Tag Archives: Ohio Community Theatre Association

May 19, 2026 · 11:53 am

ACT/OCTAFest 2026 Runs June 12-13, Excerpts Announced

ACT/OCTAFest 2026
ACT of Greater Cincinnati
June 12-13
Princeton High School [Sharonville]

Friday, June 12

7pm MURDER IN THE STUDIO’S PERSONAL CALL – Rivertown Players
8pm CALENDAR GIRLS – The Drama Workshop
9pm THE COTTAGE – Sunset Players
10pm THE LOST VIRGINITY TOUR – Tri-County Players

Saturday, June 13

9am ZANNA DON’T! – Loveland Stage Company
10am LOVE, LOSS, AND WHAT I WORE – Village Players of Fort Thomas
11am THE ADDAMS FAMILY – Footlighters, Inc
12pm LUNCH
1pm ALL THINGS CONSIDERED: A Historical Farce – Beechmont Players
2pm SCOTLAND ROAD – Mariemont Players
3pm TRANSORBITAL – CenterStage Players

Reminder: Anyone participating in an excerpt must register! Early bird registration ends Friday, May 22 at 11:59pm, so sign up now before the price goes up $5!

Tickets available for online purchase through Friday, June 5, 2026.

EXCERPTS
Princeton High School – 100 Viking Way, Cincinnati, OH 45246

June 12- 13, 2026

Pre-Order Lunch Options Available for Saturday – $15.00 (Boxed Lunches from McAlister’s Deli)
Grilled Chicken Caesar Wrap
Turkey Bacon Ranch Wrap
Southwest Chicken Wrap
McAlister’s Club Wrap
Veggie Wrap
Each box lunch includes chips, cookie, pickle spear, utensils and a drink of choice (bottled water, Coke, Diet Coke, or Sprite)

BANQUET & AWARDS
Fairfield Receptions – 5975 Boymel Drive, Fairfield, OH 45014

Saturday, June 13, 2026

Registration Doors Open: 6:00pm
Buffet Dinner Available: 6:00pm-7:30pm
Awards Only Registration Doors Open: 7:45pm
Awards Presentation Begins: 8:00pm

HOTEL RESERVATIONS
A block of rooms has been held at Towne Place Suites by Marriott, located at 6705 Fairfield Business Center Drive, Fairfield OH 45014. Use the booking code ACT. After May 22, 2026, the code may not be honored. Book using either method below.

Direct Link to Hotel Reservations Page
Phone: 513-860-1300

Please note that additional donations made to ACT Cincinnati by June 5, 2026 will be included in our program. Any donations after June 5 will receive a tax letter but will have missed the deadline to be included in the program. Thank you for being a supporter.

Leave a comment

Filed under On Stage

Tagged as ACT of Greater Cincinnati, Ohio Community Theatre Association

June 24, 2024 · 6:02 pm

2023-2024 Orchid & OCTAfest Convention Awards

Scroll down for links to Orchid Awards by Group

NAMED AWARDS

ART ROUSE AWARD – Mary Stone
MARIO PITOCCO AWARD – Julie Beelman
ROGER GROOMS AWARD – Linda Abbott
PRESIDENT’S AWARD – Betsy Obermeyer
RISING STAR AWARD – Caleb Redslob (ACTUP), Laura Eaton (BPI), Sean Walker-Mize (CSP), Alex Shaw (CMT), Beth Boland (FLI), Olivia Lovett (GTP), Davis Byrd (INNOVA), Michael Yarick (LSC), Natasha Boeckmann (MPI), Mike Pateras (MCP), Michelle Bellany (QCP), Logan Dunn (SSP), Clare Hingsbergen (TDW) & John Leo Meuthing (VP)
SPIRIT OF COMMUNITY THEATRE AWARD – Jennifer Richardson and Greg Schaper

EXCERPTS INVITED TO REPRESENT THE SOUTHWEST REGION AT STATE

ONLY ROSE – CenterStage Players
THE TIN WOMAN – The Drama Workshop
THE BOOK OF WILL – Mariemont Players
Agatha Christie’s MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS – Footlighters, Inc. (Alternate)

EXCERPT AWARDS

Below is the list of OCTA awards for the shows that excerpted over the weekend.

DOUBLEWIDE, TEXAS
Village Players of Fort Thomas

Merit in Acting – Helen Merritt as Larken Barken
Merit in Acting – Jimmy Jackson as Norwayne “Baby” Crumpler
Merit in Acting – Susan Smith as Caprice Crumpler

ONLY ROSE
CenterStage Players

Outstanding in Acting – Nick Dunker as Tom
Outstanding in Acting – Mary Jo Bissmeyer as Rose
Outstanding in Duo Acting – Nick Dunker and Mary Jo Bissmeyer
Outstanding in Original Script – Dennis Murphy
Outstanding in Costumes – Dennis Murphy
Outstanding in Directing – Dennis Murphy
Excellence in Set Design -Dennis Murphy
Excellence in Ensemble – Cast of Only Rose
Merit in Acting – Amy Eyers as Edwina

Agatha Christie’s MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS
Footlighters, Inc.

Outstanding in Direction – Becky Collins
Outstanding in Costumes- Sophie Grant
Outstanding in Acting – Fred Murrell as Hercule Poirot
Excellence in Acting – Jennifer Day as Helen Hubbard
Excellence in Acting – Hope Pauly as Greta Ohlsson
Excellence in Ensemble- Cast of Orient Express
Merit in Acting – Barb Timmons as Princess Dragomiroff
Merit in Sound Design – Jason Cox

THE TIN WOMAN
The Drama Workshop

Outstanding in Acting Dan Maloney as Jack
Outstanding in Acting – Christie Bishop as Hank
Outstanding in Acting – Jessie Faye as Sammy
Outstanding in Ensemble – Cast of The Tin Woman
Excellence in Direction – Jerry Wiesenhahn
Excellence in Acting – Rose Vanden Eynden as Alice
Merit in Acting – Kendra Dunahugh as Joy

ABOVE THE SAND
Mason Community Players

Outstanding in Costumes – Gail Rudolph and Linda Geering
Excellence in Orchestra – Orchestra of Above the Sand
Excellence in Original Script – Thomas Davis
Excellence in Musical Theatre Performance – Corey Meyer as Wilbur Wright
Merit in Musical Theatre Performance – Eva Bower as Katharine Wright
Merit in Vocal Ensemble – Cast of Above the Sand

THE RED VELVET CAKE WAR
Loveland Stage Company

Excellence in Costuming- Carissa Sloan
Merit in Acting – Lauren Rinner as Peaches Verdeen Belrose
Merit in Acting – Nancy Rzonca as Jimmie Wyvette Verdeen
Merit in Acting – Justin Hanks as Newt Blaylock
Merit in Acting – Charlie Raider as Purvis Verdeen

THE OUTSIDER
Sunset Players

Excellence in Acting – Ray Smith as Ned Newley
Excellence in Acting – Brian Costa as A. C. Peterson
Excellence in Direction – David Roth
Merit in Acting – Rachel Brzezinski as Louise Peakes
Merit in Ensemble – Cast of The Outsider

THE 39 STEPS, EVEN MORE ABRIDGED
Tri-County Players

Outstanding in Acting – Evan Beckmeyer as Richard Hannay
Outstanding in Duo Acting – John Dorney and Kathleen McDaniel as Clown
Excellence in Direction – Sarah Hoback and Dane Rogers
Excellence in Costumes – Betty Coulter and Cast
Excellence in Props – Mindi Emmons, Sarah Hoback, Dane Rogers, and Gregory Smith

THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME
INNOVAtheatre

Outstanding in Musical Theatre Performance – Jacob Nichols as Quasimodo
Excellence in Musical Theatre Performance – Jason S. Lakesas Dom Claude Frollo
Excellence in Costumes – Poleena Greely
Merit in Musical Theatre Performance – Grace Goodwin as Esmerelda
Merit in Vocal Ensemble- Cast of The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Merit in Canine Performance – Blaze the Dog as Dog
Merit in Choreography – Isadore Karick
Merit in Lighting Design- Richard Lee Waldeck

GLADYS NIGHTS
Beechmont Players

Outstanding in Acting – Maggie Ingram King as Gladys
Excellence in Acting – Scott Unesas Ray
Merit in Acting- Pamela Blessing as Pepper
Merit in Acting – Mark Waldfogle as Man
Merit in Acting- Lisa Marie White as Techie 1
Merit in Acting – Lisa Kuhn as Techie 2
Merit in Direction – Steve Phelan
Merit in Sound Design – Jason Cox

THE BOOK OF WILL
Mariemont Players

Outstanding in Direction- jef Brown
Outstanding in Costumes- Linda Roll and Faye Crawford
Outstanding in Acting -Keith Cassidy as Henry Condell
Outstanding in Acting- John Conrard as John Heminges
Excellence in Ensemble -Cast of The Book of Will
Excellence in Acting – Mary Stoneas Emilia Bassano Lanier
Excellence in Dialect Coaching – Ann Nixon
Excellence in Lighting Design – Alan Jeffries
Merit in Acting – Wayne Kirsch as Ralph Crane

ORCHID AWARDS

The Orchid Awards are presented at the end of each season determined by an adjudication system of providing three judges per production for each of the ACT of Greater Cincinnati member groups. Orchid awards for the 2023-2024 Season:

Leave a comment

Filed under In Other News

Tagged as ACT of Greater Cincinnati, Ohio Community Theatre Association

December 21, 2023 · 5:29 pm

2024 ACT/OCTAFest is Moving

ACT_theatre ACT Cincinnati, you spoke, and we listened! We have super exciting news to share with you about the 2024 ACT/OCTAFest Regional Convention that we know you’re going to absolutely love.

For ACT’s 69th anniversary, we are proud to announce that we have two brand-new venues, both within the I-275 loop and both right next door to one another.

We will be using Princeton High School’s gorgeous, state-of-the-art, and recently renovated Matthews Auditorium for the 2024 excerpts. Our Saturday night banquet, awards ceremony, and party will be right across the street adjacent to the parking lot at the Delta Hotels by Marriott—an easy 10-minute walk from Princeton High.

ACT_Banquet The Marriott’s banquet room has significantly more room than the Embassy Suites and will allow those who are only attending the awards and party to sit at a table versus having to sit along the side of the room. The hotel room rates remain low at $119 a night, and we’ll be having a buffet-style dinner instead of a sit-down dinner to allow people to pick and choose their meal for one low price.

We are giddy about this year’s regional convention, and we owe it all to our masterful and tenacious negotiator, 1st VP Amanda Emmons Shumate. She took your feedback to heart and made all these wonderful changes happen!

Mark your calendars now for June 15 – 17, 2024, and start preparing for an amazing regional convention!

Leave a comment

Filed under Press Releases

Tagged as ACT of Greater Cincinnati, Ohio Community Theatre Association

November 27, 2023 · 12:47 pm

The Passing of John Anthony Falkenbach

MISC_John Anthony Falkenbach -Beavercreek Community Theatre

BCT is devastated by the unexpected loss of a treasured family member. We are shocked and saddened by the passing of John Falkenbach this morning. If you were involved in Dayton community theatre, or OCTA, you knew and loved John. John’s contributions to Dayton theatre were enormous and BCT will not be the same without him. We will share any information about arrangements as they become available. Rest well John, to say you will be missed is an understatement.

– Obituary from Littleton & Rue

John Anthony “Tigger” Falkenbach, 65, of Dayton, passed away on Thursday, November 23, 2023. He was born on July 23, 1958, in Mansfield, Ohio, the son of John C. Falkenbach and Mary Ann (Torlina) Hudson.

John’s journey through life was marked by a profound love for the arts, and his passion for theatre was unmistakable. He graduated from Catholic Central High School in the class of 1976 and was an alumnus of Ohio Northern University. He worked as a financial consultant/ accountant for over 40 years, most recently working for Robert Haff International and was assigned to various companies throughout the Miami Valley Region during his 16 years of service.

However, it was the stage that truly captured Johnnie’s heart. He was involved in community, educational, and professional theatre for almost 50 years. He was active onstage and behind the scenes where he was a director, lighting designer, producer, actor, and techie. He was a cherished member of the following theater communities: Beavercreek Community Theatre (BCT), Dayton Playhouse, Troy Civic Theatre, Xenia Area Community Theatre, Dayton Theatre Guild, Little Theatre Off Broadway, and the Springfield Civic Theatre. He was a 51-time Daytony winner including 40 awards for Lighting Design and four for Set Design. John was inducted into the Dayton Theatre Hall of Fame in 2018. He was the Treasurer on the BCT Board of Directors and was active in the Ohio Community Theatre Association for over 35 years serving in many capacities. Among his favorite productions were “Company” and “Godspell,” where he shared his talent and creativity with countless audiences.

Johnnie was instrumental in opening the first Little Caesar’s Pizza franchise in Springfield, Ohio. He loved the character, Tigger, from Winnie the Pooh, and enjoyed playing Chess, cards and games with his family and friends. Johnnie is credited with inspiring his siblings, niece and nephews to also sing, dance and perform.

Johnnie leaves behind a legacy of love and creativity. He is survived by his loving mother, Mary Ann Hudson, stepmother, Carol Falkenbach, as well as his siblings: David Michael (Debbie) Falkenbach, Mary Beth (Mark) Goodin, and Gary Joseph (Rita) Falkenbach. He also leaves behind a brother-in-law Robb Butterfield and nieces and nephews who held a special place in his heart: Bradley, Jeremy (Caleb), Seth (Matt), Kayla (Mike), Justin (Julie), and one great nephew Syre, along with numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.

He was preceded in death by his father, John C. Falkenbach and sister Amy Butterfield (Falkenbach).

A gathering of family and friends will be held on Friday, December 1st, from 5:00-7:00 p.m. in the LITTLETON & RUE FUNERAL HOME, with a service to begin at 7:00 p.m. Following the service, a meal will begin at 8:00 p.m. in The Landing at Littleton & Rue, providing an opportunity for loved ones to come together, share memories, and celebrate John’s life.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of John, please visit our floral store.