Monthly Archives: September 2019

September 25, 2019 · 10:55 am

Get Ready for a Hilarious Lesson in Language! ETC Presents SEX AND EDUCATION, Oct. 15-27, 2019

ETC_Sex and Education logo

(Cincinnati, OH) Sharpen  your pencils! Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati takes lousy language to school with the regional premiere of Sex and Education by Lissa Levin. This limited 2-week event is a spirited (and not-so-family-friendly) comedy about a duel between an overworked educator and an underachieving high school athlete. Playing October 15-27, 2019. Directed by Dan Guntzelman.

Meet Joe Marks, a graduating basketball star whose college scholarship is suddenly in jeopardy when his poorly-written, sexually explicit note to his girlfriend is confiscated during a final exam. Meet Miss Edwards, his jaded public high school English teacher on her last day of teaching. With nothing to lose and resentment from years of disinterested students, she assigns him the task of turning the purloined letter into a polished, persuasive essay. This scintillating romp is a hilarious lesson for all in life, sex, sports, and grammar.

“This play is very much a comedy, but it’s also very much a valentine to teachers and the importance of formal education,” says playwright Lissa Levin. “In a play about an English teacher impressing the value of language skills upon a sports phenom, I wanted to make an arena out of a classroom, and a battle of wills and viewpoints to play out with the drive, pace, intensity, and excitement of an NBA playoff game.” Producing Artistic Director D. Lynn Meyers adds, “I think the show is enormously funny and very smart, but I also think it has enormous heart. I’m thrilled with the show, and am very excited to tell this story.”

Ensemble Theatre is thrilled to welcome Dan Guntzelman back to his hometown of Cincinnati, having moved to Los Angeles in 1976 to work in television and film. He is not only the director of this production, but also the husband of the show’s playwright, Lissa Levin, who met Dan while they were working together on the Emmy-nominated hit sitcom WKRP in Cincinnati. 

About the Cast

Dale Hodges (Miss Edwards) returns to Ensemble Theatre, where she was last seen in Ripcord, as well as Outside Mullingar, Other Desert Cities, Grey Gardens, and Mrs. Mannerly. Select regional credits include Wit, King Lear, To Kill a Mockingbird, 23 years of A Christmas Carol with Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, and Noises Off with Cincinnati Shakespeare Company. Ms. Hodges has worked on Broadway in Equus and Benefactors, off-Broadway in Top Girls and A Woman in Mind, and in regional theatres around the country, including 15 summers with Peterborough Players in New Hampshire. 

Esther Cunningham (Hannah Winters/Every Cheerleader) was last seen at Ensemble Theatre in A Doll’s House, Part 2, Bob: A Life in Five Acts, and as the Mad Hatter understudy for Alice in Wonderland. Off stage she works with the ETC Education Department as a teaching artist for the Hunter Heartbeat Program. She is a graduate of Wheaton College, where some of her credits include Julius Caesar, The Sparrow, and Bertolt Brecht’s The Caucasian Chalk Circle.

R. Graham Rogers (Joe Marks) makes his Ensemble Theatre debut with this production. He is an actor and playwright who recently earned his BFA in Acting from University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music. His recent credits include Sam in The Flick, The Esquire; H2O: A Play About Water, 2018 Edinburgh Fringe; The Government Inspector, Middletown, and the world premiere of The Earth is Flatby Todd Almond, CCM. His original play Black & White was a part of Fringe Development at the 2019 Cincinnati Fringe Festival and his series Happy Hour: The Bar Series was a part of Play(under)ground at Know Theatre of Cincinnati in November 2018.

Production Team: D. Lynn Meyers (Producing Artistic Director), Brian c. Mehring (Set & Lighting Designer), Jack Murphy (Technical Director), Matthew Hollstegge (Production Manager), Shannon Rae Lutz (Properties Master & Design Assistant), Matt Tibbs (Sound Designer), and Stormie Mac (Costume Designer). Production Stage Manager is Brandon T. Holmes. Stage Manager is Lexi Muller.

Performance Information
Performances run Tuesday through Sunday. Evening preview performances are at 7:00; evening performances are Tuesday-Thursday, 7:30 pm; Friday and Saturday, 8:00 pm; Saturday and Sunday, 2:00 pm; and Sunday, 7:00 pm. A complete calendar of performances is available online at www.ensemblecincinnati.org.

Ticket Prices
Ticket prices start at $35 for adults; student tickets are $28; and children are $24. Half-Price Rush Tickets: All remaining tickets for the current day’s performance(s) are available two hours prior to each show time for half-price (discount does not apply to children’s tickets) when purchasing by phone or in person. $15 Student Rush Tickets: Students may purchase up to two $15 student rush tickets two hours prior to show time with valid student I.D. Available in person only.

Discounts
$40 Sunday Saver: Sunday evening performances at 7:00 pm are always $40 all season long (excludes holiday production).
Half-Price Rush Tickets: All remaining tickets for the current day’s performance(s) are available two hours prior to each show time for half-price (discount does not apply to children’s tickets) when purchasing by phone or in person. $15 Student Rush Tickets: Students may purchase up to two $15 student rush tickets two hours prior to show time with valid student I.D. Available in person only. Group discounts available for 8+. Complete details available at www.ensemblecincinnati.org.

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2019-2020 Season Presenting Sponsor is the Otto M. Budig Family Foundation. Additional support provided PNC.

Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati is supported, in part, by the generosity of community contributions to the ArtsWave Campaign.

The Ohio Arts Council helps fund Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans. Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati also receives funding from the Shubert Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati is a professional theatre dedicated to producing world and regional premieres of works that often explore compelling social issues. We fulfill our mission through our stage productions and educational outreach programs that enlighten, enliven, enrich and inspire our audiences.

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September 25, 2019 · 10:33 am

Associate Director of Education and Community Engagement Sought by Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park

PIP_logoCincinnati Playhouse in the Park is an equal opportunity employer and encourages inquiries about this position from a broad spectrum of candidates reflecting the diversity of the community we serve.

Job Title: Associate Director of Education and Community Engagement

Position Overview
The Associate Director of Education and Community Engagement will work collaboratively with the Director of Education and Community Engagement to develop and implement department programs and goals. This position reports to the Director of Education and Community Engagement, and provides direct supervision for two (2) Education Associates, seven (7) Acting Interns, and all freelance Teaching Artists. The Associate Director of Education and Community Engagement is a full-time, full-year, exempt salaried position with benefits.

Position Responsibilities

  • Manage and supervise Education Department personnel including Teaching Artists, Education Associates and Acting Interns.
  • Oversee education programs, including scheduling and internal communications.
  • Serve as the curriculum lead, responsible for reviewing and approving all curriculum and teacher resource guides based on department standards.
  • Develop, design and implement interactive experiences, post-show discussion prompts and lobby engagement displays.
  • Recruit, contract, onboard and train Teaching Artists for all education programs.
  • Support department programs and projects as assigned.
  • Manage the administration of assigned programs.
  • Manage the implementation of program and department budgets.
  • Teach classes, camps, residencies, and workshops.
  • Perform other duties as assigned.

Nights and weekends are required for teaching classes and attending community events. Start times do vary based on scheduled classes and workshops. The schedule is subject to change based on the needs of the programs.

Competencies:

  • Minimum 5 years of experience as a director, teaching artist, curriculum designer, administrator and program manager.
  • Experience facilitating post-show and community conversations.
  • Must be energetic, flexible and adaptable, and able to multi-task and work independently in an environment with competing deadlines.
  • Experience training and managing teaching artists and administrative staff.
  • Ability to work as an effective and collaborative team member in a fast-paced environment.
  • Must have a strong ethical character and the ability to handle sensitive and confidential information appropriately and with discretion.
  • Proficiency with project and event management.
  • Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite applications: Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook.
  • Experience with Tessitura a plus.
  • Experience in supervising and motivating staff to achieve high performance goals.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills.
  • Experience in working with community partners, school administrators, board members and other high level stakeholders in education programs.
  • Bachelor’s degree required. Master’s degree preferred.

Physical Demands:

  • The employee is frequently required to stand and walk, and occasionally stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl.
  • The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds and occasionally lift up to 50 pounds.
  • This position is partially sedentary, and the employee is required to regularly talk and hear.

Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a background check.

To Apply:
Submit your cover letter, resume with three references and a sample lesson plan to:
Daunielle Rasmussen
Director of Education and Community Engagement Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park
962 Mt. Adams Circle
Cincinnati, OH 45202
daunielle.rasmussen@cincyplay.com
No phone calls, please.

Deadline for applications: October 6, 2019

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September 25, 2019 · 10:27 am

Walnut Hills High School Theatre Department Creates a New World in Imaginative Production of Simon Stephens’ THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME

WHhs_Curious Press-35“Do you know who killed Wellington?”

A dog, a gardening fork, and a family secret. How are these three things connected? Discover the mystery and join us this November for this organic and inventive production of the Simon Stephens’s deeply moving drama. The Curious Incident  of the Dog in the Night-Time presents the novel of a young Christopher Boone, a student and amateur detective with a developmental disability living with his father in Swindon, England. Christopher, upon discovering the death of his neighbor’s dog, decides to uncover the truth about the incident and detail his discoveries in a book. Going against his father’s wishes in the search for answers, what secrets will he find in his search? This minimalistic and innovative production will immerse you thoroughly in Christopher’s world through the use of stylistic staging and unconventional technical elements. The cast and crew highlight the complexities of personal relationships and the confusion  that comes with navigating our contemporary world with nuance and beauty. Delving into themes of bravery, empathy, and the importance of human connection; you will not want to miss this chance to see the world through a new perspective.

Runs Thursday, November 7, Friday, November 8, and Saturday November 9 at 7:00 pm and Saturday, November 9 at 2:00 pm

Tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for staff and students

WHhs_Curious Press-37Show Synopsis:
15 year old Christopher Boone, who is on the autism spectrum, lives with his father in Swindon. He excels in math and loves school with Siobhan, but not everything is fun and games. He finds his neighbor’s dog Wellington murdered in her garden and is determined to find the culprit, even after his dad tells him not to investigate. Along the way he meets new people, has new experiences, and even discovers a new mystery along the way which puzzles him even more. Narrated by his teacher Siobhan, Christopher’s diary goes through every detail of his fantastic adventure.

Directed by Michael Sherman, Movement Directed by Erin Carr
Production Stage Manager: Reeya Dighe

WHHS_Curious Press-42Featuring:
Kyra Krummins as Mrs. Shears, Clare Brennan as Siobhan, Jack Giglia as Christopher Boone, Derrick McHale as Swindon Policeman, Louis Martini as Duty Sergeant/Uncle Terry, Oliver Vockell as Ed Boone, Sam Frank as Reverend Peters, Aiden Litmer as Mr. Thompson / Man With Socks, Megan Graeler as #40, Aaron Tossey as Mr. Wise, Olivia Busche as Mrs. Alexander, Elle Bisheimer as Mrs. Gascoyne/Woman on the train, Katie Sutkamp as Judy Boone, Alex Kirk as Lady in the Street, Nick Wittenauer as Station Policeman, Rafael Ramirez as Man Behind Counter/London Policeman, , Owen Cummings as Drunk 1, Brando Donaldson as Drunk 2, Cam Hogue as Station Guard, Kathryn Daniher as Information, Nia Stefanov as Punk Girl 1, Adeleigh Karoutchi as Punk Girl 2, Lily Jones as Punk Girl 3, Mama Njie as Shopkeeper, and Matthew Eggers as Roger Shears.  Understudies include Jackson Prus (Christopher), Anika Vockell (Siobhan), Avery Frank (Judy and Mrs. Shears), Loretta Rubin (Mrs. Alexander), Charles Bishop (Male Ensemble Swing), and Uyen Dao (Female Ensemble Swing).

Tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for staff and students. Tickets may be purchased by visiting:

https://sites.google.com/view/whhstheatredepartment/tickets

 

Photos courtesy of Mikki Schaffner Photography

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September 25, 2019 · 9:43 am

Tom Stoppard’s ARCADIA Opens October 4th at Village Players of Fort Thomas

VP_Arcadia 2September 25, 2019, Fort Thomas, KY—Village Players of Fort Thomas is excited to announces its season opener, Arcadia, by Tom Stoppard. All performances will be staged in Village Players’ intimate theater on the bottom level of the building the organization inherited last year from the Fort Thomas Woman’s Club at 8 N Fort Thomas Ave. The show runs October 4, 5, 6, 10, 11 & 12.

This brilliant play moves smoothly between 1809 and the present at the elegant estate owned by the Coverly family and explores the nature of truth and time, the difference between classical and romantic temperaments, and the disruptive influence of sex on our life orbits—the attraction Newton left out.

Arcadia is directed by jef brown and features the talents of eleven local actors: Jeannine Aliee, Bill Brohaugh, Oliver Kai Davis, Wayne Kirsch, Josh Roden, Gretchen Schultz, BJ Simpson, Stephen Stricker, Alexander Walz, Bryce Willson, Aubrey Wilson, and Ashley Wuerdeman.

Village Players of Fort Thomas, Kentucky, is a vibrant community theatre that has produced plays and musicals for more than 50 years. Performing in an intimate space, you will feel like you are part of the action, sitting inches from the actors on three sides of the stage. We strive to appeal to a broad audience, producing three main-stage shows of varying styles and a children’s show each winter. Village Players is a member of the American Association of Community Theatre (AACT), Association of Community Theatres Cincinnati (ACT), Ohio Community Theatre Association (OCTA), and the Kentucky Theatre Association (KTA).

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September 25, 2019 · 9:23 am

Actress Sought for Bessie in MARVIN’S ROOM at CenterStage Players

CSPOH_logoCenterStage Players and director Julie Jordan is looking to fill the role of Bessie for their production of MARVIN’S ROOM scheduled to open in November.

If you are interested in more information please call Julie at 513.235.5609.

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