Tag Archives: Cincinnati Actor’s Studio and Academy

March 9, 2020 · 3:08 pm

Auditions Announced for HEATHERS The Musical at Cincinnati Actor’s Studio & Academy

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Regarding those interested in our 2020 Summer Series headliner HEATHERS The Musical auditions:

Due to the newest state rule, all auditions will now need to be submitted via video to our email (casastudioacademy@gmail.com) by April 4. Please include a picture/resume, 16 measures of a song, a 45-second monologue, the dance audition, summer conflicts, and a video answer to the question, “What would I like to/need to learn this summer?”

DANCE AUDITION INFO:
There are 2 different versions of the dance audition. After watching the intro and the “at tempo” dance audition, decide which version of the choreography you feel most comfortable doing. Please video yourself doing either version as best as you can. HAVE FUN! We can teach anyone to dance! We can’t teach you to have fun!

Use the links below to access the intro/dance and the breakdowns of each version.

You can also access the intro/dance video links and the breakdowns of each version on our website!

Regarding submitting SUMMER CONFLICTS:

Please email all conflicts, specifically those on weekday evenings 6-10 and noon to 10 on Saturdays and Sundays. These are just the POSSIBLE hours, not the ACTUAL rehearsal hours. The final schedule will be created based on the cast’s availability.After all of the submissions are received, the director, music director, and choreographer will review them and then decide if a virtual callback is needed. Please allow until at least April 11 to be contacted re: casting or callbacks.We know that this is a new process, and a challenging time for all, but NOTHING IS GONNA GET US DOWN!!And as always, please email us with any questions or concerns!

CASA Staff

Sign up to audition for CASA’s Summer Series production of HEATHERS The Musical.

HEATHERS The Musical is a rock musical with music, lyrics, and book by Laurence O’Keefe and Kevin Murphy, based on the 1988 film of the same name written by Daniel Waters.
About: Westerberg High is terrorized by a shoulder-padded, scrunchie-wearing junta: Heather, Heather and Heather, the hottest and cruelest girls in all of Ohio. But misfit Veronica Sawyer rejects their evil regime for a new boyfriend, the dark sexy stranger J.D., who plans to put the Heathers in their place—six feet under.

Seeking performers between ages 13 and 50. Small stipend for college students and older.

Performances: July 31st, August 1st, 2nd, 7th, 8th, & 9th
Rehearsals/Workshops begin early June 2020

WHEN:

  • Sunday, March 29th, 1:00-5:00 PM
  • Saturday, April 4, 4:00-7:00 PM

WHERE:
CASA, 2511 Essex Place, Studio 282B

WHAT:

  • Prepare 16 bars of a song (bring sheet music)
  • Memorized monologue under 45 seconds
  • Your 2020 Summer Calendar (will be needed when filling out your conflict sheet!)
  • Come dressed to move!

HOW:
Sign up here (https://www.signupgenius.com/go/904084EA9AD28A3FF2-heathers) to audition on March 29th from 1-5pm or April 4th from 4-7pm

Any questions please email casastudioacademy@gmail.com

“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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November 13, 2019 · 11:42 am

AVENUE Q Runs Nov. 29-Dec. 8

CASA_Avenue Q logoAVENUE Q
Cincinnati Actor’s Studio & Academy
Nov. 29-Dec. 8
Essex Studios [Avondale]

Directed by Gina Cerimele-Mechley
Music directed by Janet Langhorst

Cast: Claire Adams as Lucy/Bad Idea Bear/Mrs. Thistletwat, Donnie Adams as Rod/Bad Idea Bear/Newcomer, Chloe Baron as Princeton, Nyela Burson as Gary Coleman, Grace Goodwin as Christmas Eve, Bobby Igoe as Trekkie Monster, Kaya Roll as Kate Monster, Johnny Shirer as Brian & Nick Swope as Nicky

This laugh-out-loud musical tells of a recent college grad who discovers that Avenue Q is not your ordinary neighborhood. He and his new-found “friends” struggle to find jobs, dates, and the ever-elusive purpose in life. Filled with gut-busting humor and a delightfully catchy score, not to mention LOTS of puppets, AVENUE Q is a truly unique show that has become a favorite for audiences everywhere. For a show with lots of adult issues, this is one puppet-filled comedy, where puppets are friends, monsters are good and life lessons are learned. PG-13 for Sexual slang/Content and inappropriate language. 

  • Fri-Sat, Nov. 29-30 at 7:30pm
  • Sun, Dec. 1 at 2:30pm
  • Fri-Sat, Dec. 6-7 at 7:30pm
  • Sun, Dec. 8 at 2:30pm

Official page | Facebook event |

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June 13, 2019 · 11:35 am

THE PENELOPIAD Runs June 27-30

CASA_The Penelopiad logoTHE PENELOPIAD
Cincinnati Actor’s Studio & Academy
June 27-30
Essex Studios [Avondale]

Directed by Fern Kutcher
Produced by Gina Cerimele-Mechley

Cast: Julie Deye, Haley Gillman, Sabrina Mack, Sarah Detwiler, Arielle Waller, Chloe Baron, Meg Griffin, Paige Genevieve, Breanna Brandenburg, Molly Brown, Ellie White & Kaya Roll

In this retelling of The Iliad, told from the perspective of Penelope about the murder of her twelve maids we examine what it means to be a woman, to have your voice taken away, and to be left without justice. Margret Atwood’s words come alive with the cast of twelve primarily high school and college age actresses. Join this all-female cast as they explore how the twelve maids can take back their story.

  • Thu-Sun, June 27-30 at 7:30pm

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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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