Category Archives: Press Releases

May 7, 2021 · 11:31 am

Get Your Dancing Shoes Ready, The Carnegie Announces Latest Production I GOT RHYTHM

TC_I Got Rhytym logoCOVINGTON, KY – The Carnegie is set to tap – pun intended – into one of the most exuberant forms of dance when its latest production takes the stage.

Some of the greatest songs in American music will provide the soundtrack to I GOT RHYTHM, playing Friday through Sundays between May 21—May 30, 2021 at the new Covington Plaza (144 Madison Ave, Covington KY 41011). Featuring music from the likes of Fats Waller, Duke Ellington, Irving Berlin and George Gershwin among others, the high-energy, family-friendly production is appropriate for all ages and lovers of dance alike.

“I GOT RHYTHM will transport guests to the golden age of tap. It is the root of many modern styles of dance, which is why it’s legacy deserves celebrating,” said Maggie Perrino, Theater Director for The Carnegie. “Add in songs like Puttin’ on the Ritz, This Joint is Jumpin’, and There’s No Business Like Show Business, plus a cast of dynamite performers, and you’ve got an evening of entertainment sure to tap your troubles away.

There will be 10 performances total- May 21-23, 28-30 with 5 shows each weekend- Friday night at 7pm, Saturday at 2pm and 7pm, Sunday at 2pm, and 7pm. Tickets to I GOT RHYTHM range from $15-$25 per person and can be purchased through The Carnegie Box Office, open Tuesday–Friday noon to 5 p.m., in person or by phone at (859) 957-1940 or online at www.thecarnegie.com. Run time for the show is 75 minutes with no intermission.

Cast

  • Tia Seay
  • Lesley Taylor
  • Sam Johnson
  • Matthew Nassida
  • Allison Evans
  • Renee Stoltzfus
  • Ashley Olivia Morton
  • Kate Stark

Production Team

  • Maggie Perrino, Director/Choreographer
  • Matthew Nassida, Music Director
  • Steven Ducker, Stage Manager
  • Doug Stock, Technical Director

The Carnegie’s 2020-21 Theatre Series is presented by the Otto M. Budig Family Foundation. Support for The Carnegie Creative Disruption Committee programming series is provided by the John A. Schroth Family Charitable Trust.

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About The Carnegie
The Carnegie is Northern Kentucky’s largest multidisciplinary arts venue providing theatre events, educational programs and art exhibitions to the Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati community. The Carnegie facility is home to The Carnegie Galleries, the Otto M. Budig Theatre, and the Eva G. Farris Education Center.  More information about The Carnegie is available at thecarnegie.com or by calling (859) 491-2030. 

The Carnegie receives ongoing operating support from Cincinnati International Wine Festival, The Greater Cincinnati Foundation, Kenton County Fiscal Courts, the Kentucky Arts Council and the City of Covington. The Carnegie is also supported by the generosity of more than 40,000 contributors to the ArtsWave Community Campaign. 

About The Carnegie Theatre Series
The Carnegie Theatre Series produces professional, innovative stagings of an eclectic range of theatrical works. Striving to unite the greater Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati theatre community through partnerships and collaborations, the series engages and nurtures both emerging and established talent, including working professionals, committed part-time theatre artists, university performing arts students and younger students. The Carnegie Theatre Series productions bring together these forces to provide quality theatre for Northern Kentucky and the Greater Cincinnati area.

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May 7, 2021 · 11:02 am

The Drama Workshop Premieres I’M BLOOY RETIRED, Its Final Home View Theatre Piece

TDW_VERTThe Drama Workshop’s Home View Theatre series will close with the release of ‘M BLOOY RETIRED, a comedic crime mystery written by Eric Thomas.

Dennis Murphy, TDW’s Vice President of Productions states that, “’M BLOOY RETIRED is a very fitting choice to bring our successful Home View Theatre series to a close. With this delightful comedy, Home View Theatre has produced 13 short videos over the course of nine months. Not only has Home View Theatre provided funding to support TDW operations during the pandemic, but it has also served as a valuable link between TDW and its subscribers, membership and the broader theatrical community during the many months of isolation. We thank the writers, casts and crews of all of the Home View productions for their time, effort and creativity. They have managed to produce 13 videos safely while working within Covid protocols and restrictions Their courage and dedication to this project is greatly appreciated by TDW and something our audiences would soundly applaud – if they could.”

In ‘M BLOOY RETIRED, retiring Detective Sergeant Royal is given one last assignment – to train rookie Detective Francis – and one last case — to finally bring down his arch-nemesis. Dennis Murphy directed the video and portrays Detective Royal. Detective Francis is played by Nicholas Dunker. Chris Bishop, Stephanie Klein, Lindsey Pullum and Karen Romero round out the stellar cast.  The video was edited by Murphy and Eric Thomas. Cal Lumpkin served as videographer and assistant editor.

Tickets to stream ‘M BLOOY RETIRED or any of the Home View Theatre productions can be purchased at www.thedramaworkshop.org/homeview or by calling the box office at (513)598-8303. Single videos are $5 or you can subscribe to the series of six videos for only $25.

The second series of Home View Theatre plays also includes:

The Rules, a comedy by Jessie Faye. As they prepare for a first date, a man and woman reflect on societal pressure, self-doubt, and the complexities of the perfect outfit. TDW is excited to welcome Jeff and Maddy Weinkam to their TDW debut. They played the couple, and Jeff directed the video. The Rules premiered on February 12.

Vir:Us, a collection of monologues written by a group of TDW artists who began a writer’s group during their pandemic downtime. Each monologue, performed by its author, explores how people try to make connections with others during the pandemic. The group of actor/playwrights consist of Chris Bishop, Betsy Bossart, Stephanie Klein, Lindsey Pullum, Fred Tacon and Eric Thomas. Vir:Us premiered on February 26.

Second Story Jobs, a comedy by Fred Tacon that portrays what happens when an extremely overworked tooth fairy visits an adult man. The video is directed by Lynne Aronson and features Michael Sharon and Rusty Lacy. Second Story Jobs premiered on March 12.

Goodwill, a play by Teri Foltz. While clearing out the garage after their mother’s death, a brother and sister learn of a family secret. The cast includes Linda Callahan and Steve Phelan under the direction of Julie Jordan. Goodwill premiered on March 26.

Indian Sign, a drama by Clint Bramkamp in which conflict arises between a man leading a campaign to keep a twenty-eight-foot sign depicting an outdated view of Native Americans in place and a Native American activist who wants to see the sign taken down. Richard Zenk directs the cast which features Jessie Faye and John McInerney. Indian Sign premiered on April 9.

THE DRAMA WORKSHOP was founded in 1954. TDW is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to advancing education and promotion of the theatrical arts. The Drama Workshop is widely recognized as one of greater Cincinnati’s most accomplished community theater organizations, garnering dozens of awards annually from the Association of Community Theatres of Greater Cincinnati. TDW’s 2019 production of “Love, Loss, and What I Wore” was selected to represent the Southwest Ohio region at the Ohio Community Theatre Association annual conference. TDW was also honored to represent the state of Ohio at the 2013 and 2017 American Association of Community Theatre regional conferences. The Drama Workshop has been recognized by the Cincinnati Preservation Association for their efforts to rehabilitate the former Glenmore Bowl into The Glenmore Playhouse. Prospective members, and individuals or businesses interested in becoming involved or in helping advance TDW’s mission are encouraged to contact the group through our website at www.thedramaworkshop.org, or by phone at 513-598-8303.

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May 5, 2021 · 1:22 pm

MO-TO-THE-ONCLE at 2021 Cincy Fringe

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Melissa Cole. Photo by Svetlana Kim.

National Fringe hit makes its Cincinnati Fringe debut

Cincinnati, Ohio – MO-TO-THE-ONCLE (pronounced MO-to-the-AWN-uh-kuhl) debuts at the 18th Annual Cincinnati Fringe Festival (Friday, June 4 – Saturday, June 19) via cincyfringe.com. MO-TO-THE-ONCLE will be available to be viewed on-demand throughout the 14-day theater festival. Tickets are now on sale for $10 at cincyfringe.com, where more information is also available.

MO-TO-THE-ONCLE is a satirical one-woman comedy play about a Bronx teenager who must wear a monocle to school after his dad loses their vision insurance. The story unfolds through a series of bold monologues performed by writer and actress Melissa Cole, who portrays at least a dozen different characters throughout the show. “People always say that they just can’t get into solo shows,” says Cole. “My background is in improv and sketch comedy, so my perspective as a creator comes through that lens. MO-TO-THE-ONCLE is really fast-paced and fun, and I think it’s a real standout in the solo show category.”

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Photo by Anthony Velez.

Since MO-TO-THE-ONCLE’s 2016 premiere in New York City, Cole has taken her wild solo performance on the road to Fringe stages in cities across the country, including Rochester, Orlando, and Pittsburgh, amassing great critical acclaim along the way.

Last year, as many Fringe festivals made the pivot to presenting online offerings exclusively, this Cincy Fringe newcomer says she welcomed the “challenge” of recreating her show for virtual audiences, who she says could be even more discerning. “I’ve never been to Ohio before, and I certainly would have really loved to have been there in person,” Cole explains. “But this is my second time doing a virtual festival, and I’ve worked really hard to ensure that the virtual showing of MO-TO-THE-ONCLE is just as fulfilling–if not even more so–than its live counterpart, especially for Cincy Fringe’s loyal audience.”

More about Fringe: The Cincinnati Fringe Festival is produced by Know Theatre of Cincinnati as our final presentation of each season. All year-round, Know Theatre staff work on the Festival. We also bring in part-time staffers and hundreds of volunteers to help make the magic happen. A 14-day celebration of theatre, art, music, film, dance, and everything between —  that’s Kinda WEIRD. Like YOU! Now in its 17th year, Cincy Fringe (as its succinctly known) presents over 200 performances of 40+ theatre productions each May and June, plus art galleries, screenings, concerts, workshops, classes, and nightly parties.

More about Melissa Cole: Melissa Cole (writer/actress) is a New York City based actress, improviser and writer. In 2017, Cole was the Pittsburgh Fringe Festival’s Best Actress winner for her performance in Mo-to-the-oncle. In 2016, she performed as a Top 7 finalist in the NBC & Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre Diversity Scholarship Showcase, a high-profile showcase featuring rising sketch comedy actors. A Long Island, New York native, Cole is a graduate of New York University.

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May 5, 2021 · 11:22 am

NKU SOTA Streams Musical Journey FUGITIVE SONGS

NKU_Fugitive Songs logoHIGHLAND HEIGHTS, KY – Northern Kentucky University’s School of the Arts continues its streaming production season with “Fugitive Songs” by award-winning writers Chris Miller and Nathan Tysen. “Fugitive Songs” will be available on-demand through ShowTix4U May 6-9, 2021.

“Living through a pandemic and watching the world search for ways to move forward, I felt that producing a song cycle about people feeling trapped and isolated, then searching and finding ways to break free really speaks to the current climate,” said director Jamey Strawn. “The pandemic has caused so much self-evaluation, the pressures of each day becoming too much and forcing the urge to escape it all by running away. Fugitive Songs speaks to our hearts, showcasing those who find themselves on the run, sorting through their emotional baggage and navigating their way through a restless America.”

  • What: FUGITIVE SONGS by Chris Miller and Nathan Tysen
  • When: May 6-9,2021
  • Where: Online at ShowTix4U
  • Admission: $4 for On-Demand 48-hour rental

“Fugitive Songs” consists of 19 songs and takes the viewer on a journey across America in the form of a song cycle. The writers describe the show as “part musical, part hootenanny,” blending traditional folk music with contemporary pop and gospel. The overarching theme in the show is the urge to run away.

The NKU cast features Ethan Baker, Jackson Hurt, Je’Shaun Jackson, Blair Lamb, Ellie O’Hara, Danielle Ullman with Maiya Caldwell and Judah Stevens. Norse Media and Chris Strobel graciously provided filming and editing support during the production process.

About NKU:  Founded in 1968, we are a growing metropolitan university of more than 15,000 students served by more than 2,000 faculty and staff on a thriving suburban campus near Cincinnati. Located in the quiet suburb of Highland Heights, Kentucky—just seven miles southeast of Cincinnati—we have become a leader in Greater Cincinnati and Kentucky by providing a private school education for a fraction of the cost. While we are one of the fastest growing universities in Kentucky, our professors still know our students’ names. For more information, visit nku.edu.

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May 3, 2021 · 1:58 pm

ETC Announces Winners of Third Annual PLAY/WRITE: The Jackie Demaline Regional Collegiate Playwriting Competition

ETC_logo(Cincinnati, OH) Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati (ETC) is pleased to announce the winners and finalists of the third annual PLAY/write: The Jackie Demaline Regional Collegiate Playwriting Competition. The annual collegiate competition nurtures local aspiring dramatists who are helping to shape the future of American theatre and provides a $2,500 juried cash award to support the early work and career of each winner along with staged professional readings of their scripts. This year marked the most submissions received since the inception of the competition for regional undergraduate and graduate student playwrights. Impressed by the overall strength and breadth of this season’s entries, the panelists have decided to name two winners as well as recognize two finalists.

The winners of this year’s prize are Megan Ledford (Wright State University) for her play Hi! Maintenance. and Skye Robinson Hillis (Ohio University) for her play Bury the Rest; each of their plays will receive a full-length staged professional reading streamed through ETC’s YouTube Channel. This year’s finalists are Christin Cato (Indiana University) for her script Stoop Pigeons and Steven Strafford (Ohio University) for his play Greater Illinois; each will receive a short staged reading excerpt of their play, running approximately 10 minutes, that will also be available to stream online.

Excerpts of the finalists’ pieces will premiere on May 12 (Greater Illinois) and May 19 (Stoop Pigeon) with the winning full-length professional staged readings to premiere on May 26 (Hi! Maintenance.) and June 2 (Bury the Rest).

Additionally, the panelists have selected three other playwrights as honorable mentions: 30 Seconds by Jayne Deely (Indiana University), Goodbye Babylon by Trevor Browning (Northern Kentucky University), and Tell Me About the Other Side by Eleanor Alger (Miami University).

“This year’s competition was very close as many entries were well-constructed and each had a unique voice and point of view,” says Programming and Events Manager Jared D. Doren. “This competition is a testament to the younger, local writing talent that is being cultivated in our schools today. We are excited to share some of these works, some comedic, some serious, but all worthy of recognition.”

About the Competition
The competition commemorates the life and work of writer, critic, and theatre enthusiast, Jackie Demaline. A passionate arts advocate, Ms. Demaline served as an important catalyst for change in the theater community and was an entertainment writer and editor for numerous publications. Her legacy lives on through this competition, providing professional development for emerging writers, amplifying new voices and perspectives, and kick-starting arts careers.

About the Plays

Hi! Maintenance. by Megan Ledford
Andy is very content with her life. She may live in one of the most broken apartments New York has ever seen, but she and her roommate, Harper, get by just fine. However, when their trusted maintenance man breaks a hip and Charlie, his replacement, takes over, Andy is forced to let a new person in her life. As this newcomer offers a fresh perspective on Andy’s seemingly perfect existence and her way of thinking, Harper makes decisions that spell rapid change for their relationship and Andy’s life as a whole. 

Bury the Rest by Skye Robinson Hillis
Following the death of their daughter Lucy in a mass high school shooting, exes Margot and Colin find themselves at a moral impasse that leaves Colin’s new wife, Laura, on the outside and their other daughter, Samantha, to navigate this brave new world on her own. Each member of the family tumbles deeper into a rabbit hole of devastation, loneliness, and anger as Lucy confronts the truths of her short life while facing the reality that is her death. As they navigate their relationships and rebuild themselves as a family, it may, in fact, be Lucy who decides their fate. 

Stoop Pigeons by Christin Cato
Stoop Pigeons takes place in the early 2000s when the Bushwick area of Brooklyn began radically gentrifying, spanning a decade that illuminates the cultural changes of the neighborhood and the people who inhabit it. As the demographic changes and introduces a new clientele, it’s the poor Black and Brown folks who are still severely affected.

Greater Illinois by Steven Strafford
Donielle and her husband are offered money (and ultimately threats) to leave their apartment in the South Side of Chicago to a new government-sponsored suburban community. One year later, Patrick, a gay man who is being moved into the same South Side apartment is suddenly met with obstacles when a mysterious person arrives at his door. Greater Illinois is the story of the decisions we make to fight, flee, or freeze.

About the Playwrights

Megan Ledford (Hi! Maintenance.) is a junior pursuing a BA in Acting at Wright State University. With beautiful irony, she is a dyslexic person who loves to read and write. Megan is blessed to have inherited her mother’s inspiring stubbornness, making her determined to participate in this field despite her disability. Megan’s interest in writing began when she joined a sketch comedy group her freshman year at Wright State and has slowly expanded to writing longer form content over the past couple years. 

Skye Robinson Hillis (Bury the Rest) is a playwright, director, and dramaturg based in Chicago. Skye is a two time semi-finalist for the Princess Grace Award, and her work has been seen at the Kennedy Center ACTF, Creede Repertory, The Route 66 Theatre Company, Chicago Dramatists, A Red Orchid Theatre, Piven Theatre Workshop, Artistic Home, Prologue Theatre Company, Polarity Ensemble Theatre, Ohio University, Columbia College, and the City of Chicago’s In the Works Play Lab at the Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park. Her play And Vaster was awarded a residency at the New Works Lab at Stratford in 2015 and was the winner of the 2015 Ashland New Plays Festival 2017 Holland New Voices Award at the Great Plains Theatre Conference. As a director and dramaturg, she has worked for Hartford Stage, Goodman Theatre, Court Theatre, A Red Orchid, Remy Bumppo Theatre Company, Stage Left, and more. Her other plays include Bury the Rest, Escape Velocity, The Ordinariness of Everything Else, The Running Mate, Into Place, and Selfish. Skye is currently pursuing her MFA in Playwriting at Ohio University on a full scholarship.Christin Cato (Stoop Pigeons) is a playwright and performer, currently pursuing an MFA in Playwriting at Indiana University. She is a graduate from Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School for Music and Art and received her BA from Fordham University. Christin is an ensemble member of both Pregones/PRTT and INTAR Theatre’s Unit 52. Embracing her Puerto Rican and Jamaican roots, her artistic style is influenced by Caribbean culture and the Afro-Latinx diaspora. Her plays include Sancocho, Milagro Theatre & Borderlands Theater; jelly beans, Indiana University; What’s Up With Marjorie?, Teatro Vivo; From Hunts Point To Whitlock, Pregones & Harlem9; and Genie in a Pumpkin, Cardinal Stage. Christin is a recipient of the 2020 Greater Good Commission and is also an active member of the Latinx Playwright’s Circle. 

Steven Strafford (Greater Illinois) is an actor and playwright who currently resides in Athens, Ohio, where he is pursuing an MFA in Playwriting from Ohio University. He is the author of the critically acclaimed, award-winning Methtacular! having performed it across the country at LORT theaters, Steppenwolf Theatre, universities, and LGBTQ spaces. He is also the author of Small Jokes About Monsters which received productions in Houston (nominated for Houston Theatre Award for Outstanding New Play), Sioux City, and Chicago at 16th Street Theater. His play Mona Q: Age 38 received workshops with Route 66 Theatre Company and 16th Street Theater. His short plays Use Your Noodles and The Breakup Play have been produced a few times each. His essay, “College Dreams” was published in the book The Anatomy of Silence.

Performance Information
These virtual readings can be streamed for free through ETC’s YouTube Channel, which can be accessed through the theatre’s main website.

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2020-2021 Season Presenting Sponsor is the Otto M. Budig Family Foundation.

Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati is supported, in part, by the generosity of community contributions to the ArtsWave Campaign.

The Ohio Arts Council helps fund Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans. Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati also receives funding from the Shubert Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati is a professional theatre dedicated to producing world and regional premieres of works that often explore compelling social issues. We fulfill our mission through our stage productions and educational outreach programs that enlighten, enliven, enrich and inspire our audiences.

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