We would like to welcome our 2020-2021 Executive committee:
For more information about ACT of Greater visit www.actcincinnati.org.
Filed under Press Releases
Fairfield Footlighters is pleased to announce their 2020-21 Season, starting with THE SUNSHINE BOYS by America’s playwright, Neil Simon. Directed by Richard Zenk and opening late September, this show is a classic comedy as two aging vaudevillians get one more chance at the spotlight.
In November, get your deerstalker cap on — the play’s afoot! Comedic genius Ken Ludwig transforms Arthur Conan Doyle’s classic The Hound of the Baskervilles into a murderously funny adventure with KEN LUDWIG’S BASKERVILLE: A SHERLOCK HOLMES MYSTERY, directed by Kevin Noll.
In February, Anna Schindler directs Louisa May Alcott’s timeless story of coming of age and the importance of honesty, hard work, and true love. Home and family come to light in Thomas Hischak’s stage adaptation of the beloved novel, LITTLE WOMEN.
Finally, the season ends with the musical, PETER AND THE STARCATCHER, directed by Nicholas Brown, which provides a backstory for the characters of Peter Pan, Mrs Darling, Tinker Bell and Hook, and serves as a prequel to J. M. Barrie’s Peter and Wendy.
Fairfield Footlighters is proud to be a former Grant Recipient of the Fairfield Community Foundation.
THE SUNSHINE BOYS
Sep 18, 2020 – Sep 27, 2020
Written by Neil Simon
Directed by Richard Zenk
Al Lewis and Willy Clark are a pair of feuding vaudeville comedians who performed together for 47 years before finally calling it quits. A network genius then has the brilliant idea of reuniting the duo for a TV special about the history of comedy. Once the reunion is on, the sparks and one-liners start to fly with equal speed. Enjoy this audience favorite where hilarity abounds in this comedy of showbiz and friendship.
All Ages. Presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals
Ken Ludwig’s BASKERVILLE: A SHERLOCK HOLMES MYSTERY
Nov 13, 2020 – Nov 22, 2020
Written by Ken Ludwig
Directed by Kevin Noll
Sherlock Holmes is on the case. The male heirs of the Baskerville line are being dispatched one by one. To find their ingenious killer, Holmes and Watson must brave the desolate moors before a family curse dooms its newest heir. Watch as our intrepid investigators try to escape a dizzying web of clues, silly accents, disguises, and deceit as five actors deftly portray more than forty characters. Does a wild hellhound prowl the moors of Devonshire? Can our heroes discover the truth in time? Join the fun and see how far from elementary the truth can be.
All Ages. Presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals
LITTLE WOMEN
Feb 19, 2021 – Feb 28, 2021
Written by Thomas Hischak
Directed by Anna Schindler Brown
In 1860’s New England, we see the lives of the four March daughters – Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy – play out before us and follow their triumphs and tragedies as they grow up, fall in love, and face life. With their chaplain father away serving in the Civil War and their mother doing all she can to hold things together at home, the girls employ creativity and courage to help their mother while pursuing their own passions—Jo’s writing, Amy’s art, Beth’s service to the poor, and Meg’s pursuit to become a proper young lady. Next-door neighbor Theodore “Laurie” Laurence, a lonely but charming teen, can’t resist the energy and grace of these little women and helps them to endure one trial after another.
All Ages. Presented by arrangement with Dramatic Publishing.
PETER AND THE STARCATCHER
May 21, 2021 – May 30, 2021
A Play by Rick Elice
Based on the Novel by Dave Berry and Ridley Pearson
Music by Wayne Barker
Directed by Nicholas Brown
A young orphan and his mates are shipped off from Victorian England to a distant island ruled by the evil King Zarboff. They know nothing of the mysterious trunk in the captain’s cabin, which contains a precious, otherworldly cargo. At sea, the boys are discovered by a precocious young girl named Molly, a Starcatcher-in-training who realizes that the trunk’s precious cargo is starstuff, a celestial substance so powerful that it must never fall into the wrong hands. When the ship is taken over by pirates – led by the fearsome Black Stache, a villain determined to claim the trunk and its treasure for his own – the journey quickly becomes a thrilling adventure.
All Ages. Presented by arrangement with Music Theatre International.
Filed under Press Releases, Season Announcements
Commonwealth Artists Student Theatre (CAST) is holding open auditions for one role needed in their upcoming production of PUFFS.
PUFFS: “For seven years a certain boy wizard went to a certain Wizard School and conquered evil. This, however, is not his story. This is the story of the Puffs… who just happened to be there too. A tale for anyone who has never been destined to save the world. The New York Times proclaims PUFFS, “A FAST-PACED ROMP through the ‘Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic and Magic.’ For POTTERphiliacs who grew up alongside Potter and are eager to revisit that world, ‘PUFFS’ exudes a jovial, winking fondness for all things Harry!” This clever and inventive play “never goes more than a minute without a laugh” (Nerdist) giving you a new look at a familiar adventure from the perspective of three potential heroes just trying to make it through a magic school that proves to be very dangerous for children. Alongside them are the Puffs, a group of well-meaning, loyal outsiders with a thing for badgers “who are so lovable and relatable, you’ll leave the theater wishing they were in the stories all along” (Hollywood Life). Their “hilariously heartfelt!” (Metro) and epic journey takes the classic story to new places and reimagines what a boy wizard hero can be.
We are only accepting video auditions. Video submissions are due by Friday, May 29th by 5pm.
Audition requirements
Please submit video auditions to our Artistic Director, Jason Burgess, at jasonburgess@caststages.org. If the files are too big, you may share them though a Google Drive link, Dropbox or other platform. If you have any questions about video submissions, please contact our Artistic Director, Jason Burgess, at jasonburgess@caststages.org. The audition information packet is attached to this email.
The roles we are looking to fill is:
Cedric (M) – A champion. Athletic, winning, popular, and charming. Everyone’s favorite, but still loyal, patient, and kind. A leading example of a Puff.
Mr. Voldy (M) – Evil. Like, reeeaaally evil. Wants to rule the world in shadows and darkness and terror. (Or, ya know, just an amazing Ralph Fiennes impression.)
Performance dates for Puffs are Friday, July 3rd thru Saturday, July 11th. All performances will take place in the Felsenhaus warehouse located at 242 W McMicken Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45214
Commonwealth Artists Student Theatre is a Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati theatre collaborative, that through professional quality productions, arts instruction and developing community relationships, empowers students to achieve their artistic potential under the leadership of professionals.
For any questions regarding CAST, the production of Puffs or anything else, visit www.caststages.org or please contact Jason Burgess at 859-545-0770 or jasonburgess@caststages.org
Commonwealth Artists Student Theatre (CAST) is holding open auditions for roles needed in their upcoming production of NEWSIES.
NEWSIES: New York City, 1899. Jack Kelly and his ragtag team of newsboys make a meager living selling newspapers on the city streets. But when the prices of “papes” are hiked and the newsies are hung out to dry, there is nothing left to do but “open the gates and seize the day!” Led by charismatic Jack and independent, young newspaper reporter Katherine Plummer, the Newsies form a union and organize a strike against the greedy publisher of the New York World. Can a group of idealistic newsboys win against a foe as powerful as acclaimed publisher Joseph Pulitzer? Inspired by the true story of the 1899 Newsboys Strike, Newsies is an ebullient, joyful, and entertaining musical capturing the strength that young people have when they join together and stand up against injustice. With a funny, poignant book by Harvey Feirstein and stunning music by Alan Menken and Jack Feldman — including the show-stopping Seize the Day, power ballad “Santa Fe” and lovely new songs like Katherine’s “Watch What Happens — Newsies is a classic with the power to inspire.
We are accepting video auditions for vocal/acting and dance. Video submissions are due by Friday, May 29th by 5pm.
Audition requirements
Please submit video auditions to our Artistic Director, Jason Burgess, at jasonburgess@caststages.org. If the files are too big, you may share them though a Google Drive link, Dropbox or other platform. If you have any questions about video submissions, please contact our Artistic Director, Jason Burgess, at jasonburgess@caststages.org. The audition information packet is attached to this email.
The roles we are looking to fill are:
Principal Characters
Featured Characters
Performance dates for NEWSIES are Friday, July 17th thru Sunday, July 26th. All performances will take place in the parking lot at Coney Island located on Kellogg Ave in Cincinnati, OH.
Commonwealth Artists Student Theatre is a Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati theatre collaborative, that through professional quality productions, arts instruction and developing community relationships, empowers students to achieve their artistic potential under the leadership of professionals.
For any questions regarding CAST, the production of Newsies or anything else, visit www.caststages.org or please contact Jason Burgess at 859-545-0770 or jasonburgess@caststages.org
Filed under Auditions, Family-Friendly
Gift to support new theatre construction as well as ongoing operations
Digi and Mike Schueler
CINCINNATI – Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park today announced a $3 million pledge from Digi and Mike Schueler to help construct its new mainstage theatre complex and to support artistic programming for the next five years.
“Digi and Mike’s extraordinary gift leads us into the homestretch of our capital campaign,” says Blake Robison, artistic director. “And making a five-year commitment to our future artistic programming speaks volumes about their love of the Playhouse and the confidence they have in work we put onstage for the community. We can’t thank them enough.”
Included in the pledge is a capital campaign gift of $1.75 million that gives the Schuelers naming rights to the lobby of the new facility. The Playhouse now has $41.5 million in funds committed toward the project total of $49.5 million. The Schuelers join Moe and Jack Rouse and the Rosenthal Family as the lead donors of the Playhouse’s capital campaign.
“Digi and I hope our gift inspires others to join us in helping deliver this project to the community,” says Mr. Schueler, who is Chairman and CEO of The Schueler Group, a real estate, development and construction company located in Warren County.
The Schuelers are active throughout Greater Cincinnati with numerous social service and arts organizations. Mrs. Schueler has been a member of the Playhouse Board of Trustees for 16 years and has filled a variety of leadership positions during that time. She also currently serves on the boards of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Every Child Succeeds, 4C for Children and East End Adult Education.
“The Playhouse is a national treasure right here in Cincinnati,” says Mrs. Schueler. “We are so pleased to play our part in securing its future for generations to come.”
With the other $1.25 million of their pledge, the Schuelers have committed to continue their season sponsorship of the mainstage series in the current Marx Theatre and future Rouse Theatre as well as a select production sponsorship in the Rosenthal Shelterhouse Theatre through the 2025-26 Season.
The Playhouse began site preparation work for the building construction in the spring to move utilities, change traffic patterns and create the staging area for the new theatre. That work is on track to be completed by the end of the summer. Ground-breaking for the new theatre is slated for late fall 2020, assuming no delays related to COVID-19 issues. Projected opening of the new theatre complex remains late 2022.
Filed under Press Releases
Behind the Curtain Cincinnati 