Author Archives: robbucher

November 6, 2019 · 12:15 pm

Cincinnati Ballet and Taft’s Brewing Company Team Up for Special NUTCRACKER Ale

CB_Nutcracker AleCINCINNATI, OH.  (November 5, 2019) – Cincinnati Ballet and Taft’s Brewing Company are proud to announce the creation of the first-ever ‘Nutcracker’ Ale. Based on Taft’s classic holiday winter warmer ale, Santa’s Bribe, this Nutcracker Ale is filled with similar festive flavors including cinnamon, ginger, and vanilla. Expect more and stronger! This specialty version pairs perfectly with a Christmas cookie or two. The limited-edition Nutcracker Ale will be available at Cincinnati Music Hall during the annual production of Cincinnati Ballet’s The Nutcracker presented by Frisch’s Big Boy, as well as Taft’s locations during the holiday season.

Please join us for The Nutcracker presented by Frisch’s Big Boy at historic Music Hall December 19 through December 29. The family favorite follows Clara and her Nutcracker Prince as they travel to the Land of Sweets and meet a colorful cast of characters. Ticket information at cballet.org.

About Taft’s Brewing Company
Taft’s Brewing Company was founded in 2015 through the creation of Taft’s Ale House. The founders of Taft’s partnered with the Cincinnati Center City Development Corp (3CDC) to create the brewery and restaurant located in Cincinnati’s Over-The-Rhine. The three-story Ale House resides in a renovated historic church originally built in 1850 and offers premium steak fare in a beautifully designed space. In 2017, the Taft’s team created a production brewery and tap room, Taft’s Brewpourium, located in Spring Grove Village. The 50,000-square-foot facility is home to high-volume brewing and beer kegging, canning and packaging. The Brewpourium tap room offers guests 12-15 of Taft’s house-created brews and New Haven style coal-fired pizza. Taft’s beers can also be found in bars, restaurants, grocery stores and other outlets across the region. Visit http://www.taftsbeer.com.

About Cincinnati Ballet
Since 1963, Cincinnati Ballet has been the cornerstone professional ballet company of the region, presenting a bold and adventurous array of classical, full-length ballets and contemporary works. Under the artistic direction of Victoria Morgan, Cincinnati Ballet has become a creative force within the larger dance community, commissioning world premiere works and exploring unique collaborations. With a mission to inspire hope and joy in our community and beyond through the power and passion of dance, Cincinnati Ballet reaches beyond the stage in programs that allow every person in the region to be part of the continued evolution of dance through exhilarating performances, extensive education outreach programs and top-level professional ballet training at Cincinnati Ballet Otto M. Budig Academy.

Cincinnati Ballet 2019-2020 Season Sponsors: Rhonda & Larry A. Sheakley, ArtsWave, Mercy Health, Louise Dieterle Nippert Musical Arts Fund, Ohio Arts Council, John A. Schroth Family Charitable Trust, Frisch’s Big Boy, Knowlton

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November 6, 2019 · 11:40 am

HAPPY HOLLANDAISE Runs Dec. 6-15

SPP_Happy Hollandaise logoHAPPY HOLLANDAISE
St. Paul Players
Dec. 6-15
St. Paul Lutheran Church [Reading]

Directed by Randy Blake
Produced by Cindy Mayhugh & Sarah Papin

Cast: Kaitlin Otto as Claire, Andrew Schiltz as George, Michelle Cockerman as Irene, Owen Kelm as Larry, Nate Huitger as Abbott, Molly Simons as Mary, Meredith Conner as Vilma, Kelly Hale as Philip & Carroll Mayhugh as Inspector Abernathy

All Claire Finley wants is the perfect Christmas. She’s hired the celebrated gourmet chef Vilma Hasenpfeffer to prepare her famous Hasenpfeffer Hollandaise Sauce for her dinner guests — the new vicar and his very pregnant wife, Mary.

Unfortunately, however, the chef is late, the guests are early and there are burglars loose in the neighborhood. To top it all off, Claire’s father has been hit on the head (with the crèche, no less!) And thinks he’s the leading man in all of the West End theatre productions of the last 30 years! With the help of her quirky brother George, Claire tries to keep everything together as it continues to unravel in this sidesplitting British farce reminiscent of Arsenic and Old Lace.

Once the mayhem dies down and the mixed-up identities unscramble, the true Christmas spirit shines bright in a surprise ending which involves transformation, forgiveness, and a beautiful new beginning!

  • Fri-Sat, Dec. 6-7 at 6:15pm
  • Sun, Dec. 8 at 12:15pm
  • Fri-Sat, Dec. 13-14 at 6:15pm

Official page |

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November 6, 2019 · 11:17 am

EVERYONE’S CHRISTMAS STORY Runs Dec. 6-15

xactEVERYONE’S CHRISTMAS STORY
Xenia Area Community Theatre
Dec. 6-15
[Xenia]

Directed by Jennifer Sparks

How do you tell an old story in a new way, especially when it’s the most important story of all?  That’s the problem facing a young writer who is trying to write the annual church Christmas play.  Bored by the same old manger and angels and shepherds, she tries to liven it by turning the humble and familiar characters into pop stars, superheroes, gangsters, and circus performers in her imagination.  She has loads of fun during this creative process, interacting with her jazzed-up versions of these characters.  Yet, as they play out the story in her bedroom, she starts to see things differently and comes to realize how amazing the Biblical account really is…  just the way it is, was, and always will be.  She realizes it’s truly everyone’s story.

  • Fri, Dec. 6 at 6:30pm (Gala Fundraiser)
  • Sat, Dec. 7 at 7:30pm
  • Fri-Sat, Dec. 13-14 at 7:30pm
  • Sun, Dec. 15 at 3pm

Official page |

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November 6, 2019 · 11:04 am

Disney’s FROZEN JR. Runs Dec. 6-8

SRMTC_Disney's Frozen logoDisney’s FROZEN JR.
Stage Right Musical Theatre Company Rising Star Academy
Dec. 6-8
Main Street Gardens [Williamstown, Ky.]

Elsa and Anna are sisters and princesses, but have grown up very differently despite living in the same castle. Anna has grown up curious and headstrong while Elsa has grown up living in fear of her own hidden powers. Things change when Elsa’s icy abilities erupt at her coronation, sending her fleeing for the mountains and blanketing the land in an eternal winter. It’s up to Anna with the help of her friends to reach Elsa and bring an end to their frozen world while bringing her sister back home.

  • Fri, Dec. 6 at 6:30pm*
  • Sat, Dec. 7 at 7:30pm*
  • Sun, Dec. 8 at 2pm
    *Includes dinner.

Official page | Facebook event |

 

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November 5, 2019 · 4:23 pm

PROOF Quick Review

PROOF presented by The Carnegie through Nov. 17. I attended the opening night performance. 

TC_Proof1

Katie Mitchell as Catherine & Allen R. Middleton as Robert. Mikki Schaffner Photography.

TC_Proof3

Kate Mock Elliott as Clair & Katie Mitchell as Catherine. Mikki Schaffner Photography.

Director Torie Wiggins deftly leads her small but strong cast through this enjoyable production. The relationships between the four characters are honest and well-defined. The cast: Katie Mitchell as Catherine, Kate Mock Elliott as Catherine’s older sister Clair, Allen R. Middleton as their father Robert and Jared Earland as Robert’s former student Hal are definitely up to the demands of David Auburn’s engaging script.

Designer Doug Stock’s set depicting the rear of the family home is visually impressive and completely believable from the audience. I did feel that an additional element to sit on or lean against could have given the director more options in the blocking. The solid, supporting work of the production team creates a near-perfect environment for this story to be told.

TC_Proof2

Jared Earland as Hal & Katie Mitchell as Catherine. Mikki Schaffner Photography.

My rating: 4.5 out of 5.

Click here for more information on the production.

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