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CCM Studio Series Presents a Musical Celebration of Stephen Sondheim

STEPHEN SONDHEIM

Stephen Sondheim.

CCM’s Musical Theatre department stages Sondheim on Sondheim, a documentary-meets-musical-revue, on Thursday, Oct. 5 through Saturday, Oct. 7. Admission is free but reservations are required; tickets become available at noon on Monday, Oct. 2.

CCM opens its Sesquicentennial Studio Series with SONDHEIM ON SONDHEIM, a musical revue of Stephen Sondheim’s most beloved works, on Thursday, Oct. 5 through Saturday, Oct. 7 in the Cohen Family Studio Theater. The performance paints an intimate portrait of the songwriter, told through his music and through video clips of Sondheim himself.

“Sondheim’s comments are amazingly candid, giving a unique and personal insight into the stories behind the songs, as well as the personal battles he has faced with his family, producers and fame,” says CCM Musical Theatre Professor and Department Chairman Aubrey Berg, director of the show.

Eight singers from CCM’s Musical Theatre program will perform some of Sondheim’s most popular tunes without amplification and accompanied only by piano. Audiences will recognize featured songs in the revue, such as “Comedy Tonight” from A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, “Something’s Comin’” from West Side Story and “Send in the Clowns” from A Little Night Music.

The show also includes excerpts from Passion, Assassins and Bounce, as well as a brand-new song written just for SONDHEIM ON SONDHEIM.

“The strength of the show comes from the brilliance of the music and lyrics and the accomplishments of the performers in interpreting the songs of the modern master of musical theatre,” Berg says.

CCM Musical Theatre has a long history with Sondheim musicals; the department has staged almost all of Sondheim’s major works over the years.

“His songs can be witty and ironic, but also heartfelt and deeply emotional,” Berg says. “They provide a tremendous challenge to young performers and serve as excellent training for our more advanced students.”

With this show, CCM Musical Theatre also welcomes the return of Katie Johannigman (BFA Musical Theatre, 2012) as a Visiting Adjunct Assistant Professor of Musical Theatre. Johannigman choreographs SONDHEIM ON SONDHEIM, which features music direction and accompaniment by Stephen Goers.

“I have watched Katie grow up and remember her as a star-struck little girl attending productions at CCM,” Berg says. “The last performance she gave here was as Cinderella in Into the Woods (a favorite Sondheim work). I am delighted that she is visiting us this year as a teacher, choreographer and director. It gives us a wonderful sense of continuity.”

You can see Johannigman’s choreography in SONDHEIM ON SONDHEIM in CCM’s Cohen Family Studio Theater from Oct.5-7. Admission is free, but reservations are required; tickets become available at noon on Monday, October 2. They often sell out quickly, so visit our guide to Studio Series tickets for tips and tricks to secure your seats.

SONDHEIM ON SONDHEIM
Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
Conceived and directed on Broadway by James Lapine

Production Team

  • Aubrey Berg, director
  • Stephen Goers, music director and accompanist
  • Katie Johannigman, choreographer
  • Nicholas Smith, lighting designer
  • Margo Leist, stage manager

Cast list

  • Bryce Baxter
  • Aria Braswell
  • Emily Fink
  • Ciara Harris
  • Phillip Johnson
  • Alex Stone
  • Keaton Whittaker
  • Gabe Wrobel

Performance Times

  • 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 5
  • 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 6
  • 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 7

Location
Cohen Family Studio Theater, CCM Village,
University of Cincinnati

Tickets
Admission is free. Reservations are required. Tickets become available at noon on Monday, Oct. 2. Please visit the CCM Box Office or call 513-556-4183 to reserve. Limit two tickets per order.

Parking and Directions
Parking is available in the CCM Garage (located at the base of Corry Boulevard off Jefferson Avenue) and additional garages throughout the campus of the University of Cincinnati. Please visit uc.edu/parking for more information on parking rates.

For detailed maps and directions, please visit uc.edu/visitors. Additional parking is available off-campus at the U Square complex on Calhoun Street and other neighboring lots.

For directions to CCM Village, visit ccm.uc.edu/about/directions.

SONDHEIM ON SONDHEIM is presented through a special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI www.MTIShows.com.

CCM Season Presenting Sponsor: The Otto M. Budig Family Foundation

Studio Series Sponsors: Dr. & Mrs. Carl G. Fischer, Ms. Margaret L. Straub & Mr. Neil R. Artman

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TENDERLY: THE ROSEMARY CLOONEY MUSICAL Playing Weekends Nov. 4-19 at The Carnegie

TC_Tenderly logo(COVINGTON, KY) – From a humble Midwestern childhood in Northern Kentucky to topping the charts for nearly five decades, the story of Rosemary Clooney’s remarkable journey is the focal point of the next production in The Carnegie’s 2017-18 Theatre Series, TENDERLY: THE ROSEMARY CLOONEY MUSICAL, playing weekends Nov. 4 – 19, 2017.

In a story that begins just 60 miles from The Carnegie in Maysville KY, TENDERLY: THE ROSEMARY CLOONEY MUSICAL follows Rosemary Clooney’s rise to Hollywood stardom, and continues beyond battles with depression to a triumphant comeback. With many of her signature songs woven in and out such as “Come On-A My House,” “Tenderly,” and “Straighten Up and Fly Right,” audience members will learn the story of her successes on film, radio, and TV, as well the struggles in her personal life.

“I couldn’t be more excited to share this show in Rosemary’s home state and with our amazing Carnegie audiences,” said Carnegie Theatre Director Maggie Perrino. “And we’re premiering a new version of the script, so it’s doubly exciting to bring her life to the stage in a fresh, new way.”

Written by award winning composers, lyricists, and playwrights Janet Yates Vogt and Mark Friedman and directed by Dee Anne Bryll and Ed Cohen, TENDERLY: THE ROSEMARY CLOONEY MUSICAL will feature musical direction by Steve Goers. Actress Kim Schroeder Long stars as Rosemary Clooney, with Allen R. Middleton taking on the role of the doctor.

Performances of TENDERLY: THE ROSEMARY CLOONEY MUSICAL will run Friday and Saturday evenings at 7:30pm, Sundays at 3:00pm. Tickets are $30, $27 for Carnegie Members, Northern Kentucky Chamber Members and Enjoy the Arts Members, $23 for students. Tickets can be purchased through The Carnegie Box Office, open Tuesday – Friday 12pm – 5pm, in person or by phone at (859) 957-1940, or online at www.thecarnegie.com. Patrons seeking group or student tickets should call to make arrangements.

The 2017-18 Carnegie Theatre Series is sponsored by the Otto M. Budig Family Foundation. 

TENDERLY: THE ROSEMARY CLOONEY MUSICAL is presented through special arrangement with and all authorized performance materials are supplied by Theatrical Rights Worldwide. 

About The Carnegie: The Carnegie is Northern Kentucky’s largest multidisciplinary arts venue providing theatre events, educational programs and art exhibitions to the Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati community. The Carnegie facility is home to The Carnegie Galleries, the Otto M. Budig Theatre, and the Eva G. Farris Education Center.  More information about The Carnegie is available at www.thecarnegie.com or by calling (859) 491-2030.

The Carnegie receives ongoing operating support from Cincinnati Wine Festival, The Greater Cincinnati Foundation, Kenton County Fiscal Courts, The City of Covington, and the Kentucky Arts Council. The Carnegie is also supported by the generosity of more than 40,000 contributors to the ArtsWave Community Campaign.

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Cast Bios

Kim Schroeder Long (Rosemary Clooney):
Born and raised in rural Ohio, Kim obtained her theatre degree from Bowling Green State University, where she was a performance scholar, and got her stage legs in Cincinnati, gaining notice for her work with various theatre companies such as ArtReach, Cincinnati Music Theatre, Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, and Cincinnati Landmark Productions.

In 2014, she relocated to California, and has been performing throughout the Bay Area, featuring in John Bisceglie’s SONDHEIM IN CONCERT and LADY SINGS THE BLUES at Marines’ Memorial Theatre, cycling through all the roles in the zany audience-cast comedy EAT THE RUNT at Altarena Playhouse, lending her voice to Chanticleers’ TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE, antagonizing the Bennet sisters in IAM Theatre’s national premiere of PRIDE AND PREJUDICE THE MUSICAL at San Francisco’s Fort Mason Center, and starring in Altarena Playhouse’s much-acclaimed 2017 season opener, TENDERLY: THE ROSEMARY CLOONEY MUSICAL. She’s performed in cabaret rooms in New York City, San Francisco, and San Jose, most recently debuting a new solo show, PARDON MY FRENCH, at Society Cabaret San Francisco.

Allen R. Middleton (The Doctor):
Middleton is a graduate of the Carnegie Mellon University School of Drama and has appeared in a number of shows with theatres in the Cincinnati area and around the region including THE MAN WHO SHOT LIBERTY VALANCE (Falcon Theatre), NEXT FALL (Falcon Theatre), FOX ON THE FAIRWAY (Covedale Center), 9 TO 5: THE MUSICAL (Warsaw Incline Theater), GROSS INDECENCY: THE THREE TRIALS OF OSCAR WILDE (Theatreworks), RAVENSCROFT (Sherman Playhouse), CABARET, GUYS & DOLLS, SOUTH PACIFIC, HELLO DOLLY!, CAMELOT (West Virginia Public Theater), PIPPIN (Minneapolis Children’s Theater Company). In addition to his stage work, Middleton has appeared in several film and television productions such as BRAND NEW KITCHEN (2017 Release), CURVATURE (2017 Release), FTL NEWSFEED (SyFy/NBC Universal), ALLIGATOR ALLEY (NMN Entertainment), END OF THE LINE (Methexis Productions), FOUND AND ROUND (PBS), JUST IN TIME (PBS).

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Cast Announced for FIVE WOMEN WEARING THE SAME DRESS at the Warsaw Federal Incline Theatre

WFIT_Sign at nightCast includes:

  • Talia Noelle Zoll as Tricia
  • Merritt Beischel as Mindy
  • Erin Carr as Georgeanne
  • Brianna Bernard as Frances
  • Audrey MacNeil as Meredith
  • Matt Krieg as Tripp

Directed by Dee Anne Bryll, performances run Jan. 25-Feb. 11.

For more information visit www.cincinnatilandmarkproductions.com/Incline/Default.aspx.

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Cast Announced for OKLAHOMA! at the Covedale Center for the Performing Arts

CCPAThe cast includes:

  • Evan Koons as Curly McClain
  • Sarah Polinski as Laurey Williams
  • Justin Glaser as Jud Fry
  • Heather Hale as Ado Annie
  • Logan Weinfurtner as Will Parker
  • Julia Hasl-Miller as Aunt Eller
  • Jamie Steele as Andrew Carnes
  • Brandon Bentley as Ali Hakim
  • Jessica Kaiser as Gertie Cummings
  • Ensemble Includes: Julie Huster, Kat Sweeney, Allison Dilbone, Dylan McGill, Peter Cutler, Zac Holman & Robert Fields

Directed and choreographed by Maggie Perrino with music direction by Stephen Variames.

Performances run April 5-29. For more information visit www.cincinnatilandmarkproductions.com/ccpa/Default.aspx.

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Cast Announced for GUYS AND DOLLS at Covedale Center

CCPAThe cast includes:

  • Justin Glaser as Sky Masterson
  • Sarah Viola as Sarah Brown
  • Jeremiah Plessinger as Nathan Detroit
  • Marissa Poole as Adelaide
  • Linsey Rogers as General Cartwright
  • Brandon Bentley  as Nicely-Nicely Johnson
  • Rich Roedersheimer as Benny Southstreet
  • Harold Murphy as Arvide
  • Jamie Steele as Lietenant Branigan
  • Cian Steele as Rusty Charlie
  • Kevin Bell as Society Max
  • Dylan McGill as Harry The Horse
  • Peter Culter as Big Jule
  • Royce Louden as Andie the Ox
  • Ensemble includes: Kat Sweeney, Franchesca Montazemi, Annie Schneider and Renee Stoltzfus

Directed by Tim Perrino with music direction by Ron Attreau and choreography by Jeni Bayer-Schwiers.

Performances run Feb. 15-March 11.

For more information visit www.cincinnatilandmarkproductions.com/ccpa/Default.aspx.

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