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Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati Presents 2019-2020 Season Studio Series

ETC_new_logo_banner(Cincinnati, OH) To augment its mission of presenting shows that often explore compelling social issues, Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati (ETC) unveils the 2019-2020 selections for its newly launched Studio Series to complement its main stage productions and showcase aspiring local playwrights.

The Studio Series presents works by artists and companies across genre and form and are performed typically as readings. Readings play a major role in the development of new work, enabling artists to hear their writing out loud and absorb the audience’s reactions. Unless otherwise specified, all performances and/or readings take place in ETC’s renovated rehearsal hall.

The 2019-2020 Studio Series includes:

Michael Blankenship’s Poe-pourri
October 25 & 26, 2019 at 10pm
Tickets: $25 for subscribers, $30 for non-subscribers

Bold notes of character with a whiff of horror, these stories and poems of Edgar Allen Poe feature Jared Joplin, Ernaisja Curry, and Michael Blankenship.

10-minute Connections: Justice
February 10, 2020 at 7pm
Tickets: $15 for subscribers, $20 for non-subscribers

ETC will present an evening of 10-minute plays by local playwrights centering on the theme of justice to accompany the regional premiere of Pipeline by Dominique Morriseau. These short plays will be selected from among submissions, will be paired with Morriseau’s short play Night Vision, and will be performed by local actors at ETC.

She’s Crazy: Mental Health & Other Issues
April 27, 2020 at 7pm
Tickets: $15 for subscribers, $20 for non-subscribers

An interactive musical that educates, uplifts, and inspires audiences to reduce stigma associated with mental illness.

The Jackie Demaline Regional Collegiate Playwrighting Competition Reading
May 4, 2020 at 7pm

Free admission (reservation required). First public reading of this year’s winning script submission.

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2019-2020 Season Presenting Sponsor is the Otto M. Budig Family Foundation. Additional support provided PNC.

Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati is supported, in part, by the generosity of community contributions to the ArtsWave Campaign.

The Ohio Arts Council helps fund Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans. Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati also receives funding from the Shubert Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati is a professional theatre dedicated to producing world and regional premieres of works that often explore compelling social issues. We fulfill our mission through our stage productions and educational outreach programs that enlighten, enliven, enrich and inspire our audiences.

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Auditions Announced for JEKYLL & HYDE at Dare to Defy Productions

D2D_logoDare 2 Defy Productions is thrilled to announce auditions for our upcoming production of the musical JEKYLL & HYDE, directed by Mackensie King.

The show will run March 19, 2020 – March 22, 2020 at the Brightside Music & Event Venue with a tentative first rehearsal of February 3, 2020.

Auditions/callbacks will be held on October 12, 2019 starting at 2:00 pm.

To receive callback materials, please send your headshot/resume to norgaard@dare2defy.org. Audition location will be emailed back.

Please see our website for more information: https://www.dare2defy.org/jekyllandhyde-auditions

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Auditions Announced for HEATHERS: The Musical at CenterStage Players

CSPOH_logoHEATHERS: The Musical
by Laurence O’Keefe and Kevin Murphy

HEATHERS: The Musical is the darkly delicious story of Veronica Sawyer, a brainy, beautiful teenage misfit who hustles her way into the most powerful and ruthless clique at Westerberg High: the Heathers. But before she can get comfortable atop the high school food chain, Veronica falls in love with the dangerously sexy new kid J.D. When Heather Chandler, the Almighty, kicks her out of the group, Veronica decides to bite the bullet and kiss Heather’s aerobicized ass…but J.D. has another plan for that bullet.

Brought to you by the award-winning creative team of Kevin Murphy (Reefer Madness, “Desperate Housewives”), Laurence O’Keefe (Bat Boy, Legally Blonde) and Andy Fickman (Reefer Madness, She’s the Man). HEATHERS: The Musical is a hilarious, heartfelt, and homicidal show based on the greatest teen comedy of all time. With its moving love story, laugh-out-loud comedy, and unflinching look at the joys and anguish of high school, Heathers will be the most heartstopping musical in Cincinnati this season. Are you in or are you out?

Directed by Amanda Borchers
Music Directed by Allen Lindsey
Choreographed by Robert Fields
Produced by: April Benken & Rebecca Coots

AUDITION REQUIREMENTS:
Please prepare 32 measures of an up tempo musical theater or contemporary pop piece. An accompanist will be provided, please provide music in the appropriate key with your cut noted. Please no acapella auditions or CDs. You may be asked to perform a cold read from the script. Callbacks will only be used if necessary.

Audition Dates: November 2 & 3, 12-3 PM
Call Backs: November 3, 5-7 PM

Lockland High School Auditorium – 249 W Forrer, Cincinnati, OH 45215

Show dates: May 1 – 10, 2020

Rehearsals will be determined by cast availability, 3 nights per week (likely M, W, Thurs. from Feb- May) until tech with the possibility of a few optional rehearsals added closer to tech week.

Sign Up Genius for Audition Slots: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050B45A8AD2DA20-heathers

CASTING: 8m, 9f

  • VERONICA SAWYER – 17. She burns to be both cool and kind, but doesn’t know yet how to be both at the same time. Fierce sense of right and wrong, keen sense of ironic humor. Thinks she’s an old soul but she’s still innocent enough to be blindsided by love/hormones (or shocked by cruelty). Voice: High belting required, up to Ab. Must have dynamic and stylistic range.
  • JD – 17. He is darkly charismatic, compelling, attractive, charming on the outside yet very damaged on the inside. Keen smarts and strong inventive comedy. Voice: Strong, confident belt to at least an Ab, A preferable; wide emotional range.
  • HEATHER CHANDLER – 17. Richest, hottest, most magnetic, cruelest girl in town. Relishes power and wields it like a scalpel – no fear, no patience, no mercy. Voice: Strong belt to F or higher preferred. Mezzo for chorus. NOTE: In certain choral songs Chandler can switch parts with her other Heathers as needed.
  • HEATHER MCNAMARA – 17. Beautiful, innocent, stupid, can be mean on command if Heather Chandler orders it, but actually quite vulnerable and fearful. Voice: Strong belt to Db, D preferred. Soprano for chorus. NOTE: in certain choral songs Heather Mac and Duke can switch vocal parts as needed.
  • HEATHER DUKE – 17. Whipping-girl of the 3 Heathers. When she finally becomes Queen Bee she wields power like a bulldozer. Alto for chorus. Voice: Strong belt to C, D preferred. Alto for chorus. NOTE: in certain choral songs Heather Duke and Mac can switch vocal parts as needed.
  • MARTHA DUNNSTOCK – 17. Nicknamed “Martha Dumptruck”, the opposite of hot, confident, or popular. Huge and beautiful soul, optimistic even in the face of rejection. Voice: Strong belt to E or F, wide vocal expression.
  • RAM SWEENEY – 17, Linebacker. Big, insensitive to the feelings of others, ruled by appetites. Voice: Strong Baritone, belt to G, some Falsetto useful.
  • KURT KELLY – 17. Quarterback and Captain. Big, chiseled, rude, entitled, cocky. Mean, thinks he’s the brains in the friendship with Ram. Voice: Tenor, strong belt to Ab or A, some Falsetto. NOTE: in certain songs Ram and Kurt can switch choral assignment if, say, Ram sings higher than Kurt.
  • RAM’S DAD/BIG BUD DEAN/COACH RIPPER – 40 to 45. Ram’s Dad: Former football player turned suburban Dad, has never outgrown his glory days in high school. Hates weakness, but capable of soul-searching when tragedy strikes. Also plays Big Bud Dean: JD’s single Dad. Big jolly personality that barely conceals the enormous rage bubbling just below the surface. Quite possibly a serial bomber. Also plays Coach Ripper: Stalwart, man’s man; quick to defend his players. Voice: Baritone/Tenor – power Country/Gospel belt to Ab, higher welcome. NOTE: Sometimes this actor has played Principal Gowan instead of Big Bud/Coach.
  • MS. FLEMING/VERONICA’S MOM – 45 to 50. Ms. Fleming: Aging hippie teacher, still yearning for the day the Age of Aquarius reaches Ohio. Hungry for the spotlight, resentful of entitled youth. Also plays Veronica’s Mom: easygoing, distant, yet capable of laying down the law. Voice: Great belt up to C, higher always welcome.
  • KURT’S DAD/VERONICA’S DAD/PRINCIPAL GOWAN – 30 to 45. Kurt’s Dad: Straight-laced, very conservative, also former football player. A simple guy, not book smart, you’d be happy to share a beer with him. Also plays Veronica’s Dad: Easygoing and distant. Voice: Strong Baritone/Tenor — power Country/Gospel belt to G, even higher better. Also plays Principal Gowan: Rumpled, burned out, hates conflict. NOTE: Sometimes this actor has played Big Bud/Coach instead of Principal Gowan.
  • BOY 1 – Bitter Geek 16-18. A put-upon, bitter geek. Voice: Bari (up to F#) or Tenor (up to A).
  • BOY 2 – Blowdried Preppy 16-18. A blowdried 80’s preppy. Voice: Bass (up to E) or Bari (up to G#).
  • BOY 3 – Hipster Dork 16-18. Thinks he’s Ducky from ‘Pretty In Pink.’ Voice: Bari (up to F#) or Tenor (up to A).
  • GIRL 1 – Goth Girl 16-18. A sullen goth girl. Voice: Belt to at least C# (a Soprano up to high A/B is also a plus).
  • GIRL 2 – Stoner Chick 16-18. A fuzzyheaded stoner chick. Voice: Belt to at least C# (a Soprano up to high A/B is also a plus).
  • GIRL 3 – Young Republicanette 16-18. A tennis-playing, uptight Student Council type. Voice: Belt to at least C# (Soprano up to high A/B is also a plus).

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Auditions Announced for ICEBERGS at The Dayton Theatre Guild

DTGOpen audition notice for ICEBERGS by Alena Smith

Auditions will be held Mon & Tue, Oct 14 & 15, 2019, starting at 7:00 pm both nights.
Production dates: Nov 29-Dec 15, 2019

The Dayton Theatre Guild at the Caryl D. Philip TheatreScape
430 Wayne Ave, Dayton OH, 45410
937-278-5993 — www.daytontheatreguild.org

Directed by Debra Kent
Produced by K.L.Storer

Welcome to Los Angeles, California, where the weather is always nice, and the future looks bright — mostly. We visit the trendy Silver Lake hills of L.A. on a warm November evening, on the Day of the Dead. Calder is a promising writer/director, and his wife Abigail is an actor still waiting for her big break. An old school buddy of Calder’s visits, as does his agent, and Abigail’s friend Molly — who stops over to read Tarot cards. The evening weighs in on loyalty, principles, climate trauma, carbon footprints, the fear of having children, and the fate of humankind.

Casting Requirements:

  • Auditions will consist of cold readings from the script.
  • A résumé and headshot are not required but are appreciated.
  • Please provide a list of all known conflicts between Oct 16 and Dec 15, 2019.

NOTE: If you would like to audition but are unavailable Oct 14 or 15, please contact the director at dannkent@aol.com to schedule an alternate time.

Character breakdowns:

  • Calder: Male – 35-40-ish*, a filmmaker
  • Abigail: Female – 35–40-ish*, Calder’s wife, an actor
  • Reed: Male – 35-40-ish*, Calder’s friend and a paleontologist, African-American
  • Molly: Female – 30-45-ish*, Abigail’s friend and a fortune-teller
  • Nicky: Male – 30-35-ish*, Calder’s agent

*DIRECTOR’S NOTE: I am more interested in whether you can play this age than if you actually ARE this age.

For more information please contact:
Producer K.L.Storer at kl.storer@daytontheatreguild.org
Director Debra Kent at dannkent@aol.com

The show runs weekends Nov 29-Dec 15, 2019

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Creative Technical Team Sought for EVIL DEAD the Musical PG-13 at Tri-County Players

TCP_logoTri County Players is seeking creative technical team members!
Special Effects Design/Creator (blood, blood & more blood)
Lighting Design
Sound Design
Also, Lighting and Sound operators (can be the designer or others)

Evil Dead the Musical – PG 13*
Book & lyrics by George Reinblatt
Music by Frank Cipolla, Christopher Bond, Melissa Morris and George Reinblatt
Music supervision by Frank Cipolla
Additional lyrics by Christopher Bond
Additional music by Rob Daleman
Produced by special arrangement with THE DRAMATIC PUBLISHING COMPANY of Woodstock, Illinois

Director- Sharon Buchtman
Music Director- Dennis Betz
Choreographer- Garrett Klaas, Producer- Nancy Hughes

Cast: Alex Ross, Allie Webber, Cole Carlin, Erica Beimesche, Jodi Zerbe, Liz Koch, Mason Parker, Jeffrey Surber, Jeff Richardson, Courtney Jones, Jessica Meyer

Show dates: October 10th at 8pm, October 11th at 8pm, October 12th at 6:30pm AND 10pm, and October 13th at 6:30pm.

Evendale bell tower center 3270 Glendale-Milford Rd. Cincinnati, Ohio 45241

Please contact the director, Sharon Butchman @ 513.471.2030 (this is also the groups ticket line). We’re anxious because the director is usually our tech guru and she can’t do both.

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