Monthly Archives: June 2015

June 17, 2015 · 5:53 pm

FutureFest 2015 Runs July 17-19

DPH_Future Feset 2015 logoFutureFest 2015
Dayton Playhouse
July 17-19
Dayton

  • Fri, July 17 at 8pm HAIL THE CONQUERING HERO [Fully staged]
  • Sat, July 18 at 10am BOOK OF HOURS [Staged reading]
  • Sat, July 18 at 3pm RETURN TO GOODNIGHT [Staged reading]
  • Sat, July 18 at 8pm THE CONSUL, THE TRAMP, AND AMERICA’S SWEETHEART [Fully staged]
  • Sun, July 19 at 10am BLUE OVER YOU [Staged reading]
  • Sun, July 19 at 3pm SMOKE  [Fully staged]

Official page |

HAIL THE CONQUERING HERO by Rich Amada
Directed by Fran Pesch
Friday, July 17 at 8pm
[Full staging] Tom Azuric is a radio humorist who has toiled for years in various stations around the country until he has finally made it to the biggest U.S. radio market of them all – New York City. However, judging from his demeanor, his family can sense that something is terribly wrong. Despite his professional success, Tom, it seems, has failed to fulfill a promise to his deceased mother, leaving him feeling terribly inadequate. That feeling, coupled with the pressure his boss is putting on him to engage in some sleazy politics, is pushing Tom to the breaking point.

Cast: J. Gary Thompson as Tom Azuric, Terry Larson as Ginny Azuric, Cydnie Hampton as Kimberly Azuric, Cynthia Karns as Marilyn Froling, K. L. Storer as Wally Froling, Shawn Hooks as Bud Peel, Kathleen Durig as Mom & Annie Pesch as Sylvia Sanchez

BOOK OF HOURS – by Thomas Klocke
Directed by Brennan Paulin
Saturday, July 18 at 10am
[Staged reading] Margins, decorative marginalia, marginalized people.  Every connotation of the word is broached when one 14th century Manuscript Illuminator stands his ground for artistic integrity against the heavy handed censorship of the Church which commissioned the handmade BOOK OF HOURS devotional.  To tell the story, the play crosses centuries and oceans, from the Biblical times of Abraham and his sons to contemporary gay street hustlers just trying to survive in the margins of an uncaring city.

Cast: William Scarborough as Zak (Isaac), Joe Meyer as Fugitive Green, Richard Young as Illuminator, Amy Taint as Angel, Chuck Larkowski as International Style & Matthew Smith as Izzie (Ishmael)

RETURN TO GOODNIGHT by Jared Robert Strange
Directed by Debra Kent
Saturday, July 18 at 3pm
[Staged reading] Irene Deckard has lost her father, but she may also lose her mind fulfilling his final wishes, which involve bringing his remains from Montana all the way down to Goodnight, Texas, and in the company of her gay ex-husband Casper, no less. It’s all part of a promise they made to her father a long time ago, a promise that will bring them together for the first time in thirty years to face old demons, discover new truths, and maybe – just maybe – rekindle their long-dead friendship.

Cast: Cheryl Mellen as Irene Deckard & Rick Flynn as Casper Kelly

THE CONSUL, THE TRAMP, AND AMERICA’S SWEETHEART by John Morogiello
Directed by Jim Lockwood
Saturday, July 18 at 8pm 
[Full staging] On the eve of World War II, Georg Gyssling, the nazi consul to Hollywood, confronts Mary Pickford, the silent film star and co-founder of United Artists, to stop production on Charlie Chaplin’s controversial first talkie, The Great Dictator. Gyssling succeeds until war is declared and the movie is needed to buck up the allies.

Cast: Maggie Carroll as Miss Hollombe, David Hallowren as Georg Gyssling, Debra Strauss as Mary Pickford & Matthew Lindsay as Charlie Chaplin

BLUE OVER YOU by Dan Noonan
Directed by Saul Caplan
Sunday, July 19 at 10am
[Staged reading] Where’s Mitzi? What happened to Mitzi?! Francis, an enchanting high school drama teacher, comes home to discover that his wife, Mitzi, is missing. Did she leave because of his infantile behavior, has she run off with the hunky maintenance man, or is something much darker at work here? Join this song-and-dance man as he tries to find Mitzi and woo her back.

Cast: Robb Willoughby as Francis

SMOKE by Gloria Bond Clunie
Directed by Geoff Burkman
Sunday, July 19 at 3pm
[Full staging] In the drama SMOKE, country store owner Ora Rakestraw wants no parts of the mysterious Wallace Johnson when he descends upon her tiny southern town to organize tobacco workers.  It’s the 1960’s— and though Kennedy orders the Surgeon General to investigate smoking— tobacco is king in Carolina.   The Marlboro Man, Lucky Strikes, and Camels are Kool because they put food on the table for her customers.  As promises are made and secrets revealed, love collides with small town politics in one hot, tumultuous summer!

Cast: Megan Cooper as Ora Rakestraw, Ray Geiger as Wallace Johnson, Dodie Lockwood as Mama “Liz” Sommerville & Mike Rousculp as Sheriff Orville Hayes

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June 17, 2015 · 4:30 pm

THE PRODUCERS Review

Mike Sherman as Max Biaystock & Spenser Smith as Leo Bloom. Photo by Mikki Schaffner Photography.

Mike Sherman as Max Biaystock & Spenser Smith as Leo Bloom. Photo by Mikki Schaffner Photography.

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.

THE PRODUCERS presented by Warsaw Federal Incline Theatre through June 21. Click here for more information on the production. I attended the opening Sunday performance.

Cincinnati Landmark Productions welcomes patrons to their new and beautiful venue, the Warsaw Federal Incline Theatre, with a solid production of the musical comedy, THE PRODUCERS.

Mike Sherman as Max Biaystock, Kalie Kaimann as Ulla & Spenser Smith as Leo Bloom. Photo by Mikki Schaffner Photography.

Mike Sherman as Max Biaystock, Kalie Kaimann as Ulla & Spenser Smith as Leo Bloom. Photo by Mikki Schaffner Photography.

Mike Sherman is smartly cast as the morally-questionable Max Bialystock. He handles the songs well and has good comic timing. Spencer Smith looks great for the role of unsatisfied accountant Leo Bloom and is vocally strong. Performance-wise, I didn’t have a good sense of what Leo was feeling (besides panicked). Even when dancing with his girl, the smile on his face was fleeting at best. Recent high school graduate Kalie Kaimann is a solid triple-threat as the beautiful and English-challenged Ulla. Christopher Wyllie is solid and very funny as discovered playwright Franz Liebkind. His character and German accent was solid throughout, although it did seem to disappear in the “opening night” scene. As Carmen Ghia, the “common law-assistant” to the “worst director in New York,” Gregory Bossler finds great balance in the campy, effeminate role. Ptich perfect is Tom Highley as the aforementioned director and closeted homosexual, Roger DeBris. The 17-person ensemble is solid and handle the vocals and choreography well.

The cast. Photo by Mikki Schaffner Photography.

The cast. Photo by Mikki Schaffner Photography.

Speaking of choreography, overall the staging by Maggie Perrino worked well. Favorite numbers included “The King of Old Broadway” and “I Want to be a Producer.” I also enjoyed “Springtime for Hitler” but Hitler’s entrance was blocked by the ensemble standing too far downstage. I also had a sight line issue during “The King of Old Broadway.” When the actress sat on Max’s left knee, she blocked the view of his face for those of us audience right. And all we could see of her, was the back of her head. Moving her to Max’s other knee would have allowed everyone to see both their faces.  Just something to keep in mind for future productions. #newvenueproblems 🙂

Mike Sherman as Max Biaystock, Spenser Smith as Leo Bloom & Kalie Kaimann as Ulla. Photo by Mikki Schaffner Photography.

Mike Sherman as Max Biaystock, Spenser Smith as Leo Bloom & Kalie Kaimann as Ulla. Photo by Mikki Schaffner Photography.

Costumer Caren Young does great work in tackling this behemoth of a show. Favorite costumes include the “C building” dress, the German showgirl costumes and Ulla’s frock upon her return from Rio.

One ongoing distraction, for me, was that the two male leads, (and to a lesser extent Ulla,) had a habit of upstaging themselves.  Standing in profile to the audience with feet together, line delivery with their backs to the audience, reading onstage with their faces hidden behind what they were “reading,” and punchline delivery to the wings or other actors instead of out, are a few examples. Just remember that the audience is well, your audience.

Tom Highley as Roger DeBris as Hitler. Photo by Mikki Schaffner Photography.

Tom Highley as Roger DeBris as Hitler. Photo by Mikki Schaffner Photography.

Overall a fun and entertaining way to christen the city’s newest theater. I’m excited to see what they have in store for future audiences as they mature into their space.

If you want to check out the new theater this summer, you best bet may be their third and final production of their Summer Classic Series, 9 TO 5 THE MUSICAL. The full run of THE PRODUCERS sold out almost before the show opened. Ticket sales for their next production, 1776, are very strong with several shows already sold out and several with limited availability. You can visit their site here.

My rating: 4.0 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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June 17, 2015 · 10:19 am

SHREK THE MUSICAL Runs July 17-25

Austin Michael Gage as Donkey, Tony Bergman as Shrek, Christina Sanford as Fiona & Stephen Catlin as Lord Farquaad.

Austin Michael Gage as Donkey, Tony Bergman as Shrek, Christina Sanford as Fiona & Stephen Catlin as Lord Farquaad.

SHREK THE MUSICAL
Mason Community Players
July 17-25
Lebanon

Directed by Lara Gonzalez
Music Direction by Brian Bisig
Choreography by Laureen Catlin
Produced by Perry Gary

Official cast list |

“Once upon a time, there was a little ogre named Shrek…” And thus begins the tale of an unlikely hero who finds himself on a life-changing journey alongside a wisecracking Donkey and a feisty princess who resists her rescue. Throw in a short tempered bad guy, a cookie with an attitude, and over a dozen other fairy tale misfits, and you’ve got the kind of mess that calls for a real hero. Luckily, there’s one on hand…and his name is Shrek.

  • Fri-Sat, July 17-18 at 8pm
  • Sun, July 19 at 2pm
  • Thu-Fri, July 23-24 at 8pm
  • Sat, July 25 at 2pm & 8pm

Official page |

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June 17, 2015 · 10:07 am

LCT Review of ONE MAN, TWO GUVNORS

LCT_VThis review has been reposted courtesy of the League of Cincinnati Theatres. For more LCT reviews click here to visit their reviews page.

I have been looking forward all year to see the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company’s regional premier of One Man, Two Guv’nors, after having seen the original version on the London Stage. The play, based on Italian Commedia Dell’Arte with a good dash of vaudeville, Monty Python, and audience participation thrown in, requires tremendous energy and comic flair; as usual, CSC did not disappoint, providing an uproarious production every bit as entertaining as the original.

One Man, Matthew Lewis Johnson as Francis Henshall (center) tries to serve his two “guvnors”, Justin McCombs as Stanley Stubbers & Caitlin McWethy as Rachel Crabbe. Photo by Cal Harris.

One Man, Matthew Lewis Johnson as Francis Henshall (center) tries to serve his two “guvnors”, Justin McCombs as Stanley Stubbers & Caitlin McWethy as Rachel Crabbe. Photo by Cal Harris.

Key to success is a charming and both physically and verbally gifted leading man to play Francis Henshall, our everyman protagonist who juggles the demands of two bosses while simultaneously looking for a good meal and a good…woman. Matthew Lewis Johnson, who wowed theatre-goers last year as Falstaff in CSC’s Henry IV, was perfectly cast and once again demonstrated his impeccable comic timing and connection with the audience. He was backed up by CSC’s outstanding stable of character actors, highlighted by the eternally reliable Justin Combs, Miranda McGee, and especially Jeremy Dubin as the nonagenarian waiter, Alfie. Certainly not to be forgotten are “The Shakes”, the jazzy/bluesy skiffle band who provide entertaining musical interludes throughout the show, led by Kelly Mengelkoch, Cary Davenport and other CSC regulars who for a change of pace got to show off their musical talents. Finally, kudos to director Brian Isaac Phillips who nailed the pace and timing of this non-stop foolishness.

One Man Two Guv’nors may not be high art—maybe not even high comedy. But it’s an irreverent homage to the art of comedy itself that breaks down the fourth wall of theater and never fails to surprise and amuse. Tickets are almost sold out, although two shows have recently been added, so don’t miss this production. I hope CSC continues to take similar opportunities to produce fresh, contemporary productions with enough of a classical twist to fit into their otherwise traditional repertoire.

For more information on the production, click here.

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June 17, 2015 · 10:03 am

LCT Review of THE TRAMP’S NEW WORLD

LCT_VThis review has been reposted courtesy of the League of Cincinnati Theatres. For more LCT reviews click here to visit their reviews page.

What do you do when the world comes to an end?

This is the premise behind Diogenes Theatre Companies latest production, THE TRAMP’S NEW WORLD.

Rob Jansen as The Tramp.

Rob Jansen as The Tramp.

This is a high quality performance, with a serious story involving being the last man standing after an atomic bomb explodes and kills everybody save for the lowly Tramp—the trademark character of silent screen legend Charlie Chaplin.

This story is based on a screenplay by James Agee, noted American author, journalist, poet, screenwriter (he wrote The African Queen), and film critic who died at the age of forty-five in 1955. Agee wanted Chaplin to star in the film, but Chaplin did not feel audiences would respond to the Tramp in the same way they did when he was in his heyday.

Chaplin has been proven wrong.

Rob Janson, who plays the Tramp, adapted the Agee screenplay to the stage. He does a marvelous job capturing the mixture of despair and anxiety that permeated the atomic age—and continues to permeate our own age.

While not trying to mimic Chaplin’s mannerisms, Jansen is an affecting mime who engages the audience – touching them, prompting applause, and even dancing with a patron.

Janson gives us a distilled version of the Tramp who tries to make a new life within the post-atomic wasteland. In the beginning of the play, Janson carts a bed across the theatrical space—a perfect symbol of tking the fragments of the old world to tell the story of the new.

This show had a tight lighting design by Sara Watson, with a strong sound & video Design by Doug Borntrager. Borntrager created some effective silent film clips which filled in some of the details of the story. Because the clips were being shown again a brown tarp, it took a little bit of effort to figure out what was written on some of the word cards.

Kudos to director Joseph Megal and stage manager Laura Karavitis, who kept the action and the technical crew in order.

At one hour in length, this was a play could have easily been part of the Cincinnati Fringe Festival. Yet it stands by itself as an outstanding example of what can be done with a solo actor and a great idea.

THE TRAMP’S NEW WORLD is running at the Fifth-Third Theater at the Aronoff Center for the Arts June 3-7 and June 10-13 with shows starting at 7:30 pm, save for 2 pm Sunday matinee on June 7th.

For more information on the production, click here.

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