THE WOMEN OF SPOON RIVER Marketing and Promotional Portfolio

KENNETH W. ATKINS Graphic Design 路 Web Design 路 Marketing 路 Press P O R T F O L I O

LEE MERIWETHER

THE WOMEN OF SPOON RIVER Their Voices from the Hill

As part of the marketing plan for booking the show around the country, I created a web site dedicated to information about the show, complete with a preview video, photo gallery, and a form to request information regarding booking fees and technical specifications.

This web site can be viewed fully at http://www.leemeriwether.com/wosr.html

Full Color Ad

MISS AMERICA MAGAZINE This ad appeared in the January,2012 issue of Miss America Magazine.

Lee Meriwether was Miss America 1955.

Ad created using Photoshop and InDesign.

Their Voices from the Hill

MISS AMERICA, CATWOMAN, BARNABY JONES... and now Lee Meriwether returns to the stage as part of the 2012 New York International Fringe Festival to conjure twenty-six women from Edgar Lee Masters’ classic, Spoon River Anthology and bring them back to life in this one-hour, onewoman tour de force.

Published in 1915 and adapted for the stage by Charles Aidman in 1962, Edgar Lee Masters’ Spoon River Anthology is a collection of epitaph poems, each of a dead citizen of the fictional Illinois town of Spoon River, delivered by the dead themselves. They speak about the things one might expect: some recite their histories and turning points, others make observations of life from the outside, petty ones complain of the treatment of their graves, while few tell how they really died. Having understudied in the original Aidman stage version, Lee often felt that Masters had given short shrift to the female residents of his fictional town. Of the over 200 characters, only a handful were women.

Seeing an opportunity to give these women their due as well as provide a challenge for herself as an actress, Lee adapted Masters’ work, extracting nearly all of the female characters, and discovered that by performing them in a particular order she could create an overview of the life of women; not only of women of a particular period and place, but also in universal and eternal terms.

Lee Meriwether was crowned Miss America in 1955 during the first televised pageant. TV credits include: the first women’s editor on the original Today Show, The Philco Television Playhouse, “Lily” on The Munsters Today, Time Tunnel, The New Andy Griffith Show, Mission: Impossible, The F.B.I., 12 O’Clock High, Dr. Kildare, and her Golden Globe and Emmy-nominated role as “Betty” on Barnaby Jones. In addition to portraying “Catwoman” in the 1966 Batman movie with Adam West, film roles include: The 4-D Man, Angel in My Pocket, The Undefeated, Namu The Killer Whale, and The Legend of Lylah Clare. Theatre credits include: Hatful of Rain, the female version of The Odd Couple, Last Summer at Blue Fish Cove, The Business of Murder, Follies, Country Matters (Sex and Shakespeare!), Hello Dolly, Mame, The King and I, I Do, I Do, A Little Night Music, and the 20th Anniversary tour of Dan Goggin’s Nunsense with Kaye Ballard, Mimi Hines, Georgia Engel, and Darlene Love. “… a mesmerizingly haunting 60 minutes of compelling live theatre, offered by an agelessly stunning respected actress of stage and screen.”

—Pat Taylor, The Tolucan Times

SoHo Playhouse (FringeNYC Venue #16), 15 Vandam Street, New York, NY, 10013

Friday, August 10, 7:00pm Saturday, August 11, 5:30pm Sunday, August 12, 5:30pm Tuesday, August 14, 9:00pm Friday, August 17, 5:15pm

2/22/2014 12:21:26 PM

THE WOMEN OF SPOON RIVER

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2/22/2014 12:21:25 PM FringePostcard.indd 1

LEE MERIWETHER

LEE MERIWETHER’S THE WOMEN OF SPOON RIVER at New York International Fringe Festival (FringeNYC™)

Full Color Postcard The show was selected to be performed as part of the annual New York International Fringe Festival in 2012.

As the Authorized Company Representative (ACR), I managed the marketing and promotional aspects of producing the show for this prestigious theatre festival.

This postcard was distributed among the various Fringe Festival venues, Fringe Festival headquarters, to establishments frequented by target Fringe audiences, and was included in direct mail packages to identified Fringe attendees.

Postcard created using Photoshop and InDesign.

SHIFT YOUR FOCUS the 2012 New York International Fringe Festival Program Guide

Display Ad This display ad appeared in the official 2012 Fringe Festival Program Guide. This guide was available prior to and during the festival and provided descriptions and event information for all the shows comprising the ferstival. This ad appeared on the same page as the show’s listing in the guide.

Ad created using Photoshop and InDesign.

The Women of Spoon River: Their Voices from the Hill Lee Mer iwether / Theatre Island Productions Writer: Based on text

by Edgar Lee Masters, adapted by Lee Mer iwether with Jim Hesselman, Music

by Kenneth Atkins, Song by Lee Mer iwether Director: Jim Hesselma n MISS AMERICA, CAT WOMAN, BARNABY JONES... and now Lee Mer iwether retur ns to the stage to conjure twenty-six women from Edgar Lee Masters’ SPOON RIV ER ANTHOLOG Y and bring them back to life in this one hour, one woman tour de force.

1h 0m National Los Angeles, California Drama Solo Show VENUE #16: SoHo Play house; FRI 10 @ 7; SAT 11 @ 5:30; SUN 12 @ 5:30; TUE 14 @ 9; FRI 17 @ 5:15 ; www.leemeriwether.com /wosr.html

Phone 866.468.7619

WOULD Broken Ant Farm Productions Writer: David Marx Director: Molly Lyons

YBW - Yellow Brick Wall: Angry White Men Played by Two Happy Asian Girls YBW Productions in Association with Leviathan Lab and Charged as an adult and 4Hawk Productions sentenced to life Writer: Siho Ellsmore in prison at 14-year s-ol and Mar isa Marquez d, Daniel writes an Director: Danny Williams alter native life with a pen pal. Chapter by Choreographer: Dax Vald chapter they fabricate the es life he'll never Rice Flower, a WWII, have. A play about happ novel is green-lit to iness, guilt, forbe the next blockbuster giveness, and hope. but these antiexotic-blossoms face expl 1h 45m National Chic oitation, objectiago, Illinois fication, and sexism. Two Drama FringeHIGH gregarious gals navigate a not-so-silk VENUE #14: New Ohio road playing 24 Theatre; SUN 12 character @ 4: 30; WED 15 @ 5:15 s including Rush Limb augh, Jim ; FRI 17 @ 9:30; Kramer and Al Pacino.

FRI 24 @ 5; SAT 25 @ This ain ’t no 2:30*; www.brokenantfarm.co Oriental Express, because m we ain ’t no carpet!

1h 10m Local Manhatta n, New York Comedy Improv/Sketc h/Stand-up VENUE #19: HERE Dor othy B. Williams Theater; FRI 10 @ 7; SAT 11 @ 8:15; SUN 19 @ 5:45; WED 22 @ 5; FRI 24 @ 8:15; SAT 25 @ 5:45; www.YBWproductions.co m

www.FringeNYC.org

52

Official Press Release This is the official press release I wrote and disseminated to New York media outlets, journalists, bloggers, entertainment web sites, celebrities, and theatre professionals.

Since the Festival was taking place around the time of the release of The Dark Knight Rises and a great deal of attention was being focused on actress Anne Hathaway and her role as Catwoman, I had decided that the headline of the release should remind the media that Lee Meriwether was the first to play Catwoman in a movie.

The Original Movie Catwoman, Lee Meriwether Brings One-Woman Show to the New York International Fringe Festival MISS AMERICA, CATWOMAN, BARNABY JONES... and now Lee Meriwether returns to the stage to conjure twenty-six women from Edgar Lee Masters’ Spoon River Anthology and bring them back to life in this one-hour, one-woman tour de force.

For Immediate Release For press inquiries and interview opportunities, contact: Ken Atkins at (502) 424-0257, ken@leemeriwether.com Press kit at http://www.leemeriwether.com/wosr/press/fringe2012 Lee Meriwether and Theatre Island Productions Present

THE WOMEN OF SPOON RIVER: THEIR VOICES FROM THE HILL The New York International Fringe Festival - FringeNYC A production of The Present Company August 10th - 26th Tickets: $15-$18. For tickets visit www.FringeNYC.org

Lee Meriwether and Theatre Island Productions are proud to present THE WOMEN OF SPOON RIVER: THEIR VOICES FROM THE HILL as part of the 16th annual New York International Fringe Festival – FringeNYC. Performances will take place in the SoHo Playhouse (FringeNYC Venue #16), 15 Vandam Street, New York, NY 10013 on Friday, August 10 at 7:00 p.m.; Saturday, August 11 at 5:30 p.m.; Sunday, August 12 at 5:30 p.m.; Tuesday, August 14 at 9:00 p.m.; and Friday, August 17 at 5:15 p.m. Tickets are $15-$18 and will be available at www.FringeNYC.org beginning July 20.

Published in 1915, Edgar Lee Masters’ Spoon River Anthology is a collection of epitaph poems describing the lives of the inhabitants of the fictional small town of Spoon River, Illinois and includes two hundred and twelve separate characters providing accounts of their lives, losses and deaths. In 1962, Charles Aidman adapted Spoon River Anthology for the stage. This production premiered in Los Angeles and starred Betty Garrett, Joyce Van Patten, and Naomi Caryl in the three female roles. Understudying Garrett, Van Patten and Caryl was Lee Meriwether. The show then had a successful run on Broadway and has since been produced thousands of times around the world. In 2002, Theatre West revived the show for its 40th anniversary, directed by Garrett and Van Patten. This time, however, Lee Meriwether — the one-time understudy — now appeared in the role originated by Ms. Garrett. Having an affinity for the show and the women of Spoon River, Lee often felt that Masters had given short shrift to the female residents of his fictional town. Of the over two hundred characters in the collection, only a handful were women. Seeing an opportunity to give these women their due as well as to provide a challenge for herself as an actress, Lee set about adapting Masters' work, extracting nearly all of the female characters. Later, together with writer/actor/director Jim Hesselman, Lee discovered that by performing them in a particular order she could create not only personal accounts of the women as individuals, but also depict an overall picture of the life of women in general — both in terms of a particular period and place, but

also in universal and eternal terms. The Women of Spoon River: Their Voices from the Hill premiered in May of 2010 at Indiana University Southeast, starring Meriwether and directed by Hesselman, with scenic and lighting design by Rebekkah J. Meixner-Hanks and original music by Kenneth Atkins. The show then enjoyed a run of several weeks at Theatre West in 2011.

LEE MERIWETHER was successively: Miss San Francisco, Miss California and Miss America. Though most know Lee as “Betty” in the highly successful CBS series, Barnaby Jones — for which she was nominated for both the Golden Globe and the Emmy — or as "Catwoman" in the 1966 Batman movie with Adam West, Lee has had starring or recurring roles in no less than nine series, ranging from the first women’s editor with Dave Garroway on the original Today Show on NBC to her three-year run as Lily on The Munsters Today for Universal. Some of Lee’s successful series include: Time Tunnel, The New Andy Griffith Show, Mission: Impossible, The F.B.I., 12 O’Clock High, and Dr. Kildare. Lee studied acting with the famed teacher Lee Strasburg, as well as dancing, singing, and fencing with some of the top coaches in New York. Lee’s beginnings in the entertainment industry include her first TV role – The Philco Television Playhouse with Mary Astor, her first motion picture lead – The 4-D Man with Robert Lansing, and her first professional stage appearance – Hatful of Rain with William Smithers and Lou Antonio. In addition to portraying “Catwoman,” her noteworthy film roles include Andy Griffith’s pregnant wife in Angel in My Pocket, and Rock Hudson’s southern wife in The Undefeated. Lee “swam” with Namu, The Killer Whale and played the “man” killed by Kim Novak in The Legend of Lylah Clare. Live theatre, however, continues to be Lee’s first love. Attesting to that fact is her long association with Theatre West, a professional actors’ workshop in Hollywood. Recent national stage credits include: the female version of The Odd Couple, Last Summer at Blue Fish Cove for which she received the Drama Logue Award for Best Actress as well as the San Francisco Critics Award, The Business of Murder with Van Johnson, Sondheim’s Follies with seven former Miss Americas, a national tour with Anthony Zerbe and Roy Dotrice of Country Matters (Sex and Shakespeare!) and most recently productions of the musicals Hello Dolly; Mame; The King and I with George Chakiris; I Do, I Do; A Little Night Music with her husband, Marshall Borden, and the 20th Anniversary tour of Dan Goggin’s Nunsense with Kaye Ballard, Mimi Hines, Georgia Engel and Darlene Love. “… a mesmerizingly haunting 60 minutes of compelling live theatre, offered by an agelessly stunning respected actress of stage and screen.”

—Pat Taylor, The Tolucan Times ###

www.leemeriwether.com

Preview Press Kit Each show participating in the Fringe Festival was required to create a 2-page press kit/informational flyer that would be provided to media representatives attending preview events for the festival.

LEE MERIWETHER

THEWOMEN OF

SPOON RIVER Their Voices from the Hill Adapted by LEE MERIWETHER with JIM HESSELMAN from SPOON RIVER ANTHOLOGY by EDGAR LEE MASTERS Directed by JIM HESSELMAN Music by KENNETH ATKINS The song, “The Women From The Hill” by LEE MERIWETHER arranged by KENNETH ATKINS

Original production design by REBEKKAH J. MEIXNER-HANKS Originally produced in the Robinson Theater at Indiana University Southeast, New Albany, Indiana, May 7 & 8, 2010

Lee Meriwether has adapted Spoon River Anthology into a one-woman show, THE WOMEN OF SPOON RIVER: THEIR VOICES FROM THE HILL, in which she brings to life over twenty different women from the pages of Edgar Lee Masters’ epic collection of poems. Each poem is an epitaph of a dead citizen of the fictional Illinois town of Spoon River, delivered by the dead themselves. They speak about the sorts of things one might expect: some recite their histories and turning points, others make observations of life from the outside, and petty ones complain of the treatment of their graves, while few tell how they really died. Speaking without reason to lie or fear the consequences, they construct a picture of life in their town that is shorn of façades. The interplay of various villagers — e.g. a bright and successful man crediting his parents for all he’s accomplished, and an old woman weeping because he is secretly her illegitimate child — forms a gripping, if not pretty, whole.

In 1962, Charles Aidman adapted Spoon River Anthology for the stage, with folk songs (some traditional, and some original songs written by Aidman and Naomi Caryl), and this production premiered in Los Angeles and starred Betty Garrett, Joyce Van Patten, and Naomi Caryl in the three female roles. Understudying these roles was Lee Meriwether. The following year, the show traveled to Broadway and has since been performed in thousands of productions around the world. In 2002, Theatre West mounted a revival of the show for its 40th anniversary, directed by Betty Garrett and Joyce Van Patten. This time, however, Lee Meriwether — the one-time understudy — now starred in the role originated by Ms. Garrett.

Having an affinity for both the show and the women of Spoon River, Lee often felt that Masters had given short shrift to the female inhabitants of his fictional town. Of the over two hundred characters in Masters’ collection, only a handful were women. Seeing an opportunity to give these women their due as well as to provide a challenge for herself as an actress, Lee set about adapting Masters’ work, extracting nearly all of the female characters and presenting them in a one-woman show. Later, together with writer/actor/director Jim Hesselman, Lee discovered that by performing them in a particular order she could create not only personal accounts of the women as individuals, but also depict an overall picture of the life of women in general — both in terms of a particular period and place, but also in universal and eternal terms. The Women of Spoon River: Their Voices from the Hill premiered in May of 2010 at Indiana University Southeast, starring Meriwether and directed by Hesselman, with scenic and lighting design by Rebekkah J. Meixner-Hanks and original music by Kenneth Atkins.

The show then enjoyed a run of several weeks at Theatre West in early 2011.

For more information, booking information and interview requests, e-mail info@leemeriwether.com Digital press kit available online at

www.leemeriwether.com/wosr/press/fringe2012

Photos: Rebekkah J. Meixner-Hanks

Lee Meriwether

Lee Meriwether was successively: Miss San Francisco, Miss California and Miss America. Though most know Lee as “Betty” in the highly successful CBS series, BARNABY JONES — for which she was nominated for both the Golden Globe and the Emmy — or as “Catwoman” in the 1966 BATMAN movie with Adam West, Lee has had starring or recurring roles in no less than nine television series, ranging from the first women’s editor with Dave Garroway on the original TODAY SHOW on NBC to her threeyear run as “Lily” on THE MUNSTERS TODAY for Universal. Some of Lee’s successful series include: TIME TUNNEL, THE NEW ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW, MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE, THE F.B.I., 12 O’CLOCK HIGH, DR. KILDARE, and has guest starring roles on LEAVE IT TO BEAVER, PERRY MASON, THE FBI, THE PHIL SILVERS SHOW, THE FUGITIVE, F TROOP, THE DORIS DAY SHOW, MISSION IMPOSSIBLE, LAND OF THE GIANTS, STAR TREK, MATCH GAME, CIRCUS OF THE STARS, and DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES. Lee studied acting with the famed teacher Lee Strasburg, as well as dancing, singing, and fencing with some of the top coaches in New York. Lee’s beginnings in the entertainment industry include her first TV role – THE PHILCO TELEVISION PLAYHOUSE with Mary Astor, her first motion picture lead – THE 4-D MAN with Robert Lansing, and her first professional stage appearance – HATFUL OF RAIN with William Smithers and Lou Antonio. In addition to portraying “Catwoman,” her noteworthy film roles include Andy Griffith’s pregnant wife in ANGEL IN MY POCKET, and Rock Hudson’s southern wife in THE UNDEFEATED. Lee “swam” with NAMU, THE KILLER WHALE and played the “man” killed by Kim Novak in THE LEGEND OF LYLAH CLARE. Live theatre, however, continues to be Lee’s first love. Attesting to that fact is her long association with Theatre West, a professional actors’ workshop in Hollywood. Recent national stage credits include: the female version of THE ODD COUPLE; LAST SUMMER AT BLUE FISH COVE for which she received the Drama Logue Award for Best Actress as well as the San Francisco Critics Award; THE BUSINESS OF MURDER with Van Johnson; Sondheim’s FOLLIES with seven former Miss Americas; a national tour with Anthony Zerbe and Roy Dotrice of COUNTRY MATTERS; and most recently productions of the musicals HELLO DOLLY; MAME; THE KING AND I with George Chakiris; I DO, I DO; A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC with her husband, Marshall Borden; and the 20th Anniversary tour of Dan Goggin’s NUNSENSE with Kaye Ballard, Mimi Hines, Georgia Engel and Darlene Love.

For more information, booking information and interview requests, e-mail info@leemeriwether.com or visit

www.leemeriwether.com

Promotional Video I compiled and edited a short video promoting the show at the Fringe Festival.

The video features clips of the original production and an openning narration

by Ms. Meriwether.

This video was included as part of an electronic press kit http://www. leemeriwether.com/wosr/press/ fringe2012/, posted to YouTube and dissemenated to New York media outlets, journalists, bloggers, and theatre professionals.

The video can be viewed on YouTube at http://youtu.be/4MB0p2RnBB8 Video created using Adobe PremierePro.

Resulting Media Coverage The following are just a few examples of media coverage resulting from my marketing and promotional work for this show.

Visit the full web sites by clicking on the images.