Tag Archives: CenterStage Players of Ohio

2019-2020 Season Call for Directors at CenterStage Players

CSPOH_logoCenterStage Players is now accepting applications for Directors for our 2019-2020 season.

We aim to produce 3-5 shows a year, which will be performed at Lockland High School in Cincinnati, OH. We have produced ACT award-winning productions of Acapulco, Take Me Out and Death of a Salesman, among others.  You can find a list of previous productions here.

We are looking for creative and talented directors, both experienced and new, who aren’t afraid to take a risk. We are open to comedy, drama, farce and musical submissions and are particularly interested in rarely performed shows, original works and “edgy” scripts.

We generally include a holiday show in our season, which has in the past included child actors.

Interested applicants should send information to Rebecca Coots, Vice-President of Production, before the deadline of November 30, 2018. We have tentatively scheduled interviews for January 12, 2019.

To submit a play you would like to direct, please either fill out the form below; send this information, as well as a copy of the script, to Rebecca Coots at centerstageplayersinc@yahoo.com; or send everything via snail mail:

Attn: Rebecca Coots
2728 Iowa Ave
Covington, KY 41015

Please include the following information with your response:

  • Director Information (Name, Contact Info)
  • Director Resume
  • Title of Play (Please fill out one full submission for each production)
  • List any production or technical crew persons that work with you on a regular basis.
  • What technical issues, if any, does the show present and how would you resolve them?
  • Are there any anticipated casting difficulties? If so, how would you overcome them?
  • What about the show appeals to you as a director?
  • If your show is selected, are there any timing restrictions that would help us in building our season schedule?
  • Please include a copy of the script. If this is not possible, please ensure that it is a show that will have an easily accessible copy (i.e., the library).

Please note, multiple shows may be pitched.  However, individual director interviews will be limited to 30 minutes.

For more information and online submissions go to centerstageplayersinc,com and go to
2019-2020 Season Director Submissions link on the Current Season page.

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Actor Needed for MADELINE’S CHRISTMAS at CenterStage Players

CSPOH_logoCenterStage Players, Inc. is looking for an actor for their upcoming production of MADELINE’S CHRISTMAS, a musical play based on the popular Madeline books for children by Ludwig Bemelman.

Role: Harsha – male, age flexible – The magical Rug Merchant who helps to make the twelve little girls’ Christmas wishes come true. Role includes a song, movement and simple, prepackaged magic tricks.

Performances are Thurs – Sun, Dec. 6-9. Rehearsals are scheduled to start this week. Contact the director Karen Vanover at karenmdv@aol.com.

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Auditions Announced for RABBIT HOLE at CenterStage Players

CSPOH_logoRABBIT HOLE
2007 Pulitzer Prize winning play by David Lindsay-Abaire
directed by K.B. Dillingham

Mon, Nov. 12 & Wed, Nov. 14 from 6:30-8:30pm

Lockland High School Auditorium
249 W. Forrer, Cincinnati, OH 45215
Door #10 (up outside stairs)

Rehearsals: November 18 – January 17, Sunday/Tuesday/Thursday…6:30-9:00
Performances: January 18, 19 25, 26 2019 @ 8pm & January 20 & 27 2019 @ 2pm

Auditions: cold readings from the script. Please bring headshot…resume…and known conflicts.

Characters:

  • Becca…Howie’s wife…30’s-40’s
  • Izzy…Becca’s irresponsible sister…late 20’s-early 30’s
  • Howie…Becca’s caring husband…30’s-40’s
  • Nat…mother of Becca/Izzy…mid-60’s
  • Jason…teenager who accidentally  killed Danny…16-18

Questions: Contact Director K.B. Dillingham  at k.brooke19@gmail.com or Producer Burt McCollom at bmccollom@cinci.rr.com.

Visit out website for more detailed information:
http://www.centerstageplayersinc.com/auditions.html

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Auditions Announced for VANYA AND SONIA AND MASHA AND SPIKE at CenterStage Players

CSPOH_logoCenterStage Players announces auditions for VANYA AND SONIA AND MASHA AND SPIKE

Tuesday, November 13th
6:30-9:00 PM; please plan to arrive no later than 7:00 PM

Lockland High School
249 W. Forrer Ave.
Rehearsals begin Feb 4th – 3 weeknights/week TBD up to tech week

6 Performances: March 15-24 (Friday-Sunday)

Directed by Richard Zenk
Produced by Fred Hunt

Contact the director for the parts of the script to be used for auditions at richardjoseph@gmail.com.

Synopsis:
Chekhov is alive and well in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, where adult siblings Vanya and Sonia reside in their old family home, mourning their lost dreams and missed opportunities. When their often-wrong, fortune-telling maid warns of impending dangers, and their movie star sister, Masha, arrives unexpectedly with young, sexy, boy toy, Spike, the family is launched into a rollicking weekend of one-upmanship, exposed nerves, and a lot of broken mugs. With wit and absurdity, Christopher Durang’s Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike blends Chekhov’s famous ennui with the modern-day toils and troubles of celebrity, social networking, and age into a laugh-out-loud comedy that will tickle your funny bone and stimulate your mind.

Characters:

  • Vanya (male, 50s-60s; the elder brother). Wry, retiring, frustrated, resigned fellow.
    Vanya et al is an ensemble piece, but the closest to a lead role is Vanya, who acts as the peacemaker in the family and has the most stage time. He also has a pages-long eruption of a monologue at the conclusion of the play. He is gay and lives with his adopted sister (‘together alone’) in the house of their childhood, having cared for their parents until they passed, supported financially by their sister. He never had to work and was complicit in letting his life slip by without making much of it at all. An observer, holds a lot back, until he absolutely cannot anymore. Needs to have good comedic timing.
  • Sonia (female, 50s; the adopted sister). Melancholic, capricious, definitely regretful, possibly desperate.
    A mirror image of Vanya except less resigned and more prone to manic outbursts and accusations for her state of being. She also maybe has/had a clearer image of what she wanted from life. Sonia and Masha have a raw, contentious hostility toward one another that comes out as the play progresses. May be the one worth the most sympathy. Must be able to do a “Maggie Smith” impersonation.
  • Masha (female, 50s; the famous sister). Expansive, glamorous, haughty, frenetic.
    A successful and well-traveled actress, often married, Masha returns home to her siblings having found herself on the edge of “once beautiful.” Wishes she had been a “classical actress.”  Her self-deceptions are worn more on her sleeve than either of her siblings – see the flirtatious, empty-headed young companion she brings home with her. She returns to the homestead with intentions to sell it out from under her siblings, but really, she might not have had anywhere else to go.
  • Spike (male, 20s or early 30s; Masha’s ‘companion’). Chiseled, flippant, devil-may-care boy toy.
    A preening millennial, Spike is a young actor who pays just enough attention to Masha to keep her satisfied. He does not seem to have any urgency for anything, despite the fact that he has little to show for his career thus far. But he’s got his looks, a captive audience, and believes the rest will be laid out all on a plate for him when the time comes. As fair warning, Spike does disrobe down to his underwear in the play, and maintains that status for several pages on stage.
  • Nina (female, 20s-30s; aspiring actress). Earnest, bouncy, a guileless admirer..
    An accidental arrival on the scene, Nina is the neighbor’s niece who has dreams of becoming an actress and has the (mis)fortune to stumble into her idol Masha. Starstruck, energetic, hopeful for what the future holds for her and everyone else. Her appearance though provokes lust in Spike and, unsurprisingly, envy in Masha.
  • Cassandra (female, flexible age; soothsayer housekeeper). Obtrusive, kooky, dramatic. A true wildcard, gem of a comedic role, Cassandra is aptly and unambiguously named: she is a psychic prognosticator that no one believes but speaks the truth (mostly). Sometimes surprised by her own ability to predict the future. Must have a strong command of language, as she has Greek Tragedy-style monologues. She is also the housekeeper and somewhat of a caregiver to Sonia and Vanya.. Her sudden, wild pronouncements for the future offer a lot to play around with for the adventuresome actress.

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Auditions Announced for MADELINE’S CHRISTMAS at CenterStage Players

CSPOH_logoCenterStage Players announces auditions for their annual Christmas show!

MADELINE’S CHRISTMAS by Ludwig Bemelmans

When: Monday, Oct. 1 at 6:30pm
Monday and Wednesday, Sept 24 and 26, 2018 6:30-8:30pm
Call backs Thursday Sept. 27 (if necessary)

Location: Lockland High School Auditorium, 249 W. Forrer Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45215

Performance dates: Dec. 6, & 7 @ 7:30pm  Saturday Dec. 8 @ 2pm and 7:30pm and Sunday Dec. 9 @ 2pm.
Rehearsals will start in Oct.

Please come prepared to sing 16 bars of an appropriate song, do a cold read from the script and learn a short dance combination.

If there are any questions, please contact the assistant director, Becky Coots, at beckycoots1@gmail.com or 859-653-5049. Show information, including character descriptions, can be found at http://www.centerstageplayersinc.com/auditions.html.

Please be advised that there is construction on Forrer, north of the building and the road is closed. You should exit I-75 at Exit 12.

  • From Southbound I-75: Take exit 12 – turn right off the exit, right again at the light onto E. Wyoming Ave and then take the first left onto Forrer.
  • From Northbound I-75: Take exit 12 – turn left onto Davis St, right onto Central Ave, left onto E. Wyoming Ave and then right onto Forrer.
  • Park in the large parking lot and proceed to the steps to enter through Door #10.

In an old house in Paris
That was covered in Vines
Lived twelve little girls
In two straight lines.
They left the house at half-past nine
In two straight lines, in rain or shine
The smallest one was named MADELINE.

Based on the book from the beloved children’s Madeline series by Ludwig Bemelmans, this delightful play with music is a fantastic way to bring in your holiday season. Miss Clavel takes the 12 little girls on their morning walk. They go to the zoo and then back to school for their French history lesson. Suddenly disaster strikes when everyone gets the flu! Everyone that is, except the ever-resilient Madeline. Saddened that they may not be able to go home for Christmas, the girls and Miss Clavel take to their beds. But on Christmas Eve, the adventure begins when there is a knock at the front door. Expecting to see Santa, Madeline meets the rug merchant who has brought 12 very special rugs. He reminds Madeline that Christmas is the time of miracles, and that these are not ordinary rugs! Soon everyone wakes up feeling heathy. The rug merchant shows them that they each have a magic carpet and that they can fly home to be with their families for Christmas!

Characters:

  • Madeline
  • Simone
  • Juliette
  • Kate
  • Dominique
  • Anne
  • Amy
  • Daphne
  • Isabelle
  • Camille
  • Regine
  • Mary
  • Miss Clavel – nurse, female
  • Mrs. Murphy – the housekeeper, female
  • Mr. Brun      – the French teacher, male
  • Harshaa.- the rug merchant/magician (actors auditioning for this role must be willing to  learn a few simple magic tricks)
  • Martin/Marta the Mouse – non-speaking (but not silent)

“To make the impossible possible, the possible easy, and the easy elegant.” Moshe Feldenkrais.

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