PRESS
RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date:
5/19/16
Contact: Andrew Rothman
From: Chagrin Valley Little Theatre
40 River Street
Chagrin Falls, OH 44122
Phone: 440-247-8955
E-mail: cvlt@cvlt.org
Website: www.cvlt.org
PHOTOS available for
download at www.CVLT.org/promo
Opening June 3 Chagrin Valley
Little Theatre's CALENDAR GIRLS is a page-turner of a
comedy
Actresses pose for calendar
to benefit local Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
CHAGRIN FALLS, OH –
Would you bare it all for a good cause? In Chagrin Valley
Little Theatre’s production of CALENDAR GIRLS, a group of
middle-aged women reveal the courage to help each other
through difficult times. This heartfelt comedy about love,
loss, and enduring friendships runs 8 p.m. Fridays and
Saturdays, June 3 – 25 on CVLT's Main Stage at 40 River
Street in Chagrin Falls.
The play was adapted by
Tim Firth from the 2003 Miramax film of the same name
(starring Helen Mirren) that he co-wrote with Juliette
Towhidi. It's based on the true story of a group of
Yorkshire, UK women, proving that there’s nothing more
poignant or funny than real life.
When Annie’s husband
John dies of leukemia, her best friend Chris decides to
honor his memory and their friendship with a gift to the
cancer wing at the local hospital. She enlists their
chapter of the Women's Institute, a volunteer service
group, for help. However, the group's usual method of fund
raising, consisting of producing and selling a calendar
with photos of local churches and bridges, seems too pale
to attract the kind of money they hope to raise.
Instead they drop their
inhibitions and enlist the help of a hospital porter /
amateur photographer to create a calendar that raises
eyebrows along with more than enough money to reach their
goal. The calendar gains the friends unexpected global
attention, which brings unexpected consequences.
The real-life 'calendar
girls' of Yorkshire sold over 88,000 copies of their
original calendar in 1999, and hundreds of thousands of
calendars in the following years. They have since raised
millions of dollars for cancer research causes.
Directed by Barbara L.
Rhoades, CVLT's production of CALENDAR GIRLS offers
logistical challenges along with typical staging wrinkles
to be ironed out.
“It’s a bit of a tease.
A fan dance, really,” Rhoades said. "There’s a suggestion
of nudity, but it’s not a peep show. The play is really
about the women’s friendship and the lengths they will go
to help and support each other, and about knowing when to
let go. In the process, each character reveals more of her
personality, determination, and strength.”
Along with learning
their lines and exploring their characters for the stage
performance, the cast posed for a fun and blush-inducing
June 2016 - June 2017 calendar that Chagrin Valley Little
Theatre will sell for $10, with all proceeds donated to
the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Northern Ohio
Chapter. The calendar will be available for purchase at
the Little Theatre and at a booth at Art By The Falls June
11-12 in Riverside Park.
CVLT’s cast includes
Kate Williams-Bernardo, Andrew Beah, Michael Canton,
Sharon Lloyd, Grace Mannarino, Mark Moore, Margo Parker,
Juliana Perel, Bette Prendergast, Michael Rogan, Rachel
Roth, Linda Ryan, and Micki Yackin. Nancy Rogoff serves as
the show's Producer with Helen Rizi as Assistant Director
/ Stage Manager. An amusing promotional video has been
posted at Facebook.com/ChagrinTheatre and
YouTube.com/ChagrinTheatre.
Tickets are $18 with $4
discount for seniors and students. Group rates for parties
of 10 or more and fundraiser re-sale are available.
Tickets may be purchased at CVLT.org, by calling 440-247-8955 or at the Box
Office located at 40 River St. in Chagrin Falls. Box
Office hours are 1 - 6 p.m. Monday-Saturday.
CVLT is generously
funded by Cuyahoga County residents through Cuyahoga Arts
and Culture and supported by the Ohio Arts Council. CVLT
is a proud member of the American Association of Community
Theatre and the Ohio Community Theatre Association.
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