Monthly Archives: June 2015

Auditions Announced for CURTAINS at Lebanon Theatre Company

LTC_logoThe Lebanon Theatre Company is holding auditions for our upcoming production of CURTAINS; a musical comedy whodunit by the team who created Cabaret and Chicago. The auditions will be held at 7pm on Fri, Aug. 7 and noon on Sat, Aug. 8 at our Mechanic Street Playhouse, 10 S. Mechanic Street, Lebanon, Ohio.

Auditioners should prepare a brief song demonstrating range, and bring music for your number. Accompaniment will be provided. No tracks, please. A song from the show will be taught at the auditions. Please wear clothes conducive to dance.

Don’t dance? Don’t Sing? Don’t worry! Not all roles are singing roles and not all roles required dance. The cast includes a range of ages and characters. Readings will be provided. This is a large cast show so there is probably a place for you.

The production will run Sep. 25-27 and Oct. 2-4 at our Mechanic Street Playhouse. Rehearsals are three times a week, until the final weeks when they will increase in frequency.

For questions about auditions or the theatre, call us at (513) 228-0932 or email us LTC@LTCplays.com.

Character Breakdown

  • LIEUTENANT FRANK CIOFFI (40s) – Local Boston detective who is also a musical theatre aficionado. Aside from being exceptionally good at his job, he has also aspired to be a musical theatre performer his entire life. He falls in love with Niki.
  • NIKI HARRIS (20s-early 30s) – Pretty, naïve ingénue. Niki is a chorus girl/understudy in the chorus of the show-within-the-show during its Boston tryout. She aspires to make it as a performer on Broadway. She meets and falls in love with Dt. Frank Cioffi who is investigating a murder at the theatre. Actress must have legit Soprano and good comic timing.
  • GEORGIA HENDRICKS (30s) – Female half of our songwriting team. She ends up taking on the leading lady role. She must sing and dance well.
  • CARMEN BERNSTEIN (45-65) – Brassy Broadway producer. She is a terrific comedic actress who sings well.
  • AARON FOX (40s) – The composer of the show-within-the-show. His songwriting partner, Georgia, is also his wife from whom he’s separated. He’s a sexy, charming ladies man.
  • SIDNEY BERNSTEIN (Late 50s-Mid 60s) – The producer of an out of town flop. Sidney is tough and self-serving. Actor should have good comic timing.
  • CHRISTOPHER BELLING (40-60) – English director. Very camp. Very funny. Requires a good comic lead actor.
  • BAMBI BERNÉT (Early 20s-early 30s) – Performer in the chorus and daughter of Carmen, the lead producer. Hungry to work her way up to leading performer many think she was only hired because of her mother. Bambi is a good dancer/comedienne who sings well.
  • DARYL GRADY (30s) – A Theatre critic for the local Boston newspaper, he enjoys using the power he has to make or break shows during their out of town tryouts.
  • JOHNNY HARMON (40s-50s) – The Stage Manager of the show-within-the-show. Johnny is a character man who is gruff but lovable. He keeps the company in line and on their toes throughout the rehearsal process.
  • OSCAR SHAPIRO (45-65) – The general manager. He is an agreeable if slightly gruff man. He is always looking for any angle to find money. Requires a good comic actor who sings.
  • BOBBY PEPPER (20s to early 30s) – The choreographer and lead dancer. He is a strong singer who dances well.
  • JESSICA CRANSHAW (30s-40s) – Fading Hollywood star. A diva, who has no right to be one, she is a terrible singer and actress who stars in the show-within-the-show and gets murdered on its opening night.
  • SASHA ILJINSKY -The show’s pit conductor. He/She sings the opening song in Act II and leads the orchestra.
  • ENSEMBLE ROLES:
    • RANDY DEXTER
    • MONA PAGE
    • HARV FREMONT
    • ROBERTA WOOSTER
    • DETECTIVE O’FARRELL
    • MARJORIE COOK
    • ARLENE BARRUCA
    • ROY STETSON
    • BRICK HAWVERMALE
    • JANE SETLER
    • CONNIE SUBBOTIN
    • PEG PRENTICE
    • RONNIE DRISCOLL
    • RUSS COCHRAN

Leave a comment

Filed under Auditions

TARZAN Runs July 9-19

EPDM_Tarzan logoTARZAN
Epiphany Players Drama Ministry
July 9-19
Centerville

Directed and choreographed by Megan Wean Sears

Official cast list |

Washed up on the shores of West Africa, an infant boy is taken in and raised by gorillas who name him Tarzan. Apart from striving for acceptance from his ape father, Tarzan’s life is mostly monkey business until a human expedition treks into his tribes territory and he encounters creatures like himself for the first time. Tarzan struggles to navigate a jungle thick with emotion as he discovers his animal upbringing clashing with his human instincts.

  • Thu-Sat, July 9-11 at 7:30pm
  • Sun, July 12 at 2:30pm
  • Thu-Sat, July 16-18 at 7:30pm
  • Sun, July 19 at 2:30pm

Official page |

Leave a comment

Filed under On Stage

Cast Announced for ACAPULCO at CenterStage Players

CSPOH_logoCenterStage Players have announced the cast for the 2015-2016 season opener, ACAPULCO. The cast incudes:

  • Linda Callahan as LIzzie
  • Jeffrey K. Miller as Ben
  • Valeria Amburgey as Edna
  • Charles L. Flatt as Jack / Father O’Reily
  • Jeffrey Spadafore as Father Hannigan
  • Richard Zenk as Richard Stellar

Performances run Oct. 9-17.

Official site |

Leave a comment

Filed under Cast list

Titles Announced for 2015-2016 Season at CenterStage Players

CSPOH_logoCenterStage Players is excited to announce our new season. More information to come!

  • ACAPULCO    
    Oct. 9-11, 15-17
  • JUNIE B JONES IN JINGLE BELLS, BATMAN SMELLS        
    Dec. 10-13
  • WHO’S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF   
    Feb 5-7, 11-13
  • ALICE IN WONDERLAND       
    Apr 1-3, 7-9
  • THE AMISH PROJECT           
    May 13-15, 19-21

Official site |

Leave a comment

Filed under Season Announcements

MURDER BALLAD 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.

MURDER BALLAD presented by Stone on a Walk Theatre

MURDER BALLAD presented by Stone on a Walk Theatre

MURDER BALLAD presented by Stone on a Walk Theatre through June 27. Click here for more information on the production. I attended the opening Saturday performance.

John Leo Muething lauches the sophmore summer season of his Stone on a Walk Theatre with the musical MURDER BALLAD. As the title implies, someone is going to be killed, but this isn’t a “who done it?” It’s a “who’s done in?”

This rock opera employs a small four-person cast of strong singers. Katrina Reynolds impresses as the Narrator. I enjoyed her “front man” persona and she established a fun dynamic with the audience. I liked how Lauren Carr gives Sara a underlying sadness that influences her character’s decision-making. Luka Ashley Carter does well as Tom and has a nice chemistry with Carr. I wouldn’t mind seeing Tom a bit more domineering to Sara at the beginning of the show, and see that return near the end. Montez Uma rounds out the cast as self-made man Michael. Uma brings a more positive energy to the show and handles the role well. The finale/curtain call had a great attitude and energy to it that you should carry through your final weekend of performances.

This was my first trip to Simple Space, a storefront reclaimed as a small (600 sq. foot) event space. A long and narrow room, the show is smartly staged along the long wall. Having the audience that close can be a bit intimidating and I sensed that at times. There were moments when it seemed as if the cast was unsure where to set their gaze when singing out. At times their focus was the wall above our heads or even at the floor. With the intimacy of the space, looking at the audience seemed to work best.

Muething does good work in the staging of the production, and the performances felt right emotionally. There were times when the blocking seemed confined. As if the awareness of the space limitations keeps you from using all the space you do have. With the seating in the round-ish, I would have like to seen more dynamics in the performance. Hard stares, longing looks and emotional pain can be effective, but only if the audience can see your face. Using a bit more body language, shifting your stance or taking a motivated step to change the angle on stage can open you to more of the audience. Just something to think about for this venue.

I believe the music tracks, which sounded good, were of recorded musicians and not synthesized. Orchestrations are credited to Justin Levine. The tracks worked well, but I did find a couple of the transitions between songs to be a bit abrupt. The volume balance was good for the bulk of the show, but I struggled hearing soloists in a few of the quieter moments.

I understand the decision to forego programs. But if you are going to refer patrons to your website for bio information, you may want to be sure that all cast members (poor Montez 🙂 )and production staff are listed and complete.

Overall a solid, enjoyable musical with a talented and charismatic cast. It runs about 90 minutes with no intermission. The intimate space allows for 35 seats per performance, so you may want to get tickets in advance. Fringe festival patrons will feel right at home.

My rating: 3.75 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.

Leave a comment

Filed under Reviews