Category Archives: Press Releases

July 21, 2022 · 1:13 pm

Ladd’s Over-the-Rhine International Film Festival Named ’25 Coolest Film Festivals in the World’

OTRFF22_logoAnnual List of ’25 Coolest Film Festivals in the World’ as Selected by MovieMaker Magazine 

CINCINNATI, OH – July 21, 2022– Today MovieMaker Magazine announced its list of the ‘25 Coolest Film Festivals in the World’. The Over-the-Rhine International Film Festival, founded by LADD, a Cincinnati based non-profit that serves adults with developmental disabilities, was listed among this highly select group. Since its founding four years ago, The Over-the-Rhine International Film Festival, has grown into the leading diversity film festival in the nation led by the disability community. A jury of seven independent, award-winning film critics, filmmakers, curators and directors attended film festivals internationally to select festivals with unforgettable experiences and exceptional films. “The Over-the-Rhine Film Festival is newer, but mighty. Highlighting disability and marginalized filmmakers, the Festival works hard to promote the films,” noted Emmy-award-winning filmmaker, and juror of MovieMaker’s ‘25 Coolest Film Festivals in the World 2022’, Ms. Iman Zawahry.

The fourth-annual Over-the-Rhine International Film Festival was held July 7-10, 2022; over one-hundred film entries from around the globe were submitted for consideration in this year’s Festival. Awards were presented in narrative, documentary and student categories in addition to two special awards created in partnership with Cincinnati’s National Underground Railroad Freedom Center and the Harriet Beecher Stowe House.

In response to the honor from MovieMaker Magazine, Molly Lyons, Over-the-Rhine International Film Festival Director said, “We are thrilled that the work LADD and the Film Festival does to build an inclusive community is being recognized on a national scale. And by association, Greater Cincinnati is being recognized as ‘cool’ because of the support this community has shown these films, filmmakers and the mission and vision of LADD.”

MovieMaker is dedicated to the art and craft of making movies. Its list of the ‘25 Coolest Film Festivals in the World 2022’, presented by Film Freeway, appears in its Summer issue, featuring Emily the Criminal star Aubrey Plaza on the cover, and online at https://www.moviemaker.com/coolest-film-festivals-2022.

Other film festivals in MovieMaker’s ‘25 Coolest Film Festivals in the World 2022’ include:

  • Austin Film Festival
  • Busan International Film Festival (South Korea)
  • Frameline Film Festival (San Francisco)
  • Chattanooga Film Festival (Tennessee)
  • II Cinema Ritrovato (Bologna, Italy)
  • Key West Film Festival
  • Luxembourg City Film Festival
  • Mammoth Lakes Film Festival (California)
  • Marrakech International Film Festival (Morocco)
  • Zurich Film Festival (Switzerland)

About Over-the-Rhine International Film Festival
The Over-the-Rhine International Film Festival, presented by LADD, is the premier diversity film festival in the United States led by the disability community.  The festival’s founding sponsor is the Saul Schottenstein Foundation B and presented by P&G. The festival showcases stories that celebrate the human spirit by providing a platform for audiences to see through another’s eyes. Learn more at otrfilmfest.org

About LADD
Guided by the belief that every person has ability and value, LADD empowers adults with developmental disabilities to live, work, and connect. Founded in 1975, the Cincinnati non-profit now supports over 650 adults experiencing disabilities through housing, employment and meaningful community engagement programs. Learn more at laddinc.org.

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July 20, 2022 · 9:27 am

Willkommen to CASA’s Upcoming Production of CABARET

CASA_Cabaret promoCABARET runs July 28th-July 31st & August 4th-August 7th at Cincinnati Actor’s Studio & Academy

Indifference makes you an accomplice.

Cincinnati, OH – CABARET, based on the book Goodbye to Berlin by Christopher Isherwood, is a social commentary about the dangers of the rise of fascism in 1930s Europe. Book by Joe Masteroff. Music & lyrics by John Kander & Fred Ebb.

CASA, in its goal to have an audience enter the story, not just a theatre, has sprinkled this award-winning show with eye-opening truths about society TODAY. Despite having all of the allure of a cabaret: sensuality, sexuality, provoking costuming, dancing, singing, music, aerial artistry, and comedy, this brazen production draws frightening parallels between then and now.

Ticket and Production Details
Performances will be on Thursday, July 28th – Sunday, July 31st, & Thursday, August 4th – Sunday, August 7th all at 7:30 pm. All performances will be at Essex Studios (2511 Essex Place, Studio 282B, Cincinnati, OH 45206.
Tickets are $15 for general admission and $20 for “Cabaret Seating” and can be purchased online at https://casastudio.booktix.com or at the door. “Cabaret Seating” tickets include couch options & seats at tables, with waiters to serve you water/tea/lemonade throughout the performance – LIMITED SEATS AVAILABLE.

Adult Content: sexual situations, drinking, language, violence, and drug use
Trigger warnings are available on our website.

For more details, visit www.casastudioacademy.com or CASA’s Facebook page
(@CasaStudioAcademy).

*Presented through special arrangement with Concord Theatricals*

PRODUCTION TEAM

  • Director: Gina Cerimele-Mechley
  • Stage Manager: Erin Caudill
  • Assistant Stage Managers: Kat Swift & Ethan Brooks Baker
  • Assistant Directors: Meg Roulier & Elliet Malatesta
  • Choreographers: Gina Cerimele-Mechley & Cecelia Gries
  • Music Director: Joe Montgomery
  • Costumes: Eliana Batsakis
  • Lighting Assistant: Jonathon Armstrong
  • Vocal Teacher: Kate Stuard
  • Marketing: Sara Detwiler

CAST

  • Emcee: Alex Pletikapich
  • Sally: Maddi O’Connell
  • Cliff: Trey Finkenstead
  • Ernst: Nick Swope
  • Fraulein Schneider: Kate Stuard
  • Fraulein Kost: Kayamarie Roll
  • Herr Schultz: Ethan Brooks Baker
  • Rosie: Hannah Hodson
  • LuLu: Sabrina Mack
  • Frenchie: Peyton Wright
  • Fritzie/Gorilla: Cassandra Reeves
  • Helga: Cecilia Gries
  • Texas: Chandler Murray
  • Bobby: Jason Coffenberry
  • Victor: Tre Taylor
  • Herman: Con Williamson
  • Train Officer/Sailor/Max: James Pinkley
  • Bodyguards: Jonathon Armstrong & Kat Swift

SCHOOLS BEING REPRESENTED IN THE CAST AND CREW:  Baldwin-Wallace, CCM, Marymount Manhattan College, NKU, SCAD (Savannah College of Art and Design), School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Ohio U, Walnut Hills HS, and XU

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
MUSICAL SYNOPSIS: In a Berlin nightclub, as the 1920s draw to a close, a garish Master of Ceremonies welcomes the audience and assures them they will forget all their troubles at the Cabaret. With the Emcee’s bawdy songs as wry commentary, Cabaret explores the dark, heady, and tumultuous life of Berlin’s natives and expatriates as Germany slowly yields to the emerging Third Reich. Cliff, a young American writer newly arrived in Berlin, is immediately taken with English singer Sally Bowles. Meanwhile, Fräulein Schneider, proprietor of Cliff and Sally’s boarding house, tentatively begins a romance with Herr Schultz, a mild-mannered fruit seller who happens to be Jewish.

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“Enter the story, not the theatre.”

For more information: www.casastudioacademy.com

Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/casastudioacademy/

Follow us on Twitter: @enterCASAstudio

Follow us on Instagram: @casastudioacademy

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July 20, 2022 · 9:21 am

The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati and Macy’s Celebrate Partnership on ABIYOYO Production

TCTC_new logoCincinnati – The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati (TCT) partnered with Macy’s for last season’s touring production of ABIYOYO. As a result of this partnership, over 100 patrons viewed the production digitally on Broadway on Demand and 1,160 students at eight venues viewed it live on tour.

ABIYOYO was available to stream online via Broadway on Demand from January 21 – June 30, 2022. ABIYOYO is based on a South African folk tale about a giant who eats everything in sight—cows, goats, and even children! This one-man story telling experience encourages participants to face the monsters in their own life with honesty, courage, and strength of spirit. Brought to the West by Pete Seger as a bedtime story for his own children, the original South African folktale takes on the attributes of the storyteller themselves, implying that each storyteller adds something different to the tale. ABIYOYO is brought to life through traditional South African dance, music, and cultural nuances that address fears that speak to us all.

Not only was this production a diversity-focused new work, but it was also brought to life with the help of diverse TCT staff and outside artists:

  • Diverse Playwrights & Composers – TCT’s Resident Playwright & Workshop Artist, Deondra Kamau Means has adapted many new works for both the Touring and MainStage divisions. A staple in the Cincinnati theatre community, Deondra is a Black actor and playwright. ABIYOYO has been one of several diverse works that he has produced over the last several months.
  • Diverse Designers & Artists – Cedric Michael Cox is a Black Cincinnati-based artist who created the scenic design for the production.
  • Diverse Directors & Choreographers – Derek Snow, Director of ABIYOYO, is a Black actor, director, and playwright who was recently one of five recipients of The Breath Project’s New Play Commission Initiative grants.

Macy’s graciously funded ABIYOYO as the digital production sponsor. Funding supported production, filming, and editing expenses related to producing and streaming the production online via Broadway on Demand.

Macy’s support of this production comes to TCT through a gift to The Change Fund, an initiative at TCT aimed at creating an inclusive culture and innovation through the addition of previously excluded voices. Through The Change Fund, TCT and Macy’s demonstrate their commitment to creating a brighter future with bold representation for all.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Access are a priority at TCT. Our goal is that the quality and inclusivity of TCT productions will continue to inspire all youth, with increasing numbers from historically marginalized populations, to love theatre and/or pursue careers both on- and off-stage in the theatre, particularly through a practice of diverse representation in all areas of its operation.

To learn more about how you or your organization can support future touring productions, please contact Annie Bloemer, TCT’s Development Manager, Grants & Corporate Partnerships, at annie.bloemer@tctcincinnati.com or call 513-569-8080 x32.

View TCT’s current season of MainStage and TCT on Tour productions here: https://thechildrenstheatre.com/current-season/. 

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July 18, 2022 · 1:25 pm

SUNRISE COVEN at the Know

KTC_Sunrise Coven logo“It’s no small thing, when your drug dealer dumps you.
I would think it occasions a self-reflection.”

SUNRISE COVEN
by Brendan Bourque-Sheil
NEW DATES: August 12 – 28, 2022

A new comedy about healers and healing and witchcraft and pharmaceuticals in a tiny town that’s barely hanging on. 

You’re invited to join Know Theatre for our 25th-season opening production, Sunrise Coven, by Brendan Bourque-Sheil.

Imagine you’re a beloved Nurse Practitioner in a tiny Texas town that’s beset by every economic and existential struggle one could think up. Now imagine you turn up in the ER one night after taking enough Oxycontin to kill an elephant. What do you do?

If you’re Hallie Heaton, you just might find yourself forging an alliance between your partner in drug dealing and a practicing witch in a scheme to subvert the medical establishment (and hopefully, save your own skin).

Welcome to Buckstop, Texas. Ask your doctor if Witchcraft is right for you. 

It’s our 25th Anniversary season and the Know is coming out swinging with a sharp-tongued new comedy. Sunrise Coven kicks off a six-show season set to explore “What we owe to each other” from now through May 2023.

Back in 2020, we read playwright Brandon Borque-Shiel’s tight dialogue, vivid characters, and of-the-moment themes and knew right away this was the show for us.

It’s also the right show to bring back one of our favorite collaborators to direct: University of Memphis’s head of Graduate Directing Holly L. Derr. Longtime Know-goers will remember Holly’s work from Harry and the Thief (2014), SuperTrue (2018), and Red Bike (2019). A feminist scholar, innovative theatre-maker, and Texas native, Holly brings the right mix of style and life experience to this project.

When we asked Holly about why she’s excited to take the reins of this production, she said, “I love Sunrise Coven because of the way it deals with really serious issues, like addiction and the ethics of end-of-life care, respectfully but with humor and a touch of absurdity. Through depicting a dedicated community of unique, funny characters in an equally unique small town, the play raises important questions about what we owe each other in an ultimately uplifting way. It also lives with one foot in the spiritual world, and I’m very excited about working with the designers to create these moments of magic.”

Who is this show for?

Sunrise Coven is a sharp and fun adventure that speaks to anyone who’s fought their way back from rock-bottom, who’s longed to subvert exploitative systems, and who believes that compassion and community care have the power to change the world.

As a finalist in Southwest Theatre Company’s “Plays With A Strong Female Lead” competition, Sunrise Coven will also hit a chord with anyone who loves dynamic, flawed, fiercely opinionated female protagonists.

Welcome to Buckstop, Texas. Here’s who you will meet:

We are proud to welcome local actor and CCM professor Denise Dal Vera to her first Know Theatre appearance as Hallie, the former nurse whose passion for healing has landed her a job as the high priestess of Buckstop, Texas’s newest cult. Also making her Know Theatre debut is New York-based Resa Mishina as Annie Gin, MD; a young doctor whose hero-worship of Hallie is shaken when Hallie loses her license to practice.

Returning to the Know MainStage is Julie Locker, who last appeared in 2021’s Glassheart as Aiofe. Julie joins us this time as Winter Moon, the proprietor of the only magic shop in Buckstop. Ryan-Chavez Richmond joins us as Ethan, a Purple Heart vet and former drug dealer who’s striving to align his actions with his principles. Ryan-Chavez previously appeared at the Know in this spring’s production of Harpers Ferry 2019. 

And our friend (and retired CCM professor) Michael Burnham joins as Jax, a former patient of Hallie’s who’ll try anything to soothe his ailing wife’s spirit. Michael’s last appearance with the Know was in 2019’s Always Plenty of Light at the Starlight All-Night Diner; and longtime friends of the company will remember his turns as co-director of 2014’s Moby Dick, director of 2009’s Adding Machine: the Musical, and of course our legendary (and controversial) 2003 production of Corpus Christi.

Update on dates: Sunrise Coven was initially announced to open on August 5; in response to changing circumstances and the needs of our team, we’ve chosen to move opening night back one week to August 12. This decision will allow us to bring you the very best production of a script we just can’t wait for you to see.

Join us for this heartfelt and hard-hitting new comedy about healers, healing, witchcraft, and pharmaceuticals, all in a tiny American town that’s just barely hanging on. Sunrise Coven runs August 12 – 28, live at the Know, and livestreaming on select dates to your home.

Tickets are available on our website, knowtheatre.com, or by calling our box office at 513-300-5669.

CAST

  • Denise Dal Vera* as Hallie
  • Julie Locker as Winter Moon
  • Resa Mishina as Annie
  • Ryan-Chavez Richmond as Ethan
  • Michael Burnham as Jax
    *appears courtesy of Actors’ Equity Association 

PRODUCTION TEAM

  • Director: Holly L. Derr
  • Lighting & Scenic Designer: Andrew J. Hungerford
  • Costume Designer: Noelle Wedig-Johnston
  • Sound & Projections Designer: Douglas J. Borntrager
  • Technical Director: Jim Stark
  • Stage Manager: Grace Wohlschlegel 

AT A GLANCE

Production: Sunrise Coven by Brendan Bourque-Sheil

Dates: August 12 – 28, 2022. Wednesday – Saturday shows are at 8 PM; Sunday matinees are at 3 PM.

Where: Know Theatre, 1120 Jackson Street in Over-the-Rhine.
Livestreaming on select dates TBA.

Themes: comedy, cults, addiction, community, healing, rural America 

Tickets: The standard ticket price is $25. Audiences may opt to support the Know’s initiative to pay all artists and employees a living wage by selecting the $40 Living Wage Ticket.
Low-cost admission available for $15. On Wednesdays, as part of a program we call “The Welcome Experiment,” tickets are $5 in advance, or FREE at the door. 

Know Theatre is Cincinnati’s Theatrical Playground. The Know showcases unexpected voices, new works, and plays that embrace the inherent theatricality of the live experience. Know Theatre seeks to be a place where artists and audiences feel welcome to take artistic risks, creating work that is cutting edge and accessible. 

Know Theatre’s work is made possible, in part, by the generosity of community contributions to the ArtsWave Campaign.  

The Ohio Arts Council helps fund Know Theatre with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence, and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans. 

Know Theatre is also supported by The Carol Ann & Ralph V. Haile, Jr. Foundation, helping to change our communities for the better through collaboration and innovation, and the Greater Cincinnati Foundation, which provides a simple, powerful, and highly personal approach to giving.

 Know Theatre is a member of Theatre Communications Group and an Associate Member of the National New Play Network.

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July 18, 2022 · 10:37 am

2023 Season Announced by La Comedia Dinner Theatre

LAC_logoOur first show in 2023 will be the hilarious new musical comedy STEEPLE PEOPLE making its La Comedia debut from January 19 – February 12!

Featuring brand new arrangements of more than 15 popular hymns, such as “Down By The Riverside”, “Standing On The Promises” and “It Is Well With My Soul,” Steeple People is a new musical comedy about a gospel quartet preparing for a three city national tour of Ghana.

Set in Stinking Creek, Tennessee, the group is hosting a charity drive for their upcoming trip. Since their church was hit by a delinquent tornado and is still under construction, the local high school has offered up their gymnasium as the venue for the fund raiser.

You will laugh and sing along with this witty cast of characters as they bring their beautiful harmonies to the La Comedia stage for the first time.

LITTLE WOMEN makes its La Comedia debut as our 2nd show in 2023 from February 16 – March 26.

Louisa May Alcott’s beloved story of the adventures of the four March sisters is brought to vivid musical life in LITTLE WOMEN.

This timeless classic set during the Civil War is filled with adventure, heartbreak, and a deep sense of hope. With buoyant, joyful melodies, memorable characters, and a big-hearted message, Little Women reminds us that “sometimes when you dream, your dreams come true.”

Perfect for the whole family, the classic story and stunning music embody the complete theatrical experience, filled with laughter, tears and a lifting of the spirit.

Our 3rd show in 2023 is the Tony Award winning thriller SLEUTH making its La Comedia debut from March 30 – May 7!

The ultimate game of cat and mouse is played out in an English country house owned by celebrated mystery writer, Andrew Wyke. Invited guest Milo Tindle, a young rival who shares Wyke’s love for games, declares his intention to run off with Wyke’s wife. The two men devise an elaborate revenge/power game; through their style and cunning, the stakes continue to rise, leading to the play’s inevitable, heart-stopping finish.

SLEUTH premiered on Broadway in 1970 and received the Tony Award for Best Play. The 1972 film adaptation starring Laurence Olivier and Michael Caine earned four Academy Award nominations. In 2007, a second film starred Michael Caine and Jude Law, with Caine taking on the role previously played by Olivier.

Our fourth show in our 2023 season is the new hit musical, Jimmy Buffett’s ESCAPE TO MARGARITAVILLE, making its La Comedia debut from May 11 – June 18.

Searching for your lost shaker of salt? Set your mind to island time, and join us for Escape to Margaritaville! Margaritaville is a place where people come to get away from it all – and stay to find something they never expected. It’s also where a part-time bartender, part-time singer, and full-time charmer thinks he’s got life all figured out until a beautiful career-minded tourist from Ohio steals his heart and makes him question everything.

This fun and laid-back musical featuring the most loved hits from Jimmy Buffett encourages audiences to sit back, relax and remember “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere.”

Our fifth show in 2023 is Rodgers & Hammerstein’s CINDERELLA from June 22 – August 6.

Originally presented on TV in 1957 starring Julie Andrews, Cinderella was the most widely viewed program in TV history. Now, the enchanting stage adaptation is your family’s chance to experience this timeless fairy tale live on stage! The hearts of princes and princesses of all ages will soar when the sli#cinderella

Our sixth show in 2023 is the La Comedia debut of JUST DESSERTS: A Musical Bake-Off playing from August 17 – September 17.

If you liked The Church Basement Ladies, you’ll love these five strangers putting their hearts, reputations, and baking skills on the line to become the crème de la crème of bakers at the county fair.

For some, the bake-off will mean the end of their dreams – for others, a new beginning. They’ll all get their just desserts, including the local meteorologist who is the emcee. But it’s the personal journey each contestant takes that makes the new musical comedy Just Desserts a blue ribbon contender.

It’s all happening at the Jefferson County Bake-Off where the competition may be fierce, but the results are always satisfying!

The 7th show in our 2023 season is the La Comedia debut of the hilarious musical comedy GRUMPY OLD MEN from September 21 – October 29.

Fasten your seat belt, it’s going to be a grumpy ride! GRUMPY OLD MEN is the hilarious musical comedy about two aging men, Max and John – neighbors who have been feuding for most of their lives.

Invigorated by their shared affection for their new beautiful neighbor across the street, they face off as romantic rivals who will stop at nothing to win her heart.

Based on the 1993 film starring Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthau, and Ann-Margaret, this stage adaptation perfectly captures the lovably crotchety characters through twinkling humor, great songs, and the affectionate depiction of a small town that feels like home to everyone.

The 8th and final show of our 2023 season is the story of the real Santa Claus, MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET from November 2 – December 30.

This touching musical version of the classic holiday film proves that miracles do happen and is sure to fill both the young and the young at heart with the Christmas spirit.

For more information visit www.lacomedia.com

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