Monthly Archives: September 2013

September 9, 2013 · 9:28 am

ETC’s OTHER DESERT CITIES Earns 4 Star LCT Rating

The Ensemble Theatre’s OTHER DESERT CITIES Earns 4 Star LCT Rating

Amy Warner as Polly Wyeth, Sara Mackie as Brooke Wyeth & Dale Hodges as Silda Grauman. Photo by Ryan Kurtz.

Amy Warner as Polly Wyeth, Sara Mackie as Brooke Wyeth & Dale Hodges as Silda Grauman. Photo by Ryan Kurtz.

Panelists for the League of Cincinnati Theatres (LCT) have recognized Ensemble Theatre’s production of OTHER DESERT CITIES with a 4 Star Rating.

OTHER DESERT CITIES, a family is thrown into turmoil when a once-promising novelist returns home to Palm Springs to visit her parents, and she reveals the imminent publication of her juicy tell-all memoir—a book that focuses on the politically explosive and tragic death of her antiwar-activist brother.

Panelists described the OTHER DESERT CITIES as “a well crafted production of an engaging play…thought producing and discussion-producing, with an unexpected twist”. Actress Amy Warner, as Polly Wyeth, was singled out as having “such class, such style, and such unbelievably controlled tension as the socialite mother…She was recognizable from the second she stepped on stage, and her character never faltered.” Dale Hodges was also praised for her portrayal of Silda Gruaman: “Outright hilarious…her physicality alone was remarkable…she added humor and truth to every line she delivered.” Finally, Brian C. Mehring was commended for his “beautiful, exact, and controlled” set design: “The set was stunning: the scale was impressive and the dressing pitch-perfect.”

OTHER DESERT CITIES continues through September 22nd. Tickets can be purchased at http://www.ensemblecincinnati.org.

[Links to reviews can be found on the BTC production page. -Rob]

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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September 8, 2013 · 9:22 am

UCT Seeks Sound Designer

UCT_logoUnion Community Theatre is in search of a Sound Designer for their upcoming production of IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE. The role requires design working including microphones, sound effects, and some elements of digital musical underscoring. In addition, sound execution would be handled on the show dates December 5th-8th.

There is a small stipend paid for this position.

If you are interested, please email the director, Amanda Emmons at unionct@gmail.com and provide a resume.

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September 5, 2013 · 2:21 pm

FLASHDANCE Tickets On Sale Friday at 9AM

US National Tour Makes Its Cincinnati premiere at THE ARONOFF CENTER, OCTOBER 29 – NOVEMBER 10, 2013 

Tickets on Sale FRIDAY, September 6 AT 9AM

Joining the ensemble will be Cincinnati native
and SCPA Graduate, Shane Ohmer

Jillian Mueller as Alex Owens. Photo by Jeremy Daniel.

Jillian Mueller as Alex Owens. Photo by Jeremy Daniel.

FLASHDANCE – THE MUSICAL, the stage adaptation of the 1983 hit film that defined a generation, will perform at the Aronoff Center, October 29 – November 10, 2013 as part of the Fifth Third Bank Broadway in Cincinnati 13/14 Season. Tickets will go on sale Friday, September 6 at 9AM. Ticket prices start at $28 and will be available at the Aronoff Center Box Office downtown at 650 Walnut Street, online at CincinnatiArts.org or by phone at 513.621.ARTS. Group orders of ten or more may be placed by calling 513.369.4363.

With electrifying dance at its core, FLASHDANCE – THE MUSICAL tells the inspiring and unforgettable story of Alex Owens, a Pittsburgh steel mill welder by day and a bar dancer by night with dreams of one day becoming a professional performer. When romance with her steel mill boss threatens to complicate her ambitions, Alex learns the meaning of love and its power to fuel the pursuit of her dream.

Joining Jillian Mueller as Alex and Corey Mach as Nick are Alison Ewing as Tess, Kelly Felthous as Gloria, DeQuina Moore as Kiki, Jo Ann Cunningham as Hannah, David R. Gordon as Jimmy, Matthew Henerson as Harry and Christian Whelan in the role of C.C.

Also joining the company are Carleigh Bettiol, Derek Carley, Ryan Carlson, Lynorris Evans, Haley Hannah, Charlene Hoffman, Jarvis McKinley, Doreen Montavlo, Ariela Morgenstern, Shane Ohmer, Austin Owen, Kristin Piro, Katelyn Prominski, Angelo Soriano, Dani Spieler, Lawrence E. Street, and Kamille Upshaw.

Cincinnati native Shane Ohmer plays the role of a ballet dancer in FLASHDANCE and is a member of the ensemble. He is a graduate of Cincinnati’s School for Creative and Performing Arts and has performed as the Lead in Rasta Thomas’ Rock the Ballet for two years around the world, Les Grand Ballet Canadiens, River North Chicago Dance Company, Pacific Northwest Ballet. He has also been a guest artist/teacher for companies around the world.

Celebrating its 30th Anniversary, the original Paramount Pictures film was a worldwide smash hit that became a pop culture phenomenon, grossing over $150 million and featuring a Grammy Award-winning soundtrack. FLASHDANCE – THE MUSICAL features a score including the hit songs from the movie, all of which became Top Ten hits on the radio around the world including the Academy Award-winning title song “Flashdance – What a Feeling,” “Maniac,” “Gloria,” “Manhunt,” “I Love Rock & Roll.” In addition to these hits, 16 brand new songs have been written for the stage with music by Robbie Roth and lyrics by Robert Cary and Robbie Roth.

Directed and choreographed by Sergio Trujillo (Jersey Boys, Memphis, The Addams Family), FLASHDANCE features a book by Robert Cary and Tom Hedley (co-writer of the original screenplay with Joe Eszterhas),

In addition to the US touring company, a second company will be assembled for the creatively reworked production of FLASHDANCE on Broadway for an open-ended engagement. Flashdance – The Musical will play the Aronoff Center from October 29 – November 10, 2013: Tuesday – Thursday at 7:30PM, Friday at 8:00PM, Saturday at 2:00PM and 8:00PM and Sunday at 1:00PM and 6:30PM. Tickets for Flashdance – The Musical start at $28. They are available at the Aronoff Center Box Office downtown at 650 Walnut Street, online at CincinnatiArts.org or by phone at 513.621.ARTS. For groups of 10 or more, contact the group sales department at 513.369.4363. Performance schedule, prices and cast are subject to change without notice. For more information, please visit www.BroadwayInCincinnati.com or www.flashdancethemusical.com.

Fifth Third Bank Broadway in Cincinnati is committed to bringing the very best of Broadway to the Tri-State, presenting touring Broadway plays and musicals in Cincinnati since 1987. Broadway in Cincinnati is a member of the Greater Cincinnati Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Greater Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce and The Broadway League. Fifth Third Bank is the sponsor of the Cincinnati 12/13 Season. LOCAL 12 is the official television station of the 12/13 Cincinnati Season.

Broadway Across America
A leading Broadway producer and the foremost presenter of first-class touring productions in North America. BAA operates in 40 cities, bringing first-class touring musicals and plays to audiences across the US and Canada in markets such as Costa Mesa, Fort Lauderdale, Tempe, Boston, Minneapolis and New Orleans. As a producer, current and upcoming productions include Million Dollar Quartet, Pippin, Big Fish, Betrayal, Bullets Over Broadway, Little Miss Sunshine and Bull Durham. BroadwayAcrossAmerica.com

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September 5, 2013 · 1:57 pm

TIME STANDS STILL Runs Oct. 4-20

DTG_Time Stands StillTIME STANDS STILL
Presented by Dayton Theatre Guild
Oct. 4-20
Dayton

Directed by Debra Kent
Produced by K.L.Storer

Cast: Cassandra Engber as Sarah Goodwin, Alex Carmichal as James Dodd, David Hallowren as Richard Ehrlich & Kelli Locker as Mandy Bloom

Seriously wounded in Afghanistan, photographer Sarah is brought home to recuperate by her writer and live-in boyfriend, James. She is soon visited by her editor and his new and much younger girlfriend. He sees her work and wants a book. And James wants something altogether more conventional, in this gripping drama by Pulitzer Prize winner Margulies. This drama of our times probes the feelings and intersections of these four very human people with insight, clarity and sometimes rich moments of hilarity.

  • Fri-Sat, Oct. 4-5 at 8pm
  • Sun, Oct. 6 at 3pm
  • Fri, Oct. 11 at 8pm
  • Sat, Oct. 12 at 5pm
  • Sun, Oct. 13 at 3pm
  • Fri, Oct. 18 at 8pm
  • Sat, Oct. 19 at 5pm
  • Sun, Oct. 20 at 3pm

Official page |

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September 5, 2013 · 12:24 pm

OTHER DESERT CITIES Review

Links to all reviews can be found on the BTC REVIEWS page. Blog postings, links and more are available on my FaceBook fan page. You can receive updates on Twitter from @BTCincyRob.

Ryan Wesley Gilreath as Trip Wyeth & Sara Mackie as Brooke Wyeth. Photo by Ryan Kurtz.

Ryan Wesley Gilreath as Trip Wyeth & Sara Mackie as Brooke Wyeth. Photo by Ryan Kurtz.

OTHER DESERT CITIES presented by Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati through Sept. 22. You can read the show description here.

ETC begins their new season with a good production of the strangely compelling OTHER DESERT CITIES. Director D. Lynn Myers leads of quintet cast of ETC favorites through this one-room family drama.

While there were some solid moments throughout the show, on opening night it felt like the cast had yet to jell into a believable family unit. There was this “deliberateness” to the performances that seemed to be more dictated by the script than by the characters. Of the performers, Dale Hodges as Silda had the most defined performance.

Dennis Parlato as Lyman Wyeth & Amy Warner as Polly Wyeth. Photo by Ryan Kurtz.

Dennis Parlato as Lyman Wyeth & Amy Warner as Polly Wyeth. Photo by Ryan Kurtz.

Even when the characters interacted in pairs or trios the emotional connection and history seemed lacking. Simply put with an example: I’d expect the dynamic between Brooke and her aunt Silda to be different in front of mother/sister Polly then when the two of them are alone. But everything seemed to be played at the same level. The pacing also dragged a bit throughout, hindered by too many pregnant pauses and sometimes drawn out reactions.

In the second act, when Brooke is told to sit down so she can hear the “truth” of the family tragedy, there is a noticeable shift in the audience. We are ready for the emotional payoff, but the scene doesn’t build any momentum and flounders. However, I do believe that most of these issues will resolve themselves during the early performances of the run.

Amy Warner as Polly Wyeth, Sara Mackie as Brooke Wyeth & Dale Hodges as Silda Grauman. Photo by Ryan Kurtz.

Amy Warner as Polly Wyeth, Sara Mackie as Brooke Wyeth & Dale Hodges as Silda Grauman. Photo by Ryan Kurtz.

Brian c. Mehring provides another beautiful set. I enjoyed how he brought in the colors and textures of the desert into the room. But for me, the furnishing and decor skewed the room more 1970s than 2004.

The decision to place the couch center stage facing to the audience seemed to cause some blocking issues. When all cast members were on stage, several actors were pushed to the edges of the room, making for some awkward positioning at the fireplace, mini bar and against the stage left wall. When seated at the opposing chairs downstage and to the side of the couch, actors had a tendency to upstage themselves. Brooke’s reaction to the “truth” is lost to the audience as she is facing her father upstage for extended peiords.

Overall this is a good production of an interesting script. It just needs to be a bit more spontaneous and dynamic to reach the emotional notes it’s not quite hitting.

Click here for a complete list of show times for OTHER DESERT CITIES.

I would enjoy hearing what you think about the show or my review. All I ask is that you express your opinion without attacking someone else’s opinion. You can post your comments below.

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