Monthly Archives: September 2017

LEGALLY BLONDE Runs Oct. 20-22

XU_Legally Blonde logoLEGALLY BLONDE
Xavier University Theatre
Oct. 20-22
Gallagher Student Center [Evanston]

Directed by Stephen Skiles

Elle Woods appears to have it all. But her life is turned upside down when her boyfriend, Warner, dumps her so he can start getting serious about his life and attend Harvard Law. Determined to get him back at all costs, Legally Blonde The Musical, follows the transformation of Elle Woods as she tackles stereotypes, snobbery and scandal in pursuit of her dreams. With the help of her friends, and her sidekick Bruiser, Elle quickly realizes her potential and sets out to prove herself to the world!

  • Fri, Oct. 20 at 7:30pm
  • Sat, Oct. 21 at 2pm & 7:30pm
  • Sun, Oct. 22 at 2pm

Official page |

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Auditions Announced for MY NAME IS ASHER LEV at Middletown Lyric Theatre

MLT_logoMiddletown Lyric Theatre
1530 Central Avenue
Middletown, Ohio 45042
513-425-7140

AUDITION DATES & TIMES:

  • Sunday, October 22nd – 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
  • Monday, October 23rd – 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
  • Tuesday, October 24th – 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm

AUDITION REQUIREMENTS:
Cold reading from the script

PRODUCTION DATES:
February 16, 17, 23 & 24 at 8:00 pm
February 24th at 3:00 pm

REHEARSAL AND PRODUCTION WEEK COMMITMENT:
MUST BE AVAILABLE: January 20
Rehearsal Begins January 31
Evenings and weekends

STIPEND: These are paid positions

CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS:

  • ASHER LEV: (early 20’s – 30 – character at peak is only 25)
    The narrator of the story, ages from 6 to 25 throughout the play. He is an artistic prodigy whose passionate love for painting isn’t accepted by his father. Curious, sensitive, willful, and driven. Asher struggles to reconcile his love for his family and the traditions of his faith, with the demands of his art. Requires an actor of vast depth, imagination and presence.

THE WOMEN: (early 30’s – to late 40’s)
All “women” are played by one actor; requires an actor of vast depth, imagination, humor and ability to transform

  • Rivkeh Lev: Asher’s mother who ages 30-50, suffers deeply from the loss of her brother. A woman of extraordinary strength and frailty, she is devoted, curious, and loves her family. She sees and encourages Asher’s gift, but this places her in the middle of the conflict between father and son.
  • Anna Schaeffer, (40-45): Sophisticated, business savvy art gallery owner, who displays Asher’s art.

Rachel: (30): A model that poses for Asher.

THE MEN: (early 40’s – 60)
All “Men” are played by one actor; requires an actor of vast depth, imagination, humor and ability to transform.

  • Aryeh Lev: age 40 – 60: He is passionate with tireless devotion to his faith. He works for the Rebbe, and frequently travels to Russia to save Jews from persecution. Aryeh doesn’t understand why his son creates art and suffers greatly by Asher’s inability to follow Hasidic traditions.
  • Jacob Kahn: ages from 70-80: A highly successful artist who mentors Asher. As a Jew unconstrained by religion or society, he pushes Asher to discover his own artistic voice and path in life.
  • The Rebbe: A wise, compassionate leader of the Ladover Hasidic Jews. He arranges for Asher to study with Jacob Khan.
  • Yitzchok: Asher’s uncle who encourages his art

ABOUT THE SHOW:
MY NAME IS ASHER LEV
Written by Aaron Posner
adapted from the novel by Chaim Potok
Directed by Charley Shafor

Asher Lev tells his story in a series of flashbacks. He is a Ladover Hasidic Jew born with a great artistic talent. His sect of Judaism, however, does not believe that art is a worthwhile pursuit. When he begins to draw nudes and pictures of the Crucifixion, through the years, he has continued to argue with his parents about the nature and value of his work. They attend one of his shows in New York, but are horrified by the centerpiece of the exhibit: a painting of Jesus Christ.

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COLLECTED STORIES at Village Players

VP_Collected Stories lgoo

[Fort Thomas, Kentucky] – Village Players presents COLLECTED STORIES by Donald Margulies, September 29th – October 7th. Village Players is located in the basement of the Ft. Thomas Woman’s Club, 8 North Ft. Thomas Ave, Ft. Thomas, KY 41075 (next to Subway).

Six years in the lives of two intensely creative people— Prof. Ruth Steiner and Ruth’s most devoted disciple, Lisa Morrison—are chronicled in this award-winning play. Hoping to become a writer herself, Lisa latches on to Ruth for consul, advice, and moral support. The trouble begins when Lisa gets into print and her reputation begins to surpass that of her mentor.

COLLECTED STORIES is directed by Dan Maloney and features the talents of Barbara Karol as Ruth and Meagan L. Blasch as Lisa.

Performances will be:

  • Friday, September 29th – 8 PM
  • Saturday, September 30th – 8 PM
  • Sunday, October 1st – 3 PM
  • Thursday, October 5th – 8 PM
  • Friday, October 6th – 8 PM
  • Saturday, October 7th – 8 PM

To order tickets for COLLECTED STORIES, visit www.villageplayers.biz or leave a message at 859-392-0500.

Village Players began in 1966 when members of the Fort Thomas Woman’s Club formed a community theatre department and renovated the lower level of the building to house a unique and intimate 102-seat three-quarter thrust stage. Village Players is a member of KTA, OCTA, ACT-Cincinnati and AACT. Located at 8 North Fort Thomas Avenue, Fort Thomas, Kentucky, Village Players mounts four productions each year and donates the proceeds of its spring production to charity. For more information, www.villageplayers.biz or 859-392-0500.

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The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati Presents PETER PAN JR. This October at the Taft Theatre!

TCTC_Peter Pan promo

Kelcey Steele as Peter Pan and Local 12’s Bob Herzog as Captain Hook. Photo by Mikki Schaffner.

The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati presents PETER PAN JR. October 21-30, 2017 at the Taft Theatre.  Based on J.M. Barrie’s enchanting play, Peter Pan, or The Boy Who Wouldn’t Grow Up, Peter Pan JR. is a modern version of the timeless tale about the adventures of a mischievous boy.  This is the first production in TCT’s 2017-2018 MainStage season at the Taft Theatre.

The musical features music by Morris (Moose) Charlap with additional music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Carolyn Leigh with additional lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green.  The show was originally directed, choreographed and adapted by Jerome Robbins.

“Peter Pan JR. is a story which encourages each of us to reconnect with the spirit of youth,” says Roderick Justice, Producing Artistic Director for The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati and director of TCT’s PETER PAN JR. production.  “[Ringing Bell Sound],” adds Tinker Bell.  *At press time Peter Pan was not available to translate for Tinker Bell.

In PETER PAN JR. Wendy, Michael and John Darling meet and befriend Peter Pan when the mysterious boy and a fairy named Tinker Bell enter their nursery in search of Peter’s lost shadow.

Peter whisks his new friends away to Neverland, an island with “hardly any space between one adventure and the other.” There, Peter introduces the Darling children to his fellow Lost Boys, children who – like Peter – never grow up. The crew launches into a great adventure where they encounter Brave Girls, led by the incredible Tiger Lily, and Pirates led by the dreaded Captain Hook, played by Local 12’s own Bob Herzog. Challenges ensue when the Darling children are ensnared in Captain Hook’s sinister plan to seek revenge on Peter.

PETER PAN JR. presented by The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati, October 21-22 and 27-29, 2017.  Saturday, October 21 at 2 PM* (this performance is signed for the hearing impaired), Sunday, October 22 at 2 PM, Sunday, October 22 at 5 PM, Friday, October 27 at 7:30 PM, Saturday, October 28 at 2 PM, Saturday, October 28 at 5 PM, Sunday, October 29 at 2 PM at the Taft Theatre, 5th and Sycamore Streets in Downtown Cincinnati. Tickets start at $10.  1-800-745-3000 and www.ticketmaster.com.

TCT’s Sensory Friendly performance of PETER PAN JR. will be held on Monday, October 30 at 9:45 AM.  This performance is intended for individuals on the autism spectrum, as well as children (and adults) with other special needs who may benefit. To create a sensory-friendly performance, the show is performed in a welcoming, supportive environment for those with sensory challenges.  Slight adjustments to lighting and sound are made and effects such as fog, strobes, and lights that extend into the audience are minimalized.  A downloadable Social Narrative (in Word format) is made available on the TCT website one week before the performance.  At the theater, TCT provides an area staffed by specialists in the field where patrons can take a break from the performance if necessary, and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center has trained staff on hand.  For details about how to purchase tickets to this performance, visit www.thechildrenstheatre.com.

The cast (in alphabetical order):

  • Pirate Ensemble KEVIN BELL
  • Pirate Ensemble, Starkey BRANDON BENTLEY
  • Slightly ANDREW BLAKE
  • Lost Boy Ensemble EVAN BLUST
  • Smee RHYS  BOATWRIGHT
  • Lost Boy Ensemble     BAILEY BROXTERMAN
  • Tiger Lily MADDIE BURGOON
  • Brave Girl Ensemble JORDAN COLLINS
  • Twin 2 MARLOD’ASCENZO
  • Twin 1 MIA D’ASCENZO
  • Brave Girl Ensemble TINA DE ALDERETE
  • Pirate Ensemble, Jukes IAN  FORSGREN
  • Pirate Ensemble NICK GODFREY
  • Brave Girl Ensemble ANNA GORTNER
  • Nibs NICK GUNDRUM
  • Brave Girl Ensemble COURTNEY HAMMONDS
  • Mr. Darling/Captain Hook BOB HERZOG
  • Wendy ZOE JENSEN
  • Brave Girl Ensemble AUBREY JONES
  • Pirate Ensemble, Cecco MATT KRIEG
  • Pirate Ensemble, Noodler JOEY LOGAN
  • Nana/Crocodile TREY PARIS
  • Toodles MAKAYLA PLATT
  • Michael JACKSON SCHABELL
  • Peter Pan KELCEY STEELE
  • Brave Girl Ensemble AMANDA STEIER
  • Brave Girl Ensemble RENEE STOLTZFUS
  • Brave Girl Ensemble ERIN ULMAN
  • Liza/Brave Girl Ensemble RIA VILLAVER COLLINS
  • Mrs. Darling SARAH VIOLA
  • John JACK WALZ
  • Pirate Ensemble LOGAN WEINFURTNER
  • Curly CJ ZIMMER

Understudies:

  • Nibs EVAN BLUST
  • Michael BAILEY BROXTERMAN
  • Peter Pan MADDIE BURGOON
  • Cecco, Noodler, Jukes, Starkey NICK GODFREY
  • John NICK GUNDRUM
  • Hook/Mr. Darling MATT KRIEG
  • Smee JOEY LOGAN
  • Tiger Lily RENEE STOLTZFUS
  • Wendy, Liza ERIN ULMAN
  • Mrs. Darling RIA VILLAVER COLLINS

The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati’s production of PETER PAN JR. is made possible by the generosity of Edyth B. Lindner, TriHealth and the community contributions to the ArtsWave Campaign. Season Sponsors are the Charles H. Dater Foundation and the Marge and Charles J. Schott Foundation.  This program is made possible in part by state tax dollars allocated by the Ohio Legislature to the Ohio Arts Council (OAC). The OAC is a state agency that funds and supports quality arts experiences to strengthen Ohio communities culturally, educationally, and economically.  Media sponsors are LOCAL 12 and Q102. The show is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI).

-end-

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DANCING AT LUGHNASA Runs Oct. 24-29

NKU_Dancing at Lughnasa logoDANCING AT LUGHNASA
Northern Kentucky University
Oct. 24-29
Stauss Theatre [Highland Heights]

Set in a small village in 1936 Ireland, five unmarried sisters share a small home and big dreams of life beyond their native land. The women struggle to survive on their own in a society with little use for them. Only through savage outbursts of dance and music are the sisters able to release their passionate yearnings. DANCING AT LUGHNASA explores identity, family unity and, above all, how our lives are shaped by the past.

  • Tue-Fri, Oct. 24-27 at 7:30pm
  • Sat, Oct. 28 at 2pm & 7:30pm
  • Sun, Oct. 29 at 2pm

Official page |

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