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March 27, 2019 · 11:47 am

SMOKE ON THE MOUNTAIN Runs April 25-28

TCP_SMoke on the Mountain logoSMOKE ON THE MOUNTAIN
Tree County Players
April 25-28
[Greensburg Ind.]

Directed by Bill Rethlake

Cast: John Basler as Burl, Angela Greene as Vera, Tonya Downey as June, Karen Smith as Stella, Corden Simmonds as Denis, Madison Smith as Denise & Debbie Young as Ms. Maude

SMOKE ON THE MOUNTAIN tells the story of a Saturday Night Gospel Sing at a country church in North Carolina’s Smoky Mountains in 1938. The show features two dozen rousing bluegrass songs played and sung by the Sanders Family, a traveling group making its return to performing after a five-year hiatus. Pastor Oglethorpe, the young and enthusiastic minister of Mount Pleasant Baptist Church, has enlisted the Sanders Family in his efforts to bring his tiny congregation into “the modern world.” Between songs, each family member “witnesses” – telling a story about an important event in their life. Though they try to appear perfect in the eyes of a congregation who wants to be inspired by their songs, one thing after another goes awry and they reveal their true – and hilariously imperfect – natures. By the evening’s end, the Sanders Family have endeared themselves to us by revealing their weaknesses and allowing us to share in their triumphs.  – Samuel French, Inc. 2019

  • Thu-Sat, April 25-27 at 7pm
  • Sun, April 28 at 2pm

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March 27, 2019 · 11:35 am

LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD Goes ROKCincy Opera at the Arts Center of Dunham’s Free Family Fun Event

MISC_Arts Center At Dunham logoCINCINNATI, OH – March 26, 2019 — Courtesy of a grant from Price Hill Arts CAT and Price Hill Will, the Free Family Fun Series at the Arts Center at Dunham goes through the woods with ROKCincy Opera for Children’s performance of “Little Red Riding Hood” on Saturday, April 6 at 2 pm.

ROKCincy presents the fairy tale we all know and love, but with uniquely ROKCincy twists and humor. The performance is 40 minutes in length and includes a Q&A session with performers afterward. ROKCincy, Roundabout Opera for Kids: Cincinnati, is a non-profit program with a mission to introduce young people to the thrill of live, fully staged opera and to give developing professional musicians an opportunity to hone their performance skills through experience.

All Free Family Fun Series performances are on Saturdays at 2:00 p.m. The remaining series includes:

  • May 18, 2019 Five Little Monkeys by Ernie Nolan, adapted from the series of books by Eileen Christelow and performed by the Playhouse in the Park’s Off the Hill Productions. Going shopping, baking cakes, sitting in trees and jumping on beds. Mayhem ensues in this zany plat told in cumulative verse as five silly simian siblings insist on doing things their own way. Recommended for ages 4 and up.

Reservations for performances in the ACAD FREE Family Fun Series can be made online (www.sunsetplayers.org) or by calling 513-588-4988.

The Arts Center at Dunham is an arts center for the west side of Cincinnati and its vision is to provide affordable creative and performing arts for Price Hill and surrounding communities. Housed in one of the three remaining buildings of what was the first municipally owned tuberculosis sanatorium in the United States, the Arts Center includes a 350-seat performance venue as well as extensive studio and programming space. The Arts Center is located in the Dunham Recreation Complex. See what is happening at the Arts Center at Dunham on Facebook.

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March 26, 2019 · 4:34 pm

Falcon Theatre Announces Its 30th Anniversary Season Lineup

FT_logoNewport, KY — Falcon Theatre Artistic Director Ted Weil has announced the slate of plays for its 2019-20 season, for the theatre’s 30th Anniversary. The lineup offers 2 area premieres and a wide range of dramatic genres and styles…from a madcap parody of and homage to the films of the Master of Suspense…to an unsettling examination of the life lived and the life remembered…to a timely and thought-provoking look at the spiritual relationship between two of our earliest fighters for social justice. 

Falcon Theatre 2019-2020 Season  

The 39 Steps
by Patrick Barlow and John Buchan
September 27- October 12, 2019
Mix a Hitchcock masterpiece with a juicy spy novel, add a dash of Monty Python and you have The 39 Steps, a fast-paced whodunnit for anyone who loves the magic of theatre!  Celebrate our 30th anniversary season with this exciting revival of our 2012 hit.

Marjorie Prime
by Jordan Harrison
November 22 – December 7, 2019 *Area Premiere*
What would we remember and what would we forget if given the chance? This richly spare, wondrous new play explores the mysteries of human identity and the limits, if any, of what technology can replace in the age of artificial intelligence. A must for any fans of Black Mirror!

Blues For An Alabama Sky
by Pearl Cleage
January 24 – February 8, 2020
It’s the summer of 1930 in Harlem, New York. The creative euphoria of the Harlem Renaissance has given way to the harsher realities of the Great Depression. The play brings together a rich cast of characters who reflect the conflicting currents of the time through their overlapping personalities and politics.

The Agitators
by Mat Smart
March 20 – April 4, 2020 *Area Premiere*
A riveting story about the friendship that persisted through the years between Susan B. Anthony and Frederick Douglass as both fought tirelessly for the rights of others. The play struggles with the question “Do you believe there can be a country for all?”

Silent Sky
by Lauren Gunderson
May 1 – May 16, 2020
The true story of 19th-century astronomer Henrietta Leavitt explores a woman’s place in society during a time of immense scientific discoveries, when women’s ideas were dismissed until men claimed credit for them. Social progress, like scientific progress, can be hard to see when one is trapped among earthly complications; Henrietta Leavitt and her female peers believe in both, and their dedication changed the way we understand both the heavens and Earth. 

Artistic Director Ted Weil says, “I think this slate of plays is perfect for an anniversary year because it really highlights the best of what Falcon does and stands for. We’re particularly excited to open the season with a revival of The 39 Steps, which was a huge hit with our audiences back in 2012. The season will be a celebration of our past while we keep our eyes fixed squarely on the future.”

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March 26, 2019 · 2:29 pm

Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati Presents the Riveting Drama SKELETON CREW

April 13—May 11, 2019

ETC_Skeleton Crew logo

(Cincinnati, OH) It’s time to walk the line. Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati presents the regional premiere of Skeleton Crew, a compelling drama about a driven team of autoworkers trying to navigate a cutthroat industry. This searing new play is by Dominique Morisseau (Detroit ‘67 ), a 2018 recipient of the prestigious MacArthur Foundation Fellows Program (unofficially referred to as a Genius Grant). Skeleton Crew is the final installment of Morisseau’s powerful Detroit Project, which was inspired by August Wilson’s landmark Century Cycle. Playing April 13-May 11, 2019. Directed by Stori Ayers. Production Sponsor is The Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile, Jr./U.S. Bank Foundation.

Times are rough in 2008 Detroit as a hundred-year-old industry grinds to a halt. As rumors fly about factory closings, a tight-knit trio of autoworkers faces tough decisions about the future, while their foreman weighs the demands of white-collar management status against his fierce loyalty to his team. From the playwright of Detroit ’67 comes a powerful and engrossing portrait of courage and camaraderie in blue-collar America.

“What I love most about being an artist working on a Dominique Morisseau show is that you are instantly changed from artist to activists. Her work is embedded with social outreach that, as an artist, requires more of you,” shares Director Stori Ayers. “Skeleton Crew is a play about the ultimate sacrifice: the sacrifice of self in the fight for justice. We all know that there is no progress without sacrifice.” She adds, “My hope is that each audience member will see that, when faced with injustice, the act of sacrificing self for the greater good is the most sublime gesture one can do for another. A gesture that is greatly needed in our society today.”

About the Cast

Burgess Byrd (Faye) returns to Ensemble Theatre, having appeared last in Red Velvet, This Random World, and Detroit ’67. Recently, she was a guest artist at the University of Texas at Austin in The Merchant of Venice. Some of her other credits include Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner and A Raisin in the Sun, Cincinnati Shakespeare Company; Harry and the Thief and Pretty Fire, Know Theatre of Cincinnati; Caroline or Change, New Stage Collective; Silence! The Musical, Falcon Theatre; Doubt, The Drama Workshop; and Avenue Q, Showbiz Players.

Amari Cheatom (Dez) is an Atlanta, Georgia native who received his training at The Freddie Hendricks Youth Ensemble of Atlanta Theatre and is a graduate of the prestigious Julliard School of Drama Division. His theatre credits include Skeleton Crew, The Old Globe (San Diego); Detroit ’67, Baltimore Center Stage; The Temple Bombing, Alliance Theatre; Fetch Clay, Make Man, True Colors Theatre Co.; Dutch Masters, LAByrinth Theatre Company; On the Levee, Lincoln Center Theater; The Book of Grace, The Public Theatre; and Zooman and the Sign, Signature Theatre Company. His film credits include Roman J. Israel Esq, Detroit, Crown Heights, Moths & Butterflies, The Alchemist Cookbook, Django Unchained, Newlyweeds, Night Catches Us, and Knucklehead. His television credits include Numb3rs, Chase, Detroit 1-8-7, and Georgetown.

Ernaisja Curry (Shanita) returns to Ensemble Theatre having last appeared in This Random World. A Florida native, she has made Cincinnati her home after completing the Bruce E. Coyle Acting Internship with Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park. Some of her recent credits include Susan Swayne and the Bewildered Bride, Know Theatre of Cincinnati; Dreamgirls, The Carnegie; A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Cincinnati Shakespeare Company; and The Comedy of Errors, Kentucky Shakespeare.

Brian Marable (Reggie) makes his Ensemble Theatre debut with this production. His professional regional theatre credits include Spunk, American Stage; Detroit ’67, Baltimore Center Stage and Detroit Public Theater; Skeleton Crew, The Old Globe (San Diego) and People’s Light; and Pipeline, Detroit Public Theater. Mr. Marable created his own theater company, The Clubhouse Theater, in the city and neighborhood where he grew up. His film credits include Standing in the Shadows of Motown, Have a Little Faith, The Citizen (2012) and Low Winter Sun.

Production team includes D. Lynn Meyers (Producing Artistic Director), Brian c. Mehring (Set & Lighting Designer), Jack Murphy (Technical Director), Matthew Hollstegge (Production Manager), Shannon Rae Lutz (Properties Master & Design Assistant), Matt Callahan (Sound Designer), and Stormie Mac (Costume Designer). Production Stage Manager is Brandon T. Holmes. Assistant Stage Manager is Lexi Muller.

Performance Information
Performances run Tuesday through Sunday. Tuesday-Thursday, 7:30 pm; Friday and Saturday, 8:00 pm; Saturday and Sunday, 2:00 pm; and Sunday, 7:00 pm. A complete calendar of performances is available online at www.ensemblecincinnati.org. 

Ticket Prices
Ticket prices start at $35 for adults; student tickets are $28; and children are $24. Half-Price Rush Tickets: All remaining tickets for the current day’s performance(s) are available two hours prior to each show time for half-price (discount does not apply to children’s tickets) when purchasing by phone or in person. $15 Student Rush Tickets: Students may purchase up to two $15 student rush tickets two hours prior to show time with valid student I.D. Available in person only.

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2018-2019 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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March 26, 2019 · 2:16 pm

NKU Opera Brings Laughs with Menotti’s OLD MAID AND THE THIEF

NKUO_Old Maid and the Thief logoHIGHLAND HEIGHTS, KY – Northern Kentucky University’s School of the Arts Opera will be staging Gian Carlo Menotti’s one-act comedic operaThe Old Maid and the Thief on April 12 & 14 in Greaves Concert Hall at NKU.

When a beggar appears at their door, Miss Todd and her maid Laetitia swoon and allow him in. But little do they know, a dangerous thief has escaped from the county jail that very night. While keeping the town gossip Miss Pinkerton at bay, the ladies decide the fate of their new friend. Gian Carlo Menotti’s The Old Maid and the Thief is a fast-paced and melodramatic comedic opera which tells a twisted tale of morals that will satisfy audiences of all ages.

“The Old Maid and the Thief is a one-act opera written specifically to be aired on the radio,” said director Kimberly Lazzeri. “Because the opera was originally meant to be heard and not seen, all of the action is vividly portrayed in the music! The music is melodic and totally accessible. Audiences might even leave whistling one of the beautiful arias featured in the production.”

Sarah DeMoor, a senior vocal performance major, is portraying the cunning and conniving maid Laetitia on the April 12 performance. She considers the music as both a highlight and challenge. “It is beautifully written… I have found an appreciation for not only my character’s portion of the score but the entirety of the orchestration as a whole. It is a masterpiece.”

Senior vocal performance major Ashley Patak, who is portraying Laetitia on April 14, has enjoyed playing the character and learned a lot in the process. “If someone has never seen an opera, this would be a really great one to start with because it is in English, and it’s hilarious… watching the different dynamics between each character and seeing their tactics to get what they each want would be entertaining to anyone.”

Kaitlin Fierro is landing her first big role in opera as Miss Pinkerton. The junior vocal performance major considers this her most challenging role in balancing the reality of the character with the general hilarity. “There is a fine line between good and bad comedy. I have such fun making people laugh that sometimes I have to pull myself up and do a mental check.”

Fierro knows the opera is not especially deep or philosophical, but everyone is going to go home laughing. “It is one of the most accessible operas I have had the pleasure of encountering. Menotti presents a quirky, fun story which the audience will fall in love with. My hope is that everyone will remember that one scene where they could not stop laughing.”

The NKU cast features Maria Bales (Miss Todd), Tyler Smith (Bob), Sarah DeMoor (Laetitia – April 12), Ashley Patak (Laetitia – April 14), and Kaitlin Fierro (Miss Pinkerton). Performances take place Friday, April 12 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, April 14 at 2 p.m. in Greaves Concert Hall at NKU. Tickets range $10-$17 and can be purchased at nku.edu/sotatickets or by calling 859-572-5464. Parking is available in Lots D & I on campus. For more information about NKU’s School of the Arts, please visit nku.edu/sota or follow on social media @NKUSOTA.

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