Tag Archives: Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati

ENSEMBLE THEATRE CINCINNATI OPENS 2014-2015 SEASON
WITH REGIONAL PREMIERE MUSICAL, HANDS ON A HARDBODY

(Cincinnati, OH) Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati opens its 29th season with the regional premiere of Hands on a Hardbody, the thrilling, powerfully emotional new musical featuring a country-rock-pop score by Trey Anastasio (frontman for the rock band Phish) and Amanda Green (High Fidelity, Bring It On), and a script by Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Doug Wright (Grey Gardens, I Am My Own Wife). The show, which features a full-size Nissan hardbody truck on stage alongside its cast of 15, plays September 2-21, 2014 and is directed by D. Lynn Meyers.

The story, inspired by the acclaimed 1997 cult-hit documentary of the same name, depicts the real-life gritty struggles of ten contestants at a Longview, Texas Nissan dealership as they laugh, cry, and stand for days under the grueling sun touching the truck—and they stand there…and stand there…until one by one, people get tired and drop away, and one person is left standing. That person gets to keep the truck. An endurance/sleep deprivation contest, this new musical is a peek into the lives of everyday, ordinary Americans, struggling to survive against the backdrop of a broken and beaten working middle class.

Featuring a catchy combination of rhythm and blues, rockabilly, gospel, rock and roll, and country songs, one by one the quirky characters share what winning would mean to them. There’s J.D., who lost his oil-rig job and just got out of the hospital, and Jesus, whose only hope for veterinary school is to win and resell the truck. Also vying for the American Dream are an Iraq war veteran, an ex-cheerleader, a crafty previous winner full of advice for his rivals, a run-down mother of six, and a desperate chocolate bar addict.

Cast includes several regular Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati performers, including: Michael G. Bath (Frank Nugent), Michael Gerard Carr (Greg Wilhote), Charlie Clark (Benny Perkins), Denise Devlin (Heather Stovall), Annie Fitzpatrick (Cindy Barnes), Deb G. Girdler (Janis Curtis), Sara Mackie (Norma Valverde), Brooke Steele (Kelli Mangrum), and Kate Wilford (Virginia Drew).

Additionally, Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati welcomes the following performers in their debuts at Ensemble: Geoffrey Warren Barnes II (Ronald McCowan), Jordan De Leon (Jesus Peña), Phil Fiorini (JD Drew), Michael Flannery (Don Curtis/Dr. Stokes), Dallas Padoven (Chris Alvaro), and Michael Shawn Starks (Mike Ferris).

Production team includes Brian c. Mehring (Resident Scenic & Lighting Designer), Matthew Hollstegge (Technical Director, Production Coordinator & Master Electrician), Shannon Rae Lutz (Properties Master & Design Assistant), Jeremy Lee (Sound Designer), Patti James (Choreographer), Scot Woolley (Musical Director), and Reba Senske (Costume Designer). Production Stage Manager is Brandon T. Holmes.

Performance Information
Performances run Tuesday through Sunday. Tuesday-Thursday, 7:30 pm; Friday and Saturday, 8:00 pm; Saturday and Sunday, 2:00 pm; and Sunday, 7:00 pm. A complete calendar of performances is available online at www.ensemblecincinnati.org.

Ticket Prices
Ticket prices range from $28 to $44 for adults; student tickets are $25; and children are $18. For the 2014-2015 season, ETC continues its popular $15 student and half-price rush tickets for all performances, which are available two hours prior to show time and may be purchased by phone or in person at the box office.

Available Discounts
Military, Educator, Public Radio Perks Card, ArtsWave FunCard, AAA, Senior, and Enjoy the Arts discounts available; tickets and seating are subject to availability.

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Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati is supported, in part, by the generosity of community contributions to the ArtsWave Campaign.

The Ohio Arts Council helps fund Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans. Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati also receives funding from the Shubert Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts.

2014-2015 Season Presenting Sponsor is the Otto M. Budig Family Foundation. Additional support provided by Garfield Suites Hotel, the Shubert Foundation, and PNC.

Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati is a professional theatre dedicated to producing world and regional premieres of works that often explore compelling social issues. We fulfill our mission through our stage productions and educational outreach programs that enlighten, enliven, enrich and inspire our audiences.

TICKETS TO ENSEMBLE THEATRE CINCINNATI’S 2014-2015 SEASON
GO ON SALE MONDAY, AUGUST 4 AT 10AM

(Cincinnati, OH) All single tickets to Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati’s exciting 2014-2015 Season go on sale Monday, August 4 at 10:00 am. Subscriptions are still available and come in a variety of packages, including the newly added Tuesday preview subscription option.

Highlights for the season include:

• The unique new musical Hands on a Hardbody, featuring a brilliant score from Amanda Green and Trey Anastasio (front man for the band Phish), along with a masterful story by Pulitzer Prize winner Doug Wright (I Am My Own Wife, Grey Gardens). 15 cast members share the stage with a hardbody truck as they compete in an endurance/sleep deprivation contest in order to win it.
• The regional premiere of An Iliad, a modern and breathtakingly relevant retelling of the classic, featuring acclaimed actor Bruce Cromer who will embody the Greek classic’s famous characters from Achilles and Hector to Agamemnon—even the beautiful Helen of Troy—as he shares the stage with only a cellist.
• Outside Mullingar, the new romantic comedy from Pulitzer-, Oscar-, and Tony Award-winner John Patrick Shanley, writer of Doubt and Moonstruck. ETC welcomes back Director Ed Stern along with veteran actors Dale Hodges and Joneal Joplin in this regional premiere.

Performance Information
Performances run Tuesday through Sunday. Tuesday-Thursday, 7:30 pm; Friday and Saturday, 8:00 pm; Saturday and Sunday, 2:00 pm; and Sunday, 7:00 pm. Sleeping Beauty holiday schedule varies. A complete calendar of performances is available online at http://www.ensemblecincinnati.org.

Ticket Prices
Ticket prices range from $28 to $44 for adults; student tickets are $25; and children are $18. For the 2014-2015 season, ETC will also continue its popular $15 student and half-price rush tickets for all performances, which are available two hours prior to show time and may be purchased by phone or in person at the box office.

Available Discounts
Military, Educator, Public Radio Perks Card, ArtsWave FunCard, AAA, Senior and Enjoy the Arts discounts available; tickets and seating are subject to availability.

Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati is supported, in part, by the generosity of community contributions to the ArtsWave Campaign.

The Ohio Arts Council helps fund Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans. Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati also receives funding from the Shubert Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati is a professional theatre dedicated to producing world and regional premieres of works that often explore compelling social issues. We fulfill our mission through our stage productions and educational outreach programs that enlighten, enliven, enrich and inspire our audiences.