Category Archives: In Other News

2023-2024 Orchid Awards for Acting Up

ACTUP-logoFINDING NEMO JR

  • Excellence in Choreography – Erin Speno-Stout
  • Excellence in Costume Design – Alicia Farbstein & Sue Speno
  • Excellence in Musical Theatre Performance – Amira Lavender
  • Excellence in Producing – Adrianna Hartmann, Laura Peebles, Emily Nickles, & Rachelle
  • Penilla
  • Excellence in Set Design – Steve Fair & Brent Peebles
  • Excellence in Direction – Brent Peebles, assisted by Caleb Redslob
  • Excellence in House – Veronica Langmeyer & Sharon Turner
  • Excellence in Lighting Design – Eric Bardes
  • Excellence in Musical Theatre Performance – Izzy Wesloh
  • Excellence in Musical Theatre Performance – Lucas Maritato
  • Excellence in Properties – Jennifer Martin
  • Excellence in Sound Design – Forrest Goodwin
  • Excellence in Stage Management – Rachelle Penilla

THE LIGHTNING THIEF

  • Excellence in Lighting Design – Eric Bardes
  • Excellence in Lighting Execution – Eric Bardes
  • Excellence in Musical Theatre Performance – Aiden Canino
  • Excellence in Musical Theatre Performance – Ella Jo Wright
  • Excellence in Direction – Rachelle Penilla
  • Excellence in Musical Theatre Performance – Anna Farwig
  • Excellence in Orchestral Performance – The Lightning Thief Orchestra
  • Excellence in Other – Adrianna Hartmann, Curtis Perea, & Sue Speno – Minotaur Creators
  • Excellence in Overall Technical Quality – The Crew of ‘The Lightning Thief’
  • Excellence in Producing – Adrianna Hartmann & Emily Nickles
  • Excellence in Program – Curtis Perea
  • Excellence in Set Construction – Steve Fair
  • Excellence in Set Design – Brent Peebles
  • Excellence in Stage Combat – Sabrina Mack
  • Excellence in Stage Management – Ari Penilla

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The Passing of Steve Russell

MTG_Steve RussellStephen James Russell

Steve Russell was born on November 22, 1949, in Covington, KY, to the late Charles E. and Jane (nee Osterman) Russell.

Steve is survived by his beloved wife of 53 years Barbara (nee Hatke) Russell; Loving father of Charles (Stephanie) Russell; Cherished grandfather of Logan and Sonja Russell; Brother of Joseph (Joellen) Russell and brother-in-law to Gary Lee and Gerry Ash. Along with his parents, Steve is preceded in death by his two sisters, Lucy Lee and Cecilia Ash. Steve is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, and dear friends.

Stephen was a devoted family man who cherished spending time with his wife Barbara and their family. He had a passion for hosting game nights, organizing family vacations, and enjoying boating excursions. A true fan of the Cincinnati Bengals, Stephen’s enthusiasm for football extended to throwing tailgates, where he would cook and delight numerous fans with his culinary skills.

In addition to his love for sports, Stephen had a talent for cooking and singing, and he actively participated in community theater productions. He was a member of the Milford Theatre Guilde where he earned numerous awards for set design, acting, producing, and set construction. Steve was an avid singer and was a member of St. Andrew’s Church Choir and The Kingsmen. Steve will be lovingly remembered and greatly missed.

Steve passed away on May 11, 2024, at the age of 74. Resident of Miami township. A celebration of life will be held at the convenience of the family held at a later day. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in Steve’s name to the Mental Health Foundation.

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Excerpt Schedule Announced by ACT Cincinnati

ACT_logoMonday’s pick meeting was a success and completed in short order. There are 13 groups excerpting this year which means we will have three days of excerpts!

The schedule is as follows:

Thursday, June 13:

  • 5:00pm Registration begins
  • 7:00pm Village Players of Fort Thomas “Doublewide, Texas”
  • 8:00pm CenterStage Players “Only Rose”
  • 9:00pm Queen City Productions “Rent”

Friday, June 14:

  • 5:00pm Registration begins
  • 7:00pm The Footlighters Inc. *”Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express”* (Per Concord, this is not the author’s cutting)
  • 8:00pm The Drama Workshop “The Tin Woman”
  • 9:00pm Mason Community Players “Above the Sand”
  • 10:00pm Loveland Stage Company “The Red Velvet Cake War”

Saturday, June 15:

  • TBD Registration begins
  • 9:00am Sunset Players “The Outsider”
  • 10:00am Tri-County Players “The 39 Steps”
  • 11:00am INNOVATheatre “The Hunchback of Notre Dame”
  • 12:00pm Lunch Break
  • 1:30pm Beechmont Players “Gladys Nights”
  • 2:30pm Mariemont Players “The Book of Will”
  • 3:30pm Fairfield Footlighters “The Tempest”

Do not delay- register now to see all these great excerpts and get the early bird pricing here: www.actcincinnati.org/registration

More detailed information to come, but wanted to get this out ASAP! Get excited, ACT Cincinnati family!

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2024 SW Regional OCTAFest Venue – Matthews Auditorium

ACT_logoIn an effort to get to know our fancy new excerpt venue, some members of the ACT Cincinnati team recently took a field trip to Princeton High School. We took photos and gathered information about what equipment and facilities will be available to us for the SW OCTAFest in June.

We’ve created a page on our website specifically for Matthews Auditorium to hopefully give everyone a little more information. Matthews Auditorium | ACT Cincinnati

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The Passing of Pat Furterer

-From Loveland Stage Company

LSC_Pat FurtererIn loving memory of Pat Furterer

525,600 minutes. 525,600 moments so dear. 525,600 minutes – How do you measure, measure a year?

Today we remember all of the minutes, moments, and years of the life of our beloved founder Pat Furterer. There will be many tributes to Pat over the next few days, weeks, months, and years for Pat, as she was the epitome of Loveland. This is ours.

In 1979, Pat and a creative group of friends saw the need for a creative outlet in Loveland and decided to create what is now known as the Loveland Stage Company. Under Pat’s leadership, they created the by-laws and constitution and formed the board of directors. They filed all the needed paperwork for LSC to become the non-profit organization many have come to know and love today.

A local business donated funds for the first production in the fall of 1979. That performance of My Three Angels was performed on the back deck at Pat’s house. It was a great success and the start of it all.

Pat was instrumental in all things LSC. She performed, directed, produced, and held various positions on the board. Throughout the 1980s, LSC shows moved around from her backyard to various schools throughout Loveland. In the 90’s she helped create a college scholarship for graduating high school seniors interested in pursuing the Creative Arts. That scholarship continues to this day.

In the early 2000s, she was instrumental in working with the Loveland Firefighters Association allowing the Loveland Stage Company to have a permanent space and LSC moved into our current home, the old Crist Theater, in the heart of Historic Loveland. When a fire broke out in the theater in October 2008, the building was a total loss. Pat led the charge to raise funds to rebuild. And rebuild we did. “Rebuild and Play On!” was the theme of the next season and the theater reopened in November of 2009.

With the theater back up and running, Pat was named President Emeritus for all of her past, present, and future contributions to LSC.

44 years and counting of Award-Winning Theater in Loveland is all thanks to Pat Furterer. She dedicated her life to LSC and we will be eternally grateful to her and her passion for theater and Loveland. The lights on the marquee will be a little dimmer without Pat, but we will always do our best to make her proud.

It’s time now to sing out, though the story never ends. Let’s celebrate, and remember a year in the life of friends. Remember the love! Measure in love. Seasons of love!

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