Tag Archives: Cincinnati Actor’s Studio and Academy

November 19, 2018 · 12:28 pm

Green Day’s AMERICAN IDIOT runs Nov. 24-Dec. 2 at Cincinnati Actor’s Studio & Academy

CASA_American Idiot logoJoin CASA on this journey as a group of young Americans struggle to find meaning in their lives.

What makes an American Idiot?

[Cincinnati, OH – November 16th, 2018] Cincinnati Actor’s Studio & Academy presents AMERICAN IDIOT a blockbuster rock musical, music by Green Day, book by Billie Joe Armstrong and Michael Mayer. It’s time to discover the truth of the American Dream. Set in “Jingletown, USA,” AMERICAN IDIOT follows anti-hero Johnny, a naive but hopeful guy who goes to the city as the “Jesus of Suburbia.” He and his friends, Tunny and Will, suffer the realization that their dreams aren’t easy to achieve as they thought, and inevitably fall prey to addiction of various forms.
Ticket and Production Details
Performances will be on Saturday, November 24th – Sunday, November 25th at 7:30PM, Sunday, November 25th at 2PM, & Friday, November 30th – Sunday, December 2nd at 7:30PM. All performances will be at Essex Studios (2511 Essex Place, Studio 282B, Cincinnati, OH 45206.
Tickets are $15 for students/seniors and $20 for adults, and can be purchased online https://casastudio.booktix.com/index.php or at the door.
Green Day’s AMERICAN IDIOT runs approximately 2 hours including an intermission and has an R rating for adult content.
For more details, visit www.casastudioacademy.com or CASA’s Facebook page
(@CasaStudioAcademy).

*Presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International*

PRODUCTION TEAM
  • Director: Gina Cerimele-Mechley
  • Assistant Director: Bettina Ernst (Walnut Hills High School)
  • Stage Manager: David Faller
  • Music Director: Janet Langhorst
  • Video Advisor: Evan Holzman
  • Lighting/Sound Designer: Olivia Cremisio
  • Choreographer: Kat Sweeney (St. Ursula Academy)
  • Assistant Choreographer: Celia Gries (home schooled)
CAST
  • Johnny: Johnny Shirer (School for Creative and Performing Arts)
  • Tunny: Jackson Daley
  • Will: Sebastian Kong (Indian Hill High School)
  • St. Jimmy: Kaya Roll (Seton High School)
  • Heather: Sabrina Mack (Northern Kentucky University)
  • Whatsername: Gabrielle Mouch (Mercy McAuley High School)
  • Extraordinary Girl: Chloe Baron (Fairfield High School)
  • Featured Ensemble: Donnie Adams (Madeira High School), Jonah Sorscher (Indian Hill High School), and Celia Gries  
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

“What is the American Dream? Does it even exist? Why do people turn to addiction and codependency as a result of the loss of American Dream? With this production we are taking a stand against substance abuse, violence and the personal atrocities that people suffer when they feel left behind by their country. We are also revealing the effects of media and propaganda on contemporary youth.” — Gina Cerimele-Mechley, director
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July 24, 2018 · 4:27 pm

Disney’s NEWSIES! the Broadway Musical Runs July 27-Aug. 5 at Cincinnati Actor’s Studio and Academy

CASA_Newsies logo

Carry the banner with CASA as the first educational company in the state of Ohio to produce this blockbuster hit musical!

July 19, 2018 – It is time for this generation to be heard…and more than just singing and dancing!

In their upcoming production of Disney’s NEWSIES! The Broadway Musical, Cincinnati Actor’s Studio & Academy (CASA) will bring these iconic songs to life and note how this revolutionary story about children fighting for their rights, is still more timely than ever.

It’s time to carry the banner with Disney’s Newsies! Set in turn-of-the century New York City, Newsies! is the rousing tale of Jack Kelly, a charismatic newsboy and leader of a band of teenaged “newsies.” When titans of publishing raise distribution prices at the newsboys’ expense, Jack rallies newsies from across the city to strike against the unfair conditions and fight for what’s right!

Ticket and Production Details
Performances will be on Friday, July 27th – Sunday, July 29th & Friday, August 3rd – Sunday, August 5th at 7:30PM. All performances will be at Essex Studios (2511 Essex Place, Studio 282B, Cincinnati, OH 45206).

Tickets are $15 for students/seniors and $20 for adults, and can be purchased online https://casastudio.booktix.com/index.php or at the door.

NEWSIES! runs approximately 2.5 hours including an intermission and is appropriate for ALL ages.

For more details, visit www.casastudioacademy.com or CASA’s Facebook page.

*Presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International*

PRODUCTION TEAM

  • Director: Gina Cerimele-Mechley
  • Stage Manager: Olivia Lenore
  • Assistant Director: Kate Stuard
  • Choreographer: Maria Broderick
  • Music Director: Melody Wallace
  • Conductor: Matt Berman
  • Accompanist: Jacob Strom
  • Costuming: Finney Kutcher, Bethany Bennet, Sondra Kusse

CAST

  • Paige Genevieve Ambach: Katherine Plumber
  • Chloe Baron: Henry (a newsie)/Featured Dancer, Darcy
  • Breanna Brandenburg: Albert/Elmer (a newsie)/Featured Dancer/Dance Captain
  • John Cerimele: Mr. Jacobi
  • Cayce Cobaugh: Davey (a newsie)
  • James Covarrubias: Buttons (a newsie), a scab, a goon (fighter)
  • Bella DeJesus: Romeo (a newsie)
  • Nicholas Delfino: Nunzio (barber), Photographer, a goon (fighter)
  • Sara Detwiler: Les (a newsie)
  • Kaitlin Diersing: Tommy Boy (newsie), Bunsen (Pulitzer’s bookkeeper), a goon (fighter)
  • Meghan Dincler: Mike (a newsie), A scab, a goon (fighter)
  • Laura Dinn: Finch (a newsie)/Featured Dancer
  • William Forgham: Snyder (warden)
  • Grace Goodwin: Jo Jo (a newsie)/Featured Dancer, Nun, Bowery Beauty
  • Cecilia Gries: Dance Captain, SPECS(a newsie)/Featured Dancer
  • Meg Griffin: Joseph Pulitzer, a goon (fighter)
  • Amy Helms: Spot Conlon (the brooklyn newsie)/Featured Dancer
  • Allie Houston: Nun, Hannah (Pulitzerʼs secretary), Bowery Beauty, A Delancey Brother
  • Taylor Lindsey: Seitz (Pulitzer’s editor)
  • Carley Millette: Splasher (a newsie), a goon (a fighter against the newsies)
  • Gabrielle Mouch: Race (a newsie)/Featured Dancer
  • Ryan Smith: Medda Larkin
  • Nick Swope: MUSH (Newsie), Cop, Bill, A SCAB
  • Katie Tierney: Stage Manager (character in the show), Pulitzer’s Guard, a goon (fighter), Mayor
  • Nick Wasserbauer: Jack Kelly (a newsie)
  • Cristina Whyte: Crutchie (a newsie)
  • Emily Wolfe: Ike (a newsie)

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
“I feel like the main theme of the show, especially in conjunction with the mission of CASA, is “The Children’s Crusade.” Music Theatre International in their production handbook says that they hope this “inspires you to take risks, to explore new methods of storytelling, and to empower” the cast and audience. This is also the reason why CASA was founded 11 years ago…to help the younger generation find their own individual voice. This requires risk, storytelling, and empowerment!

Most people familiar with Newsies will rave about it due to its spectacular dancing and catchy songs. What many do not realize is that it is based upon actual events of the 1899 newsies strike started and run BY CHILDREN! Newsies were as young as 4 years old, but most of the members of the “first newsies union” were between 11-15 years of age. It lasted about 2 weeks and actually ended with results of a successful compromise. This story speaks so loudly and clearly to today’s generation. Just like the students who founded March for our Lives, the real newsies of 1899 “challenged our whole generation to stand up and demand a place at the table.” There were many more strikes to follow until finally in 1938 Congress passed the Fair Labor Standards Act.

We do this production with the hope to motivate and inspire this generation to not stop fighting until they get their place at the table, just like the decades of Newsies did.

It is time for this generation to be heard…and more than just singing and dancing!”
— Gina Cerimele-Mechley, director

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June 28, 2018 · 1:23 pm

NEWSIES Runs July 27-Aug. 5

CASA_Newsies logoNEWSIES
Cincinnati Actor’s Studio & Academy
July 27-Aug. 5
[Avondale]

Directed by Gina Cerimele-Mechley
Music directed by Melody Wallace
Choreographed by Maria Broderick

Cast: Paige Genevieve Ambach as Katherine Plumber, Chloe Baron as Henry/Featured Dancer/Darcy,
Breanna Brandenburg as Albert/Elmer/Featured Dancer/Dance Captain, John Cerimele as Mr. Jacobi, Cayce Cobaugh as Davey, James Covarrubias as Buttons/Scab/Goon, Bella DeJesus as Romeo, Nicholas Delfino as Nunzio/Photographer/Goon, Sara Detwiler as Les, Kaitlin Diersing as Tommy Boy/Bunsen/Goon, Meghan Dincler as Mike/Scab/Goon, Laura Dinn as Finch/Featured Dancer, William Forgham as Snyder, Grace Goodwin as Jo Jo/Featured Dancer/Nun/Bowery Beauty, Cecilia Gries as Dance Captain/SPECS/Featured Dancer, Meg Griffin as Joseph Pulitzer/Goon, Amy Helms as Spot Conlon/Featured Dancer, Allie Houston as Nun/Hannah/Bowery Beauty/Delancey Brother, Taylor Lindsey as Seitz, Carley Millette as Splasher/Goon, Gabrielle Mouch as Race/Featured Dancer, Ryan Smith as Medda Larkin, Nick Swope as MUSH/Cop/Bill/A SCAB, Katie Tierney as Stage Manager/Pulitzer’s Guard/Goon/Mayor, Nick Wasserbauer as Jack Kelly, Cristina Whyte as Crutchie & Emily Wolfe as Ike

Most people familiar with Newsies will rave about it due to its spectacular dancing and catchy songs. What many do not realize is that it is based upon actual events of the 1899 newsies strike started and run BY CHILDREN! Newsies were as young as 4 years old, but most of the members of the “first newsies union” were between 11-15 years of age. It lasted about 2 weeks and actually ended with results of a successful compromise. This story speaks so loudly and clearly to today’s generation. Just like the students who founded March for our Lives, the real newsies of 1899 “challenged our whole generation to stand up and demand a place at the table.” There were many more strikes to follow until finally in 1938 Congress passed the Fair Labor Standards Act.

  • Fri-Sun, July 27-29 at 7:30pm
  • Fri-Sun, Aug. 3-5 at 7:30pm

Official page |

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June 19, 2018 · 10:25 am

ORESTEIA Runs June 21-23 at Cincinnati Actor’s Studio & Academy

CASA_Oresteia logoA classic Greek play gets a contemporary spin in Cincinnati Actor’s Studio & Academy’s latest production, ORESTEIA

Cincinnati, OH
June 18, 2018

Family, love, war, betrayal, and justice. Is all truly fair in love and war?

In their upcoming production of ORESTEIA, Cincinnati Actor’s Studio & Academy (CASA) will tell an ancient Greek story that tackles these timeless themes and still resonates today.

The tale, originally written by Aeschylus and adapted by Robert Icke, follows the journey of a family who is deeply affected by war. The story raises questions of justice and interrogates the side effects of war on the battlefield and in the home.

ORESTEIA may be millennia old, but director Cheryl Maxine Couch has crafted a production that fits into today’s world. Sets will feature cardboard with graffiti, on which audiences will be invited to add their own art, and costumes will be inspired by present-day styles.

“Audiences will also leave ready to have a conversation about today’s world. ORESTEIA is a timeless story that is also timely, and the goal for the production is to start a dialogue,” says Cheryl Maxine Couch, director of ORESTEIA.

Ticket and Production Details
A pay-what-you-can preview of ORESTEIA will be on Wednesday, 6/20, at 7:30pm. Performances will be on Thursday, 6/21, Friday, 6/22, and Saturday, 6/23, at 7:30pm. All performances will be at Essex Studios (2511 Essex Place, Studio 282B, Cincinnati, OH 45206).

Tickets are $10 for students and $15 for adults, and can be purchased at the door or by
contacting CASA at casatics@gmail.com.

ORESTEIA runs approximately 2 hours including an intermission and is appropriate for ages 13 and up.

For more details, visit www.casastudioacademy.com or CASA’s Facebook page
(@CasaStudioAcademy).

Production Team

  • Director: Cheryl Maxine Couch
  • Assistant Director: Bettina Ernst
  • Stage Manager: Olivia Lenore
  • Costume & Makeup Design: Finney Kutcher

Cast

  • Agamemnon/Aegisthus: Jared Earland
  • Calchas: Kate Stuard
  • Cassandra/Athene: Megan Peters
  • Chorus: Olivia Dunn and Ryan Smith
  • Cilissa/Fury: Katie Tierney
  • Doctor: David Faller
  • Electra: Meg Griffin
  • Iphigenia: Sara Detwiler
  • Klytemnestra: Gina Cerimele-Mechley
  • Menelaus: Zach Kaltenbach
  • Orestes: Matt Berman
  • Talthybius: Ryan Smith
  • Young Orestes: AJ Ransom

“Enter the story, not the theatre.”

For more information: www.casastudioacademy.com
Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/casastudioacademy/
Follow us on Twitter: @enterCASAstudio
Follow us on Instagram: @casastudioacademy

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February 26, 2018 · 2:49 pm

Cincinnati Actor’s Studio & Academy Brings THE ALTRUISTS to the Stage

CASA_The Altruists logo

You Wish You Were Us…Right??

FEB 24, 2018—Tristate audiences are invited to act apathetic towards life while they take in The Altruists by Nicky Silver at Cincinnati Actor’s Studio & Academy 

The Altruists revolves around a dedicated, if disorganized and demented, group of young radicals. These are the kids who protest. They protest arts funding and arms funding. They protest school cutbacks and AIDS cutbacks and welfare cutbacks. They march for gay rights and children’s rights and Women Against Drunk Drivers. But their morality is put to the test one day when Sydney, a shallow, anorexic soap-opera actress, fires a gun into the hulking body of her sleeping boyfriend. Terrified, she looks to her brother, Ronald, the center of this merry band of radicals, for help. Ronald, a social worker, wants to aid his sister, but at the moment he’s consumed with love. The object of his affection? A young runaway prostitute, Lance. It is Ethan, Ronald’s cohort, who points out that they need Sydney—without her money they can do no good in the world. After all, “firebombs don’t grow on trees.” And when Sydney pressures him, revealing her vulnerability and her real affection for the first time, Ronald acquiesces. He makes the ultimate sacrifice, that of his own happiness for the greater good. And this group of altruists frames Lance, never noticing the irony as they head off to protest the unjust outcome of a trial involving a young man who resembles Lance in every way.

This production is directed by Gina Cerimele-Mechley. Cast includes current CASA students: Bella DeJesus, Bettina Ernst, Blake Knauer and Lindsay Wielonski, along with CASA alum Will Forgham, and Olaf Eide. Production includes Jenna Valentine as Asst. Director, Amy Helms & Olivia Cremisio as Stage Managers and Kelly Harper as Dramaturg.

Performances run March 2nd, 3rd, 9th & 10th at 7:30PM, March 4th & 11th at 2:30PM. All performances will take place at Essex Studios, 2511 Essex Pl, Cincinnati, Ohio 45206. Tickets can be reserved at casatics@gmail.com. Tickets: $9 Students, $14 Adults. For more information: www.casastudioacademy.com

Mockumentary absurdist piece about rallying against the altruists who just want attention. Come laugh at what not to be. Leave with the motivation to be a real altruist! 

PLEASE NOTE: THE ALTRUISTS contains adult subject matter, language, and themes. Along with infuriating comedy and absurdist views. So if you do not enjoy being challenged, then maybe stay home and sit in the dark.

*Rights provided by Dramatists Play Service

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