (1975), "You're the One That I
Want" (1978 duet with John Travolta from the movie <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:
normal">Grease</i>), "Hopelessly Devoted to You" (1978), and
"Magic" (1980). He also produced the majority of her recorded
material during that time including her No. 1 albums, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:
normal">If You Love Me, Let Me Know</i> (1974), <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:
normal">Have You Never Been Mellow?</i> (1975) and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:
normal">Olivia's Greatest Hits Vol. 2</i> (1982). He was also a co-producer of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Grease</i> (1978), the soundtrack for the
film of the same name. Farrar also produced Newton-John's first United States
No. 1 hit single, "I Honestly Love You," which was awarded the Grammy
Award for Record of the Year in 1975. In 1969, Farrar married fellow Australian
singer, Pat Carroll (who was formerly Newton-John's singing partner). In July
1970, Farrar and Carroll relocated to the United Kingdom and since 1975 they
have resided in the United States. They are the parents of Sam Farrar (Phantom
Planet bass guitarist) and Max Farrar (Golden Ghost guitarist and keyboardist).</span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="5"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-family: Arial; ">(Sources:
Music Theatre International and Wikipedia)</span></i></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="5">* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *</font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="5">Weathervane Playhouse and its dedicated volunteers offer
vital performing arts resources for the people of Northeastern Ohio. We create
exciting and thought-provoking shows with impressive production values. Through
educational programs and volunteer opportunities for people of all ages and
backgrounds, Weathervane serves the theater community, our patrons and our
volunteers.</font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-family: Arial; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="5">The Ohio
Arts Council helped fund this program with state tax dollars to encourage
economic growth, education excellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans.</font></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><u><span style="font-family: Arial; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="5">Weathervane
Playhouse’s 2013-2014 Season Support Provided by:<o:p></o:p></font></span></u></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-family: Arial; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="5">The Ohio
Arts Council<o:p></o:p></font></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-family: Arial; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="5">Akron
Community Foundation<o:p></o:p></font></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-family: Arial; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="5">89.7
WSKU-FM<o:p></o:p></font></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-family: Arial; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="5">The GAR
Foundation<o:p></o:p></font></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-family: Arial; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="5">Kenneth L.
Calhoun Charitable Trust (KeyBank, Trustee)<o:p></o:p></font></span></i></p><div style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-family:Arial"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="5">The Welty Family Foundation<o:p></o:p></font></span></i></div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><font class="Apple-style-span" size="5"> </font></o:p></p>
<!--EndFragment--><div>
<div><font class="Apple-style-span" size="5">Janis Harcar</font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" size="5">Director of Advancement</font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" size="5">Weathervane Playhouse</font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" size="5">330-836-2626 X16</font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" size="5"><a href="mailto:jharcar@weathervaneplayhouse.com">jharcar@weathervaneplayhouse.com</a></font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" size="5"><br></font></div><font class="Apple-style-span" size="5"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline">
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