<font color='black' size='2' face='Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif'><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">As announced previously, </font><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Albany-based Confetti Stage, Inc. is preparing to take its production of Eugene Ionesco’s absurdist play "The Lesson" (directed by Lucy Breyer, Neilson R. Jones and Linda Shirey) to the national American Association of Community Theatre (AACT) Festival in Carmel, Indiana, June 17-23, 2013. With </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">all the rich, diverse community theatre in our area, </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Confetti Stage is very honored to represent </span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica;">the Capital District, New York State and the multi-state ESTA Region II at AACTFest!</span>
<div style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><font size="2"><br>
</font></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><font size="2">UPDATES!</font></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><font size="2"><br>
</font></div>
<div><span class="caps" style="font-size: 10pt; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">1) </font></span><span class="caps" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 16px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">SAVE</span><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 16px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> </span><span class="caps" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 16px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">THE</span><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 16px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> </span><span class="caps" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 16px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">DATE</span><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 16px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">!</span><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 16px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> </span><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-size: 10pt; line-height: 16px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">There </font></span><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 16px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">will </span><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-size: 10pt; line-height: 16px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">be </font></span><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 16px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">a one-night performance of </span><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-size: 10pt; line-height: 16px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">"</font></span><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 16px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">The Lesson</span><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-size: 10pt; line-height: 16px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">"</font></span><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 16px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> and a gala reception on</span><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-size: 10pt; line-height: 16px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"> </font></span><span class="caps" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 16px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">J</span><span class="caps" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-size: 10pt; line-height: 16px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">une</font></span><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 16px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> 6 at the Albany Irish American Heritage Museum downtown</span><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-size: 10pt; line-height: 16px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">.</font></span><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 16px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> </span><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-size: 10pt; line-height: 16px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Reservation information and other </font></span><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 16px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">details </span><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-size: 10pt; line-height: 16px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">will be released </font></span><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-size: 10pt; line-height: 16px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">soon in local media and here on the Capdist-Announce list. See the show that's going national!</font></span></div>
<div><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-size: 10pt; line-height: 16px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br>
</font></span></div>
<div><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"><span style="line-height: 16px;">2) WATCH THE VIDEO! Confetti Stage has posted a funny yet heartfelt video on their Indiegogo fundraising page, showing</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 18px;">: a) why they're raising funds to go to AACTFest, and b) why they are such (talented) lunatics!</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 18px;"> Check it out at:</span></font></div>
<div><a href="http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/confetti-stage-takes-the-lesson-to-aactfest-2013">http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/confetti-stage-takes-the-lesson-to-aactfest-2013</a></div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>**********</div>
<div><span style="font-size: small; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"T</span><font face="arial, helvetica" style="font-size: 10pt;">he Lesson" features Lucy Breyer, Vivian Hwang and Neilson R. Jones. Confetti Stage will be one of 12 community theatre companies from across the U.S. to present works at AACTFest 2013. The 1st Place production from AACTFest 2013 will go on to the International Festival next year.</font></div>
<div>
<div id="AOLMsgPart_1_ee6754ad-a57b-4d79-8fa4-85460692f62a"><font color="black" size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">
<div style="clear: both;"><font size="2"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><font><font>
<div style="clear: both;">
<div style="clear: both;">
<div style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; font-family: arial, helvetica; clear: both;"><br>
</div>
<div style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; font-family: arial, helvetica; clear: both;">This is the ONLY production from the Capital District to win the statewide (TANYS) and regional (ESTA) competitions, and go all the way to the AACT national festival. It's also only the third production from New York State to ever reach the national competition.</div>
<div style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; font-family: arial, helvetica; clear: both;"><br>
</div>
<div style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; font-family: arial, helvetica; clear: both;">**********</div>
<div style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; font-family: arial, helvetica; clear: both;">THE JOURNEY SO FAR:</div>
<div style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; font-family: arial, helvetica; clear: both;"><br>
</div>
<div style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; font-family: arial, helvetica; clear: both;">
<div style="font-size: 10pt; clear: both;">LOCAL HONORS: "The Lesson" was first produced at Confetti Stage in June 2012 as part of ConfettIonesco, on a double bill with "The Chairs." The production earned Adjudicator's Merit Awards from TANYS for acting and direction, and was invited<span style="font-size: 10pt;"> to perform at the Theatre Association of New York State (TANYS) Festival.</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 10pt; clear: both;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><br>
</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 10pt; clear: both;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">STATE HONORS: At the TANYS Festival in Batavia, NY in November 2012, "The Lesson" </span><span style="font-size: 10pt;">was selected as one of two Outstanding Short Productions eligible to continue to the </span><span style="font-size: 10pt;">regional Eastern States Theatre Association (ESTA) Festival. "The Lesson" </span><span style="font-size: 10pt;">also won several awards for acting, sound design and set design.</span></div>
<div><br>
</div>
</div>
<div style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; font-family: arial, helvetica; clear: both;">
<div style="font-size: 10pt; clear: both;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">REGIONAL HONORS: At the ESTA Festival in Rome, NY in April 2013, </span><span style="font-size: 10pt;">"The Lesson" won first place, </span><span style="font-size: 10pt;">earning a slot at the national AACT Festival in June 2013. The production also </span><span style="font-size: 10pt;">took home awards for outstanding acting and directing. </span><span style="font-size: 10pt;">ESTA comprises the states of Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York and the District of Columbia.</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 10pt; clear: both;"><br>
</div>
<div style="font-size: 10pt; clear: both;">**********</div>
<div style="font-size: 10pt; clear: both;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">CALLING ALL THEATRE FRIENDS: WE NEED YOU!</span></div>
</div>
<div style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; font-family: arial, helvetica; clear: both;"><br>
</div>
<div style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; font-family: arial, helvetica; clear: both;">
<div style="clear: both;">Indiana is a long way for a small theatre company to transport cast, crew and set, and the expenses of Festival registration, lodging, gas, food, etc. are steep. Here's how fellow theatre friends can help support Confetti Stage in its journey to AACTFest:</div>
<div style="clear: both;"><br>
</div>
</div>
<div style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; font-family: arial, helvetica; clear: both;">1) DONATE FUNDS as many of your fellow Capital District theatre friends already have to help Confetti Stage reach its campaign goal by May 31, 2013 at:</div>
<div style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; font-family: arial, helvetica; clear: both;"><a href="http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/confetti-stage-takes-the-lesson-to-aactfest-2013" target="_blank">http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/confetti-stage-takes-the-lesson-to-aactfest-2013</a></div>
<div style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; font-family: arial, helvetica; clear: both;"><br>
</div>
<div style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; font-family: arial, helvetica; clear: both;">2) DONATE GOODS for the silent auction/raffle at the June 6 fundraising gala. Contact Stephen Henel at sghenel at gmail.com or Barbara Davis-Dickman at bdd1101 at gmail.com.</div>
<div style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; font-family: arial, helvetica; clear: both;"><br>
</div>
<div style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; font-family: arial, helvetica; clear: both;">3) SPREAD THE WORD! Share social media links to tell others about Confetti Stage going to AACTFest, the fundraising campaign and gala, and how the quality community theatre of the Capital District will be represented on the national stage!</div>
<div style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; font-family: arial, helvetica; clear: both;"><br>
</div>
<div style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; font-family: arial, helvetica; clear: both;">4) VISIT AND 'LIKE' Confetti Stage on Facebook at:</div>
<div style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; font-family: arial, helvetica; clear: both;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ConfettiStageInc" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/ConfettiStageInc</a></div>
<div style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; font-family: arial, helvetica; clear: both;">and the Confetti Stage website at:</div>
<div style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; font-family: arial, helvetica; clear: both;"><a href="http://www.confettistage.org/" target="_blank">http://www.confettistage.org/</a></div>
<div style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; font-family: arial, helvetica; clear: both;"><br>
</div>
<div style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; font-family: arial, helvetica; clear: both;">Thank you so very much for your support!</div>
</div>
</div>
</font></font></font></font></div>
</font>
</div>
</div>
</font>