*Press Release* *For additional information please contact * *MaryJo Alexander * *330-374-7568* *alexanderm@actorssummit.org <alexanderm@actorssummit.org>* *Neil Thackaberry, Founder, * *Artistic Director of Actors’ Summit Theater* *Retires* In June of 2015, *Neil Thackaberry Founder and Artistic Co-Director of Actors’ Summit Theater* announced his retirement to the Board of Trustees of Actors’ Summit at their most recent meeting. Founded in *April 1999,* Actors' Summit, gave its first performance of *Arthur Miller's "The Price*” directed by Neil Thackaberry. Neil also performed the role of Walter. *Marianne Evett*, former theatre critic for the *Cleveland Plain Dealer* considered Actors' Summit production of * “The Price”* to be one of the top 10 productions in her career as a critic. “Neil’s retirement was reluctantly accepted by the Board of Trustees” said Peter Gerber, current Board President. “His vision has been remarkable both artistically and fiscally”. *Actors’ Summit* mission has been to “create professional theater using exclusively OHIO artists”. Actors’ Summit, a 501-c-3 nonprofit professional arts organization operates on a $300,000 budget and boasts no outstanding debt. Under Neil’s leadership the theater has produced over 130 full scale major shows, with Neil directing more than 75 of them over the past 16 seasons. Neil has performed principal roles in some 20 productions. He has also designed most of the sets and marketing materials for the theater, and served as primary grant writer for the theater. With Neil at the helm,* Actors’ Summit Theater* has commissioned scripts by *Wayne S. Turney, Bob & Pamela Noll, and Eric Coble* as well as original music by *Sebastian Birch, Daniel Taylor, and Eric Benjamin*; He also produced the world premieres of *Eric Coble’s “Girl’s Guide to Coffee” *(Part I of the trilogy which included the Broadway production of “Velocity of Autumn”) and the *World Premiere of “Manning Up” for the National New Play Network. * Actors’ Summit produced the regional premiers of over a dozen prominent Broadway shows including *"Copenhagen," "Freud’s Last Session," "Golda's Balcony," "I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change!"* and the New York Musical Theatre fringe Festival hit *“My Mother’s Lesbian Jewish Wiccan Wedding” *which was revived for the 2009 International Gay Games held last Summer in Cleveland and Akron. The theater has also relocated the entire theater (sets, lights, costumes, props, platforms, and seats) 11 times. Neil and volunteers renovated a former warehouse Hudson which was home for the company for nine years. You will still be able to catch Neil at the theater, where he will appear in the Northeast Ohio premiere of “Chapatti” by Christian O’Reilly. Brian Zoldessy will direct. “You’ll see Neil around; but his first priority is playing Grandpa to his 3 grandchildren, then acting and then gardening”, said MaryJo. “We’ve created a new title for Neil, Founder and Director Emeritus”. *MaryJo Alexander*, (Neil’s spouse of 44 years and longtime Artistic Co-Director), will assume leadership and growth of the theater. “We have an exciting season underway season full of laughter, love and music underway” said MaryJo, “season subscriptions are on sale, with complete information on our website.” For additional information call MaryJo Alexander 330-374-7568 or visit us on the web at: www.actorssummit.org. www.facebook.com/pages/Actors-Summit-Theater . Neil can be reached at thackaberryn@actorssummit.org. -- *MaryJo Alexander* *Artistic Director* *Actors' Summit Theater* *Greystone Hall---6th floor* *103 S. High St* *Akron Oh 44308 * *330-374-7568* *www.actorssummit.org <http://www.actorssummit.org/>*