Author Archives: robbucher

SANCTUARY CITY Runs Sept. 16-Oct. 22

PIP_Sanctuary CitySANCTUARY CITY
Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park
Sept. 16-Oct. 22
Shelterhouse Theatre [Eden Park]

Directed by Kareem Fahmy

Cast: Jordan Anthony Arredondo as B, Debo Balogun as Henry & Amira Danan as D

How far would you go to help a friend, and what would you be willing to risk? In this strikingly intimate play, two young people become one another’s sanctuaries as the children of U.S. immigrants in the wake of 9/11. Through years of late-night conversations, they see each other through adolescence and fight to find their place in the world. When G becomes a naturalized citizen, she finds a way to help B stay in the country legally. But what begins as a simple choice becomes far more complicated, and G and B’s relationship teeters on the brink of falling apart. This searing new play from Pulitzer Prize-winner Martyna Majok is an unconventional love story that’s as timely as it is unforgettable.
SANCTUARY CITY is suitable for teenage and adult audiences. Two young immigrants fight to find their place in the world while using very strong language and discussing mature issues including domestic abuse.

  • In preview on Sat, Sept. 16 at 7:30pm
  • In preview on Tue-Wed, Sept. 19-20 at 7:30pm
  • Thu (SOLD OUT) -Fri, Sept. 21-22 at 7:30pm
  • Sat, Sept. 23 at 2pm & 7:30pm
  • Sun, Sept. 24 at 2pm
  • Tue-Fri, Sept. 26-29 at 7:30pm
  • Sat, Sept. 30 at 2pm & 7:30pm
  • Sun, Oct. 1 at 2pm
  • Tue, Oct. 3 at 7:30pm
  • Wed, Oct. 4 at 1pm & 7:30pm
  • Thu-Fri, Oct. 5-6 at 7:30pm
  • Sat, Oct. 7 at 2pm & 7:30pm
  • Sun, Oct. 8 at 2pm
  • Tue-Fri, Oct. 10-13 at 7:30pm
  • Sat, Oct. 14 at 2pm & 7:30pm
  • Sun, Oct. 15 at 2pm
  • Tue-Fri, Oct. 17-20 at 7:30pm
  • Sat, Oct. 21 at 2pm & 7:30pm
  • Sun, Oct. 22 at 2pm

Official page |

Leave a comment

Filed under On Stage

MORE ROOM TO PLAY, Kaplan New Works Opens Friday at the Aronoff

CB_More Room to Play60th Anniversary Season kicks off with ‘New Works,’ Sept. 15-24

Cincinnati, OH (September 11, 2023) –Cincinnati Ballet opens its Diamond 60th Anniversary season with MORE ROOM TO PLAY, Kaplan New Works, at the Aronoff Center for the Arts, Jarson-Kaplan Theater, September 15–24. MORE ROOM TO PLAY features three world premieres from choreographers Tiler Peck, Houston Thomas and David Morse. The program also features an evocative piece from San Francisco-based choreographer Amy Seiwert and completing the program is a work from Cincinnati Ballet artistic collaborator Jennifer Archibald. Here is a breakdown of each of the five featured contemporary ballets.

WORLD PREMIERE | Choreographer Tiler Peck | Balederrama
Superstar New York City Ballet principal dancer and emerging choreographer Tiler Peck created her new work, “Balderamma” for Cincinnati Ballet. “The power of music to bring people together is ultimately my inspiration for this piece,” Peck explained. “The song ‘Balderrama’ is a tribute to a traditional folk music club located in the city of Salta, Argentina, called Lo de Balderrama. The first stanza sets the scene at a canal, where at dawn the night comes to an end with the sound of singing coming from Lo de Balderrama. This is a place where the music is played and everyone dances and feels the rhythm deep in their bones.”

WORLD PREMIERE | Choreographer Houston Thomas | In The Smoke
Houston Thomas, Dresden, Germany-based choreographer and second soloist with the Dresden Semperoper Ballett draws from his own experience with love and loss to create a hauntingly beautiful study on passion and grief.

WORLD PREMIERE | Choreographer David Morse | MORE ROOM TO PLAY
Choreographer David Morse is the vision behind Kaplan New Works title piece, MORE ROOM TO PLAY. Originally conceived as a dance film during the pandemic, Morse has expanded it into a colorful, propulsive work sure to leave you smiling.

Choreographer Amy Seiwert | It’s Not a Cry
California-based choreographer Amy Seiwert, who is also the Associate Artistic Director for renowned contemporary ballet company, Smuin, creates a gorgeous pas de deux to a rendition of Leonard Cohen’s ‘Hallelujah’ by popular musician Jeff Buckley.

Choreographer Jennifer Archibald | Quem Viver, Verá, (“He Who Lives Shall See”)
Longtime Cincinnati Ballet Artistic Collaborator Jennifer Archibald is back with Quem Viver, Verá, (“He Who Lives Shall See”) a dance for five men. The piece is sensual and hypnotic. “Muscular and forceful, the men pass phrases from one sliver of light to the next. But most memorable is just how raw the movement feels.” David Lyman, Cincinnati Enquirer, 2018

The annual program has gained a cult following with Cincinnati audiences who are first to experience groundbreaking world premieres by some of the world’s most sought-after choreographers in an intimate theater setting that accommodates only three hundred patrons.

Tickets for The Kaplan New Works Series are on sale now, with seating limited to some performances. For more information visit http://www.cballet.org.

WHO: Cincinnati Ballet

WHAT: MORE ROOM TO PLAY, Kaplan New Works

WHEN:

  • Friday, September 14 at 7:30 pm
  • Saturday, September 15 at 2 pm and 7:30 pm
  • Sunday, September 16 at 1 pm
  • Thursday, September 21 at 7:30 pm
  • Friday, September 22 at 7:30 pm
  • Saturday, September 23 at 2 pm and 7:30 pm
  • Sunday, September 24 at 1 pm

WHERE:

Aronoff Center for the Arts, Jarson-Kaplan Theater
650 Walnut Street
Cincinnati, Ohio

TICKETS: Call 513.621.5282 or visit cballet.org

Cincinnati Ballet 2023-2024 Season Sponsors:

PNC, Margaret and Michael Valentine, ArtsWave, H.B., E.W. & F.R. Luther Foundation, Louise Dieterle Nippert Musical Arts Fund, Ohio Arts Council, The Austin E. Knowlton Foundation

About Cincinnati Ballet

Since 1963, Cincinnati Ballet has been the cornerstone professional ballet company of the region, presenting a bold and adventurous array of classical, full-length ballets and contemporary works, regularly with live orchestral accompaniment. Cincinnati Ballet is a creative force within the larger dance community, commissioning world-premiere works and exploring unique collaborations. With a mission to enrich, expand, and excel in the art of dance through performance, a high-caliber academy, and impactful education and community engagement in local to global communities, Cincinnati Ballet reaches beyond the stage in programs that allow every person in the region to be part of the continued evolution of dance. To that end, Cincinnati Ballet presents exhilarating performances, provides extensive education and community engagement programs, and offers top-level professional ballet training at Cincinnati Ballet Otto M. Budig Academy.

Leave a comment

Filed under Press Releases

DOUBLEWIDE, TEXAS Opens Village Players Season Friday, Sept. 29

VP_Doublewide TexasVillage Players of Fort Thomas is excited to announce their season will open with the comedy DOUBLEWIDE, TEXAS by Jessie Jones, Nicholas Hope, and Jamie Wooten. Directed by Fred Murrell and produced by Betsy Bossart, Doublewide, Texas, will be presented in six performances over two weeks Friday, September 29 through Saturday, October 7, 2023. at the Village Players Theater, 8 N Fort Thomas Ave., Fort Thomas, KY 41075. Performances will commence at 8 pm, except for Sunday, October 1st, which starts at 2 pm.

Doublewide, Texas features the work of playwrights Jessie Jones, Nicholas Hope, and Jamie Wooten and the acting talents of Ryan Britton, Tim Carney, Cat Cook, Jimmy Jackson, Helen Merritt, Kathryn Muck, Megan Schultheis, Susan Smith, and Suzanne Stymiest. The stage manager is Stephanie Garvey.

Doublewide, Texas is a fast-paced comedy where the inhabitants of the smallest trailer park in Texas suddenly realize the town of Tugaloo is determined to annex them. Rollicking mayhem ensues as residents attempt to secede from Texas! Grab your Stetson and come on over to Doublewide, Texas, where life is double the fun, double the joy, and where you’ll double over with laughter!

Tickets are $20 and available online at villageplayers.org.

  • FRI, SEP 29th at 8 pm
  • SAT, SEP 30th at 8 pm
  • SUN, OCT 1st at 2 pm
  • THUR, OCT 5th at 8 pm
  • FRI, OCT 6th at 8 pm
  • SAT, OCT 7th at 8 pm. 

“This is a very funny show,” said director Fred Murrell. “The cast is working hard to keep a straight face on stage.” Producer Betsy Bossart adds, “At the first readthrough, this cast had hilarious timing and camaraderie, and they haven’t let up since. Don’t miss this hilarious ride!”

Featuring:

  • Big Ethel Satterwhite – Suzanne Stymiest
  • Georgia Dean Rudd– Cat Cook
  • Lark Barken – Helen Merritt
  • Norwayne “Baby” Crumpler – Jimmy Jackson
  • Haywood Sloggett – Tim Carney
  • Joveeta Crumpler – Megan Schultheis
  • Caprice Crumpler – Susan Smith
  • Lomax Tanner – Ryan Britton
  • Starla Pudney – Kathryn Muck

Village Players of Fort Thomas is a vibrant community theatre, continually producing plays and musicals for almost 60 years. Our productions range across a spectrum of periods and styles, presented in our intimate, three-quarter-thrust performance space in the heart of Fort Thomas, Kentucky. We stage innovative and of-the-moment works alongside beloved classic pieces while serving as an incubator for new talent, ideas, and writing. Each season features four mainstage shows, including a family-friendly winter production, as well as a summer production of original short plays produced by the New Works branch of the group.

Leave a comment

Filed under Press Releases

Manager of Gallery and Outreach Sought by NKU School of the Arts

Working Title NKU_SOTA logoManager of Gallery and Outreach
Department School of the Arts
Work Schedule M-F 8:30 – 4:30. Weekends and evenings as required.
Hours per Week 37.5
Months per Year 12
Commitment to Inclusive Excellence Northern Kentucky University (NKU) seeks excellence by enriching its educational environment and culture through the diversity of its administration, faculty, and staff and by embracing inclusiveness, equity, and global awareness in all dimensions of its work. NKU is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access/Affirmative Action institution. We encourage applications by members of diverse groups and by persons with a demonstrated commitment to issues of diversity and experience in achieving goals relative to inclusive excellence. Our vision is that NKU will be nationally recognized for being a student-ready, regionally engaged university that empowers diverse learners for economic and social mobility. We will do this while promoting a culture of excellence, acting with integrity, fostering a community of belonging, working with creativity and innovation, and maintaining a climate of collegiality. In your role, you will be expected to ensure that students who interact with you have a high-quality experience that supports the vision of the institution.
Purpose of Position Northern Kentucky University is seeking a Manager of Galleries and Outreach. The Art & Design Program in the School of the Arts (SOTA) at Northern Kentucky University invites applications for a full-time staff position directing galleries and outreach for Art & Design, beginning January 2024. The Manager of Galleries and Outreach provides curatorial leadership, management, and outreach of the gallery spaces and operations at Northern Kentucky University. Current spaces include two main Art Galleries as well as the SOTA Community Outreach Atrium. Operations in these spaces serve as an important outreach to the community, valuable educational opportunities for the campus, and vital instruction for the Art & Design program.This position is the primary public relations presence of the Art & Design Program at the University and in the community. The Manager of Galleries and Outreach provides an innovative consultative role to the Art & Design Program Head and the School of the Arts Director/Associate Director with a focus on the Art & Design Program growth strategy through student success, career & community engagement, and entrepreneurship & innovation. The role also includes exhibition-related curricula, teaching the BFA Senior Exhibition and Gallery Internship courses, management of the University’s permanent art collection, and installation of artwork across campus.

The Art & Design, Music, and Theatre & Dance programs make up the School of the Arts that sit in the College of Arts and Sciences at Northern Kentucky University. The Art & Design Program offers an innovative and engaging opportunity for aspiring artists and designers who seek professional training in the arts. The Art & Design Program has 19 full-time faculty and 5 full-time staff that embrace a comprehensive hands-on approach to working with materials and techniques while developing critical thinking skills related to the various art disciplines and studio training. The NKU Art Galleries serve as a premier venue for the exhibition of high-quality artworks from regional, national, and international artists as well as a creative forum for students, the campus community, and the region.

Established in 1968, NKU is a 15,000-student, nationally recognized, growing metropolitan university located seven miles from downtown Cincinnati, Ohio. Greater Cincinnati has one of the most vibrant and multifaceted cultural scenes in the Midwest, with the Cincinnati Art Museum, Contemporary Arts Center, 21c Museum Hotel, and a plethora of galleries such as The Weston, Carl Solway, and Manifest Gallery. Cincinnati offers an outstanding quality of life, a dynamic arts community, and an affordable cost of living. NKU is committed to active engagement with the Northern Kentucky/Greater Cincinnati region of over two million people. We encourage applications from all qualified candidates, but especially from individuals who contribute to the diversity of our academic community.

Primary Responsibilities
  • Management of planning, organization, installation, and publicity for gallery exhibitions in NKU Art Galleries and SOTA Community Showcase Atrium. Work with internal and external stakeholders for events and promotion of the arts on campus and in the region.
  • Work with the Art & Design Program Head and Art & Design Faculty in support of Art & Design academic unit/departmental/program goals, and student success. The primary of which is to organize, plan, and install BFA senior exhibitions in the fall and spring semesters and the Annual Juried Student Exhibition. Participation in relevant Art & Design faculty and staff meetings and planning meetings with the Art & Design Program Head/SOTA Director.
  • Manage the NKU Art Collection and student art in the Fine Arts Center and across campus. Explore interdisciplinary opportunities with other academic units across campus. Support SOTA and Art and design planning, wayfinding, and other initiatives as needed.
  • Work with SOTA Publicity & Art Events Manager and Art & Design Program Head to maintain gallery mailing lists, digital archives, and gallery communications.
  • Serve as chair of the Art & Design gallery committee in the selection of suitable exhibitions for the galleries and develop and explore emerging trends in exhibitions, including digital and virtual galleries on social media to expand audiences beyond our region and expose students to these skill sets.
  • In consultation with the SOTA Budget Officer, plan and allocate the budget for the NKU Galleries.
  • Maintain contact and relationships with gallery patrons, art community, area K-12 school art programs, and area museums/galleries. Act as a liaison for SOTA/Art & Design with artists, curators, arts councils, etc.
  • Explore grant and funding opportunities, and compile data related to the galleries as requested.
  • Maintain gallery inventory including equipment, tools, and University art collection. Oversee maintenance of gallery equipment.
  • Oversee gallery assistants, student gallery assistants, and interns for the NKU Galleries.
  • Contribute and teach capstone BFA Senior Exhibition and Gallery/Museum Studies courses
  • Engage with internal and external stakeholders for events and promotion of the arts on campus and across the region
  • Approximately 8 exhibitions a year in the NKU Art Galleries and 4 exhibitions in the SOTA Community Showcase Atrium
Qualifications Minimum qualifications include a master’s degree in arts administration, museum studies, studio art, or related fields. An active professional curatorial practice including demonstrated knowledge of gallery programming, installation of exhibitions, and outreach.

  • Well-versed in contemporary and historical art + design practice
  • Minimum 3 years of curatorial or gallery management experience
  • Programming and facilitating community outreach with diverse communities
  • College-level teaching experience preferred

Please attach the following documents to complete your application:

1. Cover Letter (outlining qualifications)

2. CV

3. Names and Contact Information of 3 references

4. Diversity Statement*

5. Artist Statement / Curatorial Interests

6. Documentation of Professional Work (writing examples of exhibition brochures, curatorial
essays, catalogs, and or 10 – 20 images of previously organized exhibitions)

7. Student Work Examples – can include writing examples and or images of student work
with an image list (optional)

*The diversity statement should provide the candidate’s unique perspective on their
past and present contributions to and future aspirations for promoting diversity, inclusion, and social justice in their professional career. (In line with the University’s Affirmative Action Policy, candidates are not expected to disclose their identity or membership either in the diversity statement or in other application documents submitted to the search committee. Demographic
information is solicited through the application process; however, those data are confidential and are not provided to members of the search committee.)

Minimum Education Master’s Degree
Preferred Education MFA
Minimum Experience 3 years
Salary $46,020 minimum
Quick Link https://jobs.nku.edu/postings/13292

Leave a comment

Filed under Casting Call

Auditions Announced for AMERICAN CHRISTMAS CAROL at Harrison Center for the Arts

HCFTA_logoHarrison Center for the Arts is thrilled to announce our next show will be AMERICAN CHRISTMAS CAROL with performances running Dec. 8th-10th, 15th, and 16th at the Broadway Commons in Harrison.

Auditions will take place at Legacy Christian Church on the 2nd floor, 216 N. Sycamore St on the following dates:

  • 9/20 from 6:30-9:00
  • 9/22 from 6:30-9:00,
  • 9/23 from 10:00-1:00
  • 9/25 from 6:30-9:00.

Rehearsals will take place on Monday’s and Wednesday’s from 6:30-9 beginning October 9th. There will not be a Wednesday rehearsal on November 22nd.

Please note that all cast and crew are required to help with load-in on Sunday, December 3rd, and everyone must be available from December 3rd through December 7th for tech week.

Be sure to sign up for an audition slot HERE.

Leave a comment

Filed under Auditions