Category Archives: Press Releases

September 28, 2016 · 7:04 am

CIVIL WAR Announced as 30th Anniversary and Final Production of Showbiz Players

SBP_logoVia Bunny Arszman

THE CIVIL WAR“The Civil War” has been announced as our 30th Anniversary production. It will be the last production for Showbiz Players, Inc. After 30 years, Showbiz is officially calling it quits. I know the first question people will ask is why? Well the honest truth is that there is no one reason. There are several reasons that have accumulated over the years that have brought us to this point. I know many groups face the same issues. It’s no one’s fault. We just can’t be financially successful and continuing the way we were going was not sustainable. We only had a couple of options – none of them good. We didn’t want to start over again, so we opted for Option C – none of the above.

It is our fervent hope that this last show will be successful. We want to go out with a bang (so to speak) and we wanted to do the show for which we want to be remembered. We want to go out on top. We hope that you will come and help us say “good-bye”. Besides helping us financially so that we can pay off our debt, you’ll see a top-notch production. We’ve pulled out all the stops to make it super special – one last time.

As for me personally, I will still be around. I don’t intend to retire from theatre. I plan to see what’s out there to broaden my horizons, but I will always be grateful to Showbiz for allowing me to follow my dream. I’ve given almost ½ my life to this organization and I wouldn’t change one second of it. I’m sure that there will be tears over the coming months, but there will also be a lot of laughter as we remember the good times. We are looking at this as the ultimate way to end it. On our terms. Doing the show that took us to the top and meant so much to us. We want this to be a great celebration. Hell – we made it to 30 and that is fantastic!!

There will be more details coming during the next few weeks.

Thank you for one helluva ride!!

[Directed by Bunny Arszman, CIVIL WAR runs April 28-May 6 at The Carnegie.]

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September 28, 2016 · 6:59 am

The Drama Workshop Opens THE LION IN WINTER on Oct. 7

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Richard (Rick Hunt) confronts Queen Eleanor (Karen Romero) in his attempt to gain the throne of England in TDW’s production of THE LION IN WINTER. Tammy Cassesa image.

The Drama Workshop is thrilled to open the classic, “The Lion in Winter” by James Goldman, on Friday, October 7th, and running through October 23rd at The Glenmore Playhouse, TDW’s intimate 96-seat theater in the heart of Cheviot.

With sibling rivalry, adultery and dungeons, “The Lion in Winter” is a modern day classic. Comedic in tone and dramatic in action, the play tells the story of the Plantagenet family who are locked in a free for all of competing ambitions to inherit a kingdom. The queen, and wealthiest woman in the world, Eleanor of Aquitaine, has been kept in prison since raising an army against her husband, King Henry II. Let out only for holidays, the play centers around the inner conflicts of the royal family as they fight over both the kingdom and King Henry’s young paramour during the Christmas of 1183. As Eleanor says, “every family has its ups and downs,” and this royal family is no exception.

“The Lion in Winter” was adapted for film in 1968, featuring Peter O’Toole as Henry and Katharine Hepburn as Eleanor. Hepburn won second Best Actress Academy Award for her performance.

TDW’s production of “The Lion in Winter” is directed by Francis Boyle, and produced by Dennis Murphy, and features performances by Michael Gettinger (Geoffrey), James Gilhooley (John), Hannah Goodman (Alais), Rick Hunt (Richard), Robert Hyer (Phillip), Wallace Johnson (Henry), and Karen Romero (Eleanor).

Long-time TDW member and Westwood resident Karen Romero considers Eleanor of Aquitaine to be a ‘bucket list’ role. “Eleanor of Aquitaine would be a remarkable woman in today’s world, but in 1183 she was truly unique,” Karen explained. “This is a real life ‘Game of Thrones’ that happened over 800 years ago! Adultery, power struggles, betrayal, and love – the show has it all.”

Newcomer Rick Hunt is the legendary Richard the Lionheart, son of Eleanor and Henry, and also loves the storyline. “You don’t really know what’s going to happen until the last few minutes of the show,” he said. “Audiences will love it!”

Performances will be at 8 p.m. Oct 7, Oct 8, Oct 14, Oct 15, Oct 21, and Oct 22, and 2 p.m. on Oct 9, Oct 16, and Oct 23. Advanced reservation seats are $16 each, or tickets may be purchased for $17 at the box office the day of the show.

For more information or to order tickets, please call TDW’s 24/7 ticket line at 513-598-8303 or order on line at www.thedramaworkshop.org. Discounts are available for groups over 10. Shows frequently sell out, so reservations are recommended. The 96-seat theater uses festival seating, except for season subscribers.

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. In 2015, they were the most-recognized group in the greater Cincinnati area for theatrical excellence.

TDW has a long history of being selected to represent the Southwest Ohio region at the Ohio Community Theatre Association annual conference, including last season’s production of UNNECESSARY FACE. TDW is also honored to represent the state of Ohio at the 2017 American Association of Community Theatre regional conference in Champaign, Illinois. 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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September 27, 2016 · 6:48 am

CCM Showcases the Songs of Tom Jones & Harvey Schmidt with a World Premiere

ccm_they-were-you-logoCCM continues its popular Studio Series with the world premiere of THEY WERE YOU, a musical revue showcasing the songs of Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt. Devised and directed by Aubrey Berg, the Patricia A. Corbett Distinguished Chair of Musical Theatre at CCM, THEY WERE YOU plays Oct. 5-9 in the Cohen Family Studio Theater. Admission is free, but reservations are required.

Conceived and curated by Berg with musical arrangements by CCM faculty member Stephen Goers and choreography by alumna Katie Johannigman, THEY WERE YOUfeatures songs from some of Jones and Schmidt’s most beloved musicals, including The Fantasticks,Celebration and 110 in the Shade. The production represents the first comprehensive revue of Jones and Schmidt’s work.

Jones, a Texas native, is widely known not only for his lyrics and librettos but also for his directing and acting chops. He directed a New York City revival of The Fantasticksin 2006, and also played the role of Old Actor in that production. He has written a screenplay for that show and a book called Making Musicals: An Informal Introduction to the World of Musical Theater.

Schmidt, also a Texan, attended the University of Texas at Austin to study art, but began to play piano as an accompanist for Jones during his time there. In addition to composing some of the world’s most beloved musicals, Schmidt has also continued to work as an illustrator for Life, Harper’s Bazaar, Sports Illustrated, Fortune and other publications.

The duo’s work together earned them several Tony Award nominations and the 1992 Tony Honors for Excellence in Theatre, as well as induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame and the American Theatre Hall of Fame.

THEY WERE YOU is organized thematically, moving from “innocence” to “experience” through the course of the performance. Each song along the way showcases some universal emotion and lauds the resilience of humanity in the face of sorrow and disillusionment. The program promises favorites like “Try to Remember” from The Fantasticks and “My Cup Runneth Over” from I Do! I Do! alongside other songs from throughout the celebrated duo’s oeuvre.

Admission to THEY WERE YOU is free, but tickets are required. CCM’s Studio Series productions often sell out quickly, so visit our guide to Studio Series tickets for tips on how to secure your seats.

THEY WERE YOU: The Songs of Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt
Lyrics by Tom Jones
Music by Harvey Schmidt
Aubrey Berg, director
Stephen Goers, musical director
Katie Johannigman, choreographer

Cast List:

  • Gabe Wrobel
  • Emily Fink
  • Stavros Koumbaros
  • Aria Braswell
  • Karl Amundson
  • Michelle Coben

Performance Times

  • 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 5
  • 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 6
  • 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 7
  • 2 & 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8
  • 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 9

Location
Cohen Family Studio Theater, CCM Village
University of Cincinnati

Admission
Admission is free. Reservations are required. Tickets become available at noon on Monday, Oct. 3. Please visit the CCM Box Office or call 513-556-4183 to reserve. Limit two tickets per order.

Parking and Directions
Parking is available in the CCM Garage (located at the base of Corry Boulevard off Jefferson Avenue) and additional garages throughout the UC campus. Please visituc.edu/parking for information on parking rates.

For detailed maps and directions, please visit uc.edu/visitors. Additional parking is available off-campus at the U Square complex on Calhoun Street and other neighboring lots.

For directions to CCM Village, visit ccm.uc.edu/about/directions.

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September 24, 2016 · 7:09 am

Cincinnati Shakespeare Company Explores Humanity in THE ELEPHANT MAN

Cincinnati Shakespeare’s blockbuster final season on Race Street continues after a sold-out run of “The Diary of Anne Frank” with “The Elephant Man”! 

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Brent Vimtrup as Frederick & Giles Davies as Joseph Merrick in THE ELEPHANT MAN. Photo by Mikki Schaffner Photography.

CINCINNATI, Sep. 22, 2016 – The Cincinnati Shakespeare Company continues its 2016-2017 mainstage season with The Elephant Man by Bernard Pomerance, a stirring modern classic about humanity and compassion, playing October 14-November 5, 2016. This production is directed by CSC Producing Artistic Director, Brian Isaac Phillips and features the Cincinnati Shakespeare Resident Ensemble including Giles Davies, Brent Vimtrup, Barry Mulholland, Kelly Mengelkoch, and Billy Chace.

The Tony Award-winning The Elephant Man tells the true-life story of John Merrick (Giles Davies), a man whose profound physical deformities drive him first into a Victorian workhouse and then into employment as a sideshow curiosity. Dr. Frederick Treves (Brent Vimtrup), a physician at London’s Royal Hospital, encounters Merrick by chance and recognizes a deeply intelligent and curious mind behind Merrick’s startling exterior, and sets out to rescue him from his grim surroundings. As the world opens up to Merrick, he realizes that it is both more beautiful and more cruel than he could have imagined.

Critically acclaimed and the winner of numerous awards, The Elephant Man premiered on Broadway in 1979 winning the Tony Award for Best Play that year.  The play’s recent revival featuring Bradley Cooper as Merrick, won the 2015 Tony Award for Beat Revival of a Play, among other accolades.  In addition to Bradley Cooper, the lead role of Merrick has been portrayed by David Bowie, Mark Hamill, Bruce Davison, David Schofield, and many more. In the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company production, long-time Resident Ensemble favorite, Giles Davies will be featured as Merrick. The play calls for no prosthetic makeup on the actor portraying Merrick; the actor portrays Merrick’s deformity through physicality, letting the audience imagine Merrick’s appearance.

Mr. Phillips directs a vivid and imaginative staging of this classic script, incorporating a strong Victorian aesthetic.  This production will also offer on-stage audience seating, evocative of the nineteenth century’s operating theatres and is a tribute to the early days of Cincinnati Shakespeare Company on Race Street when on-stage seating was offered for its productions.

Performances of The Elephant Man are scheduled from October 14-November 5, 2016, Thursday, Friday & Saturday evenings at 7:30pm and Sundays at 2pm.  There is no performance on Sunday October 16. There is an added performance at 2pm on Saturday November 5. Preview performances are on Wednesday October 12 and Thursday October 13 at 7:30pm and tickets are $25.

The theater currently is located at 719 Race Street, downtown Cincinnati, two blocks west of the Aronoff Center.  Single ticket prices range from $22-$38 on Thursdays and Sundays and from $26-$42 on Fridays and Saturdays.  Previews are $25.  If available, $14 student rush tickets may be purchased one hour before a show with a valid student ID.  This production is a part of this season’s subscription package. Visa, Discover, MasterCard, and American Express are accepted.  Ticketing fees may apply.  Discounts are available for students, seniors and groups as well as AAA members.  To purchase tickets or for more information, call the CSC Box Office at 513.381.BARD (2273) ext. 1, or go online at http://www.cincyshakes.com. 

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About Cincinnati Shakespeare Company:
Cincinnati Shakespeare Company is a professional theatre company dedicated to bringing Shakespeare and the classics to life for audiences of all ages.  Currently located in the heart of downtown Cincinnati, CSC produces a dozen mainstage productions each season. In the summer of 2017, the theater will relocate to the Otto M. Budig Theater, a brand new facility in OTR. CSC’s repertoire is made up of the works of William Shakespeare, literary adaptations, and contemporary classics. CSC performs on a Small Professional Theatre contract with Actors’ Equity Association. Cincinnati Shakespeare is a member of the Theater Communications Group and the Shakespeare Theater Association.  Cincinnati Shakespeare Company’s Education and Outreach Programs reached over 50,000 young people and underserved community members each season by taking Shakespeare into schools, parks, community centers and by hosting educational matinees of mainstage productions.  In 2015, CSC was proud to become one of the first five theaters in the United States to “Complete the Canon” by producing all 38 plays by William Shakespeare. CSC is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization and all donations are tax deductible.  Cincinnati Shakespeare Company is proud to be Cincinnati’s stage for the classics!

About The 2016-2017 Season:
This season is generously sponsored by The Otto M. Budig Family Foundation.  Cincinnati Shakespeare Company receives operating support from The Ohio Arts Council, the Shubert Foundation and is supported, in part, by the generosity of thousands of individuals and businesses that give annually to ArtsWave. The Ohio Arts Council helped fund this program/organization with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans. Production dates and information on the season are available online at http://www.cincyshakes.com.

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September 22, 2016 · 6:55 am

Village Players Opens the Season with THE FACULTY LOUNGE

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Judy Littlefield, Carson Lantham, and Eric Thomas.

[Fort Thomas, Kentucky] – Village Players of Fort Thomas presents its first show for the 2016-2017 season, “The Faculty Lounge” by Teri Foltz, Oct. 7-15. Performances for this production will be Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8:00 PM. and Sunday at 3:00 PM.

Award-winning playwright and Fort Thomas resident, Teri Foltz, brings the audience inside the forbidden walls of an ordinary, American high school faculty lounge — where teachers get honest. The play is a comedy… until it’s not. Act One inspires hearty laughter at the humanness of those who teach, and Act Two touches the audience with a different side of that same humanity and the students who test it. The cast includes Judy Littlefield, Eric Thomas, Ginny Butsch, Joh Clay Prather, Kelly Holterhoff, Chelsea Russel, Melanie Herrick, Tamara (Tammy) A. Sanow, Carson Lantham and Chase Reynolds.

Village Players began in 1966 when members of the Fort Thomas Woman’s Club formed a community theatre department and renovated the lower level of the building to house a unique and intimate 102-seat three-quarter thrust stage. Village Players is a member of KTA, OCTA, ACT-Cincinnati and AACT. Located at 8 North Fort Thomas Avenue, Fort Thomas, Kentucky, Village Players mounts four productions each year and donates the proceeds of its spring production to charity. For more information, http://www.villageplayers.biz or 859-392-0500.

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