Category Archives: Press Releases

OTRimprov and Arnold’s Team Up Again to Make Your Holidays One-Of-A-Kind with THE NAUGHTY LIST

OTRi_The Naughty ListAn improvised dinner show that wants to know if you’ve been bad or good

December  5, 6, 7, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21 @ Arnold’s Bar & Grill

It’s a little bit naughtya and a little bit nice — but always a whole lot of fun — and is the only ticket in town guaranteeing you’ll never see the same show twice. OTRimprov, transforms the patio at Arnold’s Bar & Grill into a magical world to celebrate everything you love, and love to hate, about the holidays.

OTRimprov’s improvisers transport you to magical lands and create scenes you’re unlikely to forget. Whether showing how Santa would handle unexpected gift requests or reimagining your favorite holiday stories in magical ways, The Naughty List will fill your holidays with side-splitting laughs. Bring your cheer or your humbug; either way, you’ll help craft the incomparable experience only OTRimprov can provide.

On the tradition of The Naughty List, director Paul Wilson comments,

“Seeing families and friends come back year after year, to have them talk about their favorite moments and what they love about the experience is incredibly satisfying. And the people who discover us each year tell us how glad they are they found us and how they can’t wait to come back. All that and having it happen at Arnold’s, an iconic and uniquely Cincinnati location …it makes for a holiday tradition we are grateful to be a part of.”

And to delight even more of your senses, host Arnold’s Bar & Grill provides a delectable a la carte menu of dinner, drinks, and dessert for you to enjoy before and during the show. Audience members can arrive up to 90 minutes prior to the 7:30pm start time to feast – but please note that you must arrive no later than 7:00pm to guarantee dinner service. Dinner and drinks are not included in the ticket price. All parties are welcome and encouraged to request a reservation time for dinner when they purchase tickets at OTRimprov.com.

Cast in Alphabetical Order

  • Kevin Bauer
  • BJ Casey
  • Eileen Earnest
  • Amanda Monyhan
  • Julie Locker
  • Alison Strickland Rampa
  • Alanna Turner-Palmer

Production Team

  • Director – Paul Kerford Wilson

About OTRimprov
OTRimprov (OTRi) began in 2010 as a collection of wayward improvisers looking for like-minded performers and a place to play in Cincinnati. After headlining shows for the Little Big Night at Know Theatre of Cincinnati, we formed our own partnership with Know Theatre’s Jackson Street Market, a resource sharing program for fledgling companies, and began producing shows independently.

We continue to explore a variety of styles and formats, while developing a strong improv community populated with smart, engaging people and doing work that is collaborative, curious, and sometimes a little bit daring. We foster new talent through training and a welcoming atmosphere, where all performers feel inspired to explore and take risks.

Calendar Listing

THE NAUGHTY LIST
7:30pm December 5, 6, 7, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21

Dinner service from Arnold’s Bar & Grill is available at every performance. Audience members can arrive for dinner as early as 6:00pm but must arrive no later than 7:00pm to guarantee service. Dinner and drinks are not included in the ticket price. All parties are welcome and encouraged to place reservation times when they purchase tickets

Arnold’s Bar & Grill – 210 E 8th Street Cincinnati, OH 45202

Tickets:       $20

Dinner and drinks are not included in the ticket price.

Tickets can be purchased by visiting otrimprov.com

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2024-2025 Season Announced by Beavercreek Community Theatre

bctBeavercreek Community Theatre is absolutely thrilled to announce our 2024-2025 Season Make sure to follow us for audition and event information, and visit us at www.bctheatre.org.

A MAN OF NO IMPORTANCE
Book by Terrance McNally, Music by Stephen Flaherty, Lyrics by Lynn Ahrens
Directed by Matthew Smith
Production : 08/23/24 – 09/1/24
Auditions: July 1 & 2, 2024

THE SUGAR WITCH
By Nathan Sanders
Directed by Doug Lloyd
Production: 10/25/24 – 11/3/24
Auditions: September 9 & 10 2024

DIE MOMMIE DIE
By Charles Bausch
Directed by Chris Harmon
Production: 1/17/25 – 1/26/25
Auditions: November 4 & 5, 2024

ANGEL STREET
By Patrick Hamilton
Directed by David Shough
Production : 3/7/25 – 3/16/25
Auditions : January 27 & 28, 2025

REEFER MADNESS
Book by Kevin Murphy and Dan Studney, Music by Dan Studney, Lyrics by Kevin Murphy
Directed by Matt Owens
Production: 4/25/25 – 5/4/25
Auditions: March 3 & 4, 2025

THE UNDERSTUDY
By Theresa Rebeck
Directed by Debra Kent
Production: 6/20/25 – 6/29/25
Auditions: May 5 & 6, 2025

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Cincinnati Opera and CCM to Workshop Two New Operas–TWO CORNERS and BULRUSHER— Through Opera Fusion: New Works Partnership This Winter

 Both workshops culminate in free, public performances of excerpts on December 17 (TWO CORNERS) and January 24 (BULRUSHER)

CINCINNATI (November 13, 2023)—Cincinnati Opera and the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) have announced the next two operas to be workshopped through their joint program, Opera Fusion: New Works.

Opera Fusion: New Works (OF:NW) is co-directed by Robin Guarino, professor of opera at CCM, and Evans Mirageas, The Harry T. Wilks Artistic Director of Cincinnati Opera, and provides composers and librettists the opportunity to collaborate with singers and creative personnel to refine their operas-in-progress.


TWO CORNERS Creative Team

CO_Two Corners Team


In December 2023, OF:NW will host a workshop for Two Corners, with music by B.E. Boykin and libretto by Jarrod Lee. Commissioned by Finger Lakes Opera and slated for a 2024 world premiere, Two Corners explores the evolving friendship of a Black woman, Florine, and a white woman, Sarah, during the unrest of the Civil Rights movement. Told through a series of flashbacks, Florine and Sarah reflect on their different perspectives of race, friendship, and the status quo.

A public performance of excerpts from Two Corners will take place on December 17, 2023, at 4 p.m. (ET) at Cincinnati Music Hall’s Wilks Studio (1241 Elm Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202).


BULRUSHER Creative Team

CO_Bulrusher Team


In January 2024, OF:NW will mount a second stage workshop for the new opera, Bulrusher, featuring music by Nathaniel Stookey and a libretto by Stookey and Eisa Davis, based on Davis’s play of the same name, which was shortlisted for the 2007 Pulitzer Prize. The work was commissioned by West Edge Opera and received an initial OF:NW workshop in 2021. The opera is a coming-of-age story about an African American girl growing up in Northern California’s remote Anderson Valley in 1955. Found in a basket by the river, she is raised by the local schoolteacher and has never seen anyone who looks like her until a young Black woman from Alabama comes to town. Meeting someone like herself provokes her political, sexual, and identity awakening.

A public performance of excerpts from Bulrusher will take place on January 24, 2024, at 7:30 p.m. (ET) at Cincinnati Music Hall’s Wilks Studio (1241 Elm Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202).

Admission to the public performances is free, though seating is limited and reservations are required. Reservations are available beginning Monday, November 13, 2023, at 12 noon (ET) by calling 513-241-2742 or visiting cincinnatiopera.org.

Opera Fusion: New Works is generously funded by the Mellon Foundation.


About Opera Fusion: New Works

Funded through a generous gift from the Mellon Foundation, Opera Fusion: New Works (OF:NW) is a partnership between Cincinnati Opera and the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) dedicated to fostering the development of new American operas. This collaboration is jointly led by Robin Guarino, professor of opera at CCM, and Evans Mirageas, The Harry T. Wilks Artistic Director of Cincinnati Opera. OF:NW offers composers or composer/librettist teams the opportunity to workshop an opera during a residency in Cincinnati. Residencies utilize the facilities, personnel, and talent of both Cincinnati Opera and CCM. The workshops are cast with a combination of CCM students and professional artists, and each workshop concludes with a free public presentation of excerpts followed by an audience Q&A session. For more information, visit ofnw.org.

About Cincinnati Opera
Cincinnati Opera’s mission is to enrich and connect our community through diverse opera experiences. Founded in 1920 and the second-oldest opera company in the nation, Cincinnati Opera presents a thrilling season of grand opera every summer and engaging programs throughout the year. The company’s repertoire includes beloved classics and contemporary masterworks brought to life by some of the world’s most dynamic performers and creative artists.

Cincinnati Opera is supported by the generosity of tens of thousands of contributors to the ArtsWave Community Campaign. This project was supported in part by the Ohio Arts Council, which receives support from the State of Ohio and the National Endowment for the Arts. Cincinnati Opera also receives general season support from The Louise Dieterle Nippert Musical Arts Fund, Patricia A. Corbett Estate and Trust, and the Harry T. Wilks Family Foundation, along with general season and project support from many other generous individuals, corporations, and foundations. Cincinnati Opera is a proud member of OPERA America. Learn more at cincinnatiopera.org.

About CCM
Nationally ranked and internationally renowned, the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) is a preeminent institution for the performing and media arts. The school’s educational roots date back to 1867, and a solid, visionary instruction has been at its core since that time. CCM offers nine degree types (BA, BM, BFA, MFA, MM, MA, AD, DMA, PhD) in nearly 120 possible majors, along with a wide variety of pre-collegiate and post-graduate programs.

Declared a top college vocal program by Backstage Magazine and described as “one of the continent’s major music schools,” by the Toronto Star, CCM’s Departments of Opera and Voice provide one of the most comprehensive training programs for opera singers, coaches, and directors in the United States. CCM offers an international faculty of dedicated educators who are also celebrated professionals in their own right, widely and currently active in their respective fields. Several national opera companies hold auditions at the conservatory, and CCM students frequently advance to the final rounds of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. CCM graduates have performed on the stages of the world’s greatest opera companies, including Cincinnati Opera, the Metropolitan Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, San Francisco Opera, Royal Opera (London), La Scala (Italy), and more. To learn more, visit ccm.uc.edu.

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WINTER WONDERETTES Opens Dec. 1

TDW_Winter Wonderettes1The all-female vocal group, The Wonderettes, is entertaining at the annual Harper’s Hardware holiday party in 1968. When Santa turns up missing, the women use their talent and creative ingenuity to save the holiday party.

Featuring great ’60s versions of holiday classics such as “Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town,” “Jingle Bell Rock,” “Run, Rudolph, Run,” and “Winter Wonderland,” the result is a feel-good holiday romp.

This energetic and glittering holiday package is guaranteed to delight audiences of all ages!

Written by Roger Bean, directed by Linda Abbott and produced by Dennis Murphy, this holiday show is a sequel to “ The Marvelous Wonderettes ,” which played off-Broadway, across the U.S. and in the United Kingdom.

Show dates and times:

Friday, December 1, 8:00 PM
Saturday, December 2, 8:00 PM
Sunday, December 3, 2:00 PM

Friday, December 8, 8:00 PM
Saturday, December 9, 8:00 PM
Sunday, December 10, 2:00 PM

Thursday, December 14, 7:30 PM
Friday, December 15, 8:00 PM
Saturday, December 16, 8:00 PM
Sunday, December 17, 2:00 PM

All performances are at The Glenmore Playhouse, 3716 Glenmore Ave. Cheviot.

Cast:

  • Betty Jean – Clare Hingsbergen
  • Cindy Lou – Virginia Venegas
  • Missy – Kelley Flaugher
  • Suzy – Mary Ann Sprague

Tickets are $20 online or $25 at the door. Tickets may be purchased by calling the TDW ticket line at 513-598-8303 or by ordering online at www.thedramaworkshop.org.

Cast and crew are vaccinated against Covid-19. Patrons and volunteers are not required to wear a mask while inside the Glenmore Playhouse.

Produced by special arrangement with Stage Rights (www.stagerights.com)

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Holy Play of Obligation: One-Nun Show LATE NITE CATECHISM Extended to Dec. 23

PIP_Late Nite Catechism1

Photo of Beth Ward as Sister. Photo by Mikki Schaffner

CINCINNATI (Nov. 9, 2023) – LATE NITE CATECHISM, one of the longest-running shows in Chicago and U.S. theater history, will extend its run at Rosenthal Shelterhouse Theatre through Dec. 23. The production features Beth Ward as Sister and is presented by Entertainment Events, Inc.

More than 10 million people worldwide (in 410 cities and 6 countries) have experienced the phenomenon of LATE NITE CATECHISM, and now Cincinnati audiences will have seven additional opportunities to see the show that The Hollywood Reporter called “a laugh-filled evening for all cultures, classes and religions.”

In this playful and compassionate send-up of Catholic culture, audience members are students in Sister’s catechism class, where she is subbing in for Father Murphy. Sister rules with an iron fist and teaches the class however she wants. Sister weaves stories into a hilarious tapestry that laughs at the quirks of the church while simultaneously embracing them. Meanwhile, she’s not afraid to stop class to call out her misbehaving students.

“A strong nun is a strong teacher,” Vicki Quade, who co-wrote the play with Maripat Donovan told Loyola Press. “Women will say that by example, nuns showed them how to be a strong woman, how to be in charge, that it’s not a man’s world. You can do whatever you want to do in life. Many women saw nuns as positive influences in their life.”

The performance blends quick-witted stand-up comedy and improvisational crowd work, ensuring that every show is a unique experience. The Rosenthal Shelterhouse Theatre’s intimate seating arrangement further enhances the feeling of immersion into Sister’s world.

LATE NITE CATECHISM boasts an impressive 30 years of performances, surpassing the longevity of The Lion King in New York City. It was originally conceived and produced at the Live Bait Theatre in Chicago written by Vicki Quade and Maripat Donovan. The show has spawned 8 sequels, including holiday specials for Christmas, Easter and Halloween.

CAST/PRODUCTION

  • Beth Ward – Sister
  • Maripat Donovan – Playwright
  • Vicki Quade – Playwright
  • Marc Silvia – Director
  • Jennifer Rhodus – Set Designer
  • Marly Wooster – Lighting Designer
  • Andrea L. Shell – Stage Manager
  • Entertainment Events, Inc. – Producer

TICKETS

Tickets begin at $35.00. Child and teen tickets begin at $33.50. Prices vary depending on performance. Opening night is Nov. 9 at 7:30 p.m. Regular performances will take place on Tuesday-Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 2 and 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. A weekday matinee will be offered on Nov. 22 at 1 p.m. To purchase tickets or for more information, call the Playhouse Box Office at 513-421-3888 (toll-free in Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana at 800-582-3208) or visit www.cincyplay.com. Patrons who are deaf, hard-of-hearing, deaf-blind or speech disabled: dial 711 to connect to the Box Office via Ohio Relay Services.EVENTS

Opening Night:
Nov. 9 at 7:30 p.m. (SOLD OUT!)
Share the excitement of Thursday opening nights with a lively post-show cast party.

ART TALKS (Formerly Meet the Artists)

  • Sun, Nov.12 at 2 p.m.
  • Sun, Nov.19 at 2 p.m.
  • Wed, Nov. 22 at 7:30 p.m.
  • Thu, Nov. 30 at 7:30 p.m.

Stay after select performances for a behind-the-scenes discussion with members of the artistic team.

ADVISORY
LATE NITE CATECHISM is appropriate for audiences 12 and up and contains no strong language. It does include some audience interaction and promises lots of fun.

SPONSORS
Artist Sponsor is 1919 Investment Counsel. Honorary Producer is Charles and Joann Mead. Season Sponsor is The Vontz Family.

The Playhouse is supported by the generosity of almost 40,000 contributors to the ArtsWave Community 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.

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ENTERTAINMENT EVENTS, INC. (Producer) is based in New York City.  EEI has made its mark on the theatrical touring industry by offering a variety of new and exciting plays and musicals to an ever growing list of professional presenting organizations throughout the country. In addition EEI has performed over 1500 fundraising events for schools, church groups, and private parties. EEI brings all aspects of producing under one roof: sales, production, casting, creative and technical. EEI productions have been produced and presented in all 50 states as well as in Canada, Europe, Australia and Asia. Since 1999 EEI has produced; Late Nite Catechism: The Series, Maybe Baby, It’s You, The Yiddish Are Coming, The Yiddish Are Coming!, Shout! The Mod Musical, Tony N Tina’s Wedding, Defending the Caveman, We’re Still Hot! The Musical and are former producers of Jeanie Linders’ Menopause The Musical. EEI is now proud to present Girls Night: The Musical, ‘Twas A Girls Night Before Christmas: The Musical, Dishing With the Divas, Help! My Husband Has Gone Missing: My Daughter is Getting Married & I Am Having Hot Flashes!, Panties In A Twist, Cuff Me: The Fifty Shades of Grey Musical Parody, Late Nite Catechism, Sister Strikes Again!: Late Nite Catechism 2, ’Til Death Do Us Part: Late Nite Catechism 3, Sister’s Christmas Catechism: The Mystery of the Magi’s Gold, Sister’s Easter Catechism: Will My Bunny Go To Heaven?, Late Nite Catechism Las Vegas: Sister Rolls the Dice!, Sister’s Summer School Catechism: God Never Takes a Vacation!, Sister’s Back to School Catechism: The Holy Ghost and Other Terrifying Tales!

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