Category Archives: Press Releases

June 18, 2012 · 10:23 am

OTRimprov Announces Full Summer Series Schedule

Additional shows, special appearances, and workshops
will flood OTR with improvisational comedy

OTRimprov (OTRi), a member of Know Theatre of Cincinnati’s Jackson Street Market, is proud to announce a summer schedule of long and short form improvisational performances and workshops at Know Theatre of Cincinnati. The Summer Series kicks off with Tuesday, June 19’s show, The Impend-ing Improv-calypse. This and all performances are at 8pm in Know Theatre’s Underground, 1120 Jack-son Street, and cost only $5 at the door (cash only.)

OTRi performed monthly at Know Theatre of Cincinnati during the 2011-2012 Season and is looking forward to increasing programming there over the summer as their relationship with Know Theatre continues to grow. OTRi was featured at the 2012 Cincinnati Fringe Festival with The Chronicle, their take on the monologist-driven, long-form improv, The Armando Diaz Experience, developed in Chica-go by iO, and hosted a packed workshop that was open to both artists and audiences during the festi-val. During the upcoming summer series, OTRi will bring back two nights of The Chronicle as well continue to experiment with of short-form and long-form improv in several other productions, including The Stuesday Send-Off Summer Spectacular, an elimination-style evening of short form in honor of OTRi member Stuart McNeil’s final performance with the group.

OTRi is also excited to offer improv comedy workshops, open to the general public, on 7/7, 7/21, and 8/4. Each class is $25, or you can attend all three for $65. No experience is required and you may attend any workshop (no prerequisites.) Class sizes are limited, so register now by contacting otrimprov.info@gmail.com with the subject line ‘Summer Workshops.’

The full Summer Series schedule includes:

  • Tuesday 6/19 – The Impending Improv-calypse – 8pm
  • Saturday 6/30 – The Chronicle – 8pm
  • Saturday 7/7 – Workshop – TBA
  • Saturday 7/14 – TBA – 8pm
  • Saturday 7/21 – Workshop -TBA
  • Tuesday 7/17 – The Stuesday Send-off Summer Spectacular – 8pm
  • Saturday 7/28 – The Chronicle – 8pm
  • Saturday 8/4 – Workshop – TBA
  • Saturday 8/11 – TBA – 8pm
  • Tuesday 8/21 –TBA – 8pm

OTRi is also delighted to announce their involvement in the Wednesday, June 20th performance of The Second City 2: Less Pride … More Pork at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park as part of the show’s Walk-on Wednesday series. Four members of the OTRimprov troupe –Dave Powell, Alison Strickland Rampa, Paul Wilson, and Chris Wesselman–will join the Second City cast for a true improv session at the end of their show, playing traditional improv games based on suggestions from the audience. This session will last between 10 and 15 minutes. Tickets and more information for The Second City 2: Less Pride … More Pork can be found at www.cincyplay.com or by calling the Playhouse box office at 513-421-3888.

Tickets for the June 19th event at Know Theatre are $5 at the door. Online ticketing for advance pur-chases will be available soon for all remaining performances as well as online registration for the work-shops at knowtheatre.com or by calling 513.300.5669(KNOW).

Members of the OTRi team have studied at improv training centers around the country (including Se-cond City, iO Chicago and iOWest) and come from all walks of life and various communities in Great-er Cincinnati to bring their own brand of humor to both short-form and long-form improvisation. Each show features different styles, formats, and members of the team as we continue to experiment, grow, and adapt as we explore the art of improvisation.

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OTRimprov is an improvisational comedy troupe that’s makes its home at Know Theatre of Cincinnati as part of Know Theatre’s Jackson Street Market. Recognizing the distinct lack of regularly scheduled improv perfor-mances in Cincinnati, especially Downtown and in Over-the-Rhine, OTRi looks to provide this particular brand of entertainment in order to entertain the masses and further strengthen Cincinnati’s established arts community.

Know Theatre’s Jackson Street Market seeks to provide opportunity to local artistic entrepreneurs, to leverage Know Theatre’s resources on their behalf, and to build upon the strengths of our artistic community by creating a space where they can experiment and play with new ideas. Know Theatre’s mission is to create evocative and explosive live entertainment. We vision a world awakened to its collective possibility. We value a playful artistic community where artists can collaborate and grow. More information about The Jackson Street Market and our current productions can be found at http://www.knowtheatre.com.

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June 10, 2012 · 5:35 pm

9th Annual Cincinnati Fringe Festival Comes to a Close

Festival most successful to date

The ninth annual Cincinnati Fringe Festival closed on June 9th with record attendance and sales numbers. This year’s Festival featured 37 performances and special events, including two FringeNext performances and a workshop production by the group that presented last year’s FringeNext sell-out, The First Book of the Bible.

Festival growth was up for the ninth consecutive year. Single ticket purchases were up 11% while pass sales were on par with the 2011 sales numbers. Total attendance for the festival was up nearly 9% from 7,177 in 2011 to 7,728 in 2012. This year’s Festival drew artists from all over the country including Portland, OR, Houston, TX, Nashville, TN, Dearborn, MI, San Francisco, CA, Minneapolis, MN, and many more. Overall more than 230 artists were drawn to Cincinnati to show local audiences their work.

This year’s Festival saw several sales records smashed. Record breaking attendance (patrons in seats) was set for June 2nd’s performances. Total sales on this day were the highest single day of sales in the history of the Festival. The total number of sellouts is believed to be a record as well. While this information has never been tracked before, it is believed that the 24 shows that sold out are the most in any single festival. Radio Star and Strange Dreamz both sold out shows before their first performance opened. Radio Star, The Sweet Burning Yonder, Grim & Fischer, and Don’t Cross The Streams: the cease and desist musical all sold out remaining performances before their runs were complete. Radio Star and Grim & Fischer both officially sold out all of their performances.

“We were thrilled to see so many shows selling out in advance of their openings. This is a rare occurrence, and to have it happen with multiple shows was a great way to start the Festival,” says Eric Vosmeier, Producing Artistic Director.

Continued this year, FringeNext is a program aimed at providing opportunity to the next generation of artists. FringeNext had two groups of students from the School for Creative and Performing Arts who gave performances of Blown Up and You Will Have 25 Minutes to Complete This Essay. Each of these groups premiered shows that were created by, produced by, directed by, and featured some of the regions up-and-coming young artists. The School for Creative and Performing Arts’ Black Box Theatre hosted the FringeNext performances.

Also in its second year, FringeDevelopment is a collaborative effort between the community and the artists who attended the festival this year. Know Theatre curated some programming and events exclusively for artists including workshops such as Plate Spinning, Stage Combat, an Improv workshop, and a panel discussion on touring Fringe Festivals. This year’s work, Exodus (from the creative team behind last year’s FringeNext hit The First Book of the Bible), also benefited from the concentration of artists and utilized their creativity to move forward the development of a new work. Brian Isaac Phillips, Producing Artistic Director at Cincinnati Shakespeare Company led the workshop which focused on script work and culminated with a staged reading of Exodus.

Other special events included True Theatre’s second annual presentation of trueFRINGE, featuring artists from this year’s Festival including Kevin Holladay (Where is My Mind?), Kevin J. Thornton (Strange Dreamz), Tommy Nugent (American Badass in Cincy), Justin Baldwin (Quake) as well as Fringe Artist Liaison and Channel Fringe co-anchor, Sadie Bowman. Madcap Puppets presented their Strung Out Puppet Cabaret – and puppet slam. Madcap brought well known puppetry artists from all over the country to create a one of a kind puppet show.

Improvisational comedy was also well represented at the Fringe. Jackson Street Market group and Know Theatre’s house improv troupe OTRi performed their long form show, The Chronicle, to an enthusiastic Fringe audience with the help of performers from this year’s The Screw You Revue and Radio Star. In a very special late night appearance, The Second City Touring company currently performing in Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park’s Less Pride…More Pork joined the Bar Series on Wednesday, June 6 and wowed Fringe-goers with their improv set.

Vosmeier says, “This year’s line up of Special Events was awesome. It was great to be able to collaborate with Madcap Puppets, True Theatre, and Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park to continue to add new programming to the Festival lineup. I love having the opportunity to show off not only our local Fringe Artists, but also some of the other companies in Cincinnati who create such diverse and quality performances.” He continues, “One of the most exciting things about this year’s Festival is the sheer number of local professional performing arts organizations that participated in some way. Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati, Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, New Edgecliff Theatre, Madcap Puppets, MamLuft & Co. Dance, and more helped make this year’s Festival a collaborative community where artists come together and share ideas and share their work. It’s the most beautiful thing I can imagine that the Cincinnati Fringe Festival contributes to the artistic community in Cincinnati in this way.”

The Bar Series continued to expand by bringing the Fringe community of artists, staff, volunteers and audience members together with a variety of events at Know Theatre’s Underground every night after the performances. Events included Fringe Olympics, Preview Night, Night without Technology, Segway Night, Fringe Prom, and Fringe-A-Oke. Bar series attendees also had the opportunity to take a ride on the Pedal Wagon and to dine on some of the areas most delicious food was provided nightly by local restaurants and food trucks.

The Visual Fringe this year involved a mural created by Higher Level Art’s mural artists, Danny Babcock and Matthew Dayler. This year’s mural drew inspiration from questions answered by Fringe artists such as, “What does Cincy Fringe mean to the Over-the-Rhine community?” and “What makes you laugh?” Also, Matt Steffen of Matt Steffen Photography added a new dimension to this year’s Fringe Festival by documenting performances and festival activities with The Visual Fringe Long Exposure Project. Throughout the festival, Matt took a series of long exposures which were displayed at Know Theatre and other Fringe venues during the Festival.

“We were unable to make the Film Fringe project happen this year, but we did continue the idea of Fringe Documented through Matt’s photography project. The photos turned out beautifully. It is fascinating to see these images, whether you were able to experience the productions or not. They have a kineticism to them that captures the performances in a static medium. It’s kind of amazing.”

Vosmeier concludes, “I am overwhelmed by the success and positive feedback from audiences and artists alike about this year’s Festival. The community created between all Festival participants grows stronger and stronger every year. The staff of Know Theatre did an absolutely amazing job at making this year’s Festival happen. I am so proud of them and everyone who pitched in to create these 12 days of absolute magic. It’s a special thing to be allowed to work with this group of people on the Fringe Festival. The Cincinnati Fringe Festival is work of hundreds of people. It is truly a Festival created by the community. The staff and Board of Directors of Know Theatre are proud to be a part of this community.”

This year, the Festival awarded four Pick of the Fringe awards. This year’s Performance winners include:

  • Dr. Robert J. Thierauf Producers’ Pick of the Fringe – The Screw You Revue
  • Artists’ Pick of the Fringe – METHTACULAR!
  • Audience Pick of the Fringe – On Her Pillow
  • Critics’ Pick of the Fringe – Bombus and Berylline or the Bumblebee and the Hummingbird
  • FringeNext Pick of Fringe – Blown Up
  • Linda Bowen Full Frontal Pick of the Fringe – Grim and Fischer: a deathly comedy in full face mask

Our mission is to create evocative and explosive live entertainment.
Our vision is a world awakened to its collective possibility.
We value a playful artistic community where artists can collaborate and grow.

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June 7, 2012 · 3:25 pm

Broadway in Cincinnati and Cincinnati Arts Association Consolidates Ticketing and Subscriber Services

FIFTH THIRD BANK BROADWAY IN CINCINNATI
AND CINCINNATI ARTS ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCE
CONSOLIDATION OF TICKETING AND SUBSCRIBER SERVICES

(June 7, 2012) – Fifth Third Bank Broadway in Cincinnati and Cincinnati Arts Association (CAA) announced today that effective July 23, 2012 all Broadway in Cincinnati ticketing and subscriber services will be consolidated into one location at the Aronoff Center for the Arts. With CAA providing comprehensive ticketing services for Broadway in Cincinnati, season ticket holders and single ticket buyers will be able to have their needs met in one location. This opportunity provides enhanced efficiencies for all consumers and supports both organizations’ high standards of customer service.

The local Broadway in Cincinnati staff will relocate to the Aronoff Center and work with the Cincinnati Arts Association team. The current Broadway in Cincinnati office located downtown at the Mercantile Center at 120 East Fourth Street will close later this summer.

Single tickets for all Broadway in Cincinnati shows will be available at CincinnatiArts.org, 513.621.ARTS [2787], the Aronoff Center Ticket Office (located downtown at 650 Walnut Street), and the Broadway in Cincinnati e-Club. 2012-13 Season Subscriptions can be purchased online at BroadwayinCincinnati.com or by phone at 800.294.1816.

“We’ve had an incredibly successful partnership with the Aronoff Center team since the doors opened back in 1995,” said Leslie Broecker, President – Midwest of Broadway Across America. “The Series, which will celebrate its 25th Anniversary this Fall, is recognized as one of the best in the country. This new arrangement will only enhance what we’ve accomplished together over the past 17 years. Our patrons will have one-stop shopping with continued superior customer service. We couldn’t have asked for a better partner and look forward to many wonderful shows for years to come.”

“The consolidation of ticketing services is a natural and positive evolution of our successful long-term partnership with Broadway Across America,” said Steve Loftin, President and Executive Director, Cincinnati Arts Association. “We are thrilled with the opportunity to centralize these services to the Aronoff Center, which is another step in our ongoing effort to provide the best possible customer service experiences to our patrons.”

BROADWAY ACROSS AMERICA (Presenter), part of the Key Brand Entertainment family of companies which includes Broadway.com, is owned and operated by British theatre producer John Gore (CEO) and entertainment industry veteran Thomas B. McGrath (Chairman). Broadway Across America presents first-class touring musicals and plays across 40 North American cities. Broadway.com is the premier theater website for new, exclusive content and ticket sales. Under the supervision of Beth Williams (COO and Head of Production), Broadway Across America is also dedicated to the development and production of new and diverse theatre. Current Broadway productions include Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Memphis, the West End production of Million Dollar Quartet and the touring production of Dreamworks’ Madagascar Live! For more information, please visit BroadwayAcrossAmerica.com and Broadway.com.

CINCINNATI ARTS ASSOCIATION
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 700,000 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 one-million students. For more information, please visit www.CincinnatiArts.org.

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June 7, 2012 · 3:02 pm

The Overture Awards NEXT POP STAR Announced

THE OVERTURE AWARDS
NEXT POP STAR COMPETITION
Winner Announced:
Jake Kolesar, Walnut Hills High School

CINCINNATI, OH – Jake Kolesar, a fifteen-year-old ninth-grade student at Walnut Hills High School, was selected as the winner of a $500 award at the Cincinnati Arts Association’s inaugural Overture Awards Next Pop Star competition at the Aronoff Center on Saturday, June 2. A talented guitarist and singer-songwriter, Jake played and sang one of his original songs – Floating – during the competition.

Next Pop Star is designed for talented high school students who perform popular music. The competition was developed in response to the need for a non-classical program to complement The Overture Awards’ more traditional art disciplines, and to encourage students who enjoy singing, but do not study privately and are not involved in classical music or musical theater.

“We were very pleased with the results of our first Next Pop Star competition,” said Steve Finn, CAA Director of Education and Community Relations. “We reached a group of students who were totally different than the students who compete at The Overture Awards, and we are optimistic that this new program will grow significantly over the next couple of years. Jake is a talented singer-songwriter, and this competition was a perfect match for his skills.”

Earlier this year, Jake was selected as the winner of the Billy Elliot Dream Award Essay Contest – a collaboration between Fifth Third Bank Broadway in Cincinnati, the Cincinnati Arts Association’s Overture Awards, and Local 12 WKRC. Jake took a unique approach to the essay contest by writing and singing one of his original songs (instead of writing an essay) that impressed the panel of judges.

Jake, who lives with his family in Mt. Lookout, recently completed his freshman year at Walnut Hills High School, where he is active in the choral and musical-theatre programs. He spends most of his free time writing and performing his music, which he hopes to pursue professionally. This year, Jake started performing at local coffee shops and farmers markets, and with The Queen City Balladeers. Next month, he will be performing on the acoustic stage at the Bunbury Music Festival. Jake is a huge fan of Bob Dylan and Shakespeare, and when not writing songs or doing something musical, he likes to play basketball with his friends. To sample Jake’s music (including his original song Floating, which he sang in the Next Pop Star competition), visit his You Tube channel at www.youtube.com/jakekolesar.

“I would like to thank the Cincinnati Arts Association for the wonderful opportunities that they have given me this year,” said Jake. “Between the Billy Elliot Dream Award and the Next Pop Star competition, my musical dream has moved one step closer to reality. I also greatly appreciate that CAA has chosen to accommodate not only students who have worked very hard studying opera or ballet, but people like me who may work just as hard in their room instead of in the studio.”

Upon receipt of his monetary award, Jake chose to donate $100 back to CAA “in the hope that CAA will continue to give opportunities to students of the arts.”

The three Next Pop Star finalists were Mariah Southers, a freshman at Conner High School who sang a country/western song; Jacob Turner, a senior at Walnut Hills High School who performed an original rap composition; and Emily Wyant, a junior at Ohio Virtual Academy who also performed a country/western song. The three finalists each received a $100 award.

The Overture Awards Scholarship Competition – the largest locally run arts scholarship competition in the country – provides a $2,500 scholarship to six area high school students with 18 finalists each winning a $500 scholarship. Students 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. During 2012, more than 520 students competed for $24,000 in scholarships.

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June 5, 2012 · 12:10 pm

Maggiano’s Little Italy and The Whodunit? Players Presented MURDER WITH A TWIST

Have you been to Twist, the posh new martini bar? Now is your chance! Twist is having a gala opening and everybody who’s anybody will be there… including some people who would like to see the bar (or rather the owner) go bottoms up. How far will they go to ruin the evening? Will they stoop to… murder? Join the Whodunit? Players on June 23rd at Maggiano’s in Kenwood for a “twisted” evening of food and fun.

You are cordially invited to join Richard Toomie for the opening of his posh new martini bar, Twist. Twist is sure to be the next hot spot and things are about to get even hotter! Big Dick’s personal life is nearly as twisted as his lemon peels and some of the guests at his opening gala would not mind seeing him choke on a cocktail onion. Who has the best motive for murder? Is it the angry wife? The ex-con bar manager? The old army buddy? The best friend and business partner? The double-crossed ex-wife? Who is determined to get him out of the way?

The Whodunit? Players present Murder With a Twist, a fast-paced, interactive murder mystery where audience members become suspects and have a chance to solve the crime. An uproarious combination of theater and comedy and a chance to use your deductive skills with hilarious results! Join Maggiano’s Little Italy and The Whodunit? Players on June 23rd for a fun, fast-paced evening of mayhem and murder.

Don’t miss out on this unique combination of food and fun! May performances sold out, so book your reservation soon for Murder With a Twist on June 23rd. Two show seatings at 5:00 PM and 8:00 PM. $75.00 per person includes Dinner, 1 Glass of Wine, Show, Staffing Fee & Sales Tax and a Casino Night, with Proceeds From Dinner and Casino Benefiting the Make A Wish Foundation. The Make-A-Wish Foundation® has enriched the lives of children with life-threatening medical conditions through its wish-granting work since 1980.

Seating is limited. Reservations are required. For reservations call 513-794-0672. Credit card required to secure reservation.

ABOUT THE WHODUNIT? PLAYERS: The Whodunit? Players is a troupe of professional actors who create interactive murder mysteries for parties, company meetings, rehearsal dinners and receptions or team building events. The Whodunit? Players can spice up any party, dinner, meeting or other professional engagement with a challenging game of MURDER. Audience members become suspects and have a chance to solve the crime. The Whodunit? Players present a unique entertainment that combines live theater and improvisational comedy with hilarious results! Productions can also be used as a team building effort where groups use wit, wisdom and common sense to solve the crime. Contact Bud Walters at 513-542-4064 for pricing and availability.

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