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<div style="font-size:12.8px;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif"><b>Press Release: For Immediate Release</b></font></div><div style="font-size:12.8px;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div style="font-size:12.8px;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif">Contact:<span> </span><b><a href="http://info@ensemble-theatre.org/tickets@ensemble-theatre.org" target="_blank" style="color:rgb(17,85,204)">info@ensemble-theatre.org/<wbr>tickets@ensemble-theatre.org</a></b></font></div><div style="font-size:12.8px;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif">Phone:<span> </span><b>216-321-2930 </b></font></div><div style="font-size:12.8px;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div style="font-size:12.8px;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif">ENSEMBLE THEATRE to open its 39th consecutive Season! </font></div><div style="font-size:12.8px;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4" color="#674ea7"><b>-THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT-</b></font></div><div style="font-size:12.8px;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><span style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif"><br></span></div><div style="font-size:12.8px;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><span style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif">with</span></div><div style="font-size:12.8px;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div style="font-size:12.8px;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" color="#674ea7" size="4"><b>ALABAMA STORY</b></font></div><div style="font-size:12.8px;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif">By<span> </span><b>Kenneth Jones  </b></font></div><div style="font-size:12.8px;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif">Directed by<span> </span><b>Tyler Whidden</b></font></div><div style="font-size:12.8px;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div style="font-size:12.8px;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif"><b>Ohio Premiere!!</b></font></div><div style="font-size:12.8px;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" color="#674ea7"><b>September 7th- September 30th</b></font></div><div style="font-size:12.8px;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif"><b>MainStage Theater</b></font></div><div style="font-size:12.8px;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div style="font-size:12.8px;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif">A gentle children’s book with an apparent hidden message — a black rabbit marries a white rabbit! — stirs the passions of a segregationist State Senator and the no-nonsense State Librarian in 1959 Montgomery, Alabama, just as the civil rights movement is flowering. Another story of childhood friends — an African-American man and a white woman, reunited in adulthood in Montgomery that same year — provides private counterpoint to the public events of the play.</font></div><div style="font-size:12.8px;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div style="font-size:12.8px;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif"><b>Alabama Story</b><span> </span>was the finalist for several major playwriting awards including the Eugene O’Neill National Playwrights Conference and the Steinberg/American Theatre Critics Association New Play Award. With over a dozen professional productions across the country, Ensemble is proud to bring this wonderfully important play to the stage for its Ohio Premiere!</font></div><div style="font-size:12.8px;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div style="font-size:12.8px;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif">“I wrote Alabama Story several years before our current political moment, but the characters, ideas and themes that surface in the play seem more alive than ever: it’s a story of censorship, saber-rattling politicians, persecuted women, Southerners dismissing national opinions, naked racism, threatened civil rights, attacks on the free flow of information. It’s also a love story, a political thriller and, at times, a comedy. Really. The play is set in 1959, and it’s both heartening and horrifying to me that everything old is new again. Inspired by true events, I ended up writing a play about how we treat each other in times of social crisis. I’m excited that Alabama Story is getting its Ohio Premiere by Ensemble Theatre in a time when conversations about the quality of American character are so highly charged.”<b><span> </span>-Kenneth Jones</b></font></div><div style="font-size:12.8px;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div style="font-size:12.8px;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif">“Dynamic! Rich! Impressive! Cleverly crafted! Articulate! Razor-sharp!”<b><span> </span>-Salt Lake Tribune</b></font></div><div style="font-size:12.8px;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div style="font-size:12.8px;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif">“A real-life controversy about a children’s book from 1959 is the basis for a new play with freshly relevant themes.”<span> </span><b>-American Theatre</b></font></div><div style="font-size:12.8px;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div style="font-size:12.8px;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" color="#674ea7"><b>Our entire 2018|2019 Season will take place in the heart of Coventry Village on the Coventry P.E.A.C.E. Campus!!!</b></font></div><div style="font-size:12.8px;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif">2843 W. Washington Blvd | Cleveland Heights, OH 44118</font></div><div style="font-size:12.8px;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div style="font-size:12.8px;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif">So JOIN US! What stories we have to tell!  </font></div><div style="font-size:12.8px;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div style="font-size:12.8px;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif">We are also excited to partner with the<span> </span><a href="https://heightslibrary.org/" target="_blank" style="color:rgb(17,85,204)"><b>Heights Libraries</b></a><span> </span>for additional programming! <br></font><span style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:12.8px">Stay tuned for a schedule of surrounding activities and talk-backs!!<br><br>

<font color="#444444" style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial">There will be a Talkback with<b><span> </span>Heights Libraries Director,</b></font><font color="#674ea7" style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;font-weight:bold"><span> </span></font><font color="#741b47" style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;font-weight:bold">Nancy Levin</font><font color="#674ea7" style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;font-weight:bold"><span> </span></font><font color="#444444" style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial">following the<span> </span></font><b style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><font color="#741b47">September 22nd</font></b><font color="#444444" style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><span> </span>performance!</font>

<br></span></div><div style="font-size:12.8px;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif"><font color="#444444" style="">There will be a SKYPE TALKBACK with the PLAYWRIGHT</font><font color="#741b47" style="font-weight:bold"> Kenneth Jones</font><font color="#444444" style="font-weight:bold"> </font><font color="#444444" style="">following the</font><font color="#444444" style="font-weight:bold"> </font><font color="#741b47" style="font-weight:bold">September 23rd</font><font color="#444444" style="font-weight:bold"> </font><font color="#444444" style="">Performance!</font><font color="#674ea7"> </font></font></div><div style="text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" style="" color="#444444"><span style="font-size:12.8px">Stay tuned for additional surrounding events!</span></font></div><div style="font-size:12.8px;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif"><b style=""><font color="#674ea7"><br></font></b></font></div><div style="font-size:12.8px;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif"><b style=""><font color="#674ea7">Opening Night Reception (9/7) with </font><font color="#741b47">Chocolate Covered Strawberries! </font></b></font></div><div style="font-size:12.8px;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif"><b style=""><font color="#674ea7">Opening weekend Special Cocktail "</font><font color="#9900ff">Lightning Lemonade</font><font color="#674ea7">", Beer & Wine!  </font></b></font></div><div style="font-size:12.8px;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div style="font-size:12.8px;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif"><b>PERFORMANCES: </b></font></div><div style="font-size:12.8px;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif">Fridays and Saturdays @ 8pm. Sundays @ 2pm</font></div><div style="font-size:12.8px;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif"><b>216-321-2930</b></font></div><div style="font-size:12.8px;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif"><b><a href="mailto:tickets@ensemble-theatre.org" target="_blank" style="color:rgb(17,85,204)">tickets@ensemble-theatre.org</a></b></font></div><div style="font-size:12.8px;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div style="font-size:12.8px;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif"><b>With an amazing cast and crew of LOCAL artists!</b></font></div><div style="font-size:12.8px;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" color="#674ea7"><b>Ensemble Members: </b></font></div><div style="font-size:12.8px;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif"><b>Anne McEvoy<span> </span></b>as Emily Reed. </font></div><div style="font-size:12.8px;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif"><b>Joseph Milan</b><span> </span>as Senator Higgins</font></div><div style="font-size:12.8px;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif"><b>Craig Joseph</b><span> </span>as Garth Williams </font></div><div style="font-size:12.8px;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div style="font-size:12.8px;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif"><b style="color:rgb(103,78,167)">And introducing new members to the Ensemble Family: </b><br><b><font color="#000000">Cody Kilpatrick Steele</font></b><b style="color:rgb(103,78,167)"><span> </span></b><font color="#000000">as Thomas Franklin</font><br></font></div><div style="font-size:12.8px;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif"><b>Eugene Sumlin</b><span> </span>as Josh Moore</font></div><div style="font-size:12.8px;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif"><b>Adrienne Jones</b><span> </span>as Lily Whitfield. </font></div><div style="font-size:12.8px;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div style="font-size:12.8px;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif">Executive Artistic Director/Producer:<span> </span><b>Celeste Cosentino</b></font></div><div style="font-size:12.8px;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif">Associate Artistic Director/Director: <b>Tyler Whidden</b></font></div><div style="font-size:12.8px;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif">General Manager/Production Stage Manager:<span> </span><b>Becca Moseley</b> </font></div><div style="font-size:12.8px;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif">Light and Sound Design by<b><span> </span>Ian Hinz</b></font></div><div style="font-size:12.8px;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif">Set Design by<span> </span><b>Walter Boswell</b></font></div><div style="font-size:12.8px;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif">Technical Director<span> </span><b>August Scarpelli </b></font></div><div style="font-size:12.8px;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif">Costume Design by<span> </span><b>Meg Parish</b></font></div><div style="font-size:12.8px;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div style="font-size:12.8px;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif"><b>PARKING</b></font></div><div style="font-size:12.8px;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif">Parking can be found in the Coventry School parking lot to the south of the theatre, also along Washington Blvd and surrounding streets.</font></div><div style="font-size:12.8px;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div style="font-size:12.8px;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif"><b><a href="https://squareup.com/store/ensemble-theatre-of-cleveland/item/alabama-story" target="_blank" style="color:rgb(17,85,204)">SINGLE TICKETS</a><span> </span></b>are<span> </span><b>$12-$29</b><span> </span>(On Sale NOW)</font></div><div style="font-size:12.8px;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div style="font-size:12.8px;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif"><b><a href="http://www.ensembletheatrecle.org/season-tickets/" target="_blank" style="color:rgb(17,85,204)">SEASON PASSES</a></b><span> </span>are<span> </span><b>$34-$364.</b><span> </span>(On Sale NOW!) </font></div><div style="font-size:12.8px;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif">Ensemble Season passes are FLEX TICKET PACKAGES that can be used in any combination for any production!  </font></div><div style="font-size:12.8px;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div style="font-size:12.8px;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif"><b><a href="http://www.ensembletheatrecle.org/season-tickets/" target="_blank" style="color:rgb(17,85,204)">CLICK HERE</a></b><span> </span>to buy a season pass or visit<span> </span><b><a href="http://www.ensembletheatrecle.org/" target="_blank" style="color:rgb(17,85,204)">www.ensembletheatreCLE.org</a></b><span> </span>to purchase online and for more info! </font></div><div style="font-size:12.8px;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif">Call<span> </span><b>216-321-2930</b><span> </span>or email<span> </span><b><a href="mailto:tickets@ensemble-theatre.org" target="_blank" style="color:rgb(17,85,204)">tickets@ensemble-theatre.org</a><span> </span></b>for more information! </font></div><div style="font-size:12.8px;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div style="font-size:12.8px;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" color="#674ea7"><b>Great Scripts. Cleveland Artists!</b></font></div><div style="font-size:12.8px;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif">We look forward to seeing you in our audience!  </font></div>

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