Tag Archives: Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park

September 10, 2018 · 8:46 am

MISERY Review

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Barbara Chisholm as Annie Wilkes. Photo by Mikki Schaffner.

MISERY presented by Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park through Sept. 29. Click here for a synopsis and more information on the production. I attended the opening night performance.

Cincinnati Playhouse kicks off their 2018-2019 season with a top-notch stage adaptation of the Stephen King novel of the same name. Gasps, groans, and nervous laughter? Check, check, and check. Director Blake Robison delivers edge-of-your-seat thrills with capital “Eeek!”

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David Whalen as Paul Sheldon. Photo by Mikki Schaffner.

As savior and sadistic jailer Annie Wilkes, Barbara Chisholm is equal parts funny and scary, but always believable as she ping-pongs between “number one fan” and number one fanatic. David Whalen as injured novelist Paul Sheldon transitions very well from near-helpless prisoner to determined survivor and handles the physical demands of the role very well. Together the two have a great rapport on stage and their adversarial relationship is very engaging to watch unfold (except in those moments you have to look away). Rounding out the cast is Kenneth Early turning in a solid performance as Buster, the local sheriff who questions Annie about the missing Sheldon.

The fourth star of the show is Paul Shortt’s beautiful three-sided set which rotates between living room, bedroom and kitchen throughout both acts. There are also a couple of surprises with the set that were fun and highly effective.

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Barbara Chisholm as Annie Wilkes & David Whalen as Paul Sheldon. Photo by Mikki Schaffner.

The set decor was amazingly detailed and fit perfectly with Annie’s character. The lighting design by Xavier Pierce adds much to the show’s atmosphere and I enjoyed how the passage of time was handled between scenes. Also adding to the suspense of the piece was the work of sound designer and composer, Matthew M. Nielson. Rick Sordelet and Christian Kelly-Sordelet are listed as fight choreographer and special effects coordinator for MISERY. For the most part, the stage combat and effects are highly effective and handled well by the cast.

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Kenneth Early as Buster & Barbara Chisholm as Annie Wilkes. Photo by Mikki Schaffner.

Costume designer Kathleen Geldard created some great looks for Annie and several of the changes seemed very quick . Great work by the crew on the running of the show and those stealthy set changes as the play continued on the other side of the wall.

Overall, MISERY is a tightly directed, engrossing and suspenseful thriller, elevated by pitch-perfect performances and great eye to detail. Start your Halloween season a month early at the Playhouse.

My rating: 5 out of 5.

I would enjoy hearing what you think about the show or my review. All I ask is that you express your opinion without attacking someone else’s opinion. You can post your comments below.

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September 7, 2018 · 12:03 pm

The Wilds of THE JUNGLE BOOK Will Visit Cincinnati This Fall

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Photo by Tony Arrasmith/Arrasmith & Associates.

Fast-paced, modern retelling to tour area community centers through Playhouse’s Off the Hill series Sept. 29 to Nov. 2.

CINCINNATI –CINCINNATI-Bring your children to the jungle this fall to watch Mowgli the man-cub come face-to-face with sneaky monkeys, noisy vultures and more when Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park brings THE JUNGLE BOOK to community centers throughout the region as part of its Off the Hill series. The show runs Sept. 29 to Nov. 2.

The schedule of performances is available online. 

The new adaptation of Rudyard Kipling’s beloved story features a rambunctious, curious and silly Mowgli who is lost in the wilds of the jungle, where he is adopted by Baloo the bear, Bagheera the panther and all the beasts who call the mysterious wilderness home.

Greg Banks’ script plays on the nostalgia of Kipling’s tales while providing a modern, fast-paced retelling for audiences. A cast of only five actors (from the Playhouse’s Bruce E. Coyle Acting Intern Company) will fill 20 scripted roles in this adventurous production.

“Mowgli is how all children are when they start off in the world,” says Banks in a video interview with the Arden Theatre Company. “Just curious, unafraid, energetic, excited about the world.”

THE JUNGLE BOOK utilizes an exciting set from Kenton Brett and costume designs by Melanie Mortimore to transport viewers to the wondrous wilderness of the Indian jungle that Mowgli and his animal friends call home.

Brett took on the task of creating a set that was both mobile and true to Banks’ vision of a world that embodies youth and freedom.

“The words may be contemporary but it is still set in the jungle — a strange, cartoon kaleidoscope of a jungle,” Brett says of his artistic vision.

The set provides a perfect background to introduce, or reintroduce for some, Mowgli and his jungle-dwelling friends. Protected and guided by Baloo, Bagheera and Mother and Father Wolf, Mowgli discovers challenges and dangers that test his strength and friendships. Yet he finds that when he is in peril, the ones who truly care for him are never that far behind.

“What makes this adaptation of The Jungle Book such a powerful tale to experience is that it uses movement,” says Daunielle Rasmussen, Playhouse Director of Education and Community Engagement, who is also the director of the show. “It has a contemporary interpretation of the animal characters that connects it to our own human experience in a more intentional way.”

Rasmussen emphasizes that even though it is an adventurous tale in the Indian jungle, it is still a story about a young boy who is facing the challenges of growing up. The new adaptation is perfect for children and families to enjoy together. It is recommended for ages 6 and up.

“I love the joy that I see on the faces of parents as they get to share the stories that were meaningful for them as youth with their children,” says Rasmussen, reflecting on her own experience of sharing the story with her son.

The Playhouse’s production will journey all over greater Cincinnati, from Oxford to Cheviot to Union to Covington and many places in between.

The cast includes Julie Locker as Mowgli, Damien Boykin as Shere Kahn, Madison Rengli as Bagheera, David Armando as Father Wolf/Baloo and Maya Jeyam as Mother Wolf/Kaa.

THE JUNGLE BOOK is the first of three Playhouse Off the Hill productions for the 2018-19 Season, which also will present Cyrano and Five Little Monkeys. Off the Hill is sponsored by The John C. Griswold Foundation and KeyBank. Seasonal support of education and outreach by The Robert and Adele Schiff Family Foundation and The Charles H. Dater Foundation. The Bruce E. Coyle Acting Intern Company is supported by Jerry and Betsy Shroat.

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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August 28, 2018 · 4:05 pm

Jen Silverman’s THE ROOMMATE Moves into the Shelterhouse Theatre Sept. 21

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Photo by Tony Arrasmith/Arrasmith & Associates.

Dramatic comedy explores the possibility of transformation when two women step out of their comfort zones

CINCINNATI –Sharon, a recently divorced homemaker from Iowa, needs a roommate. Robyn, a slam poet from New York, needs a chance to start over. When they find each other through a roommate listing, hilarity (and some illegal activity) ensues. Beginning Sept. 21, Shelterhouse audiences can come along for the ride in THE ROOMMATE and watch two empty-nesters navigate the rocky roads of change. The play runs through Oct. 21 (Opening Night is Sept. 27.).

The darkly humorous story by Jen Silverman features two bad-ass women in their fifties who each push the other’s comfort zones, breaking the rules and the law along the way. Or as the L.A. Times describes it, “Jen Silverman brings humor and a wicked sense of anarchic fun.”

THE ROOMMATE opened Actors Theatre of Louisville’s Humana Festival of New American Plays in 2015 and was adored by audiences and critics alike. It has since received many productions including Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theatre Company. Silverman, a rising star in theatre, has received The Kennedy Center’s Paula Vogel Playwriting Award and recently landed the prestigious Playwrights of New York (PoNY) fellowship. The world premiere of her play All the Roads Home debuted at the Playhouse in 2017.

Silverman writes about complicated and authentic women, and, with THE ROOMMATE, she addresses the lack of meaty roles for women in their fifties. She recently told American Theatre, “Women are allowed to be onstage as long as they’re talking about their husband. I’m interested in the territories that these exceptions are taking up and being part of that conversation. And that to me feels personally and politically and artistically important.”

Each of the Playhouse’s productions in the Shelterhouse this season was penned by women, and four of the five plays features a woman in the director’s chair.

“In recent years, we’ve focused on bringing women’s voices to the forefront of our season programming,” explains Blake Robison, artistic director of the Playhouse. “Jen Silverman is part of a new generation of writers whose voices deserve to be heard in our nation’s large institutional theatres. She has a singular voice. Her characters are vivid and their stories intertwine in elegant and unexpected ways.”

Tracy Brigden, who directs the production, says it’s the type of play she really enjoys bringing to the stage: “It checks all the boxes for me: it makes you both laugh and cry, it’s a universal story told in a very specific context, there are juicy roles for two extraordinary actresses to really dig into, it’s smart, and it has a well-structured plot that makes you think it’s going to be one thing but surprises you along the way.”

CAST
Margaret Daly (Sharon); Mary Jo Mecca (Robyn)

PRODUCTION
Jen Silverman (Playwright), Tracy Brigden (Director); Anne Mundell (Set Designer); Tracy Christensen (Costume Designer); Lindsay Jones (Original Music and Sound Designer); Stephanie Klapper, CSA (Casting Director); Andrea L. Shell (Stage Manager)

TICKETS
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. Call 513-345-2248 for Telecommunications Device for the Deaf accessibility.

Performances will begin at 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays, at 8 p.m. Fridays, 4 and 8 p.m. Saturdays and 2 and 7 p.m. Sundays. Individual tickets start at just $35. Tickets to all 7 p.m. Sunday performances are priced at just $10 for college students with a valid school ID. Student tickets are just $15 on the day of the show for all other performances. Discounted ticket prices for and teens are $30.

SPONSORS
Production Sponsors are Digi and Mike Schueler. Artist Sponsors are Charles and Joann Mead. Season Sponsor is Heidelberg Distributing Company and Season Design Sponsors are Allan Berliant and Jennie Rosenthal Family Fund. Season Sponsor of New Work is the Rosenthal Family Foundation. 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.

ACCESS
The Playhouse is fully accessible. Audio enhancement receivers, large print programs, and complete wheelchair access are available.

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August 24, 2018 · 10:31 am

THE ROOMMATE Runs Sept. 21-Oct. 21

PIP_The Roommate promo

Photo by Tony Arrasmith/Arrasmith & Associates.

THE ROOMMATE
Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park
Sept. 21-Oct. 21
Shelterhouse Theatre [Eden Park]

Directed by Tracy Brigden

Cast: Margaret Daly as Sharon & Mary Jo Mecca as Robyn

The Odd Couple meets Breaking Bad in this wickedly funny comedy. With a recent divorce and her son living across the country, 50-something Sharon posts a listing for a roommate to fill the empty space of her Iowa home. Enter Robyn, a fascinating woman who needs a place to hide and the chance to start over. When Sharon begins to uncover Robyn’s secrets, she taps in to a deep-seated desire to abandon her comfort zone and live a life of danger and adventure. THE ROOMMATE cleverly navigates the rocky roads of change and hilariously examines what happens when the wheels come off. Advisory: suitable for adults and teenage audiences.

  • In preview, Fri-Sat, Sept. 21-22 at 8pm & Sun, Sept. 23 at 7pm
  • In preview, Tue-Wed, Sept. 25-26 at 7:30pm
  • Thu, Sept. 27 at 7:30pm
  • Fri, Sept. 28 at 8pm
  • Sat, Sept. 29 at 4pm & 8pm
  • Sun, Sept. 30 at 2pm & 7pm
  • Tue-Thu, Oct. 2-4 at 7:30pm
  • Fri, Oct. 5 at 8pm
  • Sat, Oct. 6 at 4pm & 8pm
  • Sun, Oct. 7 at 2pm & 7pm
  • Tue-Thu, Oct. 9-11 at 7:30pm
  • Sat, Oct. 13 at 4pm & 8pm
  • Sun, Oct. 14 at 2pm & 7pm
  • Tue, Oct. 16 at 7:30pm
  • Wed, Oct. 17 at 1pm  & 7:30pm
  • Thu, Oct. 18 at 7:30pm
  • Fri, Oct. 19 at 8pm
  • Sat, Oct. 20 at 4pm & 8pm
  • Sun, Oct. 21 at 2pm

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August 15, 2018 · 9:38 am

Playhouse Fall Acting Classes For Children Now on Sale

PIP_Kids1Classes geared for ages 3-14

CINCINNATI—Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park’s fall acting classes are now on sale for young persons ages 3-14. Participants who register by Aug. 22 receive a $20 discount with code LRN2018; final registration deadline is Sept. 7. Classes take place at the Playhouse in Mount Adams: 962 Mt Adams Circle, Cincinnati, OH 45202.

Designed to build confidence, strengthen communication skills and develop a sense of ensemble and community, the programs focus on individual and collective skill development in a fun and supportive environment.

“At the Playhouse, we believe everyone has a voice,” says Daunielle Rasmussen, director of education and community engagement. “No acting experience is required or expected for our programs.”

Details for each class, including fees and dates, are below. Register at cincyplay.com or call 513-421-3888.

FALL CLASS SCHEDULE

CAMPFIRE STORIES
Saturdays, Sept. 8 to Oct. 27 | Tuition: $95*
Pre-kindergarten | 10 – 10:30 a.m.

Gather ‘round the campfire and listen to our tale! Using acting-based techniques, work as a group to bring exciting adventure stories to life. Nibble on s’mores, build a campsite and meet big brown bears!

SPY SQUAD
Saturdays, Sept. 8 to Oct. 27 | Tuition: $140*
Kindergarten through second grade | 10:40 – 11:25 a.m.

Our spy agency is recruiting and we need you to help us complete our mission! Flex your acting muscles and crack codes, dodge laser traps and go undercover. Do you have what it takes to be the next great spy?

MYSTERY & MAYHEM (Grades 3-5)
Saturdays, Sept. 8 to Oct. 27 | Tuition: $155*
Third through fifth grades | 11:35 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Ghouls and goblins are causing mystery and mayhem! Put your sleuthing (and acting) skills to the test by following a trail of clues and solving tricky mysteries. Will you help us restore order to the world?

MYSTERY & MAYHEM (Grade 6-8)
Saturdays, Sept. 8 to Oct. 27 | Tuition: $155*
Sixth through eighth grades | 9 – 9:50 a.m.

Ghouls and goblins are causing mystery and mayhem! Put your sleuthing (and acting) skills to the test by following a trail of clues and solving tricky mysteries. Will you help us restore order to the world?

The Playhouse is supported by the generosity of more than 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 and the National Endowment for the Arts.

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*Each child acting class tuition includes a $25, non-refundable registration fee. Cancellations prior to the first day of class will be honored with a refund, minus the $25 non-refundable registration fee. Cancellations after the first class will receive a refund, minus a pro-rate for the first class and the $25 non-refundable registration fee. There will be no refunds given after the second class.

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