Tag Archives: St. Xavier High School

July 26, 2021 · 12:07 pm

The Passing of Cathy Ann Creason

From Cincinnati.Com

Cincinnati – Cathy Ann Creason, 65, of Cincinnati, OH, passed away from metastatic cancer on Tuesday, July 20, 2021. She is most remembered from her time at St. Xavier High School, where she taught English for 25 years and and served as Theatre Xavier’ vocal director for years beyond that. Her beautiful voice moved thousands at countless religious services throughout the city. She was the daughter of Dr. Jack T. Creason and Montelle J. “Peggy” (Jewell) Creason, both deceased.

Arrangements by Spring Grove Funeral Homes in Cincinnati, OH. Burial will be in the Benton Cemetery, Benton, KY. A private celebration of her life will be held by close friends in the near future. Memorial contributions may be made to the Cathy Creason GoFundMe page at https://www.gofundme/f/caring-for-creason, or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105; Lourdes Hospice, P.O. Box 7100, Paducah, KY 42002; or the charity of your choice.

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March 15, 2015 · 11:35 am

World Premiere Announced for Oberacker & Taylor’s BANDSTAND

MISC_BandstandLate last year, I posted an article about BANDSTAND, a new musical by Cincinnati-native Richard Oberacker (CCM ’93) and partner Robert Taylor. Its September reading had the NYC theatre community abuzz.

Oberacker and Taylor’s musical ACE opened Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park’s 2006-2007 season. In 2009, their musical DON’T MAKE ME PULL THIS SHOW OVER: DISPATCHES FROM THE FRONT LINES OF PARENTING was produced at ETC (after a preview at the 2008 Cincinnati Fringe Festival).

This week, the Paper Mill Playhouse, a regional theater in Millburn, New Jersey, announced BANDSTAND will be making its world premiere as the opening production of its 2015-2016 season.

Running October 8-Nov. 8, “…this sizzling new big-band swing musical with an amazing original score and a plot that is full of surprising twists and turns. Emotionally charged and beautifully crafted, this is the story of a mismatched band of WWII veterans. Battle-scared and broke, dreaming of a better life, they join together to compete in a national radio contest with a prize that will guarantee instant stardom to the winners.”

BANDSTAND is directed and choreographed by Tony Award winner Andy Blankenbuehler. Blankenuehler is also a Cincinnati native, and a graduate of St. Xavier High School.

Wishing them all a long and successful run.

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January 16, 2015 · 12:06 pm

Stage Notes for Jan. 16

Clockwise from center: Playwright Michael Slade, Corbin Bleu, Adam Halpin, Arash Mokhtar, Annie Pesch, Colleen Zenk & Randy Brooks. Photo by Scott J. Kimmins.

Clockwise from center: Playwright Michael Slade, Corbin Bleu, Adam Halpin, Arash Mokhtar, Annie Pesch, Colleen Zenk & Randy Brooks in HRTC’s FAMILY SHOTS. Photo by Scott J. Kimmins.

A potpourri of arts news items from local and national sources.

  • Dayton Most Metro ticket giveaway and article: Soap Star Colleen Zenk Comes To Town To Star in Human Race’s FAMILY SHOTS
  • River City News article: Here’s the Lineup for this Year’s Y.E.S. Play Series at NKU
  • Enquirer blog: CCM grads, Louis Langrée in national publications
  • River City News article: NKU Creates New School for the Arts
  • NBC.com bio: Native Cincinnatian Jake Robinson cast in ODYSSEY
  • Dayton Daily News article: [Dayton] Theatre Guild plans memorial for Ralph Dennler
  • Dayton Most Metro review: 4000 MILES presented by Dayton Theatre Guild
  • League of Cincinnati Theatre review: WEST SIDE STORY at The Carnegie
  • CityBeat review: WEST SIDE STORY at The Carnegie

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January 6, 2015 · 5:30 pm

St. Xavier High School Grad “Tappy” Touring with CINDERELLA

CINDERELLA swings Jordana Grolnick & Ben Lanham.

CINDERELLA swings Jordana Grolnick & Ben Lanham.

Ben Lanham, a 2009 graduate of St. Xavier high school returns to his hometown of Cincinnati with the tour of CINDERELLA the Musical, opening tonight and continuing through Jan. 18th.

Ben was named one of the Enquirer Arts All Stars 2009 (Dance) by Jackie Demaline. After graduating high school, Lanham attended Oklahoma City University where he received his BA in Dance Performance.

Ben toured internationally with WEST SIDE STORY this past year before landing the CINDERELLA tour. Being a swing, Lanham won’t be on stage every show, but local fans can see him perform Wednesday the 7th, Thursday the 15th and the Sunday matinee on the 18th.

Want to see Ben’s dance skills up close? Watch the YouTube video embedded below. Chris Rice (Broadway’s BOOK OF MORMON) leads an ensemble through a tap number he choreographed to Pharrell Williams’, “Happy.” Ben is dressed in a bright red shirt with long, blue sleeves.

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November 15, 2012 · 2:30 pm

St. Xavier High School Seeks Part Time Acting Teacher

ST. XAVIER HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT OF FINE ARTS
PART TIME TEACHING POSITION – 2 classes per day

The description below is from our Graded Course of Study.

Acting Teacher – Beginning level
Fine Arts Studio 1
Length – 1 Semester Level: Freshmen
Acting/Music/Visual ½ credit

During the semester, freshmen experience each of the arts – Acting, Music, Visual.

Goals and Objectives: Introducing the students to the essential elements of the arts, the course provides basic studio experiences. This method seeks to create opportunities to seek and discover convergence points among all three areas. Moreover, the students will be well prepared to pointedly choose their “major” in one of the arts for the sophomore course.

Content and Method: Hands on studio work is the driving feature of all the arts. Students participate in daily activities featuring techniques and elements of each art form. Basic elements of drawing advance student experience with line, shape, contour line, shading, and beginning perspective. Acting features exercises in movement, emotion, reaction, props use, and character. Presentational skills in performance dominate the study. Music involves students in beginning exercises for understanding the language of music and music-making. Students participate in vocalizing or using instruments, learning basics of notes and scales, melody/harmony, dynamics, and elements of ensemble performing.

Evaluation and Grading: Studio grades will be forthcoming in the following areas: skill development as shown through performance moments; quizzes on basic vocabulary and elements; self-critiquing and teacher assessment of projects; student effort. Each arts area is 1/3 of the semester grade.

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This is a pilot class, new this school year. Freshmen shuttle through all 3 arts venues, Acting, Music, and Visual. If their class begins in Music, they rotate next to Visual, and then to Acting. If they begin in Acting, they rotate next to Music, then to Visual. If they begin in Visual, they rotate next to Acting, then to Music. We are ending our 2nd (out of 6) rotation and will begin a 3rd rotation on Monday, November 26. Each venue lasts 24 to 26 class days.

The curriculum is provided for this course. Close collaboration with the department head will occur daily, in a shared office.

Requirements: Bachelor’s Degree; Transcripts of graduation; experience in directing, work-shopping, teaching high school age students. Call the individuals below for further information.

Michele Mascari William Sandquist
Head of Fine Arts Department Principal
St. Xavier High School
761-7600 ext. 585 761-7600, ext. 128

mmascari@stxavier.org
wsandquist@stxavier.org

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