Tag Archives: Know Theatre of Cincinnati

2024 Cincinnati Fringe Festival Announces Lineup

CFF_24 logoThe 2024 Cincinnati Fringe Festival
Celebrating 21 Years of Extraordinary Live Performance in Over-the-Rhine
Announcing this year’s incredible Festival Lineup! 

Know Theatre proudly presents The 21st Annual Cincinnati Fringe Festival – the region’s largest and longest-running annual performing arts festival – May 31-June 15, 2024! A 14-day celebration featuring hundreds of live performances from independent local, national, and international artists, the Cincy Fringe is Cincinnati’s Summer Theatre Party.

This year we march onward carrying the torch of creative community care and radical self-expression with:

  • 26 Primary Lineup Performances!
  • 35+ Productions! (Including 4 FringeDevelopment projects, 5 Special Events, and Kids Fringe) to entertain at 5 venues across Over-the-Rhine: Know Theatre, Art Academy of Cincinnati and Gabriel’s Corner.
  • Kids Fringe Performances on Weekend Afternoons!
  • Free Nightly After Hours Events in the Know Theatre Underground Bar!

TICKETING INFORMATION

  • 50% of all Box Office revenue is given to the Producing Fringe Artists.
  • Single tickets to the 2024 Cincy Fringe are $18.
  • The All-Access Pass ($300) is good for one entry into as many productions as one person can see.
  • Our 6-ticket Flex Pass ($90) can be used in any combination of shows and is transferable among individuals.
  • All passes are currently on sale at cincyfringe.com

Primary Lineup Details

This year’s Primary Lineup totals 26 productions and features new work from 12 local creators, 12 productions from across the country, and 2 international artists from Toronto, Canada.

With 12 world premieres, 12 regional premieres, 1 national premiere and 21 producing companies that have never-been-seen-before in Cincinnati, audiences are guaranteed to experience something extraordinary! 

The 2024 Cincy Fringe Festival Primary Lineup

1-MAN NO-SHOW
Isaac Kessler
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
The show that gave Oscar Wilde a nosebleed!

A Migration of Crones
Performance Gallery
Cincinnati, OH
A migration of crones toward authenticity through movement and sound.

A Perfect Day Away
Dead Cat Productions
Cleveland, OH, Athens, OH & Chicago, IL
Dylan loses his cat, gains a delivery guy, & uncovers his past.

As If You Will Remember
Gerry Grubbs, Pauletta Hansel, Rachel DesRochers, Katie Chal, Rob Keenan, Adam Petersen, & Michael Burnham
Cincinnati, OH
Words, Music and Dance Exploring Dementia’s Love and Loss

Bloody Mary
Kelly Collette
Cincinnati, OH
A demon is summoned, and is forced to go to high school.

BODIES
Can’t Stand Sitting Productions
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
One man explores body insecurities through live body painting.

CANCEL THIS MUSICAL
Wesley Zurick
New York, NY
Identity politics? Yikes. Social media? Ew. Musical? I’M INTERESTED!

CASTAWAYS
Silver Linings Productions
Cincinnati, OH
Gilligan’s Island meets Waiting for Godot in memory care.

Cyrano on the Moon
Arcane Arts
Hayward, WI
Fifteen years after his death, Roxanne writes about Cyrano’s afterlife.

Eleanor’s Story: An American Girl In Hitler’s Germany
Ingrid Garner
Los Angeles, CA
The Award-Winning WWII memoir performed by the author’s granddaughter.

Esther Made Me Do It
Nell Adkins and Elizabeth Sacktor
Lexington, KY
A heart-felt comedy about best friends auditioning for a Purim shpiel.

Gender? F*ck!
Rachel Baker
Cincinnati, OH
Gender is a performance, and I’m being booed off stage.

I’m Finally Going to Ask Elizabeth Hopkins to the Homecoming Dance and Nothing’s Going to Stop Me, Not Even the Ghost of My Dead Grandmother Who Watches Me Masturbate
Queen City Flash
Cincinnati, OH
A “Choose Your Own Adventure” Romantic Comedy About Second Chances.

Knight, Knight
Madeleine Rowe
Minneapolis, MN
Knight & horse. Sword & stone.  Love & loss. A wild medieval romp.

Le Spectacle De Merde (“Welcome to our Sh*t Show”)
Megan Flynn & Teresa VanDenend Sorge
Troy, NY & Cincinnati, OH
Aging. Adulting. Good luck trying not to slip in it!

Meet Me at the Bathtub: The Short Life & Tumultuous Times of Charlotte Corday
Samantha Joy Luhn
Covington, KY
A bathtub assassination immersed in the tempestuous French Revolution.

Mounting Washington: The Story of a Mountain & a Miracle
Penny: For Your Thoughts
Rochester, NY
The true story of a miracle…that almost killed me.

No f*cks given. None taken. All done.
Pamela L Paek
Los Angeles, CA
A darkly comedic TEDesque talk on our complicity in humanity’s demise.

NO PASSENGERS
Gideon Productions
Queens, NY
Alan and Diane hold a seance to resurrect Alan’s ex-wife.

SeaMAN
2 Sleepy RatGuys (Amica Hunter & Bruce Ryan Costella)
Portland, OR, & Orlando, FL
A one-man-show, by two. Like The Lighthouse meets Gilligan’s Island.

Singing Into The Dark, 1933
Big Empty Barn Productions
New Orleans, LA
In a ruined theatre one man recreates a forbidden show.

Songs Without Words (or, The Mendelssohn Play)
Jennifer Vosters
Chicago, IL
Two geniuses + one actor = sibling dramedy with a classical twist.

Strong Bear
Jack Fogle
Cincinnati, OH
A Palestinian-American family, their grief, and a teddy bear.

The F-Files
Solasta Theatre Lab
Cincinnati, OH
A choose-your-own-adventure exploring the assumed paranormal.

The Last Witch in Ireland: The Story of Bridget Cleary
InBocca Performance
Cincinnati, OH
Was it folklore hysteria or gender-based violence?

Waiting for Laura
Ben & Justin Present
Cincinnati & Columbus, OH
Two friends anxiously wait to interview Oscar Winner, Laura Dern.


The 2024 Cincy Fringe Festival Special Events

Absurd It Through the Grapevine: Paul Strickland
Paul Strickland Presents
Covington, KY
Paul Strickland’s new weird-lightful acoustic-blues-infused story/song concoction.

Alphas: Origin Story – A Comedy Variety Show
Alphas Comedy
Cincinnati, OH
A joyful women’s variety show with improv, sketch, music, & dancing!

Methtacular!
Steven Strafford
Athens, OH
A funny and harrowing musical romp through meth addiction.

The Stork Files: True Stories of Adoption, Abortion, and Having No Choice
Julie Coppens
Cincinnati, OH
Unswaddling secrets. Terminating shame. Bearing witness. Fostering community.

trueFRINGE 2024
True Theatre
Cincinnati, OH
True stories told by the Fringe Artists who lived them.


The 2024 Cincy Fringe Development Productions
One-night only productions of works in development.

Cracks
Claire Lochmueller
Chicago, IL
Trans comedian explores her Catholic military upbringing- a heartfelt journey.

Ford’s Escape (or a Honda’s Civic Lesson)
Zamudio Theatre & The Milford High School Drama Dept.
Milford, OH
A high school roadtrip turns into high school road R.I.P.

Tea Sips and Tells
Leila Kubesch
Cincinnati, OH
Powerful solo performance: Triumph over adversity, hope for all.

Webcam
Kirk Sheppard
Cincinnati, OH
A play about intimacy, loneliness, and sex work.


The 2024 Cincy Fringe Kids Fringe

The Emu that Ate Cincinnati (and Other Curious Tales)
Autumn Kaleidoscope
Cincinnati, OH
A puppetry show where curious and even curiouser tales abound! 

Know Theatre is Cincinnati’s Theatrical Playground. The Know showcases unexpected voices, new works, and plays that embrace the inherent theatricality of the live experience. Know Theatre seeks to be a place where artists and audiences feel welcome to take artistic risks, creating work that is cutting edge and accessible.

The 21st  Annual Cincinnati Fringe Festival is made possible by a generous partnership with our neighbors and the Art Academy of Cincinnati.

Know Theatre’s work is made possible, in part, by the generosity of community contributions to the ArtsWave Campaign.

The Ohio Arts Council helps fund Know Theatre with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence, and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans.

Know Theatre is also supported by the Greater Cincinnati Foundation, which provides a simple, powerful, and highly personal approach to giving.

Know Theatre is a member of Theatre Communications Group and an Associate Member of the National New Play Network.

###

Leave a comment

Filed under Press Releases

Reading of THEY PLAYED IN PEORIA at Know Theatre on March 28

KTC_They Played in PeoriaTHEY PLAYED IN PEORIA
Know Theatre of Cincinnati
March 28
Over-the-Rhine

Celebrate the Reds’ Opening Day with a reading of THEY PLAYED IN PEORIA, a new play about triumphs and heartbreaks in womens’ softball from local playwright (and star of the Know’s production of Kairos) Maggie Lou Rader.

  • Thu, March 28 at 7:30pm

Official page |

Leave a comment

Filed under Events, Staged Reading

THE LIGHT CHASERS at Know Theatre

KTC_Light Chasers“We’ve been searching for our whole lives.”

THE LIGHT CHASERS
by Andrew Hungerford
music & lyrics by Craig Minowa
story by Andrew Hungerford & Jess Hutchinson
based upon the album Light Chasers by Cloud Cult
April 5 – 28, 2024 

Teenage science whiz Nic is stuck on Earth with her practical mom while her beloved dreamer of a father is ten years into an improbable mission to the stars. Nic vows to defy what she’s always been told is possible to bridge light years, get a message to her dad, and reunite her family. 

Coming to Know Theatre: The Light Chasers, an epic, world-premiere theatrical adventure based upon the album Light Chasers by indie orchestral-rock band Cloud Cult.

The Light Chasers is the final MainStage production of the Know’s 26th season, as well as the final show of Andrew Hungerford’s decade-long tenure as Producing Artistic Director.

This emotional, life-affirming journey to the stars – and to all the life on the far side of loss – was developed by Andrew alongside Chicago theatre-maker Jess Hutchinson, and is produced in partnership with the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) Department of Acting.

Who is this show for? 

The Light Chasers is for anyone searching for hope in a broken world.

It’s for anyone who’s been separated from a loved one. It’s for those of us who know what it is to miss, and to grieve, and to heal.

It’s for fans of CCM and rising new talent.

It’s for fans of musicals. It’s for people who loved the Know’s production of Hundred Days or Lizard Boy and want in on the next new thing.

It’s for fans of music. It’s for fans of the band Cloud Cult, and for the people who are about to become fans when they hear the band’s sweeping orchestral indie-rock.

It’s for fans of science fiction, for people who love the thought of a future close enough to reach out and touch.

It’s for anyone who longs to find out what’s possible.

It’s for you.

Let’s go on an adventure:

Leading our cast is an ensemble of young performers from the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music, all making their Know MainStage debuts: Gabi Adams stars as Nic, with co-stars Staylie Brunner, Nico Graves, Evan Kupersmith, Carson Mehlbauer, Cassandra Reeves, and Lilia Villaflor. 

James Creque plays Nic’s space-explorer father. James’s previous Know appearances include Hearts Like Fists (2015), Hundred Days (2015), The Fisherman’s Wife (2016), Mercury (2019), All’s Faire (2021), The Twunny Fo’ (2022), and Bankers (2023).

Montez O. Jenkins-Copeland appears as Mshauri, the teacher guiding Nic and her peers. Montez was also seen at the Know in Moby Dick (2014), Girlfriend (2016), Red Bike (2019), and Theatre: A Love Story (2021).

Rounding out the cast in her Know Theatre onstage debut is Sarah Summerwell as Chris, Nic’s down-to-earth mom who’s trying to keep the family together. Sarah has previously served as vocal and dialect coach on shows including Dickless (2023), and serves on the faculty at CCM.

The Light Chasers features movement choreography by CCM faculty member L. Lucía Duque, whose previous work with the Know includes Ensemble & Movement Director for All-One! The Dr. Bronner’s Play (2023).

The Light Chasers is based on the album Light Chasers by Minnesota orchestral-indie-folk-rock band Cloud Cult, fronted by Craig Minowa. Cloud Cult eschews recording with conventional labels, instead independently releasing music via their environmentally-conscious record label Earthology Records. Hailed as one of the Top 10 Green Bands by Rolling Stone, the band’s philosophical lyrics and unique sound has been praised by critics as “insane genius” (Pitchfork) and “an invocation of the lifeforce” (New York Times).

Jess Hutchinson joins Andrew Hungerford to co-direct The Light Chasers. Jess is a Chicago-based director, dramaturg, educator, and producer whose work has been seen across the country. She was the artistic director of Chicago’s New Leaf Theatre from 2007 to 2012 and co-founded groundswell, a new play development company, in 2015; she’s also taught at DePaul University, Northern Illinois University, and North Park University.

producing Director Andrew Hungerford had this to say,

“This show is a dream project for me, one ten years in the making. It encompasses nearly everything I love about theatre: connection and music and movement and broad and deep collaboration. I’m so grateful to Craig Minowa of Cloud Cult for letting us run with his epic music, to my collaborator Jess Hutchinson, and the whole cast and production team for coming together to make an adventure to remember. We can’t wait to share it with you.” 

The Light Chasers runs April 5 – 28. Tickets are available on our website, knowtheatre.com, or by calling our box office at 513-300-5669.

Special Note: Evening performances at the Know for Season 26 are at 7:30! Our Underground Bar will open at 6:30 for evening shows this season; come by early for specialty cocktails and conversation before or after your show. 

CAST

  • Gabi Adams as Nic
  • Staylie Brunner as Robin
  • James Creque as the Pilot
  • Nico Graves as Charlie
  • Montez O. Jenkins-Copeland as Mshauri
  • Evan Kupersmith as Blake
  • Carson Mehlbauer as Ellis
  • Cassandra Reeves as Kai
  • Sarah Summerwell as Chris
  • Lilia Villaflor as Quinn 

PRODUCTION TEAM

  • Directors: Andrew J. Hungerford & Jess Hutchinson
  • Asst. Directors: A.J. Baldwin & Becca Anderson
  • Scenic & Lighting Designer: Andrew J. Hungerford
  • Costume Designer: Noelle Wedig-Johnston
  • Props Designer: Danielle Robison
  • Sound & Projections Designer: Douglas J. Borntrager
  • Orchestrator & Music Director: Rob Stark
  • Movement Director: L. Lucía Duque
  • Technical Director: Jim Stark
  • Stage Manager: Grace Wohlschlegel 

AT A GLANCE

Production: The Light Chasers, by Andrew Hungerford. Music & lyrics by Craig Minowa

Dates: April 5 – 28, 2024. Wed-Saturday at 7:30 pm. Saturday April 6 & 27, Sundays at 3:00pm.
Where: Know Theatre, 1120 Jackson Street in Over-the-Rhine.
Livestreaming on select dates beginning April 10.

Themes: sci-fi · adventure · hope · family · indie rock

Tickets: Know is general admission, with Pay What You Wish tiered ticket pricing. Low cost admission is $25, standard ticket price is $35 and audiences may opt to support the Know’s initiative to pay all artists and employees a living wage by selecting the $45 Living Wage Ticket.

On Wednesdays, as part of a program we call “The Welcome Experiment,” tickets are $10 in advance, or FREE at the door.

Know Theatre is Cincinnati’s Theatrical Playground. The Know showcases unexpected voices, new works, and plays that embrace the inherent theatricality of the live experience. Know Theatre seeks to be a place where artists and audiences feel welcome to take artistic risks, creating work that is cutting edge and accessible.

Know Theatre’s work is made possible, in part, by the generosity of community contributions to the ArtsWave Campaign

The Ohio Arts Council helps fund Know Theatre with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence, and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans.

Know Theatre is also supported by the Greater Cincinnati Foundation, which provides a simple, powerful, and highly personal approach to giving

 Know Theatre is a member of Theatre Communications Group and an Associate Member of the National New Play Network.

###

Leave a comment

Filed under Press Releases

THE LIGHT CHASERS Runs April 5-28

KTC_The Light ChasersTHE LIGHT CHASERS
Know Theatre of Cincinnati
April 5-28
[Over-the-Rhine]

Written by Andrew Hungerford
Developed with Jess Hutchinson

Directed by Andrew Hungerford & Jess Hutchinson

Cast: Gabi Adams as Nic, Staylie Brunner as Robin, James Creque as the Pilot, Evan Kupersmith as Blake, Nico Graves as Charlie, Montez O. Jenkins-Copeland as Mshauri, Carson Mehlbauer as Ellis, Cassandra Reeves as Kai, Sarah Summerwell as Chris & Lilia Villaflor as Quinn

Teenage science whiz Nic is stuck on Earth with her practical mom while her beloved dreamer of a father is ten years into an improbable mission to the stars. Nic vows to defy what she’s always been told is possible to bridge lightyears, get a message to her dad, and reunite her family.

This epic, world-premiere theatrical adventure based upon the album Light Chasers by indie orchestral-rock band Cloud Cult is a co-production between Know Theatre and UC CCM Acting.

  • Fri, April 5 at 7:30pm
  • Sat-Sun, April 6-7 at 3pm
  • Wed-Sat, April 10-13 at 7:30pm
  • Sun, April 14 at 3pm
  • Wed-Sat, April 17-20 at 7:30pm
  • Sun, April 21 at 3pm
  • Wed-Fri, April 24-26 at 7:30pm
  • Sat-Sun, April 27-28 at 3pm

Official page |

Leave a comment

Filed under On Stage

UPDATED: Auditions Announced for 2024 Cincy Fringe Festival

CFF_logoThe Cincy Fringe, in Collaboration with the League of Cincinnati Theaters and
Falcon Theatre, Announces the Return of Producer-Artist Speed Pitch Sessions at
Non-Traditional Theatre Auditions

2024 Cincy Fringe Unified Auditions

Saturday, February 24th, 2024
1-4pm
Innovation Room at First Financial Bank
601 Madison Ave, Covington, KY 41011

Sunday, February 25th, 2024
2-6pm
West Side Brewing
3044 Harrison Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45211

Cincinnati, OH: Following the resounding success of last year’s groundbreaking event, the Cincinnati Fringe Festival is thrilled to announce the much-anticipated return of its Unified Auditions. Scheduled for Saturday, February 24th in Covington, KY, and Sunday, February 25th in Cincinnati, Ohio, these one-on-one sessions offer a unique opportunity for producers and artists to connect, collaborate, and bring new theatrical projects to life.

Breaking away from the traditional audition format, the Speed Pitch Sessions will see Cincy Fringe Producers and aspiring artists engage in rapid-fire, 5-minute long pitch sessions. During these sessions, producers will have the chance to pitch their projects – whether they be plays, devised works, or experimental pieces – to a diverse pool of talented artists. At the same time, artists will have the opportunity to pitch themselves – showcasing their skills, talents, and artistic vision to producers in search of collaborators.

“We believe that collaboration is at the heart of great theatre, and our Speed Pitch Sessions are designed to facilitate meaningful connections between producers and artists,” says Katie Hartman, Cincy Fringe Producer. “By providing a platform for producers to share their projects and artists to showcase their talents, we hope to inspire exciting new collaborations and bring fresh, innovative theatrical works to the stage.”

Open to performers of all backgrounds, experience levels, and disciplines, this event promises to be an inclusive and welcoming event where all artists can practice their self-pitch and be seen. Auditioning artists may prepare a short monologue (30-45 seconds) but more importantly they are encouraged to bring their VIBE (Vision, Insight, Best Self, Energy). Producers may have audition sides available. Materials (headshot and resume) will be submitted digitally in the registration form and available to producers. Walk-ins will be accepted, though pre-registration is very much appreciated!

Registration for the 2024 Cincy Fringe Unified Auditions
Please send any questions or concerns by emailing Cincy Fringe Producer, Katie Hartman, at katiefringe@knowtheatre.com. Thank you!

About the Cincy Fringe Festival:
The Cincinnati Fringe Festival (Cincy Fringe) is a two-week long celebration of independent theatre taking place from May 31st-June 15th, 2024, in pop-up venues in Over-the-Rhine. Produced by the Know Theatre and now in its 21st year, the Cincy Fringe showcases new and innovative works by theatre, music, dance and performing artists from around Cincinnati and around the world. We are Cincinnati’s Summer Theatre Party:)

Breakdown of Available Roles:

  • Stage Manager
  • Puppeteer
  • Outside Eye/Director
  • Actor: Woman, 20s, Arab-American: Feels things deeply, middle child, contemplative, a bit spontaneous, always tries new foods, hates conflict, does not want to be a bother, a delicate flower, the kind of person who will lend you money without asking why
  • Actor: Woman, 20s, Arab-American: Oldest child, type A, commands people, harsh exterior and gooey insides, wears scrubs and walks powerfully, seems like she might know martial arts, takes jeopardy seriously, corrects your mistakes before you make them, the kind of person that you’ve never seen cry, but secretly writes heartbreaking poetry
  • Actor: Man, late teens/early 20s, Arab American: Sensitive type, observer, youngest child, could be a college athlete, not much of a talker, kind of person that slides apology doodles under your bedroom door when they are sorry.
  • Actor: Man, late 40s/early 50s: Father, puts others before himself, loves feeding people, likes to stay busy, calls people by nicknames, just wants to see you smile
  • Actor: Man, 20s: Real estate agent, likes to golf, gambling problem, insecure about how much money he makes, type of person who calls himself a feminist but hates the WNBA, is generally not a very smart person, the kind of person who is ‘not into politics’ but complains about taxes
  • Actor: Woman, early 20s: Brings the freakin energy, puppy vibes, loud and thinks she’s hilarious, ride or die friend, physically funny, will eat your snacks without asking, the type of person who is genuinely happy to help you move, full of pure love
  • Actor: an 18th century demon who hilariously speaks only through actions the whole show. She may look like a young, haunted girl. Think: the Ring Actor: senior in high school. Book worm. Cautious. Loves her friends but loves doing the right thing more. Is the catalyst for the whole show. Think: if Diane Keaton was in high school
  • Actor: high school senior. Pretty. Chasing popularity. The only one in the group who cares about being social. Think: Gretchen Weiners but not as popular Actor: high school senior. The hilarious side kick. Antisocial. Likes sports and punk music. Think: Jane lane in Daria or Beanie Feldstein
  • Actor: high school senior. The evil popular cheerleader. Think: Mandy Moore in Princess Diaries, or Saved.
  • Actor: high school senior. Delusional hot guy.
  • Actor: high school teacher. Hates everyone. Needs a smoke break type of vibe.
  • Actor: Male presenting: 45-55; A hero and a poet, a conqueror of everything but blind ambition.
  • Actor: Female presenting: 55-65; A brilliant woman writing an afterlife for those she loved.
  • Actor: Male presenting: 25-35; A soldier lost in battle, handsome, charismatic, not too bright.
  • Actor: Female presenting: 25-35; Inquisitive and passionate
  • Actor: Female presenting: 25-35; Earnest and comedic

Leave a comment

Filed under Auditions