Category Archives: Press Releases

Dance ’16 Offers Something for Everyone at NKU This Spring

NKU_logoHIGHLAND HEIGHTS, KY – Northern Kentucky University | School of the Arts | Program of Theatre and Dance presents DANCE ‘16 March 18 – 19, 2016. DANCE ’16 will take place in the Corbett Theatre in the Fine Arts Center.

Not to be missed, DANCE ‘16 features a company of our best young dance artists. Full of new and innovative works created by faculty, guest artists, and nationally renowned choreographers in creative expressions including theatre dance, contemporary, tap, and jazz, DANCE ‘16 features something for everyone!

FACULTY CHOREOGRAPHERS

Tracey Bonner
Dance Coordinator and Assistant Professor, NKU
BFA, Shenandoah Conservatory of Shenandoah University
MFA, University of California, Irvine

Dee Anne Bryll
Theatre and Dance Faculty, NKU, Xavier University
Director, CCM Prep Musical Theatre Program
BA, Baldwin Wallace College
MA, Kent State University

Heather Britt
Dance Faculty, NKU
Owner and Founder, DANCEFIX by Heather Britt Dance Company

Jay Goodlett
Dance Faculty, NKU
Former Senior Soloist, Cincinnati Ballet
Artistic Director of Education and Outreach, The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati

GUEST CHOREOGRAPHERS/DANCERS

Andrew Pearson
Faculty, California State University, Channel Islands
Guest Faculty, American Musical and Dramatic Academy
BFA, University of California, Irvine

Andrew Pearson is a dancer and movement artist who has performed and studied both nationally and internationally. He is in his 5th season with the Los Angeles Contemporary Dance Company, with whom he has traveled to Palm Springs, Florida, and New York City. Most notably, Andrew performed in Julien Previeux’s Award-Winning work What Will They Do Next in Paris and Malaga, Spain. Andrew has created work and directed movement for a variety of mediums and venues, including many musical theater productions, opera, film, and countless concert dances. His original concert-dance work has been seen all over Southern California and he has been commissioned to create new work for the Collabo Youth Collective, Santa Monica College’s Synapse Dance Theatre, the Los Angeles Contemporary Dance Company, and PGK Dance Project. As a dance educator, Andrew has served on faculty at the The Wooden Floor, the Los Angeles Arts Collective, the Orange County High School of the Arts, and the Nuevo School of Contemporary Dance. He has also been hired as a guest instructor for numerous institutions including Riverside Ballet Arts, The Colburn School, The Los Angeles Contemporary Dance Company, PGK Dance Project, Malashock Dance, Parker Dance Academy, and Colorado Mesa University. Some influential choreographers Andrew has had the opportunity to work with include Ryan Heffington, Loretta Livingston, Barak Marshall, Rosanna Gamson, Ido Tadmor, and Holly Rothschild.

Kim Popa
Executive Director and Co-founder, Pones Inc.
BFA, Northern Kentucky University

Kim Popa has studied dance for 30 years and graduated summa cum laude with a BFA in theatre and dance from Northern Kentucky University. Popa is a professor at the Art Academy of Cincinnati, and also teaches dance classes at The Carnegie and SCPA, as well as multiple dance workshops around the tri-state. Popa danced at the CrisisArt Festival in Arezzo, Italy in 2014 and the Sibiu International Theatre Festival in Sibiu, Romania in 2007, and performed in multiple NKU mainstage productions and modern dance concerts. In addition to teaching and performing, Popa is the Executive Director, cofounder, and performing member of Pones Inc. Beyond Pones Inc., she has choreographed for multiple award-winning productions at NKU, New Edgecliff Theatre, and Know Theatre. She is a member of the Young Professionals Board at the Children’s Home of Cincinnati, a trustee on the board of OhioDance, serves as a “big” for Big Brothers Big Sisters, and has a passion for art and volunteerism in many forms.

Kamelia Smith
Balinese Dancer

Kamelia Smith began learning Balinese dance as a five year-old growing up in Jakarta, the capital city of Indonesia. Since moving to Covington in 2010, Kamellia has shared her dancing with schools and universities in the Cincinnati area. Kamellia was a reporter for Tempo, a news magazine in Indonesia, and a contributor for Enquirer Media’s Community Recorder Newspaper in Northern Kentucky. She currently works for the ELS Language Center at the University of Cincinnati and continues to write and dance in her free time.

STUDENT CHOREOGRAPHERS

Maria Broderick
Senior, BFA Dance Candidate, Graduation May 2016

Lauren Crawford
Senior, BFA Dance Graduate, December 2015

Brian Spencer
Senior, BFA Dance Candidate, Graduation May 2016

Kyle Segar
Junior, BFA Music Theatre Candidate, Graduation May 2016

Kat Wolf
Senior, BA Integrative Studies Candidate, Graduation 2016
Theatre minor, Dance minor, Art Minor

Andrew Wiemann
Senior, BFA Acting Candidate, Graduation Spring 2016

For more information call the NKU School of the Arts Box Office at 859.572.5464 or visit theatre.nku.edu

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Fifth Third Bank Broadway in Cincinnati Presented by Trihealth Announces 2016-2017 Season

SEASON PACKAGES ON SALE NOW!

BIC_logoCincinnati, OH (February 22, 2016) – Fifth Third Bank Broadway in Cincinnati presented by TriHealth announces its fantastic 2016-2017 season of award-winning productions direct from the Broadway stage. The incredible lineup of shows include current New York smash hits BEAUTIFUL – The Carole King Musical, MATILDA THE MUSICAL and SOMETHING ROTTEN!

2016-2017 SEASON SHOWS

THE SOUND OF MUSIC
September 27 – October 9, 2016

A GENTLEMAN’S GUIDE TO LOVE & MURDER*
January 3 – 8, 2017

DISNEY’S THE LITTLE MERMAID
January 17 – 29, 2017

SOMETHING ROTTEN!
February 21 – March 5, 2017

THE ILLUSIONISTS – LIVE FROM BROADWAY*
March 21 – 26, 2017

MATILDA THE MUSICAL
April 4 – 16, 2017

BEAUTIFUL – The Carole King Musical
May 2 – 14, 2017

*Season Subscribers pick one to complete six-show season package.

In addition to these season shows, Broadway in Cincinnati is proud to present the special engagements of two of Cincinnati’s favorite musicals. Tickets to these added attractions are available for renewed and new season ticket holders.

THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA
November 15 – 27, 2016

MAMMA MIA!
March 10 – 12, 2017

Full show descriptions below.

Season tickets for the 2016-2017 Fifth Third Bank Broadway in Cincinnati Season presented by TriHealth will go on sale Monday, February 22. There will be three convenient ways to purchase season tickets:

  1. Select your seats in person at the Aronoff Center ticket office, downtown at 650 Walnut Street, Monday – Friday, 9:00am – 5:00pm
  2. Order online 7 days a week/24 hours a day at BroadwayinCincinnati.com
  3. Call the toll-free Broadway in Cincinnati Season Ticket Hotline at 800.294.1816. The Hotline hours are Monday – Friday, 9:00am – 5:00pm, Saturday 12:00pm – 5:00pm, and closed Sunday.

Prices for the six-show season subscription range between $175.00 and $629.00 depending on seat location.

MONTHLY PAYMENT PLAN  Order before March 21 and make three easy monthly payments.  This offer is only available using a credit card.

EXCLUSIVE SEASON TICKET HOLDER BENEFITS

  • Free online ticket exchanges.
  • Priority purchase opportunities for additional tickets to series shows and any season specials.
  • Lost ticket insurance and replacement service.
  • Purchasing privileges in any of our other Broadway Across America cities.
  • Same premium seat location for all two-week season shows.
  • Priority renewal for future seasons.
  • Perks at local restaurants.

SEASON PATRON CLUB
In addition to all of the regular season ticket holder benefits, special Patron Club season tickets (available with an annual membership fee of $110) guarantee seating in the front orchestra or first three rows of the loge and include extended benefits such as complimentary parking for season shows, name recognition in the PLAYBILL program and a Broadway Concierge Line to assist patrons with purchasing tickets for shows on Broadway.

CLOUD CLUB
For theatre lovers on a budget, the “Cloud Club” offers our six-show package with COMPLETE subscription benefits starting at $175 for all performances.

PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
Fifth Third Bank Broadway in Cincinnati presented by TriHealth shows typically run for two weeks at the Aronoff Center.  Performance options are Tuesday through Thursday evenings at 7:30pm, Friday evenings at 8:00pm, Saturdays at 2:00 & 8:00pm and Sundays at 1:00 & 6:30pm. (All times are subject to change.) An audio-described performance for the visually impaired and an American Sign Language interpreted performance for the deaf are available.  Anyone requiring either of these services or accommodations for the physically challenged should request so when purchasing season tickets.  Guests interested in learning more about age appropriateness and content of shows can visit BroadwayInCincinnati.com/FamilyGuide.

GROUP SALES AND SINGLE TICKETS
Group sales information is now available for all shows.  Reservations may be made by calling Group Sales Manager Peggy Holthaus Hughes, at 513.369.4363 or email at Peggy.Holthaus@BroadwayAcrossAmerica.com. For more information visit BroadwayinCincinnati.com.

Tickets for individual shows are not available at this time.

2016-2017 Season Show Descriptions:

BIC_01.TheSoundofMusic.KAnderson

Kerstin Anderson as Maria Rainer in THE SOUND OF MUSIC. Photo by Matthew Murphy.

THE SOUND OF MUSIC
September 27 – October 9, 2016

THE HILLS ARE ALIVE! A brand new production of THE SOUND OF MUSIC, directed by three-time Tony Award® winner Jack O’Brien, is coming to Cincinnati. The beloved musical story of Maria and the von Trapp Family will once again thrill audiences with its Tony®, Grammy® and Academy Award® winning Best Score, including “My Favorite Things,” “Edelweiss” and the title song.

THE SOUND OF MUSIC enjoyed extraordinary success as a live television production when “The Sound of Music Live!” aired on NBC in December, 2013 and was seen by over 44 million people. 2015 marked the 50th anniversary of the film version, which continues to be the most successful movie musical in history.

BIC_Gentlemens Guilde promo

National Touring Company. Kristen Beth Williams as Sibella Hallward & Kevin Massey as Monty Navarro in a scene from A GENTLEMAN’S GUIDE TO LOVE & MURDER. Photo by Joan Marcus.

A GENTLEMAN’S GUIDE TO LOVE & MURDER                January 3 – 8, 2017

Getting away with murder can be so much fun… and there’s no better proof than the knock-‘em-dead hit show that’s earned unanimous raves and won the 2014 Tony Award® for BEST MUSICAL—A GENTLEMAN’S GUIDE TO LOVE & MURDER!

Coming direct from New York, where a most gentlemanly NPR critic said he’d “NEVER LAUGHED SO HARD AT A BROADWAY MUSICAL,” GENTLEMAN’S GUIDE tells the uproarious story of Monty Navarro, a distant heir to a family fortune who sets out to jump the line of succession by – you guessed it – eliminating the eight pesky relatives (all played by one fearless man) who stand in his way.  All the while, Monty has to juggle his mistress (she’s after more than just love), his fiancée (she’s his cousin but who’s keeping track?), and the constant threat of landing behind bars! Of course, it will all be worth it if he can slay his way to his inheritance… and be done in time for tea.

TUTS_LittleMermaid

Alan Mingo, Jr. as Sebastian and Jessica Grové as Ariel and the cast of THE LITTLE MERMAID. Photo by Bruce Bennett, courtesy of Theatre Under The Stars.

DISNEY’S THE LITTLE MERMAID
January 17 – 29, 2017

In a magical kingdom fathoms below, we meet Ariel, the little mermaid who is tired of flipping her fins and longs to be part of the fascinating world on dry land. Joining her are Sebastian, Ariel’s crabby sidekick; Ursula, the evil sea witch; Triton, King of the Sea and the handsome and human Prince Eric. Based on the Disney animated film, this beloved family classic is now on stage with all the songs you love. So dive on in!

Something Rotten B-Roll

SOMETHING ROTTEN!
February 21 – March 5, 2017

SOMETHING ROTTEN! is “Broadway’s big, fat hit!” (New York Post). Set in 1595, this hilarious smash tells the story of Nick and Nigel Bottom, two brothers who are desperate to write a hit play. When a local soothsayer foretells that the future of theatre involves singing, dancing and acting at the same time, Nick and Nigel set out to write the world’s very first MUSICAL! With its heart on its ruffled sleeve and sequins in its soul, SOMETHING ROTTEN! is “The Producers + The Book of Mormon x The Drowsy Chaperone. Squared!” (New York Magazine).

Illusionists, The: ? Witness the Impossible
Marquis Theatre

THE ILLUSIONISTS – LIVE FROM BROADWAY
March 21 – 26, 2017

Direct from Broadway, this mind blowing spectacular showcases the jaw dropping talents of seven of the most incredible Illusionists on earth.  THE ILLUSIONISTS – LIVE FROM BROADWAY has shattered box office records across the globe and dazzles audiences of all ages with a powerful mix of the most outrageous and astonishing acts ever to be seen on stage.  This non-stop show is packed with thrilling and sophisticated magic of unprecedented proportions.

Matilda

MATILDA THE MUSICAL

MATILDA THE MUSICAL
April 4 – 16, 2017

TIME Magazine’s #1 Show of the Year! Winner of 50 international awards, including four Tony Awards®, MATILDA THE MUSICAL is the story of an extraordinary girl who, armed with a vivid imagination and a sharp mind, dares to take a stand and change her own destiny.

Based on the beloved novel by Roald Dahl, MATILDA continues to thrill sold-out audiences of all ages on Broadway, in London’s West End, and in Sydney, Australia.  The Wall Street Journal says, “The makers of MATILDA have done the impossible – triumphantly! It is smart, sweet, zany and stupendous fun.”

BIC_Beautiful

Curt Bouril as Don Kirshner, Liam Tobin as Gerry Goffin, Abby Mueller as Carole King, Ben Fankhauser as Barry Mann & Becky Gulsvig as Cynthia Weil in BEAUTIFUL. Photo by Joan Marcus.

BEAUTIFUL – The Carole King Musical
May 2 – 14, 2017

Long before she was Carole King, chart-topping music legend, she was Carol Klein, Brooklyn girl with passion and chutzpah. She fought her way into the record business as a teenager and, by the time she reached her twenties, had the husband of her dreams and a flourishing career writing hits for the biggest acts in rock ‘n’ roll. But it wasn’t until her personal life began to crack that she finally managed to find her true voice.

BEAUTIFUL – The Carole King Musical tells the inspiring true story of King’s remarkable rise to stardom, from being part of a hit songwriting team with her husband Gerry Goffin, to her relationship with fellow writers and best friends Cynthia Weil and Barry Mann, to becoming one of the most successful solo acts in popular music history. Along the way, she made more than beautiful music, she wrote the soundtrack to a generation. Featuring a stunning array of beloved songs written by Gerry Goffin/Carole King and Barry Mann/Cynthia Weil, including “I Feel The Earth Move,” “One Fine Day,” “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman,” “You’ve Got A Friend” and the title song, BEAUTIFUL has a book by Tony® Award-nominee and Academy® Award nominated writer Douglas McGrath, direction by Marc Bruni, choreography by Josh Prince and took home two 2014 Tony® Awards and the 2015 Grammy® for Best Musical Theater Album. BEAUTIFUL is currently playing to sold out crowds at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre on Broadway.

BIC_THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA 1 - Katie Travis and Chris Mann - photo by Matthew Murphy

National Touring Company. Kristen Beth Williams as Sibella Hallward & Kevin Massey as Monty Navarro in a scene from A GENTLEMAN’S GUIDE TO LOVE & MURDER. Photo by Joan Marcus.

THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA
November 15 – 27, 2016

Cameron Mackintosh’s spectacular new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA will come to Cincinnati as part of a brand new North American Tour. Critics are raving that this breathtaking production is “bigger and better than ever before” and features a brilliant new scenic design by Paul Brown, Tony Award®-winning original costume design by Maria Björnson, lighting design by Tony Award®-winner Paule Constable, new choreography by Scott Ambler, and new staging by director Laurence Connor. The production, overseen by Matthew Bourne and Cameron Mackintosh, boasts many exciting special effects including the show’s legendary chandelier. The beloved story and thrilling score – with songs like “Music of the Night,” “All I Ask Of You,” and “Masquerade” – will be performed by a cast and orchestra of 52, making this PHANTOM one of the largest productions now on tour.

Mamma Mia

MAMMA MIA! North American Tour 2015 by Joan Marcus.

MAMMA MIA!
March 10 – 12, 2017

MAMMA MIA! is the ultimate feel-good show that has audiences coming back again and again to relive the thrill.  Now it’s your turn to have the time of your life at this smash-hit musical that combines ABBA’s greatest hits, including “Dancing Queen,” “S.O.S.,” “Super Trouper,” “Take A Chance on Me” and “The Winner Takes It All,” with an enchanting tale of love, laughter and friendship.  Whether it’s your first visit or your fourteenth, see the show that has the whole world coming back for more, because every time feels like the first time at MAMMA MIA!

Fifth Third Bank Broadway in Cincinnati presented by TriHealth is committed to bringing the very best of Broadway to the Tri-State, presenting touring Broadway plays and musicals in Cincinnati since 1987. Making its home at downtown’s Aronoff Center, Broadway in Cincinnati contributes an average $35 million to the local economy each season, with an average attendance of more than 185,000 people per year.  Broadway in Cincinnati is a member of the Greater Cincinnati Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Greater Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce and The Broadway League. Fifth Third Bank is the sponsor of the Cincinnati 14/15 Season and the season is presented by TriHealth. LOCAL 12 is the official television station of the 15/16 Cincinnati Season.  More information is available at BroadwayInCincinnati.com.

BROADWAY ACROSS AMERICA is part of the Key Brand Entertainment family of companies, which includes Broadway.com, under the supervision of John Gore (Owner & CEO).  BAA is the foremost presenter of first-class touring productions in North America, operating in 38 markets. Current and past productions include On Your Feet, View from the Bridge, Beautiful, Finding Neverland, Million Dollar Quartet, Hairspray and The Producers. BroadwayAcrossAmerica.com; Broadway.com.

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Mariemont Players Announces HAY FEVER

MPI_Hay Fever promo1

Mitch Worden, Barbara Karol, Elizabeth Beatty, Jan Costello, and Kenny Tessel. Photo by Amy Stier.

Mariemont Players presents Hay Fever, a comedy by Noël Coward, at the Walton Creek Theater, 4101 Walton Creek Road (just East of Mariemont), March 4th through March 20th, 2016.

Unconventional, risqué, and often downright rude, the Blisses are everything an upper-crust English family should not be. This is made abundantly clear when each family member invites a guest for the weekend. Alliances form, affairs begin, and formality is thrown to the wind. Noël Coward’s perfect comedy will send you home laughing.

Hay Fever is directed by jef brown, produced by Wayne Kirsch & Amy Stier, and features the talents of Kenny Tessel, Barbara Karol, Mitch Worden, Elizabeth Beatty, Lon Nease, Jeanette Tacon, Bryce Wilson, Darcy Schwass, and Jan Costello. 

Performances will be:

  • 8 PM Friday, March 4th
  • 8 PM Saturday, March 5th
  • 2 PM Sunday, March 6th
  • 7:30 PM Thursday, March 10th
  • 8 PM Friday, March 11th
  • 8 PM Saturday, March 12th
  • 2 PM Sunday, March 13th
  • 7 PM Sunday, March 13th
  • 7:30 PM Thursday, March 17th
  • 8 PM Friday, March 18th
  • 3 PM Saturday, March 19th
  • 8 PM Saturday, March 19th
  • 2 PM Sunday, March 20th

To order tickets for Hay Fever, call Betsy at 513-684-1236 OR order online at www.mariemontplayers.com. All seats are reserved and cost $20 each.

A three-show subscription including Hay Fever, Who Am I This Time?, and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) is also available for $55. For more information, contact Dan at maloneykd@gmail.com.

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Wild Kratts LIVE! | Sat., April 16 | Aronoff Center

CAA_Wild Kratts Live logoCINCINNATI, OH The acclaimed, award-winning PBS KIDS® television show, WILD KRATTS, is coming to the live stage. The Cincinnati Arts Association is proud to present Wild Kratts LIVE! at the Aronoff Center’s Procter & Gamble Hall on Saturday, April 16 for two shows only at 1:00 PM and 4:30 PM. The much-anticipated show is part of CAA’S 2015-16 Season, celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the Aronoff Center.

Tickets are on sale now at CincinnatiArts.org, (513) 621-ARTS [2787], and the Aronoff Center Ticket Office. Tickets are $25, $35, and $45, plus applicable service fees (ticket prices/fees subject to change).

In this live version of the wildly popular PBS KIDS® television show, animated Kratt Brothers, Martin and Chris, “come to real life” in a classically Wild Kratts story. Off “to the Creature Rescue,” the Emmy-nominated Kratt Brothers activate some fan favorite Creature Power Suits to confront a comic villain. Through hilarious pratfalls and amazing animal “wow facts,” the Wild Kratts team rescues their favorite invention from Zach’s clutches so the animals of the creature world are safe once again.

Wild Kratts LIVE! is created for the stage by the imaginative minds of Martin Kratt and Chris Kratt from  Zooboomafoo, Kratt’s Creatures, and Be the Creature. The Kratt Brothers’ national tours draw tens of thousands of creature-crazy kids and their families and the not-for-profit Kratt Brothers Creature Hero Society, together with kids, has successfully protected critical wildlife habitats through the creation of nature reserves.

WILD KRATTS

In its fourth season, Wild Kratts was created and developed by real life brothers and zoologists Martin and Chris Kratt (both nominated for Daytime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Writing in a Children’s Animated Series). Wild Kratts features the brothers on incredible expeditions to meet wild creatures from the far corners of the earth, diving into the habitats of these unusual animals with the use of futuristic technology and Creature Powers Suits that allow the brothers to take their funny and exciting adventures to where they’ve never gone before. Wild Kratts has received numerous awards since its inception in 2011, including Parents Choice, Kidscreen, Aurora, and two Emmy nominations. The series is a co-production of The Kratt Brothers Company and 9 Story Entertainment.

About the Kratt Brothers Company

About the Brad Simon Organization:

Cincinnati Arts Association SPONSORS

Season SponsorsAMERITAS (Founding Season Sponsor), FIFTH THIRD BANK (Lifetime Endowment Partner), FURNITURE FAIR, LOCAL12 WKRC, The P&G FUND of The Greater Cincinnati Foundation

SEASON PRESENTING SPONSORS:  Cincinnati Herald, CityBeat, Heidelberg Distributing Company, Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza, Garfield Suites Hotel, Macy’s, Pepsi, Skyline Chili, TriHealth, Ultimate Air Shuttle, Wells Fargo Insurance Services USA, Inc.

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Know Theatre Welcomes dog & pony dc to Reimagine Our Community as BEERTOWN

KNOW THEATRE WELCOMES dog & pony dc TO REIMAGINE OUR COMMUNITY AS
BEERTOWN
directed by Rachel Grossman

“Creating a community and revising its history nightly”

KTC_Beertown logoKnow Theatre of Cincinnati is proud to invite some old friends back into our Theatrical Playground: Washington, DC ensemble dog & pony dc, who will bring their critically acclaimed production BEERTOWN to the Know MainStage starting Wednesday, March 2 at 8 PM.

Cincinnati is the latest stop of Beertown Takes America, a national touring project where dog & pony dc artists collaborate with local artists and the greater communities of cities across the country to craft new and locally-relevant versions of the company’s signature show BEERTOWN.

dog & pony dc’s ensemble-devised BEERTOWN is an interactive exploration of history, civic ritual, identity, community, and memory incorporating live music, dance, group song…and it all starts with a  dessert potluck.

BEERTOWN welcomes audiences into the 20th Quinquennial Beertown Time Capsule Day celebration, where every five years the imagined American town unearths its beloved Time Capsule and ritualistically reviews its contents. But celebrating the past is not enough for this community. On Time Capsule Day, Beertonians not only remember their history, but also revise it by voting new items into the capsule. Which tells the story of our town better: A campaign button or a family bible? A license plate or a movie projector? Visit a place where remembering is a communal act, and everyone’s opinion is heard and counted: BEERTOWN.

Fans of the Cincinnati Fringe Festival know dog & pony dc as the creative minds behind past Cincy Fringe shows include 2015’s Squares, and 2013’s A Killing Game.  Producing Artistic Director Andrew Hungerford felt the time was right to bring them back to Cincinnati, because “Community, of artists, of audience, as well as the physical place in which we live and work, has been vital to the Know ever since the early days of our Tribe. And dog & pony dc’s commitment to those same elements of community made them a natural fit for a collaboration. For this particular project, it’s a special kind of new work that excites us: there’s nothing newer than a show that is created in partnership with the audience each night.

Beyond the theatrical feat of it all, the subject matter of BEERTOWN, and the conversations it will engender are vitally important to a changing neighborhood like Over-the-Rhine. The show asks us to look at those around us, look at our history, and ask ourselves what really matters. Plus, who would turn down a dessert potluck?”

dog & pony dc ringleader Rachel Grossman jumped at the chance to bring Beertown Takes America to Cincinnati. “I’ve been wanting to do BEERTOWN in Cincinnati at the Know since first coming here in 2013. dog & pony dc immediately felt a kinship with the Know’s core drive to produce new theatre that exploits the ‘liveness’ of the artform. This is intrinsically embedded in our guiding principle of ‘audience integration.’

The actors who typically work at the Know are also ‘unique’ due to the theatre’s strong relationship with Cincinnati’s improv community and their Serials program. Instead of facing an acting pool of improvisers who need to learn script-acting, or traditional actors who need to learn improv, we’re surrounded at the Know by extremely talented performers who can do both and walk a fine line dog & pony shows require. In addition, coming to Cincinnati at this moment in time allows dog & pony dc to play with the underlying narrative of the imagined place “Beertown,” previously one of a shrinking and struggling town. The growth and development in Cincinnati–particularly Over-The-Rhine–in the last 10+ years is quite the opposite.”

Cincinnati’s homegrown version of BEERTOWN is populated by an ensemble of beloved local artists hailing from an eclectic collection of arts groups around town. Joining us from our own in-house improv troupe, OTRimprov, are Andrew Ian Adams, Michael Hall, and Eileen Earnest. Mindy Heithaus returns to the Know Theatre stage, fresh from a hit run at the Covedale in Chapter Two this January. MadCap Puppet Theatre’s Sean Mette joins her, having most recently delighted audiences as the Cowardly Lion in the Carnegie’s The Wizard of Oz. Daryl Harris joins us from the faculty of Northern Kentucky University’s School for the Performing Arts,  and Aiden Sims makes her Know MainStage debut, having most recently thrilled fans at Incline Theatre’s RENT last fall. Rounding out the ensemble is dog & pony dc’s own Wyckham Avery.

Know’s design team is hard at work transforming the Know Underground and MainStage into Beertown’s Town Hall. Audiences will enter the space and immediately be a part of the Beertown world.

Critics from across the nation hail BEERTOWN as an innovative and joyful theatrical experience. The Washington Post praises Beertown’s “sly intelligence,” while the Village Voice lauds the “finely grained, tongue-in-cheek” sensibility of its “quirky civics lesson.” And Omaha’s World-Herald asserts that “You’re going to want to visit Beertown. I did, and I didn’t want to leave.”

Join us for the 20th quinquennial Time Capsule Day celebration starting March 2 at 8:00 PM, where you decide what’s most important to your community. All performances of Beertown open with a dessert potluck; audience are encouraged to bring a dessert to share.

Cast

  • Andrew Ian Adams as Rep. Lawrence Pickel-Cooper
  • Wyckham Avery as Mayor Meghan Soch
  • Eileen Earnest as Joann Ryals
  • Mike Hall as Edwin McFarlan
  • Daryl Harris as Arthur Whitting
  • Mindy Heithaus as Karine Oppenheim
  • Sean Mette as David J. Guy
  • Aiden Sims as Michael “MJ” Soch, Jr.

Production Team

  • Director — Rachel Grossman
  • Stage Manager — Kristen Ruthemeyer Hammer
  • Scenic Design — Sarah Beth Hall
  • Lighting Design — Daniel R. Winters
  • Costume Design — Noelle Wedig
  • Sound Design — Douglas Borntrager
  • Technical Director — Nick Koehlke

Calendar Listing

  • Production:   BEERTOWN by dog & pony dc
  • When:          March 2 – 19
    Wednesdays – Saturdays @ 8PM, Sundays @ 3PM
  • 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, cash only)FREE performances on select Wednesdays, as part of Know Theatre’s Welcome Experiment. (Subject to availability; reserved Welcome Experiment tickets must be claimed 15 minutes before the performance or be subject to redistribution.)

    6 Ticket Flex-Passes are available for $100 and can be used in any combination of patrons and shows for all MainStage and SecondStage programming at Know Theatre.

ABOUT dog & pony dc
dog & pony dc (dpdc) is an ensemble of artists who devise performances that incorporate new ways for audiences to experience theatre. We create (“devise”) new plays as a collective (“ensemble”).

dpdc shows playfully extend the elastic relationship between artist and audience while asking big, sometimes strenuous, questions about the world in which we live.

Since 2008, dpdc has devised ten shows that span a wide stylistic range: from PUNCH!, an ultra-violent live-action version of the Punch and Judy puppet show, to TOAST, the convening of a 200 year old secret society of inventors trying to save the world through technology (starting with the electric toaster).

We currently work in two languages, English and American Sign Language.

BEERTOWN was the first ensemble-devised show to receive a Helen Hayes Award nomination for Outstanding New Play (2011) and made top 10 shops list in DC (Washington Post, 2012) and Omaha (World-Herald, 2015). A KILLING GAME won “Dr. Robert J. Thierauf Producers’ Pick of the Fringe Award” at Cincinnati Fringe Festival (2013) and Best Production 2013 (DC Metro Theatre Arts). In 2015, we were 1 of 15 recipients of DC Commission on the Arts & Humanities Innovate DC grants.  www.dogandponydc.com 

ABOUT Know Theatre of Cincinnati
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.

Since 1997, Know Theatre has sought 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 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 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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