Monthly Archives: April 2019

April 4, 2019 · 3:32 pm

CHICAGO to Open at Footlighters, Inc. May 9th, 2019

Footlighters Inc. concludes its 2018-2019 season with a story of murder, greed, corruption, violence, exploitation, adultery, and treachery- the classic Kander and Ebb collaboration, Chicago.

Set in the Windy City during the roaring 20’s, it’s a tale of two scintillating sinners: the sensational murderess and reigning queen of the Cook County jail, Velma Kelly, and the newest of the merry murderesses, the good time party girl Roxie Hart. Velma enlists the help of prison matron Mama Morton and smooth-talking defense attorney Billy Flynn who both help turn Velma’s incarceration into a murder-of-the-week media frenzy, thus preparing the world for her splashy showbiz comeback. But every time Velma comes up with a new trick, Roxie is there to take the idea as her own. Chicago is a satire on corruption in the administration of criminal justice and the concept of the “celebrity criminal” and has unforgettable song and dance numbers such as “All That Jazz”, “Mr. Cellophane”, “Razzle Dazzle”, and “Cell Block Tango”.

Chicago marks director Bill Geraghty’s third time at the directorial helm at Footlighters, having previously directed the acclaimed SideShow and the wildly successful Jesus Christ Superstar. Other directing credits include Stephen Sondheim’s Company at Cincinnati Music Theatre and Songs for A New World and tick, tick, BOOM! for Showbiz Players.

Performances:

Thursday-Saturday, May 9-11 at 8pm
Sunday, May 12 at 2pm
Thursday-Saturday, May 16-18 at 8pm
Sunday, May 19 at 2pm
Wednesday- Saturday, May 22-25 at 8pm

Tickets: $22 each and are available at (859) 652-3849 or FootlightersTickets@gmail.com.

The Footlighters, Inc. has been producing quality community theater shows in the Greater Cincinnati area for over 55 years. The group was established in 1963 by a small group of community theater volunteers who wanted to bring theater opportunities to the west side of Cincinnati. In 1987, the group bought the Salem United Methodist Church in Newport and transformed it into The Stained Glass Theatre. The theater is on the National Register of Historic Places and is designated a Kentucky landmark. In September of 2018, Footlighters added an ADA ramp to the front of their building to complement the elevator installed in September of 2017, allowing access for all patrons with limited mobility. For more information, please visit www.footlighters.org or become a friend on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Footlighters-Inc/287519888305.

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April 4, 2019 · 12:37 pm

Auditions Announced for A NIGHT OF STARS WITH TENNESSEE WILLIAMS at The Regular Theatre

We will be holding open auditions this coming weekend for our upcoming production of Maxim Vinogradov’s A NIGHT OF STARS WITH TENNESSEE WILLIAMS, directed by Ellie Conniff. In-person auditions will happen Saturday, April 6 from 12-3, location TBD. If you are unable to attend, but would still like to audition, we are also accepting video submissions until Sunday at 9 PM.

If you are interested in auditioning, please email Ellie at elliecon16@gmail.com. AUDITIONS REQUIRE AN EMAIL RESERVATION. After that, you will be emailed sides and a copy of the script. Please bring a headshot, resumé, and a prepared side to your audition. Know that you may be asked to read several different roles in the room.

If you are submitting a video audition, please email the video of your side, as well as a headshot and resume to elliecon16@gmail.com.

There are nine available roles:

Tennessee Williams (M, 30s)
Edwina (F, 60s)
Rose Williams (F, 20s)
Frank Merlo (M, 20s)
Truman Capote (M, 40s)
Andy Warhol (M, 20s)
Marlon Brando/Policeman/Paul Newman (M, 20s)
Greta Garbo/Liz Taylor/Bette Davis (F, 20s)
Katharine Hepburn/Diana Barrymore (F, 20s)

Note from the playwright: All alterations to age or gender are not only permitted by celebrated.

Rehearsals will begin May 6.

Performances run May 31-June 2.

We hope to see you there!

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April 4, 2019 · 11:59 am

The Drama Workshop Closes Season with WORKING

Garrett Liette, Cathy Judge, Mitch Ruth, Jazz McMullen, Liz Taylor and Kevin Noll play a variety of roles in The Drama Workshop’s upcoming production of WORKING, based on the book by Studs Turkel. Photo by Kristy Rucker.

The Drama Workshop concludes another great year of theatre in its home in the Cheviot business district with the classic musical WORKING from May 3^rd through May 19th. Performances are at The Glenmore Playhouse, 3716 Glenmore Ave, Cheviot.

WORKING by Grammy and Academy Award winner Stephen Schwartz, is based on Studs Terkel’s best-selling book of interviews with the American workforce. It is a loving portrait of the American workday told from the perspective of those that the world so often overlooks – the schoolteacher, the housewife, the fireman and the waitress amongst many – whose life and aspirations reflect the diversity that is America. It includes a wide range of musical styles, including contributions from five-time Grammy Award winner James Taylor and Pulitzer Prize winner Lin-Manuel Miranda.

Director Amy Waldfogle has wanted to do this show for years, and is grateful for the chance to stage it at TDW. “I love that the lyrics and the text of the monologues are all taken from real words that real people said about themselves and their job,” she explained. “There’s a rawness and honesty that permeates every single line because it’s all real, not an author trying to present a realistic portrayal.”

Actor Clare Hingsbergen agreed. “This show does a great job at sharing stories of real people and I think people like coming to the theatre and feeling connected with the piece they are seeing. I think everyone can connect with something in this show.”

WORKING is Elizabeth Taylor’s first time performing with TDW, and says she’s enjoyed working with the diverse group of actors who bring the show to life. “These are amazing and talented people. The characters, their everyday jobs and dreams are so relatable. Anyone can find a shared experience with at least one of the characters,” she said.

WORKING is directed and choreographed by Amy Waldfogle and produced by Mark Waldfogle, with musical direction by Allen Lindsey. The rest of the creative team includes Whitney Ball, Amanda Borchers, Elaine Volker, Eric Bardes, Greg Schaper, Jason Cox, Ray Persing, and Valeria Amburgey. The cast consists of veterans from around Cincinnati: Clare Hingsbergen, Kyndra Jefferies, Cathy Judge, Garret Liette, Jazzmann McMullen, Harold Murphy, Kevin Noll, Catherine Ross, Mitch Ruth, Helen Swartwout, Jim Swartwout, and Elizabeth Taylor.

Tickets to WORKING are $18 each if ordered in advance, or $20 the day of the show. Show dates and times are May 3, 4, 10, 11, 17 and 18 at 8 pm, May 5, 11, and 19 at 2 pm, and May 16 at 7:30 pm. Shows frequently sell out, and reservations are strongly recommended. Tickets can be ordered through The Drama Workshop’s ticket line at 513.598.8303, or ordered online via the TDW website at www.thedramaworkshop.org.

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April 4, 2019 · 11:43 am

CCM Studio Musical Theatre Series Presents YEAST NATION

CCM’s 2018-19 Studio Series continues with YEAST NATION, a musical comedy by Tony Award-winning Urinetown creators Mark Hollmann and Greg Kotis. Directed and choreographed by Vince DeGeorge with musical direction by Henry Lewers, the musical runs Thursday, April 4, through Saturday, April 6, 2019, at CCM’s Cohen Family Studio Theater.

YEAST NATION is an epic tale of evolution and revolution set in 3,000,458,000 B.C. at the bottom of the primordial sea. The musical centers on a society of salt-eating Yeast, the world’s very first life form. “As we are thrown into the deep end of this most epic of underwater tales, we discover a kingdom in turmoil, whose inhabitants long for the comfort of stasis all the while grappling with a new, hitherto-unknown, force of nature that will change their lives forever: love,” DeGeorge says.

The music is a hybrid of pop, rock and musical theatre with a definite groovy ’70s vibe, DeGeorge adds. He has been in contact with Hollmann and Kotis for the past year as CCM prepared for its production of Yeast Nation. During CCM’s rehearsal process there were changes to the script and score — both Hollmann and Kotis are dedicated theater artists who are very interested in the continued development of the musical, DeGeorge says. Hollmann and Kotis are coming to CCM on April 5 to see the show and to talk with musical theatre students about the production.

“This entire process has been a wonderful labor of love,” DeGeorge says. “Greg Kotis and Mark Hollman have been incredibly generous with their time and talents. The student designers, technicians, stage managers and performers have all risen to the challenges presented by this unique piece of ‘bio-historical musical theatre.’ ”

“The cast, stage management team and I have had a blast in the rehearsal room as we dive into the ridiculousness of the musical and discover its depth,” he adds. “This piece is a weird and wonderful combination of absurdity and pathos — like nothing I have ever worked on before.”

Admission to CCM’s production of YEAST NATION is free, but reservations are required. Tickets become available at 12:30 p.m. on Monday, April 1. Visit the CCM Box Office or call 513-556-4183 to reserve. Limit two tickets per order.
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YEAST NATION
Music by Mark Hollmann
Lyrics by Mark Hollmann and Greg Kotis
Book by Greg Kotis

Cast List

Anya Axel as Jan-the-Unnamed
Eli Goykhman as Jan-the-Elder
Erich Schleck as Jan-the-Wise
John Collins as Jan-the-Second-Oldest
Bailee Endebrock as Jan-the-Sweet
Delaney Guyer as Jan-the-Sly
Jamie Goodson as Jan-the-Famished
Kurtis Brown as Jan-the-Wretched
Elijah King as Jan-the-Youngest
Veronica Stern as The New One

The Yeast: Olivia Buss, Nick Berninger, Carlee Coulehan, David Littlefield, Haley Holcomb, Quinn Surdez, Victoria Popritkin, Jake Waford, Jordyn Walker

Performance Times
8 p.m. Thursday, April 4
8 p.m. Friday, April 5
2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, April 6

Location
Cohen Family Studio Theater, CCM Village
University of Cincinnati

Admission
Admission is free, but reservations are required. Tickets become available at 12:30 p.m. on Monday, April 1. Visit the CCM Box Office or call 513-556-4183 to reserve. Limit two per order.

Parking and Directions
Parking is available in the CCM Garage (located at the base of Corry Boulevard off Jefferson Avenue) and additional garages throughout the UC campus. Please visit uc.edu/parking for more information on parking rates.

For detailed maps and directions, please visit uc.edu/visitors. Additional parking is available off-campus at the U Square complex on Calhoun Street and other neighboring lots.

For directions to CCM Village, visit ccm.uc.edu/about/directions.