Monthly Archives: April 2024

WAITING FOR LAURA at 2024 Cincy Fringe

CFF24_Waiting for LauraOscar Winner Laura Dern is invited to the Cincinnati Fringe Festival, but will she
show up?

Local artists Ben Miller-Jones (Cincinnati) and Justin King (Columbus) are teaming up under their production company “Ben & Justin Present” to launch the world premiere of their new play WAITING FOR LAURA at the 2024 Cincinnati Fringe Festival. The show is about two friends anxiously awaiting an interview with Oscar Winner, Laura Dern. Ben and Justin not only wrote
this show, but are also starring in it as fictionalized versions of themselves, excited to meet their real-life hero.

It’s not only Ben and Justin who will be waiting to see if Laura Dern shows up, but also, the rest of Cincinnati, Ohio. As part of the production of this show, its producers have reached out through various channels to Laura Dern and her production company “Jaywalker Pictures” in hopes that she might be available for a cameo at one of the performances. In fact, there’s a production note in the script that calls for the producers to reach out and strictly states that “…under no circumstances are the actors, Ben and Justin, allowed to know if Laura Dern is available for a performance” and gives stipulations for how the show might slightly change in the event of the celebrity cameo.

“We’ve always been fans of Laura Dern and we’ve written this play as a love-letter to one of the most iconic actresses out there.” says Co-Creator Ben Miller-Jones.

“The show is labeled as ‘a fantasy’ and what’s more of a fantasy than getting to meet a Hollywood celebrity who means the world to you?” adds Co-Creator Justin King.

Ben & Justin Present is a production company best known for creating 3 seasons of The Gay
Spelling Bee for YouTube. BJP is self-run, not for profit, and full of delusion, much like its creators. WAITING FOR LAURA is camp. It’s comedy. It’s Waiting for Godot if Godot was an Oscar-Winning gay icon.

For tickets and show dates, visit https://cincyfringe.com.

Leave a comment

Filed under Press Releases

Cast Announced for JERSEY BOYS at Warsaw Federal Incline Theatre

WFIT_ExteriorThe 2024 Summer Classic Season at Warsaw Federal Incline Theater announces the cast for JERSEY BOYS running May 29-June 23. Book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice. Music by Bob Gaudio. Lyrics by Bob Crewe.

With phenomenal music, memorable characters, and great storytelling, JERSEY BOYS follows the fascinating evolution of four blue-collar kids who became one of the greatest successes in pop-music history. Winner of Best Musical at both the Tony Awards® and Olivier Awards®, JERSEY BOYS takes you behind the music of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons to discover the secret of a 40-year friendship as the foursome work their way from the streets of New Jersey to the heights of stardom. Thrill your audiences with electrifying performances of chart-topping hits including “Sherry,” “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You,” “Dawn,” and “My Eyes Adored You,” which brought The Four Seasons the highest honor: induction into the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame.

Production team: Kat Moser-Priddy, Director; Jacob Priddy, Music Director; Julius Jones, Choreographer; and Angelica Ortiz, Production Stage Manager

The cast includes: Royce Louden (Nick Massi), Robert Breslin (Tommy DeVito), Elliot Handkins (Bob Gaudio), Josh Galloway (Frankie Valli), Christopher Wells (Bob Crewe), Gregory Shaffer (Gyp DeCarlo), Zachary Petrie (Ensemble/Nick DeVito/Bill Dixon), Jathan ‘JB’ Briscoe (Barry Belson), Ryan Whitford (Joe Pesci), Donald Washington (Ensemble), Mason, Sammarco (Ensemble), Tre Taylor III (Norm, Ensemble), Aidan Edwards (Ensemble), Jules Breslin (Mary Delgado), Chloe Hedrick (Lorraine), Megan Murray (Franchine) and Alexis Pinto (Ensemble)

JERSEY BOYS

  • Wed., May 29, Thurs., May 30, Fri., May 31, Sat., June 1, Sun., June 2
  • Wed., June 5, Thurs., June 6, Fri., June 7, Sat., June 8, Sun., June 9
  • Wed., June 12, Thurs., June 13, Fri., June 14, Sat., June 15, Sun., June 16
  • Wed., June 19, Thurs., June 20, Fri., June 21, Sat., June 22, Sun., June 23

Performances run Wednesday & Thursday at 7:30; Friday & Saturday at 8pm; Sunday at 2pm.

Where: The Warsaw Federal Incline Theater, 801 Matson Place, Cincinnati, OH 45204

Tickets: Please note that most Cincinnati Landmark Productions tickets range between $28-$33.  Check the pricing and beware of 3rd party websites. The only site to purchase from is ours: www.clpshows.org or at the box office at 513 241 6550.

Leave a comment

Filed under Auditions

Cast Announced for ROCK OF AGES at CenterStage Players

CSP_logoDirected by Allie Webber
Music direction by Kristi Hiner
Choreography by Garrett Klaas
Produced by Fred Hunt

The cast includes:

  • Sherrie: Jodi Zerbe
  • Drew: Nick Dunker
  • Lonny: Sean Walker Mize
  • Dennis: Justin Stallkamp
  • Stacee Jaxx: Rick Hunt
  • Justice: Joëlle Reid
  • Regina: Faith Goetz-Issacs
  • Franz: Jacob Gildenblatt
  • Hertz: Darren Lee
  • Waitress #1: Keilah Boone
  • Constance/Dance Captain: Anna Wessleman
  • Mother/Ensemble: Niki Rasmussen
  • Father/DJ/Ensemble: Monroe Granhart
  • Mayor/Ja Keith/Ensemble: Vernon Burchett
  • Joey Primo/Ensemble : Brandon Stout
  • Ensemble: Lauren Rinner
  • Ensemble: Meghan Moore
  • Ensemble: Nathan Courtney

Performances run Sept. 6-15 at the Arts Center at Dunham

Leave a comment

Filed under Cast list

Cincinnati Music Theatre Scholarship Applications Now Open

CMT_logoThe purpose of the Cincinnati Music Theatre Scholarship Program is to encourage and promote the study of theater arts at the collegiate level, particularly musical theater, in both performance and production. Importantly, the CMT Scholarship Program is intended to give back to the Greater Cincinnati area through the support of academic study in recognition of the years of dedicated public interest and support of CMT productions.

CMT, through its scholarship program, will recognize outstanding Cincinnati-area high school seniors who have excelled in various aspects of theater production and/or performance during their high school career and will pursue a college degree in theater arts or theater-related music performance, production or education.

ELIGIBILITY: High school seniors in the Greater Cincinnati area who will be entering college to study theatre/musical arts.

QUALIFICATIONS: Eligible applicants (as described above) must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher (4.0 scale). Applicants must submit an application and portfolio (if applicable). Applications may be emailed to rkmkramer@yahoo.com.

AWARDS: The award will be in the form of a check made payable to the institution for the benefit of the winning applicant(s). The recipient may use the award for any expense related to his/her education; i.e. tuition, fees, books, room and board, etc.

Up to two winners may be selected per year, with each award not to exceed the amount of $1,000.

APPLICATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED NO LATER THAN APRIL 19, 2024.
NO EXCEPTIONS.

CLICK HERE FOR SCHOLARSHIP DETAILS AND APPLICATION

Leave a comment

Filed under Press Releases

UC Selects Dean to Lead Renowned Performing and Media Arts College

CCM_Peter JutrasPeter Jutras, PhD, will serve as dean of the College-Conservatory of Music

CINCINNATI, OH— Peter Jutras, PhD, professor of piano and piano pedagogy
and director of the Hugh Hodgson School of Music (HHSOM) at the University of Georgia, has been named dean of the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, effective Aug.1, 2024, pending approval of the UC Board of Trustees.

Jutras, an award-winning professor and educator, has been a member of the HHSOM faculty for 18 years and served as associate director for research and graduate studies prior to being named director in 2019. The HHSOM is a
nationally recognized, large public university music school with more than 500 majors.

“Peter Jutras has a strong record of inclusive leadership, visionary thinking, fiscal responsibility, community building and student-forward curricular development, all of which will serve our College-Conservatory of Music as it continues to grow its legacy as an internationally renowned performing and media arts institution,” says Valerio Ferme, PhD, UC’s executive vice president of academic affairs and provost. “His experience in the development of interdisciplinary and cross-disciplinary partnerships with programs in the humanities and sciences will continue to fuel our innovative approach to education.”

During his tenure at HHSOM, Jutras has become known for an innovative and creative vision, community building and student success. He led school-wide efforts to launch new curricular offerings and review core requirements to create opportunities for more relevant and flexible course options. Additionally, Jutras has tapped innovative collaborations across campus to partner with new educational programs such as an Innovation Bootcamp for musicians and an interdisciplinary arts Lab.

“It is an honor and privilege to be chosen as the next UC College-Conservatory of Music dean,” says Peter Jutras, PhD. “I have a strong passion for advancing the cause of music and the arts on a global scale while supporting and empowering students, faculty and staff. I can’t wait to partner with members of the UC and Cincinnati communities to build on the college’s rich history to prepare students for successful careers that positively impact society.”

An avid researcher, Jutras has published numerous articles in leading music journals, and he is a frequent presenter at national and international conferences. Jutras served as editor-in-chief of Clavier Companion Magazine, a leading national piano pedagogy publication, for 11 years.

Jutras holds a BM degree in music education from the Eastman School of Music, an MM degree in piano performance and pedagogy from Southern Methodist University and a PhD in music education with an emphasis in piano pedagogy from the University of North Texas.

About the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music

The University of Cincinnati’s nationally ranked and internationally
renowned College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) is a preeminent institution for the performing and media arts. The school’s educational roots date back to 1867, and a solid, visionary instruction by internationally renowned faculty has been at its core since that time. Declared “one of this country’s leading conservatories” by the New York Times, CCM offers nearly 120 possible majors, along with a variety of pre-collegiate and post-graduate programs and workshops. The synergy created by housing CCM within a comprehensive public university gives the college its unique character and defines its objective: to educate and inspire the whole artist and scholar for positions on the world stage.

Learn more by visiting http://ccm.uc.edu.

# # #

Leave a comment

Filed under Press Releases