Monthly Archives: April 2023

Get ready to burn a CD with this 1990s musical adaptation featuring a live band and music composed for CSC by Cary Davenport

Courtney Lucien as Rosalind in Shakespeare’s AS YOIU LIKE IT. Photo by Mikki Schaffner.

Cincinnati, April 1, 2023 – Cincinnati Shakespeare Company presents As You Like It, a pop musical romp through Shakespeare’s romantic comedy, set in the 1990s, April 7 – 29, 2023. As You Like It is directed by Brant Russell of University of Cincinnati CCM. The vibrant cast of fifteen features CSC favorites such as Courtney Lucien at Rosalind, Angelique Archer as Celia, and Geoffrey Warren Barnes II as Touchstone and welcomes K.P. Powell as Orlando in his CSC debut! The cast is joined by a 5 piece band live on stage. The Design Sponsors are PNC and Frost Brown Todd.  The “Guitar” Sponsor is Michelle Getz.

Banished by her dodgy aunt, Rosalind flees the city for the Forest of Arden, disguising herself as a man attempting to hide among the locals. It is not too long before she befriends a rag-tag group of exiles and bumps into her also-on-the-run crush, Orlando. The attraction is mutual, but will Rosalind reveal her true identity or kick him to the curb? As if! Don’t miss this Brit-pop musical romp through Shakespeare’s comedy, set in the 1990s featuring an original collection of songs that will make you want to burn a CD!

Audiences will want to whip out their headphones and jam out to a set list of original music composed by Cary Davenport with music direction by Erin McCamley. “As You Like It” features a live band on stage, upping the concert vibes to give audiences several ear worms for the ride home in hits such as “Rosalind & Celia Flee,” “Greenwood Tree,” “Seven Ages of Man,” “Boys, Girls Fight,” “Rosalind’s Epilogue,” and more.  The production features 28 original songs written and composed by Cary Davenport. Audiences will remember seeing Cary’s work on CSC’s stage in many roles over the past eight seasons and hearing Cary’s original music in CSC productions such as “Twelfth Night” and “The Grapes of Wrath” among others.  Band members include Cary Davenport (Rhythm Guitar), Erin McCamley (Keyboard), Joseph Memory (Bass Guitar), Lindsey Augusta Mercer (Drums), and Nathan Singer (Lead Guitar) with lead vocals by the Narrator played by Hannah Gregory joined by the entire cast throughout.

“As You Like It” is directed by Brant Russell, making his CSC directorial debut. Brant is AB, Dolly, Ralph, and Julia Cohen Chair of Dramatic Performance in the Acting department at the College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati.  Also at UC, he is artistic director of the CCM Playwrights Workshop and drama editor for the Cincinnati Review.  This season, his play “Children of the Corn Maze: In Search of the Greenville Ghost” was produced by Playhouse in the Park’s Off-the-Grid series, and his play “Bankers” will close out Know Theatre’s season later this month.  In July, he directed the world premiere of Gracie Gardner’s “Malvolios” at Drama Studio London.  In October, he directed two of Ellen McLaughlin’s adaptations of ancient Greek plays at CCM.  In January, he helmed the US premiere of Aisha Josiah’s “Dickless.”  He is a graduate of Kenyon College (BA) and Northwestern University (MFA).  He is a member of AAUP, SDC, and the Lincoln Center Directors’ Lab.

Sam Reno’s Scenic Design and Robert Carlton Stimmel’s Projection Design captures the spirit of the 90s rock scene, while embracing the whimsical green woods of the Forest of Arden. Costumes designed by Rainy Edward feature the best of 90s fashion, including your favorite jean jackets and grunge looks! Fellow designers building this nostalgic 90s world include Jessica Drayton (Lighting Design), Zack Bennett (Sound Design), and Kara Eble Trusty (Properties Design).  Gina Cerimele-Mechley and Rachel Perin are the Fight Director and Dance Choreographer, respectively, while Jemma Alix Levy takes on the role of Text Coach and Dramaturg.

Can’t get enough music? Inspired by the original music in “As You Like It,” CSC presents Battle of the Bards, a Shakespearean twist to the classic music competition. On April 23rd, bands and musicians will perform original music inspired by songs in Shakespeare’s plays at CSC’s Otto M. Budig Theater. A fundraiser for CSC’s PROJECT38, the band who raises the most donations for the educational program will win. Battle of the Bards’ battling bands and musicians feature Xander Wells, Rachel Mousie, DazeTran, and Serenity Fisher and the Cardboard Hearts. https://cincyshakes.com/event/battle-bards/

“As You Like It” runs from April 7-29, 2023. Performances of “As You Like It” are on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 7:30 PM, with one Saturday Matinee on April 29, and two Sunday matinees on April 16 and 23 at 2:00 PM. CSC offers performances with accessibility resources. Live Audio Descriptions are available on Friday, April 14, and there is a Sign Language Interpreted performance on the Saturday matinee performance on April 29 at 2:00 PM.

Tickets are on sale now. Preview performances are on Wednesday, April 5, and Thursday, April 6, with tickets at $45. Young Professionals are invited to YP Preview Night on Wednesday, April 5, with discounted tickets at $25, including a free drink and post-show talkback. Discounts are available for students, seniors, local residents, and community partners, as access to all is important to CSC. Each performance night has a limited number of $14 “Access” tickets in the Upper Gallery and Stage Gallery.  These can be purchased in advance by going online or calling the Box Office.  And starting 1 hour before each performance, any unreserved tickets may be available as a discounted Rush Ticket to anyone, not just students. These tickets are only $12 and could be located anywhere in the house, depending on that evening’s availability. These cannot be reserved more than 1 hour before a show and must be purchased in person in the Box Office. Visa, Discover, MasterCard, and American Express are accepted. Ticketing fees apply.  To purchase tickets or for more information, call the CSC Box Office at 513.381.BARD (2273) ext. 1, or go online at http://www.cincyshakes.com.

Cincinnati Shakespeare Company is located at The Otto M. Budig Theater at 1195 Elm Street in OTR, adjacent to Washington Park.  Many parking spaces are available on the street and in nearby lots and garages- for more information, visit http://www.otrchamber.com/pages/WheretoPark.

CSC also offers Valet Parking for every performance! Make reservations for $25 in advance when purchasing tickets, or visit www.cincyshakes.com/parking. Purchasing in advance guarantees a spot.  Valet is available right at the corner of 12th and Elm Street in front of the theater and begins approx. 1.5 hours before a performance. Cars can be picked up for up to one hour following a performance. (After one hour, you will need to arrange pick up with the valet service directly.) After purchasing, the valet will have your name on the list— it’s that easy!

Cincinnati Shakespeare Company’s 2022-23 Season is generously presented by The Otto M. Budig Family Foundation; along with our Education Season Sponsor, Debby and Jim Mason; and our Operating Support Partners, The Ohio Arts Council, The Robert and Adele Schiff Family Foundation, Rosemary and Mark Schlachter, The National Endowment for the Arts with Arts Midwest, The Shubert Foundation, Lightborne, and the tens of thousands of people who give generously to the ArtsWave Community Campaign.

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About Cincinnati Shakespeare Company:
Cincinnati Shakespeare Company is a professional theatre company dedicated to bringing Shakespeare and the classics to life for all.  In the summer of 2017, the theater relocated to the Otto M. Budig Theater, a brand new facility in the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood of Cincinnati. CSC’s repertoire is composed of the works of William Shakespeare, literary adaptations, world premieres, and contemporary classics. CSC performs on a Small Professional Theatre contract with the Actors’ Equity Association. Cincinnati Shakespeare is a member of Theater Communications Group and Shakespeare Theatre Association. Each year, Cincinnati Shakespeare Company’s Education and Outreach Programs reach more than 50,000 young people and community members by meeting audiences where they are. This includes sharing programming in schools, parks, community centers and hosting educational matinees of mainstage productions. In 2015, CSC was proud to become one of the first five theaters in the United States to “Complete the Canon” by producing all 38 plays by William Shakespeare. CSC is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and all donations are tax-deductible.  Cincinnati Shakespeare Company is proud to be Cincinnati’s stage for the Classics!