Category Archives: Press Releases

September 14, 2015 · 9:53 am

WIT-Women in Theatre Opens 2015-16 Season with VENUS IN FUR by David Ives on Oct. 16

Sam Fisher as Thomas & Hannah Goodman as Vanda.

Sam Fisher as Thomas & Hannah Goodman as Vanda.

WIT-Women in Theatre opens its 2015-16 season on October 16 with the wildly intelligent, funny, sizzling drama VENUS IN FUR by David Ives — a speculation on the innate power of women and how that power is reflected in the 21st century against a 19th century backdrop. VENUS IN FUR explores women’s servitude by wrapping the story in a sadomasochistic, black fur stole.  It is a sensually packed love story between a man, who doesn’t know what he wants and a woman who knows exactly what she wants.

A chatty, unsophisticated actress, Vanda Jordan (Hannah Goodman), shows up late for an audition with a desperate, first time director, Thomas Novachek (Sam Fisher), for a play he’s written that takes place in 1870 — a dance of power begins between the two of them when she reveals that she mistook his play for a bit of pornography with lots of whips and chains.

How do men perceive women at first glance? Are women always auditioning for some unknown role with rules that were set forth since biblical times? How do women change men’s minds?  Who’s in charge, anyway?  Is the Battle of the Sexes doomed to go on ad infinitum?

The year 1870 is an important playwriting choice for VENUS IN FUR because it was in this year that African American male slaves were given the right to vote through the 15th Amendment.  It wasn’t until 1920 with the 19th Amendment that women of all colors were given the right to vote.  Clearly, the right to vote hasn’t given universal equality to either race or gender.  The gap between the privileged and the disadvantaged is still wide, but in this playwright’s hands, Vanda Jordan reduces that distance with small miracles.  Women have changed less than the methods they use to overcome slavish power.

To make VENUS IN FUR even more fun than it already is, immediately after each performance the cast members will be available for photos on the set.  Audience members can pick their favorite scene/s, insert themselves into that stage picture, and share those pictures on social network instantaneously.

VENUS IN FUR opens on October 16 with three more performances on October 17, 23, and 24 at The Avenue Stage under the roof of St. John United Church of Christ at 520 Fairfield Ave, Bellevue, KY, just 10 short blocks east of Newport on the Levy.  All performances begin at 8:00pm.  General seating is limited but you can bring your own lawn chair to expand the permanent seating.  Beginning September 19, tickets are $18 and can be ordered on-line at St. John’s website: https://stjohnchurch.net/theatre-on-the-avenue/#.VfbP_xGrRaQ

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September 11, 2015 · 10:56 am

Cincinnati Arts Association Adds Three New Events to its 2015-16 Season

CAA ADDS THREE ADDITIONAL EVENTS TO ITS
2015-16 SEASON
Celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the Aronoff Center

CAACINCINNATI, OH – The Cincinnati Arts Association (CAA) is pleased to announce the addition of three shows to its 2015-16 Season (three other season shows were previously announced and are currently on sale). The added shows go on sale Friday, September 18 at 10:00 AM at http://www.CincinnatiArts.org, (513) 621-ARTS [2787], and the Aronoff Center Ticket Office.

From a theatrical exploration of the war experience told through actual soldier’s letters to the iconic music of a rock & roll legend to the live version of a very popular PBS KIDS® TV show, these added events are certain to continue CAA’s long-standing mission of presenting an eclectic mix of alternative entertainment choices to Cincinnati’s diverse audiences. CAA’s 2015-16 Season celebrates the 20th Anniversary of the Aronoff Center, which opened in October 1995. Additional events may be announced throughout the season.

CAA 2015-16 SEASON
JUST ANNOUNCED:  on sale Friday, September 18 at 10:00 AM

LETTERS HOME
Friday, December 4, 2015 – 7:30 PM
Aronoff Center – Jarson-Kaplan Theater  

Letters Home puts the war of Afghanistan and Iraq front and center by bringing to life actual letters written by soldiers serving in the Middle East. The production is inspired by The New York Times Op-Ed article “The Things They Wrote” and the subsequent HBO documentary Last Letters Home. Without politicizing, the play gives audiences a powerful portrait of the soldier experience in our ongoing wars. The initial production at Chicago’s Griffen Theatre Company was critically acclaimed and nominated for a Joseph Jefferson Award for “Outstanding New Play.” Letters Home reveals the humanity that lies within the war as seen through the eyes of the men and women who are still fighting and dying in those wars today. www.griffintheatre.com/letters-home
A NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN
Wednesday, April 13, 2016 – 7:30 PM
Aronoff Center – Procter & Gamble Hall        

Like a comet that burns far too brightly to last, Janis Joplin exploded onto the music scene in 1967 and, almost overnight, became the queen of rock & roll. The unmistakable voice, filled with raw emotion and tinged with Southern Comfort, made her a must-see headliner from Monterey to Woodstock. Now, audiences are invited to share an evening with the woman and her influences in the new Broadway musical, A Night With Janis Joplin. Fueled by such unforgettable songs as “Me and Bobby McGee,” “Piece of My Heart,” “Mercedes Benz,” “Cry Baby,” and “Summertime,” a remarkable cast, and a Tony Award-nominated, breakout performance by Mary Bridget Davies, A Night With Janis Joplin, written and directed by Randy Johnson, is a musical journey celebrating Janis and her biggest musical influences—icons like Aretha Franklin, Etta James, Odetta, Nina Simone, and Bessie Smith – who inspired one of rock & roll’s greatest legends.  www.anightwithjanisjoplin.com
WILD KRATTS LIVE!
Saturday, April 16, 2016 – 1:00 PM & 4:30 PM
Aronoff Center – Procter & Gamble Hall 

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. 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.

PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED:  on sale now

C.S. Lewis’ THE SCREWTAPE LETTERS
Saturday, October 17 – 4:00 PM & 8:00 PM
Sunday, October 18 – 2:00 PM & 7:00 PM
Aronoff Center – Jarson-Kaplan Theater    

The Screwtape Letters creates a topsy-turvy morally inverted universe set in an eerily stylish office in hell, where God is called the “Enemy” and the devil is referred to as “Our Father below.”  The play follows His Abysmal Sublimity Screwtape, Satan’s top psychiatrist (due to his profound understanding of human nature), and his slavish creature-demon Toadpipe, as they train an apprentice demon, Wormwood, on how to ruin the life and damn the soul of an unsuspecting human on earth.  Screwtape is played by award-winning actor, Brent Harris. The National Tour of The Screwtape Letters kicked off after a hit nine-month run at the Westside Theatre in New York City where it entertained 50,000 theatergoers.  Prior to that, The Screwtape Letters was a sold-out hit in Chicago and Washington D. C. where it ran for a combined eight months. www.screwtapeonstage.com

THE TENORS: UNDER ONE SKY TOUR
Tuesday, November 3, 2015 – 7:30 PM
Aronoff Center – Procter & Gamble Hall        

The Tenors – the Canadian multi-platinum, JUNO Award-winning vocal group – return to the Aronoff Center with their  beautiful harmonies and irresistible charm. The music of Clifton Murray, Victor Micallef, Remigio Pereira, and Fraser Walters is rich and soulful, spanning powerful anthems, classic covers, and original songs penned/co-penned by The Tenors themselves. The quartet, with multiple #1 Billboard Classical Crossover albums under its belt, “have talent to burn” and “killer singing voices” raves The Toronto Star and “pitch perfect harmonies” says Examiner.com. On their new album, Under One Sky, the multi-platinum Juno Award-winning foursome co-wrote eight tunes, showing facets of themselves they’ve longed to share with their millions of fans. Get ready to hear The Tenors like you’ve never heard them before!   www.tenorsmusic.com

MythBusters Jamie & Adam UNLEASHED!
Friday, November 20, 2015 – 8:00 PM
Aronoff Center – Procter & Gamble Hall           

MythBusters Jamie & Adam UNLEASHED! presents a fantastical evening of on-stage experiments, audience participation, exciting videos, and behind-the-scenes stories.   With this show, fans join Jamie and Adam onstage to assist in their mind-blowing and mind-twisting approaches to science.  MythBusters Jamie & Adam UNLEASHED! brings you face-to-face with the curious world of Jamie and Adam as the duo matches wits on stage with each other and members of the audience. Jamie Hyneman has announced that he will end touring with the live show this year.  www.mythbusterstour.com

TICKETS & INFORMATION

ON SALE NOW:  The Screwtape Letters, The Tenors, and MythBusters

ON SALE FRIDAY, September 18 at 10:00 AM:  Letters Home, A Night With Janis Joplin, and Wild Kratts Live!

  •  www.CincinnatiArts.org
  • (513) 621-ARTS [2787]
  • Aronoff Center Ticket Office
  • Group Discount Tickets (10 or more):  (513) 977-4157

Aronoff Center Ticket Office Hours

  • Monday-Friday:  9:00 AM – 5:30 PM
  • Saturday:  10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
  • Through intermission of the last show on performance days

CAA applauds its generous Sponsors

Season Sponsors:  AMERITAS (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 Hilton, Cincinnati Netherland Plaza, Garfield Suites Hotel, Macy’s, Pepsi, Skyline Chili, Ultimate Air Shuttle, Wells Fargo Insurance Services USA, Inc.

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September 9, 2015 · 11:07 am

Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park’s 2015-16 Off the Hill Series Takes Flight with HIGH SCHOOL ALIEN

PIP_High School Alien logo(CINCINNATI) – The Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park’s popular Off the Hill series for families launches its 2015-16 season with the world premiere of Allyson Currin’s HIGH SCHOOL ALIEN, which was commissioned by the Playhouse in 2013. Recommended for ages 7 and up, HIGH SCHOOL ALIEN will tour to Tristate community venues from Sept. 26 through Oct. 30.

New to the Off the Hill schedule this season, each production will debut “on the hill” at the Playhouse; HIGH SCHOOL ALIEN will be presented at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, with tickets priced at $5 and available through the Playhouse Box Office.

HIGH SCHOOL ALIEN spins the typical high school pecking order categories into a new orbit when an alien from outer space enrolls at Maddie’s high school. An eager freshman, Maddie hopes to reinvent her image to fit in with the popular crowd, but that goal is compromised as she gets to know Renata, the outlier alien student who creates quite a stir.

“I am thrilled to be directing HIGH SCHOOL ALIEN because it is so relatable for everyone,” said Bridget Leak, a former Playhouse directing intern who also directed last season’s touring production of Theory of Mind. “We all want to be liked and to find a group of people that you connect with, we all want to fit in, whether it’s middle school or middle age. Maddie looks forward to starting over as she transitions into her first year of high school — shedding her younger self and trying on a new personality to fit in with the cool group. We all have that one person we want to impress, have moments where we have tried too hard and have to adapt to change. High school is difficult for everyone and you see that through the eyes of Maddie and the alien — both feel out of place and everything feels foreign to them.”

The HIGH SCHOOL ALIEN cast includes Serena Ryen as Maddie, Kyle Powell as Charlie, Erin Ward as Robyn, Lilian Wouters as Renata and Law Dunford as Rex, all members of the Playhouse’s 2015-16 Bruce E. Coyle Acting Intern Company. Other production team members include set designer Veronica R. Pullins-Bishop, costume designer Melanie Mortimore, sound designer Trey Tatum and stage manager Tracy Hoida.

In addition to HIGH SCHOOL ALIEN, the 2015-16 Off the Hill season features ANTIGONE by John Yearley, an inventive, accessible world premiere based on the timeless Greek legend that explores the choice Antigone must make between the laws of men and loyalty to her family (performances Jan. 23-Feb. 21, 2016, recommended for ages 11 and up). The season closes with THE GARDEN OF RIKKI TIKKI TAVI, a fun, free-flowing adaptation of Rudyard Kipling’s beloved classic about sharing and cooperation by Y York (performances April 16-May 22, 2016; recommended for ages 5 and up).

For more information about the Playhouse’s education and outreach programs, contact the Education Department at 513-345-2242 or visit www.cincyplay.com.

Off the Hill is supported by the Robert and Adele Schiff Family Foundation, PNC Bank, the John C. Griswold Foundation, ArtsWave and the Ohio Arts Council. The Cincinnati Playhouse season is presented by The Otto M. Budig Family Foundation and Heidelberg Distributing Company. The season sponsor of new work is The Lois and Richard Rosenthal Foundation.

The Playhouse is supported by the generosity of the community contributors to the ArtsWave campaign. The Ohio Arts Council helps fund the Playhouse with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans.

The Playhouse also receives funding from the Shubert Foundation.

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE (as of Sept. 8, 2015)

  • Saturday, Sept. 26, 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m., Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park
  • Saturday, Oct. 3, 7 p.m., Blue Ash Recreation Center
  • Sunday, Oct. 4, 2 p.m., The Drama Workshop (Cheviot)
  • Saturday, Oct. 17, 10:30 a.m., Woman’s Art Club (Mariemont)
  • Saturday, Oct. 24, 1 p.m., Oxford Community Arts Center
  • Saturday, Oct. 24, 7 p.m., District A at Woodford Paideia Academy (Kennedy Heights)
  • Friday, Oct. 30, 7 p.m., Springfield Township at the Grove

Note: Details vary by location. Contact the individual sites for tickets and prices. Contact information is available on the Playhouse website at www.cincyplay.com (click on the SCHEDULE tab).

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September 4, 2015 · 10:22 am

MOON OVER BUFFALO Opens NKU Theatre Season with Madcap Backstage Farce

Melissa Cathcart, Nate Doninger, and Katherine Sallee in MOON OVER BUFFALO. Photo by Mikki Schaffner.

Melissa Cathcart, Nate Doninger, and Katherine Sallee. Photo by Mikki Schaffner.

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, KY – Northern Kentucky University | School of the Arts | Program of Theatre and Dance presents Ken Ludwig’s riotous comedy MOON OVER BUFFALO September 24 – October 4, 2015. Charlie Roetting, theatre faculty member and NKU alumnus, makes his NKU main stage directorial debut.

MOON OVER BUFFALO
By Ken Ludwig
September 24 – October 4, 2015 | NKU Corbett Theatre

George and Charlotte Hay, fading stars of the 1950’s, are on a tour through Buffalo, New York, playing Private Lives and Cyrano De Bergerac in rep. On the brink of a disastrous splitup caused by George’s dalliance with a young ingénue, they receive word that they might just have one last shot at stardom: Frank Capra is coming to town to see their matinee, and if he likes what he sees, he might cast them in his next big feature. Unfortunately for our leading players, everything that could go wrong does go wrong—including hilarious uncertainty about which play they’re actually performing. Will the pair pull themselves together in order to give the performance of their lives?

Charlie Roetting (Director) is an actor, improviser, and director. He has performed onstage and on-camera in Cincinnati, New York, and Los Angeles, among other places. He received a BFA in Acting from Northern Kentucky University and an MFA In Acting for Film from the New York Film Academy. He has completed programs with Upright Citizens Brigade Los Angeles and iO West (formerly Improv Olympic). He is a founding member of Under the Gun Productions (Cincinnati), BYE BYE LIVER CINCINNATI (Cincinnati)
Homunculus Mask Theatre (NYC), and thrashtown! improv (LA). Charlie has also worked with several local, regional, and international organizations including the Lincoln Amphitheatre, the Sibiu International Theatre Festival, Commonwealth Theatre, Homegrown Theatre, Blackvault Entertainment, Blinking Peacock, and The Players NYC. He is an Adjunct Instructor in the Department of Theatre & Dance at Northern Kentucky University. He is the face of problem gambling in Ohio and promotes responsible gambling.

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

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September 3, 2015 · 2:08 pm

I LOVE YOU, YOU’RE PERFECT, NOW CHANGE Opens TDW’s 2015-2016 Season

Annie Huey, Jim Curtis, Evan Blanton & Jody Hart. Photo by Elaine Volker.

Annie Huey, Jim Curtis, Evan Blanton & Jody Hart. Photo by Elaine Volker.

(Cheviot, OH) The Drama Workshop is pleased to open its 62nd season with the hilarious musical I LOVE YOU, YOU’RE PERFECT, NOW CHANGE at The Glenmore Playhouse at 3716 Glenmore Ave in Cheviot. The show runs from Sept 11 to Sept 27, 2015; Friday and Saturday evening performances begin at 8 pm, and Sunday afternoon performances start at 2 pm.

I LOVE YOU, YOU’RE PERFECT, NOW CHANGE is a celebration of the mating game and takes on the truths and myths behind that contemporary conundrum known as “the relationship”. The show details the journey from dating and waiting to lovers and marriage, progressing to reveal the agonies and triumphs of in-laws and new-borns, trips in the family car and pick-up techniques of the geriatric set. This hilarious revue pays tribute to those who have loved and lost, to those who have fallen on their face at the portal of romance, to those who have dared to ask, “Say, what are you doing Saturday night?”

The show’s book and lyrics are by Joe Dipietro, with music by Jimmy Roberts. The show is directed by Linda Abbott, produced by Elaine Volker and Dennis Murphy, and features the talents of Jody Hart, Jennifer Richardson, Annie Huey, Kevin Breslin, Jim Curtis, and Evan Blanton.

Cheviot resident Annie Huey is a newcomer to TDW, and says that she’s been having a blast in her first show with the group. “It’s been wonderful to be part of such a playful show because it brings a little bit of silliness to my day-something that, as adults, we all need more of,” she said.

Jody Hart, who appeared in last season’s production of ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO’S NEST, agreed. “I love leaving rehearsal still smiling at the antics of my costars.”

Jen Richardson, another TDW veteran, chimed in, “I think audiences will enjoy a look at the humorous but very real side of love and relationships”

Tickets for I LOVE YOU, YOU’RE PERFECT, NOW CHANGE are $16 each when ordered in advance, or $17 at the door. Shows at TDW frequently sell out, so advance reservations are strongly recommended. Tickets may be ordered by phoning the TDW 24/7 ticket line at 513.598.8303, or by ordering online through the TDW website at www.thedramaworkshop.org.

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.

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