Category Archives: On Stage

JASON’S FOOTAGE, BUFFALO GIRL 1973, MONUMENTAL ART and THE HOUND On Oct. 10

CPI_The HoundJASON’S FOOTAGE, BUFFALO GIRL 1973. MONUMENTAL ART and THE HOUND
Cincinnati Playwrights Initiative
Oct. 10
Aronoff Center Fifth-Third Bank Theater [Downtown]

THE HOUND by Michael Defrancesco
The Hound is a taut drama thriller about a mystery  man — Bud  30ish –  visiting another mystery man – Lester  70ish in a marginal nursing home. In a hound and fox game between them, they gradually reveal who they are. A third character – Athena –  a LPN completes the mystery trio whose actions were precipitated by Bud finding a family album upon the death of his mother.

About the Author: Michael is familiar to CPI audiences for his play The Circle, a narrative of priestly abuse, that received a staged reading in January 2022. He had a second staged reading for his play, The Car Ride in October, 2022 in addition to his 10-minute play, A Box of Mom’s Photos that received a staged reading for Lovefest 2 in February 2023. After attending a summer drama program at UC, Michael was awarded a Rockefeller grant to UC’s Theatre Arts program, where he earned a Master’s degree. Michael is a native Cincinnatian and resides in Clifton with his wife.

JASON’S FOOTAGE, BUFFALO GIRL 1973A and MONUMENTAL ART by Clint Bramkamp

In Jason’s Footage, when their star dies of an overdose, four filmmakers try to salvage their unfinished film and their own relationships. In Monumental Art, a former campus misfit at Grand Lakes U donates a sculpture to his old school, but is it gratitude or a different kind of gesture? Buffalo Girl 1973 takes place in a discotheque. A man who used to fly women to New York to obtain legal abortions unexpectedly meets a former passenger.

About the Author: Clint Bramkamp has been privileged to have plays performed, and to be a performer, at CPI in the past. He is a board member at The Drama Workshop in Cheviot, and is the founder of Home Brew Theater, their annual 10-minute play festival. Clint’s ten-minute play, The Courthouse, was selected for CPI’s first Lovefest play competition in February 2019. Clint has been acting since the 1970’s at venues including the Cherry County Playhouse in Michigan, Dayton’s Human Race Theater, and the Showboat Majestic. He most recently appeared in this year’s Cincinnati Fringe Festival in Kevin Crowley’s The Rembrandt Job.

  • Tue, Oct. 10 at 7:30pm

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GLADYS NIGHTS Runs Oct. 6-14

BPI_logoGLADYS NIGHTS
Beechmont Players
Oct. 6-14
Anderson Center

Cast: Maggie Ingram King as Gladys, Pamela Blessing as Pepper, Nyon Smith as Bobby, Scott Unes as Ray, Mark Waldfogle as Man, Susan Unes as Woman, Lisa White as Techie #1 & Lisa Kuhn as Techie #2

Directed by Steve Phelan
Produced by Mary Jo Bissmeyer

When Gladys was eight years old, she signed a blood oath with her imaginary friend, Pepper, that if she ever became old and boring, Pepper (a sexy, bad-ass international assassin) would come and rescue her.  Now, Gladys is creeping on 40 and has indeed become boring. Naturally, Pepper returns and convinces Gladys she too can become a bad-ass assassin.  Hilarious complications ensue as the two work to spice up Gladys’ life.

  • Fri-Sat, Oct. 6-7 at 7:30pm
  • Sun, Oct. 8 at 2pm
  • Thu-Fri, Oct. 12-13 at 7:30pm
  • Sat, Oct. 14 at 2pm

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THE LANGUAGE ARCHIVE Runs Oct. 6-14

EA_The Language ArchiveTHE LANGUAGE ARCHIVE
Epiphany Arts
Oct. 6-14
Epiphany United Methodist Church [Loveland]

Directed by Michael Yarick

Cast: Jamie Sivrais as George, Jenna Schroeder as Mary, Meghan Moore as Emma, Joe Simmons as Resten & Trisha Cooper as Alta

George is a man who is consumed with preserving and documenting the dying languages of far-flung cultures. Closer to home, however, language is failing him. Though he holds himself as a language expert, George simply does not have the right words to save his marriage.

  • Fri-Sat, Oct. 6-7 at 7:30pm
  • Fri-Sat, Oft. 13-14 at 7:30pm

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WITH TWO WINGS Runs Oct. 6-8

MU_With Two WingsWITH TWO WINGS
Miami University
Oct. 6-8
Gates-Abegglen Theatre [Oxford]

Directed by Matt Omasta

In a fantasy world where people have wings, Lyf lives an isolated existence. Though loving, Lyf’s parents have strict rules he must follow about avoiding strangers, covering his wings with a cloak, and always observing rule number one: never, ever try to fly. Will Lyf be grounded forever, or will the truth he discovers from a pair of young outsiders empower him to take flight? This coming-of-age story is a bittersweet, yet hopeful, tale that tackles the issue of parental disability with gentleness and grace.

  • Fri-Sat, Oct. 6-7 at 7:30pm
  • Sun, Oct. 8 at 2pm

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GEEZERS Runs Sept. 29-Oct. 8

TCP_GeezersGEEZERS
Tri-County Players
Sept. 29-Oct. 8
Evendale Bell Tower Arts Pavilion

Directed by John Vanderplough 

Cast: Laurie Barber, Nathan Courtney, Susan Decatur, Ashlee Ferrell, Michael Knorr, Burt McCollom, Diane Minnich-Weber, Nicco Morello, Chelsea Patterson & Arny Stoller 

A funny, heartwarming drama about growth and wisdom, learning and loving, life and deathGeezers introduces us to some beautiful and wonderful old people who are enjoying their golden years in a retirement home. Jack, a pathologically shy, 27-year-old man, begins a job there helping the seniors with their daily needs. But it’s the “geezers” who wind up helping Jack with his needs. On his road to an epiphany, Jack learns from the old folks that he must break out of his comfort zone to achieve anything in life. Jack learns to crawl – then walk, then fly – with a wise group of mentors guiding him along

  • Fri-Sat, Sept. 29-30 at 7:30pm
  • Sun, Oct. 1 at 3pm
  • Fri-Sat, Oct. 6-7 at 7:30pm
  • Sun, Oct. 8 at 3pm

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