Tag Archives: Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park

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

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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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A CHRISTMAS CAROL Returns to Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park with New Adaptation for the Rouse Theatre Beginning Nov. 24

PIP_A Christmas CarolCINCINNATI (Nov. 1, 2023) – The Christmas classic and Cincinnati family tradition of A CHRISTMAS CAROL by Charles Dickens returns to Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park with a new adaptation specifically for Moe and Jack’s Place  — The Rouse Theatre.  Audiences can experience the dazzling new set, costume and lighting designs beginning Nov. 24. The new production, presented by First Financial Bank, runs through Dec. 30. Opening night is Nov. 30.

“I love A Christmas Carol,” says Blake Robison, Osborn Family Producing Artistic Director, who wrote a new adaptation specifically for the Rouse Theatre and directs the production. “I love seeing so many families of multiple generations come to the theatre together. You have grandparents, parents and kids all attending. I think it centers us as a community. It reminds us of what’s important in life.”

In addition to Robison’s new adaptation, which features additional scenes from Dickens’ classic novella, A CHRISTMAS CAROL includes theatrical staging made possible with the technology in the new theatre that was not possible in the old facility. And Andrew May, who audiences will remember as Hercule Poirot from last season’s Murder on the Orient Express, plays Ebeneezer Scrooge in the new production.

Robison began work on the new adaptation more than a year ago, beginning with a fresh read of the original work by Dickens. His script remains faithful to the story that continues to be part of audiences’ holiday traditions.

“It’s about redemption, and the joy of the season, and finding peace and purpose in the service of others,” Robison explained. “It’s this wonderful parable about a person who is at odds with all the humanity around him. He has carved out a life of loneliness and defensiveness. He’s put his walls around himself. Then, he has a chance to make amends and reconnect with the world. A timeless message, to be sure, but perhaps an especially timely message in our current social environment. It’s a reminder of the better parts of the human soul and spirit and appreciation for the things that make us human.”

CAST

Andrew May – Ebenezer Scrooge
Burgess Byrd – Mrs. Fezziwig
R. Ward Duffy – Topper and Others
Kenneth Early – Mr. Fezziwig, Ghost of Christmas Present
Annie Fitzpatrick – Charwoman and Others
Ryan Wesley Gilreath – Bob Cratchit
Shonita Joshi – Belle, Mrs. Dilber
Zane Kramer – Tiny Tim
Taha Mandviwala – Fred
Grace Manning – Martha Cratchit and Others
Justin McCombs – Solicitor and Others
Kelly Mengelkoch – Mrs. Cratchit and Others
Dina Monk – Fezziwig Guest, Fred Guest
Maggie Lou Rader – Ghost of Christmas Past, Debtor Wife
Jefferson A. Russell* – Jacob Marley and Others
Aaron Schilling – Dick Wilkins and Others
Rory Sheridan – Debtor Husband and Others
Sierra King – Fan and Others
Zach Stone – Young Scrooge, Undertaker
Oscar Syroney – Peter Cratchit and Others
Tess Talbot – Rose and Others
Claire VanderMolen – Belinda Cratchit and Others
Robert Zahniser – Boy Scrooge and Others
Jared Earland – Understudy
Kent Sokolis – Understudy
Lila Rogers – Understudy
Sean P. Mette – Understudy
Yodeet Nymberg – Understudy

PRODUCTION

Playwright/Director – Blake Robison
Set Designer – Wilson Chin
Costume Designer – Bill Black
Lighting Designer – Jaymi Lee Smith
Sound Designer/Composer – Matthew M. Nielson
Puppetry Director – Betsy Rosen
Puppet Design and Fabrication – Daniel Tristan Cupp
Choreographer/Intimacy Coordinator – Casey Sams
Music Director – Steve Goers
Assistant Director – Bridget Leak
Stage Manager – Brooke Redler
Second Stage Manager – Brandon T. Holmes
Second Stage Manager – Andrea L. Shell
Assistant Stage Manager – Shelby Scaffidi

TICKETS

Tickets begin at $35.00. Child and teen tickets begin at $33.50. Preview performances take place Nov. 24 and 25 at 7 p.m. and Nov. 26 at 2 p.m. Prices vary depending on performance. Opening night is Nov. 30 at 7 p.m. Regular performances will take place on Tuesday-Fridays at 7 p.m., Saturdays at 2 and 7 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. A weekday matinee will be offered on Dec. 20, 22 and 26 at 2 p.m. No performances on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. 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 http://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. 30 at 7 p.m.

Share the excitement of Thursday opening nights with a lively post-show cast party.

ADVISORY
A CHRISTMAS CAROL is suitable for all general audiences, including children ages 5 and older. Due to the full-length nature of the show, children younger than 5 cannot be admitted.

SPONSORS

Presented by First Financial Bank. Additional support provided by the Harold C. Schott Foundation. Design Sponsor is Skidmore Sales & Distributing. Artist Sponsors are Bahl & Gaynor and Frost, Brown Todd. Honorary Producer is Barbara M. Weyand. Media sponsors are WCPO and WARM-98.5. Moe and Jack’s Place — The Rouse Theatre Season is presented by the Schueler Group. Season Design Sponsor is Kerry Automotive.

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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A CHRISTMAS CAROL Runs Nov. 24-Dec. 30

PIP_A Christmas Carol

Andrew May as Scrooge by Tony Arrasmith/Arrasmith and Associates.

A CHRISTMAS CAROL
Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park
Nov. 24-Dec. 30
Rouse Theatre [Eden Park]

Adapted and directed by Blake Robinson

Cast: Andrew May as Ebenezer Scrooge, Burgess Byrd as Mrs. Fezziwig, R. Ward Duffy as Topper & Others, Kenneth Early as Mr. Fezziwig & Ghost of Christmas Present, Annie Fitzpartrick as Charwoman & Others, Ryan Wesley Gilreath as Bob Cratchit, Shonita Joshi as Belle & Mrs. Dilber, Zane Kramer as Tiny Tim, Taha Mandviwala as Fred, Grace Manning as Martha Cratchit & Others, Justin McCombs as Solicitor & Others, Kelly Mengelkoch as Mrs. Cratchit & Others, Dina Monk as Fezziwig Guest & Fred Guest, Maggie Lou Rader as Ghost of Christmas Past & Debtor Wife, Jefferson A. Russell as Jacob Marley & Others, Aaron Schilling as Dick Wilkins & Others, Rory Sheridan as Debtor Husband & Others, Seava Sierra King as Fan & Others, Zach Stone as Young Scrooge, Undertaker, Oscar Syroney as Peter Cratchit & Others, Tess Talbot as Rose & Others, Claire Vandermolen as Belinda Cratchit & Others & Robert Zahniser as Boy Scrooge & Others

In Charles Dickens’ classic tale, Ebenezer Scrooge is a greedy curmudgeon who finds his heart changing when three spirits and the ghost of a long-lost friend show him the errors of his ways. Across one fateful Christmas Eve night, Scrooge recalls the warmth and generosity of past loved ones, learns the value of kindness through Tiny Tim and the Cratchit family and glimpses a terrifying future should his heart remain the same. Featuring dazzling new set, costume and lighting designs, A Christmas Carol promises a magical holiday experience for your family like never before! A Christmas Carol is suitable for all general audiences, including children ages 5 and older. Due to the full-length nature of the show, children younger than 5 cannot be admitted.

  • In preview Fri-Sat, Nov. 24-25 at 7pm
  • In preview Sun, Nov. 26 at 2pm
  • Thu-Fri, Nov. 30-Dec. 1 at 7pm
  • Sat, Dec, 2 at 2pm & 7pm
  • Sun, Dec. 3 at 2pm
  • Wed-Fri, Dec. 6-8 at 7pm
  • Sat, Dec. 9 at 2pm & 7pm
  • Sun, Dec. 10 at 2pm
  • Tue-Fri, Dec. 12-15 at 7pm
  • Sat-Sun, Dec. 16-17 at 2pm & 7pm
  • Tue, Dec. 19 at 7pm
  • Wed, Dec. 20 at 2pm & 7pm
  • Thu, Dec. 21 at 7pm
  • Fri-Sat, Dec. 22-23 at 2pm & 7pm
  • Tue, Dec. 26 at 2pm & 7pm
  • Wed-Fri, Dec. 27-29 at 7pm
  • Sat, Dec. 30 at 2pm & 7pm

Official page |

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CLYDE’S Review

Review by Katrina “Kat” Reynolds. CLYDE’S presented by Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park through November 5th. I attended the opening night performance.

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The cast of Clyde’s presented by Playhouse in the Park. Photo credit to Mikki Schaffner.

I’ll tell you something: in the last couple of years, Pulitzer Prize-winner Lynn Nottage has quickly become one of my favourite playwrights. So when I got wind that her latest play, Clyde’s, would be going up at Moe and Jack’s Place (The Rouse Theatre) at Playhouse in the Park, needless to say I was enthusiastic.

Clyde’s, directed by Timothy Douglas, tells the story of a truck-stop known for its sandwiches. Not-so-publicly known is that the kitchen crew are ex-cons who eagerly take the bait of a real job when finding such a thing after prison can be incredibly difficult. But owner and fellow ex-con Clyde’s manner can be enough to make them regret jumping at the chance at a so-called “honest living”.

Set Designer Se Hyun Oh deserve a standing “Oh” (oof, even I cringed at that one) for his incredible work. Word on the street is that Mr. Oh consulted with a professional chef for the kitchen model and it shows. The layout as well as the attention to detail throughout are absolutely brilliant. Plus I’m a sucker for a set that contains a sink with running water.

Casting Director Stephanie Klapper has put together one of the most harmonious ensembles of actors I’ve ever seen. Strong, committed, and talented, they all deserve a mention by name (in speaking order): Michael Cornelius Chenevert, Jr. as Montrellous; Maiesha McQueen as Clyde; Shannon Dorsey as Letitia; Juan Arturo as Rafael; and Austin Kirk as Jason. These accomplished artists will make you feel like you are the proverbial “fly on the wall” witnessing all the happenings in this gritty and all too real tale.

While I am a big fan of the way Ms. Nottage incorporates music into her scene changes, the number of changes in this particular script seems to be excessive.

Some are rather lengthy for very little payoff. But as I often say, if we get that nit-picky, they are doing something right. There is another plot point that seemed inconsistent regarding the character Rafael, but since I don’t do spoilers, I won’t get into it here. Ask me when you see me and we can chat about it.

In short, this allegory of people just trying to survive their mistakes without becoming them is an enjoyable time at the theatre*. Running approximately 95 mins with no intermission, be sure you eat directly before or directly after Clyde’s because you are definitely going to need a sandwich.

For tickets, please visit the Playhouse site here.

*Important note about content advisory: very strong adult language and discussing mature topics, including sex, substance abuse and illegal activities.

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LATE NITE CATECHISM Runs Nov. 4-Dec. 23

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Photo of Beth Ward as Sister. Photo by Mikki Schaffner.

LATE NITE CATECHISM
Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park
Nov. 4-Dec. 23
Shelterhouse Theatre [Eden Park]

One of the longest running shows in Chicago and U.S. theatre history, this one-nun comedy is part catechism class, part stand-up routine. A playful and compassionate send-up of Catholic culture, the audience becomes Sister’s class in this uproarious piece of interactive theatre. Sister is filling in for Father Murphy, who doesn’t want to miss his poker night, and she’s going to teach the class the way she wants. She goes on to weave stories into a hilarious tapestry that laughs at the quirks of the church while simultaneously embracing them. The Hollywood Reporter said it’s “a laugh-filled evening for all cultures, classes and religions.” Appropriate for audiences 12 and up and contains no strong language.

  • In preview Sat, Nov. 4 at 7:30pm
  • In preview Sun, Nov. 5 at 2pm
  • In preview Tue-Wed, Nov. 7-8 at 7:30pm
  • Thu (SOLD OUT)-Fri, Nov. 9-10 at 7:30pm
  • Sat, Nov. 11 at 2pm & 7:30pm
  • Sun, Nov. 12 at 2pm
  • Tue-Fri, Nov. 14-17 at 7:30pm
  • Sat, Nov. 18 at 2pm & 7:30pm
  • Sun, Nov. 19 at 2pm
  • Tue, Nov. 21 at 7:30pm
  • Wed, Nov. 22 at 1pm & 7:30pm
  • Fri, Nov. 24 at 7:30pm
  • Sat, Nov. 25 at 2pm & 7:30pm
  • Sun, Nov. 26 at 2pm
  • Tue-Fri, 28-Dec. 1 at 7:30pm
  • Sat, Dec. 2 at 2pm & 7:30pm
  • Sun, Dec. 3 at 2pm
  • Tue-Fri, Dec. 5-8 at 7:30pm
  • Sat, Dec. 9 at 2pm & 7:30pm
  • Sun, Dec. 10 at 2pm
  • Tue-Fri, Dec. 12-15 at 7:30pm
  • Sat, Dec. 16 at 2pm & 7:30pm
  • Sun, Dec. 17 at 2pm
  • Tue-Thu, Dec. 19-21 at 7:30pm
  • Fri-Sat, Dec. 22-23 at 2pm & 7:30pm

Official page |

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