Monthly Archives: November 2024

November 12, 2024 · 3:41 pm

TCT presents SANTA CLAUS: The Musical this December Featuring Local 12’s Bob Herzog

Bob Herzog as Nick. Photo by Mikki Schaffner Photography.

Cincinnati – The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati’s 24-25 MainStage Season at the Taft Theatre continues with Santa Claus: The Musical December 7-16, 2024. Tickets are on sale now at http://www.thechildrenstheatre.com. This is the company’s last season at the Taft Theatre before opening the reimagined Emery Theater in October 2025.

Book by Noah Putterman. Music & Lyrics by David Christensen & Luke Holloway. The show features Local 12’s Bob Herzog as Nick, Santa’s chosen replacement.

It’s Christmas Eve! After 1,000 years of faithful service, Santa and Mrs. Claus announce their decision to hang up the big red suit and train a replacement. Enter Nick (Bob Herzog): a website designer and single dad to tech-savvy daughter, Bea. With pressures mounting–and a jealous, naughty elf thwarting their every move–will everyone in Santa’s Workshop come together in time for Nick to take the reins?

Jingle jam-packed with a sleigh full of fun, energetic, and original holiday music, Santa Claus: The Musical‘s heartwarming story and score put joyful audiences in the spirit of the season!

TCT’s production will be directed and choreographed by Anthony C. Daniel. As a Director/Choreographer, Anthony C. Daniel’s regional credits include The Sound of Music (starring Emilie Kouatchou), Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Kinky Boots, Sister Act, Mary Poppins, Tick, Tick…Boom!, Million Dollar Quartet, The Little Mermaid, Murder For Two, The Marvelous Wonderettes, and more. National/International Tours: Associate Director – The Sound of Music, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Cheers! Live on Stage, the American Premieres of The Boy Who Loved Batman, Grumpy Old Men: The Musical, A Complicated Woman, and The Witches of Eastwick. As an Educator, Anthony has worked with numerous collegiate institutions across the country and for the Broadway Dreams Foundation.

Santa Claus: The Musical is ideal for ages 4+. This production runs approximately one hour without intermission.

Public Showtimes include:

  • Saturday, December 7 at 2 PM
  • Saturday, December 7 at 5 PM
  • Sunday, December 8 at 2 PM
  • Friday, December 13 at 7 PM
  • Saturday, December 14 at 11 AM
  • Saturday, December 14 at 2 PM
  • Sunday, December 15 at 2 PM
  • Sunday, December 15 at 5 PM – ADDED PERFORMANCE!

Accessible Performance:

  • Saturday, December 7 at 2 PM

Additionally, The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati presents eight additional performances of Santa Claus: The Musical for school students, including an exclusive homeschool performance. Tickets are $10 per student, with one free adult admission for every 15 students. For details on ordering school performance tickets or for free proficiency test-focused Study Guides visit www.thechildrenstheatre.com.

TCT last produced Santa Claus:The Musical in 2018.

Dani Lobello, Director of Production and Sound Designer. Jennifer Rhodus, Scenic Designer. Ben Gantose, Lighting Designer. Jeff Shearer, Costume Designer. Maggie Foley & Andrew Nunley, Technical Direction. Adam Borchers, Properties Supervisor. Jadi Davis, Production Stage Manager.

Santa Claus: The Musical is made possible by Dress Run Sponsor TriHealth, Production Sponsor The Summit Hotel, and Season Sponsor The Charles H. Dater Foundation. PNC Foundation provides additional funding for MainStage Ticket Subsidies. Additional Sponsors include the H.B., E.W. & F.R. Luther Foundation – Fifth Third Bank and Narley L. Haley, Co-Trustees, the National Endowment for the Arts, and The Shubert Foundation Inc. Media sponsors include Local 12 and Q102.

The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati is supported by the tens of thousands who generously give to the annual ArtsWave Campaign, the region’s primary source for arts funding. The Ohio Arts Council helped fund this program with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence, and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans.

The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati’s Broadway-style MainStage productions, including Santa Claus: The Musical, are performed in the historic Taft Theatre, 5th and Sycamore Streets in Downtown Cincinnati. Tickets start at $12. Visit thechildrenstheatre.com or call the TCT Box Office at 513.569.8080 x10, Monday – Friday from 9 AM to 5 PM to purchase tickets.

CAST

  • *LUCY ARGUETA…Blitzen
  • JUNO BROSAS…Punchy
  • CAMMI CALDWELL…..Chirpy
  • *HAILEY CHANG…..Vixen
  • *CELIA D’ASCENZO…Bea
  • *STELLA D’ASCENZO…Prancer
  • TINA DEALDERETE….Elf Ensemble
  • JOSH GALLOWAY…Henchy
  • NICK GODFREY…Elf Ensemble
  • BOB HERZOG…Nick
  • *CLAIRE HUNKLER…Dasher
  • DIANA HUTCHINSON…Tenchy
  • *GRACE JEFFREYS…Cupid
  • BETHANY XAN KERR…Mrs. Claus
  • *PARKER M. PATTON…Dancer
  • RYAN J. POOLE…Santa Claus
  • *AUDREY SATTERWHITE…Donner
  • KATE STARK…Elf Ensemble
  • *LISA TAKAHASHI…Comet
  • MORGAN TRACY…Elf Ensemble
  • ZACH TREINEN…Elf Ensemble

Understudies: For Punchy, Tenchy, and Chirpy: Morgan Tracy; for Henchy: Zach Treinen; for Nick and Santa: Nick Godfrey; for Bea: Claire Hunkler; for Mrs. Claus: Tina DeAlderete

*Denotes TCT’s Young Artists Company

All photos by Mikki Schaffner Photography.

-end-

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November 12, 2024 · 3:38 pm

Auditions Announced for BINGO the Winning Musical at The Drama Workshop

The Drama Workshop and director Gina Kleesattel are pleased to announce auditions for BINGO THE WINNING MUSICAL!  Book by Michael Heitzman & Ilene Reid.

Music and Lyrics by Michael Heitzman, Ilene Reid & David Holcenberg. Elaine Volker is producing.

Audition Dates:

  • Sunday December 8. 6-9pm
  • Sunday December 15. 6-9pm

Auditions will be held at The Drama Workshop located at 3716 Glenmore Ave.

Please sign up at this link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A094FA8A622A6FC1-53106122-auditions

Production dates: May 2-18

Synopsis: Best friends and Bingo pals Vern, Honey and Patsy brave a terrible storm in order to attend the yearly celebration of the birth of Bingo and tribute to its founder, Edwin S. Lowe. As the storm knocks out power at the Bingo Hall, Patsy and Honey remind each other of the ominous night 15 years ago that began in the same way. In flashback, Honey tells us about the night Vern and her best friend, Bernice, had their falling out. Bernice’s sweet yet headstrong daughter, Alison, enters the Bingo hall in disguise – Bernice’s health is failing, and Alison is determined, with the help of Bingo, to reunite her mother with her long-lost best friend.

Audition Requirements

Auditioners should prepare a short (~1 minute) light/comedic monologue.  In addition, you may also be asked to read from the script.

All characters sing.  Please prepare a 24-36 bar musical number.  Best style is “Broadway pop”.  Please bring music for the accompanist.  No acapella singing will be accepted.

Several women characters also require a belt voice.  If you can belt, please show it.  You may be asked to do a “range check” with the musical director as well.

Character Descriptions

VERN – 40s; Matriarch of the group; funny; robust; stubborn and crusty, but with a good heart buried under her gruff exterior. Mermanesque Broadway belt, showing range and power from low A to a solid C.

PATSY – 40s; Somewhat mousey; neurotic; obsessively superstitious, yet underneath all that anxiety lies a rock star who can let it rip! Pop belt to F.

HONEY – 40s; Leggy; beautiful, but a little past her prime. She’s an extremely loveable sex kitten if not the brightest of bulbs. Belt/mix to E.

SAM WONNIETSKI/FRANK – 40s; Sam is the Bingo caller – tall, rugged, and handsome. He loves his job and takes his calling very seriously. The only thing that can distract him is Honey – the woman of his dreams. In flashbacks, he doubles as FRANK – a long-haired, hippie bingo caller from the past. Baritone to F.

MINNIE MARTINELLI – 60s; Friendly bingo hall manager, she’s everyone’s favorite, cute, cuddly grandma. Although this woman could be the oldest in the group, she’s still spry and quick on her feet. She must be extremely comfortable interacting and improvising with the audience and have a good, warm energy. Belt up to C.

BERNICE BOODALAY – 40s; Super mom; genuinely sweet and cheerful. She’s the peacemaker and pie baker, and spreads sunshine wherever she goes….maybe a bit passive aggressive with her friends. Belt to C.

ALISON BOODALAY – 20s; Bernice’s daughter – fresh faced, passionate, optimistic, perky and quirky. She is a young, comedic character woman in an ingénue’s body. Must be able to belt F sharp.

If you have questions, please email Producer Elaine Volker at eavolker@gmail.com

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November 11, 2024 · 3:55 pm

THE OREGON TRAIL Review

By Katrina “Kat” Reynolds

The Oregon Trail presented by Mount St. Joseph University Theatre Arts through November 16th. I attended the Opening Night performance. 

The cast of THE OREGON TRAIL presented by MSJ Theatre Arts.

When my partner in crime and I heard that MSJ Theatre Arts was producing a show called The Oregon Trail by Bekah Brunstetter, we decided that no respectable GenXer could miss this. Vivid memories of us playing the game in our school’s computer labs were too fun to resist. The University’s Director of Theatre Arts (and Director of this show), Cincinnati’s own Lauren Carr brings us the tale of Jane, a middle-schooler whose goal of finally beating the famous game takes down a very unexpected road.

Inside sources shared with us the advantages and challenges of staging the play in MSJ’s intimate Williams Recital Hall versus in the University’s theatre: excellent acoustics, but a blank canvas with much opportunity to fill with set pieces and action. Without a doubt, the unconventional set up is a success. In addition, Ms. Carr has assembled a regal crew (fit for the queen she is) to help bring this script to life. Lighting Design by Matthew Hollstegge is creative and effective; Costume Design by Caroline Stine is spot-on across the multiple time periods covered; and Scenic Construction by Nathan Neorr is realistic yet easily maneuvered by the cast and crew.

Special shout-out to Intimacy and Movement Choreographer Erin Carr for some really seamless work. The Solasta Theatre Lab co-founder expertly navigates some fun and some emotionally difficult scenes throughout Jane’s journey.

Zoe Nienaber plays Jane whose arc is one of the toughest and most relatable of all the characters. Ms. Nienaber does a great job of embodying the spirit of a middle-schooler who is thrust into adulthood rather quickly thanks to the magic of technology. Sarah Barton as Jane’s “perfect” sister Mary Anne has a rather interesting arc of resigned acceptance until she reaches her breaking point. The two actors have a lovely, natural chemistry as they show us the ins and outs of everyday living.

Nathaniel Sweeney is the voice of the game and is a strong and amusing presence. Mr. Sweeney’s sarcastic quips are exactly what most of us probably heard while frustrations set in in playing (and losing) The Oregon Trail. Excellent work!

In watching the show and in reading people’s responses, I noticed a lot of people indicate “this is a show for millennials”. My gut reaction, of course, is to remind people that this is a GenX game and millennials played a later version (in fact named The Oregon Trail II). But the joke was on me as the very first iteration of The Oregon Trail game launched not in the 1980s, but in 1971! Given that the game was designed to teach middle-school aged children about the history of the actual Trail itself, it would have first been played by…Boomers! So along with modern versions of the game, it looks like several generations can find their piece of nostalgia in this love letter of a production. In addition to our similar memories of the experience playing, another common thread that binds us is that adulthood is much different than we had imagined as teenagers. We are all just pretending we know what we’re doing – but we all must remember to continue on the trail.

Click here for more information about the production.

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November 11, 2024 · 3:49 pm

Casting Call for Indy Film MUSIC LESSONS

Music Lessons – A short film by Dakota Summer

A lonely college graduate takes in an eccentric homeless teenager after almost being robbed by him.

“MUSIC LESSONS” is a tale of two vastly different and misunderstood young men attempting to navigate a friendship. This short realist-drama aims to capture the spark, rocky development, and eventual fallout of a friendship that is bound to fail.

Characters

  • LOGAN Male / Lead / All Ethnicities / 21-25.  Logan is a fresh college graduate living alone in his house. He is closed-off, lonely, and uncertain about what to do with his life. He majored in business, but even after four years of studying he hasn’t chosen a career path quite yet. He spends his time working out, pursuing random passions, and visiting family.
  • LEE: Male / Lead / All Ethnicities / 17-20. Lee is an eccentric, sensitive teenager, barely making it by on the streets as a petty criminal. He experiences a great deal of anxiety much of the time. He often mutters to himself and flies his hands about. He never seems to hold on to one topic, having a very difficult time focusing. Lee is erratic and unpredictable, making for uncomfortable social situations. Ultimately, he wants to be liked and accepted.
  • JAN Female / Supporting / All Ethnicities / Early 50s. Logan’s mom, an exhausted but warm force of nature, doing her best to keep the peace.
  • SAL Male / Supporting / All Ethnicities / Mid 50s. Logan’s dad, gruff and slightly intimidating. He’s easy to anger.

Location: Northern Kentucky Area

Pay: No pay. Meals and snacks will be provided, and mileage will be reimbursed.

Shooting dates: Weekends in late November and early December

Please send Dakota Summer your reels, resumes, and headshots if interested!

dakotasummer.creator@gmail.com

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November 7, 2024 · 4:06 pm

Dr. Seuss’ HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS Runs Dec. 10-15

Dr. Seuss’ HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS
Broadway in Cincinnati
Dec. 10-15
Aronoff Center Procter & Gamble Hall [Downtown]

Rediscover the magic of Dr. Seuss’ classic holiday tale as it comes to life on stage. Originally conceived by the three-time Tony Award®-winning director Jack O’Brien, the whimsical world of Whoville is beautifully realized by an A-list creative team in this delightful musical production.

Featuring the hit songs “You’re A Mean One, Mr. Grinch” and “Welcome Christmas,” The Grinch discovers there’s more to Christmas than he bargained for in this heart-warming holiday classic. Max the Dog narrates as the mean and scheming Grinch, whose heart is “two sizes too small,” decides to steal Christmas away from the holiday-loving Whos.

  • Tue-Fri, Dec. 10-13 at 7pm
  • Sat, Dec. 14 at 11am, 3pm & 7pm
  • Sun, Dec. 15 at 11am, 3pm & 7pm

Official page |

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