Category Archives: In Other News

June 4, 2018 · 1:46 pm

CFF18: My Fringe Show Rankings

Updated 6/14/18 10am

CFF18_Cover art logoI have reached that point in the Fringe Festival where I become woefully behind in reviews vs. productions I’ve seen.

Below I am ranking the shows I’ve attended to date, based on a number of criteria from the voices in my head. 🙂 Please understand that differences between shows in the rankings can be infinitesimal.

Links to reviews added as they become available.

  1. OF MONSTER DESCENT| Review
  2. MUSICAL CHAIRS
  3. MORTEM CAPIENDUM
  4. EDDIE POE
  5. ONE MORE BAD THING
  6. BILLY: THE HAUNTING OF WILLIAM HOWARD TAFT
  7. THE BUREAU
  8. BAD POETRY NIGHT
  9. SHE BURIED THE PISTOL
  10. ALL WE HAVE BORNE
  11. SHOW UP
  12. H2O: A Play About Water
  13. PLEASE SHUFFLE THE CARDS
  14. THE NEW ADVENTURES OF CALLIOPE JONES AND CAPTAIN COOL
  15. CURIE ME AWAY!
  16. THERE AIN’T NO MORE
  17. THE BLACKFACE PROJECT
  18. DOPPELBANGER
  19. TAKE FLIGHT: AN ADVENTURE IN CIRQUE
  20. EXTRASHVAGANZA!
  21. VAN GOGH FIND YOURSELF
  22. THE GOSPEL OF BARRABAS
  23. THE MOUNTAINS DID QUAKE, THE HILLSIDES DID TREMBLE
  24. DELIVERY
  25. FADEAWAY GIRL
  26. THE AMPHIBIAN
  27. VOX BOX
  28. ANNALISE
  29. APHRODITE’S REFUGEES
  30. THE WHITEST BABY IN ALL OF AFRICA
  31. THE LAST DRAG
  32. THRIVE IRL
  33. WALT FIT

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May 31, 2018 · 12:42 pm

CFF18: My Fringe Schedule: Day 2

Tonight is the second night of Fringe performances, but my first due to a “magic carpet ride” last night.

CFF18_The Whitest Baby logoMy first show of the 2018 Fringe is THE WHITEST BABY IN ALL OF AFRICA. This FringeNext entry is created and produced by local high school students. Sam Kerns serves as the visionary and director, while Kealy Welage serves as producer of Welage & Kerns Productions.

THE WHITEST BABY IN ALL OF AFRICA follows the whitest couple in all of America, Angela and Elliot Osborne, who want to expand their family. They look into international adoption from the Congo, and embark on a journey that is like none other. The Whitest Baby in All of Africa explores the possibilities of having privilege, as well as the ugly truth.

CFF18_Aphrodites RefugeesA quick jog up two floors takes me to my second show, the world premiere of APHRODITE’S REFUGEES, from new participant MonTra Performance out of Bolder, Colorado:

Animation, storytelling & live art come together In APHRODITE’S REFUGEES to paint a dreamlike picture of a young Cypriot refugees as he and his family flee from their home. All while the ancient Greek Gods play a high-stakes game of cards. Developed from interviews from Cypriot refugees, APHRODITE’S REFUGEES was created by Monica Dionysiou, featuring visual artist Aaron Young. A portion of proceeds will be donated to Doctors Without Borders.

You can watch the trailer below:

CFF18_Of Monster DescentRounding out the hat trick for the evening is OF MONSTER DESCENT, this year’s entry by the local group Queen City Flash.

Writer/Director team Trey Tatum and Bridget Leak (SLUT SHAMING 2014 Artist Pick of the Fringe, THE DISAPPEARNCE OF NICOLE JACOBS) present a story about a family on the brink of collapse and the woodland beast that stalks just beyond their fence line. Set in a decaying Gulf Coast oasis, a young boy confronts family legacy and the untamed beyond in this otherworldly, lightning-lit, monster survival tale.

I hope you have a chance to make it down to Over-the-Rhine and catch a show or ten. Feel free to say hello. Happy Fringing.

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January 19, 2018 · 10:45 am

The Passing of Phyllis Penewitt

XACT_Phyllis PennewittFrom Xenia Area Community Theater

RIP Phyllis. She was one of the founders of the Xenia Area Community Theater and served on our Board and as President for several years. Always a smiling and gracious presence. She will be missed.

From the Xenia Daily Gazette:

XENIA — Phyllis Ann Pennewitt, formerly the Mayor of Xenia, age 82, died after an extended stay at Harmony Nursing Home on Friday, January 12, 2018. The 2015 Greene County Women’s Hall of Fame Recipient was born February 12, 1935 in Xenia, Ohio the daughter of Paul and Clara Jones. Phyllis attended Xenia High School, Wright State University and Antioch University where she obtained a Masters Degree in Accounting. Phyllis retired in 1996 from the McGregor School of Antioch University as an accountant. She served as Mayor of Xenia from 2006-2010. She previously served on City Council from 2000-2005. Phyllis was a loving, giving, energetic, positive, supportive unselfish soul, who volunteered for numerous duties including: XACT Board of Directors, President of the Child Conservation League; Xenia Adult Recreation and Services Board of Trustees; member of CASA; Greene County Historical League; Greene Memorial Hospital and the Business and Professional Women’s Club…

Click to read the full obituary and funeral arrangements.

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January 12, 2018 · 9:11 am

SNOW CANCELLATIONS For Jan. 12

Updated 6:05pm

MISC_Snow CancellationsI will update this page as the day progresses and information is received.

Italicized information comes directly from the presenting organization.

Reminder: This list may not be complete. Always check with the presenting organization.

RESCHEDULED AUDITIONS:

CANCELLED PERFORMANCES:

  • BECKY’S NEW CAR presented by Mariemont Players
    Mariemont Players has decided to cancel tonight’s performance. The performance will be rescheduled for Wednesday, January 17 at 7:30pm. All patrons holding tickets for tonight’s performance are asked to call the box office at 513.684.1236 to transfer their seats to Wednesday’s performance.
  • LETTERS FROM VIETNAM presented by Falcon Theatre at Newport Library
    Tonight’s FREE performance has been CANCELLED. New performance date to be announced.

WINTER WEATHER POLICIES:

The Who’s TOMMY presented by Dare to Defy Productions
VICTORIA THEATRE ASSOCIATION’S POLICY: If the cast and crew are already at the theatre, performances will go on as scheduled except in the event of a Level 3 Snow Emergency for the city of Dayton. If the cast and/or crew cannot make it here due to weather or other emergencies, performances may be cancelled. If a performance is cancelled due to weather, refunds may be provided at the discretion of the artist/producers and VTA. 

If there is a Level 1 or Level 2 Snow Emergency and you opt not to attend, contact the box office before your scheduled performance and we will try to move you into another performance time.

WAITRESS presented by Broadway in Cincinnati
WEATHER UPDATE: At this time, we expect all performances of WAITRESS at the Aronoff Center this weekend to play as scheduled. In the unlikely event that would change, updates will be posted on our Facebook page and at CincinnatiArts.org and BroadwayInCincinnati.com. Anyone holding a ticket for a performance this weekend is welcome to exchange at no cost into a performance next week. Subscribers can exchange online up to 15 minutes prior to their performance, or call 800.294.1816 (Friday extended hours 9am-6:30pm.) Single ticket buyers can contact the Aronoff Center Ticket Office at 513.621.2787 (ARTS) to exchange (Friday 9am-5:30pm.) Group promo code buyers can contact Peggy Hughes at 513.369.4363 (Fri 9am-3pm.)

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January 8, 2018 · 4:14 pm

The Passing of Sheila Mudd Baker

MISC_Sheila Mudd BakerCelebration of Life for Sheila Mudd Baker
Feb. 13 from 6-9pm
Clifton Recreation Center
Click here for the Facebook event.

Obituary supplied from Katrina Oost:

Shea Mudd Baker passed away on January 8, 2018 from complications of ALS.Her generous spirit and love of life was evident to everyone who knew her, to the very end.

She lent her many talents to various charitable activities, including Community Shares of Greater Cincinnati, Haircuts for the Homeless and the CIB,  radio reading services.

Sheila retired as the human resourse manager for Cincinnati Recreation Commission, after working for the city for many years. During her time at the city she established the St. Nicholas Brigade to help city employees provide toys and clothes to lower income children in local schools.

She was a leader in the Toastmasters organization and a professional Storyteller. Sheila acted, wrote and produced plays and movies, both writing and starring in the award winning short film “The Ladies Next Door,” even as her health was failing.

She loved to travel, had seen a great deal of the world and spent many summers in the place she loved best, Martha’s Vineyard.

Beloved to many, she celebrated her 71st birthday the day after Christmas with a large gathering of friends and family. She is survived by her brother Eamon Mudd, who took care of her in recent years, her sister, Mary Armes and her niece Theresa.

She will be greatly missed. She donated her body to UCI Medical School, so there is no funeral service at this time.

From Julie Jordan:

I have just learned that Sheila Mudd Baker has passed. Sheila was a friend that was most encouraging to me when I decided to leave my present field of work. In the earlier stages of her disease, we met for dinner several times. She told me that she had wished her voice was the last thing to be affected, not the first. She had so much to say and do, and she was the most courageous and strong woman I knew. She was extremely intelligent and continued to fully support the theater and independent film industries throughout this terrible ordeal she had to endure. Her “grateful” postings taught many of us how to live, and she never stopped caring about others. When I saw her last week, she asked about my kids and asked Trisha Courtney and me how WE were, never once telling us about her struggles, although they were many. I don’t want to say Rest in Peace, because I believe Sheila will shake things up in heaven, and she will have her voice and the freedom of movement once again. I will miss you Sheila and the positive influence you have had on my life.

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