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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNoSpacing align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Ohio Shakespeare Festival<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>1-888-71-TICKETS<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><a href="http://www.ohioshakespearefestival.com">www.ohioshakespearefestival.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing align=center style='text-align:center'><b><i><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>For Immediate Release<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:13.0pt'>Ohio Shakespeare Festival’s 2015 Summer Season includes<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing align=center style='text-align:center'><b><i><span style='font-size:13.0pt'>Much Ado about Nothing </span></i></b><span style='font-size:13.0pt'>and<b> <i>Henry V</i><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>“If you have ever wished that a Shakespeare production could somehow be outfitted with annotations and footnotes to help you understand what’s going on at every moment, there’s a much easier and more enjoyable alternative. Just sit in the audience while the Ohio Shakespeare Festival is performing.” <i>(Cleveland Scene Magazine)<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Ohio Shakespeare Festival, performing for a magical fourteenth summer at beautiful Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens in Akron, will present William Shakespeare’s frothy, romantic comedy, <i>Much Ado about Nothing</i>, followed by Shakespeare's exciting, battle-filled history play, <i>Henry V</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing><i><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Much Ado about Nothing</span></i><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> will preview on July 2, open July 3 and run through July 19. <i>Henry V</i> will preview on July 30, open July 31, and perform through August 16. Performances are Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights at 8pm, preceded by our popular “Greenshow” of songs, dances, swordfights and parodies each evening at 7:30, performed by our younger Company members. Stan Hywet’s grounds open at 6pm for picnicking in a wide variety of scenic locations, and concessions are available, including sandwiches, snacks, wines, and microbrews. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing><i><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Much Ado about Nothing</span></i><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> will feature OSF Company members Lara Mielcarek (Olivia, Kate, Ophelia), and Bernard Bygott (Antipholus, Oberon, Posthumus) as the famous adversaries-turned-lovers, Beatrice and Benedick. Joining them will be Tess Burgler (Imogen, Juliet, Viola) as Hero, Joe Pine (Hotspur, Feste, Demetrius) as Claudio, and Geoff Knox (Malvolio, Cloten, Poins) as the foolish constable, Dogberry.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing><i><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Henry V</span></i><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> will complete OSF’s two-year project producing some of Shakespeare’s overlooked, yet thrilling dramatizations of history. <i>Henry V</i> tells the continuing story of former party-boy Prince Hal from last season’s <i>Henry IV, Part One</i>, who has now become King Henry V. OSF Company member Andrew Cruse (Hamlet, Romeo, Petruchio) is again playing Henry, as he leads England’s war against the French, culminating in victory at the famous Battle of Agincourt. Joining Cruse are Tracee Patterson (Narrator), and Tess Burgler (Princess Katharine), along with two score company members including Ryan Zarecki, Jason Leupold, and Holly Humes. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>In order to make live performances of Shakespeare accessible to all budgets, OSF is offering two evenings with ticketing supported by OSF, the Corbin Foundation, and the Akron Community Foundation. <i>Much Ado about Nothing</i> will have a “Pay what you Will(iam Shakespeare)” performance on Thursday, July 9, and <i>Henry V</i> will have a performance free for all students (with ID) on Thursday, August 6. (“Pay what you will” and free student tickets are available at the gate only.)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens is located at 714 N. Portage Path in Akron, and OSF’s plays are staged at “the Lagoon,” rain or shine. Tickets are $33 for reserved seating (the first 100 seats in the center, closest to the stage), or $28 for festival (open) seating. Student tickets are $15, every performance. Reservations may be made any time through OSF’s web site at <a href="http://www.ohioshakespearefestival.com">www.ohioshakespearefestival.com</a>, or by calling the box office at 1-888-71-TICKETS daily from 9am to 9pm.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>“B</span><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>urgler and his band of actors perform Shakespeare for the sheer joy of it. We audience members are fortunate to partake in such a gorgeous treat.” <i>(Akron Beacon Journal)<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>-- End --<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>