Category Archives: Press Releases

November 20, 2014 · 4:06 pm

Xavier University Theatre Presents BLACK FLY SPRING Dec. 4-7

XAVIER UNIVERSITY THEATRE PRESENTS BLACK FLY SPRING DEC. 4-7

Mac Blais, Tatum Hunter, Annelise Moloney & Alex Roberts.

Mac Blais, Tatum Hunter, Annelise Moloney & Alex Roberts.

(CINCINNATI, Nov. 17, 2014) — Xavier University Theatre continues its 2014-15 mainstage season with BLACK FLY SPRING, the first university production of a daring new play that explores how we move forward in times of grief. Performances will take place Dec. 4 to 7, 2014, at 7:30 p.m. in Xavier’s Gallagher Student Center Theater.

A year after her sister is killed while working as a war photographer, a young woman is set to present those photographs at a memorial. When she and her fiancé retreat to a lakeside mountain town to reflect and prepare, they find themselves at odds over their secrets, desires and their place in the world. BLACK FLY SPRING was a semi-finalist for the Premiere Stages Play Festival and was selected for a reading by The Claque at The Tank in New York City and was featured in Capital Stages’ Playwrights’ Revolution Series in Sacramento. The show contains adult language and situations.

In a special collaboration with the university, BLACK FLY SPRING playwright Nick Gandiello will visit Xavier’s campus Dec. 3 to 6. He’ll conduct playwriting and theatre business workshops for Xavier students and will participate in audience talkbacks following the Thursday, Friday and Saturday evening performances of the show. Mr. Gandiello is a playwright, screenwriter and teaching artist based in New York City.

“We’re incredibly excited to welcome Nick to campus,” said Stephen Skiles, director of Xavier University Theatre. “Giving students the chance to work on new plays is a focus of our program, and I know this timely material will challenge them in rewarding and exciting ways.”

Twice a finalist for the Page 73 Playwriting Fellowship, Mr. Gandiello is a member of the 2014 I-73 Writers Group. He was a member of the 2012-13 Play Group at Ars Nova. His other full-length plays include Oceanside (Merrimack Repertory Theatre), Sunrise Highway (Ojai Playwrights Conference) and Off the Realness (The New School for Drama’s New Voices Festival). Other New York credits include At the Finish (Published in Smith and Kraus’ Best Ten Minute Plays of 2014), Teeming Shore (Smith and Kraus’ Best Ten Minute Plays of 2015) and Screen (Samuel French OOB Play Festival). Mr. Gandiello is the literary manager of Young Playwrights Inc., through which he has led playwriting workshops in New York City, Virginia and Miami. He holds an MFA in playwriting from The New School for Drama.

The cast for BLACK FLY SPRING includes Tatum Hunter (Lana), a junior theatre major from Lebanon, Ohio; Mac Blais (George), a sophomore theatre major from Lancaster, Ohio; Annelise Moloney (Kip), a freshman public relations major from St. Louis, Missouri; and Alex Roberts, a sophomore theatre education major from West Chester, Ohio.

Regina Pugh, a Cincinnati actress and director for more than 25 years, will make her Xavier University Theatre directing debut with BLACK FLY SPRING. She performed on the Xavier stage last year as Rebecca Nurse in the university’s co-production of The Crucible with Cincinnati Shakespeare Company. Her other directing credits include Earhart, Melancholy Play, Vigil, Why We Have a Body and The Skriker (all for Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati); In Flame (Women’s Theatre Initiative); Gilgamesh (Performance Gallery); and Elegy (Cincinnati Playwrights Initiative). She also has worked locally in educational theatre with Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park and The School for Creative and Performing Arts. Ms. Pugh is a founding member of the local theatre collaborative Performance Gallery, which has presented a new work during each of the 11 years of the Cincinnati Fringe Festival.

Other members of the creative team for BLACK FLY SPRING include Dave Zlatic (set and lighting design); Kathleen Rossmann (costume design); Kathleen Licht (props design); Griff Bludworth (dramaturg) and Brian Griffin (sound design). The stage manager is Nicole Santiago.

Tickets for BLACK FLY SPRING are available now through the Xavier University Theatre Box Office. Tickets are $17 for adults and $12 for students, as well as Xavier faculty and staff. To purchase tickets, visit www.xavier.edu/theatre or call 513-745-3939.

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November 18, 2014 · 4:48 pm

Unity Productions Join Jackson Street Market

Unity Productions logoUnity Productions is proud to announce our brand new partnership with The Know Theatre of Cincinnati! Like our friends, OTRimprov, and True Theatre, Unity Productions has been invited to become part of The Know Theatre’s Jackson Street Market.

Meaning, Unity will now be presenting regular programming on both the Know’s Underground Stage and Main Stage, as well as working together to develop touring productions. More details to follow.

Some future programming that you can expect to see at our new home-base: the resurrection of Unity’s staged-reading initiative, Barebones; the birth of a workshop series; and a film series, including the brand-new feature film of our Serials! hit THE FUNERAL premiering in Spring of 2015.

Thank you so much for all of your support. Stay tuned at Unity Productions’ website, Facebook, and twitter for the latest updates, and other fun pictures, quotes, thoughts, ideas, and creativity that we want to send your way. A huge thanks to The Know as we move forward as collaborative partners!

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November 17, 2014 · 5:25 pm

CAA Announces Addition of Arts Educator Award to Overtures

Cincinnati Arts Association Announces Addition of
Arts Educator Award for Excellence in Arts Instruction
to Overture Awards Program

CAA_Overture Awards logoCINCINNATI, OH – For eighteen years, the Cincinnati Arts Association (CAA) has recognized excellence in arts achievement by high school students through its Overture Awards program. CAA is now expanding the program with the Arts Educator Award to recognize the instructors who inspire students to excel in the arts.

The Arts Educator Award promotes and rewards excellence in arts instruction throughout Greater Cincinnati. An educator who teaches any of the following arts disciplines may be nominated: Creative Writing, Dance, Instrumental Music, Theater, Visual Art, and Vocal Music. They can be a high school arts specialist, teaching artist working with high school students, or an arts professional or educator providing private lessons or instruction. Nominations for the award must come from students between the ages of 14-19 who are currently enrolled in high school. Nominations are made by submitting an on-line application with a three-minute video about why the nominee is an exemplary arts educator (see link below).

Three finalists will be selected from the nominations by a panel of judges and the winner will be announced at the Overture Awards Finals and Awards Ceremony on Saturday, February 28, 2015 at the Aronoff Center’s Jarson-Kaplan Theater. The winner of the 2015 award will receive $2,500, and the two other finalists will receive $500 each. The recipients of the Arts Educator Award may utilize the monetary award to strengthen their program or practice, such as the artist fee for a guest lecturer or master class, the purchase of equipment, or a professional learning opportunity (e.g. tuition assistance for either the educator or students to study with an arts professional).

The deadline for nominations is January 20, 2015.  For complete guidelines and to submit a nominee, visit www.cincinnatiarts.org/education-community/overture-awards/arts-educator-award.

The Arts Educator Award  was first introduced during the 2006-07 Season as the “Theater Educator Award” and was originally created by Jackie Demaline, former Cincinnati Enquirer theatre critic and arts reporter, as one of the first initiatives of the Enquirer’s Acclaim Awards for Excellence in Cincinnati Theatre. In recent years, the Theatre Educator Award was hosted and presented by the League of Cincinnati Theaters at its annual theatre award ceremony. With its move to the Cincinnati Arts Association’s Overture Awards program, the Theatre Educator Award has broadened its scope to become the Arts Educator Award.

“The Theatre Educator Award grew out of a commitment to spotlight some of the people who make the biggest difference in the lives of young artists – their teachers,” said Jackie Demaline. “Each year, high school students from around the region nominated their teachers by telling emotional, inspiring stories of how these educators changed their lives, the hours and effort their committed teachers gave to the kids and the shows, and what they learned from working as a member of a team, because art is collaborative. I’m thrilled that Cincinnati Arts Association has adopted and expanded this initiative, celebrating great teachers across the arts.”

“All of us at the Cincinnati Arts Association are honored to be entrusted with growing and nurturing this award,” said Joyce Bonomini, CAA Director of Education and Community Relations. “As a former arts instructor, I am thrilled that I work for an organization that understands the value of arts education and celebrates the important and inspirational work being done each day by our regions arts educators for our youth.”

The Overture Awards Scholarship Competition is the largest locally-run high school arts scholarship competition in the country.  This season, the program will provide a $4,000 scholarship to six area high school students for education and training expenses, with eighteen finalists each winning a $1,000 scholarship.

Each year, students are nominated by their schools to compete in one of six artistic disciplines: Creative Writing, Dance, Instrumental Music, Theater, Visual Art, and Vocal Music. The Overture Awards was developed to recognize, encourage, and reward excellence in the arts among Tri-state students in grades 9-12. It also provides students an opportunity to share their talents and interests among their peers in a supportive environment outside of their individual schools. There are three levels of competition: Regionals, Semi-Finals, and Finals.

Now in its 19th year, The Overture Awards was launched in 1996 by the Cinergy Foundation (now Duke Energy) and Leadership Cincinnati (a program of the Greater Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce). The Overture Awards is funded by generous sponsors and donors, and administered by the Cincinnati Arts Association, which operates and manages the Aronoff Center and Music Hall. The Overture Awards also relies on hundreds of volunteers from the community who help raise funds, adjudicate and manage the competitions, and nurture the program.

Founded in 1992, the Cincinnati Arts Association (CAA) is a not-for-profit organization that oversees the programming and management of two of the Tri-state’s finest performing arts venues – the Aronoff Center for the Arts and Music Hall – and is dedicated to supporting performing and visual arts. Each year, CAA presents a diverse schedule of events; serves upwards of 600,000 people in its venues; features the work of talented local, regional, and national artists in the Weston Art Gallery (located in the Aronoff Center); and supports the work of more than one dozen resident companies. Since the inception of its acclaimed arts education programs in 1995, CAA has reached more than 1.3 million students.

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November 17, 2014 · 2:20 pm

Cincy Shakes’ Runaway Holiday Blockbuster Returns for 9th Straight Season

Cincinnati Shakespeare’s Runaway Holiday Blockbuster
EVERY CHRISTMAS STORY TOLD (AND THEN SOME!) Returns for an 9th Straight Season!

The popular Cincinnati holiday tradition, EVERY CHRISTMAS STORY TOLD (AND THEN SOME!), appears on CSC’s stage for a limited run of 13 performances December 17-28, 2014!

(Clockwise from left) Justin McCombs, Miranda McGee, Billy Chace and Sara Clark in CSC’s annual production. Photo by Rich Sofranko.

(Clockwise from left) Justin McCombs, Miranda McGee, Billy Chace and Sara Clark in CSC’s annual production. Photo by Rich Sofranko.

CINCINNATI, October 29, 2014— For the ninth straight year, Cincinnati Shakespeare Company is thrilled to offer a full season of holiday cheer in just 90 minutes with EVERY CHRISTMAS STORY TOLD (AND THEN SOME!) by Michael Carleton, James Fitzgerald, and John K. Alvarez.  This hilarious production is a non-stop holiday romp through everyone’s favorite Christmas stories performed by just four actors in ninety minutes.  Justin McCombs and Sara Clark, both now ninth year veterans of the company, return to poke fun at the holiday season, joined by Billy Chace, an eighth year company member.  Miranda McGee, fifth year company member, returns as a special guest.  CSC Artistic Associate, Jeremy Dubin, returns to the director’s chair.  This production is one of the most popular events in Cincinnati Shakespeare Company history breaking attendance and sales records every year.  All tickets are $28, making this show an affordable holiday treat.  Audiences are encouraged to get their tickets soon!

What starts as an annual performance of “A Christmas Carol” quickly descends into a playful skewering of everyone’s favorite “Beloved Holiday Classics.”  Using just three actors and a little help from the audience, EVERY CHRISTMAS STORY TOLD (AND THEN SOME!) crams an entire season’s worth of stories, carols, and television specials into ninety minutes of non-stop laughs. EVERY CHRISTMAS STORY TOLD (AND THEN SOME!) premiered in 2005 at Orlando Shakespeare Company under the direction of Artistic Director Jim Helsinger.

New this year- Cincinnati Shakespeare will be offering for the first time in its history, an 11pm performance on Friday Dec. 19!  This extra late night production will give audiences a chance to extend their holiday cheer into the early morning hours.  The Canon Club Bar will be open and available for audience members aged 21+ for this performance as well as the entire run.

Audiences and critics have made the show a sold-out success for the last seven Decembers.  Rick Pender of CityBeat wrote of the show, “If you’ve laughed yourself silly watching any of the scripts developed by the Reduced Shakespeare Company – you’ll find yourself in similar territory.  Michael Carleton, James Fitzgerald, and John K. Alvarez clearly went to the same school… This production will certainly appeal to audiences looking for relaxing, adult holiday amusement.”   Director Jeremy Dubin remarks, “This cast has so much fun together that the show has become a very personal holiday tradition for all of us. Returning audiences will enjoy a fresh round of new fruitcake jokes, and new audiences will be amazed at Sara Clark’s frighteningly accurate Jimmy Stewart impression.”

Performances of EVERY CHRISTMAS STORY TOLD (AND THEN SOME!) are scheduled for a limited run of 13 performances from Dec. 17-28, 2014.  Performances on Dec. 17, 18, 19, 20, 22, 23, 26 and 27 are at 7:30pm.  Performances on Dec. 20, 21 and 27 are at 2:00pm.  There is an additional performance at 11pm on Friday Dec. 19, 2014.  All performances are held at CSC’s Theatre, 719 Race St.  No passes, subscriptions, group rates, or discounts apply.  All tickets are $28.  Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover are accepted.  To purchase tickets or for more information, call the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company Box Office at 513.381.BARD (2273), or visit us online at www.cincyshakes.com.

Performance Schedule:

  • Wed 12/17/14 7:30pm
  • Thu 12/18/14 7:30pm
  • Fri 12/19/14 7:30pm
  • Fri 12/19/14 11:00pm
  • Sat 12/20/14 2:00pm
  • Sat 12/20/14 7:30pm
  • Sun 12/21/14 2:00pm
  • Mon 12/22/14 7:30pm
  • Tue 12/23/14 7:30pm
  • Fri 12/26/14 7:30pm
  • Sat 12/27/14 2:00pm
  • Sat 12/27/14 7:30pm
  • Sun 12/28/14 2:00pm

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.  Located in the heart of downtown Cincinnati, CSC produces a dozen mainstage productions each season.  The 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 nearly 30,000 young people and underserved community members last season by taking Shakespeare into schools, parks, community centers and by hosting educational matinees of mainstage productions at its home on Race Street.  Last season, 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 2014-2015 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.  Cincinnati Shakespeare Company’s production of “Henry V” is part of Shakespeare in American Communities, a program of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest.  The season design sponsor is Mark & Sue Ann Painter.  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 www.cincyshakes.com.

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November 16, 2014 · 6:23 pm

ALADDIN Flies in for Sunset Players’ Annual Holiday Children’s Show

SSP_AladdinCINCINNATI, OH – November 16, 2014 —Sponsored by Price Hill Will Arts Community Action Team, Sunset Players presents Aladdin by William Glennon for its annual children’s holiday show. Directed by Dave Myers and produced by special arrangement with Dramatic Publishing, Inc., the annual holiday children’s show takes theater goers to a faraway land in the East where we meet Aladdin and his friends, all of whom have an eye for adventure. Filled with spells, potions and reversals of fortune, Aladdin discovers the magic of the lamp and his love for the Princess.

The cast includes:

  • Kitty Davies as Darkana
  • Allen Lindsay as Zorah
  • Tay Sauer as Mother
  • Sara Moore as Toodle-de-toos
  • Mackenzie Kelley as Serena
  • Russ McGee as Bulmar
  • Adam Blome as Aladdin
  • Leann Wessels as a merchant and a palace slave/attendant
  • Bob Kelley as the Sultan and a merchant
  • Randy Blake as the Grand Wazir and a merchant
  • Sarah Braunstein as the Genie of the Ring
  • Lizzie Braunstein as a palace slave/attendant
  • Samantha Williams as a palace slave/attendant
  • Lauren Pontis  as the Princess

Performance dates will be Dec. 5, 6, 7, 12, 13 and 14. Friday shows are at 7:00 p.m. with Saturday and Sunday performances at 2:00 p.m. Sign language interpreters from Cincinnati State will be sign at the December 13 performance.

Tickets are $5 general admission. Individual show tickets can be purchased through the Sunset Players website (www.sunsetplayers.org) or reserved by calling 513-588-4988.

In its 35th season, 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. Its mission is to bring a smile, and its plays include comedies, farces, dramatic comedies and musical comedies—as long as there is some “comedy” in the performance somewhere. For more information, visit our website at http://www.sunsetplayers.org or like us on Facebook.

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