Monthly Archives: September 2013

Cincinnati Shakespeare Presents the Great American Masterpiece,
OF MICE AND MEN by John Steinbeck

Another Steinbeck classic comes to life on Cincinnati Shakespeare’s stage this October

Jim Hopkins as Lenny & Jeremy Dubin as George. Photo by J. Sheldon Photo.

CINCINNATI, September 18, 2013 — Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, Cincinnati’s stage for the classics, continues their 20th Anniversary Season with the John Steinbeck’s classic OF MICE AND MEN, playing October 18- November 10, 2013. This production is directed by Drew Fracher and features CSC Resident Ensemble members Jeremy Dubin and Jim Hopkins. The production is generously sponsored by LPK and the production design is sponsored by Raymond James.

An American literary classic, OF MICE AND MEN is John Steinbeck’s tale of enduring friendship amidst unendurable hardship. It tells the story of George and Lennie, two down-and-out migrant laborers in pursuit of work and their dream of a piece of land to call their own. As they travel from town to town, the pragmatic George (Jeremy Dubin) struggles to protect the giant but simple-minded Lennie (Jim Hopkins) from his own mistakes and the world’s cruelty. When they secure jobs at a working ranch, a hot-tempered and volatile ranch hand seems bent on causing them trouble, testing their resolve and the limits of their loyalty.

OF MICE AND MEN will feature long-time company members Jeremy Dubin and Jim Hopkins in the roles of George and Lennie. Audiences may remember Mr. Dubin most recently as Fagin in “Oliver Twist” and Sherlock Holmes in CSC’s hit production of “The Hound of the Baskervilles”. Audiences will remember Mr. Hopkins from his recent critically acclaimed performance of Bill Sykes in “Oliver Twist” and his unforgettable turn as Lady Bracknell in last winter’s “The Importance of Being Earnest”. “It’s such a beautiful and poignant story- the unlikely friendship of these two characters, and the tremendous loyalty they have for each other,” says Jeremy Dubin, “ To get to play that with someone who you already know so well and have so much performance history and experience with is incredibly exciting.”

Helming this project will be Drew Fracher, a favorite Cincinnati director. Mr. Fracher has directed several productions for CSC, including his critically acclaimed productions of the American classics “A Streetcar Named Desire” and “The Glass Menagerie”. “We’re incredibly excited to have Drew back,” says Producing Artistic Director Brian Phillips, “It’s a perfect match of director and material.” Mr. Fracher was featured as Pa in CSC’s 2012 production of John Steinbeck’s “The Grapes of Wrath”. The creative team behind 2012’s “The Grapes of Wrath”, one of the most critically acclaimed CSC productions of all time, reassembles for another great American masterpiece.

Performances of OF MICE AND MEN are scheduled from October 18-November 10, 2013 on Thursday, Friday & Saturday evenings at 7:30pm and Sundays at 2pm. Preview performances are on Wednesday Oct. 16 and Thursday Oct. 17 at 7:30pm and tickets are $20. No performance on Sunday Oct. 20. The theater is located at 719 Race Street, downtown Cincinnati, two blocks west of the Aronoff Center. Single ticket prices range from $22-$31 on Thursdays and Sundays and from $26-$35 on Fridays and Saturdays. 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.

Performance Schedule

• Wednesday October 16th at 7:30 pm (Preview)
• Thursday October 17th at 7:30 pm (Preview)
• Friday October 18th at 7:30 pm (Opening)
• Saturday October 19th at 7:30 pm
• Thursday October 24th at 7:30 pm
• Friday October 25th at 7:30 pm
• Saturday October 26th at 7:30 pm
• Sunday October 27th at 2:00 pm
• Thursday October 31st at 7:30 pm
• Friday November 1st at 7:30 pm
• Saturday November 2nd at 7:30 pm
• Sunday November 3rd at 2:00 pm
• Thursday November 7th at 7:30 pm
• Friday November 8th at 7:30 pm
• Saturday November 9th at 7:30 pm
• Sunday November 10th at 2:00 pm (Closing)

About the 20th Anniversary Season:
The 20th Anniversary is generously sponsored by The Otto M. Budig Family Foundation. Cincinnati Shakespeare Company receives operating support from The Ohio Arts Council, the Shubert Foundation and is supported, in part, by the generosity of thousands of individuals and businesses that give annually to ArtsWave. The season design sponsor is Mark & Sue Ann Painter. Production dates and information on the 20th Anniversary are available online at www.cincyshakes.com. The Ohio Arts Council helped fund this program/organization with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans.

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 is a member of the Theater Communications Group and the Shakespeare Theater Association. Cincinnati Shakespeare Company’s Education and Outreach Programs reached nearly 30,000 young people and underserved community members last season by taking Shakespeare into schools, parks, community centers and by hosting educational matinees of mainstage productions at its home on Race Street. This season, CSC is proud to become one of only five theaters in the United States to “Complete the Canon” by producing all 38 plays by William Shakespeare. CSC is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization and all donations are tax deductible.