PRETTY WOMAN the Musical
Broadway in Dayton
Nov. 1-6
Schuster Center [Dayton]
PRETTY WOMAN: THE MUSICAL, based on one of Hollywood’s most beloved romantic stories of all time, springs to life with a powerhouse creative team led by two-time Tony Award®-winning director and choreographer Jerry Mitchell (Hairspray, Kinky Boots, Legally Blonde). Ages 17 and up.
Filed under On Stage
RHAPSODY ON A THEME OF PAGANINI
Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra
Oct. 29-30
Music Hall [Over-the-Rhine]
Michael Francis, conductor
Behzod Abduraimov, piano
Michael Francis leads Vaughan Williams’ war-torn Sixth Symphony 150 years after the English composer’s birth. Pianist Behzod Abduraimov shares his “prodigious technique and rhapsodic flair” (The New York Times) in Rachmaninoff’s variations on an iconic melody by legendary violinist-composer Paganini—a brilliant showcase of stunning moments and orchestral thrills. Panufnik’s trumpet fanfare signals the start of the program, while Ives’ somber trumpet ponders the “perennial question of existence.” We believe that great music is for everyone, regardless of your budget. This concert is eligible for Pay What You Wish Pricing, as well as other discounts. To learn more visit Music for All.
Official page | Facebook event |
Filed under On Stage
RED HERRING
Clark State Theatre Arts Program
Oct. 28-Nov. 6
Turner Studio Theatre [Springfield]
Directed by Aleksandra (Sasha) Kozlova
Produced by Theresa Lauricella
Cast: Taylor Elizabeth Nelson as Maggie Pelletier, Zach Roberts as Frank Keller/Priest/Major Hartwell, Abbie Hawke as Lynn McCarthy, Dawson Hudson as James Appel/Harry/Bartender, Emily Therese Parsons as Mrs. Kravitz, Windom Mesure as Andrei Borchevsky/Petey/Dr. Kasden/Herbert, Corpse, Lindsey Tomlin as Clerk/Mrs. Van Nostrand & Destiny King as Mrs. McCarthy
Three love stories, a murder mystery, and a nuclear espionage plot converge in this noir comedy about marriage and other explosive devices. It’s 1952: America’s on the verge of the H-bomb, Dwight Eisenhower’s on the campaign trail, and I Love Lucy’s on Monday nights. Meanwhile, Senator Joe McCarthy’s daughter just got engaged to a Soviet spy, and Boston detective Maggie Pelletier has to find out who dumped the dead guy in the Harbor – or else lose out on a honeymoon in Havana. A blunt-nosed, sharp-eyed look at love and tying (and untying, and retying) the knot.
Filed under On Stage
SIGNATURE: The Best of RDT
Revolution Dance Theatre
Oct. 8
Kennedy Heights Arts Center
Enjoy an evening of “Signature” works by Cincinnati’s only Professional Black Ballet Company, Revolution Dance Theatre. Experience the choreography, music and stories that have made RDT what it is today.
VIOLET presented by NKU School of the Arts through Oct. 2. I attended the closing Wednesday night performance.
Let’s cut to the chase: NKU School of the Arts is currently presenting an impressive production of VIOLET.
Vocally the show is excellent with powerful solos from Jeremiah Savon Jackson (Flick), Yolee Louis (Almeta), Chloe Hedrick (Music Hall Singer), and Chloe Esmeier (the Violet understudy in the title role for this performance). The harmonies were beautiful.
I also enjoyed the excellent character work by Hailey Watson (Young Vi), Rachel Gardner (Old Lady), Sylas Craven (Preacher), and Tre Taylor (Virgil).
Hailey Watson as Young Vi & Trey Finkenstead as Father.
Both Chris Monell (Monty) and Trey Finkenstead (Father) created solid, believable characters and handled their songs very well.
The orchestra, under the leadership of Scot Buzza, sounded great and were hot miked. Thankfully, so were the actors so I could hear well when there were one or two vocalists. In the group numbers, there were times when the combination caused the lyrics to get muddy.
Director Jamey Strawn keeps the action clear and easy to follow as the story takes us to various locations and back and forth in time. The set design worked well and set changes were made with efficiency and never drew my focus.
Overall, an impressive, smartly presented, not often produced musical that my guest and I thoroughly enjoyed.
My rating: 4.75 out of 5.
Click here for more information on the production.
Filed under Reviews
Behind the Curtain Cincinnati 