<div dir="ltr"><span id="gmail-docs-internal-guid-9746c567-7fff-9ea1-23b5-5302e026fc85"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;margin:0pt 30pt 0pt 36pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">

<span style="font-weight:normal" id="gmail-docs-internal-guid-41f5a2ec-7fff-4d20-61d6-226ee614aa3f"><span style="font-size:11pt;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline"><span style="border:none;display:inline-block;overflow:hidden;width:517px;height:160px"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/W9uWxjpnmgR-xdFnVjSyY39mqBNOHfPdCydjfaTT7yZylqXD3g2Fd2r16wQa_Yk4mdYmxcC8UPRuqs4Wdyowu_3URT1xiLLriX8DAQfPaiYro9TVPnDArBEZBQjmAleKqMt_pDg0" width="517" height="160" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></span></span></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;margin:0pt 30pt 0pt 36pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><br></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;margin:0pt 30pt 0pt 36pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Contact: Michael Musial – 518.244.4502</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;margin:0pt 30pt 0pt 36pt"><a href="https://theatre.sage.edu/" style="text-decoration-line:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">https://theatre.sage.edu/</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;margin:0pt 30pt 0pt 36pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;margin:0pt 30pt 0pt 36pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">February 7th, 2020</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;margin:0pt 30pt 0pt 36pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;margin:0pt 30pt 0pt 36pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Theatre Institute at Sage announces youth auditions for world premiere of </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-style:italic;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Benjamin Franklinstein Lives! </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;margin:0pt 30pt 0pt 36pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;margin:0pt 30pt 0pt 36pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(67,67,67);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Dates:  </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(67,67,67);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> Thursday, February 20</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(67,67,67);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-size:0.6em;vertical-align:super">th</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(67,67,67);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">, 2020  6:00pm-8:00pm</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;margin:0pt 30pt 0pt 36pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(67,67,67);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">              Saturday, January 22</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(67,67,67);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-size:0.6em;vertical-align:super">th</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(67,67,67);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">, 2020  10:00am-12:00pm</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;margin:0pt 30pt 0pt 36pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(67,67,67);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Location:  Russell Sage College Schacht Fine Arts Center, 5 Division </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Street, Troy, NY, 12180.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;margin:0pt 30pt 0pt 36pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;margin:0pt 30pt 0pt 36pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The Theatre Institute at Sage will hold auditions for their production of </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-style:italic;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Benjamin Franklinstein Lives! </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> on </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(67,67,67);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Thursday, February 20</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(67,67,67);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-size:0.6em;vertical-align:super">th</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(67,67,67);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">, 2020 from 6:00pm-8:00pm  and Saturday, January 22</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(67,67,67);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-size:0.6em;vertical-align:super">th</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(67,67,67);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">, 2020 from 10:00am-12:00pm </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">at the Schacht Fine Arts Center Theatre on the Russell Sage College campus.  There are two available roles for youth, and we request that auditioners</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> between the ages of 11 and 15 and no taller than 5 ft tall </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">attend these.  Callbacks will be held by invitation only at a later date. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;margin:0pt 30pt 0pt 36pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;margin:0pt 30pt 0pt 36pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Auditioners must prepare 32 measures of an up-tempo song from a musical, that can showcase your belt, to be sung a capella.  Please bring a photo and resume if available.  </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">You must schedule an appointment time to audition; please call Eleah Peal at 518-244-2248, or e-mail at </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(17,85,204);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><a href="mailto:artslettersasst@sage.edu">artslettersasst@sage.edu</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,255);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">to schedule</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">.  You may also request an electronic audition form by email to be filled out prior to the auditions.  We encourage performers of all backgrounds, ethnicities, ability levels, and experience to audition.   </span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.44;margin:0pt 30pt 0pt 36pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Benjamin Franklinstein Lives!</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> is a new musical from the team that created Backbeard</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> the Musica</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">l!  Tori Godwin’s orderly life is suddenly turned topsy-turvy when she discovers that Benjamin Franklin has been hibernating in suspended animation in her basement for centuries. When a freak accident reawakens Ben, Tori and her friend Scott must help him adjust to life in the 21st century. Complicating the situation is the fact that when Franklin’s energy drops, he transforms into a rampaging monster, desperately (and dangerously!) hungry for electricity. Can two kids and a reanimated electric zombie patriot save the planet? Find out in </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Benjamin Franklinstein Lives</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">!</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.44;margin:0pt 30pt 0pt 36pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The Theatre Institute at Sage will present </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Benjamin Franklinstein Lives!</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> the following dates:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin:0pt 30pt 0pt 36pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.8;margin-left:36pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Thursday, May 28 at 10am</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.8;margin-left:36pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Friday, May 29 at 10am</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.8;margin-left:36pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Saturday, May 30 at 7:30pm</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.8;margin-left:36pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Sunday, May 31 at 2pm</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.8;margin-left:36pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Tuesday, June 2 at 10:30am</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.8;margin-left:36pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Wednesday, June 3 at 10am</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.8;margin-left:36pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Thursday, June 4 at 10am</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.8;margin-left:36pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Friday, June 5 at 10am</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.8;margin-left:36pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Saturday, June 6 at 7:30pm</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.8;margin-left:36pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Sunday, June 7 at 2pm</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.8;margin-left:36pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Wednesday, June 10 at 10am</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.8;margin-left:36pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Thursday, June 11 at 10am</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.8;margin-left:36pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Friday, June 12 at 10am</span></p></span><br class="gmail-Apple-interchange-newline"><div><br></div>-- <br><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><span style="font-family:monospace"><i><b>Eleah Jayne Peal </b></i></span></div><div><span style="font-family:monospace"><i>She/Her/Hers</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family:monospace"><i>Administrative Assistant of Arts and Letters <br></i></span></div><div><span style="font-family:monospace"><i>Russell Sage College<br></i></span></div><div><span style="font-family:monospace"><i>CAPA/TIS: (518) 244-2248  (AM)</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family:monospace"><i>EML: (518) 244-2237  (PM)</i></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>