Category Archives: On Stage

SWEENEY TODD: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Runs Oct. 20-29

TLD_Sweney Todd promoSWEENEY TODD: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
TheatreLab Dayton
Oct. 20-29
PNC Arts Annex [Dayton]

Directed by Mackensie King
Music directed by Lorri Topping

Cast: Philip Drennen as Sweeney Todd, Melissa Hall as Mrs. Lovett, Justin King as Judge Turpin, Madeline Stern as Beggar Woman, Devon Fruscione as Johanna, Aidan McKeon as Anthony, Garrett Young as Toby, Skyler McNeely as Beadle & Brennan Paulin as Pirelli
Ensemble: A. J. Breslin, Jamal Cann, Brooke Cierra, Abby Hoggatt, Lily Meyers, Joel Parece, Maghan Rupper and Derick Latimer

​An infamous tale, Sweeney Todd, an unjustly exiled barber, returns to London, seeking vengeance against the lecherous judge who framed him and ravaged his young wife. The road to revenge leads Todd to Mrs. Lovett, a resourceful proprietress of a failing pie shop, above which, he opens a new barber practice. Mrs. Lovett’s luck sharply shifts when Todd’s thirst for blood inspires the integration of an ingredient into her meat pies that has the people of London lining up… and the carnage has only just begun!

  • Thu, Oct. 20 at 7:30pm
  • Fri, Oct. 21 at 8pm
  • Sat, Oct. 22 at 2pm & 8pm
  • Thu, Oct. 27 at 7:30pm
  • Fri, Oct. 28 at 8pm
  • Sat, Oct. 29 at 2pm & 8pm

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THE LIVING DEAD Runs Oct. 14-29

CSC_The Living Dead promo2

Darnell Pierre Benjamin as Ben.

Performance added, Wed, Oct. 26 at 7:30pm.

THE LIVING DEAD by Isaiah Reaves
Inspired by the film by George A. Romero and John A. Russo
Cincinnati Shakespeare Company
Oct. 14-29
[Over-the-Rhine]

Directed by Brian Isaac Phillips

Cast: Darnell Pierre Benjamin* as Ben, Burgess Byrd* as Nana/Zombie/Ensemble, Cary Davenport* as Sheriff/ TV Newscaster/Ensemble, Jared Earland as Zombie, Charles Gidney as Tommy, Jim Hopkins* as Harold, Courtney Lucien* as Barbara, Kelly Mengelkoch* as Helen, Brianna Miller as Governor/Zombie/Ensemble, Annabel Phillips as Ava & Adrian Devaughn Summers as Duane/Zombie/Reverend/Ensemble

When a zombie apocalypse ravages the world, a band of strangers seek refuge in an abandoned house, forcing the group to work together to see the light of day. However, individualism, egos, and power struggles expose the horrifying nature of survival. A new vision of contemporary horror inspired by the cult classic, Isaiah Reaves’ The Living Dead makes its world premiere in time for the Halloween season. Production contains adult situations and themes including acts of violence.

  • In preview Wed-Thu, Oct. 12-13 at 7:30pm
  • Fri-Sat, Oct. 14-15 at 7:30pm
  • Thu-Sat, Oct. 20-22* at 7:30pm
  • Sun, Oct. 23 at 2pm
  • Wed-Fri, Oct. 26-28 at 7:30pm
  • Sat, Oct. 29 at 2pm** & 7:30pm
    *Oct. 21 performance is audio described.
    **Oct. 29 2pm performance is Sign language interpreted.

Official page | Facebook event |

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FRIDA…A SELF PORTRAIT Runs Oct. 15-Nov. 6

PIP_Friedy promoFRIDA…A SELF PORTRAIT
Cincinnati Playhosue in the Park
Oct. 15-Nov. 6
The Carnegie [Covington]

Directed by Joanie Schultz

Featuring playwright Vanessa Severo as Frida Kahlo

Frida Kahlo was her own mysterious and brilliant muse. The iconic Mexican painter captured the difficulties and wonders of her life with incredible vibrancy. Now, she comes to life onstage through playwright and performer Vanessa Severo. Frida…A Self Portrait transports you to La Casa Azul, Frida’s home, where Vanessa recounts the artist’s bold life. With music and movement, she shares insights about Frida’s physical limitations, complex love life, addictions and, of course, the beauty in her art. This searing new play cracks open a powerful portal between Vanessa and Frida bringing breathtaking physicality and raw honesty to this stunningly creative production.

  • Sat, Oct. 15 at 7:30pm
  • Tue-Fri, Oct. 18-21 at 7:30pm
  • Sat, Oct. 22 at 2pm & 7:30pm
  • Sun, Oct. 23 at 3pm
  • Tue-Fri, Oct. 25-28 at 7:30pm
  • Sat, Oct. 29 at 2pm & 7:30pm
  • Sun, Oct. 30 at 3pm
  • Tue, Nov. 1 at 7:30pm
  • Wed, Nov. 2 at 1pm
  • Thu-Fri, Nov. 3-4 at 7:30pm
  • Fri-Nov. 5 at 2pm & 7:30pm
  • Sun, Nov. 6 at 3pm

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SOMETHING ROTTEN Runs Oct. 14-22

XUT_Something Rotten logoSOMETHING ROTTEN
Xavier University Theatre
Oct. 14-22
Gallagher Student Center Theatre [Evanston]

Directed by Stephen Skiles

Cast: Emma Hunt as Bea, Maria Zierolf as Portia, Matthew Callas as Nick, Anthony Contreras as Nigel, Anthony Frederickson as Brother Jeremiah, Joe Mitchell as Nostradamus, Ryan Whitford as Shakespeare, Lizzy Sundstrom as Lord Clapham, Richie Pokrywka as Shylock & James Ciccarelle as Minstrel
Ensemble: Mattie Cieplak, Tate Clemons, Kate Crisp, Mia D’Ascenzo, Bridget Dean, Sienna Glaze, Kora Hammersmith, Alexa Kreuzer, Mary McMurray, Alexis Pinto, Tierra London Rush, Anna Snyder, Anna Verderber, Carter Bechtol, Owen Clark, Leo Jenkins, Sean Moss & Steven Stanton

Welcome to the Renaissance, where brothers Nick and Nigel Bottom are desperate to write a hit play while being stuck in the shadow of that playwrighting rock star known as “The Bard.” When a local soothsayer foretells that the future of theatre involves singing, dancing and acting at the same time, Nick and Nigel set out to write the world’s very first musical. But amidst the scandalous excitement of opening night, the Bottom Brothers realize that reaching the top means being true to thine own self, and all that jazz.

  • Fri-Sat, Oct. 14-15 at 7:30pm
  • Sun, Oct. 16 at 2pm
  • Fri, Oct. 21 at 7:30pm
  • Sat, Oct. 22 at 2pm & 7:30pm
  • Sun, Oct. 23 at 2pm

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CHURCH & STATE Runs Oct. 14-22

MLT_Church and State logoCHURCH & STATE
Middletown Lyric Theatre
Oct. 14-22
[Middletown]

Directed by Charley Shafor

Cast: Robert Brumberg as Senator Charles Whitmore, Megan Rehberg as Sara Whitmore, Elizabeth Beatty as Alex Kline & Donovan Sweeten as Tom/Marshall/Security Guy

A North Carolina U.S. senator makes an off-the-cuff comment to a blogger that gets leaked on “the Twitter,” calling into question the senator’s stance on guns and God.  As his devoutly Christian wife and liberal Jewish campaign manager try to contain the damage, this look at how religion influences politics and how politics has become a religion is simultaneously funny, heartbreaking, and uplifting.

  • Fri-Sat, Oct. 14-15 at 8pm
  • Fri, Oct. 21 at 8pm
  • Sat, Oct. 22 at 3pm

Official page | Facebook event |

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