Photo Flash: BWW Looks at Great Lakes Theatre's TWELFTH NIGHT

Great Lakes Theater (GLT) will commence its 2016-17 season at the Hanna Theatre, Playhouse Square with a Fall Repertory that features the Tony Award-winning musical classic, My Fair Lady and Shakespeare's enchanting romantic comedy, Twelfth Night. The productions will be performed in rotating repertory September 23 - October 30, 2016. Victoria Bussert will direct My Fair Lady. Drew Barr will direct Twelfth Night. My Fair Lady (Book and Lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner / Music by Frederick Loewe / Adapted from George Bernard Shaw's play Pygmalion) is presented by arrangement with TAMS-WITMARK MUSIC LIBRARY, INC.

Generous support for My Fair Lady was provided by PNC and the Kulas Foundation. The production is part of the Kulas Musical Theater Series at Great Lakes Theater. GLT's production of Twelfth Night is presented with generous support from The Great Lakes Theater Business Alliance. Great Lakes Theater is supported in part by the residents of Cuyahoga County through a public grant from Cuyahoga Arts & Culture. Season support is also provided by The Cleveland Foundation and the Ohio Arts Council. Media sponsors for GLT's 55th season are FORM Group, Ideastream (WCLV 104.9 FM, WCPN 90.3 FM & WVIZ) and WKSU 89.7 FM.

The Fall Repertory begins with the Tony Award-winning classic, My Fair Lady. When the opinionated linguistics professor and bachelor Henry Higgins wagers that he can convert a lowly Cockney flower girl named Eliza Doolittle into a lady of high society, he never bargains for the unexpected transformation that she will evoke within him. Featuring such enduring Broadway favorites as "I Could Have Danced All Night," "Wouldn't It Be Loverly," "The Rain in Spain," "On the Street Where You Live" and "Get Me to the Church on Time," this acclaimed musical is a classic.

An enchanting romantic comedy, Shakespeare Twelfth Night completes GLT's Fall Repertory pairing. Hope seems lost when a violent shipwreck separates young Viola from her boat and twin brother. However, tragedy quickly turns romantic when she washes ashore in Illyria - an exotic island that is about to be turned topsy-turvy by love. To survive in her strange new world, she disguises herself as a boy messenger and enters the employ of an island inhabitant. Misplaced affections and misunderstood intentions result when she unexpectedly becomes an object of desire to the woman her employer sent her to woo! Time may correct the course of the isle's myriad misguided lovers, but not before the Bard bewitches all in his enchanting comedy.

Great Lakes Theater's award-winning home at the Hanna Theatre features a visionary "Great Room" inspired design that integrates the artist and audience experience into a single unified environment. Hanna patrons select from a variety of seating opportunities including traditional theater seats, club chairs, lounge/bar seats, banquette couches and private box seating. Arranged in an intimate 550-seat thrust configuration where the audience surrounds the stage, no seat is further than 12 rows from the performance.

Great Lakes Theater offers patrons a robust series of Experience Enhancement Programming that is organized by day of week. The series highlights the Hanna's unique amenities and affords access to artists.

· Salon Thursdaysfeature an engaging pre-show discussion/presentation beginning one hour before curtain with a Great Lakes Theater artist. (Offered: Oct. 6, 13, 21, 27)

· Happy Hour Fridaysafford audience members the opportunity to gather, socialize and enjoy appetizers or beverages for sale in the Hanna's bar and lounge beginning ninety minutes before the performance. (Offered: Sept. 23, 30 & Oct. 7, 14, 21, 28)

· Nightcap Night Saturdaysare designed to encourage audience members to stay after the evening performance and mingle with the GLT artistic company in the Hanna's lounge. The Hanna's bar is open ninety minutes after Nightcap Night Saturday performances." (Offered: Oct. 8, 15, 22, 29)

· Ice Cream Social Sundays offer patrons the opportunity to enjoy a London theatre tradition brought state-side. Audience members are invited to purchase a cool, personal ice cream treat before the show or at intermission. Ice cream will be offered at every performance in GLT's Fall Repertory, but on Ice Cream Social Sundays, the treat is half price. (Offered: Oct. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30)

· Director's Nights offer audiences the opportunity to take part in a lively pre-show discussion with GLT's Producing Artistic Director, Charles Fee, and the director of each production before Friday preview performances. (Offered: Sept. 23, 30)

· Playnotes Pre-Show Discussions inform patrons with illuminating introductions to the content and history of each play in GLT's season presented by a guest scholar before Saturday matinee performances. (Offered: Oct. 8, 15, 22, 29)

Great Lakes Theater will continue to afford patrons extraordinary access to its artists and production process at every Hanna Theatre performance this fall. The Hanna always opens its doors ninety minutes before each performance allowing patrons to observe the complete pre-show preparation process of GLT's actors and technical staff. Elements traditionally hidden from audiences such as stage combat rehearsals, dance calls, prop/scenic pre-sets, technical cue rehearsals and actor warm-ups will be conducted in full view of patrons, offering GLT audiences an unprecedented glimpse into the theatrical process.

Great Lakes Theater will also renew its New Deal pricing initiative this fall - designed to increase accessibility for audiences. As part of the program, adult tickets begin at $15 and student tickets for any seat at any performance are $13 - making GLT one of the most affordable entertainment options in the region.

Opening Night (also Press Night) performances of My Fair Lady (September 24) and Twelfth Night (October 1) have been scheduled for Saturday evenings with preview performances of both productions scheduled for the preceding Friday nights. Curtain times for all evening performances will remain at 7:30 p.m., with a 1:30 p.m. curtain time for Saturday matinees and a 3:00 p.m. curtain time for Sunday matinees. All GLT productions will continue to offer sign-interpreted and audio-described performances.

Single performance tickets range in price from $15-$80 (Student tickets are $13) and are available by calling (216) 241-6000, by ordering online or by visiting The Playhouse Square Ticket Office. Groups of ten or more save up to 25% by calling (216) 241-5490 x322.Great Lakes Theater, the first resident company of Playhouse Square, has brought the pleasure, power and relevance of classic theater to the widest possible audience since 1962. GLT programming positively impacts 100,000 adults and students annually.

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