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April 5, 2018 <u><span style="font-family:"Calibri Bold",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u><span style="font-family:"Calibri Bold",serif">IMMEDIATE RELEASE</span></u><span style="mso-spacerun:yes">
</span><u><span style="font-family:"Calibri Bold",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></u></p>
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<u><span style="font-family:"Calibri Bold",serif">Contact: <o:p></o:p></span></u></p>
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Julia Dillard, Marketing Manager<o:p></o:p></p>
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<a href="mailto:info@clevelandballet.org" id="LPlnk365796" previewremoved="true"><span style="color:#000099">julia@clevelandballet.org</span></a><o:p></o:p></p>
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216-320-9000 <o:p></o:p></p>
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Cleveland Ballet announces Casting and Open Media Rehearsal for Alice, May 4th, time 1:00pm-3:00pm.<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Bold",serif">CLEVELAND, OH April 5, 2018:
</span>Members of the media are invited to an open rehearsal for Cleveland Ballet’s upcoming production of
<span style="font-family:"Calibri Italic",serif">Alice</span>. Tony Award nominated choreographer Margo Sappington, Artistic Director Gladisa Guadalupe and Executive staff will be present and available for interviews, along with company dancers.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Open rehearsal will be held at Red Hall Studio in Playhouse Square, on May 4th from 1:00pm-3:00pm. Light refreshments will be served.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Casting for this production is complete, with company artists Jenna Steiner as Alice, Lauren Stenroos as the Queen of Hearts, Jason Wang as the Caterpillar, Rainer Diaz as the White Rabbit and Artist in Residence Alan Obuzor in the role
of Cheshire Cat.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="FreeForm"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"">Lauren Stenroos says she’s always dreamed of dancing the Queen of Hearts. “The Queen of Hearts is a very strong
character, and she’s always been a dream role for me because she is literally crazy. She’s so narcissistic that it makes her unstable. If anyone disobeys her, it leads her to instant rage (which I think is quite hilarious)</span><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_s1026"
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I’m very excited to embody this nutty, bipolar, almost diabolical character! I feel like every true artist has a little dash of the unwaveringness of the Queen of Heart’s spirit that fuels their passion and dedication to our craft. I definitely have that unwavering
tiger fire inside of me and so I hope to bring that out in my interpretation of this role.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="FreeForm"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"">In preparing for her role as Alice, Jenna Steiner says “I normally develop my characters by getting to know
the story, reading the book or watching the movie. Thankfully Alice in Wonderland has both, so I’ve been doing a lot of research! I look at how my character reacts to the situations around her and then incorporate that attitude into the choreography. I’m always
excited to expand my repertoire and it’s fun to step into someone else’s shoes with a new character.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Cleveland Ballet is dedicated to creating an appreciation for reimagined classical, modern and contemporary ballet around the world.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Bold",serif">Media professionals are invited to schedule interviews with Margo Sappington or Cleveland Ballet Artistic Director Gladisa Guadalupe.</span> Please contact Cleveland Ballet 216-320-9000 and
speak with Maureen Basista to schedule times or for more company-related information.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For more information on our world premiere of <span style="font-family:"Calibri Italic",serif">
Alice </span>at the Ohio Theatre at Playhouse Square on Friday, May 11 at 8 p.m. and Saturday, May 12 at 11 a.m., visit our website
<a href="http://www.clevelandballet.org/" id="LPlnk2621" previewremoved="true"><span class="Hyperlink1">www.clevelandballet.org</span></a> or playhousesquare.org to purchase tickets ($25-$69).
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Bold",serif">What: </span>
<span style="font-family:"Calibri Italic",serif">Alice</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Bold",serif">Who:</span> Cleveland Ballet<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Bold",serif">Performances: May 11 at 8 p.m. and May 12 at 11 a.m.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Bold",serif">Location: Playhouse Square</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Bold",serif">Admission: $25-$69</span><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">For more information on Cleveland Ballet visit clevelandballet.org or call 216-320-9000
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Stay connected on Facebook and Instagram.<o:p></o:p></p>
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