GOOD PEOPLE OPENS ENSEMBLE THEATRE CINCINNATI’S 2012-2013 SEASON
(Cincinnati, OH) Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati opens its 2012-2013 season with the regional premiere of GOOD PEOPLE, by Pulitzer Prize winner David Lindsay-Abaire (Rabbit Hole, Shrek the Musical), playing September 5-23, 2012. Directed by D. Lynn Meyers. Production Sponsor is The Otto M. Budig Family Foundation.
In addition to being nominated for a Tony Award for Best Play, GOOD PEOPLE, a recipient of an Edgerton Foundation New American Play Award, was named Best Play of the 2010-2011 season by the New York Drama Critics Circle, as well as featured on the 2011 “Top Ten” theater lists of New York Magazine, Newsday, and Time Out. Well known for his absurdist comedies Fuddy Meers and Kimberly Akimbo, Lindsay-Abaire brings his signature humor to his tough and tender new work. The play is set in Lindsay-Abaire’s native South Boston, a traditionally Irish American neighborhood that is strongly rooted in working class identity. Many people have come to know “Southie,” as its commonly referred to, through gritty depictions of the neighborhood in successful movies such as Mystic River, The Departed, and Good Will Hunting. In an interview with the New York Times, Lindsay-Abaire remarked, “Class is something I know about, I’ve lived it every day of my life, and it shaped me in my identity.” Raising difficult questions with unsentimental observation and appealingly scrappy characters, GOOD PEOPLE explores the struggles, shifting loyalties and unshakeable hopes that come with having next to nothing in America.
GOOD PEOPLE follows Margie Walsh who is facing eviction and scrambling to catch a break. Laid off from her job at the dollar store, Margie is faced with the reality that South Boston is providing her the same level of opportunity it always has: none. Wry, rough around the edges and ready to make a change, she goes to seek out the one who got away – both from “Southie” and from her. Instead, she finds herself in the ‘burbs and out of her element, facing the question: is opportunity granted or earned? Good People takes an affectionate look at the ‘haves’ and ‘have nots’ through the eyes of characters who won’t be ignored.
About the Cast
Annie Fitzpatrick (Margie) recently appeared at Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati in last season’s Ghost-Writer and Snow White. Her other favorite ETC productions include: Next Fall, Dead Man’s Cell Phone, Rabbit Hole, String of Pearls (for which she received an Acclaim Award), Intimate Apparel, and The Exonerated. In addition, she won Cincinnati Entertainment Awards for her performances in ETC’s Copperheads, Dinner With Friends, and Mauritius. She appeared in A Man For All Seasons and Blithe Spirit at Cincinnati Shakespeare Company. She has worked regionally at Cincinnati Playhouse In the Park, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Geva Theatre, Florida Studio, Human Race Theatre Co., New Edgecliff Theatre, and Know Theatre of Cincinnati. She has appeared in numerous soaps, local and national commercials, and the film Milk Money. She recently appeared in an episode of Army Wives and this October she can be seen in the feature film Fun Size.
Chris Clavelli (Mike) returns to Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati after several years’ hiatus. His ETC credits include Stones in His Pockets and Sight Unseen. He is the Associate Artistic Director of The Florida Repertory Theatre where he has acted and directed in more than twenty productions. This year, Florida Weekly named him Best Actor for his performance in God of Carnage. Other acting credits include: All in the Timing, August: Osage County, and Dancing at Lughnasa, Florida Rep; Translations, The Alabama Shakespeare Festival; Dracula, Actors Theatre Louisville; Noises Off, Indiana Repertory Theatre; Sideman, Philadelphia Theatre Company (Barrymore Award); Hamlet and The Mystery of Irma Vep, Florida Shakespeare Festival, (Carbonell Award for Best Actor); and The Chosen, The Paper Mill Playhouse.
Kate Wilford (Jean) returns to ETC stage, having appeared in last season’s world premiere of Snow White. Her other Ensemble favorites include: Becky’s New Car, Dead Man’s Cell Phone, Women Of Lockerbie. She won both an Acclaim and a CEA award for lead actress in a drama as Linda Loman in Death of a Salesman with New Edgecliff Theatre. Ms. Wilford is familiar to Cincinnati audiences with her performances in Romeo and Juliet, The Cherry Orchard, All My Sons, and Bedroom Farce at Cincinnati Shakespeare Company. She was artistic director for Cincinnati Children’s Theatre for several years, and has directed for the Women’s Theater Initiative and Xavier University as well. She is currently the executive director of Afterschool Acting, a non-profit dedicated to bringing local professional actors into underserved schools to teach and mentor.
Deb Girdler (Dottie) has appeared numerous times on ETC’s stage, often as the villain in the holiday shows. Her ETC credits include the evil fairy Wisteria in Sleeping Beauty, The Queen of Hearts in Alice in Wonderland, Betty in the smash hit The Great American Trailer Park Musical, as well as Old Bones in The Frog Princess. Ms. Girdler has appeared at the Olney Theatre as the Fairy Godmother in the now official version of Rogers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella as well as in La Cage Aux Folles at the Gateway Playhouse in New Jersey. A CCM graduate, she began her career on the Showboat Majestic and has worked off-Broadway, in regional theatre, and in summer stock for over 30 years.
Margaret Ivey (Kate) makes her debut at Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati. Recently, she appeared in A Christmas Carol at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, and in River Rat and Cat and What’s Buggin’ Greg with the Playhouse touring company. Her other credits include: Almost, Maine and Rent, Papermill Theatre; Soweto!, Freddie Hendricks YEA; and A Christmas Carol, Alliance Theatre. Ms. Ivey graduated from the University of Southern California, where she appeared in Naga-Mandala (Play with a Cobra), Intimate Apparel, The Colored Museum, The Beggar’s Opera, Three Sisters, Twelfth Night and The Doctor is Indian. She also trained at the British American Drama Academy.
Michael Carr (Stevie) is a Cincinnati native and University of Cincinnati CCM drama graduate. He returns to ETC’s stage, having served as an acting intern during last season. This past summer, he appeared as Captain/Henessey in Dames at Sea in Highlands, North Carolina. His favorite roles include Andrey in Three Sisters, The Man in On the Verge, and Buddy in Mistakes Madeline Made.
Production team includes Brian c. Mehring (Resident Scenic & Lighting Designer), Aaron Clements (Technical Operations Director), Matthew Hollstegge (Production Coordinator & Master Electrician), Shannon Rae Lutz (Properties Master & Design Assistant), Matthew Callahan (Sound Designer), Reba Senske (Costume Designer), and Rocco Dal Vera (Dialect Coach). Production Stage Manager is Constance Dubinski.
About the Playwright
David Lindsay-Abaire is a playwright, screenwriter, lyricist, and librettist whose play Rabbit Hole premiered on Broadway and went on to receive the 2007 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, the Spirit of America Award, and five Tony nominations. He was also nominated for a Grammy Award (Best Musical Show Album) and two Tony Awards (Best Book of a Musical and Best Score) for his work on Shrek the Musical. Prior to that, Mr. Lindsay-Abaire was awarded the 2008 Ed Kleban Award as America’s most promising musical theater lyricist. His other plays include Fuddy Meers, Kimberly Akimbo, Wonder of the World, and A Devil Inside, among others. His newest play, Good People premiered on Broadway last year, starred Frances McDormand, and was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Play. In addition to his work in theatre, David’s screen credits include his screen adaptation of Rabbit Hole (starring Nicole Kidman, Aaron Eckart, and Dianne Wiest, and directed by John Cameron Mitchell), as well as the upcoming features Guardians of Childhood (Dreamworks), and Oz: The Great and Powerful (Disney, directed by Sam Raimi). He is a proud New Dramatists alum, a graduate of Sarah Lawrence College and the Juilliard School, as well as a member of the WGA and the Dramatists Guild Council.
Ticket Prices
Tickets are $38 for Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday performances.
Tickets are $42 for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday performances.
Current subscribers receive $5 off each ticket.
For the 2012-2013 season, ETC will continue its popular half-price rush tickets and $15 student rush tickets for all performances, which are available two hours prior to show time. Tickets and seating subject to availability.
Subscriptions
Subscriptions to the 2012-2013 Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati season are available in a variety of packages. Prices start at $156 for seniors; adult subscriptions range from $168 to $186 depending upon day. The popular FlexPass is $196, which includes six flexible tickets to use for any show and in any combination. Opening night subscriptions are $186 and include light refreshments from Ensemble Theatre’s opening night partner(s).
Other Single Ticket Discounts
Military/Educator, Public Radio Perks Card, ArtsWave FunCard, AAA, Senior and Enjoy the Arts discounts available; tickets and seating are subject to availability. ETC accepts all major credit cards, Over-the-Rhine Merchant gift cards, and Downtown Cincinnati gift cards. Group rates are available for 10 or more people.
A full list of available discounts and performance calendar is available at www.ensemblecincinnati.org.
GOOD PEOPLE —At A Glance
WHAT: Regional premiere of GOOD PEOPLE, by David Lindsay-Abaire
WHERE: Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati, 1127 Vine Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202
WHEN: September 5-23, 2012
Opening Night: Wednesday, September 5 at 7:30 pm
TIMES: Tues-Thurs at 7:30 pm; Fri & Sat at 8:00 pm; Sat & Sun at 2:00 pm
TICKETS: $38-$42
SPECIAL PERFORMANCE EVENTS
Pay-what-you-can Preview is Tuesday, September 4, 2012 benefiting Society of St. Vincent de Paul.
CONTENT ADVISORY
This production contains strong language and themes and may not be suitable for all audiences.
DISCOUNTS
All discounts subject to seating and availability at time of purchase.
Half-Price Rush Tickets: All remaining tickets for the current day’s performance(s) are available two hours prior to each showtime for half-price (discount does not apply to senior or children’s tickets) when purchasing by phone or in person. $15 Student Rush Tickets: Students may purchase up to two $15 student rush tickets two hours prior to show time with valid student I.D. Available in person only.
AAA, ArtsWave Fun Card, Cincinnati Public Radio Perks Card, Military/Educator and ETA discounts available. Group discounts available for 10+. Complete details available at www.ensemblecincinnati.org.
PARKING:
Parking for all performances is available directly across the theatre at the surface lot and Gateway Garage, both at the corner of 12th and Vine Streets. Parking also available at the newly opened Washington Park Garage, accessible via Race or Elm Street.
CAST (in alphabetical order)
- Stevie: Michael Carr*
- Mike: Chris Clavelli*
- Margie: Annie Fitzpatrick*
- Dottie: Deb G. Girdler*
- Kate: Margaret Ivey
- Jean: Kate Wilford*
PRODUCTION TEAM
- Director: D. Lynn Meyers**
- Production Stage Manager: Constance Dubinski*
- Set & Lighting Designer: Brian c. Mehring
- Properties Master & Design Assistant: Shannon Rae Lutz
- Master Electrician & Production Coordinator: Matthew Hollstegge
- Costume Designer: Reba Senske
- Sound Designer: Matthew Callahan
- Technical Operations Director: Aaron Clements
*Denotes a member of Actors’ Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers in the United States.
**Director is a member of the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers, Inc., an independent national labor union.
Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati is supported, in part, by the generosity of community contributions to the ArtsWave Campaign. The Ohio Arts Council helps fund Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans. Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati also receives funding from the Shubert Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts.
2012-2013 Season Presenting Sponsor is the Otto M. Budig Family Foundation. Season Sponsor: PNC Bank. Season Fairy Godmother Sponsor: William and Susan Friedlander. Additional support provided by Garfield Suites Hotel, The Greater Cincinnati Foundation, and The Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile, Jr./U.S. Bank Foundation.
Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati is a professional theatre dedicated to producing world and regional premieres of works that often explore compelling social issues. We fulfill our mission through our stage productions and educational outreach programs that enlighten, enliven, enrich and inspire our audiences.
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