<html><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space;" class=""><p class=""><span style="font-size: 14px;" class=""><b class="">"Not long ago I caught an interview of National Public Radio. The
guest was well-known comedian, writer, producer, actor and TV
personality Louis CK. He talked at length about the benefit of open mic
venues where he could try new materials – to see how it all sounded in
his voice, so to speak, and to get some idea of audience reaction.</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri-Italic;"><b class=""><span class="" style="font-size: 14px;"></span></b></p><p class=""><span style="font-size: 14px;" class=""><b class="">That’s good enough reason for an open mic art spot in the area. Or at least <a href="https://www.facebook.com/WATheatre" class="">Wandering Aethestics</a> and the <a href="http://www.rubbercitytheater.com" class="">Rubber City Theater Company </a> seem to think so, for they monthly hold an open mic session called the <a href="http://www.tinyurl.com/EPCooker12" class="">Electric Pressure Cooker</a>.” </b></span></p><div class=""><span style="font-size: 14px;" class=""><b class="">- Roger Durbin, Knight Foundation </b></span></div><div class=""><span style="font-size: 14px;" class=""><b class="">Read the Rest of the Article Here: <a href="http://www.knightarts.org/community/akron/open-mic-akron-at-the-electric-pressure-cooker-held-in-pub-bricco" class="">http://www.knightarts.org/community/akron/open-mic-akron-at-the-electric-pressure-cooker-held-in-pub-bricco</a></b></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri-Italic; text-align: center;"><span class="" style="font-size: 10pt;"><br class=""></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri-Italic; text-align: center;"><span class="" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span><span class="" style="font-size: 10pt;">Wandering Aesthetics &</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="font-family: Calibri-Italic; text-align: center;"><span class="" style="font-size: 10pt;">Rubber City Theater Company<br class="">Present…<br class=""><b class="">The Electric Pressure Cooker Open Mic Cabaret</b> <b class=""><br class=""><br class=""></b></span><span class="" style="font-size: 6pt;"><o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri-Italic; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span class="" style="font-size: 10pt;">Wandering Aesthetics, in collaboration with Rubber City Theater Company is proud to announce the next <i class="">Electric Pressure Cooker Open Mic Cabaret </i>– a monthly “Anything Goes” Cabaret-Style Open Mic. <o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri-Italic; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><i class=""><span class="" style="font-size: 10pt;">The Electric Pressure Cooker </span></i><span class="" style="font-size: 10pt;">will be held on Saturday, January 17 at 7 pm at None Too Fragile Theatre inside Pub Bricco, located at 1841 Merriman Road in Akron, Ohio. <o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri-Italic; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><b class=""><i class=""><span class="" style="font-size: 10pt;">The Electric Pressure Cooker</span></i></b><b class=""><span class="" style="font-size: 10pt;"> is a free event and open to the public.<br class=""></span></b><span class="" style="font-size: 6pt;"><br class=""></span><span class="" style="font-size: 10pt;">For more information visit <a href="http://www.tinyurl.com/EPCooker12" class="">www.tinyurl.com/EPCooker12</a> or email <a href="mailto:watheatre@gmail.com" class="">watheatre@gmail.com</a><b class=""><o:p class=""></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri-Italic;"><b class=""><span class="" style="font-size: 10pt;">About the Event:<br class=""></span></b><b class=""><span class="" style="font-size: 6pt;"><br class=""></span></b><i class=""><span class="" style="font-size: 10pt;">The #EPCooker </span></i><span class="" style="font-size: 10pt;">is one of Akron’s hottest open mics. Started in the basement of a flower shop, it is an artist driven event that sees over 100 audience members, 30 performances and 6 non-stop hours of art. Most months include an art gallery, showcasing the talents of a local visual artist. <o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><div style="font-family: Calibri-Italic;" class=""><span class="" style="font-size: 6pt;"> </span><br class="webkit-block-placeholder"></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri-Italic;"><span class="" style="font-size: 10pt;">Sign ups to perform begin one-half hour (7 pm) before performances (7:30 pm) start. Anyone may sign up for a 10-minute slot. Slots are extended to 15 minutes, if set up/tear down is required for the acts. <br class=""></span><span class="" style="font-size: 6pt;"><br class=""></span><span class="" style="font-size: 10pt;">An emcee and sound system (with operators) are provided. <b class="">Matthew Dolan – musical director, improviser and arts educator – is this month’s emcee.</b> <br class=""></span><span class="" style="font-size: 6pt;"><br class=""></span><b class=""><i class=""><u class=""><span class="" style="font-size: 10pt;">ALL</span></u></i></b><span class="" style="font-size: 10pt;"> varieties of acts are encouraged to perform. Previous acts have included: monologues, acoustic musicians, play readings, comedians, experimental art, dancers, scenes from plays, improv, devised work, full rock bands and performance artists. But the sky is the limit; no art is too taboo for the #EPCooker! <br class=""></span><span class="" style="font-size: 6pt;"><br class=""></span><b class=""><i class=""><u class=""><span class="" style="font-size: 10pt;">ALL</span></u></i></b><span class="" style="font-size: 10pt;"> levels – from beginner to the most experienced – are encouraged to perform. Those under 18 are permitted to attend (and perform!) with adult supervision. <br class=""></span><span class="" style="font-size: 6pt;"><br class=""></span><i class=""><span class="" style="font-size: 10pt;">The #EPCooker </span></i><span class="" style="font-size: 10pt;">is not just an Open Mic, it is an open and welcoming community of artists. It is also a great networking event, a great place to improve stage presence and a great place to develop as an artist. <br class=""></span><span class="" style="font-size: 6pt;"><br class=""></span><span class="" style="font-size: 10pt;">Pub Bricco has a full bar and a wide selection of food. Food and alcohol are permitted in the theatre. <o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri-Italic;"><span class="" style="font-size: 6pt;"><br class=""></span><b class=""><span class="" style="font-size: 10pt;">About the Emcee: </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri-Italic;"><span class="" style="font-size: 10pt;">Matthew Dolan is a music director, pianist, improvisor and arts educator who lives in Akron, but whose work can be seen across Northeast Ohio. <br class=""></span><span class="" style="font-size: 6pt;"><br class=""></span><span class="" style="font-size: 10pt;">As a music director, Matthew works largely in musical theater. This spring, he will direct the music for <i class="">Oliver!</i> The show will open in May on the Mackey Main Stage at the Beck Center for the Arts in Lakewood. <br class=""></span><span class="" style="font-size: 6pt;"><br class=""></span><span class="" style="font-size: 10pt;">Matthew has been an active improvisor in Northeast Ohio for the past 12 years. Currently, he can be seen performing weekly as a member of <b class="">Something Dada</b>, Cleveland's longest running improv comedy show, now in its 20th season. He also is a Co-Founder and the Artistic Director for Just Go With It Improv, a newly formed improvisational collaborative whose goal is to merge artistic disciplines through improvisation. In the past Matthew has also performed with Point of No Return, Title TBD! An Improvised Musical, and Torque: Full Throttle Improv. <br class=""></span><span class="" style="font-size: 6pt;"><br class=""></span><span class="" style="font-size: 10pt;">In his spare time, Matthew enjoys sharing a meal, a drink, and a laugh with friends.</span></p></body></html>