Monthly Archives: May 2011

Dayton Theatre Guild Announces 2011-2012 Season

Dayton Theatre Guild opens their 2011-2012 season with THE OLDEST PROFESSION by Paula Vogel.

Titled Truth & Consequences, DTG is offering five area premieres.

  • Opening their season is THE OLDEST PROFESSION, a comedy where five elderly ladies of the evening relocate from New Orleans to Reagan-area New York City. Aug 25. – Sept. 11.
  • Neil Simon’s LOST IN YONKERS finds brothers Arty and Jay left in the care of their strict grandmother and simple Aunt Bella in Yonkers, New York. Oct. 21-Nov. 6.
  • Three aging WWI French army veterans confront, comfort and sometimes ignore each other at a French military home in HEROES. Jan. 6-22.
  • This comic fantasy, WITTENBERG has Prince Hamlet (yes, that one) at the famous German university with Dr. Faustus and Martin Luther battling over faith and reason. Feb. 10-26.
  • In GOING TO ST. IVES, the dignified mother of a ruthless African dictator travels to England to seek treatment for her failing eyesight from a renowned ophthalmologist, who in turn requests a favor. March 16-April 1.
  • In the comedy, DIVIDING THE ESTATE, two generations of former Texas gentility connive and grope to wrest control of the once-cherished and valuable family estate from the hands of the venerable matriarch, who still wants the estate to remain a proud symbol of a vanished way of life.  April 27-May 13.
Also on the bill are several season extras:
  • SOUVENIR, the story of Florence Foster Jenkins, a wealthy society eccentric, believed herself to be a great coloratura soprano when she was actually incapable of producing two consecutive notes in tune. Sept. 16-25.
  • From the author of COME BACK TO THE FIVE AND DIME, JIMMY DEAN, JIMMY DEAN comes the comedy THE BLUE MOON DANCING. This particular day at the dance hall, includes a wedding, a tornado, Elvis, an attempted suicide and the face of Jesus in a water stain on the ceiling. Dec. 2-18.
  • Closing out the season is the musical THE STORY OF MY LIFE. Thomas Weaver, a successful writer, returns to his hometown to perform the eulogy for his childhood friend, Alvin Kelby. He struggles to find the appropriate words, but comes up with nothing but blank pages. With the help of Alvin, who appears from the recesses of his mind, Thomas sorts through story after story of the events that made up their friendship. June 1-17.

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UPDATED: Coming to Local Stages in June

Added performances in blue.

The cast of Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati's THE MARVELOUS WONDERETTES: Denise Devlin as Cindy Lou, Mia Gentile as Missy, Brooke Rucidlo as Suzy, & Sara Mackie as Betty Jean; return for the sequel, WINTER WONDERETTES, running June 24-July 24. Photo by Sandy Underwood.

  • THE CINCY FRINGE FESTIVAL presented by Know Theatre of Cincinanti. The performances are scheduled June 1-12.
  • GOD’S FAVORITE presented by the Showboat Majestic. The first show of the season actually on the boat (if the river cooperates). June 1-19.
  • A BIG GAY CINCINNATI WEDDING being performed at The Cabaret (the newly relaunched space above Below Zero Lounge). June 2-11.
  • Wright State University closes their season with BARNABY RUDGE PART ONE, the first half of the stage adaptation of the novel by Charles Dickens. Running June 3-5 in the Herbst Theatre.
  • Xenia Area Community Theater closes their season with the Mary Chase classic, HARVEY. The story of a man and his invisible friend, a rabbit.  June 3-12.
  • Returning for another summer production is THE COMPLETE WORKS OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE ABRIDGED presented by the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, June 3-26.
  •  The East Side Players open their first of two summer musicals outside at the Blue Ash Recreation Center Amphitheater. Rodgers and Hemmerstein’s CINDERELLA runs June 9-18.
  •  Closing out their season with a Fourth Wall production (limited run of only two weeks) is Falcon Theater’s production of the reverse-time musical THE LAST FIVE YEARS. June 10-18.
  •  trueTheatre has added a new show to their season and what they promise as a annual event. trueFRINGE features five storytellers (all artists in this year’s fringe festival) sharing true, personal stories—this time, about life in-and-around the theatre.  One performance only on June 11. Recent trueTheatre productions have sold out weeks in advance.
  • Her version of Spider-Man may have been a flop, but you can catch Julie Taymor’s visually-stunning, DISNEY’S THE LION KING presented by The Victoria Theatre Association. Performances run June 14-July 10. Ticket availability is probably limited.
  • Commonwealth Theatre Company kicks off the NKU Summer Dinner Theatre with the musical MAKE SOMEONE HAPPY, a revue of the songs of Jule Syne. Performances run June 15-26. This series is extremely popular and sells out early.
  • Encore Theater Company kicks off their summer season with ALTAR BOYZ. Performances run for one weekend, June 16-18.
  • Kincaid Regional Theatre kicks-off its two-show summer season with ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FENCE. A story about two farms seperated by a big, strong fence.  The farmers on either side of the fence refuse to let the animals of the individual farms have anything to do with each other because of a long standing feud.  One little pig from Farmer Frankin’s farm and another little pit from Farmer Fred’s farm fall in love and run away. June 17-24.
  • The Steven Dietz drama, THE LAST OF THE BOYS, runs June 23-July 1 at the Brookville Community Theatre.
  • This year, Bart’s Bards annual summer musical is THE WIZARD OF OZ. Performances of the family-friendly show are June 23-26.
  • Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati cools things off in Over-the-Rhine with WINTER WONDERETTES. All four actresses reprise their roles from the 2010 production, THE MARVELOUS WONDERETTES. Runs June 24-July 24.

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Performances for the week of May 16-22

RIGHT NEXT TO ME presented by Human Race Theatre Company, May 26-June 12. Jamie Cordes and Maria Couch in a photo by Scott J. Kimmins.

T H I S   W E E K   O N L Y

No productions this week

O P E N I N G    T H I S    W E E K 

RIGHT NEXT TO ME [Dayton]
Presented by Human Race Theatre Company through June 12
In preview Thu at 8pm
Fri-Sat at 8pm, Sun at 2pm
www.humanracetheatre.org/1011rntm.shtml
Premiere of a new musical about a war widow’s attempt to cope with her Marine husband’s death in Iraq. Gregg Coffin (Convenience, Five Course Love) takes the widow and her husband’s brother (also a Marine) on a quest to scatter her husband’s ashes where he requested, setting off flashbacks of their life and love and leading to an emotionally uplifting transformation. This final version of right next to me is the result of major transformations itself, and is much different from the content of the show when it was part of The Human Race Musical Theatre Workshops in 2009.

C O N T I N U I N G   T H I S   W E E K

HAIRSPRAY [Springboro]
Presented by La Comedia Dinner Theatre through June 26
Wed-Thu, Sun at 10:30am & 5:30pm, Fri-Sat at 5:30pm
www.lacomedia.com/11sevenbrides.htm
It’s 1962, and pleasantly plumpBaltimore teen Tracy Turnblad has only one desire – to dance on the popular Corny Collins Show. When her dream comes true,Tracy is transformed from social outcast to sudden star, but she must use her newfound power to vanquish the reigning Teen Queen, win the affections of heartthrob Link Larkin and integrate a TV network – all without denting her ‘do!

THE PAVILION [Eden Park]
Presented by Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park through June 12
Tue-Wed at 7:30pm, Thu-Fri at 8pm, Sat at 4pm & 8pm, Sun at 2pm & 7pm
http://cincyplay.com/shows/Details.aspx?performanceNumber=8946
Twenty years ago, Peter and Kari were the perfect couple – high school sweethearts and very much in love. When Kari got pregnant, a panicked Peter fled town. Now, at their high school reunion, Peter wants to win her back. As the night progresses, Peter and Kari spin a tale of what-might-have-been with what-could-be. By turns poetic and comic, romantic and philosophical, The Pavilion has been hailed by critics as “an Our Town for our time.”

C L O S I N G   T H I S   W E E K

42ND STREET [Dayton]
Presented by Wright State University through May 28
Thu-Fri at 8pm, Sat at 2pm & 8pm, Sun at 2pm
www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=188149944565320

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM [Downtown]
Presented by Cincinnati Shakespeare Company through May 25
Tue-Wed at 7:30pm
www.ticketturtle.com/index.php?ticketing=csc
Couldn’t make it to see a performance in the park last year? Can’t wait for the park tour to begin next August? Join us at CSC as we perform our touring production of William Shakespeare’s most popular comedy, A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM. For the low price of $12 you can enjoy the show indoors with no bugs, no rain, and no sitting on the ground!

LA CAGE AUX FOLLES [Dayton]
Presented by Dayton Playhouse through May 29
Fri-Sat at 8pm, Sun at 2pm
www.daytonplayhouse.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=112&Itemid=125
Georges and his lover Albin have lived happily together for many years. Albin is the club’s star female impersonator while Georges is the club’s Master of Ceremonies. The fireworks begin when Georges’ son, Jean-Michel, a result from a brief encounter years back, announces that he is engaged to … a girl! Anne is the daughter of a well-known homophobic politician, Edouard Dindon. Anne’s parents want to come and meet Jean-Michel’s mother and father. Little do they know that Albin, a man, has been Jean-Michel’s mother figure his whole life. Jean-Michel wants to keep Albin away from the Dindons but Albin is hurt and insists on making an appearance!

LEADING LADIES [Mariemont]
Presented by the Mariemont Players through May 29
Thu-Fri at 8pm, Sat at 4pm & 8pm, Sun at 2pm
www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=145480652188816
Two English Shakespearean actors find themselves so down on their luck that they are performing “Scenes from Shakespeare” on the Moose Lodge circuit in the Amish country of Pennsylvania. When they hear that an old lady in York, PA, is about to die and leave her fortune to her two long lost English nephews, they r…esolve to pass themselves off as her beloved relatives and get the cash. Trouble is, when they get to York, they find out that the relatives aren’t nephews, but nieces! Romantic entanglements abound, especially when one falls head-over-heels in love with the old lady’s vivacious niece, who’s engaged to the local minister.

MAURITIUS [Dayton]
Presented by Dayton Theatre Guild through May 29
Fri at 8pm, Sat at 5pm, Sun at 3pm
www.daytontheatreguild.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=111%3Amauritius&catid=41%3Aseason&Itemid=95
Stamp collecting is far more risky than you think. After their mother’s death, two estranged half-sisters discover a book of rare stamps that may include the crown jewel for collectors. One sister tries to collect on the windfall, while the other resists for sentimental reasons. In this gripping tale, a seemingly simple sale becomes dangerous when three seedy, high-stakes collectors enter the sisters’ world, willing to do anything to claim the rare find as their own.

PARALLEL LIVES [Fairfield]
Presented by Fairfield Footlighters through May 29
Fri-Sat at 8pm, Sun at 2pm
http://fairfieldfootlighters.org/page13.html
Take a fun-filled journey as two actresses march from adolescence to midlife crisis in an evening of sketches on subjects such as men, women, love, women, relationships, women, guilt, family, religion, and women. A delightful and biting satire, the play explores the plight of women and the pandemonium that ensues when the two sexes try to get along.

SHOWTUNE [Newport]
Presented by Footlighters Inc through May 28
Wed-Sat at 8pm
www.footlighters.org/shows/showtune/main.html
Sunday Clothes” and enjoy this toe-tapping revue celebrating the work of Jerry Herman, composer and lyricist for some of Broadway’s greatest shows and recipient of the 2009 Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theater. Incorporating hit song after hit song, Showtune is sure to please audiences young and old alike with witty lyrics set to iconic tunes from shows including Hello, Dolly!, Mame, Mack & Mabel and La Cage aux Folles.

THE TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA [Downtown]
Presented by Cincinnati Shakespeare Company through May 29
Thu-Sat at 7:30pm, Sun at 2pm
www.cincyshakes.com/the-two-gentlemen-of-verona.html
They’re used to swingin’, but how will two bonafide ladies’ men deal with settling down? The lure of love is the central theme of Shakespeare’s The Two Gentlemen of Verona, set in the funkadelic 1970s. Check out the action as Valentine and Proteus pursue two foxy chicks, both eventually falling for lady #2. But when lady #1 comes to town disguised as a dude, the trip goes from far out to totally bogus. Join us for this hip comedy, and find out if true love conquers all, ya dig?

The information above is accurate to the best of my ability, but subject to change. Best practice is to verify before attending. 

Productions that have or are likely to sell out performances (so reserve your seats early!): LEADING LADIES

For performances by date, follow this link: https://behindthecurtaincincy.com/2011/05/23/performances-by-date-for-the-week-of-may-16-22/

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Performances BY DATE for the week of May 16-22

Performances by date will be its separate entry for the next few weeks. It is very time-consuming to do by hand, and if it is not being used, I’m going to stop doing it. In other words, click it or lose it. 🙂

TUESDAY, MAY 24
7:30pm                 A Midsummer Night’s Dream
7:30pm                 The Pavilion

WEDNESDAY, MAY 25
10:30am               Hairspray
5:30pm                 Hairspray
7:30pm                 A Midsummer Night’s Dream
7:30pm                 The Pavilion
8pm                       Showtune

THURSDAY, MAY 26
10:30am               Hairspray
5:30pm                 Hairspray
7:30pm                 The Two Gentlemen of Verona
8pm                       42nd Street
8pm                       Leading Ladies
8pm                       The Pavilion
8pm                       Right Next to Me (preview)
8pm                       Showtune

FRIDAY, MAY 27
5:30pm                 Hairspray
7:30pm                 The Two Gentlemen of Verona
8pm                       42nd Street
8pm                       La Cage Aux Folles
8pm                       Leading Ladies
8pm                       Mauritius
8pm                       Parallel Lives
8pm                       The Pavilion
8pm                       Right Next to Me
8pm                       Showtune

SATURDAY, MAY 28
2pm                       42nd Street
4pm                       Leading Ladies
4pm                       The Pavilion
5pm                       Mauritius
5:30pm                 Hairspray
7:30pm                 The Two Gentlemen of Verona
8pm                       42nd Street
8pm                       La Cage Aux Folles
8pm                       Leading Ladies
8pm                       Parallel Lives
8pm                       The Pavilion
8pm                       Right Next to Me
8pm                       Showtune

SUNDAY, MAY 29
10:30am               Hairspray
8pm                       42nd Street
2pm                       La Cage Aux Folles
2pm                       Leading Ladies
2pm                       Parallel Lives
2pm                       The Pavilion
2pm                       Right Next to Me
2pm                       The Two Gentlemen of Verona
3pm                       Mauritius
5:30pm                 Hairspray
7pm                       The Pavilion

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Looking to Get Involved Behind the Scenes?

From Mariemont Players:

Interested in being part of the production team for the upcoming MPI production, THE FOREIGNER? Call Norma a 513-232-4819 or email nini1@zoomtown.com. This production runs 9/8 through 9/25/2011. We are looking for costumer, carpenters, properties chair, sound and light execution and back stage run crew. We will be glad to train beginners!!

From Xenia Area Community Theatre (XACT)

Wanted: stage managers, stage hands, light operators, and sound operators. No experience necessary, training provided. Get involved with local theater. Contact us through our Facebook page, website, or call the theater.

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