<div dir="ltr"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Georgia,serif;color:black;letter-spacing:0.25pt">Dearest Cleveland theater
community.</span><span style="color:black"> </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Georgia,serif;letter-spacing:0.25pt"></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Georgia,serif;letter-spacing:0.25pt"> </span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Georgia,serif;color:black;letter-spacing:0.25pt">Just a short post to let you
know that I have decided to step down as theater critic for the Cleveland
Jewish News.  I will continue to serve as
a freelancer for the paper but, mostly, I will be assuming the challenging role
of grandfather to Isabelle “Izzy” Rose Abelman.</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Georgia,serif;letter-spacing:0.25pt"></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Georgia,serif;letter-spacing:0.25pt"> </span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Georgia,serif;color:black;letter-spacing:0.25pt">I can’t begin to tell you how
fortunate I am to have been involved in the Cleveland theater community over
the years, as a performer and an arts journalist.  It has, among other things, brought me in
contact with you. What a pleasure watching your work and writing about it! </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Georgia,serif;letter-spacing:0.25pt"></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Georgia,serif;letter-spacing:0.25pt"> </span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Georgia,serif;color:black;letter-spacing:0.25pt">I’m sure the CJN will soon
announce my replacement and she/he/they will serve you well.  </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Georgia,serif;letter-spacing:0.25pt"></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Georgia,serif;letter-spacing:0.25pt"> </span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Georgia,serif;color:black;letter-spacing:0.25pt">All the best,</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Georgia,serif;letter-spacing:0.25pt"></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Georgia,serif;letter-spacing:0.25pt"> </span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Georgia,serif;color:black;letter-spacing:0.25pt">Bob Abelman</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Georgia,serif;letter-spacing:0.25pt"></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Georgia,serif;letter-spacing:0.25pt"> </span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> </p></div>