Category Archives: Events

January 21, 2020 · 12:00 pm

Frederic Chiu Bringing “Classical Smackdown” to NKU SOTA

NKU_Smackdown logoHIGHLAND HEIGHTS, KY – Get ready to rumble as world-renowned pianist Frederic Chiu brings an epic classical piano showdown of Prokofiev versus Debussy to Northern Kentucky University’s School of the Arts. The concert will take place on Friday, Feb. 7, 2020 at 7 p.m. at NKU’s Greaves Concert Hall. Admission is free and open to the public. Funding for this program has been made possible by the Ohio Music Teachers Association – Southwest District, the Northern Kentucky Music Teachers Association, and NKU SOTA’s Visiting Artist Fund as part of the Annual Winter Piano Pedagogy Conference.

Inspired by reality talent shows like “American Idol,” “Classical Smackdown” is a “tongue-in-cheek wrestling match” between contrasting composers with the audience voting for their favorite composer during the concert. The format is built so that any novice or professional can come and have an opinion. The program for Prokofiev-Debussy is arranged in four “rounds” of pieces specifically to provide an opportunity to compare and contrast.

Additionally, Frederic will present a session on “New Pedal Techniques” at 10:30 a.m. and facilitate a Masterclass at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2020 for students and teachers in Greaves Hall on the second day of the Conference. All events are free and open to the public. Advanced registration at nku.edu/piano is encouraged.

ABOUT FREDERIC CHIU
Frederic Chiu has recorded the most extensive complete piano works of Prokofiev, and his personal relationship with the Prokofiev family has made him a world-recognized advocate of the composer. Across 28 albums, he has recorded works of Chopin, Liszt, Ravel, Mendelssohn, Brahms, Rossini, and Grieg, and most recently, the Beethoven/Liszt Symphonies V and VII. “Hymns and Dervishes,” music of Gurdjieff/de Hartmann, Distant Voices: Music of Claude Debussy & Gao Ping and Schubert’s Fantasy for Violin and Piano demonstrate his vast legacy in recording.

His innovative programming includes “Classical Smackdown,” where composers face off in head-to-head comparisons, with listeners voting for their favorite composer: Debussy vs. Prokofiev, Bach vs. Glass, etc. Results tracked at ClassicalSmackdown.com. With his wife, Jeanine Esposito, he co-created the arts non-profit, Beechwood Arts & Innovation, to explore collaboration across art genres and the use of the arts and technology to create community. His innovative vision of Romeo & Juliet – The Choice, an immersive, interactive production of the famous Prokofiev ballet, debuted in 2018. Frederic teaches at both Carnegie Mellon University and The Hartt School. • fredericchiu.com

ABOUT THE WINTER PIANO PEDAGOGY CONFERENCE
The Northern Kentucky Winter Pedagogy Conference has drawn local music teachers to the NKU campus to discuss important topics pertinent to music education for the past eleven years. The conference is co-sponsored by the Northern Kentucky University School of the Arts Music Program, Northern Kentucky Music Teachers Association, and the Ohio Music Teachers Association – Southwest District. Funds for the conference are provided by OhioMTA-SW, NKyMTA, and NKU-SOTA, allowing the conference to be offered at no charge to members of the community.

ABOUT NKU SCHOOL OF THE ARTS
SOTA is the Creative Engine of NKU. The School of the Arts combines Dance, Music, Theatre, and Visual Arts to bring unparalleled artistic opportunities to current and future students. In a changing world, SOTA prepares students to be creative trailblazers in the Arts and their careers. Whether we are creating motion graphics, producing on the stage, or utilizing our dance classes to collaborate with therapeutic exercise in health sciences, we are on the cutting edge of transdisciplinary studies. SOTA offers 11 degrees with 30 specializations in addition to 7 minors to develop graduates that are personally engaged, innovative, and curious with advanced skillsets in collaboration and creative risk-taking.

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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January 17, 2020 · 11:31 am

Broadening Perceptions Within 10 Minutes, ETC Presents 10-MINUTE CONNECTIONS: JUSTICE on Feb. 10

ETC_10 Minute Justice

(Cincinnati, OH) Justice is getting served at Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati as the 2019-2020 Studio Series continues with 10-minute Connections: Justice on February 10 at 7 pm. In preparation for Ensemble’s next mainstage play, Dominique Morriseau’s Pipeline, five 10-minute plays, coupled with Morriseau’s short play, Night Vision, will be presented as staged readings and center around the theme of justice.

After an open call for submissions from local playwrights, the plays were narrowed down by Joe McDonough and Ensemble staff members to the five that will be presented on February 10. Each play gives a closer look at the meaning of justice both on a national and local scale in society today.

“Understanding can only be achieved by listening to other people’s points of view,” says Producing Artistic Director D. Lynn Meyers. “Hopefully, we will hear someone else’s point of view of what is valuable to them. I want to broaden our perceptions and other people’s beliefs so that we can be a little more of a harmonious society. It’s a lofty goal, but if we can do it 10 minutes at a time, that’s awesome.” 

About the Plays

WAKE UP, CHILD!
By Isaiah Reaves
Roberta, a black mother of the 21st century, grieves a devastating loss alongside a black mother of the 20th century. But the lines of reality blur as Roberta realizes that she’s talking to the mother of Emmett Till.

WE HAVE AN OPENING FOR A FURY
By Liz Coley
Three aggrieved women answer an unusual invitation to elevate their influence to mythic proportions.

FALSEWORK
By Victoria Hawley
A lunchtime conversation on a construction site tests the rapport and egos of three men, while asking the question, “Do men talk about women like this? Why not?”

SEE ME
By Torie Wiggins
A young man in the neighborhood is rendered invisible. A random neighbor has been granted the power to see the invisible, and sees him for the first time. But it may be too late…

WIND KILL FACTOR
By Derek Snow
Most of us use “freezing to death” as a figure of speech. What happens when it becomes an everyday possibility; when the stakes are life or death? Wind Kill Factor looks into the complicated relationship between justice and vengeance.

Performance Information
This one-night-only staged reading is on Monday, February 10, at 7 pm in ETC’s rehearsal hall.

Ticket Prices
Tickets are $15 for subscribers or $20 for non-subscribers and may be purchased by phone or in person at the box office at (513) 421-3555. For more information, visit www.ensemblecincinnati.org.

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2019-2020 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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January 17, 2020 · 11:04 am

WHHS Theatre Department Makes a Statement About Modern Corporations and Social Responsibility Through URINETOWN: The Musical

WHHS_Urinetown Press-54

Photo by Mikki Schaffner Photography.

“It’s a privilege to pee”

A lovable hero, a despicable villain, a citizenry rumbling for a revolution, and… pee? This February, Walnut Hills High School tackles Urinetown, a charmingly self-aware and witty musical set in a dystopian future where a monopoly charges for the ability to use the restroom. As discontent grows among the citizenry, an unlikely hero, Bobby Strong, rises to the challenge of defending one of humanity’s most basic needs. However, as the willful optimism of the lower classes slowly begins to turn the tide of the revolution, the audience is left with one question: how far are we willing to go for our freedom? With a high-energy score and a hilarious book, join the cast and crew of URINETOWN for a satirical glance at the cogs behind modern society.

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Photo by Mikki Schaffner Photography.

Runs Thursday February 13th, Friday February 14th, and Saturday February 15th at 7:00pm. Tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for students.

Directed by Michael Sherman. Assistant Directed by Bettina Ernst and Kyra Krumins. Music Direction by Bret Albright. Choreography by Maggie Perrino and Matthew Eggers.
Production Stage Manager: Chloe Burwinkel

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Oliver Vockell as Bobby Strong. Photo by Mikki Schaffner Photography.

Featuring: Oliver Vockell as Bobby Strong, Alex Kirk as Hope Cladwell, Molly Munn as Little Sally, Jack Giglia as Officer Lockstock, Sam Frank as Officer Barrel, Peter Godsey as Caldwell B. Cladwell, Olivia Busche as Penelope Pennywise, Derrick McHale as Senator Fipp, Louis Martini as McQueen, Matthew Eggers as Hot Blades Harry, Clare Brennan as Little Beck Two Shoes, Ella Vaughn as Soupy Sue, Gabe Donnelly as Tiny Tom, Owen Cummings as Robby the Stockfish / Boy Cop 1, Jonah Human as Billy Boy Bill / Boy Cop 3, Aiden Litmer as Joseph "Old Man" Strong / Boy Cop 2, Talia Raider-Roth as Josephine “Old Ma” Strong, Hayden Oberst as Dr. Billeaux, Grace Kelly Fulton as Cladwell’s Secretary, Elle Bisheimer as Mrs. Millenium / Girl Cop, Allison Robertson as UGC Executive 1, and Sunny Dighe as UGC Executive 2. Including Lily Jones, Annika Vockell, Sophia Rooksberry, Lucia Johns, Sophia Cotton-Riker, and Isabella Lachey as the UGC Ensemble; and Brando Donaldson, Megan Graeler, Lili Jenkins, Lily Canter, Joanna Acio-Alele, Artemis Azure, Nadyaa Betts, and Cam Hogue as The Poor Ensemble. Featuring Kathryn Daniher as the Poor Ensemble swing.

Tickets are $10 for students and staff and $12 for adults. Tickets may be purchased by visiting https://sites.google.com/view/whhstheatredepartment/tickets

Photos courtesy of Mikki Schaffner Photography.

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January 13, 2020 · 11:01 am

Know Theatre’s 22nd Season Continues with the Return of the Monday Night Theatre Party SERIALS!

KTC_Serials 10Know Theatre’s 22nd Season continues with the return of the Monday night theatre party…
SERIALS! 10: THUNDERDOME
Jan 20th, Feb 8th, Feb 17th, Mar 2nd and Mar 16th
12 brand new plays enter…you vote who leaves

SERIALS!, Know Theatre’s iconic Monday night theatre party, returns for its triumphant 10th iteration this winter. Taking over our Underground performance space will be an eclectic group of familiar friends and new faces with entirely new stories to tell. Each week 5 plays take the stage with 15 minute episodes written, directed, and performed by local artists.

At the end of the night you decide which 3 plays will move on to the next week and which 2 are banished to a dystopian theatrical wasteland! But, never fear, all of the banished plays have the chance to come back at the end of Week 4, when the audience votes to resurrect two productions to perform one last time in Week 5.

We call it a theatre party because everyone gets to participate. The local artists get to make exciting, fast paced, new art and the audience decides which shows they would love to see more of. If you’ve never been, you’re missing out on all of the electric energy shared between everyone there. So, come out and use your vote to decide the winner this delightful theatrical deathmatch!

All of this is possible, because of the amazing pool of talent here in Cincinnati. We have 12 amazing teams putting together this completely original and inventive productions. Here they are:

Production Teams 

Week 1

  • POSY’S PREDICAMENT by Hannah Gregory
  • MY ROOMMATE IS A LESBIAN by Mary Beringer
  • ADVENTURES IN BEHAVIORAL THERAPY by Anonymous
  • HAVE MONSTER WILL TRAVEL by Trey Tatum
  • POSTER CHILD by Dan Winters
  • THE KINGDOM’S AT HAN, BUT THE GAME’S AFOOT by Robert Macke

Week 2

  • The three winners from Week 1 and…
  • THE ELECTION OF MISS REBECCA’S THIRD GRADE CLASS by Bradon Leatherland
  • BLOODY MARY by Kelly Collette

Week 3

  • The three winners from Week 2 and…
  • NOW STREAMING by Sawyer Shafer
  • LENNY by Sarah O’haver

Week 4

  • The three winners from Week 3 and…
  • Title TBD by John Bromles
  • PSYCH-O by Gray Shaw

Week 5

  • The three winners from Week 4 and 2 resurrected shows!

SERIALS! 10 THUNDERDOME

7:30pm – Jan 20th, Feb 3rd, Feb 17th, Mar 2nd, Mar 16th

Know Theatre of Cincinnati. 1120 Jackson Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202, In historic Over-The-Rhine.

Tickets: $15

Tickets can be purchased by visiting knowtheatre.com or calling 513.300.5669

Know Theatre is Cincinnati’s Theatrical Playground. The Know showcases unexpected voices, new works, and plays that embrace the inherent theatricality of the live experience. Know Theatre seeks to be a place where artists and audiences feel welcome to take artistic risks, creating work that is cutting edge and accessible.

Know Theatre’s work is made possible, in part, by the generosity of community contributions to the ArtsWave Campaign.

The Ohio Arts Council helps fund Know Theatre with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence, and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans.

Know Theatre is also supported by The Carol Ann & Ralph V. Haile, Jr./U.S. Bank Foundation, helping to change our communities for the better through collaboration and innovation, and the Greater Cincinnati Foundation, which provides a simple, powerful, and highly personal approach to giving.

 Know Theatre is a member of Theatre Communications Group and an Associate Member of the National New Play Network.

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January 9, 2020 · 9:33 am

LTC’s MY FAVORITE THINGS Fundraiser on Jan. 17 & 18

LTC_My Favorite Things logoMy Favorite Things is the theme for this year’s Lebanon Theatre Company annual Fundraiser and musical revue. With lovely performances by our talented cast and music direction by the great Jay Mills, you are in for a delightful evening.

Unlike our past “gala” events, this fundraiser is a non-dinner even, enabling us to significantly lower the ticket price. However, there will be a cash bar and snacks available for purchase.

As this is the yearly fundraising event for the Lebanon Theatre Company, feel free to bring your wallets, purses, checkbooks and credit/debit cards, in case you are in a charitable mood during the event! We greatly appreciate your generous donations!

Performances are Friday and Saturday, Jan. 17 and 18 at 7pm.

Tickets are $35 and available online at https://lebanontheatrecompany.thundertix.com/events/162821.

Visit www.ltcplays.com for additional information.

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