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<b><span style="font-size:18.0pt">CPH PRESENTS UPLIFTING HOLIDAY CONCERT: <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0in;text-align:center;line-height:normal">
<b><span style="font-size:18.0pt">SONGS FROM <i>THE FIRST NOEL</i><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0in;text-align:center;line-height:normal">
<b><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Songs From <i>The First Noel</i><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0in;text-align:center;line-height:normal">
<b><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Sunday, December 20, 2020 at 7:30 pm<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0in;text-align:center;line-height:normal">
<b><i><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Virtual Broadcast Premiere Event<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><a name="_Hlk59197017">Cleveland Play House
</a>celebrates the holiday season with an uplifting musical concert<b> <a name="_Hlk59152140">
Songs From <i>The First Noel</i> </a></b><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk59152140"></span>on Sunday, December 20, 2020 at 7:30 pm. This vibrant offering features pop, jazz and gospel music, as well as reimagined Christmas classics. With book, music and lyrics
by Jason Michael Webb and Lelund Durond Thompson, this soulful inspirational production is co-directed by Lelund Durond Thompson and Steve H. Broadnax III.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal">Viewing tickets are $10 per household and are available for purchase at
<u><a href="http://www.clevelandplayhouse.com">www.clevelandplayhouse.com</a></u>.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal">Cleveland Play House
<b>Artistic Director Laura Kepley</b> states, “This holiday concert featuring songs from the musical
<b><i>The First Noel</i> </b>is a not-to-be-missed special event that will touch your heart and raise your spirits. The gorgeous music and extraordinarily talented cast embody all of the feelings that the holiday season can trigger. This production will give
the gift of healing, hope and rejoicing.” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal">A poignant new musical,
<b><i>The First Noel</i></b> tells the universal story of a family that must confront the grief of the past in order to reunite and celebrate the joy of the present. The virtual broadcast includes exclusive behind-the-scenes interviews with the creative team:
Tony Award winner Jason Michael Webb, Case Western Reserve University/Cleveland Play House (CWRU/CPH) MFA Alum Lelund Durond Thompson, and celebrated regional theatre director Steve H. Broadnax III (director of CPH’s 2019 production of
<i>Pipeline</i>). <span style="color:red"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="color:red"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><b><i>The First Noel</i></b><i>
</i>received its world premiere at The Apollo Theatre in NYC and was produced by The Classical Theatre of Harlem in 2015. It played the Apollo again in 2016 and has since been produced at theatres across the country.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="color:#0563C1"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal">The production includes musical performances by Angela Birchett, Ciara Cain, India Carney, Nia Caesar, Les Cleveland, Daniela Cobb, Jesse Corbin, Revel Day, Tina Fabrique, Ayana George, Chelton
Gray, Kristen Grinage, Jennie Harney, Adam Hyndman, Lamont Hill Cassondra James, Ashley Ware Jenkins, Saivon Johnson, Alec Lehrman, Jonathan Linden, Aaron Marcellus, Benjamin Moore, Carlos Ricketts, Kenneth Robinson, Soara-Joye Ross, Jared Schonig, Anderlyn
Smith, Teresa Stanley, Skye Dakota Turner, Tiffany Webb Stoney, Vicky Walters,<b>
</b>and Helen White. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0in;text-align:center;line-height:normal">
“<i>The First Noel</i> means to tug at the heartstrings, and it does…” <span style="font-size:9.0pt">
– <i>The New York Times</i></span><o:p></o:p></p>
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<o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0in;text-align:center;line-height:normal">
“…a distinct holiday story that’s as believably specific as it is emotionally universal.”
<span style="font-size:9.0pt">– <i>Billboard</i></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0in;text-align:center;line-height:normal">
<o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0in;text-align:center;line-height:normal">
“…a story of healing and welcoming the hopeful message of the holiday season.” <span style="font-size:9.0pt">
– <i>Theater Pizzazz<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="xmsonormal"><span style="color:red"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="xmsonormal"><span style="color:red"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal">The broadcast premiere event of
<b>Songs From <i>The First Noel</i></b> on Sunday, December 20, 2020 at 7:30 pm EST will also serve as the
<b>CPH Annual Free Night of Theatre</b> for the scholars, families, educators, and staff of the Cleveland Metropolitan School District<b>
</b>community.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><b>KeyBank</b> is the Presenting Sponsor of the 2020-21 Theatre Season at Cleveland Play House. Additional funding for
<b>Songs From <i>The First Noel</i></b> is provided by K&D, Kulas Foundation, LSC Service Corporation, Medical Mutual of Ohio, Zinner & Co, Janet Kramer, and Cathy Lincoln.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><a name="_Hlk59197394">Registration for
<b>Songs From <i>The First Noel</i></b> is required in advance. <b>Viewing access is $10 per household.
</b></a>This exciting holiday concert can be streamed via YouTube on a computer, laptop, tablet or Smart TV. The production can be accessed on demand through Friday, January 1, 2021 at 11:59 PM EST.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><b>Patrons can purchase viewing tickets exclusively by visiting
<u><a href="http://www.clevelandplayhouse.com">www.clevelandplayhouse.com</a></u>.</b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><b><o:p> </o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-size:12.0pt">###</span><span style="font-size:8.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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