Monthly Archives: January 2017

January 8, 2017 · 7:24 am

Cincinnati Shakespeare’s Game of Thrones Spirals to its Thrilling Climax with HENRY VI: The War of the Roses, Part 2 and RICHARD III

Brian Isaac Phillips directs the final installments in CSC’s 5-year, 8-play history cycle

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Darnell Pierre Benjamin as King Henry VI & Kelly Mengelkoch as Queen Margaret in HENRY VI: THE WAR OF THE ROSES, Part 2. Photo by Mikki Schaffner Photography.

CINCINNATI, Jan. 5, 2017— Cincinnati Shakespeare Company continues its season and concludes its multi-year history cycle with Henry VI: The Wars of the Roses, Part 2 and Richard III, by William Shakespeare.  This production is directed by CSC Producing Artistic Director, Brian Isaac Phillips.  This production features Cincinnati Shakespeare’s Resident Ensemble members including Darnell Pierre Benjamin at King Henry VI, Kelly Mengelkoch as Queen Margaret, and Billy Chace as King Richard III.  The History Cycle sponsor is Osborn, Rohs, Williams & Donohoe, LLC.

With these productions, Cincinnati Shakespeare Company becomes the second theater company in the United States to complete Shakespeare’s entire history cycle in chronological order. The cycle began in 2013 with Richard II and continued through 2014’s Henry IV, 2015’s Henry V, and 2016’s Henry VI: The Wars of the Roses, Part 1.

In Henry VI: The Wars of the Roses, Part 2, sides have been chosen and loyalties of family and friendship are tested as the Wars of the Roses blaze through England. The ambitious Duke of York (Giles Davies) has challenged the rule of the kindly but weak Henry VI (Darnell Pierre Benjamin) and his ruthless queen, Margaret (Kelly Mengelkoch). Amidst this tumult of battle and chaos, Richard (Billy Chace), the hunchbacked and hideous Duke of Gloucester, sets his eyes on kingship and begins his slow but inexorable rise to power. His story continues in Richard III, in which Richard’s murderous manipulations finally place him on the throne, only to find his tyrannical rule opposed by the fledgling Tudor dynasty.

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Billy Chace as RICHARD III. Photo by Mikki Schaffner Photography.

“Richard III is one of Shakespeare’s best-loved histories, and so many people know Richard as the evil hunchbacked king. Henry VI is performed less often, and so our production gives our audiences an exciting chance to get to know Richard as a young man, and to watch his progression through all the experiences that put him where he is at the start of Richard III,” says Brian Isaac Phillips, CSC’s Producing Artistic Director.

Henry VI: The Wars of the Roses, Part 2 runs January 20-February 11, with performances on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 7:30 PM and Sunday at 2:00 PM as well as Saturday Feb. 11 at 2:00 PM. There is no performance on Sunday, Jan. 22. Preview performances are Wednesday Jan. 18 and Thursday Jan. 19 and tickets are $25. Richard III runs February 17-March 11, with performances on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 7:30 PM and Sunday at 2:00 PM as well as Saturday March 11 at 2:00 PM. There is no performance on Sunday, Feb. 19. Preview performances are Wednesday Feb. 15 and Thursday Feb. 16.

The theater is currently located at 719 Race Street, downtown Cincinnati, two blocks west of the Aronoff Center.  Single ticket prices range from $22-$38 on Thursdays and Sundays and from $26-$42 on Fridays and Saturdays.  Previews are $25.  If available, $14 student rush tickets may be purchased one hour 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 http://www.cincyshakes.com.

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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.  Currently located in the heart of downtown Cincinnati, CSC produces a dozen mainstage productions each season. In the summer of 2017, the theater will relocate to the Otto M. Budig Theater, a brand new facility in OTR. CSC’s 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 over 50,000 young people and underserved community members each season by taking Shakespeare into schools, parks, community centers and by hosting educational matinees of mainstage productions.  In 2015, 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 2016-2017 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 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.

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January 5, 2017 · 8:38 pm

A GENTLEMEN’S GUIDE TO LOVE AND MURDER Review

A GENTLEMEN’S GUIDE TO LOVE AND MURDER presented Broadway in Cincinnati through Jan. 8. Click here for more information on the production. I attended the opening night performance.

Broadway in Cincinnati kicks off 2017 by welcoming A GENTLEMEN’S GUIDE TO LOVE AND MURDER, winner of four 2014 Tony Awards including Best Musical and Best Book of a Musical.

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John Rapson as Henry D’Ysquith, Megan Loomis & Kevin Massey as Monty Navarro. Photo credit: Joan Marcus.

Leading the strong cast is John Papson in the multiple, quick-changing roles of the D’Ysquith Family. Papson does well in giving each character their own distinct, bigger-than-life personality and generates laugh after laugh. As Lord Adalbert, he does meet his scene-chewing equal in Lady Eugenia played by Kristen Mengelkoch. Opening night, I struggled to understand Papson in several numbers due to a combination of his character’s accent, plus the volume of the ensemble and orchestra.

Kevin Massey is fun as Monty Navarro, whose confidence increases with every loss in his newly discovered family. Massey has a great singing voice and handles the physical comedy well. I wouldn’t mind him being a bit bigger and more frantic when appropriate throughout the show.

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Kristen Beth Williams as Sibella Hallward, Kevin Massey as Monty Navarro & Kristen Hahn as Phoebe D’Ysquith. Photo credit: Joan Marcus.

The number “I’ve Decided to Marry You,” where Monty struggles to keep the two women in his life apart (Kristen Beth Williams as Sibella Hallward & Kristen Hahn as Phoebe D’Ysquith) was a personal favorite.

The centerpiece of the set is a raised proscenium stage complete with its own curtain. The piece itself only takes up about 1/3 of the P&G Hall stage, with increasingly larger “punch-outs” of the set reaching to the wings. A rear projection screen is smartly used to create the various locales and provide a bit real-life movement in the “outside” world. Even better, the screen isn’t relied upon for every scene. The versatility of Alexander Dodge’s set design (who was also nominated for a Tony for his Broadway set) is amazing with many hidden surprises that I’ll let you experience for yourself. There were a few times when I felt the cast struggled to move naturally within the confined space.

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The cast with Kevin Massey as Monty Navarro (left) and Megan Loomis as Tour Guide (right). Photo credit: Joan Marcus.

My one major complaint would be that, with the humor of multiple scenes spiking so big and broad, that often the following scenes would seem almost sedate in comparison, giving the production an uneven feel.

Overall a riotous, bawdy good time at the theater.

My rating: 4.5 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.

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January 5, 2017 · 8:15 pm

Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati Goes on a Blind Date in the Regional Premiere Musical FIRST DATE, Jan. 17-Feb. 5, 2017

etc_first-date-logo(Cincinnati, OH) Check please! Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati opens the second half of the season with the hilarious and sassy musical FIRST DATE, by Austin Winsberg, with music and lyrics by Alan Zachary and Michael Weiner. First impressions can make or break someone, but what will they mean when a blind-date rookie steps up to bat with an experienced dater? With a hit musical score and plenty of comic verve, FIRST DATE promises to be an unforgettable (and unpredictable) take on the dating-game. Playing January 17-February 5, 2017. Directed by Vince DeGeorge.

When tightly wound Aaron is set up with cool girl Casey, a quick drink turns into a hilarious dinner served with sides of Google background checks, fake emergency phone calls, a slew of manipulative exes, potential conversational land mines, and some seriously saucy chemistry. Can this seemingly mismatched pair turn what could be a dining disaster into something special before the check arrives, or end up at another table for one?

“Most all of us have had to go one at least one first date. Maybe FIRST DATE will help us remember that you have to start somewhere,” says ETC’s Producing Artistic Director D. Lynn Meyers. “It’s not often that you find a show [like this] that is a joyous celebration of the potential for love. First Date is a fun, positive, and charming musical that is performed with a live band! What a great way to start off the New Year.” Meyers goes on to add, “Ensemble has a dedication to developing local professionals and it turns out five of the cast members are former apprentices. It shows the maturation of the organization through the creation of work for people who gave a year of their time to be with us.”

About the Cast

Michael Gerard Carr (Aaron) returns to ETC, having last appeared as Casey in this season’s production of The Legend of Georgia McBride. His past shows at Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati include Hands on a Hardbody, Good People, and Snow White. A proud graduate of the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music Drama program and a past intern here at Ensemble Theatre, Mr. Carr also has taught freshman Drama at UC-CCM.

Sarah Hoch (Casey) makes her ETC debut with this production. A Massachusetts native and Drake University alumna, Ms. Hoch recently moved from Chicago to New York. Regional credits include Million Dollar Quartet and Grease, Old Creamery Theatre; Lost in Yonkers, Great Plains Theatre; Legally Blonde, Midtown Arts Center; and How To Succeed, Spring Awakening, Present Laughter, Avenue Q, Annie, and Xanadu, Playhouse on the Square. Chicago credits include Sweet Charity, Rocky Horror, and multiple roles in new musicals with Underscore Theatre.

Jared D. Doren (Man #3) is a local actor, director, and alumnus of the 1995-1996 ETC Professional Acting Apprenticeship Program. Past ETC credits include A Question of Mercy, Two Weeks with the Queen, and the holiday productions of Around the World in 80 Days, Snow White, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Alice in Wonderland, and The Frog Princess.  Local directing credits include Chase the Dragon, Cincinnati LAB Theatre; Frankie and Johnny in the Claire de Lune, and Bus Stop, New Edgecliff Theatre; All New People, Untethered Theatre; Pump Boys and Dinettes, Carnegie Arts Center; Assassins, And Then There Were None, and The Elephant Man, Falcon Theatre. Mr. Doren is also one of the founding members and artistic directors for Cincinnati LAB Theatre and currently serves as Patron Services Manager for ETC.

Maya Farhat (Woman #2) returns to the ETC stage after having recently appeared as Aristotle in Cinderella: After Ever After. She is a graduate of Xavier University with a B.A. in Theatre and a minor in Communication Studies. Ms. Farhat has done work around town, but her most recent credits include Other Bother, Cincy Fringe Festival 2016; and Rent, Betrayal, and Mockingbird, Falcon Theatre. She has also made her TV film debut in Maria Carey’s Hallmark movie, A Christmas Melody, playing Hayley Tillman. She is also featured in a global Internet ClearBlue advertisement.

Andrew Maloney (Man #2) was last seen at Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati in last season’s Violet. Other ETC credits include: Around the World in 80 Days, Alice in Wonderland, and Snow White. Internationally, Mr. Maloney appeared in the Ecuadorian premiere of West Side Story at the Teatro Nacional Sucre in Quito, Ecuador.  Recent credits include Rent, Assassins, The Little Mermaid, and A Chorus Line. He has been seen at many local theatres, including The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati, Falcon Theatre, and the Warsaw Federal Incline Theatre.

Jeremy Parker (Woman #1) returns to ETC after last being seen as an acting apprentice in the 2013-2014 season. Ms. Parker’s recent performance highlights include Eve Ensler’s one-act play Extraordinary Measures, Music Theatre Group of New York City; Master Class, Human Race Theatre Company; and Always…Patsy Cline and The Addams Family, Cortland Repertory Theatre. She can be seen in the role of Dorothy in the Academy Award-nominated film Carol, directed by Todd Haynes. She currently resides in Brooklyn and is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music.

Nathan Robert Pecchia (Man #2) also makes his ETC debut with this production. A senior in Wright State University’s Musical Theatre/Acting Program, Mr. Pecchia will graduate this spring. He appeared in many productions at WSU, most notably in The Music Man. Most recently, Mr. Pecchia was seen in the ensembles of Sweeney Todd and Legendale at The Human Race Theatre Company.

Production team includes Brian c. Mehring (Resident Scenic & Lighting Designer), Jack Murphy (Technical Director), Matthew Hollstegge (Production Manager & Master Electrician), Shannon Rae Lutz (Properties Master & Design Assistant), Jeremy Lee (Sound Designer), Scot Woolley (Musical Director), and Reba Senske (Costume Designer). Production Stage Manager is Brandon T. Holmes. Assistant Stage Manager is Elizabeth Freyman.

Performance Information

Performances run Tuesday through Sunday. Tuesday-Thursday, 7:30 pm; Friday and Saturday, 8:00 pm; Saturday and Sunday, 2:00 pm; and Sunday, 7:00 pm. A complete calendar of performances is available online at www.ensemblecincinnati.org.

Ticket Prices

Ticket prices range from $28 to $48 for adults; student tickets are $25; and children are $18. For the 2016-2017 Season, ETC continues its popular $15 student and half-price rush tickets for all performances, which are available two hours prior to show time and may be purchased by phone or in person at the box office.

Available Discounts

Military, Educator, ArtsWave ArtsPass, AAA, and Enjoy the Arts discounts available; tickets and seating are subject to availability.

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Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati is supported, in part, by the generosity of community contributions to the ArtsWave Campaign.

The Ohio Arts Council helps fund Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans. Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati also receives funding from the Shubert Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts.

2016-2017 Season Presenting Sponsor is the Otto M. Budig Family Foundation.

Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati is a professional theatre dedicated to producing world and regional premieres of works that often explore compelling social issues. We fulfill our mission through our stage productions and educational outreach programs that enlighten, enliven, enrich and inspire our audiences.

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January 5, 2017 · 8:15 pm

Actors Needed for Short, Instructional (But Entertaining) Videos

MISC_Casting call2“GOODBYE” — a young man “breaks up” with tobacco
1 M, any ethnicity, to play a college student leaving tobacco behind. Requires a big acting style; ability to drive a scene alone.

“HOW TO” — a tongue-in-cheek nod to Coronet-style instructional films
1 M, preferably African American, to play a clean-cut college student student from the 1950s
1 W, any ethnicity, to play a clean-cut college student from the 1950s

Interested actors will be asked to audition via cold readings on Jan. 12 or 13 on UC’s main campus (appointment times TBD). Parking validated.

Selected actors must be available for a half-day (4-hour) shoot on UC’s main campus the week of Jan. 15 or 22 (date/time TBD — we will do our best to accommodate schedules).
Selected actors will be paid a $100 stipend. Parking validated.

Contact Angela Klocke (Forbes), director, Creative Services, for an audition appointment – angela.klocke@uc.edu

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January 4, 2017 · 5:45 pm

Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park Presents LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS

See the Classic Musical Comedy Jan. 21-Feb. 19, 2017

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Nick Cearley as Seymour.

(CINCINNATI) — The Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park heats up winter with a hothouse production of the beloved, campy classic LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, running in the Robert S. Marx Theatre Jan. 21 through Feb. 19.

The New York Times called the musical, “Exuberant … leaves the audience ravenous for more.” Based on Roger Corman’s 1960 cult film classic, LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS was adapted for the stage by Howard Ashman and Alan Menken in 1982. It is one of the longest-running off-Broadway musicals in history.

In addition to LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS’ hilarious storyline, audiences will enjoy the songs, written by Ashman and Menken — best known for their songs in popular Disney films, including The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin.

“Only at the Playhouse can you experience the perfect combination of a large-scale musical like LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS in an intimate space like the Marx Theatre,” says Playhouse Artistic Director Blake Robison. “The show is wildly entertaining and features the unequaled artistry of some of the nation’s top theatre talent, including the director Bill Fennelly, whose work has been seen both on Broadway and off-Broadway.”

The show’s popular and infectious score combines the best elements of rock, Motown and Broadway as it tells the story of a down-on-his-luck floral assistant, the sweet but troubled girl of his dreams and the bloodthirsty plant who sends them down a diabolical path. LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS is also known for its elaborate Audrey II puppet, a giant plant that ultimately takes over the stage and requires its own puppeteer and voice actor.

“The true theatrical roots of LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS are thrillingly and smartly ancient,” explains Fennelly. “Complete with a girl-group spin on a Greek Chorus, it is really a morality play for a modern audience. The story weaves together thematic threads of a subverted hero’s journey with elements of traditional Faustian legend: a man who sells his soul to the devil to gain power, wealth and love. Roger Corman, Howard Ashman and Alan Menken have all contributed to the creation of an enduring story that delightfully employs the timeless tools of humor, horror and satire to hold up a mirror to all of us.”

Tickets for LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS are on sale now and start at $35 for previews and $40 for regular performances. Prices are subject to change. Discounted tickets for children, teens and students are available for all shows. 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.

CAST (in alphabetical order)
EBONY BLAKE (Ronnette), NICK CEARLEY (Seymour), DAVID MEYERS (Mr. Mushnik), GINO MILO (Audrey), JOHARI NANDI (Chiffon/Dance Captain), CHAZ ROSE (The Voice of Audrey II/Wino 1), JAMISON STERN (Orin/Snip/Luce/Wino 2), ALEXIS TIDWELL (Crystal)

PRODUCTION
HOWARD ASHMAN (Book and Lyrics), ALAN MENKEN (Music), BILL FENNELLY (Director), KENT ZIMMERMAN (Choreographer), RICK LEWIS (Music Supervisor), MICHAEL SCHWEIKARDT (Set and Puppet Designer), KATHLEEN GELDARD (Costume Designer), WILLIAM C. KIRKHAM (Lighting Designer), JEREMY J. LEE (Sound Designer), CASI PACILIO (Original Sound Effects), STEPHEN KRIZ GARDNER (Audrey II Puppeteer/Manipulator), STEPHEN GOERS (Conductor/Keyboard 1), JENIFER MOROW (Production Stage Manager), ANDREA L. SHELL (Second Stage Manager), BROOKE REDLER (Second Stage Manager)

LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS is sponsored by Tony Alper and Judy Curtin. The orchestra and design sponsor is Fifth Third Bank. The 2016-17 Robert S. Marx Theatre season is presented by The Otto M. Budig Family Foundation, and Macy’s is the Robert S. Marx Theatre season design sponsor. 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 and the National Endowment for the Arts.

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