Tag Archives: Diogenes Theatre Company

Sara Clark stars as title character in Shaw’s masterpiece directed by Lindsey Augusta Mercer

CINCINNATI – January 20, 2016 – Diogenes Theatre will produce George Bernard Shaw’s SAINT JOAN in the Aronoff Center’s Fifth Third Theatre for the second play of their season.  Lindsey Augusta Mercer directs the twentieth century classic that will feature Sara Clark in the title role.

SAINT JOAN, a masterpiece by George Bernard Shaw, is the story of the rise and fall of one of history’s most fascinating characters.  Joan is a young country girl who claims to hear voices from God that tell her to raise a siege at Orleans.  She claims that she has divine direction to chase the English out of France.  As she continues to claim victory after victory and her voice b ecomes more powerful, the church turns on her, setting up one of the most dramatic trials of all time.  The battle Joan will wage to hold on to her voice and her principals will be more daunting than any foe faced on the battlefield.  Saint Joan, originally staged in 1923-4, became Shaw’s most popular play almost immediately and continues to be just as powerful today.

Mercer, who has assistant directed many productions with the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company says, “The beautiful effect of Shaw’s account is the way his language encapsulates Joan’s strength, conviction, and unshakable positivity. As I am immersed in the cadence and passion of this play, I find myself filled with inspiration that perhaps is descendent of the spirit Joan moved in her contemporaries. It is a fine homage to her legacy- and should make for an even finer night of theatre.”

The play will feature Sara Clark as Joan.  The enormous cast of characters that surround Joan will be portrayed by only six other actors, making this a theatrical feat not to be missed.  The cast includes: Geoffrey Barnes, Billy Chace, Jared Earland, Patrick Phillips, Rory Sheridan & Nicole Jeannine Smith.  Sara Clark, says of the project: “Shaw always looks a little intimidating from the outside….like you’re at the bottom of a mountain wondering how on earth you’ll ever make it to the top. But in reality, it’s a very, very good play…and it’s always easier to tackle a great play than a bad one. Because he’s done all the work for you. Learn all of the words accurately and say them clearly. Take a small breath at the commas and a big one at the full stops. You don’t have to be the world’s most brilliant actor, just one who’s smart enough to get out of your own way.”

The design team features costume design by Amanda McGee, set design by Sarah Beth Hall, sound design by Doug Borntrager, and lighting design by Alan Kleesattel.  The production is stage managed by Justin McCombs.  Brian Isaac Phillips serves as a special consultant for the production.

Performances will be on February 18, 19, 20 and March 2, 3, 4, and 5  at 7:30pm and February 21 at 2:00pm.  All performances will take place at the Aronoff Center for the Arts’ Fifth Third Theatre.

Diogenes Theatre Company is a small professional theatre performing the best of comedy and drama in intimate studio settings .  For more information visit – www.diogenestheatrecompany.com.  Tickets can also be purchased at www.cincinnatiarts.org.

Up next for Diogenes Theatre Company will be Samuel Beckett’s “Happy Days” directed by Michael Evan Haney and featuring Amy Warner.

WE CAN ALL USE A GOOD LAUGH!

“RELATIVELY SPEAKING,” ALAN AYCKBOURN’S MASTERPIECE
OF BRITISH COMEDY, COMES TO THE ARONOFF CENTER

CINCINNATI (FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE) – As the first production in its 2015-16 season, Diogenes Theatre Company presents Alan Ayckbourn’s comedic masterpiece RELATIVELY SPEAKING at the Aronoff Center’s Fifth Third Black Box Theater November 11 through November 22.

The production, directed by Brian Isaac Phillips, stars Robert Pavlovich, Abby Rowold, Patrick Phillips and Bailie Breaux.

RELATIVELY SPEAKING is one of Alan Ayckbourn’s finest plays. A series of mistaken identities and misunderstandings lead to an evening of pure enjoyment for the audience.

Ginny goes to the house of her older lover, Phillip, in order to end a relationship and to retrieve some compromising letters. Matters are complicated when her current partner, Greg, also turns up and meets Sheila, Phillip’s wife, believing her to be Ginny’s mother. Confusion ensues, as the characters become more and more tangled in their own attempts to hide the truth about who they really are and their unspoken relationships to each other. Critics of British productions have described the play as “achingly funny” and “riotously funny.”

Robert Pavlovich plays Phillip, Ginny’s lover. Recently, he premiered the play BIBI: A One Man Show with Diogenes at the Aronoff. He was also seen as Zero in Adding Machine: A Musical, and The Father in Eurydice with The Know Theatre here in Cincinnati. Other recent productions include: Lawrence in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Zach in A Chorus Line, Lazar Wolfe in Fiddler on the Roof, and Feldzeig in Drowsy Chaperon, in New Orleans. On the Drama faculty at the University of Cincinnati, CCM, Robert is a proud 18-year member of Actor’s Equity.

Ginny is played by Bailie Breaux, whose recent credits include The Tall Girls (Washington Ensemble Theatre) and Dangerous Liaisons (Cincinnati Shakespeare Company), where she became EMC. Bailie has acted around the world in Scotland (Edinburgh Fringe), England (Royal Academy of Dramatic Art), and Greece (One Year Lease Theatre Company). Her TV credits include “Outsiders.” Bailie is a proud member of SAG-AFTRA, and holds a BFA in Acting from CCM.

Abby Rowold plays Sheila, Phillip’s wife. Originally from Iowa, Abby gradually made her way east, stopping in Chicago for ten years where she acted in store-front theatres, studied at the Second City Conservatory, and performed with her band. She attended Indiana University and received her MFA in Acting in 2011. Regionally she has performed at Indiana Festival Theatre, The Brown County Playhouse, The Phoenix Theatre in Indianapolis, and The Utah Shakespeare Festival. Locally she has performed at The Carnegie, Children’s Theatre Cincinnati, The Cincinnati Fringe Festival, and Cincinnati Shakespeare Company. She is currently a co-artistic director of SHEatre Cincinnati Women’s Theatre.

Greg, Ginny’s current romantic partner, is played by Patrick E. Phillips. Patrick is a proud graduate of Xavier University where he received his degrees in Theatre and English. Most recently, Patrick performed in Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati’s production of “Luna Gale” (Peter) after having completed a year-long acting internship with Ensemble. Some of Patrick’s favorite collegiate credits include “The Crucible” (Rev. Hale; co-production with Cincinnati Shakespeare Co.), “From White Plains” (Gregory), “Avenue Q” (Princeton) and “The Taming of the Shrew” (Lucentio).

The top notch design team includes scenic designer Sarah Beth Hall, sound designer Doug Borntrager, lighting designer Alan Kleesattel and costume designer Amanda McGee. Jared Joplin is the stage manager.

“We are thrilled to have such a great team for such a great play,” said Jeff Landen, on behalf of the producers. “Brian Isaac Phillips is obviously a brilliant director, and the actors each bring an excellent sense of comedic timing to a show that is simply chock full of laughs.”

Performances of RELATIVELY SPEAKING are scheduled from November 11- November 22, 2015 on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings at 7:30 pm, with a final matinee performance on Sunday, November 22, at 2 pm.

The Fifth Third Black Box Theater is part of the Aronoff Center. The entrance to the intimate performance space is at the corner of Seventh and Main. Single ticket prices are $29, with students welcome for the reduced price of $14.

Tickets can be purchased in person at the Aronoff Center box office at 650 Walnut Street, online at CincinnatiArts.org, or by phone at (513) 621-2787 [ARTS].

“Relatively Speaking” is presented by special arrangement with SAMUEL FRENCH, INC.

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About Diogenes: Diogenes Theatre Company is an Ohio nonprofit corporation. Diogenes produces theatrical works showcasing the talents of some of the best theatre professionals in the Greater Cincinnati area. Diogenes is proud to be an Actors’ Equity Association Small Professional Theatre.