Monthly Archives: January 2014

January 27, 2014 · 10:16 am

SONGS IN THE KEY OF DIARIES Runs Jan. 30-Feb. 2

XP_ToolboxSONGS IN THE KEY OF DIARIES
Presented by Xavier Players
Jan. 30-Feb. 2
Evanston

Directed & choreographed by Alex Spindler
Music directed by J.J. Long
Produced by Brandon Martin

Cast: Brandon Langjahr, Emily deKanter, Redmond Millerick, Megan Hostetler, Patrick Burns, Maya Farhat, Justin Lee, Tatum Hunter, Zach Julian & Jordan Dunn

This years rendition of Songs in the Key of…! This year with the theme of diaries, so come down to the black box studio theatre on Thursday, Friday, Saturday or Sunday evening to see this amazingly talented ensemble cast perform a wide array of musical theatre pieces.

  • Thu-Sun at 7:30pm

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January 27, 2014 · 9:30 am

KTC’s PLUTO Earns 4 Star LCT Rating

Annie Fitzpatrick & Wes Carman. Photo by Deogracias Lerma.

Annie Fitzpatrick & Wes Carman. Photo by Deogracias Lerma.

LCT Panelists label “Pluto” a 4-Star production! LCT panelists state “the magical realism in the play is brutal, astonishing, and moving.” This panelist singled out the direction by Jason Bruffy stating “the play is outstanding as a vision of the unbearable happening and how time refuses to move forward.”

Panelists also single out lead actor Wesley Carman, an NKU Junior, for his moving portrayal of the troubled son, Bailey.

Panelists applauded the skills of costume designer Noelle Wedig (her costumes are “bizarrely provocative”) and set designer Andrew Hungerford: “all the special effects, the lighting, the sound, the set, the supernatural elements – come together to enhance a dark but interesting script in the best way possible.”

Produced by Know Theatre of Cincinnati and presented through February 22, this abstract play, written by Steve Yockey, is the story of a single mother who tries to reconnect with her withdrawn son after a violent tragedy at a local community college, while mysterious forces threaten to invade their kitchen.

For more information or tickets for “Pluto” go towww.knowtheatre.com or call 513-300-KNOW.

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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January 27, 2014 · 9:25 am

PIP’s CLYBOURNE PARK Earns 4 Star LCT Rating

Deonna Bouye, Michael Place & Deirdre Madigan. Photo by Sandy Underwood.

Deonna Bouye, Michael Place & Deirdre Madigan. Photo by Sandy Underwood.

Presented by Cincinnati’s Playhouse in the Park, panelists state this is “an important play in the American drama canon and the Playhouse production brought the rich script to life. In dialogue with (American classic drama) “A Raisin in the Sun,” the play takes us from the Younger family straight to the owners of the house they bought in Clybourne Park. It imagines what conversations that neighbor Karl would say to the white family in convincing them not to sell to a family color. The second act takes us 50 years later when the neighborhood has been integrated, and is now on the cusp of yuppie white gentrification. The script charts many important conversations about race, integration, and racism, but it does so while couching it with humor.”

Another panelist agrees: “The entire ensemble works together to create an uncomfortable, moving, thoughtful piece of theatre that will stay with me for a long time. This is a great play.”

Of special note is actress Deonna Bouye who plays both Francine in the first act and Lena in the second act. She has “quiet energy, great listening, great reactions and great timing.”

Panelists are impressed with the set by Tony Cisek, who created a believably comfortable home, which becomes ravaged by time and neglect.

“Clybourne Park,” which was written by Bruce Norris, won the Tony Award for Best Play of 2012. It runs through February 16 in the Playhouse’s Robert S. Marx Theatre. For more information or tickets for “Clybourne Park” go to www.cincyplay.com or call 513-421-3888.

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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January 25, 2014 · 8:43 am

SNOW CANCELLATIONS For Saturday, Jan. 25

MISC_Snow CancellationsUpdated 11:32 am

CANCELLED PERFORMANCES

  • ARIEL QUARTET [University Heights]
    Presented by UC College Conservatory of Music
    Tonight’s performance by the Ariel Quartet will be postponed. Once UC has a new date identified, they will let you know!

TO BE PERFORMED AS SCHEDULED

  • THE BOOK OF MORMON [Downtown]
    Presented by Broadway in Cincinnati through Jan. 26
    Today’s performances will go on as scheduled. Please allow extra travel time to arrive to the theater!

Remember, if the weather keeps you home, please contact the respective box offices and let them know BEFORE showtime.

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January 24, 2014 · 4:53 pm

THE SOUND OF MUSIC 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.

THE SOUND OF MUSIC presented by The Carnegie and Kentucky Symphony Orchestra through Jan. 26.

Photo by Mikki Schaffner.

Jared Joplin as Captain George von Trapp & Abigail Paschke as Maria Rainer. Photo by Mikki Schaffner.

Like many people, I have fond memories of the annual broadcast of the classic movie around the holidays. Its popularity results in it being often performed on local stages, many times with mixed results. After having seen Marie Osmond and Barry (Greg Brady) Williams perform the leads, I found myself burned out for several years.

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The Sisters & Maria Ventura as the Mother Abbess. Photo by Mikki Schaffner.

Then, something wonderful happened last Friday night at The Carnegie. I fell in love with THE SOUND OF MUSIC again.

One of the best parts of this production is the sound. Vocally, the cast is extremely strong and they are beautifully accompanied by the Kentucky Symphony Orchestra under the baton of James. R. Cassidy. Thanks to an excellent sound design by Kevin Semancik, assisted by A. J. Bierschwal, you can hear nearly every note and word.

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Jared Joplin as Captain George von Trapp & Abigail Paschke as Maria Rainer. Photo by Mikki Schaffner.

Director Brian Robertson has assembled an excellent cast, including the children, and the show flows well with clever staging that uses the entire set well (designed by Angelina Vyushkova). Abigail Paschke shines as Maria Rainer. Paschke and Jared Joplin as Captain George von Trapp make a charismatic pair.

The scene featuring the Captain’s reaction to hearing his children sing for the first time was very well done and it was at this point I realized how vested I had become in the production.

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Maximillian Jansen as Rolf Gruber & Kathryn Miller as Liesl. Photo by Mikki Schaffner.

 

 

Other standouts include Kathryn Miller as eldest daughter Liesl and Maria Ventura as the Mother Abbess who closes both acts with a powerful and moving “Climb Ev’ry Mountain.” I also enjoyed the strong character work of Kemper Florin as Elsa Schraeder and Mike Hall as Max Detweiler.

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Jared Joplin as Captain George von Trapp and the von Trapp children. Photo by Mikki Schaffner.

The costumes worked well, although the fabric of the children’s uniforms was a bit stiff, making sitting awkward for the older girls. Regarding the set, the “floating frames” would have worked better for me, if they had been placed closer to the scrim. Depending on where you sat in the audience, the projected images were partially blocked by the frames.

Overall a well-done and truly enjoyable production. For me, the best collaboration between The Carnegie and The Kentucky Symphony Orchestra yet.

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My rating: 4.25 out of 5

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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