Monthly Archives: June 2016

CCM Announces 2016-17 Mainstage Series

of Acting, Dance, musical theatre and opera 

UC’s College-Conservatory of Music presents eight great works celebrating passion, courage and romance as part of an incredible 2016-17 performance season.

CCM_logoCINCINNATI, OH—The University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) is pleased to announce details for its 2016-17 Mainstage Series of acting, dance, musical theatre and opera productions. Between Sept. 29, 2016 and April 15, 2017, CCM’s stars-of-tomorrow and world-class faculty and staff members will present eight diverse masterworks, which span the spectrum of the theatre arts.

Dubbed “a season of passion, courage and romance,” CCM’s 2016-17 Mainstage Series will bring new interpretations of popular classics in the fall with a retelling William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, a revival of the nine-time Tony Award-winning musical A Chorus Line, a flirty and fun-filled production of the fairytale opera Cendrillon and a mixed repertoire dance concert featuring Classics with a Twist.

 In the spring, CCM will also present the Mainstage Series debuts of stirring drama Her Naked Skin, powerful musical Mack and Mabel and epic opera Idomeneo, along with the Dance Department’s celebration of Masterworks and Beyond.

Production and ticketing details are listed below. Single tickets go on sale beginning Aug. 29, 2016, but subscribing is the best way to guarantee your seats for these must-see shows! Fully customizable renewal subscriptions are on sale now with priority seating before July 15, 2016. Subscription packages for new subscribers will go on sale July 18, 2016.

Additional Information

Titles and dates are subject to change – rights pending. To order subscriptions, contact the CCM Box Office at 513-556-4183.

For a complete calendar of events, please visit us online at ccm.uc.edu.

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CCM 2016-17 MAINSTAGE SERIES
Acting, Dance, Musical Theatre, Opera

ROMEO AND JULIET
Written by William Shakespeare
Brant Russell, director

“For never was a story of more woe than this of Juliet and her Romeo.” William Shakespeare’s legendary tale of young love and bitter hatred returns to the CCM stage like you’ve never seen it before. Witness the deadly feud between the Montagues and Capulets in this subversive retelling of the Bard’s iconic story. It’s a comedy ­— until it’s not.

Performance Dates: Sept. 28 (preview), Sept. 29–Oct. 2, 2016
Location: Patricia Corbett Theater
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A CHORUS LINE
Conceived and originally directed and choreographed by Michael Bennett
Book by James Kirkwood Jr. and Nicholas Dante
Music by Marvin Hamlisch
Lyrics by Edward Kleban
Diane Lala, director and choreographer
Roger Grodsky, musical director

A nine-time Tony Award-winner, and one of the longest running productions in Broadway history, A Chorus Line tells a strikingly honest tale about the backstage world of musical theatre as 17 dancers vie to make the final cut for the latest smash hit. As the auditions proceed, the diverse backgrounds and motivations of the hopefuls come to the fore, revealing stories that run the gamut of human experience and emotion as they all compete with and learn about one another. It is a process that will change them all forever… for better or worse. A Pulitzer Prize-winning fusion of dance, song and drama, A Chorus Line is a powerful metaphor for all human aspiration.

Performance Dates: Oct. 20–30, 2016
Location: Patricia Corbett Theater
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CENDRILLON (CINDERELLA)
Composed by Jules Massenet
Libretto by Henri Caïn
Mark Gibson, conductor
Robin Guarino, director

One of the world’s most beloved fairy tales comes to the CCM stage in a new modernist production! Despite being under the thumb of her evil stepmother, a poor girl wishes for her dream to come true. Enter her fairy godmother, who provides a ticket to the ball! The poor girl meets Prince Charming and they fall in love. When the clock strikes 12, though, she vanishes… leaving only a single shoe behind. Jules Massenet’s elegant score brings wit and charm to this timeless romance based on Charles Perrault’s telling of the Cinderella fairy tale. This production is sung in French with English supertitles.

Performance Dates: Nov. 17 – 20, 2016
Location: Corbett Auditorium
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CLASSICS WITH A TWIST
CCM Ballet Ensemble
Jiang Qi and Andre Megerdichian, co-directors

CCM’s Department of Dance opens its performance season with a concert of mixed repertoire featuring alumnus James Cunningham of the Cincinnati Ballet, who will choreograph a new work La Nymph with music by Youngwon French. Highlights also include a performance of Schubert’s Winterreise with choreography by Dance Department Chair Jiang Qi and accompaniment by CCM students Yijia Fang, cello and Xinyuan Li, piano. In addition, the graceful performers from CCM Dance will mount a staging of Glazunov’s Scénes de Ballet with choreography by Associate Professor Michael Tevlin, and Assistant Professor Andre Megerdichian will choreograph a collage of dance scenes spanning diverse genres.

Performance Dates: Dec. 1–4, 2016
Location: Patricia Corbett Theater
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HER NAKED SKIN
Written by Rebecca Lenkiewicz
Richard Hess, director

London 1913. Women are demanding the right to vote. Thousands of suffragettes of all classes serve time in Holloway Prison in their determination to gain equality through the vote. Their willingness to suffer for social injustice serves as the backdrop for an unlikely love story set in a period of turmoil. Described by the Independent as “a great drama about women, by a woman,” Her Naked Skin premiered to great acclaim at London’s National Theatre in 2008. By exploring the hunger for political and personal emancipation, this play plants a defiant feminist flag center stage. This production contains adult themes and is not recommend for young audiences.

Performance Dates: Feb. 8 (preview), Feb. 9–12, 2017
Location: Patricia Corbett Theater
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MACK AND MABEL
Based on an idea by Leonard Spigelglass
Book by Michael Stewart
Music and lyrics by Jerry Herman
Aubrey Berg, director
William Evan Roider, musical director
Patti James, choreographer

Set against the madcap world of Keystone Kops, Bathing Beauties and pies-in-the-face, the tumultuous relationship between workaholic film director Mack Sennett and his silent-screen star Mabel Normand was the stuff of Hollywood legend. With a memorable score by Broadway master Jerry Herman (Hello, Dolly!, Mame, La Cage aux Folles) Mack and Mabel is a star-crossed, bittersweet love story that explores both the lighter and the darker side of the Golden Age of Comedy. Nominated for eight Tony Awards, Mack and Mabel was praised by the New York Times as “a musical in the old and true tradition.”

Performance Dates: March 2–5, 2017
Location: Corbett Auditorium
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IDOMENEO
Composed by W.A. Mozart
Libretto by Giovanni Battista Varesco (after Antoine Danchet)
Aik Khai Pung, conductor
Marcus Shields, director

Set in the aftermath of the Trojan War, Mozart’s opera seria weaves a tale of gods and monsters, unrequited love and selfless heroism. During his perilous journey back to Greece after years at war, King Idomeneo pledges to sacrifice the first mortal he finds to Neptune in exchange for a safe journey home. When that mortal turns out to be his son Idamante, Idomeneo struggles to find another way to appease the gods, which creates dire repercussions for the people of Crete. Completed in 1780 when the composer was only 24 years old, Idomeneo is widely considered the first of Mozart’s great operas and remains a favorite of opera houses around the world. This production is sung in Italian with English supertitles.

Performance Dates: March 30–April 2, 2017
Location: Patricia Corbett Theater
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MASTERWORKS AND BEYOND
Jiang Qi and Deirdre Carberry, co-directors

Celebrate spring’s arrival with the CCM Ballet Ensemble as they present a mixed bill of pieces choreographed and staged by CCM’s own illustrious faculty. This program features new work by Alabama Ballet associate director and guest choreographer Roger Van Fleteren, along with new works by faculty members Jiang Qi, Deirdre Carberry and Michael Tevlin.

Performance Dates: April 13–15, 2017
Location: Patricia Corbett Theater
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Mainstage Series Subscriptions

The 2016-17 CCM Mainstage Series of acting, dance, musical theatre and opera productions includes subscription packages for six-or-more show, four-show and three-show combinations.

Renewal subscription packages are on sale now. CCM’s fully customizable subscription packages range in price from $69 – $188. Subscribers to CCM’s 2015-16 Mainstage Series can receive priority access to seating by renewing their subscriptions by Friday, July 15, 2016.

New subscriptions go on sale July 18, 2016. Single tickets will be available for purchase beginning Monday, Aug. 29, 2016.

To order subscriptions, contact the CCM Box Office at 513-556-4183.

Concert Series Options

As the largest single source of performing arts events in Ohio, CCM also offers world-class chamber music, choral, jazz, orchestra, percussion, piano and wind ensemble concerts each season. CCM’s Mainstage subscribers receive priority access to Ariel Quartet subscription packages, CCM Concert Series flex ticket packages, prepaid parking and other exclusive perks.

Full programming and package details for CCM’s 2016-17 Ariel Quartet Series and Concert Series will be announced in July. Visit ccm.uc.edu for more information.

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CCM Season Presenting Sponsor and Musical Theatre Program Sponsor: The Otto M. Budig Family Foundation 

Mainstage Season Production Sponsor: Macy’s 

Community Partner: ArtsWave

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University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music

2016-17 MAINSTAGE SERIES OF ACTING, DANCE, MUSICAL THEATRE, OPERA

 

ROMEO AND JULIET

Performance Times:

  • 8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 28 (preview)
  • 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 29
  • 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 30
  • 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1
  •  p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1
  • 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 2

Location: Patricia Corbett Theater

A CHORUS LINE

Performance Times:

  • 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 20
  • 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 21
  • 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22
  • 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22
  • 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 23
  • 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 23
  • 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 26
  • 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 27
  • 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 28
  • 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29
  • 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29
  • 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 30

Location: Patricia Corbett Theater

CENDRILLON (CINDERELLA)

Performance Times:

  • 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 17
  • 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 19
  • 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 20

Location: Corbett Auditorium

CLASSICS WITH A TWIST

Performance Times:

  • 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 1
  • 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2
  • 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3
  • 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 4

Location: Patricia Corbett Theater

HER NAKED SKIN

Performance Times:

  • 8 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 8 (preview)
  • 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 9
  • 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 10
  • 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 11
  • 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 11
  • 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 12

Location: Patricia Corbett Theater

MACK AND MABEL

Performance Times:

  • 8 p.m. Thursday, March 2
  • 8 p.m. Friday, March 3
  • 2 p.m. Saturday, March 4
  • 8 p.m. Saturday, March 4
  • 2 p.m. Sunday, March 5

Location: Corbett Auditorium

IDOMENEO

Performance Times:

  • 8 p.m. Thursday, March 30
  • 8 p.m. Friday, March 31
  • 8 p.m. Saturday, April 1
  • 2 p.m. Sunday, April 2

Location: Patricia Corbett Theater

MASTERWORKS AND BEYOND

Performance Times:

  • 8 p.m. Thursday, April 13
  • 8 p.m. Friday, April 14
  • 2 p.m. Saturday, April 15
  • 8 p.m. Saturday, April 15

Location: Patricia Corbett Theater

 

2016-17 Subscription Prices:

  • 6 or more subscription packages start at $120
  • 4-show subscription packages start at $88
  • 3- show subscription packages start at $69

2016-17 Single Ticket Prices:

  • Opera and Musical Theatre tickets range from $31 – $35 general, $22 – $25 non-UC students
  • Acting and Dance tickets range from $27 – $31 general, $17 – $20 non-UC students

 A preeminent institution for the performing and media arts, the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) is the largest single source of performing arts presentations in the state of Ohio.

Titles and dates are subject to change. For a complete calendar of events,

please visit us online at http://ccm.uc.edu.

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My Fringe Schedule: Day 10

FINALLY seeing these two local shows tonight:

CFF_FurlesqueFURLESQUE
Autumn Kaleidoscope
Cincinnati, OH

Directed by Sean P. Mette

Cast: Mike Hall as Jackson Hawkins, Audrey MacNeil as Nancy Hawkins, Lauren Carr as Beatrix “Trixxy” Dinkley, Zach Robinson as Bernard Jones & Eileen Earnest as Chanticleer Owens

Jackson Hawkins is the owner of the Scratch & Sniff. Nancy Hawkins is his niece. She so desperately wants to be part of the show, but he won’t let her. Why is he squashing her dreams? Why won’t he let her dance? Is that a real bear roaming around the stage? Furlesque answers these questions (and creates quite a few more) in this coming of age story set inside a burlesque club for furries!

CFF_Ice CandleICE CANDLE
Pack of Others
Cincinnati, OH

Written & performed by Erika MacDonald

When Erika MacDonald was 18 she did NOT spend a year in Indonesia – but she came close, before being evacuated. Can she ever truly explain what happened? A live “un-documentary” solo show about a strange girl in a strange land. Winner of the Critic’s Choice Award for “Best Female Performance” at Orlando Fringe

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Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park Celebrates 2015-2016 Season Highlights, Announces New Branding

PIP_logo(CINCINNATI) — Today the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park announced that it will cap its 2015-16 season with the launch of a vibrant new logo and brand identity. The new look is the most significant change to the Tony Award-winning theatre’s visual identity in 25 years.

“While our mission remains the same, now more than ever we need an identity that reflects the entire Playhouse experience and supports the full range, depth and quality of the programming we offer,” says Playhouse Artistic Director Blake Robison. “We’re excited to unveil a fresh, contemporary look that paves the way for the Playhouse of the future.”

The announcement comes in the closing week of what has been a very successful 56th season for the Playhouse. Highlights include:

  • Over the past two seasons, Playhouse main stage attendance has increased by 11 percent and single and group ticket sales increased by 30 percent compared to the previous two seasons.
  • The Playhouse’s production of TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD played to 95 percent capacity and sold the highest number of single and group tickets in 26 seasons and the third highest of the past 40 seasons (not including A CHRISTMAS CAROL).
  • The Playhouse produced two world premieres by prominent female playwrights, NATIVE GARDENS by Karen Zacarías and THE REVOLUTIONISTS by Lauren Gunderson. NATIVE GARDENS, which was commissioned by the Playhouse, has garnered upcoming productions at Chicago’s Victory Gardens Theater and the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis. THE REVOLUTIONISTS had a subsequent production at 7 Stages in Atlanta.
  • Since Robison’s first season in 2012-13, multigenerational programming has attracted more families and young people to Playhouse main stage productions. During 2015-16, 11,513 main stage youth tickets have been sold to date — the highest total in more than 20 seasons.
  • The Playhouse’s 25th anniversary production of A CHRISTMAS CAROL, presented by U.S. Bank, played to the highest total attendance of the past 15 seasons.

As the Playhouse moves into its 2016-17 season, the fifth under Robison, the theatre will roll out its new look. It is the product of months of work with LPK, a highly regarded global brand design agency based in Cincinnati. LPK’s insights were blended with input gathered through interviews with Playhouse board members, subscribers, single ticket buyers and others to understand what the Playhouse means to them and to our region overall.

The new logo is comprised of crafted layers that build off of one another. The layers include the use of varying type styles above and below an implied stage line that runs directly through the middle of the logo. The stage line showcases the diversity of Playhouse offerings, the connection between actors and audiences and the contributing elements both onstage and off that add up to create the entire Playhouse experience. Additional graphic elements that complement the logo serve as abstract representations of a theatre, park and cityscape, three fundamental factors critical to the Playhouse’s success.

The Playhouse season is presented by The Otto M. Budig Family Foundation and Heidelberg Distributing Company. The season sponsor of new work is The Lois and Richard Rosenthal Foundation.

The Playhouse is supported by the generosity of the community contributors to the ArtsWave campaign.

The Ohio Arts Council helps fund the Playhouse with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans.

The Playhouse also receives funding from the Shubert Foundation.

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My Fringe Schedule: Day 9

I hit the Fringe Wall but I’m still pushing forward. Two shows tonight:

CFF_The Fainting Room promo

Becca Bernard. Photo by Kirk Marsh.

THE FAINTING ROOM
Kiss of Whimsey
Brooklyn, NY

Treat yourself to an explosive release of physical comedy, music, and candid confession by entering TTHE FAINTING ROOM. This raucous show explores the ideas behind the historical phenomenon of “female hysteria,” celebrating self love and vibrators and rejecting the idea that it is better to be unhappy with someone or something that doesn’t fit than to be alone.

CFF_Cosmic Nomad logoCOSMIC NOMAD
Josh Richards
Melbourne, Austrailia

Comedian, physicist, and general troublemaker Josh Richards knows his days are numbered: short-listed from over 200,000 applicants for the first human mission to Mars in 2026, and launching without any hope of ever returning, it’s increasingly likely he’ll die on the red planet.

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Auditions Announced for BILLY ELLIOT at Cincinnati Music Theatre

CMTCincinnati Music Theatre proudly announces auditions for BILLY ELLIOT, THE MUSICAL

Sunday, Monday and Tuesday June 26, 27 and 28, 2015
7:00 p.m.

Clifton United Methodist Church
3416 Clifton Avenue, Cincinnati

AUDITIONS ARE BY APPOINTMENT

Please reserve your time as soon as possible by emailing Catherine Shultz at cfshultzy@gmail.com or leaving a message at 513-314-5941. Please include your contact information, including both your phone number and email address and two choices for your audition time.

Walk-ins are welcome and will be seen in the next available slot.

PLEASE PREPARE & PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING FOR YOUR AUDITION:

  • Shoes and clothing appropriate for a dance audition;
  • 16-32 bars of a Broadway-style song that showcases your 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.

Callbacks are June 29, 7-10 pm

Rehearsals will begin in late August. Performances are November 4-12, 2016 at the Jarson-Kaplan  Theatre of the Aronoff Center.

BILLY ELLIOT, THE MUSICAL is directed by Skip Fenker, produced by Kathy Beiting, with music direction by Kendra Struthers and Todd Florin.

For a complete cast breakdown, including vocal ranges, please visit www.cincinnatimusictheatre.org

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