Category Archives: Press Releases

Diogenes Theatre Company Remounts Their Acclaimed Production of TWILIGHT: LOS ANGELES, 1992

Torie Wiggins reprises her tour de force performance in Anna Deavere Smith’s Tony Award nominated one-woman show about the L.A. riots.

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Torie Wiggins. Photo by Daniel R Winters Photography.

CINCINNATI – June 29, 2016 – Diogenes Theatre will remount TWILIGHT: LOS ANGELES, 1992by Anna Deavere Smith on Know Theatre of Cincinnati’s Underground stage from July 18 to 21. Torie Wiggins, who received critical acclaim for her performance will once again perform the one-woman show, and Brian Isaac Phillips returns to direct.

TWILIGHT: LOS ANGELES, 1992 played on Broadway for 72 performances beginning in April 1994.  Smith, who gathered the many interviews, performed the piece on Broadway at the Cort Theatre.  The play is set in a documentary style with characters telling their perspective of various events around Los Angels in the aftermath of the Rodney King verdict and the riots that followed.  The play is delivered verbatim, just as the real individuals shared their experiences with Smith as she interviewed them.  Figures who are known to the public, such as congresswoman Maxine Waters, former police chief Darryl Gates and Reginald Denny, the truck driver who was attacked at a traffic light during the riots, are all portrayed in the piece.  Other less know persons are also portrayed including a Korean store clerk, an anonymous juror, bystanders and gang leaders.

The remounting of the Diogenes production coincides with Cincinnati’s hosting of the NAACP convention.  The theme of the convention this year is: “Our Lives Matter, Our Votes Count.”  The NAACP convention was last held in Cincinnati in 2008.  Considering both ‘08 and this year are election years, a major goal of the convention is to create thought provoking conversation.

Torie Wiggins says of performing the one woman show: “As much as I love and respect the rich variety of this piece, it’s unfortunate that it is still so timely.  My hope is that it reaches people in such a way that change is inspired and advocated, whether socially or mentally.  I believe this piece has the ability to do both.”

The design team features Alice Flanders as stage manager, costume design by Amanda McGee, sound design by Doug Borntrager, and lighting design by Dan Winters.

Performances will be on July 18 at 2:00pm and July 19, 20 and 21st at 8:00pm.  All performances will take place on Know Theatre of Cincinnati’s Underground stage.

Diogenes Theatre Company is a small professional theatre performing the best of comedy and drama in intimate studio settings .

For more information and tickets, visit – www.diogenestheatrecompany.com/ and https://know.tixato.com/buy/twilight-los-angeles-1992.

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Mariemont Players Announces THE COMPLETE WORKS OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE (ABRIDGED)

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Joel Lind as Daniel, Aaron Whitehead as Jess, & Jay Benson as Adam. Photo by Dan Ledbetter.

Mariemont Players presents THE COMPLETE WORKS OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE (ABRIDGED), a comedy by Adam Long, Daniel Singer and Jess Winfield at the Walton Creek Theater, 4101 Walton Creek Road (just East of Mariemont), July 8th through July 24th, 2016.

Fast paced, witty and physical, this play is full of laughter for Shakespeare lovers and haters alike. It’s a Shakespearian mix of pratfalls, clunky female impersonators, clean-cut ribaldry, and broad burlesque. Expect a delightful evening brushing up on your Shakespeare.

“PITHIER THAN PYTHON. IRRESISTIBLE.” – New York Times.

“STUPENDOUS, ANCHORLESS JOY!” –The Times of London. “ROLLICKING, FAST-

MOVING AND HILARIOUS!” – The Guardian.

“IF YOU LIKE SHAKESPEARE, YOU’LL LOVE THIS SHOW. IF YOU HATE SHAKESPEARE YOU’LL LOVE THIS SHOW!” – The Today Show.

THE COMPLETE WORKS OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE (ABRIDGED) is directed by Tom Peters, produced by Zach Riggins, and features the talents of Jay Benson, Joel Lind, and Aaron Whitehead.

Performances will be:

  • 8 PM Friday, July 8th
  • 8 PM Saturday, July 9th
  • 2 PM Sunday, July 10th
  • 7:30 PM Thursday, July 14th
  • 8 PM Friday, July 15th
  • 8 PM Saturday, July 16th
  • 2 PM Sunday, July 17th
  • 7 PM Sunday, July 17th
  • 7:30 PM Thursday, July 21st
  • 8 PM Friday, July 22nd
  • 3 PM Saturday, July 23rd
  • 8 PM Saturday, July 23rd
  • 2 PM Sunday, July 24th

To order tickets for THE COMPLETE WORKS OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE (ABRIDGED), call Betsy at 513-684-1236 OR order online at www.mariemontplayers.com. All seats are reserved and $20 each.

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Grants Allow Expansion of Staff at Know Theatre

KTC_logoKnow Theatre is delighted to announce that we’ve received not one but two major grants for our upcoming 19th Season from two of Cincinnati’s most prestigious supporters of the arts.

ArtsWave just announced their slate of 2017 grantees, and we are delighted to announce that Know will receive $56,500 in ArtsWave support this year – an increase of more than $25,000! This increase is a powerful statement of support for the work we do to cultivate a hunger in Cincinnati for adventurous art, and to keep the experience of live theatre accessible to all.

This news comes right on the heels of the announcement of a new two-year grant from The Greater Cincinnati Foundation’s Cultural Vibrancy Program!

GCF’s support of $30,000 in Year One and $25,000 in Year Two will make it possible for Know to reconfigure our working structure to comply with the new FLSA regulations put forth by Congress, better prevent burnout for our small-but-mighty staff, and bring on a brand-new team member to help us make Your Theatrical Playground even more awesome.

That’s right: Our full time staff is going from 6 to 7 – The one, the only Alice Flanders joins the team this week as our new Managing Director!

Alice with Associate Artistic Director Tammy,
who is REALLY excited to have a new staffer on the team!

We are so grateful to ArtsWave and The Greater Cincinnati Foundation for their belief in our mission, and we’re grateful to all of YOU for always being hungry for the new and exciting on our stages.

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Know Theatre Concludes Our 18th Season With THE FISHERMAN’S WIFE

KTC_The Fishermans Wfire promo

Photo by Daniel R. Winters Photography.

THE FISHERMAN’S WIFE
by Steve Yockey
Directed by Andrew Hungerford
A sex farce. With sea creatures.

Vanessa and Cooper’s marriage is on the rocks.

She wants adventure (especially in the bedroom). He is compelled to fish the uncaring sea. Their relationship seems doomed to lethal monotony until a pair of magical sea creatures with erotomania and an “Alternatively Attractive” traveling salesman with a bag full of mysterious wares come to town.

Playwright Steve Yockey (author of Know Theatre’s 2014 hit Pluto) draws inspiration from a famous Japanese erotic woodcut, “The Dream of the Fisherman’s Wife,” to craft a story of a marriage in crisis that’s naughty, hilarious, and a little shocking.

Describing his writing process for LA’s This Stage Magazine, Steve Yockey said:

“My thinking at the time was twofold: 1) I’m going to take a stab at writing a built farce about the revitalization of a struggling marriage and 2) if I’m going to do that, then I’m going to use a lens I haven’t ever seen before to explore it: tentacle porn. Full-tilt, uninvited sea-creature-on-human action. Because that kind of extreme is probably exactly what a marriage on the rocks doesn’t need.”

Know Theatre Artistic Director Andrew Hungerford returns to helm a show for the first time since 2014’s Moby Dick. Says Andrew:

“This play is highly theatrical, incredibly unique, and very, very, uncomfortably funny. It’s a show that had its start in tiny theatres in LA and Berkeley that share the Know’s artistic bent, and we’re really excited to bring our design and production aesthetic to this disturbing little play. We’ve assembled a fantastically talented comic cast that is a joy to work with and watch.”

That cast features Know Theatre regular James Creque (Hearts Like Fists, Hundred Days, All Childish Things, Serials!) and Know Theatre resident artist Miranda McGee (When the Rain Stops Falling, Saturday the 14th, Hearts Like Fists, Silent Sky, Serials!).  Returning to Know Theatre’s stage are OTRimprov’s Eileen Earnest (Beertown) and Andrew Ian Adams (Beertown, Hearts Like Fists).

Rounding out the cast in his Know Theatre Mainstage debut is Cal Harris, known around town as Cincinnati Shakespeare Company’s Director of Customer Relations, and previously seen at the Know as part of last Summer’s Serials! Roundhouse.

Taking lead on scenic design duties is Know Theatre’s Design Associate Sarah Beth Hall, who has created a theatrical world that combines Japanese Edo period art and a New England seaside shack on Know Theatre’s Underground cabaret stage.

And joining the know theatre design team as puppet designer is Brandon Johnson, fiance of Know Theatre resident costume designer Noelle Wedig.

The Fisherman’s Wife also marks the final production for longtime Know Theatre Resident Stage Manager Kristen Ruthemeyer, who leaves the Know this summer to chase other dreams. Says Kristen:

“I’ve done a lot of weird stuff at the Know over the years, so it seems totally appropriate to end my time here with a show based on Japanese tentacle erotica.”

All in all, The Fisherman’s Wife promises a wild, very adult, night at the seashore. A night that’s full of surprises.

Note that The Fisherman’s Wife features adult situations, language, and sexual content. It is recommended for mature audiences only.

Cast in Alphabetical Order

  • Andrew Ian Adams as the Octopus
  • James Creque as Thomas Bell
  • Eileen Earnest as the Squid
  • Cal Harris as Cooper Minnow
  • Miranda McGee as Vanessa Minnow

Production Team

  • Director & Lighting and Sound Design – Andrew Hungerford
  • Scenic & Props Design – Sarah Beth Hall
  • Costume Design – Noelle Wedig
  • Puppet Design – Brandon Johnson

Calendar Listing

Production:   The Fisherman’s Wife by Steve Yockey

When:
8:00pm June 24, 25, 29, 30; July 1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 9, 13, 14, 15, 16
3:00pm June 26, July 3, 10

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

Tickets:
$20 in advance
$10 Rush tickets at the door 10 minutes prior to curtain (when available)

FREE performances on Wednesdays, as part of Know’s Welcome Experiment initiative. May be reserved at the door, or online beginning the Sunday before each performance. Subject to availability; reserved Welcome Experiment tickets must be claimed 15 minutes before the performance or be subject to redistribution.

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

Since 1997, Know Theatre has been dedicated to creating explosive and evocative live entertainment. We value a playful artistic community where artists can collaborate and grow.

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.

 

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Green Day’s AMERICAN IDIOT The Musical Rocks Sunset Players’ Stage for Greater Cincinnati Community Theater Premiere

SSP_American Idiot promoCINCINNATI, OH—June 13, 2016—Green Day’s American Idiot The Musical will rock Sunset Players’ stage from July 8-23 at the Arts Center at Dunham (1945 Dunham Way, Cincinnati, Oh 45238).

Book and lyrics by Billie Joe Armstrong, book by Michael Mayer, music and lyrics by Green Day, Green Day’s American Idiot The Musical is about three friends who struggle to find meaning in a post-9/11 world. When the three disgruntled young men flee the constraints of their hometown for the thrills of city life, their paths are quickly estranged when one enters the armed forces, another one is called back home to attend familial responsibilities, and a third one’s attention becomes divided by a seductive love interest and a hazardous new friendship. An energy-fueled rock opera, American Idiot features little dialogue and instead relies on the lyrics from Green Day’s groundbreaking album to execute the story line.

Directed by Jerry Yearout with music and vocal direction by Allen Lindsey and choreography by Jessica Stringfield, the cast includes:

Brenden Blackburn as Tunny
RJ Bryant as St. Jimmy
Tori Garcia as Extraordinary Girl
Rick Hunt as Will
Zachary Julian as Johnny
Monica Weber as Whatsername
Jessica Stringfield as Heather

Chris Ball, Amanda Borchers, Matthew Prater, Erin Speno, Brandon Stout, Mary Vosseberg, Garrett Wallace, Allie Webber and Logan Weinfurtner in the Ensemble.

Show dates are July 8, 9, 15, 16, 17, 21, 22 and 23. All shows begin at 8 p.m., with the Thursday evening at 7:30 p.m. and a Sunday matinee at 3 p.m. Cincinnati State’s Interpreter Training Program will provide sign language interpreting for the deaf community on Saturday, July 16. A cash bar will be available for performances, except the Sunday matinee.

Tickets are $16 general admission or $14 for seniors, students or groups of 10 or more and can be purchased online at the Sunset Players website (www.sunsetplayers.org) or at the door. Tickets can also be reserved by calling 513-588-4988.

Sunset Players, Inc. is a community theater group located on the west side of Cincinnati. Founded in 1979, the group performs at the Arts Center at Dunham and has produced more than 120 plays. For more information, visit our website at www.sunsetplayers.org or like us on Facebook.

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