Tag Archives: INNOVAtheatre

April 5, 2022 · 9:08 am

INTO THE WOODS Runs May 5-8

INNOVA_Into the Woods logoINTO THE WOODS
INNOVAtheatre
May 5-8
Sorg Opera House [Middletown]

Directed by Aaron Washington

Cast: Christopher Howie as Narrator, Benjamin Jones as Baker, Audree Terry & Sophie Caton as Baker’s Wife, Abriella Ruby & Ella Sands as Cinderella, Lily Meyers as Jack, Jillian Edwards as Jack’s Mother, Addison Haines & Mia Zink as Little Red Riding Hood, Brooke Partin & Max Fox as Witch, Brielle Storer & Franny Bell as Rapunzel/Cinderella’s Mother, Gavin Poronsky as Repunzel’s Prince, Davis Byrd as Cinderella’s Prince/Wolf, Greta Moore as Cinderella’s Stepmother, Savannah Basinger as Florinda, Kaia Woo as Lucinda, Aaron Callahan as Mysterious Man, Blake Meyerhofer as Cinderella’s Father, Aiden Thompson as Steward & Catherine Shannon as Granny/Giant

“Be careful what you wish for” seems to be the ongoing theme in Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s Brothers Grimm inspired musical, Into the Woods. The story follows The Baker and his wife who wish to have a child, Cinderella who wishes to go the King’s Festival, and Jack who wishes his cow would give some milk. When the Baker and his wife are visited by the neighborhood witch, who reveals to them that she placed a curse on their family, the two set off on a journey into the woods to reverse the curse. Also in the woods, we meet Little Red, who is trying to visit her grandmother, the Wolf who loves tasty little girls, the Witch’s daughter Rapunzel, and the Princes chasing after their loves. Everyone gets their wish and seemingly lives happily ever after. Until Jack’s beanstalk brings them a visit from an angry Giant and we see how the consequences of their actions haunt them in disastrous ways. The community must come together to save each other and their kingdom, but sacrifices must be made.

  • Thu-Fri, May 5-6 at 8pm
  • Sat, May 7 at 3pm & 8pm
  • Sun, May 8 at 3pm

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March 21, 2022 · 10:37 am

Auditions Announced for CONSIDERING MATTHEW SHEPARD at INNOVAtheatre

INNOV_logoINNOVAtheare is holding auditions for CONSIDERING MATTHEW SHEPARD on April 4th & 5th at the historic Sorg Opera House.

INNOVAtheatre will hold auditions on April 4th & 5th for singers/actors and a separate audition at a later date for dancers to perform in Craig Hella Johnson’s, CONSIDERING MATTHEW SHEPARD. This infusion oratorio will be presented June 2nd thru 5th at the historic Sorg Opera House, in collaboration with the beginning of Ohio PRIDE.

Singing auditions will be held from 7:00 to 9:30 at Mockingbirds – 1024 Central Ave, Middletown, Ohio 45042.

Singers should prepare a vocal selection that best demonstrates their range and one that best fits the style of music from the show. The selection does NOT have to be from a musical. A professional accompanist will be provided. Acapella will be permitted but please be advised that you will be asked to vocalize with the piano during your audition. All auditionees will be asked to read a small selection from the libretto.  Contact Richard Lee Waldeck at INNOVAtheatre@gmail.com with questions.

Under the musical direction of Sarah Plaugher, visual & staging director, Richard Lee Waldeck and movement by Aaron Washington INNOVAtheatre is an all inclusive theatre company based in Butler & Warren counties and includes talent from the southwest and West Ohio theatre regions.  The group was founded in 2017 and was designed to showcase unexpected talent while putting a spin on the traditional theatre experience audiences have come to expect. Embracing diversity in every way, INNOVAtheatre is a place where artists are free to take artistic risks to create work that is cutting edge and made accessible to everyone.

A stunning work arising from dark violence, CONSIDERING MATTHEW SHEPARD explores the beauty of Wyoming, what it’s like to be an “ordinary boy” and the mystery of violence through a startlingly varied and cohesive group of pieces. Craig Hella Johnson and Conspirare give us a cowboy’s lonely song, a recitative from the Bible’s first murder, a crucifixion taunt harkening to Bach’s St. John’s Passion, as well as a mens’ chorus richly declaring “We Are All Sons.” The searing poetry of Robert Kyr and Hella Johnson’s own lyrics incarnate the voices of Matthew Shepard’s mother, the deer who sat by Shepard throughout the night of his beating, and the jazz singer who desperately warns us not to bring pain too close. “Considering Matthew Shepard” sinks deep into the soil where all our souls are struggling to grow.

Rehearsals will be minimal and all music and dialogue for the show must be memorized. We will be performing with a live orchestra who will share the stage with us.  We hope to see you at auditions.

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March 3, 2022 · 12:17 pm

Auditions Announced for Disney’s FREAKY FRIDAY the Musical at INNOVAtheatre

INNOV_logoINNOVAtheatre is proud to announce auditions for their YOUtheatre production of Disney’s FREAKY FRIDAY on April 24th and April 25th, 2022.

Audition ages are 14-19 years old (except if auditioning for the role of Fletcher).

Audition dates are April 24th, 2022 from 6pm-8pm and April 25th, 2022 from 7pm-9pm with possible callbacks on April 26th or 27th, 2022 at the Sorg Opera House, 63 S. Main St, Middletown, Ohio 45044

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E4CA9A723A0FBCE9-freak

Any questions please contact:
freakyfridayinnova@gmail.com

Production dates: July 21-24.

When an overworked mother and her teenage daughter magically swap bodies, they have just one day to put things right again. Freaky Friday, a new musical based on the celebrated novel by Mary Rodgers and the hit Disney films, is a heartfelt, comedic, and unexpectedly emotional update on an American classic. By spending a day in each other’s shoes, Katherine and Ellie come to appreciate one another’s struggles, learn self-acceptance, and realize the immeasurable love and mutual respect that bond a mother and daughter.

Freaky Friday, based on the beloved 1972 novel by Mary Rodgers and the hit Disney films, features a book by Bridget Carpenter and music and lyrics by Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey – the Pulitzer Prize-winning composers of Next to Normal and If/Then.

Cast of Characters: (some actors will play multiple roles)

  • Ellie (Gender: Female) – Vocal range top: F5 – Vocal range bottom: Gb3
  • Katherine (Gender: Female) – Vocal range top: Ab5 – Vocal range bottom: F3
  • Mike (Gender: Male) – Vocal range top: G4 – Vocal range bottom: A2
  • Fletcher (Gender: Male) – Vocal range top: G5 – Vocal range bottom: Bb3
  • Adam (Gender: Male) – Vocal range top: Bb5 – Vocal range bottom: Eb3
  • Torrey (Gender: Female) – Vocal range top: G5 – Vocal range bottom: C4
  • Gretchen (Gender: Female) – Vocal range top: D5 – Vocal range bottom: F3
  • Parker (Gender: Male) – Vocal range top: A4 – Vocal range bottom: F3
  • Savannah (Gender: Female) – Vocal range top: Db5 – Vocal range bottom: B3
  • Danielle (Gender: Female) – Vocal range top: E5 – Vocal range bottom: E4
  • Louis (Gender: Male) – Vocal range top: G4 – Vocal range bottom: A2
  • Wells (Gender: Male) – Vocal range top: A4 – Vocal range bottom: E3
  • Adam’s Mom (Gender: Female) – Vocal range top: G#3 – Vocal range bottom: C#3
  • Gretchen’s Mom (Gender: Female) – Vocal range top: G#3 – Vocal range bottom: C#3
  • Parker’s Dad (Gender: Male) – Vocal range top: F#3 – Vocal range bottom: B2
  • Señor O’Brien (Gender: Male) – Vocal range top: Ab4 – Vocal range bottom: B2
  • Dr. Ehrin – Vocal range top: E4 – Vocal range bottom: C#3
  • Mrs. Luckenbill (Gender: Female) – Vocal range top: D5 – Vocal range bottom: A3
  • Ms. Meyers (Gender: Female) – Vocal range top: F5 – Vocal range bottom: Ab3
  • Grandpa Gordon (Gender: Male) – Vocal range top: E4 – Vocal range bottom: C3
  • Sitz – Vocal range top: F5 – Vocal range bottom: Eb4
  • Kowalski – Vocal range top: Gb4 – Vocal range bottom: Eb3

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February 1, 2022 · 9:19 am

Cast Announced for INTO THE WOODS at INNOVAtheatre

INNOV_logoOnce upon a time…

INNOVAtheatre announces their INTO THE WOODS cast.

Directed by Aaron Washington. Don’t wait until the “Last Midnight.” Tickets are on sale now at www.SorgOperaHouse.org/tickets

The cast includes:

  • NARRATOR Christopher Howie
  • BAKER Benjamin Jones
  • BAKER’S WIFE Audree Terry & Sophie Caton
  • CINDERELLA Abriella Ruby & Ella Sands
  • JACK Lily Meyers
  • JACK’S MOTHER Jillian Edwards
  • LITTLE RED RIDINGHOOD Addison Haines & Mia Zink
  • WITCH Brooke Partin & Max Fox
  • RAPUNZEL/ C. MOTHER. Brielle Storer & Franny Bell
  • RAPUNZEL’S PRINCE Gavin Poronsky
  • CINDERELLA’S PRINCE/ WOLF Davis Byrd
  • CINDERELLA’S STEPMOTHER Greta Moore
  • FLORINDA Savannah Basinger
  • LUCINDA Kaia Woo
  • MYSTERIOUS MAN Aaron Callahan
  • CINDERELLA’S FATHER Blake Meyerhofer
  • STEWARD. Aiden Thompson
  • GRANNY/ GIANT Catherine Shannon

INTO THE WOODS runs May 5-8 at Sorg Opera House.

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February 1, 2022 · 9:14 am

LITTLE WOMEN the Musical Runs March 3-6

INNOVA_Little Women logoLITTLE WOMEN the Musical
INNOVAtheatre
March 3-6
Sorg Opera House [Middletown]

Directed & choreographed by Anna Rae Brown
Vocal direction by Alisha McFalane

Cast: Linnzie Hays as Jo, Robert Rhodes as Professor Bhaer, Max Fox as Amy/Troll, Abby Smith as Meg/Clarissa, Abriella Ruby as Beth/Rodrigo 2,Angela Allen as Marmee/Hag, Jacob Nichols as Mr. Laurence/Knight, Nicholas Brown as Laurie/Rodrigo, Jovone Lewis as Aunt March/Mrs. Kirk & Brandon Cole as Mr. John Brooke/Braxton

Based on Louisa May Alcott’s life, LITTLE WOMEN follows the adventures of sisters, Jo, Meg, Beth and Amy March. Jo is trying to sell her stories for publication, but the publishers are not interested – her friend, Professor Bhaer, tells her that she has to do better and write more from herself. Begrudgingly taking this advice, Jo weaves the story of herself and her sisters and their experience growing up in Civil War America.

  • Thu-Fri, March 3-4 at 8pm
  • Sat, March 5 at 3pm & 8pm
  • Sun, March 6 at 3pm

Official page | Facebook event |

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