Author Archives: robbucher

THUMP On Oct. 15

THUMP
Cincinnati Playwrights Initiative
Oct. 15
Aronoff Center Fifth Third Bank Theater [Downtown]

Written by Michael DeFrancesco

A director and two couples meet to discuss and agree on a scenario for a community theater contest. For one of the couples an event lays bare their fight of conscience.

About the Author:
Michael taught drama and English to high school students outside of Cincinnati. While teaching, he was awarded a Rockefeller grant to the University of Cincinnati’s Theater Arts program, where he earned an M.A. His Master’s thesis was a Readers Theater production of Black poetry with five black students in the high school where he was teaching. Because of getting a family quickly while in graduate school, he backed off of the Theater except to watch it.

He became more interested in writing than acting, and engaged in that off and on over a number of years. In the past dozen years he has written several plays: four full lengths, two as one acts and four as ten-minute plays.

He is a member of the Cincinnati Playwrights Initiative and has had several staged readings at CPI: The Circle, The Car Ride, The Hound, and for October 2024, Thump.

Tue, Oct. 15 at 7:30pm

Official page | Facebook event |

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Kate Hamill’s MS. HOLMES & MS. WATSON – APT. 2B Kicks Off Autumn at the Human Race Theatre Company

Step aside, Robert Downey, Jr.! Move over, Benedict Cumberbatch!  Make way for Kate Hamill’s feminist shakeup of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s notable sleuths.

This spin through the orbit of the world’s most famous detective introduces us to female roommates Sherlock Holmes and Joan Watson. They’ve emerged from the pandemic fog as a deeply codependent and quasi-dysfunctional duo – solving mysteries, eating snacks and shaking off their pasts. But when they come face to face with a villain who seems to have all the answers? Hamill’s playful and theatrical style will deliver an unforgettable adventure chock full of heroism, friendship and, of course, the art of deduction.

“Bring your bestie, grab a snack and drink in the lobby, and settle in for an entertaining night,” notes Emily N. Wells, Artistic Director. “The twists and turns of this irreverent game keep you guessing to the very end.”

Guest Director Heather Wilson-Bowlby guides the powerhouse cast, featuring Shonita Joshi as Ms. Sherlock Holmes (Shipwrecked: An Entertainment!), Maggie Lou Rader as Ms. Joan Watson (Grounded, The Revolutionists), Kelly Mengelkoch as Mrs. Hudson and others (This is Tom Jones!, Deadline), and Matthew Sierra as Inspector Lestrade and others in his Human Race debut.

Joining Wilson-Bowlby on the production team are: Jeff Heater, Scenic Design; Diane D. Fairchild, Lighting Design; Janet G. Powell, Costume Design; emily c. porter, Sound Design; Lucia Thill, Associate Sound Design; Sarah Gomes, Props; Mark Tynan, Production Stage Manager; Danitza Piper, Assistant Stage Manager; Gina Cerimele-Mechley, Fight Director.

Ms. Holmes & Ms. Watson – Apt. 2B  will play in the Loft Theatre in downtown Dayton, October 9 – 20, 2024.  Tickets are on sale through the Dayton Live box office, 937-228-3630, or online at www.humanracetheatre.org   For press ticket requests, please contact Tiffany Countryman, Engagement and Learning Coordinator at tiffany@humanracetheatre.org

The Human Race Theatre Company continues its commitment to high quality theatre with access points for all with two special ticket initiatives: two sections of $20 seats available at any time through the box office, and ten $10 rush seats available 90 minutes before any performance.

Special Nights at The Loft: 

  • Pay What You CAN                  Tuesday, Oct 8, 7:30 pm – admission by non-perishable food donation for The Foodbank OR a cash donation to benefit The League of Women Voters
  • Inside Track                             Thursday, October 10, 7:30pm – Pre-show Discussion at 6:45pm
  • Post Show Discussion              Sunday, October 13, 2pm – Special Guest & Cast
  • Industry Night/ Sawbuck         Sunday, October 13, 7:30 pm – $10 tickets available at 6:00 pm
  • While We’re On The Subject Sunday, October 20, 2 pm – Post-Show Discussion with the Cast
  • Parent’s Day Out                     Sunday, October 20, 2 pm – Kids Separate Activities (5-12yo)

The Human Race expresses gratitude for the public and private support which makes these productions possible:  Loft Season Sponsor: Jack W. and Sally D. Eichelberger Foundation. Sustainability sponsors:  Anne F. Johnson, Steve and Lou Mason, The Toulmin Fund at The Dayton Foundation, and Morris Furniture Company.  Additional Season support:  Emma R. Catterton Trust, Funds at The Dayton Foundation, Virginia F. Kettering Foundation, The Shubert Foundation, Sam Levin Foundation.  Production Support: Beth and Alan Schaeffer; Blood Sponsor: An Anonymous Blood Donor.  Organizational support:  Culture Works, Montgomery County, Ohio Arts Council. Media Sponsor: WDPR Discover Classical. Pay What You Can Sponsor: Enterprise Holdings Foundation. Parent’s Day Out: Rabbit Hole Books/Dayton Book Fair.  Capital Support: The Scheiwetz Foundation, The Dayton Foundation, The Toulmin Fund at the The Dayton Foundation.

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RUTKA: A New Musical Runs Oct. 13-Nov. 10

RUTKA: A New Musical
Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park
Oct. 13-Nov. 10
Rouse Theatre [Eden Park]

Directed by Wendy C. Goldberg

You’ll never forget her name. A powerful indie-rock musical makes its world premiere in Cincinnati to launch its path to Broadway. Rutka’s world is consumed by the usual teen concerns, like friendships, gossip, a new haircut and the flickers of first love — all of which she documents in her diary. But the world at large is far from usual. It’s 1943 in war-torn Poland, as Rutka and her friends are trying to live life as normally as possible while confined in the Jewish Ghetto. With their futures and fates uncertain, they reach for hope, resilience and resistance. This all-new musical is a compelling drama based on Rutka’s Notebook — a publication of the real diary left behind by 14-year-old Rutka Laskier, and a shining example of how even one small voice can make a difference in the world. Rutka is brought to life by an extraordinary ensemble of young performers and with a raw and emotional sound, promising an unforgettable musical experience. Advisory: RUTKA is recommended for ages 12 and up. The teenage characters in Rutka try to live normal lives with discussions of first feelings of love, first kisses and new haircuts. Yet, the reality of the world around them includes descriptions of the violence and death associated with the Holocaust.

  • In preview Sun, Oct. 13 at 2pm
  • In preview Tue-Wed, Oct. 15-16 at 7:30pm
  • Thu-Fri, Oct. 17-18 at 7:30pm
  • Sat, Oct. 19 at 2pm & 7:30pm
  • Sun, Oct. 20 at 2pm
  • Tue-Fri, Oct. 22-25 at 7:30pm
  • Sat, Oct. 26 at 2pm & 7:30pm
  • Sun, Oct. 27 at 2pm
  • Tue, Oct. 29 at 7:30pm
  • Wed, Oct. 30 at 1pm
  • Thu-Fri, Oct. 31-Nov. 1 at 7:30pm
  • Sat, Nov. 2 at 2pm & 7:30pm
  • Sun, Nov. 3 at 2pm
  • Wed-Fri, Nov. 6-8 at 7:30pm
  • Sat, Nov. 9 at 2pm & 7:30pm
  • Sun, Nov. 10 at 2pm

Official page | Facebook event |

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One Off Productions Continues Indie Theatrics with Vonnegut’s Timely HAPPY BIRTHDAY, WANDA JUNE

(Cincinnati, OH — September 12, 2024) After a wildly successful run of Romeo and Juliet: A Fool’s Paradise in February, One Off Productions announces its second show: Kurt Vonnegut’s Happy Birthday, Wanda June, playing September 26–October 5 at Gabriel’s Corner in Over-the-Rhine. Founder Rupert Spraul directs, and co-founder Hannah Gregory serves as stage manager. The cast boasts Rory Sheridan as Harold Ryan and Tess Talbot as Penelope Ryan. Rounding out the main cast, David Derringer plays Dr. Norbert Woodly, Jared Earland plays Herb Shuttle and Colonel Von Konigswald, and Brian Willis plays Looseleaf Harper. Student actors Luke Busemeyer and Ashlynn Hezlep join as Paul and Wanda June, respectively.

Happy Birthday, Wanda June runs at Gabriel’s Corner, 1425 Sycamore Street, Cincinnati, OH, 45202 on:

  • Thursday, September 26 at 7:30pm
  • Friday, September 27 at 7:30pm
  • Sunday, September 29 at 7:30pm
  • Thursday, October 3 at 7:30pm
  • Friday, October 4 at 7:30pm
  • Saturday, October 5 at 7:30pm

Doors open at 7pm. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at https://square.link/u/ShaxxOqA.


About One-Off Productions:

One-Off Productions (OOPs) is a grassroots independent arts initiative in Cincinnati, OH, making impactful, accessible, professional, experimental art.

Find us on Instagram at @one.off.productions or Facebook

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2024-2025 Season Announced by Oxford Area Community Theatre

OUT CRY by Tennessee Williams
Directed by S. Michael McVey
Oct. 12-20, 2024

MISERY by William Goldman based on the novel by Stephen King
Directed by Kayleigh Swatzell
Feb. 21-March 2, 2025

EVERY BRILLIANT THING by Duncan MacMillan with Johnny Donahoe
Directed by R. Scott Shriver
April 25-May 4

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