Monthly Archives: October 2018

MEMPHIS the Musical Opens Loveland Stage Company’s 39th Season

LSC_Memphis promo2

Alex Ross, Kyndra Jefferies, Austin Hoard, Roger Dumas, Jr. & Charlie Rader.

Production has has attracted terrific actors from all over the Cincinnati area

MEMPHIS the Musical opens Loveland Stage Company’s 39th season November 2 and it has attracted terrific actors from all over the Cincinnati area!

Alex Ross, playing the male lead of Huey Calhoun, is a Sharonville resident. This is his fourth role with Loveland for which he has received four awards. He performs locally with bands and as soloist and has Memphis experience, performing in the city with a house blues band on Beale Street.

Kyndra Jefferies, portraying Felicia Farrell, lives in College Hill. Although this is her first show with LSC, she has appeared with Cincinnati Music Theatre and Children’s Theater. Kyndra was recently credited in the movie just filmed, “The Old Man and the Gun.”

Roger Dumas Jr. (Delray Farrell), a Mt. Airy resident, has chosen the LSC stage to make his return to the theater after nearly a decade. He says theater is his passion!

Austin Hoard (Gator) is a Sycamore High School Graduate making his debut at LSC and works for the Aves Theater as set designer and technical director.

An Iowa native, Mary Puetz (Gladys Calhoun), now lives in Symmes Township. Very active in community theater, MEMPHIS the Musical is her fifth show this year!

Toledo native Jon Scheiding is the vocal director of the musical. This is Jon’s first time directing with LSC but has performed in and done tech for countless shows across the area. His hobby? He has a pilot license and loves flying!

Director Liz Olekas was born in the Chicago area and now lives in Maineville. This is her debut at directing at LSC but has directed for and performed in numerous community theater shows in the area. Her first show with LSC was “Jekyll and Hyde” and she credits Mark Woods, longtime member of LSC, recently deceased, for getting her on stage for that experience.

Loveland native Jeanne Bilyeu (orchestra director) now lives in Symmes Township. She has directed the music for LSC’s last two shows “9 to 5” and “Little Mermaid” and has done a lot of work with Acting Up.

Choreographer Margie Clegg, a familiar face to LSC patrons, hails from New York. She is sharing choreographer duties with David A. Choate. David is the producing Artistic Director for Revolution Dance Theatre, a non-profit arts service organization in Cincinnati. He trained with the Cincinnati Ballet, Dayton Contemporary Dance company as well as the School of Creative and Performing Arts.

At least 25 other talented actors, dancers and singers comprise the rest of the cast, all from various communities in the Cincinnati area.

MEMPHIS the Musical, rated “R”, opens November 2 , 7:30 p.m. at the theatre located at 111 S. 2nd St. (Rt. 48), 45140.

Evening shows are also scheduled Nov. 3, 9, 10, 16, and 17, all at 7:30. Matinees are Sunday November 4, 11 and 18 at 3 p.m.

Tickets are $20 for all performances. For more information visit http://lovelandstagecompany.org or call 513.443.4572.

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Cast Announced for WOMEN PLAYING HAMLET at Village Players

vp_logoThe cast has been selected for Village Players February production WOMEN PLAYING HAMLET. DISCLAIMER: This is not HAMLET!

This is the extremely funny story of the doubts, temptations, and mishaps a woman suffers when chosen to play what is perhaps Shakespeare’s most famous (male) character in an off-Broadway production (including an unfortunate altercation with Sir Patrick Stewart).

February 15-23, 2019 at Village Players
www.VillagePlayers.org

The cast includes:

  • Elizabeth Beatty …Jessica (plays Hamlet)…
  • Cat Cook … acting coach, humanities professor, and ghost
  • Patricia Mullins… Starbucks barrista, priest, bicycle messenger, Jessica’s niece, barfly, Home Shopping Network model, and soap opera starlet.
  • Heather Abbott… Lord Derby, Jessica’s mother, male psychiatrist, bartender, Home Shopping Network hostess, soap opera star, gravedigger, and stage manager.

Directed by Steve Phelan. Performances run Feb. 15-23.

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GOOD KIDS Runs Nov. 14-18

MU_logoGOOD KIDS
Miami University Theatre
Nov. 14-18
Gates-Abegglen Theatre [Oxford]

Directed by Torie Wiggins

How do we uncover truth in our history in the age of social media? Based loosely on an actual event that happened in Steubenville, Ohio, Good Kids is a chilling portrayal of the gravity of sexual assault and the permanence of social media. After a big high school party, a sixteen year-old girl wakes up, undressed, in a strange boy’s house with little memory of what happened. As multiple stories spread on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube, we must come to terms with the realities of sexual assault, privilege, and victim blaming.

  • Wed-Sat, Nov. 14-17 at 7:30pm
  • Sun, Nov. 18 at 2pm

Official page |

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I’M WEARING MY OWN CLOTHES on Nov. 13

CPI_I'm Wearing My Own Clothes promoI’M WEARING MY OWN CLOTHES
Cincinnati Playwrights Initiative
Nov. 13
Aronoff Center Fifth Third Bank Theatre [Downtown]

Written by Nancy Gall-Clayton
Directed by Kathi E. B. Ellis

Cast: Ted Lesley, Andrew Maloney, Erica McClure, Tess Talbot & Traci Taylor

Civil War-era physician, Dr. Mary Edwards Walker, Union army surgeon, wife, divorcee, abolitionist, spy, prisoner, Medal of Honor-winner, “suffragist” and famous “dress-reformer” is the subject of Cincinnati Playwrights Initiative’s November staged reading of Nancy Gall Clayton’s I’m “Wearing My Own Clothes! During her service, Dr. Walker wore men’s clothes because they were more comfortable, practical and sanitary. Her wardrobe choice exacerbated the resistance she faced because she was a woman in a world of men, both ordinary and authoritative. Her determination enabled her to conquer an array of obstacles, any one of which would have defeated anyone lacking her steely resolve to help and to heal the combatants in the bloodiest conflict in U. S. history. The playwright frames Dr. Walker’s story with an interview conducted when she was 84 years old. Between the beginning and ending segments, come episodes of high drama as Dr. Walker encounters and overcomes a variety of daunting challenges.

Cincinnati Playwrights Initiative (CPI) is a grassroots, non-profit arts organization of Tri-State playwrights, directors, actors, and theater supporters dedicated to developing new plays written by local playwrights. CPI strives to provide a forum for playwrights to explore the possibilities contained within their work by providing a community of playwrights within which individual initiative can seek its fullest expression.

  • Tue, Nov. 13 at 7:30pm

Official page |

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SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY Runs Nov. 10-17

MCP_Sentimental Journey logoSENTIMENTAL JOURNEY
Mason Community Players
Nov. 10-17
Theatre 42 [Lebanon]

Created and directed by Perry Gary & Ann Sullivan

Cast: Tom Caruso as Glen Rodgers, Jay Fultz as Ron Denny, Chris Murphy as Clyde Crosley, Nick Godfrey as Russell Franks, Peyton Hahn as Rex Bennett, Bonnie Emmer as Violet Cooper, Julie Poux as Marcella Deveaux, Leah Busick as Hellen Starr, Elizabeth Pille as Patty Wander, Christina Sanford as Maxine Wander, Kelley Flaugher as Laverne Wander, Melissia Gary as Betty Layne, Perry Gary as Frankie Lamont, Dan Nieman as Jack Manny, Deb Giehl as Liza Wesley, Randy King as Ted McHenry, John Hamilton as Carothers Butler/Driver, Meghan Toney as Lou Hamm, Chris Toney as Bud Armer, Joel Lind as Terrific Tilderman, Becca McLaughlin as Hattie, Alex Lisa as Janie, Anthony Lisa as Max/Shoe Shine Boy/Kid on Train, Mary Stan Fizer as Sr USO Hostess, Kelli Norris as USO Hostess, Rachel Freund as USO Hostess &  April Reed as USO Hostess/Candy Girl
The Libertones: Jenn Lisa, Sara Davis, Phil Catlin, Kevin Dunaway & David Thompson
The Jinglettes: Maddie Smith, Taylor Duecker & Katie Hill
Dance Ensemble: Mandy Caruso, Taylor Duecker, Bonnie Emmer, Abby Farmer, Missy Fram, Nick Godfrey, Katie Hill, Shannon Mahoney, Sherry Michalak, Maureen “Mo” Rettig, Chris Toney, Meghan Toney and Cindy Wilmes, with Laureen Catlin and Claude Ruizdelazuriaga

MCP salutes the work of the USO in a special revue. Musicians perform the big band sounds live. Dancers bring back swing dance and tap dancing. Vocalists croon and recreate the harmonies of a by-gone time. The audience is treated to the look and feel of a USO Cantina and its denizens. It’s time to take a trip down memory lane or go visit a time before you knew the world.

  • Fri, Nov. 9 at 8pm
  • Sat, Nov. 10 at 2pm & 8pm
  • Sun, Nov. 11 at 2pm
  • Fri-Sat, Nov. 16-17 at 8pm

Official page | Facebook event |

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