Monthly Archives: November 2019

Cast Announced for GLORIA: A LIFE at Human Race Theatre Company

HRTC_new logoThe cast includes:

  • Jennifer Johansen* as Gloria Steinem
  • Burgess Byrd*
  • Eileen Earnest
  • Sherman Fracher*
  • Jen Joplin*+
  • Andréa Morales*
  • Aurea Tomeski*
    *Member of Actors’ Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers in the United States.
    +Resident Artist of The Human Race Theatre Company.

Fifty years after Gloria Stienem began raising her voice and advocating for others, her vision is as urgent today as ever. Described simply as “History. Her Story. Our Story,” this richly detailed tapestry is both inspiring and remarkable. Gloria believes in the necessity of conversation as a catalyst for change, and this new play offers us all a path forward in a way that only live theater can provide. We celebrate this award-winning journalist, social political activist, and nationally-recognized leader of the American feminist movement and Toledo, Ohio native.

Directed by Marya Spring Cordes, performances run Feb. 27-March 15.

For more information visit http://humanracetheatre.org/show/gloria-a-life/.

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PUFFS, OR SEVEN INCREASINGLY EVENTFUL YEARS AT A CERTAIN SCHOOL OF MAGIC AND MAGIC Quick Review

PUFFS, OR SEVEN INCREASINGLY EVENTFUL YEARS AT A CERTAIN SCHOOL OF MAGIC AND MAGIC presented by Know Theatre of Cincinnati through Dec. 21. I attended the opening night performance. 

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Maggie Cramer, Brianna Bernard, Jared Earland, Maliyah Gramata, Ben Dudley, Brandon Burton and Chris Wesselman. Photo by Mikki Schaffner.

PLEASE NOTE! This is not a children’s show. Know has rated the performance PG-13 as some material may be inappropriate for children 13 and under.

An orphan, a pure-blood, and a mudblood become fast friends at a wizarding school. But this is not the story you know. In this hysterical send-up, PUFFS focuses on classmates in a lesser house during those same seven years the school was attended by a certain bespectacled student with a lightning bolt scar.

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Andrew Ian Adams as Mr. Voldy. Photo by Mikki Schaffner.

Director Andrew Hungerford (who also serves as lighting designer) deftly manages the chaos, leading the talented 11-person ensemble (tackling more than 30 characters) through a frantic two-hour comic romp that runs parallel, and at times intersects, with the well-known series. The best compliment I can pay is that they all make the execution of this herculean task look easy. The versatile and hilarious cast includes Andrew Ian Adams, Merritt Beischel, Brianna Bernard, Brandon Burton, Maggie Cramer, Ben Dudley, Jared Earland, Maliyah Gramata-Jones, Elizabeth Chinn Molloy, Jordan Trovillion, and Chris Wesselman.

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Elizabeth Molloy, Brandon Burton, Chris Wesselman, Ben Dudley, Maliyah Gramata, Maggie Cramer, Brianna Bernard and Jordan Trovillion. Photo by Mikki Schaffner.

The show would not be nearly as successful without the incredible work of the production team and their contributions: the simple, detailed, and versatile set of Baron E. Pugh, finished by carpenter Andrew Homan; the crazy number of quick-changeable costumes designed by Noelle Wedig-Johnston; magic-ing made even more enjoyable by sound designer Douglas Borntrager;  original yet reminiscent incidental music created by local composer James Allen; the oh-so-so-many props designed by Kayla Williams (who also served as paint charge); the “magical melees” credited to Jonn Baca; and the “soul sucking security guards” designed by puppeteer Sean Mette. With so much to handle, Henry Bateman directed the technical aspects of the show from the front while stage manager Meghan Winter (assisted by Madelyn Hawver & Matthew Schutte kept everything on track backstage. And finally, a mention of dialect coach Chaslee Schweitzer and production assistant Danitza Piper who rounded out the crew. As you can see, it takes a village to create a magic school.

You don’t need an encyclopedic knowledge of the book or the movie series to enjoy this production. The script is tight and laugh out loud funny, but still allows for improvisation in several places. I’m not going to spoil any of it.

Tickets are flying out the door faster than you can say “Floo powder” so you better “accio” yours sooner rather than later.

My rating: 5 out of 5.

Click here for more information on the production.

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Auditions Announced for THE ART OF DINING at Mariemont Players

mpi_logoShow Title: The Art of Dining By: Tina Howe

Director: Laura Berkemeier 

Synopsis: Cal and Ellen are the owners and sole staff of a small, elegant gourmet restaurant. Cal’s main preoccupation is paying back the $75,000 it cost to start it up, and that means packing in the customers. Chef Ellen is preoccupied with the food’s quality and stopping Cal from sampling the ingredients. The diners act out their own private dramas over dinner and their conversations are exquisite burlesques of contemporary attitudes. There’s a sensual middle aged couple who go into paroxysms of ecstasy just reading the menu and then there’s three crass chic young career women. Finally, there’s Elizabeth, a maladroit, shy and neurotic writer who’s dining with her prospective publisher. Her actions and conversation are unintentionally hilarious and a delicious example of how not to act and what not to talk about while dining. 

Auditions: Monday, February 10 at 7pm, Wednesday, February 12 at 7pm,

Thursday, February 13 at 7pm – call backs if needed. Auditions will be held at the Walton Creek Theatre at 4101 Walton Creek Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45227.  Please reserve your time via this link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090D44AFAB2FA2FE3-theart 

Audition Requirements: If available, bring headshot and resume. Auditions will consist of cold readings from the script. 

Rehearsal times: Times will be finalized based on actor availability, however, the likely schedule will be rehearsals on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 7pm-9:30pm at the Walton Creek Theatre. Rehearsals would begin on March 30th. Actors must be available for photos on April 5th at 7pm and for the entirety of Tech week which will be Sunday, May 3rd through opening on Friday, May 8th. 

Production Dates: Friday, May 8th @ 8pm, Saturday, May 9th @ 8pm, Sunday, May 10th @ 2pm, Thursday, May 14th @ 7:30pm, Friday, May 15th @ 8pm, Saturday, May 16th @ 8pm, Sunday, May 17th @ 2pm and 7pm, Thursday, May 21st @ 7:30pm, Friday, May 22nd @ 8pm, Saturday, May 23rd @ 3pm and 8pm, Sunday, May 24th @ 2pm. 

Description of Characters: 3m, 6f

  • ELLEN – co-owner and chef extraordinaire of The Golden Carrousel, mid 30’s.
  • CAL – co-owner and supple head waiter of The Golden Carrousel, Ellen’s husband, mid 30’s.
  • HANNAH GALT – beautifully dressed and hungry, mid to late 40’s.
  • PAUL GALT – beautifully dressed and hungrier, mid to late 40’s.
  • ELIZABETH BARROW COLT – exceedingly shy and nearsighted. A writer, in her early 30’s, afraid of food.
  • HERRICK SIMMONS – enthusiastic and a good eater, early 30’s.
  • NESSA VOX – easily upset and a more neurotic eater, early 30’s.
  • TONY STASSIO – perpetually on a diet and miserable, early 30’s.
  • DAVID OSSLOW – the head of his own publishing company, successful, at ease, son and husband of good cooks, mid 50’s and in top shape.

Any questions please reach out to Patricia Mullins (patricia.n.mullins@gmail.com) or Kristen Vincenty (kvincenty23@gmail.com).

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THE TRIAL OF EBENEZER SCROOGE Runs Dec. 6-15

TCP_The Trial of Ebenezer Scrooge promoTHE TRIAL OF EBENEZER SCROOGE
Tri-County Players
Dec. 6-15
Evendale Community Church

Directed by Jamie Ball

Cast: Chris Bishop Don Campbell, Betty Coulter, Alan Kootsher, Morgan Garrett, Andrew Gephardt, Elaine Griffin Michael, Melanie Herrick, Jeff Nieman, Tim Rogers, Rachel A. Smith, Jeremy Spitzig, Jim Waldfogle & Cathy Woodruff

  • Fri-Sat, Dec. 6-7 at 8pm
  • Thu-Sat, Dec. 12-14 at 8pm
  • Sun, Dec. 15 at 3pm

Facebook event |

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TDW Presents IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE: A LIVE RADIO PLAY in December

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Jonathan Goolsby and Erica Beimesche play George and Mary in TDW’s delightful radio production of a cinematic classic. Photo by Tammy Cassesa.

The Drama Workshop, entertaining Westside audiences since 1954, invites everyone to experience a favorite holiday story in a new way – as a live radio play. TDW will present “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play” December 6-22. Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m. and include a special Thursday evening performance on December 19 at 7:30 p.m.  All performances are at The Glenmore Playhouse, 3716 Glenmore, Ave. Cheviot, OH 45211.  Tickets are $18 if purchased online or by phone and $20 at the door.  Tickets may be purchased by calling the TDW ticket line at 513-598-8303 or by ordering online at http://www.thedramaworshop.org.

The play was written by Joe Landry and is very faithful to the screenplay of the classic movie which starred Jimmy Stewart as George Bailey and employs only five performers to bring over 50 characters to life through the skillful use of their voices alone. WVXU radio announcer Bill Rinehart leads the voice actors who also include Jonathan Goolsby as George Bailey and Erica Beimesche as Mary.  Ray Lebowski brings the angel Clarence to life, as well as other characters and Jen Drake plays Violet and others.   Two additional cast members, Kevin Noll and Victoria Covarrubias, will create the live Foley effects.

Director Adam Drake is excited to bring this timeless Christmas story to life in a very different way. “It’s the story you remember, but with a nostalgic 1940’s radio twist.  Having only five actors bringing dozens of memorable characters to life is so much fun.  Not to mention the live, practical sound effects that will amaze audiences!  Come for the holiday spirit, but stay for the fun of seeing how a radio show would have been performed 70 years ago!”

The production team for the play is led by producer Dennis Murphy. The set was designed by Ray Persing and set construction is led by master carpenter Greg Schaper. The costumes are designed by Amanda Borchers. Jason Cox serves as the sound designer. Elaine Volker assembled the props.  Manny Frias designed the wigs.

Make your day “wonderful” by attending “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play”.

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