Monthly Archives: July 2014

ETC Announces Cast of HANDS ON A HARDBODY

Photo by David Clarke for Broadway World.com

Photo by David Clarke for Broadway World.com

Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati is thrilled to welcome a wonderful cast, who will be joining them in a few short days to begin rehearsal for their 2014-2015 season opener, HANDS ON A HARDBODY.

The cast includes: Geoffrey Warren Barnes II, Michael G. Bath, Michael Gerard Carr, Charlie Clark, Jordan De Leon, Denise Devlin, Phil Fiorini, Annie Fitzpatrick, Michael Flannery, Deb G. Girdler, Sara Mackie, Dallas Padoven, Michael Shawn Starks, Brooke Steele, and Kate Wilford.

HANDS ON A HARDBODY runs Sept. 3-21. For more information visit www.ensemblecincinnati.org.

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THE COMPLETE WORKS OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE (ABRIDGED) Review

Links to all reviews can be found using the REVIEWS link at the top of the page. Blog postings, links and more are available on my Facebook fan page. You can also receive updates on Twitter from @BTCincyRob.

Nicholas Rose and Jeremy Dubin. Photo by Rich Sofranko.

Nicholas Rose and Jeremy Dubin. Photo by Rich Sofranko.

THE COMPLETE WORKS OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE (ABRIDGED) presented by Cincinnati Shakespeare Company through Aug. 16. Read the show description.

What happens when you take a 90-ish minute comedic send-up of all of Shakespeare’s works, add CSC veterans Jeremy Dubin, Justin McCombs and Nicholas Rose, and put it all under the direction Sara Clark? It’s not a question of the show being good or funny, but moreso a question of HOW good and HOW funny. The answer to both is “pretty damn.”

The jokes are fast and furious with a loving nod to the Scooby-Doo and Road Runner cartoons. There are more pop culture and movie references than you can shake a lightsaber at, many of which generated quick, knowing glances between my guest and I as they successfully landed. The performance has a great mix of smart verbal, visual and physical bits that add to the experience without bogging down the show. The three actors easily manage (or at least make it look easy) the demands of the show and balancing their interactions with the audience.

Nicholas Rose, Justin McCombs, and Jeremy Dubin. Photo by Rich Sofranko.

Nicholas Rose, Justin McCombs, and Jeremy Dubin. Photo by Rich Sofranko.

Excellent support from the production crew and their staff, led by stage manager Alice Flanders and costume designer Abbi Howson, keep this crazy train on track. Solid work from sound designer Doug Borntrager, scenic designer Andrew J. Hungerford and props headed by Travis McElroy & Tenley Pitonzo enhance the fun.

I did feel that there were a couple of places where the pacing slowed a bit. Coming back from intermission, it took a little too long getting the whole gang back together on stage. Things slowed down again during the audience participation segment. Perhaps reversing the order to bring the entire audience in for the fun first would help.

CSC_Complete Works2

Justin McCombs, Jeremy Dubin & Nicholas Rose.

The HAMLET hat-trick at the end of the show is a riot and something I’ll remember fondly for a long time.

As I was leaving the theater opening night, I passed a colleague in the lobby who said, “It must be a good show if you are leaving with a smile on your face.” I certainly can’t argue with that.  “!OOB”

More information |

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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Call for Director Submissions for BPI’s 2015-2016 Season

BPI_logoBeechmont Players invites all qualified area directors to submit an application to direct in Beechmont Players, Inc.’s 2015-2016 season.

As the Arts Organization in Residence at the Anderson Center, BPI has the privilege of presenting its productions in the Anderson Center’s beautiful 223-seat proscenium theater. With our large audience base, BPI typically fills this theater with approximately 1,000 audience-members over each production’s run. BPI now has a storage/build facility, where set designers and builders can take full advantage of the theater’s plentiful stage space by building the set in advance. This space can even allow rehearsals on the set at the build facility. BPI welcomes directors, design teams, and crew-members new to our group, while maintaining an active and talented membership that is ready to step up to help make each show a success.

Interested in joining us for our 56th season? Please submit up to five plays and/or musicals that you would like to direct in BPI’s 2015-2016 season. If scripts for the shows you are presenting are not available at the Hamilton County Public Library, please submit a copy for the Play Reading Committee (if you do not have a copy and would like assistance obtaining a copy, please let Becky Krausser – Becky@beechmontplayers.org – know). Please consider the group, our audience, and our theater when suggesting shows to present. For additional information about our group and a list of our productions since 2008, please visit our website at www.beechmontplayers.org.

Please also visit www.beechmontplayers.org to view a list of show suggestions. These are merely suggestions to give you an idea of the type of shows we are interested in producing.

The Director Application can be found at www.beechmontplayers.org. Please fill out and return this Application, along with a current theatrical resume, to Becky Krausser by September 27, 2014. You may submit these items to Becky at 7598 Delas Cove Cincinnati, OH 45244, or via e-mail to Becky@BeechmontPlayers.org. Please indicate your availability for production dates, as well as your availability for Director Interviews on the Director Application.

Please note that the group would like to produce at least one musical in the 2015-2016 season. Please note, also, that we prefer the Summer production be a family-friendly show. This does not necessarily need to be a show with children in it, but should at least be appropriate for children to watch.

For the Director Interviews, you will be asked to present up to three shows, though the Play-Reading Committee may ask you about the other two shows you submitted. Director Interviews will take place on Sunday, November 9, and Monday, November 10.

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CLP Seeks Makeup Artist for INTO THE WOODS

CCPAWe are seeking a makeup artist for our fall production of INTO THE WOODS to create/build a few custom prosthetic pieces for the Ugly Witch and the Wolf. This person would also be on site to show the actors how to correctly apply and remove the pieces as well.

Interested candidates should contact Jennifer Perrino to set up an interview at jenniferperrino@covedalecenter.com   Please include a resume when applying.

This is a paid gig.

INTO THE WOODS
October 23 – November 16, 2014
Book by James Lapine; Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim

The Brothers Grimm hit Broadway with an epic fairytale where worlds collide. Stephen Sondheim takes favorite storybook characters and brings them together for a timeless musical and modern classic. The story follows a Baker and his wife who wish to have a child, Cinderella who wishes to attend the King’s Festival, and Jack who wishes his cow would give milk… and a Witch! In Act One, Everyone’s wish is granted, but the consequences of their actions return to haunt them in Act Two, as they grow beyond the realm of fairy tales.  One of Sondheim’s most popular works, INTO THE WOODS features great songs like “Agony,” “No One is Alone” and “Children Will Listen.”
Matthew Wilson, Director/Choreographer; Michael Kennedy, Music Director; Jenny Lutes, Production Stage Manager 

Rehearsals begin:  Sunday, September 7, 2014
Performance dates:   October 23 – November 16, 2014

For more information on auditions, contact us at (513) 241 – 6550.  Check us out on the web at www.cincinnatilandmarkproductions.com

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Video Preview for SWEENEY TODD

Helen Anneliesa Raymond-Goers as Mrs. Lovett & Justin Glaser as Sweeney Todd. Photo by Matt Steffen.

Helen Anneliesa Raymond-Goers as Mrs. Lovett & Justin Glaser as Sweeney Todd. Photo by Matt Steffen.

The Carnegie proudly launches its 2014-15 Theatre Series with the Tony Award winner SWEENEY TODD, playing weekends August 8 – 23, 2014 at The Carnegie in Covington, KY. Co-produced with Northern Kentucky University’s Commonwealth Theatre Company, SWEENEY TODD features local professional actors alongside the area’s most gifted collegiate talent from NKU, CCM and Wright State University, led by national tour veteran and NKU alumnus Justin Glaser.

In this video preview, Sweeney Todd (Glaser) greets an old friend…

Directed by NKU Theatre Chair Ken Jones. Tickets are $21 – $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 – 5pm).

 

 

 

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