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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Contact: Julie Gilliland, Director of Marketing,
</span></b><a href="mailto:jgilliland@beckcenter.org"><b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">jgilliland@beckcenter.org</span></b></a><b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">.
</span></b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:20.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Beck Center for the Arts Announces<i> Elf The Musical</i>, holiday fun for the whole family
</span></b><span style="font-size:20.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<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><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><a href="http://www.beckcenter.org/"><span style="color:blue">Beck
Center for the Arts</span></a></span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> is excited to announce</span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">
<a href="https://www.beckcenter.org/shows/elf"><i>Elf The Musical</i></a><i>, </i>
a soon to be holiday classic for the stage. </span><i><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> </span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Elf The Musical,
</span></i></b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">b</span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">o</span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">ok was adapted by Bob Martin and Thomas Meehan</span><i><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">
</span></i><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">with</span><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">
</span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">lyrics by Chad Beguelin</span><i><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">
</span></i><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">and</span><i><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">
</span></i><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">music by Matthew Sklar.</span><i><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">
</span></i><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Based on the New Line Cinema film by David Berenbaum, this stage production is directed by Scott Spence, with musical direction by Larry Goodpaster, and choreography by Martín Céspedes. The
show run</span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">s December 3, 2021 – January 2, 2022,
<span style="color:black">in the Senney Theater in Lakewood, Ohio. </span>Additional performances added on Wednesdays Dec. 22nd/29th, Thursdays, Dec. 16th/23rd/Dec 30th, and double performances, (matinee and evenings, 2:30PM/7:30PM) on December 11th and December
18th, 2021. </span><i><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#9900FF"> </span></b><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:red"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;background:white;mso-highlight:white">Based on the beloved holiday film, this hilarious big-elf-living-in-a-small world comedy follows Buddy the Elf in his quest to find his true identity in a
holiday bedazzled New York City.</span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"> Featuring songs written by the creator of Disney’s
<i>Aladdin on Broadway</i> and a book by the writer of <i>Annie, The Producers, </i>
and <i>Hairspray </i>this feels and sounds like a sweet holiday treat for all ages. (Maple syrup not included.) Beck Center is thrilled to welcome a huge cast of local talent, including Actor Equity Association members</span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">
Tim Allen (last seen in Beck Center’s <i>Matilda the Musical)</i> as Buddy the Elf, and Gregory Violand (from the Beck Center production of
<i>The Scottsboro Boys) </i>as Walter. </span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:red"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;letter-spacing:.8pt;background:white"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;letter-spacing:.8pt;background:white">Director Scott Spence, now in his 31<sup>st</sup> season says,
</span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">"It's always a special moment when a very popular movie makes its transition to live theatre in a triumphant way.
<i>Elf, The Musical</i> does just that as it captures the whimsy, magic and heart of the Will Ferrell modern day classic, all the while adding the festive vocals and dance you'd expect in a holiday musical. With a cast of 30, Beck Center is thrilled to do our
part to eclipse the darkness that surrounds us by delivering Buddy the Elf's special brand of human spirit rekindling. It really IS perfect for the entire family." <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" style="mso-margin-top-alt:3.75pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:3.75pt;margin-left:0in">
<span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Tickets are currently on sale at 216-521-2540 x 10, on Beck Center’s campus at 17801 Detroit Ave, Lakewood, Ohio 44107 or at
</span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><a href="https://www.beckcenter.org/shows/elf">beckcenter.org.</a></span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> Ticket
</span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">prices start at $34 (adults), $30 (for seniors 65 and older) and $12 for students with valid ID. Use promo code
<b>BUDDY</b> (all letters must be capitalized) to save $5 off adult/senior tickets when purchased before November 26, 2021. A $3 service fee per single ticket will be applied at time of purchase. Curtain
<span style="color:black">times are 7:30 p.m. weeknights and Saturdays, and 2:30 p.m. weekends. Preview performances are 7:30 p.m. the Thursday before opening night, with general-admission seating for $10. $10 Smart Seats® are available for each performance.
For more information on the 2021-22 Professional Theater Season </span>please visit
</span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><a href="https://www.beckcenter.org/professional-theater"><span style="color:windowtext">beckcenter.org</span></a></span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:red"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">This play is produced by
<span style="color:black">special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI).</span><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">The Senney Theater is inside </span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><a href="http://www.beckcenter.org/"><span style="color:blue">Beck Center
for the Arts</span></a></span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> located at 17801 Detroit Avenue in Lakewood, just ten minutes west of downtown Cleveland. Free onsite parking is available. For more information visit </span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><a href="http://www.beckcenter.org/"><span style="color:blue">beckcenter.org</span></a></span><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"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">In anticipation of welcoming theater patrons back to The Senney Theater and Studio Theater spaces,
</span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Beck Center has made a number of investments in our HVAC and air filtration to provide a safe environment for our patrons as they return to the theater. All actors have been fully vaccinated, as well as backstage
crew. Theater patrons over the age of two must be masked at all times inside Beck Center buildings, and patrons over the age of 12 must show a vaccination card (or copy, or image on a smart phone), or proof of a negative COVID-19 test prior to entering the
theater. For more information, please visit <a href="https://beckcenter.squarespace.com/new-page-1">
beckcenter.org</a>. </span><span class="None"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Beck Center for the Arts is proud to be a part of Northeast Ohio’s professional theater landscape, operating under a letter of agreement with Actors’ Equity Association. We are a Small Professional
Theater (SPT) based on the number of seats, number of our performances, and the maximum weekly hours of work we provide to actors. We produce every show on our stages, by choosing the play, casting and rehearsing it, building the sets, props, and costumes,
directing and performing the live music, and designing lights and sound. We proudly utilize regional resources and talent.
<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" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Beck Center thanks John P. Murphy Foundation for their generous support of this production.
<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>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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