Tag Archives: OTRimprov

Know and OTRimprov Team Up Again to Make Your Holidays One-of-a-Kind with THE NAUGHTY LIST

KTC_The Naughty List promoTHE NAUGHTY LIST
An improvised dinner show that wants to know
if you’ve been bad or
good
December 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21, 26 & 27
at Arnold’s Bar & Grill

It’s a little bit naughty and a little bit nice — but always a lot of fun — and is the only ticket in town guaranteeing you’ll never see the same show twice. OTRimprov (OTRi), a long-time member of Know’s resource-sharing Jackson Street Market program and voted Cincinnati’s Best Improv Troupe (2016 Best of Cincinnati, CityBeat) takes over the patio at Arnold’s Bar & Grill for the 5th consecutive year to celebrate, skewer, lament, embellish, and extol everything about the holidays.

Starting from audience suggestions, OTRi’s award-winning improvisors will entertain and delight with games and scenes that change nightly to ensure every show is unique. Whether they are rewriting a beloved carol in front of your eyes, showing how they would handle present requests as Santa, or reimagining your favorite holiday movie in fantastical ways, The Naughty List will fill your holidays with side-splitting laughs. Bring your cheer or your humbug; either way, it’ll help craft the incomparable experience only OTRimprov can provide.

On the traditional attendance at The Naughty List, director Paul Wilson comments,

“Seeing families and friends come back year after year, to have them talk about their favorite moments and what they love about the experience is incredibly satisfying. And the people who discover us each year who tell us how glad they are they found us and how they can’t wait to come back…it makes for a unique Cincinnati holiday tradition we are grateful to be a part of.”

And to delight even more of your senses, host Arnold’s Bar & Grill provides a delectable a la carte menu of dinner, drinks, and dessert for you to enjoy before and during the show. Audience members can arrive up to 90 minutes prior to the 7:30pm start time to feast – but please note that you must arrive no later than 7:00pm to guarantee dinner service. Dinner and drinks are not included in the ticket price. Parties of 5 or more should contact Know Theatre of Cincinnati (513-300-5669) to place seating reservations. All parties are welcome and encouraged to request a reservation time for dinner.

Cast in Alphabetical Order

  • Alanna Turner-Palmer
  • Charlie Roetting
  • Dave Powell
  • Erin Ward
  • Jordan Trovillion
  • Mike Hall
  • Sean Mette

Production Team

Director – Paul Kerford Wilson

About OTRimprov
OTRimprov (OTRi) began in 2010 as a collection of wayward improvisers looking for like-minded performers and a place to play in Cincinnati. After headlining shows for the Little Big Night at Know Theatre of Cincinnati, we formed our own partnership with Know Theatre’s Jackson Street Market, a resource sharing program for fledgling companies, and began producing shows independently. This continued partnership allows us to call Know’s Underground space on Jackson St. in Over-the-Rhine home.

We continue to explore a variety of styles and formats, while developing a strong improv community populated with smart, engaging people and doing work that is collaborative, curious, and sometimes a little bit daring. We foster new talent through training and a welcoming atmosphere, where all performers feel inspired to explore and take risks.

Calendar Listing

Production:   THE NAUGHTY LIST

When: 7:30pm December 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21, 26, and 27

Dinner service from Arnold’s Bar & Grill is available at every performance. Audience members can arrive for dinner as early as 6:00pm but must arrive no later than 7:00pm to guarantee service. Dinner and drinks are not included in the ticket price. Parties of 5 or more should contact Know Theatre of Cincinnati (513-300-5669) to place seating reservations. All parties are welcome and encouraged to place reservation times. 

Where: Arnold’s Bar & Grill – 210 E 8th Street Cincinnati, OH 45202

Tickets: $20

Dinner and drinks are not included in the ticket price.

Tickets can be purchased by visiting knowtheatre.com or calling 513.300.5669 (KNOW).

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 Carol Ann & Ralph V. Haile, Jr./U.S. Bank Foundation, helping to change our communities for the better through collaboration and innovation, and 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.

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OTRimprov presents the 3rd Annual Improv Festival of Cincinnati (IF Cincy)

You’re going to want to be there when IF Happens

IF_logo 2016Cincinnati’s OTRimprov proudly presents the Third Annual Improv Festival of Cincinnati (IF Cincy). This year’s Festival features improvisors from Chicago, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Detroit, Ann Arbor, Portland (OR), Minneapolis, Louisville, and Cincinnati. The festival runs September 6-11, 2016 at Know Theatre of Cincinnati in Over-the-Rhine. If Cincy is excited to expand this year’s Festival with an episode of the Improv Yak Podcast on Tuesday September 6 and an additional performance night on Wednesday September 7.

Craig Cackowski, known for his roles on Community, Veep, and Drunk History as well as earning three Del Close Teacher of the Year awards at iO West in Los Angeles, and Amber Nash known for her role as the voice of Pam Poovey on the hit animated show Archer and her work with Dad’s Garage, Atlanta’s Best Improv Theater for the last 15 years, are in two of our headlining troupes, Orange Tuxedo and Fun Bags, respectively.

Produced in partnership with Know Theatre of Cincinnati’s Jackson Street Market, IF Cincy has also benefitted from the support of business sponsors and individuals willing to support the festival through crowdfunding. IF Cincy marks the sixth anniversary of OTRimprov, a group of dedicated improvisors who created the strong improv community in Cincinnati while winning Best Improv Troupe in Cincinnati for 2015 and 2016.

Local troupes performing are Basement Dwellers, Coincidence Improv, Don’t Tell Anna, Highly Improvable, Killer B’s, The Middle Child, OTRnext, Portals to Possibility, and What It Ain’t.

National improv performers traveling to Cincinnati are B&B (Portland, OR), Bearded Men (Minneapolis, MN), Damaged Goods (Louisville, KY), Devil’s Daughter (Chicago, IL), Fun Bags (Atlanta, GA), Human Amusements (Detroit, MI), The Improvised Sondheim Project (Chicago, IL), The League of Pointless Improvisors (Ann Arbor, MI), Orange Tuxedo (Los Angeles, CA),  and Shade (Chicago, IL).

Many of the performers taking the stage in the evening will also be hosting workshops for experienced and beginner improvisors, giving Cincinnatians an opportunity to learn alongside the impressive visiting national talent. Workshops will be offered by Megan Leahy & Leslie Sharp (Fun Bags), The Improvised Sondheim Project, and Craig & Carla Cackowski (Orange Tuxedo). In addition, for the first time OTRimprov will be offering a workshop focused on teen improvisors in the Cincinnati area.

“For our third year, we wanted to raise the bar with a bigger and bolder IF Cincy,” says Kat Smith, co-director of OTRimprov. “In addition to top-notch improv troupes from all over the country, we’re adding another night to accommodate more local troupes from the ever-expanding Cincinnati improv scene. Our workshops this year include a musical improv workshop and a teen-focused workshop.” Smith continues, “Six years ago, you would have been hard-pressed to find a monthly improv show in Cincinnati. Today, there are multiple shows a month at venues across the city. Thanks to the efforts of this small but mighty community, we continue to build a thriving improv scene here and IF Cincy lets people know improv is here to stay!”

The All Access Pass allows entry to all five evenings, Tuesday – Saturday, for $90, the Weekend Pass covers Friday and Saturday evening’s performances for $70, and a One Night Pass is available for entry on either Friday or Saturday evening for $35.

Single tickets are $5 each for the Tuesday September 7th Improv Yak Podcast performance, $10 for Wednesday evening, and $20 for Thursday – Saturday’s performances.

 The Basics:

Who: OTRimprov presents
What: Improv Festival of Cincinnati (IF Cincy)
Where: Know Theatre of Cincinnati, 1120 Jackson Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202
Featuring: Improv artists from Chicago, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Detroit, Ann Arbor, Portland (OR), Minneapolis, Louisville, and right here in Cincinnati.
Tickets: http://www.ifcincy.com
How Much: Single tickets (Tuesday) $5, Wednesday ($10) (Thursday-Saturday): $20, All Access Pass: $90, Weekend Pass: $70, One Night Pass: $35 (Friday & Saturday only).

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CFF16: OTRimprov: THE FRINGE SHOW

OTRi_promoOTRimprov: THE FRINGE SHOW 
Part of the Cincinnati Fringe Festival ’16 SPECIAL EVENTS

The Woodward
Over-the-Rhine

We create. We listen. We choose. We make small scenes with strict rules. We make plays with invented rules. We do this in front of an audience. When we do it well (and we always do it well), you laugh. And laugh. And laugh. Voted best Improv Troupe in Cincinnati in 2014 and 2015 by the readers of CityBeat, you owe it to yourself to see what happens when OTRimprov takes the stage. 60 minutes.

  • Mon, June 6 at 8:45pm

Official page | Press release | Facebook page |

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Auditions Announced for OTRimprov

CFF_OTRimprovOTRimprov wants you! (to audition for our troupe)

OTRimprov is having auditions, an ordeal so harrowing and prestigous that NO NAVY SEALS have ever even attempted it, let alone made it through!

Auditions are January 23rd at the Know Theatre. Please click below, tell us your preferences, and we’ll contact you with your audition time.

If you are ready to sign up, click this link to our signup form.

If you still have some questions, here goes:

Q: DO I NEED IMPROV EXPERIENCE?

A: No. It could help. In fact, it probably helps a lot – but it is not a requirement. We are looking for those who are ready for the stage now and those who we see having potential.

Q: IF I’M CAST, WHAT’S THE REHEARSAL COMMITMENT?

A: We rehearse evenings from 7–10pm, currently on Tuesdays at (or very near to) the Know. If you can’t commit to six months of Tuesdays from February through July, it is not necessarily a dealbreaker – but we’re serious about getting to know you and getting you up to our standards, so we expect you are, too.  Once you are more settled in the troupe, we ask that you commit to regular attendance, but we allow flexibility for people to pursue other creative pursuits.

Q: WHEN ARE SHOWS?

A: Current regularly scheduled shows happen on the Third Tuesday and Final Friday of most months, as well as a free Improv Jam on most first Mondays, all at the Know. (Additional jams in new locations could be announced in the near future). You will be expected to be at all shows, even ones you aren’t cast in, to help with tasks and to get a feel for our onstage product.

Q: WOULD ANY HARD LABOR BE INVOLVED?

A: Yes, actually. No joke. We love the Know and the Know has been very generous, so the least we can do is take care of their space. We’ll often carry chairs. We’ll take out trash. We’ll sometimes clean bathrooms and, ideally, be glad to do it.

Q: HOW MANY PEOPLE WILL GET CAST?

A: Nice try. You’ll know when we do.

Q: WHEN WILL NEW CAST MEMBERS BE ANNOUNCED?

A:  All auditions participants will receive an email within a week of auditions letting them know whether or not they made it. New cast members will be announced at their first show.

Q: ARE THERE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES TO PERFORM OR PARTICIPATE?

A: If you’re not cast, we hope that you will consider taking one of our classes (announcement coming soon), coming to our jams, or working with one of the other local troupes. If you are a real go getter, we know that there is room for even more troupes doing great work here in Cincy. Maybe, you are the one, Neo.

Q: WILL I BE “BEAT IN,” LIKE IN A STREET GANG?

A: No. But don’t expect to perform right away. There will be a transition period in which we all rehearse together and not rehearse together (sometimes at a bar) and bond together. And you’ll likely run box office and/or stage manage for a while, as these are bases we all take turns covering. We want to get to know you, to get you comfortable on stage, and to get you set up to be successful on our stage.

Q: IF CAST, WILL I GET A NICKNAME?

A: Great idea – but we’re into questions that aren’t frequently asked. Please send any further inquiries to OTRimprov.info@gmail.com.

So, there you go. Hopefully, you are tougher than a Navy SEAL.  See you on the 23rd!

-OTRimprov

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THE NAUGHTY LIST Runs Dec. 14-29

KTC_The Naughty List promoTHE NAUGHTY LIST
OTRimprov
Dec. 14-29
Arnold’s Bar & Grill [Downtown]

The improvised holiday show that wants to know if you’ve been bad or good. Using suggestions from the audience, OTRimprov will present a completely unscripted show each night that revolves around your love – or disgust – for the Holiday Season.

  • Mon-Tue, Dec. 14-15 at 7:30pm
  • Sun, Dec. 20 at 7:30pm
  • Mon-Tue, Dec. 21-22 at 7:30pm
  • Sun, Dec. 27 at 7:30pm
  • Mon-Tue, Dec. 28-29 at 7:30pm

Official page |

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