For Immediate Release Contact: Christine McBurney, C0-Artistic Director mamaitheatrecocleveland@gmail.com www.mamaitheatreco.org 440.394.8353 Introducing Youth Educational Outreach Program: Mamai Matinees Cleveland, Ohio, March 1, 2016 — Now in its fourth season, Mamai Theatre Company <http://www.mamaitheatreco.org/> is pleased to announce its new Youth Educational Outreach Program: Mamai Matinees <http://www.mamaitheatreco.org/#!youth-outreach/cqdu>. Co-Founder Wendy Kriss returns to staff as Mamai’s first Education Associate. She will steer the new Mamai Matinee program conceived by Co-Founder Derdriu Ring, which invites children ages 5-7 to an interactive workshop full of storytelling, movement, music and visual artwork with new friends. Children will experience a collage of art activities designed to promote self-expression, comfort and confidence in the creative process, and the development of collaboration skills. Beginning in the 2016 season, patrons can register children ages 5-7 for this drama workshop in an adjacent location while enjoying Mamai’s Sunday 2:30pm matinee performance. One (1) adult admission is included with child registration fee. The dates for the Mamai Matinees are June 12 (TOP GIRLS), July 24 (LADY WINDERMERE’S FAN), July 28 (THE WOMAN HATER). Register here <https://app.arts-people.com/index.php?retail=mtco>. 2016 Benefit: WOMEN ON FIRE A few tickets remain for our 2016 Benefit: WOMEN ON FIRE, Monday, March 7, 2016 at 7:00 pm at the Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage <http://www.maltzmuseum.org/>, 2929 Richmond Rd, Beachwood, OH 44122. The evening begins with a wine selection, hors d’oeuvres by Dante <http://dante.danteboccuzzi.com/> and other Cleveland foodie favorites; admission to the Maltz Museum <http://www.maltzmuseum.org/> galleries; a silent auction featuring items from Cleveland’s local, independent, small business and arts organizations including Actors Summit Theate <http://www.actorssummit.org/>r, Apollo’s Fire <http://apollosfire.org/>, Belt Publishing <http://beltmag.com/>, The Cleveland Museum of Art <http://www.clevelandart.org/>, The Cleveland Museum of Natural History <https://www.cmnh.org/>, Hyde Park <http://www.hydeparkrestaurants.com/>, On the Rise <http://ontheriseartisanbreads.com/>, Pier W <http://selectrestaurants.com/the-restaurants/pier-w/>, Quintana’s Barber & Dream Spa <http://www.qbds.net/>, The Stone Oven <http://www.stone-oven.com/>, Salon 180 <http://www.salon180.com/> and others. This exciting evening concludes with a rarely performed staged reading of WOMEN ON FIRE by Irene O’Garden <https://ireneogarden.com/>, directed by Cleveland playwright, actor, and director, Juliette Regnier, and featuring Ursula Cataan*, Maryann Elder, Katrice Head, Julia Kolibab*, Tracee Patterson*, and Jeanne Task (*Member Actors Equity Association). Director Juliette Regnier says O’Garden’s women are “uniquely drawn characters with passion and guts whom you have never met before but you will get to know, fueled by the passion and guts of some of our Cleveland actresses .” The New York Times called Women on Fire "bewitching ... astounding ...heartbreaking." From ad exec to Midwest mom to caregiver to construction worker, each character is on fire in her own way - with passion, fear, self-discovery, even shopping! O’Garden’s work explores the breadth of women's issues with humor and wisdom. Seating is limited to 50 patrons only and tickets may be purchased at www.mamaitheatreco.org or by phoning 440.394.8353. 2016 Season Tickets Now On Sale Tickets are on sale now for Mamai’s 2016 Summer Season of classical theatre in Cleveland! Mamai is thrilled to return downtown to The Cleveland Masonic Performing Arts Center <http://www.paccleveland.com/>, 3615 Euclid Avenue at E. 36th Street, with free and ample parking in an onsite gated lot, air-conditioning, and ADA-accessibility. Mamai will mount all three of its 2016 productions on the beautiful 1920s proscenium stage inside the DeMolay Room. Mamai is thrilled to return downtown to The Cleveland Masonic Performing Arts Center <http://www.paccleveland.com/>, 3615 Euclid Avenue at E. 36th Street, with free and ample parking in an onsite gated lot, air-conditioning, and ADA-accessibility. Mamai will mount all three of its 2016 productions on the beautiful 1920s proscenium stage inside the DeMolay Room. Top Girls By Caryl Churchill Directed by Jaime Bouvier June 2-19, 2016 Scenic Design by Don McBride Costume Design by Suzy Campbell Lighting Design by Rob Peck Sound Design by Carlton Guc Properties Design by Monica Plunkett Top Girls transgresses ancient to modern femininity in two distinct acts. Act One features an imagined restaurant table full of ladies who lunch... in a time-traveling dialogue from various centuries and cultures in womankind's history! Act Two is a springboard departure into family drama-- a personal examination of relationships between mother, daughter, sister, aunt, and friend. Talkback facilitated by two Shaker Heights High School International Baccalaureate English Faculty, Chris Coton and Chuck Kelly on Sunday, June 12. Lady Windermere's Fan By Oscar Wilde Directed Bernadette Clemens July 14-31, 2016 Scenic Design by Don McBride Costume Design by Suzy Campbell Lighting Design by Rob Peck Sound Design by Carlton Guc Properties Design by Monica Plunkett Oscar Wilde fans the flames of Edwardian social change with his typical adroitness. Comedy and manners offer a tongue-lashing, suspenseful assault on Victorian values. An attractive stranger invades the domestic bliss of Lady & Lord Windermere, and her past has the potential to drastically alter their future. Lord Darlington plays a hand. All bets hinge on chance, fate, accident... and a fan. The Woman Hater - U.S. Premiere! By Fanny Burney Directed Christine McBurney August 18-September 4, 2016 Scenic Design by Don McBride Costume Design by Angelina Herin Lighting Design by Rob Peck Sound Design by Richard Ingraham Properties Design by Monica Plunkett An absurdly satirical indictment of the excesses of both men and women, this 1802 comedy remained unproduced until 2003. When Sir Roderick is jilted by Lady Smatter, he proclaims himself a woman-hater and is determined to keep his young heir away from the opposite sex. Identities are mistaken, social pretensions are deliciously exposed, and the gender constructs of wifely and daughterly duties are boldly upended — bringing forth a new kind of heroine. You can sponsor <http://www.mamaitheatreco.org/#!tickets/cvvh>, join our mailing list <http://www.mamaitheatreco.org/#!tickets/cvvh> or purchase tickets <http://www.mamaitheatreco.org/#!three-sisters/cguq> online! TICKETS: <http://sic.brownpapertickets.com/>www.Mamaitheatreco.org <http://www.mamaitheatreco.org> or 440.394.8353 Adults: $22 Seniors (65 & older): $20 Students (25 & under): $15 Mamai Theatre Company was co-founded in 2010 by Bernadette Clemens, Wendy Kriss, Christine McBurney, and Derdriu Ring. Mamai (pronounced Mah' may) is the Gaelic word for “mother.” Four working mothers, theatre artists, colleagues, and friends arrived at a place where it was time to create opportunities for themselves and their community. “Don’t wait to create” became the inspiration for Mamai Theatre Company. Our mission is to create intelligent, relevant classical theatre that offers an artistic home for Cleveland's theatre artists, and equal opportunity for women in the professional theatre community. In 2013 The Plain Dealer announced, “Mamai Theatre Company...has made a howling entrance onto the city’s artistic scene” and named their inaugural production, Medea, a top-10 theatre event of the year. In 2014 LandofCleve.net added, “In only a few short years, Mamai Theatre Company has established themselves as a major player in the Cleveland theatre community." We are a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. www.Mamaitheatreco.org <http://www.mamaitheatreco.org> Mamaitheatrecocleveland@gmail.com <mamaitheatrecocleveland@gmail.com> ###