Tag Archives: Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati

November 4, 2011 · 12:21 pm

A Letter from ETC Board President Steve King

Last month, our very own Producing Artistic Director, D. Lynn Meyers, was named a finalist for the Zelda Fichlander Award. The Zelda Fichandler Award is given by the Society of Directors and Choreographers Foundation (SDCF) in recognition of an extraordinary director or choreographer who has made and continues to make a substantial contribution to the national arts landscape through theatre work.

Richard Garner, Blanka Zizka, Zelda Fichandler, Jonathan Moscone, Michael Halberstam, Howard Shalwitz, and D. Lynn Meyers. Photo: Michael Butcher.

With this award, SDCF recognizes the profound impact and honors the legacy of the founders of regional theatre and celebrates the creativity and artistry of theatre around the country. Named after Zelda Fichandler, a founder of the American regional theatre movement, the award celebrates significant achievement in the field, singular creativity and artistry, and a deep investment in a particular region. This award is not for lifetime achievement; the intent is to honor an artist for both accomplishment to date and promise for the future. This year’s award panel considered many exceptional nominees from throughout the country, including those from Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, New York, Pennsylvania, and Washington D.C., among many others. Lynn was chosen as one of the four national finalists and was honored at the awards ceremony at Arena Stage in Washington, D.C. on October 24th.

Although she was not the winner, she received a letter from the committee that stated the following: “The panel was truly impressed by your accomplishment, a result of singular courage, determination and leadership, but also of great artistry and imagination. Panelists spoke compellingly of the strength of your directing and your nurturing of local artists, and your very real achievement in transforming a neighborhood through enrichment of the arts landscape.”

This is a very prestigious award and an honor to be nominated and even more to be one of the four finalists. As we already know, we are lucky to have her at the theatre and in Cincinnati. Please join me in congratulating her and consider making a donation in her honor to the Artist’s Fund which enables the commission of scripts and the hiring of actors. Congratulations Lynn!

Sincerely,
Stephen M. King, ETC Board President

Click to donate to ETC.

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November 2, 2011 · 11:21 am

SNOW WHITE runs Nov. 30-Dec. 31

SNOW WHITE
Presented by Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati
Nov. 30-Dec. 31
Over-the-Rhine

Reviews: Enquirer | CityBeat |

Mirror, mirror on the wall, from apple to queen, Ensemble Theatre’s Snow White has is it all! From the creators of last year’s smash hit Cinderella, comes an all-new world premiere musical Snow White, based on the classic fairytale, that reminds us the true reflection of beauty and happiness can only be found within. The eighth collaboration between ETC perennial favorites David Kisor and Joseph McDonough, this enchanted and memorable musical will delight audiences of all ages this holiday season. This production is suitable for all audiences.

  • Wed, Nov. 30 at 7pm
  • Fri, Dec. 2 at 7pm
  • Sat, Dec. 3 at 2pm & 7pm
  • Sun, Dec. 4 at 2pm & 6pm
  • Fri, Dec. 9 at 7pm
  • Sat, Dec. 10 at 2pm & 7pm
  • Sun, Dec. 11 at 2pm & 6pm
  • Thu-Fri, Dec. 15-16 at 7pm
  • Sat, Dec. 17 at 2pm & 7pm
  • Sun, Dec. 18 at 2pm & 6pm
  • Tue, Dec. 20 at 7pm
  • Wed-Fri, Dec 21-23 at 2pm & 7pm
  • Tue, Dec. 27 at 2pm & 7pm
  • Wed, Dec. 28 at 7pm
  • Thu-Fri, Dec. 29-30 at 2pm & 7pm
  • Sat, Dec. 31 at noon

Official page | FaceBook event | Goldstar discount |

Media coverage: WVXU interivew |

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October 18, 2011 · 2:18 pm

GHOST-WRITER Review

Links to all reviews can be found on the BTC REVIEWS page. Blog postings, links and more are available on my FaceBook fan page. You can receive updates on Twitter from @BTCincyRob.

Dennis Parlato as Franklin Woolsey & Annie Fitzpatrick as Myra Babbage. Photo by Ryan Kurtz.

GHOST-WRITER presented by Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati through Oct 30. You can read the show description here.

If I had to give you one reason to go see GHOST-WRITER, the choice would be easy: Annie Fitzpatrick as Myra Babbage. But it’s the strength of the show as a whole that places GHOST-WRITER on my list of favorite productions of the 2011-2012 season.

Regarding Fitzpatrick as Babbage, it is my favorite performance by the actress to date. She makes it very easy to like and admire Myra Babbage, the devoted secretary to novelist, Franklin Woolsey. Her performance is finely-nuanced and I really enjoyed the society-restrained energy of the character. Since this is Babbage’s story, Fitzpatrick never leaves stage for the entire 90 minutes. Also impressive is the sheer volume of dialogue. And as a friend and I half-joked, it would have been much easier for Annie to highlight the lines that aren’t hers in her script.

Annie Fitzpatrick as Myra Babbage & Lourelene Snedeker as Vivian Woolsey. Photo by Ryan Kurtz.

Under the direction of D. Lynn Myers, Fitzpatrick also receives strong support from Dennis Parlato as novelist Franklin Woolsey and Lourelene Snedeker as his wife, Vivian. Parlato’s stoic performance works well for the character and allows him to easily be a presence, even if he is not present. Snedeker is outstanding as the wife threatened by a relationship that is, in ways, more intimate than her marriage.

I enjoyed the language of the script. How it evoked the time-period and the attitudes of that time. The structure of the play works well, allowing the audience to see the story…funny, the structure is similar to several biography television shows. A present day (in this case, Nov. 1919) interview inter-cut with flashback scenes of pivotal moments of the story. It adds a contemporary-influence to a show that begins over a century ago.

Annie Fitzpatrick as Myra Babbage, Lourelene Snedeker as Vivian Woolsey & Dennis Parlato as Franklin Woolsey. Photo by Ryan Kurtz.

Even though the set demands for the show are minimal, I really enjoyed the choices Brian c. Mehring made in his design. My favorite element was the “visible to the audience” room door. It opened up the space and gave some nice options for staging and lighting. Also on the technical side, excellent sound design work from Matthew Callahan.

The period setting of the play would not be complete without properties by Shannon Rae Lutz and costumes by Erin Amico.

Bottom line, don’t let the show title fool you. This wonderfully-done production of GHOST-WRITER is more love story than ghost story. One that I enjoyed hearing, and seeing.

Click here for a complete list of show times, articles and other reviews for GHOST-WRITER.

I would love to hear what you think about the show or my review. You can post your comments below.

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October 8, 2011 · 11:34 am

A Ghost Story of Literary Proportions

Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati Presents Regional Premiere of
GHOST-WRITER by Michael Hollinger,
October 12-30, 2011

(Cincinnati, Ohio) Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati continues its 2011-2012 season with the regional premiere of GHOST-WRITER by Michael Hollinger, October 12-30, 2011. Directed by D. Lynn Meyers. This marks the second production Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati has presented by Michael Hollinger, the award-winning author of OPUS, which was produced in 2007 receiving rave reviews and sold-out houses. GHOST-WRITER is recipient of a 2010 Edgerton Foundation New American Plays Award.

Set in early twentieth-century New York, novelist Franklin Woolsey dies mid-sentence…yet his devoted secretary, Myra, mysteriously continues to take dictation. Attacked by skeptics, the press and Woolsey’s jealous widow, Myra sets out to prove she is more than just an artful forger. Is she trying to steal Woolsey’s legacy now that she cannot have his love, or might she truly possess a gift the world can’t understand? This restrained love story takes place in New York City in 1919, at a time when women were first becoming secretaries, but didn’t have the vote; novelists held on to their 19th-century success as the foremost form of entertainment; and an artist’s slight touch on the arm of his muse was more thrilling than a kiss. The play is loosely based upon the true story of Henry James (Turn of the Screw), an early adopter of the typewriter and whose secretary, Theodora Bosanquet worked with James from 1907 until his death in 1916, one of the most significant periods of his long writing career, and who continued to take dictation after he died.

About the Cast

Dennis Parlato (Franklin Woolsey) returns to Ensemble Theatre, having appeared in last season’s 25 The Musical and recently in Becky’s New Car as eccentric billionaire Walter Flood and Beethoven in 33 Variations. Mr. Parlato’s other Ensemble Theatre credits include Mauritius, The Seafarer, Fiction, The Guys, A Question of Mercy, and Glimmer, Glimmer, and Shine. Mr. Parlato played El Gallo in The Fantasticks in NYC. On Broadway, he’s played Lawrence Jameson in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Mr. Robinson in The Graduate, John the Baptist in Salome, and Captain von Trapp in The Sound of Music. Off-Broadway and regional credits include the title roles in Cyrano de Bergerac, Barrymore, The Master Builder, Prospero in The Tempest, Big Daddy in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Scrooge in A Christmas Carol, and Oliver in David Hare’s The Vertical Hour. Mr. Parlato’s film credits include Johnny Suede, Delirious, Dillinger’s Dead, Bury the Evidence, Rick, First Born, Starting Out in the Evening, and last year’s film Bride Wars.

Annie Fitzpatrick (Myra Babbage) most recently appeared in Next Fall, Cinderella, Becky’s New Car and Dead Man’s Cell Phone. Recently, she performed in Cincinnati Shakespeare Company’s A Man For All Seasons and Blithe Spirit and in New Edgecliff’s production of Night of the Iguana. Her other ETC credits include Sleeping Beauty, Mauritius, Alice in Wonderland, Rabbit Hole, String of Pearls, Ugly Duck, Intimate Apparel, The Exonerated, Earhart, and Dinner with Friends. She has also worked at St. Louis Repertory Theatre, CATCO, Human Race Theatre Co., Porthouse Theatre, Florida Stage, and Cincinnati Children’s Theatre.

Lourelene Snedeker (Vivian Woosley) returns to ETC, having last appeared in her ETC debut in Rabbit Hole. Ms. Snedeker will reprise her role as Vivian Woosley, a part she played in the Florida Stages’s regional premiere of GHOST-WRITER last year. She has appeared in the world premiere musical Backwards in High Heels at Florida Stage, having created the role of Lela, Ginger Roger’s mother. She has appeared in White Christmas, A Little Night Music, Three Penny Opera, and Splitting Infinity. Nominated thirteen times for her work in South Florida and the winner of three Best Actress Carbonell Awards, Ms. Snedeker has performed in Hayfever, Heartbeats, Over The River, Royal Family, The Importance of Being Earnest, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, The Last Night of Ballyhoo, and Honkytonk Angels. She also sings in three to four concerts a year, is a private acting coach, teaches Master classes for universities and is one of the founders of Seaside Music Theatre.

About the Playwright
Michael Hollinger is the author of GHOST-WRITER, Opus, Tooth and Claw, Red Herring, Incorruptible, An Empty Plate in the Café du Grand Boeuf, and Tiny Island, all of which premiered at Arden Theatre Company under the direction of Terrence J. Nolen. These plays have since enjoyed numerous productions around the country, in New York City, London, Paris, and elsewhere in Europe. Mr. Hollinger’s new translation of Cyrano de Bergerac, (co-adapted with Aaron Posner) premieres next spring at the Folger Theatre in Washington, D.C. His new musical A Wonderful Noise (co-authored with Vance Lehmkuhl) received the Frederick Loewe Award for Musical Theatre and a developmental production at Creede Repertory Theatre in 2009. Other awards include an ATCA/Steinberg New Play Citation, a Mid-Atlantic Emmy, the F. Otto Haas Award, two Barrymore Awards, and fellowships from the Independence Foundation, Mid-Atlantic Arts Foundation, and Pennsylvania Council on the Arts. Mr. Hollinger is Associate Professor of Theatre at Villanova University, and a proud alumnus of New Dramatists.

Subscription Information
Pro-rated subscription packages for the 2011-2012 season are on sale now and range from $125-$190. Patrons who subscribe can save up to 40% off single ticket prices, depending upon the subscription package. To purchase subscriptions or for more information about the 2011-2012 season: (513) 421-3555 or online at http://www.cincyetc.com.

Performance & Single Ticket Information
Performances run Tuesday through Sunday. Performance times: Tuesday-Thursday: 7:30 p.m.; Friday and Saturday: 8:00 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday: 2:00 p.m.

Ticket prices for weeknight performances are $36; weekend performances are $42. Children’s tickets are $16.

Senior/student, Public Radio Perks Card, ArtsWave Card, AAA, and Enjoy the Arts discounts available. ETC accepts all major credit cards, Over-the-Rhine Merchant gift cards, and Downtown Cincinnati gift cards. Group rates are available for 10 or more people. A full list of available discounts is available on ETC’s website at www.cincyetc.com.

Ensemble Theatre of 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 of Cincinnati also receives funding from the Shubert Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts.

2011-2012 Season Presenting Sponsor is the Otto M. Budig Family Foundation. Season Sponsors: John & Ruth Sawyer, LPK, and PNC Bank. Season Fairy Godmother Sponsor: William and Susan Friedlander. Season Media Sponsors: 91.7 FM WVUX and 90.9 FM WGUC. Additional seasonal support provided by the Charles H. Dater Foundation, Garfield Suites Hotel, The Greater Cincinnati Foundation, The Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile, Jr./U.S. Bank Foundation, and The Merten Company.

Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati, a professional Equity theatre, is dedicated to the production and development of new works and works new to the region.

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September 14, 2011 · 1:19 pm

NEXT TO NORMAL // You Had Me At…

Before you read any further, be warned, this is going to discuss a spoiler about the plot of NEXT TO NORMAL. It is up to you to decide if you want to continue reading below the picture.

Jessica Henday as Diana, Mike Schwitter as Gabe & Mark Hardy as Dan. Photo by Ryan Kurtz.

I think my love for theater was triggered by one of those rare magical moments. When you’re watching a performance, and something special just…happens…and it’s a moment you’ll always remember. One happened to me, opening night at ETC.

Let me preface this with: I don’t get surprised frequently in theater, tv or movies. (I do startle easily but that is a totally different issue). I tend to pick up on the script or acting clues that give hints of what is coming..I may not always know what the twist is, but usually figure out that something is amiss and start looking for it. Cynics tell me it’s just because I see too much theater and watch too much TV. 🙂

I went into NTN with my knowledge of the show based on the ETC’s press information. I hadn’t heard the music or been told any details about the plot. All I had heard was, “it’s a great show” and “I can’t wait to see it.”

Unfortunately when I see theater, a portion of my mind is making little mental notes for later review about directing or acting choices, lights, costumes, set etc, etc.

I’m enjoying the show, trying to take it all in…and it gets to the point where Henry is invited into dinner.

And they do the dinner scene and a little mental note goes off saying “why are five people having dinner but there are only four chairs,” followed by “hmmm, why didn’t mom ‘have dinner,’ oh it’s choreographed that way because the number is so short.”  Followed shortly by, “what do they mean, ‘whose birthday?’

And then there is that moment of realization…GABE ISN’T REALLY THERE! I quickly turned to Chuck Beatty, my plus one for the evening, with my best “WTF” face.

Then the implications of ‘Gabe isn’t really there” hit me. And immediately my heart goes out to Diane as I’m overwhelmed by the depth of her loss and pain. Also my perception of each character in that family is knocked askew and I have to re-calibrate how this must have affected each of them.

Meanwhile, my mental note taker is frantically flipping back pages and reviewing how Gabe interacted with everyone on stage and they with him since the beginning of the play. And I realized there had been clues all along that I missed.

How awesome is that?

I will never forget how I felt in that moment. The sudden emotional connection between me and everything that was happening on that stage. You had me. I laughed a little. I cried more than a little. I hoped for a happy ending. Then hoped them all a chance at a happier tomorrow.

I just wanted to thank everyone who shared their talents on that NEXT TO NORMAL. And let you know that you were a part of one of those magical theater moments for me.

Click here for more information on ETC”S NEXT TO NORMAL.

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