Monthly Archives: December 2020

The Anti-Pestilence League Brings Some Holiday Cheer To Your Ears This December

APL_logoThe Anti-Pestilence League, Harley Quinn Studios’ COVID baby, has done it again with its second installment. This time around, director and APL commissioner, Kat Reynolds, takes us on yet another old timey radio journey with an appropriately Christmas-themed episode from the classic series, OUR MISS BROOKS. Reynolds had this to say about the APL’s choice for a second episode: “While not everyone celebrates Christmas proper, this particular go reminds us humour is in style during ANY season.” The holiday episode is scheduled to be released before 12pm on December 24th, 2020.

As before, this latest offering is being provided for free online to all fans of the Harley Quinn Studios Facebook page. Not yet a fan? Well, you should be!

Visit https://www.facebook.com/HarleyQuinnStudios and “like” the page for this and various other artistic projects.

OUR MISS BROOKS debuted on radio in 1948 and both it and the television show, which debuted in 1952, ran concurrently until the series ended in 1956. OMB presented a plausible and a terribly realistic slice of life that earned many laughs and the admiration of the students and teachers in all of us. CONNIE’S LETTER TO SANDY CLAWSSS features the vocal talents of regular company members Betsy Bossart, Allen Lindsey, Jeremiah Plessinger, and Karolina Prokop. Newcomers Lisa D. Dirkes and Evan Koons help round out this talented cast with their vocal stylings. Both original and new cast members will be back for the APL’s third project, scheduled to be released in February 2021.

In the words of Harley Quinn Studios’ founder, we wish you a Merry Chrismachanukwanzukah and the happiest of New Years!

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Know Shines a Light into the World in THE LIGHT AT THE END OF A WORLD

Know Theatre of Cincinnati shines a light into the world inKTC_The Light at the End logoDevised by Know Theatre
January 21-24, 2021

Feb. 1 – We had planned for The Light at the End of a World, our choose-your-own-adventure production about lighthouses, the perils of the coast, and what to look for when you’re lost in the dark, to run for one weekend only.

But our little streaming experiment was such a hit with audiences, and we received so many requests for an extension, that we’ve made it a video-on-demand experience through February 21.

After you purchase your pay-what-you-can ticket, you’ll have 48 hours to access the show and explore your way through the paths.

On what to look for when you’re lost in the dark.

Choose Your Story

Is it just us, or has this winter seemed darker than usual? A lot of this past year has been pretty dark, to be honest. Given the state of the world, Know Theatre found ourselves yearning for a light in the darkness. Kindling that light gave us our newest digital MainStage event: The Light at the End of a World, which offers a little guidance about what to look for when you’re lost in the dark.

In this all-online, interactive, choose-your-own-path performance, audiences find themselves welcomed into the private thoughts of a passionate amateur historian of lighthouses and other historical wayfinding. As his story unfolds, viewers can choose “doors” in the performance that drop them into other worlds: a cabaret featuring the best in nautical stand-up comedy, a grippingly suspenseful tale about travelers marooned in a lighthouse, and the workshop of a beleaguered young artist struggling to find her light.

The Light at the End of a World has been devised by the artists on staff at the Know Theatre. We have always known that art can be a healing balm to the spirits of artist and audience alike, and as we wrestled with this question over the past several months – what do we do when we are lost in the dark? – the different limbs of this play began to emerge.

Inspired by branching, site-specific works of theatre, like Sleep No More from Punchdrunk and The Other Rhine, our own co-produced work with Hit The Lights! Theatre Co. in 2016, this show is a fully-staged piece of digital entertainment that viewers can stream in the safety and comfort of their own homes. It’s a warm and dry haven for all who feel battered on the rocks of the past year, for everyone who’s looking for a little light or a little sweetness in the January dark, or for anyone who’s longing to be a light for others.

The Light at the End of a World will be performed for just one weekend, January 21 through 24. Helmed by the Know’s artistic leadership team, Andrew J. Hungerford and Tamara Winters, the show is co-created by Zach Robinson, Liz Carman, Kayla Williams, and Alexx Rouse.

Know Theatre takes the potential risks of making theatre in a pandemic very seriously, and we are taking all possible steps to ensure the safety of our cast and crew. Precautions include grouping working teams together inside pre-existing social “bubbles,” regular COVID testing for all members of the production team, clearly delineated working spaces to ensure safe distancing, mask-wearing at all times except during performance, and regular disinfecting of the theatre.

Tickets for The Light at the End of a World will be available in early January. We can’t wait to take you on this wayfinding journey with us. The seas may get bumpy, but we’ll guide you safely by these rocky shores.

PRODUCTION TEAM

  • Devising Team: Andrew J. Hungerford, Tamara Winters, Zach Robinson, Kayla Williams, Liz Carman, Alexx Rouse
  • Sound Designer: Douglas J. Borntrager
  • Resident Stage Manager: Meghan Winter
  • Technical Director: Henry Bateman 

AT A GLANCE

  • Production: The Light at the End of a World, by Know Theatre of Cincinnati
  • Dates: January 21-24, 2021
  • Where: Online, streamed from the Know Theatre of Cincinnati
  • Tickets: The standard ticket price is $20. Audiences may opt to support the Know’s initiative to pay all artists and employees a living wage by selecting the $30 Living Wage Ticket. Rush tickets, when available, may be purchased for $10 an hour before performance. 

Know Theatre is Cincinnati’s Theatrical Playground. The Know showcases unexpected voices, new works, and plays that embrace the inherent theatricality of the live experience. Know Theatre seeks to be a place where artists and audiences feel welcome to take artistic risks, creating work that is cutting edge and accessible.

 Know Theatre’s work is made possible, in part, by the generosity of community contributions to the ArtsWave Campaign. 

The Ohio Arts Council helps fund Know Theatre with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence, and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans. 

Know Theatre is also supported by The Carol Ann & Ralph V. Haile, Jr./U.S. Bank Foundation, helping to change our communities for the better through collaboration and innovation, and the Greater Cincinnati Foundation, which provides a simple, powerful, and highly personal approach to giving. 

 Know Theatre is a member of Theatre Communications Group and an Associate Member of the National New Play Network. 

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Mason City Council Passes Unanimous Resolution to Support MAC Efforts

MAC_City CouncilAt the city council meeting on December 14th, 2020, the Mason City Council passed a unanimous resolution in support of the efforts and vision of the Mason Arts Council, forging the path for future cooperation and partnership to bring the Mason Regional Arts Facility to Mason, Ohio.

The Mason Arts Council, a non-profit organization founded in 2019 with the focus of bringing the arts community together and enhancing opportunities for all citizens to experience the arts, would raise private capital to pay for the building of the facility (no use of local taxes), and hopes to partner with the City of Mason on resources and additional opportunities for art-related events.

A collaboration between the City of Mason and MAC would bring the most comprehensive, world-class arts facility to the region, making Mason an arts and cultural destination, attracting regional and national talent.  Mason tourism would increase, stimulating the growth of downtown businesses, and leading to more urban living development.

Wonderful arts opportunities would be available for all, no matter the skill level, and a heavy emphasis would be placed on those with special needs. Additionally, the Mason Arts Council is committed to partnering with Mason City Schools and other area schools to enhance their arts education programs. Not only would the arts curriculum be extensive, but this new facility would offer the latest in technological advancements.

“We are so excited our resolution was accepted by the City of Mason and we look forward to calling Mason the home for the Regional Center for the Arts,” stated Thomas Huff, the President of the Mason Arts Council. “This facility would be a focal point of the city – a destination to bring more business to local restaurants and shops and stimulate additional downtown development. A place to showcase the many cultures within our community. A place for children to learn, masters to shine, and audiences to be wowed!”

The Mason Regional Center for the Arts would be built in two phases, beginning with the Center for the Performing Arts. Welcoming patrons with an entry canopy and a large lobby, the facility would consist of a 1,000-seat theatre, ticket offices, a scene shop and workroom, a green room, a large rehearsal room, performers dressing rooms, restrooms, a beverage bar and concessions, a kitchen, and a smaller 400-seat theatre with a separate entrance. The main theatre would accommodate large-scale productions and acts, while the smaller theatre could be utilized for corporate events and entertainment. Receiving and security offices, prop storage, board rooms, administrative offices, a music library, instrument storage, and a large community event room would also be part of phase one.

Phase two of the build would be the Center for the Visual Arts adjacent to the Center for the Performing Arts. A beautiful recreation area with outdoor sculptures would welcome visitors as they approach the building. The main, skylit hallway would feature member paintings and photography. Other features in the Visual Arts Center would be: art and photo galleries, a large art gallery for traveling exhibitions, a dance and ballet studio, sculpture, painting and ceramics studios, a state-or-the-art production studio, a TV control room, a radio studio and control room, an actor’s instruction studio, computer labs, drawing and print making studios, and general classrooms for instruction.

“We truly appreciate the dedication of the Mason City Council to our city and their support of the arts. We hope to continue to work together to make the Mason Regional Arts Center a reality,” Thomas Huff added.

Mason Arts Council
Founded in 2019, the Mason Arts Council is an independent, non-profit organization with the goal of bringing the arts to people of all ages, ability levels and backgrounds. MAC works with local, regional and state arts organizations to enhance arts opportunities for the community and supports arts events throughout the year. MAC plans to design and build a state-of-the-art community arts facility funded by private donations (no local tax dollars). To learn more, visit masonartscouncil.org.

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Casting Call for Queen City Vaudevillians

QCV_logoProduced by AngelTrick Entertainment LLC

Angel Trick Entertainment LLC is an Entertainment Company Owned by Patrick Thernes (Sir Pat-Trick Magical Entertainer).

We are searching for 2 locally based Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky actors who would be interested in helping to form and be members of a vaudeville troupe/show from the ground up. Starting with 60-minute virtual shows then moving to live stage productions when deemed safe to do so. Shows would consist of group numbers, solos, comedy skits, along with magic/slapstick comedy. Two types of shows will be provided PG-family friendly and PG13.

Shows would be once a month.

Looking for two actors age 18+

Male – sings and moves well, able to do comedy/improv. Specialty talents a bonus but not required. Able to play the “straight man” opposite a comic foil yet can turn around be comical in his own right.

Female- singer, dancer with comedic timing. A Diva with a heart of gold, loves being in the troupe, but enjoys her moments in the spotlight with a little flirting along the way. Specialty talents a bonus but not required.

Compensation for performances will be discussed at callbacks/interview.

Rehearsals will be 1 day a week in the evening over Zoom.

Please send headshots/resume with a video link consisting of a comedic monologue and 32 bars cut of a musical theatre selection that best fits your vocal style. No pop or rock musicals please.

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: MONDAY January 11th , 2021.
Invited Call backs/interviews On Sunday January 17th, 2021 will be held over ZOOM.

Please email questions and submissions to:
Patrick Thernes Owner/Artistic Director
Email: angeltrickllc@gmail.com
Subject line: Vaudeville Auditions

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Ethnically Diverse Actors Needed for INDIAN SIGN at The Drama Workshop

TDW_VERTThe Drama Workshop is continuing our HOME VIEW THEATRE series, featuring video production of short theatrical works. We are casting for the production of INDIAN SIGN, written by Clint Bramkamp, and directed by Richard Zenk.

Roles:

  • Gene/Jean: Italian American heritage. Middle-aged

  • Frank/Frances:  American Indian/indigenous American heritage. Middle-aged

Both roles can be played by any gender/gender identity. It is important to the director that the actors are ethnically representative of the characters they portray.

Premise: Gene/Jean leads a group protesting the demolition of a historic advertising sign featuring a friendly American Indian image. Frank/Frances, in turn, advocates for the removal of the offensive sign.

It may be filmed on location, in a theatrical setting, or via zoom. Actors will need to be off-book.

If interested please email tdw.homebrew@gmail.com by December 30th detailing your interest. (Your headshot and resume are appreciated, especially if you are not known by The Drama Workshop and/or the director.)

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