Monthly Archives: July 2013

CSC’s THE 39 STEPS Earns 4-Star LCT Rating

CSC_The 39 Steps1

Nick Rose and Miranda McGee. Photo by Rich Sofranko Photography.

Crime. Conspiracy. Carnage. Comedy! Hitchcock’s classic potboiler gets a tongue-in-cheek twist as four actors rocket their way through over 150 roles in a blood-tingling tale of espionage and murder.

Panelists recommended THE 39 STEPS as “a great crowd pleasing show performed with excellent comic timing”…”a very funny play with some outstanding comic moments.” Panelists praised the entire ensemble for their energy and warmth: “The quick changes, humorous bits, and overall sense of fun is the fruit of their well-rehearsed labor and the pleasure they take in playing with us.” Billy Chace and Justin McCombs were particularly singled out for their standout physical comedy and timing, who, along with Nick Rose, “threw down the gauntlet, challenging anyone this season to a have a bit funnier than the train sequence…the comedic highlight of the show, one that all budding actors and comedy enthusiasts should run to see.”

THE 39 STEPS continues through August 11th. Tickets can be purchased at www.cincyshakes.com.

League of Cincinnati Theatre panelists evaluate productions on a 5 star scale and recommend shows at either a 4-star or 5-star level. Nominations for LCT awards will be determined and announced at the end of the season and winners awarded at the annual LCT gala in the spring.

The League of Cincinnati Theatres was founded in 1999 to strengthen, nurture and promote Cincinnati’s theatre community. LCT provides its member companies and individual members with education, resources and services to enhance the quality and exposure of the theatre community in Cincinnati and increase community awareness, attendance and involvement. More information about the League can be found at www.leagueofcincytheatres.com.

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Carnegie Reveals THE SOUND OF MUSIC

CARNEGIE REVEALS THE SOUND OF MUSIC TO COMPLETE
2013-14 THEATRE SERIES LINEUP
Music to be led by James R. Cassidy and members
of the Kentucky Symphony Orchestra

TC_Sound of MusicCOVINGTON, KY – The Carnegie proudly announces the final production to complete its 2013-14 Theatre Series line up will be a lightly staged production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s beloved musical THE SOUND OF MUSIC.

Presented in partnership with the Kentucky Symphony Orchestra (KSO), THE SOUND OF MUSIC features one of the most beloved musical scores in musical theatre and tells the story of a free-spirited nanny who brings joy and love back into the home of Captain Von Trapp and his family.

THE SOUND OF MUSIC plays in The Carnegie’s Otto M. Budig Theatre January 17 – 26, 2014 under the direction of Brian Robertson and the baton of KSO conductor James R Cassidy. The production will be lightly staged. Tickets are $19 – $28 and are available online at http://www.thecarnegie.com or by calling The Carnegie Box Office at (859) 957-1940 (open Tu – Fr, noon – 5 p.m.).

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THE SOUND OF MUSIC
Music by RICHARD RODGERS
Lyrics by OSCAR HAMMERSTEIN II
Book by HOWARD LINSDAY and RUSSEL CROUSE

Suggested by “The Trapp Family Singers” by Maria Augusta Trapp
A Lightly Staged Production with Musicians from the Kentucky Symphony Orchestra

Directed by Brian Robertson
Musical Direction by James R. Cassidy

Weekends January 17 – 26, 2014

In the majestic hills of Austria, under the looming shadow of Nazi Germany, free-spirited Maria leaves the abbey to serve as nanny to the motherless children of the austere Captain Von Trapp. With song and boundless love, Maria restores joy to the children’s home and finds unexpected feelings for their father, whose heart has warmed with “the sound of music.”

Perhaps the most beloved score in musical theatre, including “The Sound of Music,” “My Favorite Things,” “Do-Re-Mi,” “So Long, Farewell,” “Climb Ev’ry Mountain” and “Edelweiss,” THE SOUND OF MUSIC takes flight under the baton of James R. Cassidy and members of the Kentucky Symphony Orchestra.

Tickets $19 – $28

Eight Performances:

Friday, January 17, 7:30pm ● Saturday, January 18, 2:00pm* ● Saturday, January 18, 7:30pm ● Sunday, January 19, 3:00pm ●Friday, January 24, 7:30pm ● Saturday, January 25, 2:00pm* ● Sunday, January 26, 3:00pm

*Performances begin at 2:00pm on Saturday, January 18 and Saturday, January 25; matinee performances typically begin at 3:00pm.

What does “lightly staged” mean?
THE SOUND OF MUSIC will be presented with an emphasis on the words and music of the piece and a de-emphasis of costumes, scenic design and props. A small orchestra will be on stage with the performers, who will be acting out the fully memorized scenes and songs as they would in a full production.

The Directors
Returning to The Carnegie for the second time is NKU professor and freelance stage director Brian Robertson. In addition to directing The Carnegie’s production of CAMELOT IN CONCERT during the 2012-13 season, Robertson has directed at renowned companies locally (Cincinnati Opera, Ensemble Theatre Company, Know Theatre, NKU, Performance Gallery and Cincinnati Fringe Festival) and around the country, including Des Moines Metro Opera, Opera North and University of Kentucky. Robertson teams with KSO Music Director James R Cassidy. Cassidy and the KSO last collaborated with The Carnegie in a 2009 staging of the musical OLIVER!, and KSO subsidiary ensembles have made multiple appearances in the Otto M. Budig Theatre as part of the Carnegie in Concert series.

Ticketing
The 2013-14 Theatre Series has two subscription packages available:

Full Subscription: Patrons attend all four 2013-14 Theatre Series offerings, selecting one performance of their choice for each. Full Subscriptions are $86 ($16 savings vs. single ticket prices); $82 for Carnegie Members.

Pick Three Subscription: Patrons attend three 2013-14 Theatre Series offerings of their choice, selecting one performance of their choice for each. Pick Three Subscriptions range from $63 to $69, depending on the show selection ($3 savings per show vs. single ticket prices)

Single ticket pricing is as follows:

  • $28 Adults
  • $25 Carnegie and Enjoy The Arts Members
  • $21 Groups of 8 or More
  • $19 Students 

Tickets may be purchased through The Carnegie Box Office at 859.957.1940, open Tuesday through Friday, noon to 5:00pm, or online at http://www.thecarnegie.com.

About The Carnegie
THE CARNEGIE THEATRE SERIES produces professional, innovative stagings of popular and rarely-performed works. Striving to unite the greater Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati theatre community through partnerships and collaborations, the series engages and nurtures both emerging and established talent, including working professionals, committed part-time theatre artists and university performing arts students. Carnegie Theatre Series productions bring together these forces to provide quality theatre for Northern Kentucky and the Greater Cincinnati area.

THE CARNEGIE is a multidisciplinary arts venue serving the Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati community. Over the course of the past ten years The Carnegie has “morphed” from a grassroots gallery with an education component into an all-inclusive arts organization offering professional theatre, art exhibitions showcasing the best of local and regional artists, and a comprehensive arts education program.

The Carnegie is home to The Carnegie Galleries, comprised of more than 6,000 square feet of gallery space where emerging and established artists exhibit in multiple shows throughout the year; the Eva G. Farris Education Center, which provides arts education to thousands of children, many of whom are at or below the poverty level; and the newly renovated 465-seat Otto M. Budig Theatre, which offers an affordable theatre space for local, up-and-coming and established production companies and is home to The Carnegie’s Theatre and Concert Series. The Carnegie is the largest arts venue in Northern Kentucky.

The Carnegie receives ongoing operating support from ArtsWave, Kenton County Fiscal Courts, the Kentucky Arts Council and the Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile Jr. / US Bank Foundation.

About the Kentucky Symphony Orchestra
The Kentucky Symphony Orchestra was formed in 1992 (as the Northern Kentucky Symphony) with a mission to make classical music attractive, accessible and affordable to people in the Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati area. Since its inception, the KSO has demonstrated a unique ability to make the concert experience relevant and entertaining to its audiences while maintaining high performance standards and integrity.

Each KSO program contains both familiar and unique repertoire presented in a thematic context that is compelling and entertaining. Through the years, KSO concerts have offered many surprises including silent films, dancers, comedians, zoo animals, alternative, rock and complete operas and musicals, country bands, a limbo contest, aerobic classes, poetry readings, Civil War battle re-enactments and more.

The KSO has also collaborated with local arts organizations such as the Cincinnati Opera, Cincinnati Ballet, the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, Playhouse in the Park, the Taft Museum and community institutions such as the Cincinnati Observatory and Kentucky National Guard.

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PIP Seeks Multimedia Designer

PIP_logoCincinnati Playhouse in the Park seeks a highly creative, organized and detail-oriented theatre-lover for our position of multimedia designer. The multimedia designer is the Playhouse’s primary graphic designer and video producer. Duties of the multimedia designer include, but are not limited to:

  • Working closely with department director, associate director and outside consultants to determine design and visual strategy and production schedule for all marketing and communications.
  • Ensuring a consistent brand look across Playhouse brochures, advertising, publications, website, email, social media and other communications.
  • Designing and laying out a variety of marketing pieces, including brochures, newsletters, signage, fliers, postcards, print and web ads and lobby displays, and designing other Playhouse institutional pieces, including folders, tickets and business cards.
  • Designing additional pieces for other Playhouse departments including educational brochures and support materials for the development and group sales departments, among others.
  • Working with the associate director to develop content for and coordinate production of website videos. Shooting and editing videos for the website and production b-roll.
  • Working with freelance designer(s) on creative direction and visual strategy.
  • Maintaining visual and design aspects of the Playhouse website and contributing to the updating of the site as needed.
  • Coordinating and communicating with printers regarding proofs, deadlines and delivery of finished pieces.
  • Proven experience, proficiency and creativity with the following software applications is required: Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop and Acrobat Professional) as well as knowledge of Hypertext Markup Language (HTML), layout and graphic design principles and typography. The ideal candidate would also have proven experience with Premiere Pro (or another professional video editing suite, such as Final Cut Pro) as well as videography and photography lighting and audio editing principals. The ability to produce video graphics with Adobe After Effects is a plus.
  • Three to five years of professional work experience is preferred. 

Please email a cover letter, resume, salary requirements and two samples of your design and video production work by JULY 26 to: Kathy Neus, Director of Marketing: kathy.neus@cincyplay.com. NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE.

Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park is an equal opportunity employer and encourages inquires about this position from a broad spectrum of candidates reflecting the diversity of the community we serve.

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CHICAGO Runs Aug. 10-25

Leslie Goddard as Roxie Hart & Kimber Sprawl as Velma Kelly.

Leslie Goddard as Roxie Hart & Kimber Sprawl as Velma Kelly. Photo by Matt Steffen.

CHICAGO
Presented by The Carnegie
Aug. 10-25
Covington

Reviews: CityBeat |

Directed by Dee Anne Bryll & Ed Cohen
Music directed by Damon Stevens
Choreography by David Baum
Produced by Joshua Steele

Cast: Jay Goodlett as MC, Judge, Ensemble; Kimber Sprawl as Velma Kelly, Leslie Goddard* as Roxie Hart; Fred Casely as Ensemble Charlie Meredith as Fred Casely, Ensemble; Brian Anderson as Sergeant Fogarty, Jury, Ensemble; Randy Bailey as Amos Hart; Jules Shumate as Mona, Kitty, Ensemble; Katy Miller as Annie, Ensemble; Kate Mueller as June, Ensemble; Abby Wagner as Hunyak, Ensemble; Kelsey Andrae Wright as Liz, Ensemble; Angela Nalley as Matron Mama Morton; Dan Doerger as Billy Flynn; Sean P. Mette as Mary Sunshine; Brian Wylie as Martin Harrison, Ensemble & Joey Squeri as Aaron, Harry, Ensemble
*Actor appears courtesy of Actors’ Equity Association, the union of professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.

The sexy, salacious jazz age sizzles in 1920s Chicago, where small-time show girl Roxie Hart becomes the toast of the town after murdering her lover in cold blood. But fame is fleeting for the hot jazz slayer of the moment, and Roxie and smooth-stepping lawyer Billy Flynn manipulate everyone around them in a high-stakes tap dance into the headlines and away from the hangman’s noose.

  • Sat, Aug. 10 at 7:30pm
  • Sun, Aug. 11 at 3pm
  • Fri, Aug. 16 at 7:30pm
  • Sat, Aug. 17 at 2pm & 7:30pm
  • Sun, Aug. 18 at 3pm
  • Fri-Sun Aug. 23-25 at 7:30pm

Official page |

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CLP Seeks Part-Time Staffer

CLPCincinnati Landmark Productions, the parent theatrical organization for The Showboat Majestic, Cincinnati’s floating slice of theatrical history and the Covedale Center for the Performing Arts is seeking a part-time staff member for front of house duties and other patron services.

Box Office/Customer Service/Staff -Job Requirements:

Must be at least 21 years of age, have high school diploma or equivalency, have a valid driver’s license and reliable transportation. Must be able to work in an unsupervised environment at The Covedale Center for the Performing Arts AND aboard the Showboat Majestic. Must be a self starter, dependable, and have excellent communication and customer service skills.

Job Description: House management duties, Will Call, general customer service, assist in concessions/bar area and run a follow spot.

Hours for position vary. Mostly evenings during performances. Must be available weekends too. Pay rate is $8.75 hourly.

If interested, please contact Denny Reed @ Dennyreed@covedalecenter.com. No phone calls please. Deadline is Wednesday, July 17, 2013. 

Please note: These positions are a good fit for NON PERFORMERS – staffers will work during performances. Start is immediate.

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