Monthly Archives: June 2023

June 18, 2023 · 9:19 pm

Mason Community Players Celebrates Premier Performance of New Musical 

MCP_sm logoThe Mason Community Players is the oldest continually operating community theater organization in Warren County, OH. The group operates and performs at the Mason Community Playhouse, located at 5529 Mason Rd. in Mason, OH. This year the group celebrates 50 years of “play-ing around” with a year long jubilee and shows that highlight five decades of entertainment.

This summer, the Mason Community Players will present a premier performance with Above the Sand, an original work musical written by one of their own members. Characters will take audiences on a historical journey bringing to life the challenges and triumphs of those who dare to imagine the impossible. Join Orville, Wilbur, and the rest of the Wright family as they soar through time. This beautiful musical will lift spirits and remind everyone the difference dreams can make.

Following Above the Sand, the celebration continues with Escanaba in da Moonlight in September and concludes this jubilee season with Gender Bender 5.0, a musical review in October, and November. Tickets are now available for all shows by leaving a message at 513-398-7804 or visiting the website, www.MasonPlayers.org.  

Since its creation in 1973, the Mason Community Players has brought more than 120 productions and 30 original musical reviews to audiences in Mason, Ohio. More importantly, the group has become a family for the community, involving people of all ages on stage, backstage, and as spectators. “From our family to yours, we celebrate 50 years of making it possible for everyone to enjoy theater.”

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June 18, 2023 · 9:19 pm

Due to Popular Demand, Cincinnati Opera Offers Additional Performance of THE KNOCK

CO_The Knock1

Armando Contreras as Lt. Roberto Gonzalez in The Knock. Courtesy of the Glimmerglass Festival.

A new opera about the lives of U.S. military wives

Performances run June 23–July 7, and half of all performances are currently sold out

Cincinnati, Ohio—In response to popular demand, Cincinnati Opera will offer an additional performance of the powerful new opera, The Knock, as part of its 2023 Summer Festival. Composed by Aleksandra Vrebalov with a libretto by Deborah Brevoort, The Knock offers a glimpse into the sacrifices made by U.S. military wives on the home front while their spouses are deployed. Cincinnati Opera presents the world stage premiere of The Knock, with performances beginning on Friday, June 23. Limited seating is available through Friday, July 7. Visit cincinnatiopera.org for more information.

The Knock Updated Performance Schedule:
Friday, June 23 at 7:30 p.m. (sold out)
Tuesday, June 27 at 7:30 p.m. (sold out)
Sunday, July 2 at 3 p.m. (sold out)
Wednesday, July 5 at 7:30 p.m.
Friday, July 7 at 3 p.m. (newly-added performance)
Friday, July 7 at 7:30 p.m.

Location:
Cincinnati Music Hall, Wilks Studio
1241 Elm Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202

Tickets:
$75 admission; special pricing is available for U.S. military members and seniors, with week-of special pricing for full-time students. For information, visit cincinnatiopera.org or call 513-241-2742.

About The Knock:
Drawn from interviews with dozens of military spouses, The Knock tells the story of a group of U.S. military wives awaiting news of their husbands who have been deployed to Iraq. As they wait, a young Army officer makes the long journey to their gathering place to deliver difficult news.

The Knock was co-commissioned by Cincinnati Opera and the Glimmerglass Festival, and Cincinnati Opera’s production this summer marks its world stage premiere. The cast features baritone Armando Contreras as Lt. Roberto Gonzalez, soprano Mary-Hollis Hundley as Joella “Jo” Jenner, mezzo-soprano Briana Elyse Hunter as Aishah McNair, mezzo-soprano Stephanie Sanchez as Alto/Commanding Officer’s Wife, soprano Felicity Tomkins as Soprano 1, and soprano Erin Keesy as Soprano 2. Alison Moritz directs, with scenic design by Jimmy Rotondo, costume design by Trevor Bowen, lighting design by Thomas C. Hase, and wig and makeup design by James Geier. At the podium is conductor Stephanie Rhodes Russell leading the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.

About Cincinnati Opera’s 2023 Summer Festival:
Cincinnati Opera’s 2023 Summer Festival runs June 22 through July 29 and features: Gaetano Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor (June 22 and 24), the world stage premiere of The Knock by Aleksandra Vrebalov and Deborah Brevoort (June 23–July 7), Studio Sessions (July 12 and 19), Gioachino Rossini’s The Barber of Seville (July 6 and 8), and Giacomo Puccini’s Madame Butterfly (July 22, 27, and 29).

About Cincinnati Opera
Cincinnati Opera’s mission is to enrich and connect our community through diverse opera experiences. Founded in 1920 and the second-oldest opera company in the nation, Cincinnati Opera presents a thrilling season of grand opera every summer and engaging programs throughout the year. 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.

Cincinnati Opera is supported by the generosity of tens of thousands of contributors to the ArtsWave Community Campaign. Cincinnati Opera also receives general season support from Chavez Properties, the Ohio Arts Council, The Louise Dieterle Nippert Musical Arts Fund, Patricia A. Corbett Estate and Trust, the Harry T. Wilks Family Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Arts, along with general season and project support from many other generous individuals, corporations, and foundations. Supporters of The Knock include Lead Sponsor Disabled American Veterans Charitable Service Trust and Veteran Community Outreach Partner Disabled American Veterans. The company debut of Stephanie Rhodes Russell was partially supported by OPERA America’s Opera Grants for Women Stage Directors and Conductors, generously funded by the Marineau Family Foundation. 2023 Media Partner is Classical 90.9 WGUC. Cincinnati Opera is a proud member of OPERA America. To learn more, visit cincinnatiopera.org.

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June 18, 2023 · 9:18 pm

It’s a Hard Knock Life! ANNIE JR. Runs July 13-16

LSC_Annie JrThe Loveland Stage Company is proud to present our Youth Summer Workshop production of Annie JR! Starring students from Cincinnati Classical Academy, Miami Valley Christian Academy, Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy, and Loveland Schools.

Directed by Stephanie Mackris, Choreographed by Jenna Schroeder, Vocal Direction by Becky Jones, Technical Direction by Glenna Knapp, and Produced by Elizabeth Travnik.

With equal measures of pluck and positivity, little orphan Annie charms everyone’s heart despite a next-to-nothing start in 1930s New York City. Annie is determined to find the parents who abandoned her years ago on the doorstep of an orphanage run by the cruel Miss Hannigan. Annie eventually foils Miss Hannigan’s evil machinations, finding a new home and family in billionaire Oliver Warbucks, his personal secretary, Grace Farrell, and a lovable mutt named Sandy. this is the ultimate story of acting with love! ❤️

FOR TICKETS, VISIT:
www.lovelandstagecompany.org/tickets

.⭐Performance Dates:⭐
July 13th at 7:00 p.m.
July 14th at 7:00 p.m.
July 15th at 4:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m.
July 16th at 4:00 p.m.

Presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI (mtishows.com).

Come Join Us in historic downtown Loveland!
111 S. 2nd Street, Loveland, OH 45140
⭐

Loveland Stage Company
🎭 #ActWithLove

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June 18, 2023 · 9:17 pm

Auditions Announced for RUMORS at Mariemont Players

MPI_logo 2020Mariemont Players, Inc. is pleased to announce auditions for our January (2024) production, Rumors by Neil Simon, directed by Ed Cohen.

Audition dates/times:

  • Saturday, July 15 at 2:00 p.m.
  • Sunday, July 16 at 6:30 p.m. 

Performance Dates: January 11 – 28, 2024 

Location: Mariemont Players, 4101 Walton Creek Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45227 

Audition Requirements:

  • Auditions will consist of cold readings from the script.
  • Please bring a resume and headshot.

The production team encourages actors of all races, ethnicities, identities, abilities, experience levels, etc. to audition – all are welcome!

Please contact the director at ed3557@gmail.com with questions.

​Synopsis: At a large, tastefully-appointed Sneden’s Landing townhouse, the Deputy Mayor of New York has just shot himself. Though it’s only a flesh wound, Charlie Brock’s self-inflicted injury sets off a series of events causing four couples to experience a severe attack of farce.

As their tenth wedding anniversary commences, Charlie lies bleeding in another room, and his wife Myra is nowhere in sight. The first guests, lawyer Ken Gorman and his wife Chris, scramble to get “the story” straight before the other guests arrive. As the confusions and miscommunications mount, the evening spins off into classic farcical hilarity.

Character Descriptions: 

KEN GORMAN – A well-to-do lawyer. Wealthy, but by no means pretentious. Takes charge of the situation. Married to Chris. Halfway through the show, a gunshot causes his temporary deafness.

CHRIS GORMAN – Another lawyer, married to Ken. Beautiful, easily flustered. Frantically tries to maintain normalcy at the party. Has recently quit smoking, which drives her to drink a bit more.

LENNY GANZ – A wealthy accountant, distraught over the recent destruction of his new car. Starts the show with an extreme case of whiplash. Intolerant of the gossipy lifestyle that he is often involved in.

CLAIRE GANZ – Lenny’s wife. Very concerned with appearances (hers and others’). Starts the play with a swollen lip. Likes to gossip.

ERNIE CUSACK – A psychiatrist. Affable, smokes a pipe. Loves his wife very much. Tries to be as helpful as possible cooking the evening’s dinner.

COOKIE CUSACK – Has her own cooking show. Suffers from extreme back spasms. Loves her husband very much. A bit absent-minded at times.

GLENN COOPER – A handsome man running for State Senate. Worried about his own reputation. Struggles with placating his wife, who is convinced he is having an affair (which he may or may not be).

CASSIE COOPER – Glenn’s beautiful wife. Obsesses over her husband’s relationships with other women. Quick to anger. Must rub her quartz crystal to calm herself down.

OFFICER WELCH – A city police officer having a rough night. Does not tolerate lying. Sees through the “classy” façade that these high-society types put up.

OFFICER PUDNEY – Welch’s partner, a younger police officer. A strong but silent type.

Production Dates: January 11 – 28, 2024

Thursday, January 11 – 7:30PM
Friday, January 12 – 7:30PM
Saturday, January 13 – 7:30PM
Sunday, January 14 – 2:00PM (matinee)
Thursday, January 18 – 7:30PM
Friday, January 19 – 7:30PM
Saturday, January 20 – 2:00PM (matinee)
Saturday, January 20 – 7:30PM
Sunday, January 21 – 2:00PM (matinee)
Thursday, January 25 – 7:30PM
Friday, January 26 – 7:30PM
Saturday, January 27 – 7:30PM
Sunday, January 28 – 2:00PM (matinee)

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June 15, 2023 · 12:08 pm

MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING on June 24

CSP_Dee Dunn PavilionMUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING
CenterStage Players
June 24
College Hill Wolterman Memorial Park Dee Dunn Pavilion 

Directed by Parker Culp
Produced by Fred Hunt

Cast: Abigail Dirr as Beatrice, Joe Hamzy as Benedick, Parker Culp as Claudio, Anna-Grace Rose as Hero, Preston Koeninger as Don Pedro, Michael Gettinger as Don John, Mark Culp as Conrad, Mike Williams as Borachio, Evie Howard as Ursula & Francis Seacole, Ryan Vaughan as Balthasar & Sexton, Ken Macke as Leonato, Rebecca Coots as Atonio, Frances RTM Boyle as Dogberry, Angela K Boyle as Verges, Trisha Cooper as Hugh Oatcake & Burt McCollom as Friar Francis

Come join us for a staged reading of William Shakespeare’s classic ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ as we dedicate the Dee Dunn Pavilion. Dee had a long legacy with CenterStage Players and the Cincinnati Theatre Community and we can’t think of a better way to honor her and her contributions to our activity. Admission is free – bring a lawn chair and enjoy an evening of theatre.

  • Sat, June 24 at 7pm

Official page | Facebook event

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