Category Archives: Press Releases

The Carnegie Announces New Communications Manager

Becky Haltermon joins The Carnegie Team

(Covington, KY) – The Carnegie Visual and Performing Arts Center (The Carnegie) is pleased to announce the hiring of Becky Haltermon for the position of Communications Manager.

Haltermon has worked in nonprofit communications throughout her career but feels that she has found a great fit with The Carnegie. A Northern Kentucky native, Haltermon is passionate about promoting regional artists and performers. “It’s a great honor to be a part of this organization and I’m very excited about working closely with local media to spread the word about our programs.”

Becky Haltermon can be reached at 859-957-1935 or at bhaltermon@thecarnegie.com.

About The Carnegie Visual and Performing Arts Center
The Carnegie is a multidisciplinary arts venue serving the Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati community. Over the course of the past ten years The Carnegie has “morphed” from a grassroots gallery with an education component into an all-inclusive arts organization offering professional theatre, art exhibitions showcasing the best of local and regional artists, and a comprehensive arts education program.

The Carnegie is home to the Carnegie Galleries, comprised of more than 6,000 square feet of gallery space where emerging and established artists exhibit in multiple shows throughout the year; the Eva G. Farris Education Center, which provides arts education to thousands of children, many of whom are at or below the poverty level; and the newly renovated 465-seat Otto M. Budig Theatre, which offers an affordable theatre space for local, up-and coming and established production companies and is home to The Carnegie’s Theatre and Concert Series. The Carnegie is the largest arts venue in Northern Kentucky.

The Carnegie Visual and Performing Arts Center receives ongoing operating support from ArtsWave, Kenton County Fiscal Courts, the Kentucky Arts Council and the Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile Jr. / US Bank Foundation.

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Footlighter’s Announce Expanded Six Show Season

The Footlighter’s, Inc. is pleased to announce our expanded 2012/2013 Season. We will now offer SIX shows in our Full Subscription.

We will continue our tradition of song and dance by offering a Musical Series, consisting of three blockbuster musical theater productions — THE PRODUCERS, THE GREAT AMERICAN TRAILER PARK MUSICAL, and SCHOOL HOUSE ROCK LIVE!

AND we will expand our programming by adding a three-show Play Series to satisfy your desire for dramatic and comedic straight plays. The Play Series will consist of OUR TOWN, TUESDAY’S WITH MORRIE, and Neil Simon’s classic comedy BRIGHTON BEACH MEMOIRS.

Tickets are On Sale NOW

Season tickets are on sale now by calling 859.652.3849 or via the website. Choose just the musicals, just the plays, mix-n-match to build your own subscription, our join us for the complete theater package.

  • Full Six Show Subscription – $90, a 10% savings off of our regular subscription price!
  • Any 4 Shows for $65.
  • Any 3 Shows for $50.
  • Single Tickets are $20.

All performances are at the Stained Glass Theatre at the corner of 8th and York Streets in Newport, Kentucky. Wednesday – Saturday shows are at 8PM, matinees are at 2PM.

THE PRODUCERS
Book by Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan
Music and Lyrics by Mel Brooks

Directed by Mary Haas

New York, 1959. Max Bialystock was once the king of Broadway, but now all his shows close on opening night. Things turn around when he’s visited by the neurotic accountant Leo Bloom, who proposes a scheme tailor-made for producers who can only make flops: raise far more money than you need, then make sure the show is despised. No one will be interested in it, so you can pocket the surplus. To this end, they produce a musical called Springtime for Hitler written by escaped Nazi Franz Liebken. Then they get the insanely flamboyant Roger De Bris to direct. Finally, they hire as a lead actress the loopy Swedish bombshell Ulla (whose last name has over 15 syllables). As opening night draws near, what can go wrong? Well, there’s no accounting for taste…

Performance Dates: September 20 – October 6, 2012

OUR TOWN
By Thornton Wilder

Directed by Jay Woffington

Thornton Wilder’s Our Town has been called “the greatest American play ever written” and was the 1938 winner of Pulitzer Prize for Drama yet has never been seen on the Footlighter’s stage. The story follows the citizens of Grover’s Corners, New Hampshire in the early 1900’s though their daily life, their triumphs and their sorrows, their casual conversations and their formal traditions. But through this simple story about small town life in times past, Our Town tackles universal themes of humanity relevant to every generation in every town.

Performance Dates: November 8-18, 2012

THE GREAT AMERICAN TRAILER PARK MUSICAL
Music & Lyrics by David Nehls, book by Betsy Kelso

Directed by Jim Curtis

There’s a new tenant at Armadillo Acres-and she’s wreaking havoc all over Florida’s most exclusive trailer park. When Pippi, the stripper on the run, comes between the Dr. Phil-loving, agoraphobic Jeannie and her tollbooth collector husband-the storms begin to brew.

Performance Dates: January 31 – February 16, 2013

TUESDAY’S WITH MORRIE
By Jeffrey Hatcher and Mitch Albom

Based on the book by Mitch Albom

Directed by Dennis Murphy

Tuesdays with Morrie is the comedic and touching autobiographical story of Mitch Albom, an accomplished journalist driven solely by his career, and Morrie Schwartz, his former college professor. Sixteen years after graduation, Mitch happens to catch Morrie’s appearance on a television news program and learns that his old professor is battling Lou Gehrig’s Disease. Mitch is reunited with Morrie, and what starts as a simple visit turns into a weekly pilgrimage and a last class in the meaning of life.

Performance Dates: March 7-17, 2013

SCHOOL HOUSE ROCK, LIVE!
Book by Scott Ferguson, Kyle Hal, and George Keating
Music by Lynn Ahrens, Bob Dorough, Dave Frishberg, George Newall, and Tom Yohe
Lyrics by Lynn Ahrens, Bob Dorough, Dave Frishberg, Kathy Mandry, George Newall, and Tom Yohe

Directed by John Langley

A pop culture phenomenon comes to the musical stage! The Emmy Award-winning 1970’s Saturday morning cartoon series that taught history, grammar, math, science and politics through clever, tuneful songs is not only making a small-screen comeback, instructing a whole new generation to “Unpack Your Adjectives” and “Do The Circulations,” it’s set to light up the Footlighters stage next spring. Tom, a nerve-wracked school teacher nervous about his first day of teaching, tries to relax by watching TV when various characters representing facets of his personality emerge from the set and show him how to win his students over with imagination and music, through such songs as “Just A Bill,” “Lolly, Lolly, Lolly” and “Conjunction Junction.” Children just discovering the TV series to “Generation X-ers” seeking a taste of nostalgia will delight in this sure-fire entertainment that’s simply good, clean – and educational – fun. Twenty years, 41 songs, and four Emmy Awards later, those of us who grew up with “Multiplication Rock”, “America Rock”, “Science Rock” and “Grammar Rock” can still sing the “Preamble to the U.S. Constitution” and know that “and,” “but,” and “or” all belong in “Conjunction Junction”.

Performance Dates: April 18 – May 4, 2013

BRIGHTON BEACH MEMOIRS
By Neil Simon

Directed by Jay Woffington

Neil Simon, a Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright, is widely regarded as one of America’s funniest stage authors. Brighton Beach Memoirs, a semi-autobiographical coming-of-age story, has been called “his funniest, richest and consequently the most affecting of his plays” by the New York Daily News. It’s 1937 and 15-year old Eugene Morris Jerome lives with his family in a crowded, lower middle-class Brooklyn walk-up. Dreaming of baseball and girls, Eugene must cope with the mundane existence of his family life in Brooklyn: formidable mother, overworked father, and his worldly older brother Stanley. Throw into the mix his widowed Aunt Blanche and her two young (but rapidly developing) daughters and you have a recipe for hilarity, served up Simon-style. “Simultaneously poignant and funny!” – Variety Magazine

Production Dates: June 6-16, 2013

For more information on the show line-up, please visit our website at http://www.footlighters.org. To purchase your subscriptions now, please visit https://www.ticketturtle.com/index.php?subscription=foot

The Footlighters, Inc.
The Footlighters, Inc. has presented performances in the Greater Cincinnati area for 49 years. The group is noted for producing quality community theatre productions of primarily musical comedies and bought its own facility in 1987. The Stained Glass Theatre, a former church, is on the National Register of Historic Places and is designated a Kentucky landmark.

Keep up to date with The Footlighter’s at http://www.footlighters.org.

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CAMP HOLLYWOOD CINCINNATI, July 26-29

Registration Ends June 15th

Wake up in the heart of the entertainment industry right here in Cincinnati! Young actors (and parents) are invited to examine and learn the Hollywood film and television industry first hand by top A-List industry coaches, casting directors, agents, working actors and industry parents. Whether you are coming to us from the heartland of the USA or the other side of the world, it will be a camp experience you will remember forever!

Our camp will educate those preparing to enter the entertainment business, introduce and broaden the art of acting for the camera through challenging well rounded acting classes, dancing classes and singing classes with some of the best instructors in Hollywood. Most importantly, while learning, we offer the most FUN and dynamic day camp experience with the most fun and dynamic industry pro’s! Ages 8 to 21 may apply.

The level of experience does not matter when you arrive. You will leave with a wide-ranging level of understanding of career choices in the industry, how it all works and the willingness to go after success in dance, voice, film & television. Classes will be separated into age groups.

Besides the acting training we will be introducing Glee Inspired Singing & Dancing classes where participants will learn a Glee Inspired number that will be the opening act for the Showcase. 5 Singers and Dancers will be chosen and showcased for the Industry Panel.

Panelists will receive packet on each performer in the showcase. Packets will be prepared by actors and coach during the week of training. Packets provided by the acting camp. Panelists will fill out individual assessment sheets on each performer based on showcase performance and they will be mailed to participants. Showcase panelists interested in further discussions with a specific performer will fill out request forms that will be given to the participants directly.

We will have some of the coaches/industry guests from last summer and will have a few new ones. Confirmed guests/coaches are on the information below. We have added a music producer and NYC Talent Agent to the guest list and there will be a new acting coach this year besides Lori Knight. Favorites Kathy, Ade’, Mike, Brandi and Lisa will be returning with new agents/casting directors to be announced. This year we will also feature 5 singers and 5 dancers to perform solo’s during the Sunday showcase.

  • Participants will receive a completion certificate and a gift bag of goodies
  • A parent or guardian is invited and encouraged to attend all the after class events, business class and showcase (no additional cost).
  • Camp Hollywood is NOT an overnight camp. Participants will need to be picked up at end of each day’s classes and events.

Cincinnati Location
Kings Island Resort & Convention Center
5691Kings Island Drive, Mason OH 45040
http://www.kingsislandresort.com/
The room rate negotiated for out of towners is $88.88 (includes taxes). Free Parking.

CAMP FEE

  • $950.00 includes all classes, materials, events and showcase.
  • Food/Bev included for camper + 1 at events/showcase. Extra meal tics can be purchased for $12.00.
  • $300.00 non-refundable deposit required with enrollment.

*If you would like to contact participants or parents that attended last summer, they are available upon request.

Contact Lori Knight at Lori@KnightLightEntertainment.com or 310.343.5553 for more information and enrollment forms.

INDUSTRY GUESTS & COACHES CONFIRMED as of January 1, 2012:

  • Kathy Schmidt: Industry Parent – Will teach business class and participate in Industry Parent Q & A as well as the showcase panel. Kathy is Mom to Kendall Schmidt. Lead Actor on Nickelodeon’s BIG TIME RUSH. Mom to Kevin Schmidt. Lead actor on THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS.
  • Lori Knight: Talent Manager KNIGHT LIGHT ENTERTAINMENT
    Lori is the camp Director, will teach acting classes and participate in all over events/showcase. Lori owns a Management Company in Los Angeles, Knight Light Entertainment, and represents kids and young adults in film & tv.
  • Brandi Brice: Casting Director – Brandi will participate on showcase panel.
    Disney Series SHAKE IT UP, ANT FARM and DESPERATELY SEEKING SANTA.
  • Domina Holbeck: Talent Agent at ABRAMS ARTIST AGENCY – Domina will participate on showcase panel.
  • Liz Martinez-Nelson: Casting Director – Liz will participate on showcase panel. Casts CW Series HART OF DIXIE & THE VAMPIRE DIARIES.

MORE Agents, Managers, Casting Pro’s to be announced in the coming weeks (Panel of at least 8 Industry Pro’s guaranteed). Go to our facebook page for coach/panelist updates.

COACHES CONFIRMED:

  • Ade Chiké Torbert: Dance Classes – SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE Finalist Season 7.
  • Lori Knight: Acting Classes – Talent Manager KLE
  • Michael Siegel: Voice Classes – Voice Coach New Talent for music Producer Eddie Galan (HIGHSCHOOL MUSICAL, Miley Cyrus)
  • TBD: Acting Classes
  • Kathy Schmidt: Business Classes – Entertainment Mom

July 26th through July 29th Acting Camp Schedule of Events
**Snack Bars and Water provided during classes.**
**Classes will be scheduled by age groups**
**Dance/Voice classes are optional.**
**Guardian provided at lunch time for parents who can’t have lunch with their kids**

Thursday July 26th
9am to 11am Check in Registration & Meet & Greet Brunch

lock I
11:30am to 1:30am: Voice

11:30am to 1:30am: Dance
11:30am to 1:30am: On Camera Acting for FILM
11:30am to 1:30am: Monologue Coaching for Showcase

1:30am to 2:30pm: Lunch

Block II
2:30pm to 4:30pm: Voice
2:30pm to 4:30pm: On Camera Acting for FILM
2:30pm to 4:30pm: Monologue Coaching for Showcase
2:30pm to 4:30pm: Dance

Block III
4:45pm to 6:45pm: Voice
4:45pm to 6:45pm: Dance
4:45pm to 6:45pm: On Camera Acting for FILM
4:45pm to 6:45pm: Monologue Coaching For Showcase

Friday July 27th
Block I
9:30am to 11:30am: Voice
9:30am to 11:30am: Dance
9:30am to 11:30am: Cold Reading Technique & Commercial Audition Technique
9:30am to 11:30am: Monologue Coaching For Showcase
9:30am to 11:30am: Entertainment Business Class for Parents/Young Adults

11:30am to 1:30pm: Lunch

Block II
1:30pm to 3:30pm: Cold Reading Technique & Commercial Audition Technique
1:30pm to 3:30pm: Monologue Coaching For Showcase
1:30pm to 3:30pm: Dance
1:30pm to 3:30pm: Voice
1:30pm to 3:30pm: Entertainment Business Class for Parents/Young Adults

Block III
3:45pm to 5:45pm: Voice
3:45pm to 5:45pm: Dance
3:45pm to 5:45pm: Cold Reading Technique & Commercial Audition Technique
3:45pm to 5:45pm: Monologue Coaching For Showcase
3:45pm to 5:45pm: Entertainment Business Class for Parents/Young Adults
6:00pm: Industry Parent Panel with guest parents Kathy Schmidt & Julie Kushner. Pizza Party (Food & Beverage Provided)

Saturday July 28th
Block I
9:30am to 11:30am: Voice & Dance Class Combined.
9:30am to 11:30am: Monologue Coaching For Showcase
9:30am to 11:30am: Monologue Coaching For Showcase
9:30am to 11:30am: Entertainment Business Class for Parents/Young Adults

11:30am to 1:30pm: Lunch

Block II
1:30pm to 3:30pm: Voice & Dance Class Combined.
1:30pm to 3:30pm: Monologue Coaching For Showcase
1:30pm to 3:30pm: Monologue Coaching For Showcase
1:30pm to 3:30pm: Entertainment Business Class for Parents/Young Adults
4:00pm to 6:00pm: Full rehearsal for Sunday Showcase

Sunday July 29th Showcase

9:00am: Performer Check In
9:45am: Guest Arrivals (Food & Beverage Provided)
10:00am: Showcase Begins
12:00pm: Q & A with Panel
12:30pm: Graduation!

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2012 Southwest Regional OCTAFest Excerpt Schedule

This schedule is subject to change. Updates will be posted as announced. 

Thursday, June 21

  • 7:30pm PUMP BOYS AND DINETTES presented by Brieabi Productions
  • 8:30pm JUDGMENT AT NUREMBERG presented by Wyoming Players
  • 9:30pm THE CRUCIBLE presented by Drama Workshop

Friday, June 22

  • 7:30pm THE BOYS NEXT DOOR presented by Tri-County Players
  • 8:30pm AVENUE Q presented by Showbiz Players
  • 9:30pm THE DINING ROOM presented by Lebanon Theatre Company

SaturdayJune 23

  • 9am THE DINING ROOM presented by Stagecrafters
  • 10am RENT presented by Footlighters, Inc.
  • 11am OVER THE RIVER & THROUGH THE WOODS presented by Mariemont Players [showcasing]

Lunch break noon-1pm

  • 1pm FOREVER PLAID presented by Beechmont Players
  • 2pm AN INSPECTOR CALLS presented by Village Players
  • 3pm THE DIXIE SWIM CLUB presented by Sunset Players
  • 4pm SONGS FROM THE TALL GRASS presented by Fairfield Footlighters

 

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CSC Adds Business Leader Jay Woffington as Executive Director

Cincinnati Shakespeare Company adds Business Leader
Jay Woffington as Executive Director
 

Woffington to advance the strategic and financial side
of region’s only classical theatre

Jay Woffington.

CINCINNATI, May 20, 2012 – Cincinnati Shakespeare Company has hired Jay Woffington, former CEO of Bridge Worldwide and Global President of Possible Worldwide, as its new Executive Director. Woffington will start with the company July 1.

“After an inspiring Season 18 which included critically acclaimed productions of The Grapes of Wrath, Sense and Sensibility, and Love’s Labour’s Lost, Cincinnati Shakespeare Company is poised to accelerate that momentum through the addition of a proven business and organizational leader such as Woffington,” said Brian Isaac Phillips, Producing Artistic Director.

The move follows several solid seasons of artistic success coupled with nearly a 60% increase in ticket sales over the past 5 years. The hiring of Woffington signifies a transformative move by the company to increase the business and strategic capacity of CSC while ensuring continued artistic performance.

“What has always excited me professionally is the opportunity to help a creative organization make a step-change in achieving its vision,” said Woffington, who, as CEO of Bridge Worldwide and Global President of Possible Worldwide, grew the creative marketing agency from one office of 30 people to a global network of over 1,000 people in 10 countries. During his tenure, the agency won coveted creative awards such as two Gold Lions at the Cannes International Festival of Creativity and developed an organizational culture recognized as one of the Top 25 Best Places to Work in America for five consecutive years.

“Over the past few years, Brian has assembled an amazingly talented ensemble and has proved that they can tackle the most challenging creative projects and deliver in a world-class fashion. This makes it an opportune time for me to help ensure the business and strategic capacity of the organization is there to enable this quality consistently while broadening our reach throughout the region.”

CSC Managing Director, Lettie Van Hemert is thrilled about this addition to the management team, adding, “There has been much great work and success in my five years with the Company and we are ready to capitalize on that momentum. Jay not only shares our vision for the future, but he knows how to get us there. With Jay’s inspiration, CSC will become a permanent landmark on the map of Cincinnati’s treasured institutions.”

Woffington is not an entirely new face to CSC, having been on the Board of Trustees for the past 6 years. Woffington also has been a key member of the Executive Committee of the Board, leading the development of the group’s long-term strategic plan.

“I’m very passionate about CSC’s commitment to producing inspired classical theatre unseen elsewhere in our entire region and at the same time impacting the community through our Education Program and Community Parks Outreach. This ‘art-community impact’ combination is not only rewarding to me personally, but it also offers a glimpse of the way professional theatre can make a bigger difference in our city. CSC offers a perfect blend of my leadership experience and business skills and my passion for theatre.”

Woffington’s theatre bug is credited to his father, a high school drama teacher and play director in Pittsburgh. “As a second grader, I was a child extra in my dad’s production of To Kill a Mockingbird (a classic CSC will undertake this September).” Locally, Woffington has acted at several community theatres as well as the Covedale Center for the Performing Arts and New Edgecliff Theatre (alongside CSC regular Kate Wilford in Death of a Salesman). Jay has also directed two CEA-award winning musicals (West Side Story and Children of Eden) for Footlighters in Newport, KY and will be directing Our Town there this fall.

Woffington also held a leadership position at P&G, where as a Brand Manager, he led the $2.3 billion acquisition of The Iams Company and was recognized by Advertising Age Magazine as one of the Top 100 marketers of 2001. Woffington began his career in investment banking at First Chicago (in Chicago and London).

Jay has two children, Wendy (8) and Brett (5). Woffington holds his masters from Northwestern’s Kellogg Graduate School of Management and his undergraduate degree from Duke University.

About Season 19:
Season 19 is generously sponsored by The Otto M. Budig Family Foundation. Cincinnati Shakespeare Company receives operating support from The Ohio Arts Council and is supported, in part, by the generosity of thousands of individuals and businesses that give annually to ArtsWave. The season design sponsor is Judge Mark Painter. Production dates and info on Season 19 are available online at http://www.cincyshakes.com/season-19.html

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. CSC employs a resident company of actors and artists who live and work in Cincinnati year-round, and performs on a Small Professional Theatre contract with Actors’ Equity Association. Cincinnati Shakespeare Company’s Education and Outreach Programs see more than 22,000 students each season by taking Shakespeare into schools, parks, community centers and by hosting educational matinees of mainstage productions at its home on Race Street. In Season 20, CSC will become one of only a handful of companies worldwide to have produced Shakespeare’s 38-play canon in its entirety. CSC is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization and all donations are tax deductible.

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