<html xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40">
<head>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=us-ascii">
<meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)">
<style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Aptos;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;
mso-ligatures:standardcontextual;}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:#467886;
text-decoration:underline;}
span.EmailStyle19
{mso-style-type:personal-reply;
font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;
color:windowtext;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
font-size:10.0pt;
mso-ligatures:none;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
--></style>
</head>
<body lang="EN-US" link="#467886" vlink="#96607D" style="word-wrap:break-word">
<div class="WordSection1">
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none">Beck Center for the Arts Produces Drama Full of</span></b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none">Stories and Steam in</span></b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none">August Wilson’s
<br>
<i>Two Trains Running</i></span></b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none"> <u><span style="background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">Get your PREVIEW $15 tickets for Thursday at
<a href="https://beckcenter.my.salesforce-sites.com/ticket/#/events/a0SUq00000CFOuLMAX">
BeckCenter.org.</a></span> </u></span><u><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none"> </span><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none">Lakewood, OH</span></b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none">–</span><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-ligatures:none"><a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.beckcenter.org_&d=DwMGaQ&c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&r=5SXVbdZNhGi9XMPP1DQgcdxG2LQEG1I2SKYNsBBTYUU&m=uSBp7SofLyYDnrMmqZL_Mgc-7m6Nz-IVUuaetvuuFAp14BxL3R_bw65Z7IwcLUqU&s=5jl5SEO1OVIhwM4psI0WWWDnZ0mC4ETDbkvF4hzNy_U&e="><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:blue">Beck
Center for the Arts</span></a></span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none"> is pleased to once again produce a poignant work by Black playwright
<b>August Wilson, with <i>Two Trains Running.</i></b> </span><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none"> </span><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1A1919;background:#FBFBFB;mso-ligatures:none">As a finalist for the 1992 Pulitzer Prize in Drama,
<b><i>August Wilson’s Two Trains Running</i></b> is a taunt drama filled with relatable characters with lyrical dialogue that lures the audience into the story. Memphis Lee’s coffee shop lies in Pittsburgh’s Hill District, a neighborhood on the brink of economic
development. Like most neighborhood hang outs, you’ll find the sage elder statesman, an ex-con, a numbers runner, a quiet waitress with a past, and a man with special needs who is looking for his ham. Compared to works by Chekhov, in this drama Wilson reveals
the hopes and dreams of a community on the brink of change in the 1960s. </span>
<span style="mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none"> </span><span style="mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none">Local award-winning director, Jimmie Woody states,
<span style="color:black">“I’m really looking forward to directing </span></span><span style="mso-ligatures:none"><a href="https://beckcenter.org/theater/two-trains-running"><b><i><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Two Trains Running</span></i></b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">.</span></a></span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none">
I’m not interested in repeating what was done with <i>Jitney</i> in the 2024 season, but in engaging this play on its own terms, through the talent of this cast and the beauty of
</span><span style="mso-ligatures:none"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/August_Wilson"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">August Wilson’s</span></a></span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"> language,
which continues to inspire me and push me to make this production something special.”</span><span style="mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none"> </span><span style="mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none">August Wilson’s Two Trains Running,
</span></i></b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none">directed by Jimmie Woody will run in the intimate Studio Theater from February 27 through March 29, 2026. Presented in arrangement with Concord Theatricals.</span><span style="mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1A1919;background:#FBFBFB;mso-ligatures:none"> </span><span style="mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1A1919;background:#FBFBFB;mso-ligatures:none">“Wilson’s most delicate and mature work.”
<i>Time</i></span><span style="mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none"> </span><span style="mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none">Tickets are available at 216-521-2540 and
</span><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-ligatures:none"><a href="https://beckcenter.org/theater/two-trains-running"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Beckcenter.org.</span></a></span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none">
</span><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none"> </span><span style="mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none">Curtain times are 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 2:30 p.m. Sundays. Preview performances are 7:30 p.m. the Thursday before opening night, with general admission seating
for just $15. Smart Seats are available for each performance at just </span><span style="mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none">$15 per person. For more information on the 2025-2026 Professional Theater Season please visit
</span><span style="mso-ligatures:none"><a href="https://beckcenter.org/theater/event-categories/professional-theater"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">beckcenter.org.</span></a></span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:red;mso-ligatures:none">
</span><span style="mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:red;mso-ligatures:none"> </span><span style="mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none">Talk Backs with panelists with take place after select performances. Visit
</span><span style="mso-ligatures:none"><a href="https://beckcenter.org/theater/two-trains-running"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">beckcenter.org/theater/two-trains-running</span></a></span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none">
for details, dates, and times. These will be free and open to the public.</span><span style="mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ligatures:none"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none">All performances are at theaters inside </span><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-ligatures:none"><a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.beckcenter.org_&d=DwMGaQ&c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&r=5SXVbdZNhGi9XMPP1DQgcdxG2LQEG1I2SKYNsBBTYUU&m=uSBp7SofLyYDnrMmqZL_Mgc-7m6Nz-IVUuaetvuuFAp14BxL3R_bw65Z7IwcLUqU&s=5jl5SEO1OVIhwM4psI0WWWDnZ0mC4ETDbkvF4hzNy_U&e="><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:blue">Beck
Center for the Arts</span></a></span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none"> 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:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-ligatures:none"><a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.beckcenter.org_&d=DwMGaQ&c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&r=5SXVbdZNhGi9XMPP1DQgcdxG2LQEG1I2SKYNsBBTYUU&m=uSBp7SofLyYDnrMmqZL_Mgc-7m6Nz-IVUuaetvuuFAp14BxL3R_bw65Z7IwcLUqU&s=5jl5SEO1OVIhwM4psI0WWWDnZ0mC4ETDbkvF4hzNy_U&e="><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:blue">beckcenter.org</span></a></span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none">.</span><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-ligatures:none"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none">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.
</span><span style="mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"> </span><span style="mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none">Beck Center for the Arts also offers arts education for all ages, all skill levels, and all abilities with classes and lessons in music, dance, visual arts, and theater, as
well as creative arts therapies. Financial assistance is offered to qualified applicants so that these programs can be enjoyed by all.</span><span style="mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-ligatures:none"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</div>
</body>
</html>