Monthly Archives: June 2020

June 29, 2020 · 9:43 am

2020-2021 Season Update from Troy Civic Theatre

TROY_logoThe Troy Civic Theatre board of directors has been closely following the Covid-19 (SARS-CoV-2) situation affecting our communities since the initial shut-down announcements in March. After recent conversations with the Ohio Department of Health, several meetings with board members, and gathering feedback and input from our members, season ticket holders, sponsors, and patrons, the board has made decisions regarding the 2020-2021 theatre season.

The postponed production of the Jones, Hope, Wooten comedy THE HALLELUJAH GIRLS (previously planned for May 2020) will be going forward in August. The show will be presented August 7-9, 14-16, 2020, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm, Sundays at 2 pm, and with added Saturday matinee performances, also at 2 pm. All 2019-20 season ticket holders will be able to use their tickets. However, due to social distancing, you may not be able to retain your usual seats or performances. We will be asking that season ticket holders please confirm the dates they wish to attend and number in their party by late July, in order for proper seating to be provided. More information will be coming to season ticket holders from our box office personnel regarding requirements and recommendations.

The TCT board also plans to continue with the previously announced 2020-2021 season, starting with DADDY’S DYIN’, WHO’S GOT THE WILL in September, directed by Michael Schumacher. The Del Shores comedy will be followed in November by the touching Sean Grennan drama, THE TIN WOMAN, directed by Niccole SueAnn Wallace. March 2021 will offer the uproarious Jones, Hope, Wooten farce, FARCE OF HABIT, directed by Steve Dietrich. The 2020-21 season will conclude with the hit musical BONNIE AND CLYDE, directed by Derek Dunavent. Season ticket flyers will be going out to all current season ticket holders soon, and season tickets will be available for purchase during THE HALLELUJAH GIRLS performances. As the extent of social distancing and gathering limits for the future is still now known, previously preferred seating may not be available.

The board of directors is as committed to keeping our audiences and members safe as we are to providing quality entertainment. To this end, we are continuing to talk to the Ohio and Miami County Departments of Health for their guidance regarding requirements and recommendations for live theatre, and setting our policies and procedures for these upcoming productions accordingly. We ask for your continued patience as we work towards making these important decisions, and set up a fluid seating plan that will also meet the needs and preferences of our audience members.

While we do not have everything set yet, the board is creating a plan for chair placement that can be altered depending on the size of the audiences (currently anticipated to be 25-30 audience members per performance). Protocols regarding intermission, entrance into the theatre, seating, and dismissing the audience at the end of the performance are still being discussed, and will be announced as decisions are being made. Use of masks or face coverings by audience members will be strongly encouraged, hand sanitizer will be available for everyone entering the theatre, and a cleaning protocol for before and after performances will include frequent disinfecting of all hard surfaces, as well as a plan to spray down the entire theatre with hypochlorous acid (HOCL), commonly used as a disinfectant spray in dental offices and hospitals.

The TCT board of directors wishes to thank all our members and audiences for their continued support, and their patience and understanding as we navigate these uncharted waters. We will make announcements as information is available and policies are set. We look forward to seeing you at the Barn!

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June 26, 2020 · 11:00 am

CINCINNATI OPERA AT 100, A Televised Celebration of Cincinnati Opera’s First Century to Premiere on CET July 3

co_logoFeaturing performances from home by:

Nicole Cabell, soprano and
Craig Terry, piano

Jacqueline Echols, soprano,
Matthew White, tenor, and
Kevin Miller, piano

Stephen Costello, tenor and
Anthony Manoli, piano

Morris Robinson, bass and
Matthew Umphreys, piano

Members of the Cincinnati Opera Chorus and the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra

And performances at iconic Cincinnati locations by:

Jennifer Cherest, soprano
and Henri Venanzi, piano

Joseph Lattanzi, baritone and
Marie-France Lefebvre, piano

CSO musicians Stefani Matsuo, concertmaster and
Michael Chertock, piano

Maria Miller, mezzo-soprano,
Cincinnati Ballet dancer Samantha Riester
with choreography by Oğulcan Borova,
and Carol Walker, piano

Victoria Okafor, soprano and
Henri Venanzi, piano

Rodion Pogossov, baritone and
Elena Kholodova, piano

Michael Preacely, baritone and
Marcellene Winfrey, piano

CINCINNATI, OH—June 25, 2020—Cincinnati Opera and CET have announced plans for Cincinnati Opera at 100, an hour-long televised program commemorating Cincinnati Opera’s centennial. Featuring insights from local and national opera experts and performances by artists from across the country, Cincinnati Opera at 100 will premiere on CET 48.1 on Friday, July 3 at 9 p.m. EST. Additional airings will follow on CET Arts 48.3 through Tuesday, July 7.

The nation’s second-oldest opera company, Cincinnati Opera presented its first performance on June 27, 1920, at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, and its annual Summer Festival has become a beloved Cincinnati arts-going tradition. Though the company’s 100th Anniversary Season was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic, Cincinnati Opera at 100 transports the opera-going experience into viewers’ homes, including performances by much-loved singers from recent Cincinnati Opera productions and historical highlights from opera experts. Performances take place from the artists’ homes as well as iconic locations throughout the city, including the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, Cincinnati Music Hall, and other surprise venues.

“In this extraordinary year, we’re honored to partner with CET to tell the story of this ‘opera company that could,’” said Christopher Milligan, The Harry Fath General Director & CEO of Cincinnati Opera. “Our first 100 years are rich with memorable moments, remarkable people and partnerships, and a deeply devoted audience whose enthusiasm is truly inspiring. Cincinnati Opera at 100 is a love letter to all who have made this company what it is today.”

Major support for Cincinnati Opera at 100 has been provided by Monteverdi Tuscany, a luxury boutique hotel centrally located between Rome and Florence, founded by Cincinnati Opera board member Michael L. Cioffi. The celebration of the arts and humanities is central to the Monteverdi Tuscany experience, and the hotel regularly presents performances by some of opera’s most distinguished artists.

“A founding philosophy of Monteverdi Tuscany is that beauty, art and music are fundamental to our nature as human beings, and remain now, as much as ever, integral to us all,” said Cioffi. “We are thrilled to be a part of such an extraordinary moment of Cincinnati Opera’s distinguished history.”

“Michael is a visionary and a great fan of opera and Italian culture,” continued Milligan. “When we shared with him our idea of a televised centennial celebration with singers across Cincinnati and from their homes across the country, he was immediately inspired. It is his support and the sponsorship from Monteverdi Tuscany that has made this program possible.”

For complete program details for Cincinnati Opera at 100, visit cincinnatiopera.org.

CINCINNATI OPERA AT 100
Broadcast Schedule (all times are EST):

CET 48.1

  • Friday, July 3, 2020 | 9 p.m.

CET Arts 48.3

  • Sunday, July 5, 2020 | 9 p.m.
  • Monday, July 6, 2020 | 9 a.m., 2 p.m. & 6 p.m.
  • Tuesday, July 7, 2020 | 11 a.m., 4 p.m. & 11 p.m.

Description:
Cincinnati Opera at 100 is an hour-long televised program commemorating Cincinnati Opera’s centennial featuring insights from local and national opera experts and performances by artists from across the country.

With commentary by:

  • Anne Arenstein, arts writer and critic
  • Cori Ellison, dramaturg and faculty, The Juilliard School
  • Janelle Gelfand, arts writer and critic
  • Dan Hurley, historian
  • Louis Langrée, Music Director, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra
  • Thane Maynard, Director, Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
  • Evans Mirageas, The Harry T. Wilks Artistic Director, Cincinnati Opera
  • Angela Powell Walker, Artistic Director, School for Creative & Performing Arts, Cincinnati

And performances by:

  • Nicole Cabell, soprano and Craig Terry, piano
  • Jennifer Cherest, soprano and Henri Venanzi, piano
  • Stephen Costello, tenor and Anthony Manoli, piano
  • Jacqueline Echols, soprano, Matthew White, tenor, and Kevin Miller, piano
  • Joseph Lattanzi, baritone and Marie-France Lefebvre, piano
  • Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra musicians Stefani Matsuo, concertmaster and Michael Chertock,
    piano
  • Maria Miller, mezzo-soprano, Cincinnati Ballet dancer Samantha Riester with choreography by Oğulcan Borova, and Carol Walker, piano
  • Victoria Okafor, soprano and Henri Venanzi, piano
  • Rodion Pogossov, baritone and Elena Kholodova, piano
  • Michael Preacely, baritone and Marcellene Winfrey, piano
  • Morris Robinson, bass and Matthew Umphreys, piano
  • Members of the Cincinnati Opera Chorus and Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra

Major support for Cincinnati Opera at 100 has been provided by Monteverdi Tuscany, A Rare Boutique Hotel.

For complete program details, visit cincinnatiopera.org.

ABOUT CINCINNATI OPERA
Founded in 1920 and the second-oldest opera company in the nation, Cincinnati Opera presents a thrilling season of grand opera every summer. The company’s repertoire includes beloved classics and contemporary masterworks brought to life by some of the world’s most dynamic performers and creative artists.

Critical support for Cincinnati Opera is provided by ArtsWave, Huntington, The Louise Dieterle Nippert Musical Arts Fund of the Greenacres Foundation, Ohio Arts Council, Patricia A. Corbett Estate and Trust, and Harry T. Wilks Family Foundation, along with many other generous individuals, corporations, and foundations.

Cincinnati Opera’s mission is to enrich and connect our community through diverse opera experiences. cincinnatiopera.org

ABOUT PUBLIC MEDIA CONNECT
Public Media Connect is Southwest Ohio’s leading provider of education and enrichment in both living rooms and classrooms, serving more than 3 million people in the Greater Cincinnati and Dayton communities. Through PBS and local programming, innovative multimedia curriculum projects, parent workshops and professional development for teachers, Public Media Connect—CET and ThinkTV—positively impacts our community with rich and diverse resources. Public Media Connect’s mission is to strengthen the communities and region we serve by providing content and services that engage, inspire
and inform, educate and entertain, fostering culture and citizenship, the joy of learning and the power of diverse perspectives.

ABOUT MONTEVERDI TUSCANY
Monteverdi Tuscany is a luxury boutique hotel centrally located between Rome and Florence, offering stunning panoramic views of the Val d’Orcia region of Tuscany, a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned worldwide for its scenic splendor.

This unique, luxury hotel is not confined within a single building but instead is infused throughout an idyllic, medieval village, with rooms and suites tucked in among authentic and fastidiously maintained properties. The hotel now comprises eighteen individual rooms and suites plus three elegantly appointed villas, all perfect for individuals, couples, families and groups of traveling friends.

In addition, Monteverdi Tuscany currently boasts an award-winning zero kilometer restaurant, a Culinary Academy, a piano lounge and terrace bar, a separate Enoteca and Library Bar, outdoor swimming pool and indoor heated spa pool, an award-winning holistic spa, yoga studio, a modern gym, an art gallery, and a beautifully restored 700-year-old Romanesque church that serves as Monteverdi’s performing arts venue.

The next year will be a time of growth, expansion, and change at the luxury boutique hotel, always with beauty, authenticity, and guests’ wellbeing at the forefront. Owner Michael Cioffi will once again team with renowned Rome-based designer, Ilaria Miani, to expand upon and enhance the village of Castiglioncello del Trinoro.

Monteverdi’s walls and roots date back to the 12th century, yet its distinctive aesthetic and first-class amenities perfectly fuse past and present to create a truly timeless setting.

For more information or to book a stay at Monteverdi Tuscany after July 1, 2021, please visit www.MonteverdiTuscany.com.

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June 25, 2020 · 12:46 pm

The Carnegie Announces Changes to the 2020-2021 Season

TC_logo_newNew concert series, free films set for 2020 with revamped schedule of theatre productions set for 2021

COVINGTON, KY – The Carnegie’s usual fare of upbeat musicals and stunning intimate dramas will have to wait until next season. In order to ensure patrons’ safety and proper social distancing, The Carnegie is moving its previously announced 2020-21 productions of LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET and FIDDLER ON THE ROOF to the 2021-22 calendar. Work is also being done to bring back The Carnegie’s canceled production of END OF THE RAINBOW in the 2021-22 season. But just because the Theatre Series is on hold, doesn’t mean The Carnegie won’t be serving up enticing and exciting entertainment in the coming year.

“While postponing so many great shows is disappointing, I’m really excited to spend this time on new creative endeavors, original works, and collaborating closely with the amazing artists who call our region home,” said Theatre Director, Maggie Perrino.

Current season subscribers will have their subscriptions automatically rolled over to the 2021-22 season on Aug. 15. Those who do not wish to have their subscription rolled over may choose from one of the following options:

  • Donate the value of their ticket to The Carnegie as a tax-deductible expense;
  • Exchange the value of their tickets for one of the shows in the 2021 mini-season (see below);
  • Convert their tickets to a gift certificate that can be used for a future event of their choosing; or
  • Request a refund for the value of their tickets with the box office. 

ALL-NEW TINY CONCERT SERIES
Local singers and Carnegie favorites will be the featured performers for the new tiny concert series, which will begin in September and run through March 2021. Performers will play to a limited, 50-member maximum audience in The Carnegie’s 447 seat theatre for each of these events.

Additionally, those unable to attend the one-hour concerts in person will be able to view them online via ticketed livestreaming in the comfort of their own home. Details regarding line-up of performers, times and dates of the performances will be released at a later date.

FREE MOVIES FOR THE PUBLIC
To continue The Carnegie’s mission to provide arts experiences in an historic space for the public, free viewings of movie musicals will be held for audiences of just 50 people in the theatre throughout the fall. Titles and dates to be announced soon. Tickets will be free, but patrons must reserve seats ahead of time. 

ALL-NEW 2021 MINI SEASON
The spring of 2021 will bring three artistic endeavors to The Carnegie, the first of which features a first-of-its-kind regional collaboration with Northern Kentucky University’s (NKU) School of the Arts (SOTA).

THE CARNEGIE PRESENTS, in collaboration with the NKU School of the Arts, A New Play by D. Lynn Meyers | Playing April 9–25, 2021

The collaboration with NKU will see Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati’s Producing Artistic Director, D. Lynn Meyers, bring a new play to The Carnegie’s performance space. This bold pairing of educational and creative goals will allow students to work intimately with Meyers to workshop and refine the new playscript through the 2020-21 school year. The Carnegie will then debut this world premier script as the kick-off to its 2021 Mini Season and in conjunction with the 20th anniversary of the YES Festival, NKU’s new-play festival, the oldest collegiate festival of its type in the country.

Nine Performances:

  • Friday, April 9, 7:30pm
  • Saturday, April 10, 7:30 p.m.
  • Sunday, April 11, 3 p.m.
  • Friday, April 16, 7:30 p.m.
  • Saturday, April 17, 7:30 p.m.
  • Sunday, April 18, 3 p.m.
  • Friday, April 23, 7:30 p.m.
  • Saturday, April 24, 7:30 p.m.
  • Sunday, April 25, 3 p.m.

CONTENT ADVISORY: Production includes adult themes and language. Not recommended for children under 13.

GEORGE REMUS: BOOTLEGGING & BROADWAY | Playing April 30–May 1, 2021

A penniless German Immigrant who grew up in Chicago, George Remus spent much of his life in the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky region. He was first a pharmacist, then a lawyer, and eventually the most famous bootlegger of them all. He had government politicians in his pocket, the Chicago mob at his feet, and the perfect scheme for selling barrels and barrels of whiskey during the era of prohibition and speakeasies. With a lavish mansion on a hill and over-the-top parties, Remus was a millionaire playboy in 1922 – some even say he was the real Jay Gatsby. His legendary rise and fall is the subject of this new musical.

Two Performances

  • Friday, April 30, 7:30 p.m.
  • Saturday, May 1, 7:30 p.m.

CONTENT ADVISORY: Production includes adult themes and language. Not recommended for children under 13.

I GOT RHYTHM | Playing May 21–30,2021

I GOT RHYTHM celebrates the exuberant dance style of tap while singing and swinging to some of the greatest songs in the American songbook. Featuring music from Fats Waller, Duke Ellington, Irving Berlin, George Gershwin and more, you’ll leave buzzing with excitement from this high-spirited show.

Ten Performances:

  • Friday, May 21, 7:30 p.m.
  • Saturday, May 22, 3:00 p.m.
  • Saturday, May 22, 7:30 p.m.
  • Sunday, May 23, 3:00 p.m.
  • Sunday, May 23, 7:30 p.m.
  • Friday, May 28, 7:30 p.m.
  • Saturday, May 29, 3:00 p.m.
  • Saturday, May 29, 7:30 p.m.
  • Sunday, May 30, 3:00 p.m.
  • Sunday, May 30, 7:30 p.m.

CONTENT ADVISORY: This is a family-friendly production. Appropriate for all ages.

All evening shows are at 7:30 p.m.; matinee performances are at 3 p.m. For more information, visit www.thecarnegie.com.

A NOTE ON SOCIAL DISTANCING
Patrons will be asked to wear a mask and to practice safe social distancing while patronizing indoor performances or services at The Carnegie. Hand sanitizing stations will be available and additional cleaning regimens will be in place between performances.

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About The Carnegie
The Carnegie is Northern Kentucky’s largest multidisciplinary arts venue providing theatre events, educational programs and art exhibitions to the Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati community. The Carnegie facility is home to The Carnegie Galleries, the Otto M. Budig Theatre, and the Eva G. Farris Education Center.  More information about The Carnegie is available at thecarnegie.com or by calling (859) 491-2030. 

The Carnegie receives ongoing operating support from Cincinnati International Wine Festival, The Greater Cincinnati Foundation, Kenton County Fiscal Courts, the Kentucky Arts Council and the City of Covington. The Carnegie is also supported by the generosity of more than 40,000 contributors to the ArtsWave Community Campaign. 

About The Carnegie Theatre Series
The Carnegie Theatre Series produces professional, innovative stagings of an eclectic range of theatrical works. Striving to unite the greater Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati theatre community through partnerships and collaborations, the series engages and nurtures both emerging and established talent, including working professionals, committed part-time theatre artists, university performing arts students and younger students. The Carnegie Theatre Series productions bring together these forces to provide quality theatre for Northern Kentucky and the Greater Cincinnati area.

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June 25, 2020 · 11:12 am

GOLDEN GIRLS Virtual Auditions

EP_logoEquality Productions announces auditions for virtual recordings of two episodes from the TV series: THE GOLDEN GIRLS in honor of LBGTQ Pride Month. The productions will benefit Ohio LGBTQ organizations and therefore these roles are non-paid.

Sign up to audition for one or more roles on Thursday, July 2nd. The script will be emailed to you prior to the audition. Both men and women will be considered for casting for female roles.

BLANCHE is a vivacious, slightly promiscuous Southerner with a flair for younger men.

CLAYTON is Blanche’s younger brother. According to Blanche, he is just as “great looking, charming and irresistible to men” as his sister. Clayton, a divorcee, came into his own and proudly so as a gay man.

DOROTHY is a no-nonsense woman who worked as a teacher. She often delivers stinging insults and sharp punchlines.

ROSE is a well-intentioned but very daffy woman who didn’t always understand the intricacies of speech.

SOPHIA is Dorothy’s mother and is as sharp-tongued as her daughter.

Questions? equalityproductionscincy@gmail.com

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June 24, 2020 · 2:34 pm

B-Side Plays, a Remote Theatre Camp Coming in July

B-Side logoB-Side Plays was conceived out of the undeniable observation that children’s mental health is suffering from the isolation and uncertainty felt by many during the quarantine. B-side Plays is a remote theatrical company that specializes in interactive and imaginative programming to help children adapt to the changing social conditions they are currently facing. By using drama as an educational tool, we aim to teach tangible coping mechanisms through the lens of a fictional world.

This July, we are offering two weeks of summer camps for children ages 4-13.

Watch our fun, 2-minute video on the home page made by counselors and soon to be campers!

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