Monthly Archives: January 2020

THE HEIRESS Runs Jan. 30-Feb. 9

CU_The Heiress logoTHE HEIRESS
Cedarville University Theatre
Jan. 30-Feb. 9
DeVries Theatre [Cedarville]

Shy and plain young girl Catherine Sloper falls desperately in love with the charming and handsome Morris Townsend. Catherine’s father, a successful doctor forbids their marriage, fearing that the attraction Morris feels for Catherine may be more for her fortune than for her character. Catherine’s love for Morris is genuine but haunted by doubts regarding her appearance and lack of worldy experience. Her fears are realized when her proposed plan of an elopement fails to succeed, and she retreats into a world of loneliness. But when Morris returns and proposes to her once again, she responds in a shockingly unexpected way. His reaction leaves us to wonder whether Morris is sincere in his love for Catherine, or is rather the fulfillment of Catherine’s fears.

  • Thu, Jan. 30 at 8pm
  • Fri-Sat, Jan. 31-Feb. 1 at 2pm & 8pm
  • Thu, Feb. 6 at 10am
  • Fri, Feb. 7 at 8pm
  • Sat, Feb. 8 at 2pm & 8pm
  • Sun, Feb. 9 at 3pm

Official page |

 

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Cast Announced for THE MAN WHO CAME TO DINNER at Dayton Playhouse

DPH_logoCongratulations to the cast of the Dayton Playhouse’s next play: George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart’s THE MAN WHO CAME TO DINNER.

The cast includes:

  • SHERIDAN WHITESIDE – Saul Caplan
  • MAGGIE CUTLER – Shana Fishbein
  • BERT JEFFERSON – George Merusi
  • MRS. PREEN – Sydney Edington
  • DR. BRADLEY – Matt Lindsay
  • MR. STANLEY – Jeff Christmas
  • MRS. STANLEY – Susan Robert
  • HARRIET STANLEY – Tina McPhearson
  • JUNE STANLEY – Elisa Pacheco
  • SANDY – Vaughn Foreit
  • RICHARD STANLEY – Jonathon North
  • LORRAINE SHELDON – Carly Laurette Risenhoover-Peterson
  • BEVERLY CARLTON – Michael Hatcher
  • BANJO – Mark Diffenderfer
  • JOHN – Sean Mayo
  • SARAH – Tamar Fishbein
  • MRS. McCUTCHEON – Janet Wasson
  • PROF. METZ – Jim Spencer
  • CONVICTS, RADIO MEN, OFFICERS, ETC. – Todd Bryant, Brent Eresmon, John Wysong

THE MAN WHO CAME TO DINNER opens on Friday, March 6, 2020 and tickets are on sale now.

For more information visit http://wordpress.thedaytonplayhouse.com/

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Auditions Announced for AND THEN THERE WERE NONE at Lumos Players

LP_logoOpen auditions for Agatha Christie’s AND THEN THERE WERE NONE.

Sun, Feb. 9 from 1-5pm
Lakeview United Church of Christ
8639 Columbia Road, Maineville, Ohio 45039

Auditions will consist of a monologue and cold-readings. Sides and more detailed audition information will be provided once an audition time is reserved.

To reserve an audition time email LumosPlayers@gmail.com.

Performance dates: April 24 & 25 at 7:30pm, April 26 at 2pm.
Rehearsals: Sundays (1-5pm), Tuesdays & Thursdays (7-9pm) beginning Feb. 23rd.

Ten strangers are summoned to remote Soldier Island. All that the guests have in common are past deeds they’re unwilling to reveal and a secret that will seal their fate. For each has been marked for murder. As the weather turns and the group is cut off from the mainland, the tension mounts as one by one they are brutally murdered in accordance with the lines of a sinister nursery rhyme.
*Special Note: We will be performing the play with the “1939 ending.”

CHARACTER BREAKDOWN:

  • ROGERS – A competent, middle-aged manservant. Quick and deft. Some may describe him as shifty.
  • MRS. ROGERS – Married to Rogers. A housemaid. Nervous and easily frightened.
  • FRED NARACOTT – A boatman who ferries the guests onto the island, as well as supplies.
  • VERA CLAYTHORNE – Attractive young woman in her first job as a secretary (a former governess), outwardly charming but hiding significant anxiety.
  • PHILIP LOMBARD – Charming, cunning, a bit of a rogue, former military and mercenary.
  • ANTHONY MARSTON – A rich, reckless, and remorseless young man. Lives hard and fast.
  • WILLIAM BLORE – A former police detective. Authoritative, but often misguided.
  • GEN. MCKENZIE – An elderly General who is gentle and worn. Grieved and pained by the loss of his wife. He is wrestling with his own demons – and losing.
  • EMILY BRENT – A middle-aged woman. Disagreeable, self-righteous, devotedly religious.
  • SIR LAWRENCE WARGRAVE – A retired judge. Commanding and sharp-witted, used to being in charge, he quickly becomes the leader of the guests.
  • Dr. Armstrong – A medical doctor who is a recovering alcoholic. Easily shaken.

To reserve an audition time email LumosPlayers@gmail.com.

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FORTUNE Quick Review

FORTUNE presented by Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati through Feb. 15. I attended the opening night performance. 

ETC_Fortune1

Jeremy Dubin as Jeremy & Kelly Mengelkoch as Maude. Photo by Ryan Kurtz.

With Valentine’s day only a few weeks away, it’s not surprising to see a romantic comedy or two pop up on local stages. Such is the case with FORTUNE at ETC which features real life husband and wife Jeremy Dubin and Kelly Mengelkoch. As with any good rom-com, the story isn’t as much about “if” they will get together, but the journey of “how” they get together.

ETC_Fortune3

Kelly Mengelkoch as Maude & Jeremy Dubin as Jeremy. Photo by Ryan Kurtz.

Under the direction of Brian Robertson, Dubin and Mengelkoch easily win over the audience as two lonely souls who can’t seem to get out of their own way to find happiness. Their chemistry together is readily apparent and very enjoyable to watch.

Brian c. Mehring’s detailed set design is divided into two play areas. Madame Rosa’s (Maude’s) aged, fortune-telling apartment beautifully appointed by Shannon Rae Lutz on stage right is opposed by a wonderful, visually deceptive promenade. Amanda McGee’s costume design nicely defines the characters and their various permutations as the story progresses.

ETC_Fortune2

Jeremy Dubin as Jeremy & Kelly Mengelkoch as Maude. Photo by Ryan Kurtz.

On opening night, the first act was a little uneven as if the actors hadn’t fully found their footing. The second act built a good momentum, culminating in a satisfying conclusion. For me, there were moments when the silliness of the promenade scenes was pushed a little too hard. There was also an issue with the sound effects drowning out Madame Rosa’s first reading. These are minor complaints that I’m sure will quickly resolve themselves.

Overall a funny, enjoyable beginning to a love story, perfect for a date night.

My rating: 4.5 out of 5.

Click here for more information on the production.

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Cast Announced for MAMMA MIA! at Northern Kentucky University

NKU_SOTA logoAnnouncing the cast for MAMMA MIA!, running April 24-May 3 in the NKU Corbett Theatre.

  • Ellie O’Hara as Donna Sheridan
  • Makenzie Ruff as Sophie Sheridan
  • Mattison Sullivan as Sam Carmichael
  • Kanai Nakata as Harry Bright
  • Trey Finkenstead as Bill Austin
  • Donny Elkins as Sky
  • Haley Gillman as Rosie Mulligan
  • Victoria Avery as Tayna Chesham-Leigh
  • Logan Anthony as Pepper
  • Alex Simpson as Eddie
  • Arianna Catalano as Ali
  • Ally Davis as Lisa

Ensemble: Chloe Hedrick, Chris Monell, Sophie Hill, Field Oldham, Bria Anderson, Jeshaun Jackson, Brianna Mullins, Austin Adams, Allison Gabert, Noah Warner, Olivia Rose Barrell & Dalen Payton

For more information visit https://www.nku.edu/academics/sota/theatre/season.html.

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