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<H4 style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Calibri"><FONT size=5>NEWS
RELEASE<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></I></H4>
<P
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri">Media
Contact:<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri">Melanie YC
Pepe<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri">Director of
Education, Young Actor Series Producer<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri">Weathervane
Playhouse<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri">330.836.2626 x
17<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Calibri"><A
href="mailto:mycp@weathervaneplayhouse.com"><SPAN
style="COLOR: windowtext; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">mycp@weathervaneplayhouse.com</FONT></SPAN></A><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 6pt" class=MsoBodyText><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Calibri"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0in 0in 6pt" class=MsoBodyText
align=center><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Calibri; FONT-SIZE: 20pt">Weathervane
Playhouse features <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0in 0in 6pt" class=MsoBodyText
align=center><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Calibri; FONT-SIZE: 20pt">“The Witch of
Blackbird Pond” <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0in 0in 6pt" class=MsoBodyText
align=center><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Calibri; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">An adaptation of the
beloved novel for young adults</SPAN></I><I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Calibri"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></I></P>
<P
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">(2/19/14 <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Akron</st1:City>, <st1:State
w:st="on">Ohio</st1:State></st1:place> – FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE)<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri">Witch of Blackbird
Pond<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri">Based off the book
by Elizabeth George Speare<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri">Adapted by Y
York<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Calibri">This exciting story that captured the eyes of the
world and won numerous awards, including the <B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">Newbery Medal</B>, runs at<B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"> Weathervane Playhouse February 28 – March
16, 2014</B>.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Kit is </SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">a heroine whom
playgoers will admire for her unwavering sense of truth as well as her infinite
capacity to love.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></SPAN><I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Calibri"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></I></P>
<P
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><I><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Times">The Witch of
Blackbird Pond</SPAN></I><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Times"> follows a
wealthy girl leaving a comfortable life in <st1:country-region
w:st="on">Barbados</st1:country-region> to live with her aunt in 1687 colonial
<st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Connecticut</st1:place></st1:State>.
Overwhelmed by the changes she is forced to undertake, she turns to Hannah
Tupper, commonly known as the Witch of Blackbird Pond. Kit along with, Nat
Eaton, a young man in the village, and Prudence a young, abused girl who leaves
her home, seek Hannah’s house for refuge. </SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Times"> </SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Times">When unexplained
illness settles on the community, the town is quick to blame witchcraft and
point the finger at Hannah for their poor health. Kit helps Hannah escape the
scrutiny, but finds the town turns on Kit and accuses her
instead<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Times"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Times">The production
features</SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">
Gracie Thanasiu as Kit Taylor and <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Noah</st1:PlaceName>
<st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Casino</st1:PlaceName> as Nat Eaton</SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Times"> as well as dozens of
talented <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Akron</st1:place></st1:City>
area teens and is directed by Melanie Pepe as part of Weathervane’s Young
Actor’s Series.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Times">For tickets, contact
the Weathervane Box Office at 330-836-2626 or
weathervaneplayhouse.com.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri">Cast
List<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Calibri">Gracie Thanasiu, Kit Tyler,
Akron, Miller South VPA, 8<BR>Noah Casino, Nat Eaton, Akron, Akron
U/Homeschool, 12<BR>Jonathon Merechant, Reverend Gideon Gish, Akron, BGSU,
Junior<BR>Kat Glover, Rebecca Gish, Akron <BR>Jill Klika, Prudence Gish,
Akron, Miller South VPA, 6<BR>Daniel Walker, John Holcomb, Stow, KSU,
Freshman<BR>Jasen Smith, Matthew Wood, Akron <BR>Laura Stitt, Rachel Wood,
Akron <BR>Cait McNeal, Mercy Wood, Akron, Firestone High School,
12<BR>Isabelle Post, Judith Wood, Copley, Copley High School, 11<BR>Adam Graber,
William Ashby, Medina, Highland High School, 9<BR>Danielle Gruhler, Hannah
Tupper, Akron <BR>Connor Reese, Magistrate Talbot, Kent, KSU,
Junior<BR><STRONG></STRONG></SPAN></P>
<P
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Calibri"><STRONG>Designers</STRONG>
<BR>Melanie Pepe, Director, Akron <BR>Alan Scott Ferrall, Set
Designer, Cuyahoga Falls <BR>John Catlos, Co-Costume Designer, Akron
<BR>Jasen J Smith, Co-Costume Designer, Akron <BR>Sue Stout-Davis,
Lighting Designer, Cuyahoga Falls <BR>Pam Parks-Costa, Properties
Designer, Akron <BR>Christopher J. Ha, Stage Manager, Akron, Homeschool,
10<BR>Calista Pepe, Assistant Stage Manager, Akron, Our Lady of the Elms,
9<BR>Christopher Pepe, Sound Designer, Akron</SPAN></P>
<P
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Calibri"></SPAN> </P>
<P
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Calibri">Weathervane Playhouse
produces high-quality live theater with volunteer artists, designers, and
technicians under professional direction, provides education and training in
theater arts and appreciation, and engages and entertains its audience and
constituents to enrich the quality of life in <st1:place w:st="on">Northeast
Ohio</st1:place>.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
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class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 2.5in; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri">###<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
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