Category Archives: Press Releases

October 28, 2019 · 3:19 pm

Wilmington College Theatre to Present Edgy Musical, HEATHERS

WCTD_Heathers logoDark Comedy Based on 1988 Film, Touches upon Bullying and Unhealthy Desire for Popularity

Rehearsals are underway for Wilmington College Theatre’s production of Heathers, the Musical Nov. 21, 22 and 23, at 7:30 p.m., in Hugh G Heiland Theatre.

Director Bryan Wallingford described the student favorite as “Legally Blonde Meets Mean Girls Meets Carrie.” The dark comedy tackles, via often-grotesque satire, such social issues as bullying and teenagers’ desire to be popular at any cost.

Heathers, the Musical is intended for mature audiences due to stage violence and language.

In 1989, the most vicious creatures in shoulder pads, known as “the Heathers,” terrorize Westerberg High. Veronica Sawyer, who longs to be part of the in-crowd, starts out as their pet project, but after suffering the wrath of Heather Chandler, finds comfort in the arms of a mysterious, Slushie-guzzling stranger, who has plans to put the Heathers in their place.

Based on Daniel Walters’ 1988 film by the same name, Heathers contains edgy and culturally relevant numbers like “Beautiful,” “Candy Store” and “Seventeen.” Book, music and lyrics are by Kevin Murphy and Lawrence O’Keefe.

The cast features: Jennah Blair as Veronica Sawyer, Lachlan O’Neill as Jason “J.D.” Dean, Baylee Martin as Heather Chandler, Brittany Barnett as Heather McNamara, Riley Gatlin as Heather Duke, Fae Maffin as Martha Dunnstock, Allen Caltrider as Ram Sweeney and Gage Clemens as Kurt Kelly. Josh Woodward portrays the roles of Ram’s dad, the principal and Veronica’s dad, while Andrew Conarroe plays Kurt’s dad, Big Bud Dean and the coach, and Bekah Wall is cast as Ms. Fleming and Veronica’s mom.

The Westerberg High students include: Layne Frederick, Parker Gunkel, Andrew Hall, Alyssa Harper, Nicholas Keller, Joseph Schmidt, Jen Cochran, Shelbie Harris, Emma Horick, Cecelia Hunt, Shelby Kirby, Kendra Nelson, Rylee Riggs, Elie Ross, Rebecca Simonji, Jordan Snarr, Aubree Trusty and Maya Wahrhaftig.

In addition to Wallingford, the production team includes Wynn Alexander, scenic and costume design; Becky Haines, lighting and sound design; Timothy Larrick, music direction; Gina Beck, vocal coach; Cole Haugh, choreography; and Virginia Kongos, student stage manager.

Reservations for Heathers, the Musical can be made by contacting the Theatre Box Office, located in Boyd Cultural Arts Center, weekdays, from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m. at 937.481.2267. Tickets are $15 for adults, $13 for senior citizens and $8 for college and high school students with valid identification. WC students attend free of charge.

Leave a comment

Filed under Press Releases

Tagged as

October 28, 2019 · 2:32 pm

SLUT, the Play at Sinclair

SCCT_Slut promo

Eleven women tell the story of slut-shaming and sexual assault in Sinclair Theatre’s production of SLUT, The Play by Katie Cappiello. Pictured left to right, front to back: Leia Gaddis, Kylee Pauley, Rachel Charles, Sabrina Smith, Kiarra Matos, Mari Pullings, Callista Kinney, Lilly Robillard, Bryanna Bentley, Alexis Paige and Becca Shelley. Photo by Patti Celek.

Sinclair Theatre has many connections with an exciting new Netflix series (Grand Army) that is based on Slut, the Play, by Katie Cappiello. The play premieres in Sinclair’s Black Box Theatre November 13-16; playwright Katie Cappiello will be on campus November 14 AND Beau Willimon (producer) was a winner at Dayton Playhouse’s Future Fest and was on campus when it was showcased in Blair Hall.

As part of its new FREE EXPRESSIONS series, Sinclair Theatre will offer SLUT, The Play, by Katie Cappiello, FREE of charge, November 13-16 in the Black Box Theatre, fourth floor of building 2, on Sinclair’s downtown Dayton campus. Tickets are free, but must be reserved at www.sinclair.edu/tickets. This event is sponsored by Sinclair’s Diversity Office.

Developed in collaboration with The Arts Effect All-Girl Theater Company, SLUT: The Play is a theatre piece compiled from the real experiences of high school girls 14-17 that explore sexual assault and the culture that allows it to continue. Offering a platform to have dialogue about sexuality empowers women and teaches them how to stop harassment and assault. The rehearsal process and every performance will be supported by campus and community organizations including: YWCA Sexual Assault Team, Sinclair’s Title IX Office and Counseling Services.

Directed by Gina Neuerer, Music, Theatre & Dance chair, the November 14th performances will feature discussions with the author and host area resource experts. Activities include:

  • Noon Matinee with refreshments and socializing with the playwright to follow in room 2334
  • 4:00 p.m. Presentation on “Rape Culture” by Katie Cappiello in Blair Hall Theatre
  • 7:00 p.m. Performance followed by a post-show Q and A with the playwright Katie Cappiello

Panel discussions with community resource representatives will follow the Nov. 15 & 16 performances.

Cast includes: Bryana Bentley, Callista Kinney, Kylee Pauley, Kiarra Matos, Becca Shelley, Alexis Paige, Leia Gaddis, Sabrina Smith, Lilly Robillard, Cormari Pullings, Rachel Charles, Matt Poliachik, Kasaahn Johnson, and Devante Wheaton.

Leave a comment

Filed under Press Releases

Tagged as

October 24, 2019 · 12:48 pm

ON CUE Newsletter Fall 2019

ACT_vON CUE
The electronic newsletter of the Association of Community Theatres of Greater Cincinnati

Another season of theatre has begun and as in past years, it will be a great one. There are so many shows to see, that it is difficult to see them all. You are urged to support local community theatre. Get out and see the shows and see the great theatre that happens in this area.

ACT saw the demise of two theatre groups this past season, Stagecrafters and Milford Theatre Guilde. However, it added 3 new groups, INNOVtheatre, Inspiring Arts and Merit Theatre. Show your support for all of the groups that make up ACT of Greater Cincinnati.

The OCTA conference took place over Labor Day weekend in Perrysburg, OH and our region was well represented. We had 4 groups plus our alternate in attendance.

These were:

  • Innovatheatre-Ordinary Days
  • The Drama Workshop-Love, Loss and What I Wore
  • Mariemont Players-Out Of Sterno
  • The Village Players-The Last Days of Judas Iscariot
  • Footlighters-First Date

These are the awards presented to the various shows:

LOVE, LOSS AND WHAT I WORE

  • Rose Vanden Eynden – Merit in Directing
  • The Cast – Excellence in Ensemble
  • Kristy Rucker – Excellence in Acting as Geralyn
  • Linda Callahan – Excellence in Acting as Gingy
  • Holly Sauerbrunn – Outstanding in Acting as Nora
  • Rose Vanden Eynden & Jason Cox – Outstanding in Sound Design

THE LAST DAYS OF JUDAS ISCARIOT

  • Elena Sokoloski – Excellence in Light Design
  • Dan Maloney – Excellence in Directing
  • The Cast – Excellence in Ensemble
  • Amy Sullivan – Excellence in a Featured Role as Sister Glenna
  • Rose Vanden Eynden – Excellence in Acting as Mother Teresa
  • Chris Payne – Excellence in Acting as Simon the Zealot
  • Michael Ireland – Excellence in Acting as Satan
  • Scott Unes – Outstanding in Acting as El Fayoumy
  • Michael Ireland – Outstanding Use of the Sense of Smell as Satan

OUT OF STERNO

  • Dan Maloney – Merit in Sound Design
  • Peggy Stouffer – Excellence in Costumes
  • Dan Dermody – Excellence in Set Design
  • Dan Maloney – Excellence in Directing
  • Patricia Mullins – Excellence in Acting as Dotty
  • Julia Hedges – Excellence in Acting as Zena
  • Patrick Kramer – Outstanding in Acting as Dan

ORDINARY DAYS

  • Eric Bardes – Merit in Light Design
  • Jacqlyn Schott – Excellence in Directing
  • The Cast – Excellence in Ensemble
  • Alex Ross – Excellence in Musical Theater Performance as Jason

FIRST DATE

  • Amanda Marasch – Excellence in Costumes
  • Alan Masters – Excellence in Musical Directing
  • Xan Waddell Jeffrey – Excellence in Vocal Directing
  • Jerry Wiesenhahn – Excellence in Directing
  • Gregory K. Shaffer – Excellence in Musical Theater Performance as Man #1
  • The Cast – Outstanding in Ensemble

As you can see, all of these shows displayed the quality of the theatre we create here. Congratulations to all of the shows.

Other awards were given at the conference:

  • Ray Lebowski was presented with the Dick Beale Outstanding Regional Representative award. This is given to the regional representative who demonstrates the qualities of leadership necessary to be an effective representative.
  • Norma Niinemets was inducted into the OCTA Hall of Fame this year. This is such a great honor and it recognizes the years of service by the individual to their theatre and to OCTA as well.

We congratulate them as well.

Attendance at this year’s OCTA state conference was down from previous years.  For years, people have asked that the excerpts be presented in a legitimate theater. This was done for the first time this past September. Because the events were held in 2 places, it meant that the cost of attending this year was increased. Was this the reason for the low turnout? Was it the location and having to navigate between locations? Was it because people were not involved in any excerpt, so therefore chose not to attend? Whatever the reason was, it created a budget deficit for OCTA. If this holds true for the 2020 conference, then there will have to be some decisions made.  An organization cannot continue to lose money and exist.

Now, mark your calendar for Labor Day Weekend 2020. The conference will be here in our region. Dan Maloney is the conference chair, and he has already put together a great support group to help organize the event. Again this year, all excerpts will be held in a THEATER! This has been requested over the years and it finally took place at this past conference. Yes, there were some problems this past year with the logistics, but it is hoped that these will be worked out for 2020. The theme this year is Roaring 20S and as always it will be the best. There will be lots of fun and games for everyone. Southwest Region rocks conferences.

ACT held their annual elections in May and the following is a list of officers for the 2019-2020 season.

  • President-Dan Maloney
  • 1st VP-Amanda Emmons-Shumate
  • 2nd VP-Fred Hunt
  • Secretary-Micheal Kiser
  • Treasurer-Amelia Burke
  • Awards Chair-Dennis Murphy
  • Scholarship Chair-Melissa Smith
  • Long Range Judging Standing Committee Chair-Laureen Caitlin
  • Membership Standing Committee Chair-John Wesseling
  • Publicity Chair/Website-Chuck Ingram
  • Pre-Registration-Joy Sharp
  • Librarian/Historian/Newsletter-Linda Roll

In other ACT news, there is a committee looking at updating the By-Laws of the organization. This has not been done for several years and there are areas that need updating. One such area is the need for a code of conduct. Is this something that individual theatre groups have in their by-laws? Is it necessary for ACT itself to have one if groups have it?

The issue of how to raise funds is always on the table. There have been basket raffles, a raffle ticket for a trip/money (which has NEVER been very profitable).

One thing that is currently being discussed is fund raisers in conjunction with various restaurants. Groups are already doing that, so how would that work for ACT? Lots of things to consider.

Be sure to check out our website http://www.actcincinnati.org. Chuck Ingram is doing a great job in updating the site. Send him notices of your auditions and shows and he will make sure they get placed on the website. Email is Actweb@fioptics.com.

While you are at it, send these to Rob Bucher who also publishes auditions and shows on his site . You can locate him at Behind the Curtain Cincinnati. Find him at robbucher@me.com

The final place for you to make any announcements or search for something for your production is the Wesseling One List at wesseling@yahoogroups.com. Let’s keep information flowing.

Any errors, mistakes or omissions are not intentional.

Thanks to all of you for being a part of Greater Cincinnati theatre.

Leave a comment

Filed under Press Releases

Tagged as

October 23, 2019 · 10:22 am

MARJORIE PRIME is Next up at Falcon Theatre

FT_Marjorie Prime logoA Life Lived vs. a Life Remembered
MARJORIE PRIME is Up Next at Falcon Theatre!

What would we choose to forget from our past if given the opportunity? What have we forgotten already that we might wish we could remember? Do we remember the past as it actually occurred or as we–for whatever reason–prefer to remember it?

These are just a few of the questions addressed in Jordan Harrison’s drama Marjorie Prime, a touching, emotional, and painfully believable story set in the not-too-distant future.

Marjorie Prime is the second production of Falcon Theatre’s 30th Anniversary Season, opening November 22.

The story revolves around 85-year-old Marjorie, who is in the early stages of dementia. Ten years after the death of her husband Walter, Marjorie now lives with her daughter Tess and son-in-law Jon who have installed a holographic “prime” of Walter to keep Marjorie company and perhaps aid in holding onto part of her rapidly failing memory. The “prime” takes on the form of Walter as a vibrant young man rather than the Walter from his final, older years and is programmed with the ability to learn from the information that he has been fed. Jon, particularly, has shared with the prime certain aspects and details of Marjorie’s past, but for Tess, some things are too uncomfortable to share.

“The more I read and work with this script, the less I see it as about aging and dying and more about the nature of memory,” says director Ed Cohen. “Memories, by their nature, are images frozen in our mind. But what are they made of? And how do they relate to our humanity…to whatever it is that makes us human?”

Cohen, who has directed multiple productions at Falcon, including In the Heat of the Night, The Pillowman, and The Beauty Queen of Leenane, sees the story’s treatment of memory as the key that unlocks our humanity. He points to multiple episodes in the story where Marjorie is struggling with details of memories, but what she’s trying to recapture is the feelings and emotions that she associates with the memories.

The New York Times says the play, a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for drama, “operates by stealth…landing skillfully targeted punch after punch, right where it hurts” and when it’s least expected. The Los Angeles Times says Marjorie Prime “…is the kind of experience that keeps unfolding in the mind long after the 80-minute play is over” and “is primarily concerned with something eternal: the way our humanity is shaped and warped by the mysterious ebbs and flows of memory.”

Falcon’s production features Sue Breving as Marjorie, Ryan J. Poole as Walter, Tara Williams as Tess, and Terry Gosdin as Jon.

Performances are at 8 PM on November 22, 23, 29, 30, and December 5, 6, and 7. Tickets prices are $25 for adults and $15 for students with ID. Patrons enjoy a $5 discount for Thursday performances. Visit falcontheater.net for tickets.

Leave a comment

Filed under Press Releases

Tagged as

October 21, 2019 · 11:07 am

Raucous New Comedy PUFFS Brings Its Magic to Know Theatre

KTC_PuffsPosterEver feel like you’re not the hero of your own story?

PUFFS
By Matt Cox

November 22nd – December 21st 

Friends, Magic, England… This is Not the Story You’re Thinking of. 

Fresh off its triumphant Off-Broadway debut comes this raucous new comedy about seven eventful years at a certain school of magic and magic. From November 22 – December 21, Know Theatre is proud to bring Cincinnati our version of the uncensored, unexpected flipside of the fantasy world you only THINK you know so well.

Puffs follows the adventures of a trio of friends, three “Puffs,” as they study magic at school of male magic and female magic, concurrent with a certain boy wizard and his friends. Through their wacky adventures, they encounter characters like “The Death Buddies,” “Blondo Malfoy,” “The Headmaster,” “Professor McG,” “A Certain Potions Teacher,” and of course, the evil “Mr. Voldy”!

Magic, sports, and a battle against evil collide in a hilarious new play for anyone who’s ever felt like they weren’t the hero of their story.

Puffs is directed by Know Theatre Producing Artistic Director Andrew Hungerford. Here’s what he had to say about why the Know just couldn’t resist bringing this smash-hit new play to Cincinnati audiences this season: 

Puffs is the story of what happens when your dreams come true, but not in the way you thought they would. Using pop culture fantasies of the 80’s and 90’s as a jumping off point, it takes flight as a story of friendship, adventure, and magic. Rising above satire, it’s a delightfully satisfying play with a big silly heart at its core.

Puffs is a play for everyone who ever wanted someone to tell them, “yer a wizard;” everyone who felt the power of Grayskull; everyone who thought they could bear that ring to the fires whence it came; everyone who knew the force would be with them; everyone who has ever dreamt of a larger world beyond the everyday, and thought about what might happen if they were able to step through that wardrobe into a place where magic is real. It’s a perfect way to close out 2019.

Puffs features a script that offers tons of opportunities for improvisation, so be prepared for each night of this five week run to offer something new. To navigate this comedic adventure, Know has assembled a crack team of actors who will bring this boisterous, unpredictable and magical world to life.

Ben Dudley returns to the MainStage after his 2015 starring role in Joe Zettlemaier’s All Childish Things, as well as many adventures in our episodic theatre program Serials! and our annual celebration of live arts, the Cincinnati Fringe Festival.

He’ll play new-student-in-town Wayne Hopkins, an otherwise normal, run of the mill, pop-culture-obsessed kid. Thrust into a magical world from decidedly non-magical origins in New Mexico, he thinks he just might be destined for something great… when he’s sorted into the Puffs! But, just because you’re an underdog doesn’t mean you can’t become the hero…right?

Brandon Burton also makes his return to the Know as Wayne’s new pal, Oliver Rivers. Last seen at the Know as the hilarious Castle Guard in Marian, or The True Tale of Robin Hood and Islington & Lord Rat Speaker in Neil Gaiman’s Neverwhere, this time he plays a whiz-kid who excelled in the non-magical world, suddenly forced to cope with being extremely below average as a wizard.

Regular Know fans will recognize SCPA alum Maliyah Gramata-Jones from 2018’s RED BIKE or 2012’s The Afghan Women’s Writing Project. This time, she gets to sink her teeth into the role of Megan Jones, the Puff-Who-Would-Be-Snake. Will she ever find a reason to embrace the lovable Puff inside? Or will she finally convince her schoolmates that she belongs with the “cool” kids over with Blondo Malfoy? 

Bringing to life the rest of this enchanted environment is a cast of comic and improv sorcerers including Andrew Ian Adams, Merritt Beischel, Brianna Bernard, Maggie Cramer, Jared Earland, Elizabeth Chinn Molloy, Jordan Trovillion, and Know Theatre’s own Producer of Irregular Programming, Chris Wesselman. 

Follow their adventures as the otherwise entirely un-noteworthy Puffs house tries to stop losing every competition to the Braves… and the Smarts. And the Snakes.

If only the Puffs and their de facto leader Cedric could find their confidence and figure out how to take first place… Okay, that’s perhaps shooting too high; how about second place? No? Okay, third! Yeah, THIRD OR NOTHING!

Will the Puffs ever rise above the lowest rung on the ladder? Will Cedric survive Year 4? Will Wayne overcome his non-magical past to become not just an adequate wizard but maybe even the hero? To find out, grab your broom and wand and badger your way to Puffs, running November 21st – December 25th, only at Your Theatrical Playground.

Cast in Alphabetical Order

  • Andrew Ian Adams – Cedric/Mr. Voldy
  • Merritt Beischel – Narrator
  • Brianna Bernard – Sally Perks
  • Brandon Burton – Oliver Rivers
  • Maggie Cramer – Leanne, etc
  • Ben Dudley – Wayne Hopkins
  • Jared Earland – Ernie Mac etc
  • Maliyah Gramata-Jones – Megan Jones
  • Elizabeth Chinn Molloy – Hannah etc
  • Jordan Trovillion – Susie Bones, etc
  • Chris Wessleman – J Finch, etc

Production Team

  • Director & Lighting Designer: Andrew Hungerford
  • Scenic designer: Baron E. Pugh
  • Costume Designer: Noelle Wedig-Johnston
  • Sound Designer: Douglas Borntrager
  • Props Designer & Scenic Charge: Kayla Williams
  • Stage Manager: Meghan Winter
  • Technical Director: Henry Bateman

Calendar Listing

Production:
Puffs, or seven increasingly eventful years at a certain school of magic & magic by Matt Cox

When:

  • 8:00 pm   Nov 22, 23;  27, 29, 30; Dec 4, 5, 6, 7, 11, 12, 13, 14, 18, 19, 20, 21
  • 3:00 pm   Nov 24; Dec 1, 8, 15

Where: Know Theatre of Cincinnati. 1120 Jackson Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202. In historic Over-the-Rhine.

Tickets:

  • $25 regular price tickets
  • $35 “Living Wage” tickets, supporting working artists in Cincinnati
  • $15 Rush tickets at the door 10 minutes prior to curtain (when available) 

FREE walk-up tickets are available on Wednesdays, as part of Know’s Welcome Experiment.
Advance reservations to Welcome Experiment performances are $10.00.

Tickets can be purchased by visiting knowtheatre.com or calling 513.300.5669 

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./U.S. Bank 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.

Leave a comment

Filed under Press Releases

Tagged as