Tag Archives: Sunset Players

Sunset Players Announce 2012-2013 Season

We’re back!! Join us as we return to our home in the Dunham Arts Center. And stay tuned for details about our efforts to create a fully realized arts center for the Westside!

KING O’ THE MOON
By Tom Dudzick
Oct. 12-27, 2012

Revisit the Pazinski family in this hilarious, heartfelt sequel to OVER THE TAVERN. Set in the rebellious 1960s, Rudy, all grown up at 22, is a seminary student who is rethinking his father’s deathbed wish for him to become a priest. Eddie, on the verge of fatherhood, is about ship out for Vietnam. Their sweet sister Annie is contemplating divorce and Ellen, their widowed mother, sees a new romance blossoming. Join the family as they gather to honor their late father’s memory and quickly become entangled in each other’s lives. As with Tavern, there is never a dull moment in KING O’ THE MOON as the Pazinski household hurtles towards the next decade.

Praise for KING O’ THE MOON:
“Dudzick is well on his way to becoming the Neil Simon of the Catholic, Polish-American working class” ALICE T. CARTER, INTHEATER MAGAZINE

“This is a “Moon” that winces with pain and winks with joy. In its easy accessibility, this is a play that sometimes feels like an all-American musical comedy without the music.” HEDY WEISS, CHICAGO SUN-TIMES

Our children’s show:
SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS OF THE BLACK FOREST
By June Walker Rogers
Nov. 30-Dec. 9, 2012

Join us for this loose adaptation of the Grimm Brothers Fairy Tale. All the characters you love are here: Snow White, the seven dwarfs, the absent-minded king, his new wife (part witch and part queen but all funny), the magic mirror, and the handsome Prince. Throw in some new characters: the queen’s dim witted maid, Miss Time (daughter of Father Time), and Snow White’s animal friends and you have a rollicking twist on a familiar story, and in the end, everyone learns a valuable lesson!

MOONLIGHT AND MAGNOLIAS
By Ron Hutchinson
Feb. 22-March 9, 2013

The year is 1939, three weeks into the production of “Gone With the Wind” legendary producer David O. Selznick closes the set and fires Director George Cukor. With just five days to get back on track, Selznick hires famed screenwriter Ben Hecht to write a new script from Margaret Mitchell’s bestselling 1037 page novel. The only problem – Hecht had never read the novel! With no other options, a crazed Selznick pulls Director Victor Fleming from “Wizard of Oz” and barricades all three in his office for a marathon script writing session. For five days, mayhem and hilarity ensue amidst sleep deprivation, bushels of bananas, and tons of peanuts! Shell shocked and weary, the men emerge with a blockbuster script.

Peanut allergy warning: Patrons should be aware that peanuts and peanut shells are used in the production of this play.

I HATE HAMLET
by Paul Rudnick
May 3-18, 2013

Andrew Rally has it all: celebrity from his starring role in a hit television series; a beautiful girlfriend; a glamorous, devoted agent; the perfect New York apartment; and the chance to play Hamlet in Central Park. Having second thoughts about playing such a challenging role, in front of a live audience no less; the tipsy ghost of John Barrymore returns to his old apartment, urging Andrew to cast off the trappings of the material world and throw his soul into his destiny as an actor, to play Hamlet on the stage.

“…unapologetically silly and at times hilarious… affectionately amusing about the theatre…-The New York Times

“… fast-mouthed and funny…It has the old-fashioned Broadway virtues of brightness without pretensions and sentimentality without morals.”-The Village Voice

General Admission Tickets $14 or $12 for seniors or students or groups of 10 or more. Children’s Show admission $5. Season tickets which include admission for the above 4 shows can be bought for $35/ Single or $50 Pair.

For season ticket information: call 513-588-4988 | www.sunsetplayers.org

Also- join us for Playhouse Off the Hill: theater for families! All tickets – $5 (not included in the season ticket package)

ACCIDENTAL FRIENDS
By Y York
9/29 at 7:00 PM
Ages 7 and up

This funny but moving play tells the story of Jonathan, temporarily blinded by a head injury. He sits alone wondering why his best friends don’t come see him. Enter Hilda, a classic over-achiever geek, wondering why Jonathan hasn’t answered the witty letter she was made to write in class. With Hilda’s relentless encouragement, Jonathan learns to get around using his sense of touch. He also discovers that although Hilda may be unusual, she is also interesting and funny. Nonetheless, when Jonathan gets back to school and his friends, he turns his back on her. Only when it is too late does Jonathan realize that he must be encouraging, and that he can help Hilda by being her friend. The characters are rich, the story is honest, the play respects its audience.

THE TRAVELING JEKYLL & HYDE SHOW
By Russell Davis
1/26 at 7:00
Ages 11 and up

This high comedy deconstructs the themes of Stevenson’s classic horror novel using verbal wit, slapstick and clowning. A tiny touring theatre company attempts to tell the story of the scientist who learns to split his good from his evil side; however they are sabotaged ate every step who suffers from his own ability to keep his morality straight. The three women in the company slowly take control of the story as they learn to take control of their lives.

NOTE: This play is not a literal telling of the original novel, although it does touch on its themes and is very, very funny.

GO, DOG. GO!
Adapted by Steven Dietz and Allison Gregory
From the book by P.D. Eastman
4/ 20 at 2:00 PM
Ages 5 and up

P.D. Eastman’s classic children’s book comes to life on stage in an exploration of movement, color and space. The dogs delve into life with gusto, creating a visual spectacle for the audience to feast upon. They snorkel. They howl at the moon. They ride a ferris wheel. They sing and dance and climb trees. This is a rollicking free-for-all of chicanine-ery. A big and little musical world of doggy fun. Like a pop-up book that comes to life – and never stops.

“With its gentle, bouncy humor and familiar situations, Go, Dog. Go! would make a fitting introduction to theater for even the youngest children, and has enough sly wit to satisfy older children and parents.” -The Columbus Dispatch

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Time is Running out for SSP’s Summer Bulb Fundraiser

There are only a few weeks left to order your summer bulbs and help the Arts Center at Dunham replace the heating/air conditioning unit. Order now and you get an order of twighlight gladiolus bulbs with every $40 order. The flowers are beautiful and now is teh time to plant for summer flowers!

For every purchase made on this site Flower Power Fundraising will give 50% back to the Arts Center!

To Make a Purchase Online:

Please tell your Friends and Family! They deliver all over the country!

Christina Yearout
Publicity, Sunset Players, Inc.
Great Theater at a Great Price!
http://sunsetplayers.org
Like us on Facebook!

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The Arts Center at Dunham Seeking Donations

The fundraising task force for The Arts Center at Dunham is looking for donations for a silent auction to be held during our Spring Fling fundraiser. If you have any merchandise, services, gift certificates, etc. that you would like to donate, please contact me, Chris Yearout or send to the address below. Details are included below as well, but keep in mind, any donors will be recognized at the event, in next season’s programs for Sunset Shows, on our website, and our Facebook page. If you own a business or are a theater looking to increase your audience, this is a great opportunity to reach a huge audience for very little investment! Even if you are an individual who would like to donate time as a dog sitter, gardener, home brewing, etc.; please consider donating. Think creatively!

Also, tickets are available for the event: $15 at the door or $12 in advance. Tickets include 2 beer tickets, free soda, chips, pretzels. The evening will include Karaoke by Greg Shaffer, pizza by the slice, split the pot, a cash bar, and a silent auction. Advance ticket requests can be sent with a check made out to Sunset Players, Inc. to Christina Yearout 3459 Craig Avenue Cincinnati, OH 45211. Your tickets will be available at the event.

Official donation request letter:
Sunset Players, Inc., a community theater group that has been performing at the Dunham Recreation Center for over 30 years, in conjunction with Price Hill Civic Club, Price Hill Will, Dunham Advisory Board, and the Cincinnati Recreation Commission, is creating a fully realized arts center to serve the West side of Cincinnati.

In order to raise funds to renovate the historic building, The Arts Center at Dunham will be holding a “spring fling” fundraising event at the Crow’s Nest Bar on March 31st from 8 PM until midnight. Highlights of the event include karaoke, split the pot and a silent auction. Please consider making a tax-deductible donation of cash, merchandise, gift certificates or services for our silent auction.

A list of contributors will be on display at the spring fling and all donations will be recognized in the Sunset Players show programs for the 2012/2013 season.

The arts center will be housed in the historic 1937 arts building on the Dunham Recreation Center Complex in Price Hill, which was part of the first municipally owned tuberculosis sanatorium in the United States. The mission of the Arts Center at Dunham (ACAD) is to be a venue for visual, musical and performance art for all ages. Proposed activities include many arts programs for children, such as theater workshops teaching both on-stage and back-stage theater skills.

Sunset Players, Inc. and the Arts Center at Dunham invite you to attend our spring fling fundraiser, as well as future arts events at the ACAD. We greatly appreciate your generous support.

For your convenience, we will gladly pick up your donated item. Donations may also be sent to: The Arts Center at Dunham Spring Fling Event c/o Christina Yearout, 3459 Craig Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45211

* Please consider our events in your 2013 donation budget if funds for this year have already been delegated.

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Sunset Players Splashes Onto Stage with THE DIXIE SWIM CLUB

Sunset Players, the resident drama group at Dunham Arts Center for more than 30 years, ends its 2011/2012 season with “The Dixie Swim Club,” a hilarious and touching journey of lifelong friendship by Nicholas Hope, Jamie Wooten and Jessie Jones.

The show follows five Southern women, who became fast friends on their college swim team, as they meet at the same beach college to laugh, relax, catch up, and interfere in each other’s lives.

“When I first read ‘Dixie Swim Club,'” I was charmed by the warmth of the play,” remembers director Mike Burke. “It’s a play about long term friendships that are a true sisterhood.”

Elaine Michael plays Sheree, the spunky team captain. Nancy Genheimer is Dinah, the wise-cracking over-achiever. Contrast these two women who seem to have their lives in order, with self-deprecating and acerbic Vernadette, played by Jeri Nakamura, and the youth obsessed, always-married (just not to the same man) Lexie, played by Mary Ann Smith. Throw in Jeri Neal, sweet but always surprising, and you get a hilarious peek into a lifetime of relationships.

Helen Luther, playing Jeri Neal, says it best: “Anyone who has friends they have known for a lifetime – or even just have deep trust and experiences with – will get this show. It exemplifies the meaning of true friendship, thick and thin, and unconditional love. The characters are real. They’re flawed and funny and a little bit crazy. Just like all of us!”

Show dates are February 10, 11, 17, 18, 24 & 25. All show times are at 8 pm. Performances will be held at Midway Elementary School, 3156 Glenmore Avenue 45211, while renovations of the Dunham Arts Building occur.

Ticket prices are $12 for general admission and $11 for students, seniors, and groups of ten or more. For ticket information call 513-588-4988 or visit www.sunsetplayers.org.

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THE DIXIE SWIM CLUB runs Feb. 10-25

THE DIXIE SWIM CLUB
Presented by the Sunset Players
Feb. 10-25
Westwood

Five Southern women, whose friendships began 1,716 weeks ago (33 years) on their college swim team, set aside a long weekend every August to recharge their relationships. Free from husbands, kids and jobs, they meet at the same beach cottage on North Carolina’s Outer Banks to catch up, laugh and meddle in each other’s lives. The Dixie Swim Club is 100 minutes of hilarious and touching comedy about friendships that last forever.

Cast: Elaine Michael, Cathy Lutts, Mary Ann Smith, Helen Luther & Jeri Nakamura

  • Fri-Sat, Feb. 10-11 at 8pm
  • Fri-Sat, Feb. 17-18 at 8pm
  • Fri-Sat, Feb. 24-25 at 8pm

Official page | FaceBook event |

Local media coverage: Cincinnati Examiner article |

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