Monthly Archives: January 2015

SORDID LIVES Runs Feb. 5-8

GHCT_Sordid Lives logoSORDID LIVES
Presented by Greater Hamilton Civic Theatre
Feb. 5-8
Hamilton

Directed by Brett Sandlin

Cast: Sean Davis as Ty, Teresa Bayer-Iltzch as Bitsy, Lyndall Murray as Sissy, Brandie Wagers as Noleta, Julie Joyce-Smith as Latrelle, Rhonda Lucas as Lavonda, Steve Lakes as Odell, David Radtke as Wardell, Corey Wagonfield as GW, Maggie Macgregor as Juanity, Ashley Bowman as Dr. Eve & James Karr as Brother Boy

A black comedy about white trash! Get ready for laughs the size of Texas with this twisted family tale that puts the “fun” in dysfunctional! Warning: Contains adult themes.

  • Thu-Sat, Feb. 5-7 at 8pm
  • Sun, Feb. 8 at 2pm

Official page |

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Stage Notes for Jan. 3

ML&C_Jan

MamLuft&Co. Dance

A potpourri of arts news items from local and national sources.

  • River City News article: Theatre You Should Check Out in January
  • Cincinnati.Com article:
    MamLuft&Co.Dance goes repertory
  • Scott Stoney announced that he will be co-directing The Human Race Theatre Company’s last production of their 2014-15 season, CROWNS. His co-director is Debbie Blunden-Diggs, the Artistic Director of Dayton Contemporary Dance Company.
  • Dare to Defy Productions has worked with the wonderful staff at the Victoria Theatre and have added additional seats for tonight’s (Saturday’s) performance of THE LAST FIVE YEARS at the Mathile Theatre in the Schuster center. These will go fast so go to www.ticketcenterstage.com to get your tickets now.
  • Dayton Most Metro review: THE LAST FIVE YEARS
  • Playbill.com article: Cincinnatian Jessica Hendy has joined the cast of ROCKETTES SPRING SPECTACULAR SHOW at Radio City, headlined by Laura Benanti.

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TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE Runs Jan. 8-11

RTP_Tuesdays with Morrie cardTUESDAYS WITH MORRIE
Presented by Rivertown Players
Jan. 8-11
Cheviot

Directed by Amanda Borchers
Produced by Victoria Garcia

Cast: Kent Smith as Morrie Schwartz & Ray Persing as Mitch Albom

  • Thu-Sat, Jan. 8-10 at 7:30pm
  • Sun, Jan. 11 at 2pm

Official Facebook page |

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Award-winning local actors announced for cast of QCQTC’s AND BABY MAKES SEVEN

Justin McCombs as Antipholus of Syracuse & Maggie Lou Rader as Lucianna. Photo by Mikki Schaffner.

Justin McCombs as Antipholus of Syracuse & Maggie Lou Rader as Lucianna in Cincinnati Shakepeare Company’s THE COMEDY OF ERRORS. Photo by Mikki Schaffner.

Cincinnati Shakespeare Company-based couple Maggie Lou Rader and Justin McCombs will join local actress Erin McCamley as the three-person cast of Paula Vogel’s AND BABY MAKES SEVEN, presented by the Queen City Queer Theatre Collective. Directed by Lindsey Augusta Mercer, the dark comedy follows couple Anna and Ruth and their friend Peter as they await the arrival of their newborn child, but first they must rid the crowded apartment of their three imaginary children.

The play reading, the third production in the new theatre company’s season, will be in the second floor cabaret space of Below Zero at 7:30p on Monday, Jan 12, and is sponsored by Absolut Vodka. QCQTC uses theatre to celebrate and encourage dialogue around queer experiences. A $5 donation is suggested.

Production information |

Facebook.com/qcqtccincinnati

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See Two Scrooges WAITING FOR GODOT at CSC

Ebenezer Scrooge (Bruce Cromer) celebrates his renewed holiday spirit . Photo by Sandy Underwood.

Bruce Cromer as Ebenezer Scrooge in Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park’s A CHRISTMAS CAROL. Photo by Sandy Underwood.

Cincinnati Shakespeare Company kicks off 2015 by staging Samuel Beckett’s absurdist play, WAITING FOR GODOT.

In GODOT, two loveable, hapless vagrants, Gogo and Didi, grapple with the mysteries of the universe, trading barbs and banter as they await the arrival of the eternally truant Godot.

Director Brian Isaac Phillips has cast Bruce Cromer and Nicholas Rose as the vagrants in this vaudevillian production. Both actors are easily recognizable to Cincinnati audiences.

MISC_Nick Rose Scrooge Nick Rose backstage as Scrooge.

MISC_Nick Rose Scrooge
Nick Rose backstage as Scrooge.

Last week, Cromer completed his tenth season as Ebeneezer Scrooge in Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park’s annual production of A CHRISTMAS CAROL. Bruce took on Scrooge when Joneal Joplin stepped away from the role, making Cromer the Playhouse’s fourth actor to play Scrooge.

This year was Rose’s fifth production of A CHRISTMAS CAROL, on stage as Mr. Cupp and several other ensemble characters. He also had the responsibility of understudying the role of Scrooge.

As it happens from time to time in live theater, Bruce Cromer injured his ankle during a mid-December matinee. Fellow cast member Doug Rees (Fezziwig/Ghost of Christmas Present) posted this on Facebook.

Our “Scrooge” injured his ankle giving his always 110%, brilliant and fully committed performance at the matinée of A CHRISTMAS CAROL today; the hope is to have him back by Tuesday. In his place tonight stepped the formidable and remarkably poised Nick Rose. He could be forgiven if he managed to simply get through it; but he did oh so much more than that! Kudos to him, and to Christopher Richardson, Ollie Corchado and Alex Georges Purcell, who all stepped admirably into their understudy tracks as well!

Nicholas Rose and Bruce Cromer.

Nicholas Rose and Bruce Cromer.

By stepping into a performance as Scrooge, Nick Rose goes down in Playhouse history as the fifth actor to play Scrooge.

Local theater-goes have a great opportunity to see these two fine actors together in WAITING FOR GODOT. For me, it’s a “must-see” this theater season. I do expect this production to sell really well, so don’t wait to long to get tickets.

Press release | Production page |

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