In response to the COVID-19 virus, East Side Players has made the decision to POSTPONE their 2020 summer productions to 2021. Performance dates to be announced.
Monthly Archives: May 2020
Summer Productions Rescheduled to 2021 at East Side Players
Filed under Press Releases
Directors Sought for Female-Focused Online Plays at Equality Productions
Equality Productions in Cincinnati seeks applications from directors for their virtual productions to broadcast July through September:
- A DOLL’S HOUSE, PART TWO by Lucas Hnath
- HEDDA GABLER by Henrik Ibsen
- THE REVOLUTIONISTS by Lauren Gunderson
Optionally, the director can recommend one other play that s/he would like to direct that would work well in a Zoom-like environment.
Interested directors can send their theater director resume and their first and/or second choices of plays to equalityproductionscincy@gmail.com by June 15th.
Equality Productions (Facebook page: Equality Productions in Cincinnati OH) has produced and broadcast several productions, including PYGMALION and GOD OF CARNAGE as a fundraiser for community theaters. Recently a Cincinnati news station did a segment on Equality Productions: https://www.wcpo.com/marketplace/positively-cincinnati/all-the-worlds-a-stage-for-local-theater-groups-turning-to-streaming-performances
Directors throughout Ohio have been invited to apply. Acting talent throughout Ohio will be invited to audition.
Filed under Casting Call
Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati Presents ETC SUMMER STOCK-AT-A-DISTANCE
A Digital Summer Theatre Camp for Youth, July 6-24
(Cincinnati, OH) Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati (ETC) is proud to present ETC Summer Stock-at-a-Distance, an exciting summer program that offers three weeks of theatre camp for youth all from the comfort of home. Featuring workshops taught by the same incredible talent that grace the ETC stage each season, participants will learn from the very best in Cincinnati. ETC theatre camps include Jr. Summer Stock-at-a-Distance for youth ages 7-15 years old from July 6-17, 2020, High School Summer Stock-at-a-Distance for youth ages 13-18 years old from July 20-24, 2020, and Technical Theatre Intensive-at-a-Distance for youth ages 13-18 years old from July 13-17, 2020. No audition necessary, space is limited.
The safety of our students, family, and friends is always our number one priority. With many unknowns right now regarding COVID, after much consideration and discussion, our 2020 summer camps will be fully digital. The camp day is structured to ensure participants are active and moving while still following instruction through a screen.
Although the learning platform may have shifted, the goals are still the same. We aim to provide premiere training. We aim for our students to leave our camp, from the Junior acting camp to the High School technical theatre camp, armed with an arsenal of tools: a voiceover reel, acting on-camera experience, set design/dressing, a collaborative attitude, and a one-of-a-kind experience.
Jr. Summer Stock-at-a-Distance (ages 7-15) is a two-week digital camp with classes taught by professional teaching artists and culminating in a full production of an age-appropriate one-act play. A fun and educational environment where young actors learn good theatre habits, etiquette, techniques and skills needed for quality performance. Workshops include improv, auditions, acting, and more. Students will leave with wonderful memories, acting for the camera experience, an audition package, and short film creation experience. This summer’s performance will be of the fun and virtual play Brief Interviews with Internet Cats by Patrick Greene. The camp runs July 6-10 and
July 13-17 from 9:00am-5:00pm, with online performances on July 17 at 7:00pm and July 18 at 2:00pm.
High School Summer Stock-at-a-Distance (ages 13-18) is a one-week digital training camp for serious actors with the intent to continue in the craft of acting. Participants will take classes and workshops taught by professional teaching artists in improv, acting, audition techniques, script analysis, dialects, movement, and more! Students will leave with the beginnings of a voice-over reel, self-tape audition package, unforgettable memories, and advanced acting skills. Rehearsals in the afternoon will work to culminate in a virtual showcase for family and friends.
The camp runs July 20-24 from 9:00am-5:00pm, with an online showcase on July 24 at 5:00pm.
Technical Theatre Intensive-at-a-Distance (ages 13-18) is a one-week digital training camp where participants will explore the technical areas of theatre and stage craft through professional instruction. Mornings will be filled with classes on various topics like careers in technical theatre, script analysis for technicians, stage management, and set dressing. Those involved will attend lab sessions on topics such a set design, puppetry, and costumes. Students will gain practical experience working with the Junior camp actors on the full production of Brief Interviews with Internet Cats by Patrick Greene! The camp runs July 13-17 from 9:00am-5:00pm, with online performances on July 17 at 7:00pm and July 18 at 2:00pm.
Registration
Register online at https://form.jotform.com/etceducation/etc-summer-stock-registration-2020. For more information, contact Lauren Carr, Director of Education, at lcarr@ensemblecincinnati.org or (513) 421-3555 x2110.
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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.
The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati Announces JumpStart Theatre Program Winners
2019 JumpStart Showcase at the Taft Theatre. Each school wore a different color t-shirt: Aiken New Tech High School – Cherry Red, Finneytown Middle School – Lime green, Gamble Montessori High School – Purple, Dater High School – Gold, Felicity Franklin Middle School – Texas Orange, Holmes Middle School – Heliconia (Magenta), Clark Montessori High School – Kelly Green, Oyler School – Sapphire Blue. Photo by Mikki Schaffner.
May 29, 2020, CINCINNATI: After a months-long in-person and “virtual” selection process, The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati (TCT) has named the newest tri-state area schools that will partner with the JumpStart Theatre Program. The Educational Theatre Foundation (ETF), in collaboration with New York City-based companies iTheatrics and Music Theatre International (MTI) created JumpStart Theatre, a three-year scalable program designed to build sustainable musical theatre programs in underserved schools that previously had none.
Bellevue Middle School in Bellevue, KY; St. Bernard Elmwood Place Schools in St. Bernard, OH; and Pleasant Ridge Montessori in Cincinnati, OH, were selected to be part of the three-year program beginning in the 2020-21 school year. They join Hartwell Elementary, Liberty Bible Academy, and Summit Academy Cincinnati Community School who were selected last year.
The selection process included a formal written application, site visits to the schools and interviews with administrators and the faculty who would be spearheading the program.
Kim Kern, Managing Director and CEO of The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati said, “After a rigorous application and interview process, we are thrilled to welcome Bellevue Middle School, St. Bernard Elmwood Place Schools and Pleasant Ridge Montessori to the JumpStart Theatre Program for the 20-21 school year. All the schools that applied were wonderful candidates and will be invited to the boot camp trainings and to apply again for the 2021-22 school year. We are so excited to see the continued momentum of this program, and to work alongside the Educational Theatre Foundation to continue the growth locally while they expand the reach and impact nationally.”
The selected schools are incredibly enthusiastic about beginning the process:
“The staff and students of St. Bernard are excited to have been chosen to work with Children’s Theatre to put on a school musical! This is an amazing opportunity for our students and community! We are extremely grateful!” — Erin Cupito, Teacher, St. Bernard Elmwood Place Schools
“We’re deeply grateful for this opportunity to provide options for our students to continue and explore new pathways of performance. We hope to use the transformative power of performance to enrich the lives of our students.” — Chris Wheeler, Band Director and Performing Arts, Bellevue Middle School
“It is a huge honor for Pleasant Ridge Montessori to be selected for this great opportunity. Our students have always loved being involved in the arts and the JumpStart Theatre program will bring our school to the next level. It aligns with our school goals of putting students at the center of all we do. Not only will students be able to perform in a full-scale musical, but they will be able to participate in all aspects of the production. This exposure to the arts not only will encourage our students, but also will give lasting memories and a life-long love of theatre.” — Maria Kitsinis, Music Specialist, Pleasant Ridge Montessori
Each selected school will receive services and materials valued at $12,000 in the form of training, mentoring, and production support for a show for their community. Students will be involved in every aspect of the production, and TCT and ETF will also host an annual JumpStart Theatre showcase, bringing all the participants together to share their work.
Three teachers from each participating school are taught the techniques and skills to develop and manage a musical theatre program (everything from casting, to rehearsal schedules, to staging/choreography and technical requirements, to cultivating parent/community engagement, to achieving economic sustainability) through a series of three, full-day professional development “boot camps” each year of the three-year program, plus an ongoing mentoring/coaching relationship with an experienced theatre teaching artist.
For questions about the JumpStart Theatre Program and application process, visit www.thechildrenstheatre.com or email mary.wright@tctcincinnati.com.
About The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati (TCT):
The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati is the oldest children’s theatre in the country. Its mission is to educate, entertain and engage audiences of all ages through professional theatrical productions and arts education programming. Its vision is to awaken a lifelong love of theater in children and the young at heart. Today, the Children’s Theatre brings art to life for our audiences through three key programs: TCT MainStage at the Taft Theatre, TCT on Tour (including Workshops) and TCT Academy. Each season TCT strives to reach more than 200,000 people in our region. For more information visit www.thechildrenstheatre.com.
About the Educational Theatre Foundation (ETF):
The Educational Theatre Foundation was launched November, 2017, as the philanthropic arm of the Educational Theatre Association, which is the home of the International Thespian Society. ETF provides essential financial support to enhance excellence in theatre education and to expand access to school theatre programs for every child, putting them on a more positive life path. ETF is focused on three areas: JumpStart Theatre–to create sustainable musical theatre programs where there previously were none; need-based grants to schools–to provide teaching and performance resources and equipment in under-resourced schools; and, merit and need-based grants to individuals—to nurture the next generation of theatre teachers and artists. In its first year ETF has awarded more than $650,000 in grants, directly impacting high school theatre programs in 50 cities, and enabling the development of musical theatre programs in underserved middle schools in six states.
The JumpStart Theatre program creates sustainable theatre arts programs in middle schools where there previously were none. Participating schools are chosen through a rigorous application process and receive training, materials, and budget support to produce their first full-scale musical production. The support continues for three years until the program becomes self-sustaining. Non-theatre teachers are equipped with skills and resources to produce their school’s first musical through a proven combination of bootcamp style training and hands-on mentoring. The Educational Theatre Foundation operates JumpStart Theatre through a national network of regional theatre company partners who are selected based on their track-record of success in running educational programs for children.
As of 2019, JumpStart Theatre is being implemented in Cincinnati, OH; San Diego, CA; St. Louis, MO; Atlanta, GA; and Frostburg, MD.
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Filed under Family-Friendly, Press Releases
FUTUREFEST Play Festival To Be Streamed at Dayton Playhouse
Because of the continuing coronavirus issues, the Dayton Playhouse has decided to reformat this year’s FutureFest. The Dayton Playhouse is planning to produce readings of three of the six scripts to be streamed online, along with live talkbacks with those finalist playwrights. In addition, there will be a series of three Playwright Dialogues with all six playwrights, interviewed by Board Chair Matt Lindsay. There will be no adjudication of the shows this year and no winner selected.
Streamed plays are:
A Ghost of a Chance by Kimberly Shimer, directed by Annie Pesch. The afterlife story of Evelyn, a nitpicky, obsessive, know-it-all whom, after dying, finds she can’t make it to her final resting place until she reconciles with her husband Harry. Unfortunately, because she made Harry miserable for most of their 30-plus years of marriage, he’s not particularly inclined to make nice with her ghost when she pays him a visit.
Before Lesbians by Elana Gartner, directed by Kim Warrick. When Charlotte and Vivian meet at the courthouse in Shippensburg, PA, they are about to marry their fiancés who are leaving to fight for President Lincoln. After their husbands leave for war, Charlotte and Vivian develop a friendship through letters and visits and suddenly find themselves struggling with their growing romantic and confusing feelings for one another.
The Good Deli by Kevin Cirone, directed by Debra Kent. After visiting her estranged and ailing father in the hospital during serious health complications, a Boston comedian decides to take a road trip with her family to find the Italian deli of her father’s youth.
While the Dayton Playhouse is in the planning stages, their hope is that each play is available to watch for one week. Ticket prices and availability will be announced by June 19.
The Playhouse is also selling FutureFest t-shirts to commemorate this summer’s plays. T-shirt prices are $19. Go to www.daytonplayhouse.com to see this year’s unique design! You must order your t-shirt by June 27.
Filed under Press Releases
Behind the Curtain Cincinnati 