Monthly Archives: October 2016

October 13, 2016 · 7:02 am

The Second City’s HOLIDAZED & CONFUSED REVUE Unwraps a Hilarious Antidote to Holiday Stress at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Nov. 5-Dec. 31, 2016

pip_dazed-and-confused-promo1(CINCINNATI) – With the holidays just around the corner, the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park has the perfect antidote to seasonal stress: THE SECOND CITY’S HOLIDAZED & CONFUSED REVUE, which offers riotous send-ups of holiday traditions from Nov. 5 through Dec. 31.

Chicago’s most famous entertainment export returns after a four-year absence, having twice brought its world-famous sketch and improvisational comedy to the Playhouse with smash-hit productions in 2010 and 2012, The Second City Does Cincinnati: Pride and Porkopolis and The Second City 2: Less Pride … More Pork.

A sold-out tradition in the Windy City, THE SECOND CITY’S HOLIDAZED & CONFUSED REVUE rolls in with a blast of holidazed laughter to blow away the emotionally-charged chaos of Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and everything in between.

“The holidays are ripe for mocking because of the high anxiety of the season that is just compounded by the close proximity to family, the insanely high expectations and wondering which uncle is going to have just enough eggnog to share those unpopular political beliefs,” notes Nate DuFort, producing director of The Second City’s touring companies. “Making light of these things can be a release for performers and audiences alike, and we try not to leave any holiday or tradition off the table.”

The Second City opened its Chicago doors on a snowy December night in 1959 and has been brandishing a distinctly brash brand of comedy upon the world ever since. The world’s premier comedy club, theatre and school of improvisation has helped shape several generations of comedy stars, from John Belushi, Gilda Radner and Martin Short to Steve Carell, Tina Fey and Stephen Colbert.

Part of the fun of seeing a Second City production is the possibility that among the young, exuberant cast members is lurking the next breakout comedy star — and, with the improvisational nature of the show, audiences may well play a part in honing that talent.

Andel Sudik, who is directing THE SECOND CITY’S HOLIDAZED & CONFUSED REVUE, was a cast member in the Playhouse’s production of The Second City Does Cincinnati: Pride and Porkopolis.

“I love performing,” says Sudik. “I love the audience applause and laughter and feeling like I’m allowing people to leave behind their lives for a bit and share an experience. As a director I get to do those same things and, ideally, also give my actors a chance to unlock parts of themselves in the process. I love the challenge and I think my experience as an actor helps me understand what a vulnerable process it is to create comedy and survive in our business.

“I love directing sketch comedy and improvisation,” Sudik continues, “because it’s like a puzzle in which the pieces keep morphing as you put them down, and eventually you’ve helped foster creativity and created something entirely different from what you set out to do.”

The cast of THE SECOND CITY’S HOLIDAZED & CONFUSED REVUE includes Tyler Davis, Katie Kershaw, Charles Pettitt, Emma Pope, Amy Thompson and Nate Varrone.

In addition to Sudik, the creative team of THE SECOND CITY’S HOLIDAZED & CONFUSED REVUE features Brian Heveron-Smith (music director) and Mark C. Williams (lighting designer). Fernando Alvarez and Jenifer Morrow are the stage managers.

THE SECOND CITY’S HOLIDAZED & CONFUSED REVUE is sponsored by The Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile, Jr./U.S. Bank Foundation.

The Playhouse will offer the chance to learn improvisation basics from members of The Second City in a two-hour Improv for Beginners workshop at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 19. The class will focus on teaching the building blocks of improvisation to adults with little to no experience as they learn and play with the troupe’s touring company members. The cost of the workshop is $50 per person. Space is limited, so reserve your spot now through the Playhouse Box Office at 513-421-3888.

Tickets for THE SECOND CITY’S HOLIDAZED & CONFUSED REVUE start at $35 for previews and $40 for regular performances. Prices are subject to change, and patrons are encouraged to buy early for the best seats at the best prices. The show is appropriate for adult and older teenage audiences.

Tickets to 7 p.m. Sunday College Night performances are priced at just $10 for college students with a valid school ID. Student tickets are just $15 on the day of the show for all other performances.

Discounted ticket prices for teens and students are always available for $30 and $45, depending on seat location.

Previews for THE SECOND CITY’S HOLIDAZED & CONFUSED REVUE are at 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5; 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 6; 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 8; and 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 9. The official opening night is Thursday, Nov. 10, at 7:30 p.m.

Performances take place at 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays; 8 p.m. Fridays; 4 and 8 p.m. Saturdays; and 2 and 7 p.m. Sundays.

Free Meet the Artists programs that allow audiences to interact with the cast and others associated with THE SECOND CITY’S HOLIDAZED & CONFUSED REVUE will be held after the following performances:
2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 13; 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 20; 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 23; and 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 8.

Tickets to THE SECOND CITY’S HOLIDAZED & CONFUSED REVUE are on sale now. For more information, call the Playhouse Box Office at 513-421-3888 (toll-free in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana at 800-582-3208) or visit www.cincyplay.com.  Call 513-345-2248 for Telecommunications Device for the Deaf accessibility.

The Playhouse is fully accessible. Audio enhancement receivers, large print programs and complete wheelchair access are available.

The 2016-17 Thompson Shelterhouse Theatre season is presented by Heidelberg Distributing Co., and the Thompson Shelterhouse Theatre season design sponsor is the Allan Berliant and Jennie Rosenthal Berliant Family Fund. The season sponsor of new work is the Lois and Richard Rosenthal Foundation.

The Playhouse is supported by the generosity of more than 40,000 contributors to the ArtsWave Community 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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October 13, 2016 · 7:01 am

NO, NO, NANETTE! Runs Oct. 27-Nov. 13

wsu_no-no-nanetteNO, NO, NANETTE!
Wright State University
Oct. 27-Nov. 13
Festival Playhouse [Dayton]

NO, NO, NANETTE is a lighthearted romp showcasing the charming music of Vincent Youmans. The wacky story involves three couples sharing a cottage in Atlantic City in the midst of a blackmail scheme, with plenty of deception, romantic mishaps, and comical misunderstandings. The score includes two of the best-known songs in musical theatre – “Tea for Two” and “I Want to Be Happy” – as well as “I’ve Confessed To The Breeze,” “You Can Dance With Any Girl” and “Take a Little One-Step.”

  • Thu, Oct. 27 at 7pm
  • Fri-Sat, Oct. 28-29 at 8pm
  • Sun, Oct. 30 at 2pm
  • Wed-Thu, Nov. 2-3 at 7pm
  • Fri, Nov. 4 at 8pm
  • Sat, Nov. 5 at 2pm & 8pm
  • Sun, Nov. 6 at 2pm
  • Thu, Nov. 10 at 7 pm
  • Fri, Nov. 11 at 8pm
  • Sat, Nov. 12 at 2pm & 8pm
  • Sun, Nov. 13 at 2pm

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October 13, 2016 · 6:58 am

Shakespeare Theatre Association Presents ’38 Reasons to Love Shakespeare’

sta_logoBeginning on October 3, the Shakespeare Theatre Association (STA) will release videos made exclusively for an international campaign entitled 38 Reasons to Love Shakespeare. The videos are part of a year-long celebration of the world’s most beloved playwright, marking the 400th anniversary of William Shakespeare’s passing and the start of a legacy that reaches across cultures and creeds throughout our civilization.

This year has seen countless thousands of events mounted around the world by individuals, theaters, libraries, museums, schools, and more. STA, whose members represent 43 American states and 13 countries, is thrilled to be playing a key part in this global celebration. STA’s Legacy 400 is coordinating and promoting events at more than 100 member theatres throughout the year, providing the public with exciting ways to explore Shakespeare’s relevance in the world today.

In January, STA launched www.weareshakespeare.com, an online hub for quadricentennial events. It includes a video gallery called We Are Shakespeare, which features videos of testimonials, performances, and other tributes, including on-the-spot quoting of famous lines, animations, and creative parodies of the plays. In 38 Reasons to Love Shakespeare, a special component of this festival, member theaters use Shakespeare’s own words to express why they love his plays. “Each Shakespeare-producing company was tasked with choosing a specific line from one of the 38 plays that best represents a reason why they prefer his works. They came up with varied but important reasons that illustrate how their company approaches Shakespeare,” says Legacy 400 Co-Chair Kristin Clippard.Theaters from Argentina, Canada, Germany, and all over the United States have participated in 38 Reasons. Their videos will be posted on Facebook and Twitter in the coming weeks, and will be screenedat the 2017 STA conference, hosted by the Chesapeake Shakespeare Company in Baltimore, MD, in January.

Hosted by the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, IN, the ambitious We Are Shakespeare project aims to archive these and other videos devoted to Shakespeare made in 2016. Individuals and companies are encouraged to add to the gallery. Participation is free and open to all, with submissions being accepted all year long. For details on how to submit videos, which can be shot on smartphone, computer or other digital recording device, go to: www.weareshakespeare.com.

The Shakespeare Theatre Association (STA) is an international organization of Shakespeare festivals and theatres. STA provides a forum for the artistic, managerial, and educational leadership for theatres primarily involved with the production of the works of William Shakespeare; to discuss issues and methods of work, resources, and information; and to act as an advocate for Shakespearean productions and training. For updated information about the Legacy 400 initiatives, visit www.STAhome.org and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @BardSTA.

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October 13, 2016 · 6:57 am

MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM Runs Oct. 25-30

nku_ma-raineys-black-bottom-logoMA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM
Northern Kentucky University
Oct. 25-30
NKU Stauss Theatre [Highland Heights]

Chicago, 1927. In a recording studio on the city’s South Side, a battle of wills is raging. Ma Rainey, Mother of the Blues, uses every trick in the book to fight her record producers for control of her music. Hardened by years of ill-treatment and bad deals, she’s determined that ‘Black Bottom’, the song that bears her name, will be recorded her way. But Levee, the band’s swaggering young trumpet player, plans to catapult the band into the jazz age. His ambition puts them all in danger.

Inspired by the real-life Blues legend and infused with her music, August Wilson’s play speaks powerfully of a struggle for self-determination against overwhelming odds.

  • Tue-Sat, Oct. 25-29 at 8pm
  • Sun, Oct. 30 at 3pm

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October 12, 2016 · 7:22 am

MamLuft&Co. Dance Announces its 10th Anniversary Season and Opens with ‘5 of 10,’ November 9-12 at the Clifton Cultural Arts Center

mlc_ensemble

CINCINNATI, OHIO —  Cincinnati’s Modern Dance company MamLuft&Co. Dance announces an exciting and packed 10th Anniversary Season. ML&Co.’s 2016-2017 season includes two home performances reprising works from the past ten years, residencies at area universities, as well as numerous educational programs for the public.

MamLuft&Co. Dance has been a consistent and positive presence in the community since its founding in 2007.

The non-profit arts organization has worked to bring more arts experiences to Cincinnati (and beyond), focusing primarily on a form of lesser-known form of dance called Modern Dance. MamLuft&Co. Dance has served over 380 different zip codes (including 50 of Cincinnati’s 71), provided some form of aid to make dance education more affordable to roughly 67% of its students, created 14 new evening-length works and performed 33 different short works, created 2 dance films as well as 6 multi-media live works, and won 3 awards along the way from three different entities.
In its 10th anniversary season, 2016-2017, MamLuft&Co. Dance continues to serve the area through a number of programs throughout the year.

The Modern Dance company will offer two full evenings of repertory from its past ten years: first, November 9-12, 2016 in 5 of 10 at the Clifton Cultural Arts Center, and second, in Homecoming at the Aronoff Center for the Arts on May 5 and 6, 2017.

The company’s professional artists will also be seen in the Northern Kentucky University Dance ‘17 concert from March 31 – April 2, 2017, which will also feature NKU students dancing an ML&Co. work in conclusion of a year-long residency. (MamLuft&Co. Dance has also already conducted a residency at Kent State, whose students will be performing an ML&Co. work throughout the year.)

MamLuft&Co. Dance also offers a slew of programs for adults, teens, and children through its education and outreach program.

Classes include not only the company’s specialty, Modern Dance, but also Jazz Dance, Ballet, Musical Theatre, Tap Dance, and Kids Bop.

A full calendar of all these events and classes, including its highly popular summer programs, can be found at MLCo.org.

Coming up most quickly is MamLuft&Co. Dance’s 5 of 10 concert, which will take place Wednesday through Saturday, November 9-12 at the Clifton Cultural Arts Center.

The evening features five of the company’s favorites from 2007-2017 and will be performed in an intimate space that will feature a split-audience facing each other in halves. Audiences will see dance differently in this stimulating concert filled with a variety of powerful Modern Dance.

5 of 10 features the work of five area choreographers from across the country (from California to Massachusetts). The dance pieces are full of variety, excitement, and a range of captivating moments, from luscious to aggressive. The concert venue is so intriguing and unique as an intimate experience that in January 2016, when MamLuft&Co. Dance first converted the Clifton Cultural Arts Center into a dance performance space, that performance was sold out. The two co-producers, ML&Co. and CCAC, expect this concert to sell-out again.

In addition to its content and unusual set-up, 5 of 10 has three other special features.

First, the audience will be voting on an “audience pick” to be seen again in MamLuft&Co. Dance’s performance at the Aronoff Center in May.

Second, audiences are invited to attend a free post-show reception with drinks and light bites after Thursday evening’s concert. Third, audiences of Friday night’s performance are invited to a free question-and-answer talk-back session with ML&Co.’s talented dancers.

5 of 10 includes a carefully curated selection of pieces from the company’s past.

“Yesterday’s Wedding” (pictured above), which first premiered in 2008 (the company’s first season), has been reconfigured  by Jeanne Mam-Luft (founder and director). “Yesterday’s Wedding” is a sometimes-overlapping collection of portraits of six women who are reflecting on their relationships, the results of which turn out to include unexpected feelings such as unshakeable loneliness and sometimes mania.

“Intermittent Restraint” by Amy Querin of Fresno Dance Collective in California will make a reappearance since its premiere on ML&Co. in 2011: in this hard-hitting quartet, each performer’s “flight” is bound by being physically restrained to another with bungee cords. The effect and the dancers’ athleticism are fascinating.

From Betsy Miller of Salem, Massachusetts, dancer and Assistant Company Director, Susan Honer will perform a beautifully articulate solo entitled “Night Passage,” a journey that propels, drops, pulls, and floats through the night.

Honer herself also has a work in the show: “overthROW,” a section from the company’s evening-length work entitled Pieces (2012), which depicts a rumble within a fractured group.

Lastly, the company will reprise a company and audience favorite, “Under” by Sarah Gamblin of Denton, Texas: “Under” is a trio of short works, each a different expression of passion told through agile bodies and powerful vocals in the music.

Tickets to 5 of 10 are expected to sell-out, as did the concert’s equivalent from the previous year; the public is encouraged to book tickets early.

Audiences can take advantage of cheaper tickets for Wednesday and Thursday (November 9 and 10), in addition to 15% off all tickets purchased before November 1.

Tickets are available online at MLCo.org, by phone at (513) 497-2860, or in person at the Clifton Cultural Arts Center (3711 Clifton Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45220).

MamLuft&Co. Dance’s 10th Anniversary Season is made possible in part by small gifts from individual donors, the generosity of more than 40,000 contributors to the ArtsWave Community Campaign, and the Ohio Arts Council, who helps to fund this organization with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans. The Summerfair Foundation and individual donations provided funding for the purchase of the dance flooring to be used in 5 of 10. 

More information about MamLuft&Co. Dance’s 10th Anniversary Season is available at MLCo.org.

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