Monthly Archives: December 2024

December 19, 2024 · 5:16 pm

Cincinnati Opera Announces 2025 Opera Raps Series

Discover the stories behind the works featured during
Cincinnati Opera’s 2025 Summer Festival

CINCINNATI (December 18, 2024)—Cincinnati Opera announces the return of its popular Opera Raps series, offering audiences a fascinating exploration of the history, controversy, and personalities behind the works featured during its 2025 Summer Festival. Led by Cincinnati Opera’s Harry T. Wilks Artistic Director Evans Mirageas along with special guest artists, the four-part series runs from January 8 through April 3, 2025, and delves into Rigoletto, Tosca, and Fiddler on the Roof with exclusive performances, stories, and insights. See below for details.

Cincinnati Opera
2025 OPERA RAPS CALENDAR

January 8, 2025, at 7:30 p.m.
Opera Houses Lost and Found: A Season Preview
Wilks Studio, Cincinnati Music Hall
1241 Elm Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202

The works featured during Cincinnati Opera’s 2025 Summer Festival—Rigoletto, Tosca, and Fiddler on the Roof—received their world or US premieres in New York City opera houses and theaters. Join Evans Mirageas and guest artists to trace the histories of these productions tied to historic and now-mostly-vanished venues. With exclusive video and live performances, they’ll share the stories of how these works came to be in America.Admission: Free. Reservations are available beginning December 18 at noon; call 513-241-2742 or visit cincinnatiopera.org.

February 12, 2025, at 7:30 p.m.
Rigoletto: Banned at the Box Office
Mercantile Library
414 Walnut Street, Suite 1100, Cincinnati, OH 45202

Though Giuseppe Verdi’s Rigoletto now occupies a secure position in the operatic canon, at its premiere, it was the subject of significant controversy and censorship. The source material for the libretto had already been banned in France: the drama Le roi s’amuse by Victor Hugo. Determined to adapt the play into an opera, Verdi fought at every turn to preserve the power of the story and integrity of the source material, with varying degrees of success. Join in this exploration of Rigoletto, as well as Verdi’s other hotly contested operas, featuring special musical performances.

Admission: Free. Reservations are available beginning December 18 at noon; call 513-241-2742 or visit cincinnatiopera.org.

March 12, 2025, at 7:30 p.m.
Tosca: A Roman Evening
Cincinnati Opera Production Facility
7712 Reinhold Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45237

Throughout Giacomo Puccini’s opera Tosca, the city of Rome plays an ever-present role. The opera is set among iconic Roman landmarks like the Castel Sant’Angelo and Palazzo Farnese, and even includes music in the Roman dialect. Evans Mirageas and featured artists will lead guests on a musical tour of Rome, interweaving music from Tosca with classic Roman songs.

Admission: Free. Reservations are available beginning December 18 at noon; call 513-241-2742 or visit cincinnatiopera.org.

April 3, 2025, at 7:30 p.m.
Fiddler on the Roof: The Songs That Got Away
The Amberley Room, Mayerson JCC
8485 Ridge Road, Cincinnati, OH 45236

The beloved musical Fiddler on the Roof is full of classic tunes like “If I Were a Rich Man” and “Matchmaker, Matchmaker.” The creators of the show—Jerry Bock (music), Sheldon Harnick (lyrics), and Joseph Stein (book)—were so prolific that they also produced many songs that did not make the final cut. Evans Mirageas and musical guests will serve as guides through the forgotten songs of Fiddler on the Roof, including hits from the show as we know it today and surprises from the archives.

Admission: Free. Reservations are available beginning December 18 at noon; call 513-241-2742 or visit cincinnatiopera.org.

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. This project was supported in part by the Ohio Arts Council, which receives support from the State of Ohio and the National Endowment for the Arts. Cincinnati Opera also receives general season support from The Louise Dieterle Nippert Musical Arts Fund, Patricia A. Corbett Estate and Trust, and the Harry T. Wilks Family Foundation, along with general season and project support from many other generous individuals, corporations, and foundations. Cincinnati Opera is a member of OPERA America. Learn more at cincinnatiopera.org.

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December 18, 2024 · 5:12 pm

DIE MOMMIE DIE! Runs Jan. 17-26

DIE MOMMIE DIE! 
Beavercreek Community Theatre
Jan. 17-26
[Beavercreek]

DIE MOMMIE DIE! is a comic melodrama evoking the 1960s “Grande Dame Guignol” films that featured aging stars such as Bette Davis, Joan Crawford, and Lana Turner. Ex-pop singer Angela Andrews is trapped in a hateful marriage with film producer Sol Sussman. Desperate to find happiness with her younger lover, an out-of-work TV actor named Tony Parker, Angela murders her husband with the aid of a poisoned suppository. In a plot that reflects Greek tragedy as well as Hollywood kitsch, Angela’s Elektra-like daughter Edith convinces Angela’s emotionally disturbed son Lance that they must avenge their father’s death by killing their mother.

  • Fri-Sat, Jan. 17-18 at 8pm
  • Sun, Jan. 19 at 3pm
  • Fri-Sat, Jan. 24-25 at 8pm
  • Sun, Jan. 26 at 3pm

Official page |

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December 18, 2024 · 5:10 pm

Auditions Announced for ANGEL STREET at Beavercreek Community Theatre

Open Auditions for ANGEL STREET by Patrick Hamilton

Directed by David Shough

Monday and Tuesday, January 27-28, 2025, 7-9pm
Beavercreek Community Theatre

You need only attend one night, but are welcome at both. If you cannot attend either audition date, contact the director at davids@pbstudios.com or 937-626-2674, and we will make time or permit a video audition. Performance dates: March 7-16, 2025; Friday – Sunday. Rehearsals will generally be Monday through Thursday evenings, subject to cast schedules.

Seeking:
2 men and 3 women, plus two non-speaking police officers who appear at the end of the play. Race is not relevant to any role. All races & ethnicities are encouraged to audition.

  • Mr. Manningham – good looking, about forty-five. He is heavily moustached and bearded and perhaps a little too well dressed. His manner is suave and authoritative, with a touch of mystery and bitterness.
  • Mrs. Manningham, Bella – about thirty-four. She has been good-looking, almost a beauty – but now she has a haggard, wan, frightened air, with rings under her eyes that tell of sleepless nights and worse.
  • Elizabeth, a servant – strong, amiable, and subservient woman of fifty; loyal to Bella.
  • Nancy, a servant – a self-conscious, pretty, cheeky girl of nineteen; she much prefers the master than the mistress.
  • Detective Rough – Middle-aged, graying, active, brusque, friendly, and overbearing. He has a low warm chuckle and completely dominates the scene from the beginning.

The Play:
A 1938 play, originally titled Gaslight (and the source of the psychological meaning of that word), it had one of the longest runs on Broadway for a non-musical and was adapted into a notable 1944 film starring Charles Boyer and Ingrid Bergman in the Manningham roles, and young Angela Landsbury, in her film debut, as Nancy.

The full script is available online at
www.coldreads.wordpress.com/2020/09/15/angel-street

With the heroine in distress, the manipulative husband, and the sturdy detective here to save  the day, the play gives homage to the melodramas of the past but has more the sense of a thriller. The characters are vivid and their emotions on full display.

The Audition:
Audition sides will be available for download in early January.
British accents are required for all actors.
Please bring a resume and a list of all conflicts through March 16, 2025.

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December 17, 2024 · 5:54 pm

IRENA’S VOW Runs Jan. 17-18

IRENA’S VOW
Presented by The Angelico Project
Jan. 17-18
Aronoff Center Jarson-Kaplan Theatre [Downtown]

Directed by Jay Muldoon

Cast: Hannah Begley as Irena Gut Opdyke, Paul Reynolds as Ruegmer, Mia Bondo as Fanka, Sylas Craven as Lazar Haller, Gracie Ghering as Ida Haller, William Fruediger as Schultz, Noah Funderburk as Sturmbannfuher Rokita, Trey Rouse as Roman, Matty Reisiger as Major/S.S. Officer, Sephyriah Martin as Helen, Maraia Murphy as Secretary, Ensemble and Jewish Survivors: Jayden Connelly, Felicity Moran, Bernie O’Bryan, Sara Reisiger

The harrowing, true story of a courageous 19-year-old Polish Catholic woman who risked her life to hide Jewish families in the house of her employer —a high-ranking German officer. With suspenseful storytelling and enrapturing dialogue, Irena’s Vow is more than a play; it is a testament to the moral courage of a young woman who saved a generation of Jews.

  • Fri, Jan. 17 at 7pm
  • Sat, Jan. 18 at 2pm & 7pm

Official page | Facebook event |

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December 17, 2024 · 5:52 pm

TEXAS ANNIE: The Legend of the Moan Ranger Partners with Midwestern Lesbian for a One Night Interactive Show Experience

The Texas Annie “Interactive Show Experience” Debuts January 18, 2025, at The Know Theatre’s Underground Bar: A Campy Musical for the Fight Against Shame and Oppression

CINCINNATI, OH – On Saturday, January 18, 2025, the Texas Annie “Interactive Show Experience” debuts at The Know Theatre’s Underground Bar, bringing a fresh, community-driven take to the celebrated satirical musical. This updated version of the show, featuring a new digital component supported by an Ohio Arts Council Artist Opportunities Grant, offers a night of connection, laughter, and activism.

Designed to build community while tackling urgent social justice issues, Texas Annie takes audiences on a journey as hilarious as it is heartwarming. With rising anti-obscenity laws targeting the LGBTQ+ population, this new version of the show couldn’t come at a better time.

Event Details:

  • Date: Saturday, January 18, 2025
  • Location: Know Theatre’s Underground Bar, 1120 Jackson St, Cincinnati, OH 45202

  • Time:

    • 5-6pm: Happy Hour with Texas Annie-themed drink specials

    • 6-7pm: The Texas Annie “Interactive Show Experience”

    • 7-9pm: Sapphic Sips After Party hosted by Midwestern Lesbian

  • Tickets: On sale now! Early bird discount through December 20th.
    Get Tickets Here

About Midwestern Lesbian

Midwestern Lesbian—founded by Kelsey Ference—is an event promotion and community engagement platform dedicated to creating inclusive, empowering spaces for the Midwest’s LGBTQ+ community. Known for hosting sold-out events like the Big Gay Bar Crawls and Sapphic Sips, Midwestern Lesbian has built a reputation for fostering meaningful connections through social gatherings, queer networking opportunities, and community-focused initiatives.

For the Texas Annie premiere, Midwestern Lesbian is bringing their signature energy to the Sapphic Sips After Party, providing an inviting space for queer women and allies to celebrate, network, and connect after the show. With over 35,000 social media followers and a track record of capacity-filled events, Midwestern Lesbian continues to play a vital role in promoting LGBTQ+ culture and activism throughout Cincinnati.

Attendees can look forward to:

  • Opportunities to meet fellow LGBTQ+ community members.

  • Door prizes donated by CalExotics and local queer-owned businesses.

  • The signature community-centered atmosphere that Midwestern Lesbian is known for.

A New, Interactive Experience

This new, reimagined version of Texas Annie: The Legend of the Moan Ranger transforms the original staged production—which debuted to sold-out crowds and won the Audience Pick Award at the 2022 Cincinnati Fringe Festival—into a high-energy, cabaret-style experience. With audience shoutbacks, singalongs, digital projections, and comedic sound effects, this version invites connection and engagement like never before.

Join the Movement

All proceeds from the January 18th performance will help fund Texas Annie’s journey to the NYC Fringe Festival in April 2025.

How You Can Support Texas Annie:

Texas Annie’s Creative Team

  • Produced by: Jenn Howd and Maggie Perrino

  • Book by: Jenn Howd & Roz Mihalko

  • Music by: John Woods, Stephen Goers, Roz Mihalko, and Jenn Howd

  • Lyrics by: Roz Mihalko, Jenn Howd, and John Woods

  • Directed & Choreographed by: Maggie Perrino

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