<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=us-ascii"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 14 (filtered medium)"><style><!--
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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNoSpacing><b><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Ashtabula Arts Center</span></b><b><span style='font-size:24.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>2928 W. 13<sup>th</sup> Street, Ashtabula, OH 44004 (440) 964-3396<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Contact: Pamela Hammond, Marketing and Public Relations Director<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing><a href="mailto:phammond@ashtabulaartscenter.org"><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>phammond@ashtabulaartscenter.org</span></a><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'> </span><a href="http://www.ashtabulaartscenter.org"><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>www.ashtabulaartscenter.org</span></a><span class=MsoHyperlink><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing><span class=MsoHyperlink><b><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>September 9, 2014<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing><span class=MsoHyperlink><b><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>For Immediate Release<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing><span class=MsoHyperlink><b><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Kill Date: Saturday, September 13, 2014<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing><span class=MsoHyperlink><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p><span style='text-decoration:none'> </span></o:p></span></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><u><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Ashtabula Arts Center kicks off “Fill the House with Laughter” Campaign</span></u></b><b><span style='font-size:16.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>On Saturday, September 13 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. an Ashtabula Arts Center Open House will feature the kick-off of the fall “Fill the House with Laughter” audience rebuilding campaign. Filled with free activities and events, all the public is invited to attend the Saturday event. The Ashtabula Arts Center is located at 2928 W. 13<sup>th</sup> Street in Ashtabula. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“Just as other businesses in the area were hurt by the recession,” says Executive Director Lori Robishaw, “the arts throughout Ohio have also suffered, and we have been particularly hard hit here in Ashtabula County. Because of that, we’re asking all of our audience members<b><span style='color:#252525;background:white'>—</span></b>those who appreciate the arts and want to see them remain a vibrant, affordable, and locally accessible part of our community<b><span style='color:#252525;background:white'>—</span></b>to help us rebuild.</span><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“Beginning at our Saturday Open House, we will be offering a ‘buy two, get four free’ ticket deal for the opening weekends of our two fall productions, <i>Little Shop of Horrors</i> and <i>Laughter on the 23<sup>rd</sup> Floor</i>. Most ticket purchasers are buying two tickets anyway. All we ask is that they use their four free tickets to bring friends and family who are unfamiliar with the arts center and everything we have to offer.” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>The fall theater season will open on Friday, October 3. <i>Little Shop of Horrors </i>tells the story of <span style='background:white'>Seymour, a flower shop worker who stumbles across a new plant that he names Audrey. Audrey soon turns out to be a carnivorous handful of trouble because she craves and feeds on blood. And Seymour soon discovers that she’s planning to take over the world! </span>Written by Howard Ashman and Alan Menken, <i>Little Shop of Horrors</i> will play on October 3-5, 10-12, 17-19.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-language:JA'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Then, Neil Simon’s <i>Laughter on the 23<sup>rd</sup> Floor </i>is a favorite that fills the house with roars of laughter wherever it plays. The script was inspired by one of Neil Simon’s first jobs as a comedy writer for <i>Your Show of Shows</i> which aired in the early 1950’s. His play relives the hilarious antics that took place as the writers battled with network executives who were afraid that their humor was too sophisticated for American audiences. <i>Laughter on the 23<sup>rd</sup> Floor </i>plays on<i> </i>October 31-November 2, 7-9, 14 & 15<b>. <o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing><b><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Both shows play on Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“If you have never been to the arts center, if you’ve not been here for a while, or if for some reason you feel that the arts center ‘isn’t for you,’ I encourage you to stop by and check us out,” adds Robishaw. “A part of our new campaign is to make sure the arts center remains accessible to everyone in the county. Our artistic staff is working hard to develop new activities and classes that will excite people of all ages. And for those who may not have the means to pay all of the class fees, we want to help with that too. Financial aid forms are available and can be picked up at the front desk.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>In addition to selling the special ticket packages, Saturday’s Open House will be filled with free and fun activities for all the family. Ohio State Representative John Patterson will give opening remarks at 11:30 a.m. Other activities will include live music, face painting, watercolor and pottery demonstrations, dance demonstrations, free popcorn, a screen printing demo, “mini” henna tattooing, backstage tours, and other hands on projects for kids and adults. Visitors can also see what goes on being-the-scenes while our young ballet dancers work through an early rehearsal of <i>The Nutcracker</i>. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Drawings for door prizes will be held every half hour. Visitors should fill out an entry form upon arrival. Winners must be present to win. Prizes will include: a voucher for a free arts center fall class of the winner’s choice valued up to $91 (five drawings will be held); a pair of season passes to opening weekends of G. B. Community Theatre’s 2014 – 15 season valued up to $135 per pair (5 drawings will be held); a pair of tickets to the opening weekends of <i>The Nutcracker</i> and next May’s Spring Dance Concert valued up to $68 per package (5 drawings will be held); and miscellaneous gift items.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>The arts center’s gallery will be displaying an art exhibit by national fine art photographer Sandra Gottlieb, sponsored by Huffman Mayer Wealth Management Group of Wells Fargo Advisors. The photography exhibit organized through Katharine T. Carter & Associates is entitled “Waves in Black and White,” and shows stunning views of waves crashing a secluded beach off the Atlantic coast.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>A barn quilt painting demonstration will also be held in conjunction with the dedication of the arts center’s new “barn quilt” which is now on display on the arts center’s grounds as a part of the upcoming Ashtabula County Barn Quilt Trail. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Visitors to the Open House can also purchase lunch. The arts center concessions stand will be open throughout the event selling hot dogs for $2 with all other concession items being just $1 each. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>For more information contact the front desk at (440) 964-3396.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>The Ashtabula Arts Center is funded in part by the Ohio Arts Council.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>###<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>