Yearly Archives: 2017

NOV 10, 2017—Tristate audiences are invited to #jointhewildparty as Cincinnati Actor’s Studio & Academy presents Andrew Lippa’s WILD PARTY.

WILD PARTY is a steamy, cautionary tale about escapism, control and excess. Set between 2017 and the Prohibition era, lovers Queenie and Burrs decide to throw a party-to-end-all-parties in their small, Manhattan apartment. As the guests arrive, it seems Queenie is taken with her friend’s date, sparking a complicated love triangle. The night, fueled by booze, games, and pretention, takes a dangerous turn as Burrs’s jealousy gets the best of him. The game unravels. Violence erupts. Checkmate.

Book, music & lyrics by Andrew Lippa, WILD PARTY is presented with special arrangement with Musical Theatre International (MTI).This musical is based on the 1928 book-length narrative poem by Joseph Moncure March of the same name. Because of its risqué subject matter that was taboo in the 1920’s the poem was widely banned, although despite (or perhaps because of its controversial nature) it was a success for March.

This production is directed by Erin Carr. Cast includes current CASA students: Amy Helms, Owen Kiley, Blake Knauer, Alena Firlie, Jonah Sorscher, Leanne Hays, Katie Tierney, Bettina Ernst, Abbie Loebker, Bella DeJesus, and Bryce Kessler. Production includes Matt Berman as Asst. Director/Technical Director, Will Forgham as Stage Manager, Janet Langhorst as Music/Vocal Director, Margot Grom as Choreographer, Gina Cerimele-Mechley as Fight Choreographer, Meg Griffin as Costume Designer, Olivia Dunn as Marketing Manager and Marisa Holzman as Production Manager.

Performances run November 24th, 25th & December 1st, 2nd at 7:30PM, November 26th & December 3rd at 3:00PM. All performances will take place at Essex Studios, 2511 Essex Pl, Cincinnati, Ohio 45206. Tickets can be purchased at www.casastudioacademy.com. Tickets: $9 Students, $14 Adults. For more information: www.casastudioacademy.com

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Vaudeville was a time of separate, unrelated acts being billed together. Have you looked at YouTube or Instagram lately? It’s easy to glamorize the past and relish in escaping to another time and place, especially to cope with any abuse or violence in your life, but soon you might realize that not much has changed:

“…An era of Republican leadership, nationalistic and fundamentalist movements, and changing social conventions. Electing Republican presidents who favored business expansion rather than regulation, the American public enjoyed apparently unlimited prosperity, while fear of radicals and foreigners combined to almost completely close off America to immigration and contributed to the resurgence of hate groups such as the Ku Klux Klan. Religious fundamentalism revived as new moral and social attitudes came into vogue.”

As a community we have spent the last century observing, judging and turning our heads from issues that “don’t affect us” directly. But when will we learn that it is up to each of us to step up and speak up? Designed as a railroad style theatre, this production brings the audience into the forefront of the show. Without a clear fourth wall, along with the tantalizing invite to join the party, each of us is faced with the decision of what would we do in this situation. It’s past the time of closing our eyes, turning our heads and shutting out the ugly. So how far do we let violence go unchecked? We need to face it together and decide what we can do as a community to help those who are lost in the shadows, who are forgotten on the sidelines, who are masking their insecurity with an excess of show.

**This show will raise money for Women Helping Women**

PLEASE NOTE: THE WILD PARTY contains adult subject matter, language, and themes. Viewer discretion is advised.

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