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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 30, 2021</span></b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Beck Center for the Arts Announces Original Script Created for Youth Theater Production of
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<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><i><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Little Tech Class of Horrors: When Good Science Goes Bad
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Lakewood, OH</span></b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">–</span><a href="http://www.beckcenter.org/"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:blue">Beck
Center for the Arts</span></a><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> is pleased to announce the first production of
</span><a href="https://www.beckcenter.org/youth-theater"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">2021-2022 Youth Theater Season.</span></a><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">The 73<sup>rd</sup> season starts with a modern, original parody of the cult classic sci-fi comedy
<i>Little Shop of Horrors, </i>written and directed<i> </i>by Russell Stich. </span>
<a href="https://www.beckcenter.org/youth-shows/littletech"><i><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Little Tech Shop of Horrors: When Good Science Goes Bad</span></i></a><i><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">
</span></i><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">runs October 21 to October 24, 2021, in the Senney Theater.
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">In this hilarious parody of
<i>Little Shop of Horrors</i>, the students of The Mushkin Technical Academy deal with the same problems as any other students. The cafeteria food is awful, the popular kids "Rule the School,” and now their favorite teacher has been let go! Things start to
look up when they discover an unfinished android in one of the storage units and decide to enter it in an upcoming competition. Unfortunately, it seems they may never get a chance when cosmic events cause the android to act on its own and begin its conquest
of the human race! Can our heroes save the day, or will this be their final exam?
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Russel Stich says of this process, “The cast is having a great time with the script, which is a combination of comedy, sci-fi and just a touch of horror thrown in fun. Our cast has embraced the
characters and are doing a fantastic job of giving them life. After just a few short rehearsals, these characters are already beginning to feel like fully developed people. As the author, it’s exciting to see these talented young actors bring a bit of their
own personalities to the characters you’ve created.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">This production takes place live and in-person with a student matinee on Thursday, October 21 at 10:00 am EST, and performances open to the public with a 7:30 pm curtain on both Friday, October
22 and Saturday, October 23, and a 3:00 pm matinee on Sunday, October 24, 2021. Also running at those at those curtain times is a live-streaming virtual option, for out of town friends and family of the cast and crew, and for younger siblings unable to yet
be vaccinated against COVID-19. For additional information on this option please visit
</span><a href="http://www.showtix4u.com/event-details/56990"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">beckcenter.org.</span></a><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p style="margin:0in"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Tickets are now on sale. Please call 216-521-2540 x10 for group rates and to schedule a spot in the student matinee. Prices include $12 Adult/Senior and $10 Children/Student (18 & under). Reserve
tickets for either the in-person or virtual performance at <a href="https://www.beckcenter.org/youth-shows/littletech">
beckcenter.org,</a> call 216.521.2540 x10 or simply stop by Beck Center Customer Service at 17801 Detroit Ave, Lakewood, OH, 44107.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin:0in"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Beck Center for the Arts’ Youth Theater alumni include Michael Chernus (<i>Orange Is the New Black</i>;
<i>Manhattan</i>); Dee Hoty (three-time Tony Nominee); Isabela Merced (<i>Dora and the Lost City of Gold;</i>
<i>Transformers: The Last Night</i>); Rory O’Malley (<i>Hamilton</i>; Tony Nominee,
<i>Book of Mormon</i>); Daniel Reichard (Drama Desk Nominee, <i>Jersey Boys</i>); and Alice Ripley (Tony Winner,
<i>Next to Normal</i>).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Programming at Beck Center for the Arts is made possible through the generous support of the Ohio Arts Council. Beck Center gratefully acknowledges the
generous funding provided by the citizens of Cuyahoga County through Cuyahoga Arts and Culture. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><i><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Beck Center for the Arts is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization that offers professional theater productions on two stages, arts education programming
in dance, music, theater, visual arts, early childhood, and creative arts therapies for individuals with disabilities, free gallery exhibits year-round, and outreach education programming.</span></i><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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