It is with deep sadness that we share the news that our beloved friend and founding member of Beechmont Players, Larry Behymer, has passed away. Words cannot begin to describe what this man has meant to not only our group, but to all of us individually. Please keep his family in your thoughts and prayers.
Click here for funeral arrangements.
Filed under In Other News
Gays. Plays. Mondays.
Coming Monday night to The Cabaret space at Below Zero Lounge is Queen City Queer Theatre Collective’s second staged reading, THE NORMAL HEART at 7:30pm.
Their first reading on Nov. 10 was THE BEEBO BRINKER CHRONICLES. Set in pre-Stonewall Greenwich Village, THE BEEBO BRINKER CHRONICLES follows the lives and loves of Laura, Beth and Beebo as they navigate uncharted territories of desire. Beth and Laura, secret lovers in college, went separate ways after graduation: Beth married and had children; Laura moved to New York. Both pine for each other, but before they can reunite, they find themselves entangled in the web of Beebo Brinker, a butch denizen of the bars with a soft spot for young lesbians fresh off the bus. Adapted from the 1950’s and 1960’s lesbian pulp novels by Ann Bannon, the play celebrates the era when “the love that dares not speak its name” began breaking the old rules.
I was really impressed with QCQTC’s inaugural outing. The play was smartly-written, filled with believable characters and a good dose of humor. Directed by Lindsey Augusta Mercer, the strong ensemble of six brought the script to life with solid characterizations and true emotions. For a first production, it was great to see an audience of about 40 people in attendance. I’m eager to see what they accomplish tonight.
THE NORMAL HEART is a searing drama about public and private indifference to the AIDS plague and one man’s lonely fight to awaken the world to the crisis. Produced to acclaim in New York, London and Los Angeles, THE NORMAL HEART follows Ned Weeks, a gay activist enraged at the indifference of public officials and the gay community. While trying to save the world from itself, he confronts the personal toll of AIDS when his lover dies of the disease.
Again directed by Lindsey Augusta Mercer, the cast includes Darnell Pierre Benjamin, Matthew Wilson, Jacob Zimmerman, Andrew Maloney, Mia Vera, Linnea Bond, DeAndre Smith, Charlie Cromer, Dallas Padoven & James Jones.
The performance is free and donations are gratefully accepted. The bar downstairs is open, so feel free to bring a cocktail upstairs.
I hope to see you there.
Filed under In Other News
M.Penny Carr peacefully passed on 11/27/2014. She was preceded in death by parents James and Margaret Carr. She is survived by brothers Chris (Endrea) and Jimmy, nephews Nathane and Kirk, and Eva. Penny had many accomplishments including a diploma from Mount Notre Dame ’63 BS from Thomas Moore, a MA from St. Xavier. Professionally she was a successful case manager with Social Security, and a self employed vocational specialist. Penny loved to travel the world with friends, working with Loveland Stage Co., an avid gardener, spending time with her families, and exploring her spirituality with Grailville. Penny will be deeply missed by many.
Memorial gathering will be Wednesday, Dec. 3rd from 5 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Staley Funeral Home in Deer Park. Mass of Christian Burial will be Thursday, Dec. 4th at St. John the Evangelist Church, 7121 Plainfield Rd. in Deer Park at 11:00 a.m. Memorial donations may be made to Grailville. on-line guest book at www.staleyfuneralhome.com
Filed under In Other News
Corinne Mohlenhoff in 2011 production of THE HANDMAID’S TALE. Photo by Rich Sofranko.
At tonight’s opening performance of BUREAU OF MISSING PERSONS, Artistic Driector Andrew Hungerford announced the next show of their season.
It is THE HANDMAID’S TALE by Margaret Atwood, adapted for the stage by Joe Stollenwerk. The world premiere of this production was presented by Cincinnati Shakespeare Company in April 2011 as a season extra for nine performances only. That run of the one-woman show was directed by Brian Isaac Phillips and starred Corrine Mohlenhoff. Both are returning for the fully-staged production at Know Theatre of Cincinnati.
I was lucky enough to attend a performance and it was an extremely well-done. Well-written, directed and acted. I look forward to seeing it again. Below I have pulled some information about Stollenwerk and that production from the original press release.
The author, Joe Stollenwerk is originally from Cincinnati where he spent nearly ten years as the Artistic Director of Ovation Theatre Company. A vibrant member of the local theater community, Mr. Stollenwerk has also directed and/or acted with Cincinnati Music Theatre, Covedale Theatre, Cincinnati Playwright Initiative and Madisonville Arts Center. It was during this time in Cincinnati, that Mr. Stollenwerk and Ms. Mohlenhoff first met and began working with each other actually inspiring Mr. Stollenwerk to create this piece with Corinne in mind during the process.
“I first read The Handmaid’s Tale in a course on feminism and utopia/dystopia in literature in 2002. This was in the wake of 9/11 and it seemed that our country might all too easily be teetering on the brink of something reminiscent of Gilead from this novel. I immediately began thinking about turning it into a play, despite the fact that this seemed an insurmountable task. Then I remembered that one of my favorite genres of plays is the one-woman show, and that was that.” Mr. Stollenwerk began with a draft in 2006 which was well over six hours long. “I cut, and cut, and cut, always trying to be mindful that I wanted to preserve the plot and characters but also the social/political commentary as well as the marvelous language Atwood employs.”
The artistic process continued and Mr. Stollenwerk invited close friends over for informal readings of the script in his living room throughout 2007. “Finally, I felt ready to give Corinne a draft of the script, and in May of 2009 we did a staged reading here at Cincinnati Shakespeare Company. I’m so pleased that I was finally able to secure the rights to have a production staged and to present the world premiere right here in Cincinnati, OH.”
I will post more details on the upcoming production when they become available.
Filed under In Other News, Joe Stollenwerk
Helen Anneliesa Raymond-Goers as Mrs. Lovett & Justin Glaser as Sweeney Todd.
Talk about extremes.
This past August, The Carnegie mounted a excellent production of SWEENEY TODD with Helen Anneliesa Raymond-Goers as Mrs. Lovett & Justin Glaser in the title role.
The two are being paired again on stage, this time in the iconic roles of Maria and Captain Von Trapp in The Covedale Center for the Performing Arts’ upcoming production of THE SOUND OF MUSIC.
The Covedale’s production runs April 30-May 24. A full cast list will be posted soon.
Filed under In Other News
Behind the Curtain Cincinnati 