CSC Producing Artistic Director, Brian Isaac Phillips, directs this story of vice and virtue set in prohibition era, playing May 3-26, 2013
The cast of MEASURE FOR MEASURE. Photo by Jeanna Vella.
CINCINNATI, April 5, 2013 – Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, Cincinnati’s stage for the classics, is pleased to present Shakespeare’s “Measure for Measure”, playing from May 3-26, 2013. This production is directed by CSC Producing Artistic Director, Brian Isaac Phillips and features Kelly Mengelkoch, Brent Vimtrup and Nicholas Rose. The design of this production is generously sponsored by Cincinnati Book Publishing.
In a city where any prohibited vice is readily available, stands Angelo, left in charge by an absent Duke. As he begins a crusade to enforce long forgotten codes of chastity, a young man’s life is threatened. But when Isabella, a novice nun, pleads for the life of her brother, she is offered a truly indecent proposal to spare him from Angelo himself. Shakespeare puts hypocritical, ethical and religious double standards on trial in this captivating and deep examination of the value of virtue and the power of our vices.
Producing Artistic Director, Brian Isaac Phillips is excited to bring this play back to Cincinnati Shakespeare Company for the first time in 18 years. Mr. Phillips says “we have discovered a lot of satire and wit as we explore the biting social criticism in this play. The behavior of these characters, from Isabella, a novice nun, to a comic bawd like Mistress Overdone is like a dark comic mirror, held up to nature. Shakespeare has written a play that begs us to examine modern day decadence and hypocrisy.” Mr. Phillips continues to say that “the setting for this production of ‘Measure for Measure’ will be in the prohibition era. We wanted to place this production in this era to help give modern audiences a context for the actions and deeply held opinions that characters in the play hold. We see the Duke carousing at a speakeasy with ladies, moral enforcers giving into lust and a sister asked to trade their virtue for their family and instantly must ask ourselves who represents right and wrong in such a world.” The set is designed by award winning resident set designer, Andrew Hungerford. Resident costume designer, Heidi Jo Schiemer and resident sound designer, Doug Borntrager return to help create the gritty and precariously dangerous world of prohibition.
Performances of “Measure for Measure” are scheduled from May 3-26, 2013 on Thursday, Friday & Saturday evenings at 7:30pm and Sundays at 2pm. Preview performances are on Tuesday May 1 and Wednesday May 2 at 7:30pm and tickets are $15. The theater is located at 719 Race Street, downtown Cincinnati, two blocks west of the Aronoff Center. Single ticket prices range from $22-$28 on Thursday Nights and Sunday Matinees and from $26-$32 on Friday and Saturday Nights. If available, $14 student rush tickets may be purchased 30 minutes before a show with a valid student ID. Visa, Discover, MasterCard, and American Express are accepted. Ticketing fees may apply. Discounts are available for students, seniors and groups as well as Enjoy the Arts and AAA members. To purchase tickets or for more information, call the CSC Box Office at 513.381.BARD (2273) ext. 1, or go online at www.cincyshakes.com.
For additional information on “Measure for Measure”, including photography, or for interviews with any member of the cast or company, please contact Jeanna Vella by email jeanna.vella@cincyshakes.com or by phone 513.381.2273 x. 3202 or visit www.cincyshakes.com.
About the Director
BRIAN ISAAC PHILLIPS (Producing Artistic Director, Ensemble, Fourteenth Season)is celebrating his 10th season of artistic leadership of Cincinnati Shakespeare Company. He was named Producing Artistic Director in 2010 after being Artistic Director since 2003. Prior to these responsibilities, he served with the organization as Associate Artistic Director for one season, as well as four seasons as a member of the acting company. He is a proud member of Actor’s Equity Association and the Stage Director’s and Choreographer’s Society. Mr. Phillips is a graduate of Morehead State University and has been a resident of Cincinnati for almost fifteen years. In that time he has worked for Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati, Cincinnati Opera, Cincinnati Ballet, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, The Children’s Theatre, Know Theatre of Cincinnati, New Stage Collective, as well as over 100 productions with CSC. Most recent credits include “Romeo & Juliet”, “The Importance of Being Earnest”, “Richard II”, “The Grapes of Wrath”, “Henry VIII: All is True”, “Macbeth”, “A Man for All Seasons” and “Bedroom Farce”. Outside of CSC Mr. Phillips has recently been seen onstage in “Collapse” at Know Theatre, Porgy and Bess at “Cincinnati Opera”, as well as “The Seafarer” and “Dead Man’s Cell Phone” at Ensemble Theatre. He staged Know Theatre’s recent critically acclaimed production of Andrew Bovell’s “When the Rain Stops Falling” and “Angels in America: Millennium Approaches” and served as dramaturg on Cincinnati Ballet’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”. Mr. Phillips is honored that CSC was named as a finalist last year for Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce’s Non Profit of the Year and has been nominated again in 2013. He is also thrilled that after next season CSC will have produced all 38 of William Shakespeare’s plays and, on a personal note, he will have either staged or performed in all 38 as well.
About Season 19:
Season 19 is generously sponsored by The Otto M. Budig Family Foundation. Cincinnati Shakespeare Company receives operating support from The Ohio Arts Council and is supported, in part, by the generosity of thousands of individuals and businesses that give annually to ArtsWave. The season design sponsor is Judge Mark Painter. Production dates and info on the upcoming 20th Anniversary Season are available online at http://www.cincyshakes.com/20th-anniversary-season.html.
About Cincinnati Shakespeare Company:
Cincinnati Shakespeare Company is a professional theatre company dedicated to bringing Shakespeare and the classics to life for audiences of all ages. Located in the heart of downtown Cincinnati, CSC produces a dozen mainstage productions each season. CSC employs a resident company of actors and artists who live and work in Cincinnati year-round, and performs on a Small Professional Theatre contract with Actors’ Equity Association. Cincinnati Shakespeare Company’s Education and Outreach Programs see an average of 18,000 students each season by taking Shakespeare into schools, parks, community centers and by hosting educational matinees of mainstage productions at its home on Race Street. In Season 20, CSC will become one of only a handful of companies worldwide to have produced Shakespeare’s 38-play canon in its entirety. CSC is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization and all donations are tax deductible.
MEASURE FOR MEASURE
by William Shakespeare
Performance Schedule:
- Wednesday May 1st at 7:30 pm (Preview)
- Thursday May 2nd at 7:30 pm (Preview)
- Friday May 3rd at 7:30 pm (Opening)
- Saturday May 4th at 7:30 pm
- Thursday May 9th at 7:30 pm
- Friday May 10th at 7:30 pm
- Saturday May 11th at 7:30 pm
- Sunday May 12th at 2:00 pm
- Thursday May 16th at 7:30 pm
- Friday May 17th at 7:30 pm
- Saturday May 18th at 7:30 pm
- Sunday May 19th at 2:00 pm
- Thursday May 23rd at 7:30 pm
- Friday May 24th at 7:30 pm
- Saturday May 25th at 7:30 pm
- Sunday May 26th at 2:00 pm
Tickets & More Information
- Thursday & Sunday: Adults: $28, Seniors: $24, Student: $22
Friday & Saturday: Adults: $32, Seniors: $28, Student: $26
- Discounts available for ETA/START, Public Radio Perks & AAA
- Preview Tickets are $15.
- Student Rush tickets w/ ID 30 minutes prior to show time for $14 (if available).
- Tickets may be purchased through the CSC Box Office: 513.381.2273 ext. 1 or online at www.cincyshakes.com
- Group discounts are available for 6 or more. Go online or contact the box office.
- Limited accessible seating is available for persons using wheelchairs. Please ask the box office for assistance.
- Assisted Listening Devices are available at the box office
- Thursday’s include a pre-show talk about the show.
- Sunday performances are followed by a talk-back with the cast on the stage.
Cast
Bond, Ian…………………………………..…………………………….Claudio
Chace, Billy*……………………………………………………………….Lucio
Cromer, Charlie…Second Gentleman, Messenger, Varrius, Attendant, ensemble
Emery, Travis………………….First Gentleman, Elbow, Barnardine, ensemble
Goodman, Jessie Wray………….…………….…….Juliet, Francisca, ensemble
Hopkins, Jim*……………………….………………………………….Escalus
Mengelkoch, Kelly*…………………………………….………..……..Isabella
McGee, Miranda……………………………………………Mistress Overdone
Rabinovitz, Sam…………………………………………………………Provost
Rader, Maggie Lou…………………………………….Mariana, Mistress Froth
Riopelle, Paul*……………………………………………………….….Pompey
Rose, Nicholas*..………………………………………………………the Duke
Schute, Zach………………………………………..Friar Peter, Abhorson, ensemble
Vimtrup, Brent……………………………………………………………Angelo
ALL Ensemble: which includes officers, bawds, prostitutes, and prisoners
Production Staff
Brian Isaac Phillips**…………..………………………………..………Director
Justin McCombs*………….…………………..………..….……..Stage Manager
Alice Flanders*…………….……………………Asst. Stage Manager, Props
Doug Borntrager……………………….……….………………Sound Designer
Gregory Bredestege………………….Master Electrician, Technical assistant
Andrew J. Hungerford……………….……………Set and Lighting Designer
Travis McElroy ………….Technical Dir., Master Carpenter, Props Designer
Heidi Jo Scheimer….……..…………….…….……………Costume Designer
Teresa Wellman………..………………….Scenic painter, Technical assistant
Mary C. Woll…………………………………….…………Costume assistant
*Member of the Actors Equity Association
Subject to change before opening
Panelists for the League of Cincinnati Theatres (LCT) have recognized the Falcon Theatre’s AND THEN THERE WERE NONE with 2 LCT nominations as well as distinguishing it as a recommended production: Ensemble in a Play, and Scenic Design (Jared Doran).
Behind the Curtain Cincinnati 