Author Archives: robbucher

May 31, 2018 · 12:42 pm

CFF18: My Fringe Schedule: Day 2

Tonight is the second night of Fringe performances, but my first due to a “magic carpet ride” last night.

CFF18_The Whitest Baby logoMy first show of the 2018 Fringe is THE WHITEST BABY IN ALL OF AFRICA. This FringeNext entry is created and produced by local high school students. Sam Kerns serves as the visionary and director, while Kealy Welage serves as producer of Welage & Kerns Productions.

THE WHITEST BABY IN ALL OF AFRICA follows the whitest couple in all of America, Angela and Elliot Osborne, who want to expand their family. They look into international adoption from the Congo, and embark on a journey that is like none other. The Whitest Baby in All of Africa explores the possibilities of having privilege, as well as the ugly truth.

CFF18_Aphrodites RefugeesA quick jog up two floors takes me to my second show, the world premiere of APHRODITE’S REFUGEES, from new participant MonTra Performance out of Bolder, Colorado:

Animation, storytelling & live art come together In APHRODITE’S REFUGEES to paint a dreamlike picture of a young Cypriot refugees as he and his family flee from their home. All while the ancient Greek Gods play a high-stakes game of cards. Developed from interviews from Cypriot refugees, APHRODITE’S REFUGEES was created by Monica Dionysiou, featuring visual artist Aaron Young. A portion of proceeds will be donated to Doctors Without Borders.

You can watch the trailer below:

CFF18_Of Monster DescentRounding out the hat trick for the evening is OF MONSTER DESCENT, this year’s entry by the local group Queen City Flash.

Writer/Director team Trey Tatum and Bridget Leak (SLUT SHAMING 2014 Artist Pick of the Fringe, THE DISAPPEARNCE OF NICOLE JACOBS) present a story about a family on the brink of collapse and the woodland beast that stalks just beyond their fence line. Set in a decaying Gulf Coast oasis, a young boy confronts family legacy and the untamed beyond in this otherworldly, lightning-lit, monster survival tale.

I hope you have a chance to make it down to Over-the-Rhine and catch a show or ten. Feel free to say hello. Happy Fringing.

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May 31, 2018 · 11:39 am

O BEAUTIFUL Runs June 29-July 8

CAST_O Beautiful logoO BEAUTIFUL
Commonwealth Artists Student Theatre
June 29-July 8
The Carnegie [Covington]

Directed by Michael Sherman

Cast: Katie Sutkamp as Alice Fletcher, Dustin Parsons as Jesus, Kaleb Kemp as Ty Janaleris/Alexander Hamilton, Aidan Greenwell as Erik Waters, Oliver Vockell as Luke Simpson, Clare Brennan as Gwen Turner, ​Jack Giglia as Lennie Ryan, Edwin Vardiman as Simon West/St. Paul, Chase Reynolds as Patrick Henry/Don Fletcher, ​Victoria Forbes as Arlene Fletcher, Audrey Cann as Linda Ryan, Alex Harrison as Brian Ryan/Benjamin Franklin, ​Julia Barclay as Mrs. Loomis, Erin Day as Marcia Turner/Joan of Arc, Madi Burnett as Brenda Waters, Derek Drago as Joe Simpson/Thomas Jefferson/Minister, Kendall Young as Sondra Janaleris & Wade Yates as Production Assistant/St. Ambrose/John Adams/ Luke Understudy

O BEAUTIFUL is written by world-renowned and local playwright, Theresa Rebeck. Rebeck pens a theatrically inventive mashup of contemporary American life and the history that got us to this politically polarized age. O Beautiful is a fiercely funny story that explores the lives of high school students, teachers, and their families as they cope in a world of real personal problems and extremist ideological rhetoric that gets so heated that Jesus, Saint Paul, Joan of Arc, John Adams, Patrick Henry, and Benjamin Franklin, among others, show up to weigh in and mix it up. Alternately sweet and fiery, and as topical as tonight’s newscast, O Beautiful lands the complex realities of our culture squarely on the stage deck in an electrifying blend of ancient characters, founding fathers, and your neighborhood high school.

  • Fri-Sat, June 29-30 at 7:30pm
  • Sun, July 1 at 2pm
  • Fri-Sat, July 6-7 at 7:30pm
  • Sun, July 8 at 2pm

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May 31, 2018 · 11:25 am

INTO THE WOODS Runs June 29-30

VOB_logoINTO THE WOODS
Voices of Broadway
June 29-30
Lawrenceburg High School Auditorium

Be careful what you wish for … What if Cinderella, Rapunzel, Jack and the Beanstalk, Little Red Riding Hood and the Baker and his Wife lived in the same story? All must venture into the woods to seek fulfillment of their deepest wish, but what they find there is that dreams are rarely simple and wishes are not often granted free of complications. This charming story is at once hilariously funny and deeply moving, a fractured look at the flip side of the classic fairy tales as only master storyteller Stephen Sondheim (composer of Sweeney Todd and Company) could imagine.

  • Fri-Sat, June 29-30 at 7pm

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May 31, 2018 · 11:03 am

ANNIE Runs June 28-Aug. 19

LAC_Annie logoANNIE
La Comedia Dinner Theatre
June 28-Aug. 19
[Springboro]

With equal measures of pluck and positivity, little orphan Annie charms everyone’s hearts despite a next-to-nothing start in 1930s New York City. She is determined to find her parents who abandoned her years ago on the doorstep of a New York City Orphanage run by the cruel, embittered Miss Hannigan. With the help of the other girls in the Orphanage, Annie escapes to the wondrous world of NYC. In adventure after fun-filled adventure, Annie foils Miss Hannigan’s evil machinations and even befriends President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. She finds a new home and family in billionaire Oliver Warbucks, his personal secretary Grace Farrell, and a lovable mutt named Sandy.

  • Thu-Fri, June 28-29 at 10:30am & 5:30pm
  • Sat, June 30 at 5:30pm
  • Sun, July 1 at 10:30am & 5:30pm
  • Thu-Fri, July 5-6 at 10:30am & 5:30pm
  • Sat, July 7 at 5:30pm
  • Sun, July 8 at 10:30am & 5:30pm
  • Thu-Fri, July 12-13 at 10:30am & 5:30pm
  • Sat, July 14 at 5:30pm
  • Sun, July 15 at 10:30am & 5:30pm
  • Thu-Fri, July 19-20 at 10:30am & 5:30pm
  • Sat, July 21 at 5:30pm
  • Sun, July 22 at 10:30am & 5:30pm
  • Thu-Fri, July 26-27 at 10:30am & 5:30pm
  • Sat, July 28 at 5:30pm
  • Sun, July 29 at 10:30am & 5:30pm
  • Thu-Fri, Aug. 2-3 at 10:30am & 5:30pm
  • Sat, Aug. 4 at 5:30pm
  • Sun, Aug. 5 at 10:30am & 5:30pm
  • Thu-Fri, Aug. 9-10 at 10:30am & 5:30pm
  • Sat, Aug. 11 at 5:30pm
  • Sun, Aug. 12 at 10:30am & 5:30pm
  • Thu-Fri, Aug. 16-17 at 10:30am & 5:30pm
  • Sat, Aug. 18 at 5:30pm
  • Sun, Aug. 19 at 10:30am & 5:30pm

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May 31, 2018 · 10:27 am

MARY POPPINS Runs June 28-July 15

BVCT_Mary Poppins logoMARY POPPINS
Brookville Community Theatre
June 28-July 15
[Brookville]

Directed by James Nelson
Music directed by Amanda Newhart
Choreographed by Cathy Rarick

Cast: Rebecca Henry as Mary Poppins, Kendal Garrett as Bert, Mark Van Luvender as Mr. George Banks, Sheryl Koontz as Mrs. Winifred Banks, Danikah Skaroupka as Jane, Jonah Sievers as Michael, Debbi Robbins as Mrs. Brill/Ensemble, Bill Impson as Robertson Ay/Ensemble, Kathleen Durig as Miss Andrew/Ensemble, Jenna Vance as Mrs. Corry/Ensemble, Allison Gabert as Mrs. Corry US/Ensemble, Rebekah Skaroupka as Bird Woman/Ensemble, Josh Wissinger as Neleus/Ensemble, Garrett Hensley as Park Keeper/Policeman/Ensemble, Don Cordes as Admiral Boom/Bank Chairman/Ensemble, Tori Coss as Miss Lark/Ensemble, Doc Horton as Von Hussler/Ensemble, Jasmine Ravenscraft as Miss Smythe/Ensemble, Kelli Myers as Katie Nanna/Ensemble, Laura Robbins as Annie/Ensemble, Paige Van Luvender as Fannie/Ensemble, Eva Holler as Doll, Emma Miller as Teddy Bear & Jenna Wissinger as Mrs. Punch
Ensemble: John Wysong, Bailie Scheer, Elizabeth Allen, Gage Recker & Kailee Hoskins

The jack-of-all trades, Bert, introduces us to England in 1910 and the troubled Banks family. Young Jane and Michael have sent many a nanny packing before Mary Poppins arrives on their doorstep. Using a combination of magic and common sense, she must teach the family members how to value each other again. Mary Poppins takes the children on many magical and memorable adventures, but Jane and Michael aren’t the only ones upon whom she has a profound effect. Even grown-ups can learn a lesson or two from the nanny who advises that “Anything can happen if you let it.” This magical production includes such favorites as “A Spoonful of Sugar,” “Chim Chim Cher-ee,” “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious,” “Jolly Holiday,” “Step in Time,” and some new songs “Practically Perfect,” “Brimstone and Treacle” and “Anything Can Happen if You Let It.” Mary Poppins is an enchanting mixture of irresistible story, unforgettable songs and breathtaking dance numbers! Audiences will be singing along from beginning to end!

  • Thu-Sat, June 28-30 at 8pm
  • Sun, July 1 at 3pm
  • Thu-Sat, July 5-7 at 8pm
  • Sun, July 8 at 3pm
  • Thu-Sat, July 12-14 at 8pm
  • Sun, July 15 at 3pm

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