Monthly Archives: September 2017

Cincinnati Ballet Presents ROMEO & JULIET

CB_Cervilio Miguel Amador and Janessa Touchet, Photo Peter Mueller, Victoria Morgan's Romeo & Juliet

Cervilio Miguel Amador & Janessa Touchet, Photo Peter Mueller, Victoria Morgan’s ROMEO & JULIET

The Company makes its return to newly renovated Music Hall with the iconic tale 

CINCINNATI. (September 27)–Cincinnati Ballet returns to the newly renovated Cincinnati Music Hall with six performances of Victoria Morgan’s passionate ROMEO & JULIET, October 26 through 29.

Victoria Morgan brings the most well-known love story of all time, ROMEO & JULIET, to life with a dazzling blend of dance and drama. Shakespeare’s legendary tale, written nearly 420 years ago, continues to captivate audiences with the unfolding of a great romance destined for tragedy. “Shakespeare’s story is poignant, honest, and beautifully portrays conflicts that are more relevant today than ever,” says Morgan. “It is a joy to be able to give life to his words through dance.”

Morgan’s ROMEO & JULIET was last performed in 2013. The performance is set to SergeiProkofiev’s breathtaking score, performed live by the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, and conducted by Cincinnati Ballet Music Director, Carmon DeLeone.

This season’s production will be part of the five-week Music Hall Grand Opening celebrations. The Company joins Cincinnati Symphony and Pops Orchestras, Cincinnati Opera, and May Festival, as a Music Hall resident performing company with three total productions this season, leading with Romeo & Juliet and followed by The Nutcracker in December, and Carmina Burana + Serenade in February, 2018

“For our return to the newly renovated venue, we wanted to present something that feels historic, and that is powerful and elegant like Music Hall,” says Artistic Director Victoria Morgan. “The devotion to Music Hall’s refurbishment is a labor of love undertaken by our community, and truly inspires our artists and audiences. Romeo & Juliet makes for the perfect return to a glorious cultural gem.”

Music Hall, one of the nation’s most treasured performance venues, has undergone a major renovation in Cincinnati’s Over-the-Rhine neighborhood that will realize long-awaited updates and upgrades throughout the iconic structure, build upon its world-class acoustics, and retain the hall’s historic grandeur.The $143 million renovation is supported by public and private contributions, and adds more than 31,500 square footage to the historic icon.

A welcome addition, a rehearsal studio for the Company has been created, the Harry T. Wilks Studio, and includes sprung floors, marley, and ballet barres. The Company will be able to utilize the space to rehearse multiple casts simultaneously while occupying the hall.

Additonal renovations include a refreshed exterior that connects the hall more directly to the neighborhood; a revitalized Springer Auditorium with new, more comfortable seating and flexible configurations for different types of performances; new practice rooms, dressing rooms and other backstage necessities for performers; a new large rehearsal/event space; expanded restrooms and concessions; and other enhancements to improve the patron and artist experience.

Cincinnati Ballet President & CEO Scott Altman has been named one of the Real Men Wear Pink candidates. Through a special partnership with Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, presented by TriHealth, 10% of ticket sales for the October 26 opening night performance of Romeo & Juliet will be donated to the American Cancer Society, in an effort raise awareness and support breast cancer research.

Cincinnati Ballet Young Professionals (CBYP) presents YP night at Romeo & Juliet. Kick off a new season of exciting events with cocktails and dinner by the bite with fellow YPs, October 26 at 5:30 pm in Music Hall’s Corbett Tower, followed by the opening night performance of Romeo & Juliet. The event is free, but RSVP is required. Contact events@cballet.org. To request YP Night media tickets, contact akruger@cballet.org.

The Re(new)ed Celebration, a free community event which includes a behind-the-scenes look at the state-of-the art, newly-renovated Music Hall, will be held Saturday, October 7, from 10 am-3 pm. The event, presented by ArtsWave, will feature more than 50 live performances by Cincinnati Ballet, the Cincinnati Symphony and Pops Orchestras, Cincinnati Opera, May Festival, and additional arts groups. For more information visit www.artswave.org.

PERFORMANCE DATES AND INFORMATION

WHO:
Cincinnati Ballet
Choreography: Victoria Morgan
Music: Sergei Prokofiev, performed by Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra

WHAT:
ROMEO & JULIET

WHEN:

  • Thursday, October 26 – 7:30 pm *Community Partner Night: American Cancer Society
  • Friday, October 27 – 8:00 pm
  • Saturday, October 28 – 2:00 pm & 8:00 pm
  • Sunday, October 29 – 1:00 pm & 6:30 pm

WHERE:
Cincinnati Music Hall, 1241 Elm Street, Cincinnati, Ohio  45202

HOW:
Call 513.621.5282, visit cballet.org or visit the Cincinnati Ballet Box Office at 1555 Central Parkway, Cincinnati, OH 45214

About Cincinnati Ballet
Since 1963, Cincinnati Ballet has been the cornerstone professional ballet company of the region, presenting a bold and adventurous array of classical, full-length ballets and contemporary works, regularly with live orchestral accompaniment. Under the artistic direction of Victoria Morgan, Cincinnati Ballet has become a creative force within the larger dance community, commissioning world premiere works and exploring unique collaborations with artists as diverse as Grammy winning guitarist Peter Frampton and popular, Ohio-based band Over the Rhine. With a mission to inspire hope and joy in our community and beyond through the power and passion of dance, Cincinnati Ballet reaches beyond the stage in programs that allow every person in the region to be part of the continued evolution of dance. To that end, Cincinnati Ballet presents exhilarating performances, extensive education outreach programs and offers top level professional ballet training at Cincinnati Ballet Otto M. Budig Academy.

CONNECT: READ / WATCH / LISTEN / LEARN / ENJOY at cballet.org

Cincinnati Ballet 2017-2018 Season Sponsors: ArtsWave, Mercy Health, Louise Dieterle Nippert Musical Arts Fund, PNC Bank, Austin E. Knowlton Foundation, Ohio Arts Council, Frisch’s Big Boy, Rhonda & Larry Sheakley

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MARTIN LUTHER ON TRIAL Runs Oct. 6-8

CAA_Martin Luther on Trial promoMARTIN LUTHER ON TRIAL
Fellowshiop for the Performing Arts
Oct. 6-8
Aronoff Center Jarson-Kaplan Theater [Downtown]

A trial for the soul of Martin Luther …and the prosecutor is the Devil. In the new original play MARTIN LUTHER ON TRIAL, Luther’s beloved wife Katarina defends him as witnesses including Adolf Hitler, Sigmund Freud, Rabbi Josel, St. Paul, Martin Luther King, Jr. and Pope Francis take the stand. Even as 2017 marks 500 years since Luther ignited the Protestant Revolt against Rome, he continues to spark intense debate. You be the judge in this witty, provocative exploration of one of history’s most explosive personalities and the religious and political controversies he unleashed. Recommended for ages 13 and older. 

  • Fri, Oct. 6 at 8pm
  • Sat. Oct. 7 at 2pm & 8pm
  • Sun, Oct. 8 at 2pm

Official page |

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Cast Announced for CONEY ISLAND CHRISTMAS at CenterStage Players

CSPOH_logoCenterStage Players and director Fred Hunt are pleased to announce the ​
​CONEY ISLAND CHRISTMAS ​cast​.​

 

Cast:

  • Chessie Vigran as Shirley Abramowitz
  • Maya Kirzner as Clara
  • Olivia Joy Reese as Young Shirley
  • Joel Lind as Mr. Abramowitz
  • Cathy Judge as Mrs. Abramowitz
  • Denise Stephens as Mrs. Kornblum/Bearded Lady
  • TBD as Mr. Hilton
  • Victoria Covarrubias as Miss Glace
  • Sophia Rae Sheppard as Evie Slotnick/Mary
  • Jacob Rohrig as Jackie Saurfield/King James/Santa Claus
  • Parker Culp as Ira Pushkov/Hawker/Myles Standish/Ebenezer Scrooge
  • Melissa Sheppard as Teacher/Sideshow Hawker
  • David Escobedo-Arreola as Pedro Maldanado/Angel Gabriel
  • Omer Lyons Siler as Lester/Pilgrim #2
  • James Covarrubias as Henry Brown/Joseph
  • Grace Critzer as Wise Man #1
  • Leah Bracknell as Anna Ling/Wise Man #2
  • Nevaeh Darson as Sofia Sabatino/Squanto/Wise Man #3
  • Mikayla Baldwin as Priscilla Mullins/King Herod
  • Hope Eulenburg as Statue of Liberty/Grandmother,
  • Luigina Yerino as Gypsy Fortune Teller/Hawker
  • Morgan Tracy as Tiny Tim/Pilgrim Woman
  • Jamiyah Estes as Shepherd #1
  • Londen Murray as Shepherd #2
  • Rebecca Baldwin as Pilgrim #1/Innkeeper
  • Lily Larsen as Ghost of Christmas Past

The production runs December 7-10.

Tickets and more information about the show and our exciting season can be found at http://www.centerstageplayersinc.com.

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HALLOWEEN HORROR Runs Oct. 20-Nov. 4

KTC_Halloween Horror promoHALLOWEEN HORROR
Know Theatre of Cincinnati
Oct. 20-Nov. 4
Over-the-Rhine

13 DEAD DREAMS OF EUGENE
From Cincy Fringe favorites Paul Strickland and Erika Kate MacDonald comes an unsettling shadow play with music based on a true story perfect for Halloween.

1929, a dead body is found and placed on display in hopes of identification. That’s when the “Dead Dreams” began.  Experience the shared recurring nightmares that haunted the sleepy town of Sabina OH, and the stranger-than-fiction story of “Eugene.”

  • Fri-Sat, Oct. 20-21 at 7:30pm
  • Sun, Oct. 22 at 3pm
  • Wed-Sat, Oct. 25-28 at 7:30pm
  • Sun, Oct. 29 at 3pm
  • Wed-Sat, Nov. 1-4 at 7:30pm

Official page |


A ZOMBIE ODYSSEY
An epic about the humanity of a zombie that’s a unique blend of physical theater and radio drama in 3 episodes. It’s puppets, robots, philosophy, fights, blood, guts, sex, and dark laughs from Ricky Coates, the artist behind the 2016 Cincy Fringe’s Tesla ex Machina and Sadie Bowman (Calculus: The Musical).

Episode 1 – A ZOMBIE ODYSSEY 
A fatality. A wakening. A hunger. So begins newly undead Brian Smith’s epic journey to reunite with his wife. As he battles through an all-too-familiar landscape, getting shot, stripped, strangled, chewed, drugged, and electrocuted, the line between man and monster begins to blur… Writer/performer Ricky Coates (of Cincy Fringe hit Tesla Ex Machina) blends movement, voice, and music to create an unforgettable voyage that pits zombie vs. society to see who is the real monster.
Official page |

Episode 2 – IDES OF UNDEAD MARCH
The Zombie uprising meets Julius Caesar. Brian Smith reappears as the Prophet of the Pheonix, spreading the “Word of the Host” along the help of his hearse-driving herald, Eli. Unfortunately, this pilgrimage is proving dangerously infectious… IDES OF UNDEAD MARCH takes the story to the next level with all new theatrical inventions, action, and surprises, as Brian and Eli learn that true natures cannot be denied. Enjoy this show from the creator of Cincy Fringe hit Tesla Ex Machina as a standalone story, or as the middle section of the epic Zombie Odyssey Trilogy.
Official page |

Episode 3 – DAUGHTER OF THE DEAD
In a world where robot drones war with zombie hordes, Penny Smith smuggles herself across a torn land, searching for the man who started it all, her husband. In her arms, she carries the fate of zombies and humans alike. The final act brings audiences to the bottom of the rabbit hole, as Sadie Bowman (Calculus: The Musical, The Famous Haydell Sisters) joins Ricky Coates for the most ambitious play of the trilogy.
Official page |

  • Fri, Oct. 20 at 9pm (Episode 1)
  • Sat, Oct. 21 at 3pm (Episode 1)
  • Sat, Oct. 21 at 9pm (Episode 2)
  • Sun, Oct. 22 at 5pm (Episode 2)
  • Wed, Oct. 25 at 9pm (Episode 1)
  • Thu, Oct. 26 at 9pm (Episode 2)
  • Fri, Oct. 27 at 9pm (Episode 3)
  • Sat, Oct. 28 at 3pm (Episode 1)
  • Sat, Oct. 28 at 9pm (Episode 2)
  • Sun, Oct. 29 at 5pm (Episode 3)
  • Mon, Oct. 30 at 7:30pm (Episode 3)
  • Thu, Nov. 2 at 9pm (Episode 1)
  • Fri, Nov. 3 at 9pm (Episode 2)
  • Sat, Nov. 4 at 3pm (Episode 2)
  • Sat. Nov. 4 at 9pm (Episode 3)

Episode 1 tickets | Episode 2 tickets | Episode 3 tickets

 

 

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Auditions Announced for RING ROUND THE MOON at Village Players

VP_Ring Around the Moon logoThe Village Players invites you to audition for RING ROUND THE MOON by Jean Anouilh (adapted by Christopher Fry). The French title can be translated as Invitation to the Chateau. The original London production featured Paul Scofield as the twins, Margaret Rutherford as Madame Desmermortes, and Claire Bloom as Isabelle. It was directed by Peter Brook.

Story: A number of guests arrive for a party at a country chateau. Their intertwining relationships create a mix of emotions, with comic results. A play “of many moods…wistfully romantic, satirical, fantastic…To make his points about love (the author) has invented a fable about twin brothers—Frederic, who is shy and sensitive, and Hugo, who is heartless and aggressive. Frederic is in love with a hussy who is in love with Hugo. To save Frederic from an unhappy marriage, Hugo tries to distract him by bringing to a ball a beautiful dancer who masquerades as a mysterious personage and becomes the triumph of the occasion. She is a susceptible maiden in her own right. She not only breaks up all the cynical romances that have been going on before she arrived, but loses her own heart as well.”

Characters:

  • Hugo, a young man about town; brash and sure of himself (late 20’s) AND Frederic, his twin brother; somewhat shy. (Hugo and Frederic are played by the same actor.)
  • Joshua, a crumbling butler: think of an old Jeeves (can play 60’s, 70’s)
  • Diana Messerschmann, engaged to Frederic (late 20’s)
  • Lady India, Messerschmann’s mistress, secretly in love with Hugo (late 20’s)
  • Patrice Bombelles, Messchermann’s secretive secretary (20’s to 30’s)
  • Madame Desmermortes, aunt to Hugo, Frederic, and Lady India; a very dominating personality (can play 70’s)
  • Capulet, her faded companion (60’s)
  • Messerschmann, Diana’s father, a melancholy millionaire (60’s)
  • Romainville, a patron of the arts (40’s) and of
  • Isabelle, a ballet dancer (20’s)
  • Isabelle’s Mother, a piano teacher (50’s)

Audition times:

  • Sunday, October 8th: 2:00-5:00
  • Monday, October 9th: 6:30-9:00

Everyone will be asked to read from the script.

Please bring a resume, a photo, and a list of conflicts between 12/10/17 and the first week of February.

Performances are Friday through Sunday (2/9/-2/11/18) and Thursday through Saturday 2/15-2/17/18.

Auditions will be held at: The Village Players of Fort Thomas, 8 N Ft. Thomas Ave., Fort Thomas, KY 41075

For more information, please contact director Allan Karol at allankarol@aol.com

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