Monthly Archives: February 2016

TDW’s UNNECESSARY FARCE Offers Door-Slamming Fun

TDW_Unneccesary Farce promo1

Officers Dwyer and Sheridan are stunned by the turn of events in the motel room they’re watching in The Drama Workshop’s UNNECESSARY FARCE. Left to right: Ashley Boehm, Glenn Schaich, Chris Bishop, Meagan Blasch. Image courtesy The Drama Workshop.

The Drama Workshop’s production of the hysterical comedy, UNNECESSARY FARCE, opens February 26, and will run through March 13 at The Glenmore Playhouse, 3716 Glenmore Ave in Cheviot.  The show offers Friday and Saturday evening performances beginning at 8:00 pm, and Sunday matinees starting at 2 pm.

In an economy motel room, an embezzling mayor is supposed to meet with his female accountant. In the room next door, two undercover cops are supposed to catch the meeting on videotape. But there’s some confusion as to who’s in which room, who’s watching the video, who’s taken the money, who’s hired the Scottish hit man, and why the accountant keeps taking off her clothes. UNNECESSARY FARCE is filled with doors slamming, clothes flying, and bagpipes bleating, all of which adds up to an over-the-top tale of mix-ups and mayhem that’s laugh out loud funny from start to finish.

The show is written by Paul Slade Smith, and is helmed by an award-winning production team of producer/director Ray Persing and stage manager Tobie Braverman.  The cast includes Glenn Schaich, Ashley Boehm, Meagan Blasch, Joe Ward, Chris Bishop, Kevin Noll, and Mary Benken.

The farce is a form of theatre that is difficult to do well, and it has stretched the cast in new ways. “This has not only been a great experience but a big challenge for me,” said Meagan Blasch, who travels to Cheviot from Oakley to play accountant Karen Brown.  “I knew the moment I read the script that I wanted to be a part of this production, but I had no idea how challenging it would be. The cast and crew had made it an even better experience- I can’t imagine doing the show with anyone else!”

Joe Ward, a TDW veteran, appears in UNNECESSARY FARCE as the clueless Mayor Meekly. “ I’ve been watching rehearsals for more than a month now,” he offered,  “and I’m still laughing out loud every time.  I feel like I’m getting a free show every night!”

Ms. Blasch agrees wholeheartedly. “We frequently crack each other up during rehearsal- I’ve been known to snort once or twice!”

Fairfield resident Kevin Noll plays the hit man, Todd, and loves the camaraderie of doing a show. “The way everyone has come together has been an absolute blast.  This is going to be as much fun for the audience as it has been for the cast.”

Tickets for UNNECESSARY FARCE are $16 each when ordered in advance, or $17 at the door. Shows at TDW frequently sell out, so advance reservations are strongly recommended. Tickets may be ordered by phoning the TDW 24/7 ticket line at 513.598.8303, or by ordering online through the TDW website at www.thedramaworkshop.org.

Leave a comment

Filed under Press Releases

Know Announces Encore Performances of the 2015 Audience Pick of the Fringe

dungeon
from Hit The Lights! Theatre Co.

“down the tunnel, into the dark, dodge the web.”

CFF_DungeonA young man falls into the unknown to rescue something he holds dear.  Inspired by kabuki, video games, horror movies, and pixar shorts, Hit the Lights! Theater Co. build a world where the darkness speaks louder than the light.

Know Theatre is proud to welcome back the 2015 Cincinnati Fringe Festival’s Audience Pick of the Fringe, dungeon, for a two-performance Encore at the Cincinnati Actor’s Studio and Academy (Essex Studios, 2511 Essex Place, Room 282B).

Hit the Lights! is an award-winning artistic agreement based in New York City who make theater, music, and online content and are committed to telling simple stories in unconventional ways. Among their members are CCM Drama graduates Kristopher Dean, Claron Hayden, Casey Leach, and Mikayla Stanley.

Critics praised dungeon at the 2015 Cincy Fringe as an “imagination bomb” (Bart Bishop, Cincinnati CityBeat) and a “unqiue and engaging offering…” (Rob Bucher, Behind the Curtain Cincinnati). dungeon quickly caught the attention of festival-goers and after sold-out houses they went on to receive the coveted Audience Pick of the Fringe, voted on solely by festival attendees.

Associate Fringe Producer Chris Wesselman is thrilled to welcome the dungeon team back, saying “This is a young group of artists with roots right here in Cincinnati who are exciting to watch and interact with at every turn. Their passion and dedication are admirable and their artistic creativity is inspiring. We hope this is only the beginning of the work we’ll see from them.”

Hit the Lights! co-founder Casey Leach adds, “We’re overjoyed to be returning to Cincinnati, our home away from home, to invite audiences back into a more fully-formed dungeon than they last encountered.”

dungeon’s Encore will take place within the twists and turns of Essex Studios in Walnut Hills at the Cincinnati Actor’s Studio and Academy (CASA), an opportunity Chris Wesselman is very enthusiastic about. “What’s wonderful about Fringe is how it becomes a gathering of theatre artists from all across town to collaborate and celebrate our entire city’s creative force. And that’s certainly a goal we here at Know Theatre strive for, not just at Fringe but year round. We love finding these opportunities to team up with other local companies and we’re so thankful to everyone at CASA for welcoming dungeon into their space.”

dungeon runs February 26 and 27 at 8 PM. Join us for a night of Fringe theatre that you won’t soon forget…if you can escape. For more information, please visit knowtheatre.com.

Cast

  • Casey Leach
  • Mikayla Stanley
  • Kristopher Dean
  • Samantha Blain
  • Claron Hayden

Calendar Listing

Production:    dungeon by Hit The Lights! Theatre Co.

When:          February 26 and 27, 2016 @ 8PM

Where:         Cincinnati Actor’s Studio and Academy, Essex Studios, 2511 Essex Place Room 282B, Cincinnati, OH 45206 (directional signage from the parking lot will be available)

Tickets:   $15 in advance or at the door

Know Theatre is Cincinnati’s Theatrical Playground.

The Know showcases unexpected voices, new works, and plays that embrace the inherent theatricality of the live experience.

Since 1997, Know Theatre has sought to be a place where artists and audiences feel welcome to take artistic risks, creating work that is cutting edge and accessible.

Know Theatre’s work is made possible by the generosity of community contributions to the ArtsWave Campaign. The Ohio Arts Council helps fund Know Theatre with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence, and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans. Know is also supported by The Carol Ann & Ralph V. Haile, Jr./U.S. Bank Foundation, helping to change our communities for the better through collaboration and innovation, and the Greater Cincinnati Foundation, which provides a simple, powerful, and highly personal approach to giving.

Know Theatre is a member of Theatre Communications Group and an Associate Member of the National New Play Network.

Leave a comment

Filed under Events, Press Releases

‘Young Will’ Needed for BIG FISH at Cincinnati Music Theatre

CMTCincinnati Music Theatre is holding auditions for the role of “Young Will,” a serious minded and inquisitive child in their production of BIG FISH, a new Broadway musical. We are looking for a young actor between the ages of 6 and 10.

Auditions will be held on Sunday, February 21, 3:30 pm at Clifton United Methodist Church, 3416  Clifton Ave., 45220.

Auditions are by appointment. Please reserve your time as soon as possible by emailing cfshultzy@gmail.com or leaving a message at 513-314-5941. (Walk-ins are welcome and will be seen in the first available time slot.)

Those auditioning should prepare the following:

  • 16-32 bars of a Broadway-style song that showcases their vocal range;
  • Sheet music in the proper key with cuts marked.
  • An accompanist will be provided (no CD’s, tapes or a cappella numbers);
  • A copy of your resume and headshot.

Auditioners will also be asked to do a cold reading from the script.

BIG FISH the Musical will be performed May 6-14, 2016 in the Jarson-Kaplan Theater of the Aronoff Center.

Please reserve your time as soon as possible by emailing cfshultzy@gmail.com or leaving a message at 513-314-5941.

Leave a comment

Filed under Casting Call, On Stage

Jane Austen’s Sparkling Wit Returns to Cincinnati Shakespeare’s Stage in EMMA!

Special extended 5 week run of Jane Austen’s “Emma” continues the epic season!

CSC_Emma promo

Courtney Lucien as Emma. Photo by Mikki Schaffner Photography.

CINCINNATI, Feb. 5, 2016— Cincinnati Shakespeare Company continues its season with Jane Austen’s EMMA by Jon Jory. This production is directed by Kelly Mengelkoch.  This production features Cincinnati Shakespeare’s Resident Ensemble members including Courtney Lucien and Jeremy Dubin.  Sponsors for this productions are LPK and Graydon Head.

Jane Austen’s sparkling wit returns to CSC’s stage.  Amateur matchmaker Emma Wodehouse has a penchant for meddling in the love lives of others. Her latest mission is to find a promising prospect for her less than promising friend Harriet. But when her efforts to play cupid go awry, Emma finds herself struggling to undo the damage. Audiences clamored for CSC’s past productions of Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice” and “Sense and Sensibility” breaking all box office records and demanding extended performances. EMMA has already been scheduled for an additional full week of performances to meet the increasing demand as Austen’s trademark storytelling returns to the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company stage in EMMA.

12 Year CSC Resident Ensemble Member, Kelly Mengelkoch makes her mainstage directorial debut with EMMA having previously directed CSC’s touring production of “Julius Caesar.” Kelly says that “this play is a celebration of love (romantic and otherwise), friendship, and kindness.   It is also one of Austen’s cheeky commentaries of love, friendship, and ‘kindness’.”  She is thrilled to bring this story to life saying, “I love Jane Austen.  I love romance.  I love period pieces.  I love this world of society and manners and style.  I love how the rules of propriety result in delicious underlying tensions and intrigues- be they romantic or competitive.”

2nd Year CSC Resident Ensemble Member, Courtney Lucien is featured as Emma. Her CSC credits include her critically acclaimed performance as Amy March in last season’s “Little Women” and as Pauline in “One Man, Two Guvnors.” Courtney said that “the character of Emma is incredibly flawed – arguably the most flawed of all of Jane Austen’s heroines.  Needless to say, when I was approached for this role, I was scared out of my wits.  But as with Amy March (in “Little Women”) last year at CSC, I was more than willing to accept the challenge of falling in love with a complex and often highly disliked character!” In addition to her work on the Cincinnati Shakespeare Touring Company, she has also appeared as Biondello in “The Taming of the Shrew”, and Boy in “Henry V” at CSC.  Courtney has also worked with Cardinal Stage Company, Jewish Theatre of Bloomington, and Shakespeare Dallas.  She holds a BA in Theatre and Drama from Indiana University.

This production of Jane Austen’s EMMA has been adapted by Jon Jory. As the Producing Director at Actors Theatre of Louisville, Jon Jory directed over 125 plays and produced over 1,000 during his 32-year tenure. He conceived the internationally lauded Humana Festival of New American Plays, the SHORTS Festival, and the Brown-Forman Classics-in-Context Festival. He was also the Artistic Founding Director of Long Wharf Theatre in New Haven, Connecticut, and he has been inducted in New York’s Theatre Hall of Fame.  Mr. Jory has directed professionally in nine nations, and in the United States has directed productions at many regional theatres including Washington’s Arena Stage, San Francisco’s American Conservatory Theatre, Hartford Stage, the McCarter in Princeton, Guthrie Theatre, and the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. He has received the National Theatre Conference Award and ATA Distinguished Career Award. For his commitment to new plays, he has received the Margo Jones Award twice, the Shubert Foundation’s James N. Vaughan Memorial Award for Exceptional Achievement and Contribution to the Development of Professional Theatre, Carnegie Mellon’s Commitment to Playwriting Award, and the Special Tony Award for Achievement in Regional Theatre. He currently teaches acting and directing at the Santa Fe University of Art and Design.

Performances of EMMA are scheduled from February 26- March 26, 2016 on Thursday, Friday & Saturday evenings at 7:30pm and Sundays at 2pm as well as on Saturday Mar. 26 at 2pm. There is no performance on Sunday Feb 28.  Preview performances are on Wednesday Feb. 24 and Thursday Feb. 25 at 7:30pm and tickets are $25.

The theater is located at 719 Race Street, downtown Cincinnati, two blocks west of the Aronoff Center.  Single ticket prices range from $22-$35 on Thursdays and Sundays and from $26-$39 on Fridays and Saturdays.  Previews are $25.  If available, $14 student rush tickets may be purchased 30 minutes before a show with a valid student ID.  This production is a part of this season’s subscription package. Visa, Discover, MasterCard, and American Express are accepted.  Ticketing fees may apply.  Discounts are available for students, seniors and groups as well as AAA members.  To purchase tickets or for more information, call the CSC Box Office at 513.381.BARD (2273) ext. 1, or go online at www.cincyshakes.com.

 

About Cincinnati Shakespeare Company:

Cincinnati Shakespeare Company is a professional theatre company dedicated to bringing Shakespeare and the classics to life for audiences of all ages.  Located in the heart of downtown Cincinnati, CSC produces a dozen mainstage productions each season.  The repertoire is made up of the works of William Shakespeare, literary adaptations and contemporary classics. CSC performs on a Small Professional Theatre contract with Actors’ Equity Association. Cincinnati Shakespeare is a member of the Theater Communications Group and the Shakespeare Theater Association.  Cincinnati Shakespeare Company’s Education and Outreach Programs reached nearly 34,000 young people and underserved community members last season by taking Shakespeare into schools, parks, community centers and by hosting educational matinees of mainstage productions at its home on Race Street.  In 2014, CSC was proud to become one of the first five theaters in the United States to “Complete the Canon” by producing all 38 plays by William Shakespeare. CSC is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization and all donations are tax deductible.  Cincinnati Shakespeare Company is proud to be Cincinnati’s stage for the classics!

About the 2015-2016 Season:

This season is generously sponsored by The Otto M. Budig Family Foundation.  Cincinnati Shakespeare Company receives operating support from The Ohio Arts Council, the Shubert Foundation and is supported, in part, by the generosity of thousands of individuals and businesses that give annually to ArtsWave.  The season design sponsor is Mark & Sue Ann Painter.  The Ohio Arts Council helped fund this program/organization with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans. Production dates and information on the season are available online at www.cincyshakes.com.

Leave a comment

Filed under Press Releases

The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati Holding Auditions for STAR Programs

TCTC_new logoChildren ages 9-18 can now register to audition for the renowned STAR Intensive NKU and STAR Camp Red Bank programs with The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati. Auditions will be held at The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati’s new facility, 4015 Red Bank Road, Cincinnati, OH 45227 on:

  • Friday, February 26 from 6 PM to 9 PM
  • Saturday, February 27 from 10 AM to 5 PM

Appointments are mandatory. You MUST set up an audition in advance. Audition time slots are on a first-come, first-served basis. To register for an audition please visit: www.thechildrenstheatre.com/audition

What to Prepare:

  • A memorized, age-appropriate monologue (1 minute MAX). It should showcase your acting skills.
  • A memorized 16-bar song selection that best shows your vocal range. Remember to bring your PIANO SHEET MUSIC for your song. An accompanist will be provided. The sheet music MUST have the piano part, not just the vocal line.
  • You may be asked to show us your dance ability, so come prepared. Wear appropriate shoes. No flip flops. Wear appropriate dance clothes please.
  • Upon online registration, please be sure to upload a RECENT 8×10 headshot and an UPDATED performance resume; however, please bring your headshot and resume with you to your audition in case we request a paper copy.
  • Please plan to arrive at least 20 minutes ahead of your appointment for check-in. If we are ahead of schedule, you may audition early.

ABOUT STAR INTENSIVE NKU:

Our STAR Intensive NKU program is a four-week training program for students, ages 9-18. Students are accepted by audition only and will be taught by experts in the various disciplines of Musical Theatre on the campus of Northern Kentucky University, from 10 AM to 4 PM each weekday. Selected from STAR Intensive NKU, the STAR Cabaret is a group of 12-14 students who participate in year-round training and coaching. Throughout the year, participants will mentor with our expert teaching staff to be well-rounded musical theatre artists, perform for local events, and will culminate in a trip to perform a showcase for directors, agents, and casting experts. Auditions for the 2016 STAR Cabaret will take place during the STAR Intensive NKU program.

When: July 5 – July 31, 2016, weekdays 10 AM to 4 PM at Northern Kentucky University

Tuition: $600

Security deposit of $150 due upon acceptance into the program. Payment plans and scholarships are available.

ABOUT STAR CAMP RED BANK:

STAR Camp Red Bank (formerly known as stARTs) is our program for gifted and talented students who are advanced in some areas of musical theatre and who have progressed beyond the basic levels of training. For three weeks in June, a select number of students will work with leading professionals in the theater business to help them improve and become well-rounded performers in all areas of musical theatre. Classes will take place over the course of three weeks (Monday-Friday) from 9:30 AM to 4 PM. At the end of the third week there will be a culminating showcase for family members.

When: June 6-24, 2016, weekdays 9:30 AM to 4 PM at The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati’s new facility, 4015 Red Bank Road, Cincinnati, OH 45227

Tuition: $500

Security deposit of $50 due upon acceptance into the program. Payment plans and scholarships are available.

Leave a comment

Filed under Auditions, Family-Friendly