Monthly Archives: September 2015

September 21, 2015 · 7:43 am

Auditions Announced for SOUTHERN GOTHIC: A GHOST STORY presented by InBocca Performance

IBP_logo‘Will you still hold me when you see what I have done?’

ANNOUNCING AUDITIONS FOR SOUTHERN GOTHIC: A GHOST STORY

This production will be an exciting change for us, as it will be a collaboration between InBocca Performance AND a new company, Say Yes Dance. It will be co-directed by Caroline Stine (InBocca) and Nicole A. Hershey (Say Yes).

Auditions are Oct. 3rd. Rehearsals will begin the week of Oct. 12th for a production in January (Jan. 14-16, space pending). Rehearsal expectations are 2-3 times per week, for approx. 2 hours. There will be dance rehearsals on Saturday mornings for those performers who audition for a dancing part. Rehearsal schedule will be determined based off performers’ availability. There will be a stipend, TBA.

Please see below for information. We hope to see you there!

What: A devised theatre production featuring dance, original music, and acting. Set in the deep south, we’ll be exploring not only the charm and beauty therein, but the fear, terror, and decay which lurks just below the surface.
When: Saturday, Oct. 3rd, 10am-1pm
Where: Northern Kentucky University, FA116
Who: cast will be approx. 8-12 performers
How to Prepare: Please come prepared to do a cold reading, create original choreography, and dance (this last will be optional, available only to those who wish to audition for a dancing role).

Please note that, due to the subject matter, no one under 18 may participate in this production without written permission from a parent (this doesn’t mean you can’t audition, but that you cannot be cast without permission).

Please feel free to email with any questions at info@inboccaperformance.com.

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September 18, 2015 · 7:53 am

CYRANO DE BERGERAC Review

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

Jeremy Dubin as Cyrano. Photo by Mikki Schaffner Photography.

Jeremy Dubin as Cyrano. Photo by Mikki Schaffner Photography.

CYRANO DE BERGERAC presented by Cincinnati Shakespeare Company through Oct. 3. Click here for more information on the production. I attended the opening night performance.

Jeremy Dubin gives his strongest performance to date in the demanding title role. Confident and insightful, Dubin is captivating to watch. I enjoyed how De Bergerac’s bravado is played more as a statement of fact than bragging. His devotion to Roxane is complete and selfless.

Caitlin McWethy as Roxane, Grant Niezgodski as Christian, and Jeremy Dubin as Cyrano. Photo by Mikki Schaffner Photography.

Caitlin McWethy as Roxane, Grant Niezgodski as Christian, and Jeremy Dubin as Cyrano. Photo by Mikki Schaffner Photography.

Caitlin McWethy’s Roxane is genuine as the women touched to her core by Cyrano’s words. The scenes where she shares her mis-directed love for Christian (Grant Niezgodski), with her distant cousin and confidant, are heartbreaking. Jared Joplin creates a great villain as Comte de Guiche. It is his desire for Roxane’s affection that sets the tragedy in motion. Billy Chance is extremely fun as the baker-patron of poets, Ragueneau.

Caitlin McWethy as Roxane and Jeremy Dubin as Cyrano. Photo by Mikki Schaffner Photography.

Caitlin McWethy as Roxane and Jeremy Dubin as Cyrano. Photo by Mikki Schaffner Photography.

Director Brian Isaac Phillips uses every inch of space available to him. The staging is well-focused and dynamic. Designer Andrew J. Hungerford provides a versatile set. It transforms into a theater, a battlefield and a covent, just to name a few of the settings. The platform stage left worked well, but it read more pier than balcony to me.

Kyle Brumley as Carbon de Castel-Jaloux and Caitlin McWethy as Roxane. Photo by Mikki Schaffner Photography.

Kyle Brumley as Carbon de Castel-Jaloux and Caitlin McWethy as Roxane. Photo by Mikki Schaffner Photography.

The costumes and wigs are impressive and added to the richness of the production. My favorite was the bold fashion choices of the ill-fated Carbon de Castel-Jaloux (Kyle Brumley).

The nose prosthetic for Cyrano looks very good. From my seat, it appeared natural in its design and application. I did notice that in some of the night scenes, the lighting reflected differently off his face than off the appliance.

Jeremy Dubin as Cyrano and Cadets. Photo by Mikki Schaffner Photography.

Jeremy Dubin as Cyrano and Cadets. Photo by Mikki Schaffner Photography.

Opening night, the show did break the three-hour mark, but it didn’t seem overly long. The script is strong, and I had not realized that I didn’t know how Cyrano’s story ended. I felt that the pacing was steady, but it struggled to gain some energy, some bounce. This steady pace worked against the final scene, delaying the emotional payoff the audience has been waiting for the entire show.

Dubin’s captivating performance leads a strong cast in this romantic-tragedy of unrequited love.

My rating: 4.5 out of 5.

Cincy Shakes continues their season with another classic, the Pulitzer Prize-winning play DEATH OF A SALESMAN with Bruce Cromer as Willy Loman. I fully expect sell-out run so purchase your tickets early.

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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September 17, 2015 · 8:21 pm

Auditions Announced for JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR at Footlighters

FLI_logoThe Footlighters, Inc. is proud to announce auditions for the Andrew Lloyd Webber rock opera, JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR

Auditions:
Sunday, October 25, 2015 and Monday, October 26th, 2015 from 7pm to 10pm

Callbacks:
Tuesday, October 27 at 7pm

Audition Location:
The Footlighters, Inc.
802 York Street
Newport, KY 41071

– Sign up for audition time: http://bit.ly/Footlighters_Audition_JCS
– Please bring 16-32 bars of two contrasting songs that show your vocal range.
– Please have your music marked with the 16 – 32 bars that you want to sing for each song in advance. If you start at the top of the song, the accompanist will be instructed to stop playing after 32 bars.
– An accompanist will be provided.
– Please don’t audition with anything from “Jesus Christ Superstar.”
– A dance combination will be a part of a callback audition.

Show Dates:
March 10 – 26, 2016

This legendary rock opera tells the story of the last seven days in the life of Jesus as seen through the eyes of Judas Iscariot. The show illuminates the transcendent power of the human spirit through an extraordinary, groundbreaking score. As compelling today as it was at its inception over 40 years ago, JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR has some of musical theatre’s most legendary songs from “I Don’t Know How to Love Him,” “Everything’s Alright,” “Gethsemane,” and of course, “Superstar.”

Producers – Jennifer Keith Richardson, Janet Wisner, and Megan Osborn Williams
Director – Bill Geraghty

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September 17, 2015 · 8:08 pm

Directors Sought for 2016-2017 Season at Footlighters

FLI_DirectorsFootlighters, Inc. was founded in 1963 and since 1987 has owned its own facility, The Stained Glass Theatre, in Newport, Ky. It continually attracts outstanding talent for its productions, and has received local, state, and national awards for outstanding production quality, individual and ensemble performances, and technical achievements.

The Footlighters, Inc. is accepting submissions for directors for its 2016 – 2017 season. If you would like to be considered, please send the following information to Robert Weidle, Chairperson of the Director/Play Selection Committee, at rweidle@aol.com.

Please include “Director Submission’ in the subject line of the email.
– A one-page letter of interest briefly detailing 1-4 shows you are interested in directing.
– A theater resume that includes your contact information.

The deadline to submit materials is Monday, October 12, 2015. Robert will contact interested directors by October 26, 2015, to schedule interviews. Interviews will take place November 9th and 10th at the Stained Glass Theatre. When you are selected for an interview, you will be asked to provide additional information on the shows you are interested in directing, including a budget projection.

We will be producing a four-show season for 2016-2017, to include 2 large-scale musicals, 1 smaller musical, and 1 non-musical comedy/drama. Exact show dates will be selected by the Board of Directors in October.

If you have any questions, please contact Robert at the email address listed above.

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September 17, 2015 · 5:35 pm

Acting Up to Present GUYS AND DOLLS, Sept. 24-27

ACTUP_Guys and Dolls promoActing Up to Present Guys and Dolls

  • Friday, September 25 @ 7pm
  • Saturday, September 26 @ 2pm (sign-language interpreter provided)
  • Saturday, September 26 @ 7pm
  • Sunday, September 27 @ 2pm

At the Mason High School Theater, 6100 Mason Montgomery Road, Mason
Tickets are only $12 each and are available at ActingUp.com or at the door.

One of the most popular musical comedies, GUYS AND DOLLS will be hitting the live stage in Mason next weekend, presented by Acting Up -Young Performer’s Community Theater.  Considered by many to be the perfect musical comedy, GUYS AND DOLLS received nearly unanimous positive reviews from critics and won a bevy of awards, including TONY Awards, Drama Desks, and Olivers. Set in Damon Runyon’s mythical New York City, GUYS AND DOLLS is an oddball romantic comedy filled with singing, dancing and 1920’s hijinks.

Featuring memorable songs such as “Luck Be a Lady” and “Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ The Boat,” you are sure to leave the theater dancing and humming. The story is about gambler Nathan Detroit who tries to find the cash to set up the biggest craps game in town while the authorities breathe down his neck; meanwhile, his girlfriend, nightclub performer Adelaide, laments that they’ve been engaged for 14 years. Nathan turns to fellow gambler Sky Masterson for the dough, but Sky ends up chasing the straight-laced missionary Sarah Brown.GUYS AND DOLLS takes us from the heart of Times Square to the cafes of Havana, Cuba, and even into the sewers of New York City, but eventually everyone ends up right where they belong.

Acting Up’s version of GUYS AND DOLLS will feature a cast of approximately 65 talented youngsters ages 10 to 18, hailing from all over the Cincinnati-area. The director is Erin Wallace.  The cast features CJ Allen (of Indian Hill) as Sky Masterson, Danielle Morey (of Mason) as Sarah Brown, Cole Hankins (of Loveland) as Nathan Detroit and Kayla Stroud (of Mason) as Adelaide.

Acting Up is an all-volunteer, young performer’s community theater which strives to bring high-quality, polished theatrical productions to the northwest suburbs.  They stress family involvement and working with the community to provide an enjoyable, educational, and enriching experience for all. Acting Up is a member of ACT Cincinnati and just won 32 Orchid awards at the Association of Community Theatre awards in June 27 including Overall Technical Quality, Overall Performance Quality, Excellence in Dance Execution, and Excellence in Chorus, Choreography and Ensemble.

Acting Up will present four shows of Guys and Dolls on September 25, 26, 27, at the Mason High School Theater, 6100 Mason Montgomery Road, Mason, OH 45040.  Performances will be Friday, September 25 at 7:00 pm; Saturday, September 26 at 2 pm. (sign language interpreter will be provided), and 7:00 pm; and Sunday, September 27 at 2 pm.  Tickets are $12 each and it is general seating.  You can purchase your tickets online at www.ActingUp.com or at the box office starting one hour before the show. For more information, visit www.ActingUp.com or call 513-494-6062.

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