Tag Archives: The Carnegie

March 7, 2017 · 5:47 am

Carnegie Theatre Season Closes with Regional Premiere of Satirical Off-Broadway Hit, DISENCHANTED

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Back row: Sara Kenny, Allison Evans, & Blair Godshall. Front row: Mikayla Renfrow, Brittany Hayes & Gabriella Francis. Photo credit: Mikki Schaffner.

Comedic musical shows what happens when fairytale princesses
stop being polite, and start getting real

(COVINGTON, KY)  Everyone knows how fairytales go – the prince rescues the princess and they ride off into the sunset for happily ever after. But what happens after the storybook ending? DISENCHANTED!, the final show of The Carnegie’s 2016-17 Theatre Series tells just that story. DISENCHANTED! is directed by Jodie Meyn and runs weekends March 25 – April 9, 2017.

Poisoned Apples. Glass slippers. Who needs ‘em? The fairytale princesses of DISENCHANTED! provide audiences with an uproarious evening of irreverent humor and satirical snipes as they throw out their tiaras and start getting real. Snow White, played by actress Sara Kenny, leads an all-star cast featuring Cinderella (Allison Evans), Belle, Rapunzel (Gabriella Francis), Sleeping Beauty (Blair Godshall), and many more in this not-for-the-kiddies comedic cabaret. Forget the princesses you think you know. These ladies will have you rolling in the aisle with their piercing take on happy ever after.

“I have loved this show since I first saw it four years ago in a sold out theatre in Minneapolis,” said Carnegie Theatre Director Maggie Perrino. “Since that day, I have looked for the right opportunity to bring it home to the Tri-State area. This show is witty, funny, sassy, and the perfect night out for adults. And our cast literally rocks. These ladies could not be more talented or hilarious.”

Noted, “a girls’-night-out rebellion” by The New York Times, the ‘storybook’ journey for DISENCHANTED! began with a sold-out, award-winning run at Orlando’s International Fringe Festival in 2011 (‘Best of Fest’ – Orlando Sentinel), and subsequent productions in the US, from New Jersey to California, all of which have been met with widespread critical acclaim.

Performances of DISENCHANTED! run weekends March 25 – April 9, 2017, Friday, and Saturday evenings at 7:30pm, and Sunday afternoons at 3pm.  Tickets are $28, $25 for Carnegie Members and ArtsPass Members. Tickets to Carnegie Theatre Series performances are available through The Carnegie Box Office, open Tuesday through Friday 12 pm – 5 pm, online at www.thecarnegie.com, or by phone at (859) 957-1940.

Cast: 

  • Snow White – Sara Kenny
  • Cinderella – Allison Evans
  • Sleeping Beauty – Blair Godshall
  • Little Mermaid/Belle/Rapunzel – Gabriella Francis
  • Pocahontas/Mulan/Princess Badroulbador –  Mikayla Renfrow
  • The Princess Who Kissed the Frog – Brittany Hayes

Production Team:

  • Director – Jodie Meyn
  • Music Direction – Erin McCamely
  • Choreography – Maggie Perrino

Cast Bios:

Sara Kenny (Snow White) is no stranger to the Carnegie Stage. She was last seen on stage here in MUSIC MAN (Ethel Toffelmeier) and COMPANY playing Amy (“Not Getting Married Today”). Sara has worked with The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati, The Commonwealth Theatre Company, Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati as well as Christmas at The Galt House Hotel in Louisville, KY and The Old Creamery Theatre in Iowa. Favorite professional credits include: SNOOPY!!! THE MUSICAL (Lucy Van Pelt), TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD (Stephanie Crawford), LIFE COULD BE A DREAM (Mrs. Varney), NEXT TO NORMAL (Diana u/s), and NUNSENSE (Mother Superior). Sara graduated with her BFA in performance from Northern Kentucky University and completed a Performance Internship at the Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati. After a brief “battle” with New York City, Sara calls Cincinnati “home” and is here to stay. The Tri-state’s theatre scene is KILLER right now and she wouldn’t want to be anywhere else! In her free time Sara is an avid “Baking Actor” as well as raising Autism Awareness on behalf of her beautiful nephew Theodore.

Allison Evans (Cinderella) graduated from Northern Kentucky University with a BFA in Musical Theatre. She is beyond thrilled to be working with this amazing cast and team on Disenchanted!, and to be back on The Carnegie stage. Her previous credits at The Carnegie include: West Side Story (Graziella) and Pippin (Player/Manson Trio Dancer). Among her favorite credits from elsewhere are: Young Frankenstein (Inga), A Chorus Line (Val), White Christmas (Judy Haynes), A Chorus Line (Bebe), Chicago (Annie) and Anything Goes (Chastity). She is so excited for people to see another side of these princesses, and cannot wait to share this hilarious show with an audience.

Mikayla Renfrow (Pocahontas/Mulan/Princess Badroulbador) feels incredibly blessed to be a part of the powerhouse cast of DISENCHANTED. She’s so excited for audiences to see this fantastic group of women share the real story behind the classic fairytale princesses. She is a senior at the School for Creative and Performing Arts double majoring in Drama/Vocal, with studies in musical theatre and vocal jazz. She plans to continue her music theatre career into college, although she’s not sure where that will be yet. Her recent credits include Ensemble in THE MUSIC MAN at the Carnegie, Galinda in THE WIZ at SCPA, as well as many CLP shows including; Maria in WEST SIDE STORY, Purity in ANYTHING GOES, Connie in A CHORUS LINE,  and Ensemble in THE PRODUCERS.

Performance Dates and Times:

DISENCHANTED! runs weekends, Saturday, March 25 – Sunday, April 9, 2017

Saturday, March 25, 7:30pm ● Sunday, March 26, 3pm
Friday, March 31, 7:30pm ● Saturday, April 1, 7:30pm ● Sunday, April 2, 3pm
Friday, April 7, 7:30pm ● Saturday, April 8, 7:30pm ● Sunday, April 9, 3pm

Theatre Series Sponsors:
The 2016-17 Carnegie Theatre Series is sponsored by the Otto M. Budig Family Foundation

Season Funder: ArtsWave

DISENCHANTED! is presented through arrangement with Theatre Rights Worldwide. 

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About The Carnegie: The Carnegie is Northern Kentucky’s largest multidisciplinary arts venue providing theatre events, educational programs and art exhibitions to the Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati community. The Carnegie facility is home to The Carnegie Galleries, the Otto M. Budig Theatre, and the Eva G. Farris Education Center.  More information about The Carnegie is available at www.thecarnegie.com or by calling (859) 491-2030.

The Carnegie receives ongoing operating support from Cincinnati Wine Festival, The Greater Cincinnati Foundation, Kenton County Fiscal Courts, the Kentucky Arts Council and the Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile Jr. / US Bank Foundation. The Carnegie is also supported by the generosity of more than 40,000 contributors to the ArtsWave Community Campaign.

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March 6, 2017 · 8:11 pm

Auditions Announced for THE FULL MONTY at The Carnegie

TC_logo_newThe Carnegie Announce Auditions for THE FULL MONTY 

Directed by Matthew Wilson
Music Direction by Xan Jeffery
Choreography by Jay Goodlett 

Performances: August 12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 27
Friday & Saturday Evenings at 7:30pm, Sundays at 3:00pm

Rehearsals evenings and weekends July 9th – August 13th

A loveable band of unemployed steelworkers in Buffalo, NY cook up a hilarious scheme to reinvigorate their bank accounts and their self-confidence by becoming a male striptease act. But it won’t be easy…between learning to dance, dealing with body issues, and revealing the plan to their wives, the men must expose more than their bare-bottoms to make their plan a reality.

Based on the hit film of the same name, THE FULL MONTY is full of heart, humor, and the most highly anticipated closing number you’ll ever see at the theatre. Get ready to hoot and holler as the guys “let it go” in a finale performance you won’t forget!

Auditions by Appointment Only on the Following Dates:

  • May 13 1pm-5pm
  • May 15 6:30pm-9:30pm

Callbacks May 16 7pm

To schedule a time slot, please contact Maggie Perrino, mperrino@thecarnegie.com.

Please Prepare:

  • 32 bars of a musical theatre song in the style of the show.
  • Wear dance attire and be prepared to learn a dance combination
  • Bring sheet music in the correct key for the accompanist. A cappella auditions will not be accepted

Also note:

  • Resume listing theatrical experience and headshot/picture are required to audition. Please bring with you to the audition, do not send in advance.
  • Cast members do not have to be the actual ages of the characters, but must be able to look age appropriate and act accordingly.
  • All roles are paid. Not AEA eligible.

Auditions will take place at The Lincoln Grant Scholar House Auditorium
824 Greenup St. Covington, KY (block and a half from The Carnegie)

Please note: Lead roles will be required to perform in g-strings on stage. Please be sure you are comfortable with this element of the script before auditioning. Due to local ordinances, we cannot allow full nudes onstage, but will go down to everything but the g-string. Those invited to callbacks should be prepared to perform the dance combo in underwear only. 

Available Roles:

  • Jerry Lukowski: Male, 30-40, an unemployed mill worker, fighting to maintain his pride and the custody of his only son; all-American jock and the definitive man’s man; spontaneous; very prideful; brief nudity. Vocal range: Tenor, C4-D6.
    Requires Stripping: Yes
  • Dave Bukatinsky: Male, 30-40, Jerry’s best friend and fellow unemployed mill worker; very much a man’s man, but more of a follower than leader; the definitive sidekick; prideful; self-conscious about his size; brief nudity. Vocal range: Tenor, C4-E6.
    Requires Stripping: Yes
  • Harold Nichols: Male, 35-49, an unemployed supervisor at the mill. Hot Metal’s choreographer; thinks his worth comes from providing for his wife, so he hides his unemployment from her; brief nudity. Vocal range: Bari/tenor, B3-A5.
    Requires Stripping: Yes
  • Malcolm MacGregor: Male, 25-35, an unemployed mill worker; lives at home with his mother; depressed, suicidal, awkward, and feeble; pigeon-chested; finds comfort in Ethan; brief nudity. Vocal range: Tenor, C4-E6 (smooth falsetto).
    Requires Stripping: Yes
  • Ethan Girard: Male, 25-35, an unemployed mill worker; lonely; has a blind determination and confidence to succeed; finds company with Malcolm; brief nudity. Vocal range: Bari/tenor, D3-A5.
    Requires Stripping: Yes
  • Noah ‘Horse’ T. Simmons: Male, 30-50, a retired mill worker; embarrassed about being an “average-sized” black man; despite being old and slow when walking, he still has explosive dance moves; frequently grumpy; brief nudity. Vocal range: Baritone, F2-B5.
    Requires Stripping: Yes
  • Georgie Buktanisky: Female, 30-40, Dave’s wife; she loves her husband, and worries about him; loud, outgoing, and brash; she is the “leader” of her group of girlfriends. Vocal range: Mezzo/Soprano, G3-A5.
    Requires Stripping: No
  • Vicki Nichols: Female, 25+, Harold’s wife; she enjoys the finer things in life; loves her husband more than anything, and supports him no matter what. Vocal range: Alto/mezzo, G3-A5.
    Requires Stripping: No
  • Jeannette Burmeister: Female, 60-75, a piano player of indeterminate years and show-business pro; sassy, quick-witted, and larger than life; has slowed down in recent years. Vocal range: Alto, F4-B5.
    Requires Stripping: No
  • Nathan Lukowski: Male, 14-18, to play 12-14 year old kid. Jerry’s young son; Nathan can be stoic, sincere, and charming, but ultimately real as he deals with his parents’ custody battle; key player who does a lot of witnessing. Vocal range: Open.
    Requires Stripping: No
  • Male Ensemble (Chorus / Ensemble): Male, 20-50 to play various characters, all vocal types, all ethnicities. Role of Keno specifically should be a fit, “professional” stripper who moves well.
    Requires Stripping: Yes (maybe one or two male ensemble who do not need to strip)
  • Female Ensemble (Chorus / Ensemble): Female, 20-40 to play various characters, all vocal types, all ethnicities
    Requires Stripping: No

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March 2, 2017 · 7:07 pm

DISENCHANTED! Runs March 25-April 9

tc_disenchanted-logoDISENCHANTED!
The Carnegie
March 25-April 9
Covington

Directed by Jodie Meyn
Music Directed by Erin McCamely
Choreographed by Maggie Perrino

Cast: Sara Kenny as Snow White, Allison Evans as Cinderella, Blair Godshall as Sleeping Beauty, Gabriella Francis as Little Mermaid/Belle/Rapunzel, Mikayla Renfrow as Pocahontas/Mulan/Princess Badroulbador & Brittany Hayes as The Princess Who Kissed the Frog

Poisoned Apples. Glass slippers. Who needs ‘em? Join these fairytale princesses for an uproarious evening of irreverent humor and satirical snipes as they throw out their tiaras and start getting real. Snow White leads an all-star cast featuring Cinderella, Belle, Rapunzel, Sleeping Beauty, and many more in this not-for-the-kiddies cabaret. Forget the princesses you think you know. These ladies will have you rolling in the aisle with their piercing take on happy ever after.

  • Sat, March 25 at 7:30pm
  • Sun, March 26 at 3pm
  • Fri-Sat, March 31-April 1 at 7:30pm
  • Sun, April 2 at 3pm
  • Fri-Sat, April 7-8 at 7:30pm
  • Sun, April 9 at 3pm

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January 25, 2017 · 6:02 pm

The Carnegie Hosts TEAM KARAOKE CHALLENGE

karaoke-finalSaturday, February 11, 2017
Registration Deadline: Friday, February 3, 2017

(COVINGTON, KY) – Carpool crooners, secretive singers, and daring divas are invited to show off their karaoke chops on Saturday, February 11, as part of The Carnegie’s Team Karaoke Challenge. 

The team-based karaoke event, part of The Carnegie’s new G.E.T. Together series, will pit teams of two to four against each other in a knock-out style tournament with audience members as judges. During the first round, teams will sing their best group number, then play or steal in the karaoke trivia round, and finally put up their best soloist to win the game. Audience members will have fun cheering for their friends, jeering for their opponents, and voting for the winner. The 1st – 3rd place teams will receive $1,000 in prizes.

“Karaoke is one of those things that just screams party,” said Maggie Perrino, Theatre Director at The Carnegie. “We want people to give us their best popstar impression and have a blast doing it, all in a fun, friendly atmosphere at The Carnegie.”

Doors open for happy hour in The Carnegie Galleries at 6pm, with the karaoke challenge beginning at 7pm.

Team registration is $60 and must be completed by Friday, February 3. Teams can register by emailing Carnegie Theatre Director Maggie Perrino at mperrino@thecarnegie.com. Registration includes one complimentary drink per person.

Tickets to the Team Karaoke Challenge are $21 for adults and $18 for students, and include one complimentary drink.  Tickets are available at The Carnegie Box Office, open Tuesday-Friday 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., online at www.thecarnegie.com, or by phone at (859) 957-1940.

New for the 2016-17 season, the G.E.T. Together series is a collaborative, interactive series brining together the talents of The Carnegie’s Gallery, Education, and Theatre departments. The series Media Sponsor is WMKV.

About The Carnegie: The Carnegie is Northern Kentucky’s largest multidisciplinary arts venue providing theatre events, educational programs and art exhibitions to the Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati community. The Carnegie facility is home to The Carnegie Galleries, the Otto M. Budig Theatre, and the Eva G. Farris Education Center.  More information about The Carnegie is available at www.thecarnegie.com or by calling (859) 491-2030.

The Carnegie receives ongoing operating support from Cincinnati Wine Festival, The Greater Cincinnati Foundation, Kenton County Fiscal Courts, the Kentucky Arts Council and the Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile Jr. / US Bank Foundation. The Carnegie is also supported by the generosity of more than 40,000 contributors to the ArtsWave Community Campaign.

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January 24, 2017 · 5:45 pm

THE MUSIC MAN Review

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Photo by Mikki Schaffner Photography.

THE MUSIC MAN presented The Carnegie through Feb. 5. Click here for more information on the production. I attended the opening night performance.

THE MUSIC MAN was possibly my first exposure to a Broadway musical. Knowing my parents, there is probably still a Betamax copy of it floating around the house somewhere. So for me, a visit to River City is a bit of a nostalgic homecoming and this production boasts the largest cast in a production by The Carnegie.

Dave Wilson is solid as the charming con man, Harold Hill. Sara Viola’s strong vocals are a highlight of the show and it is fun to watch her as Marion begins to fall under Harold’s spell. Together, the real-life husband and wife have an easy chemistry that plays well from the playful “Marion the Librarian” to the honest “Then There Was You.”

A favorite of the audience was the school board barbershop quartet played by Michael Bell, Paul Gilman, Mike Connelly & Zac Coleman. The “Lida Rose/Will I Ever Tell You” number was extremely well-received.

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Sarah Viola as Marian Paroo & Dave Wilson as Harold Hill. Photo by Mikki Schaffner Photography.

Always fun to watch on stage, Sean Mette takes on the role of Marcellus. I would have like to have seen a stronger friendship between Marcellus and Hill. During “Shipoopi,” Mette did seem to get lost amid the young dancers. Maybe moving him downstage and to the side would have made him more visible. There was also fun character work by Angela Alexander Nalley as Mother Paroo, Jim Stump and Torie Pate as Mayor Shinn and his wife, and the Pick-A-Little Ladies (Lori Valentine, Sara Kenny, Burgess Byrd, and Lauren Carr).

Director Greg Procaccino kept the pacing tight and fast, but there were several times when I would like to have seen a bit more of a moment taken with the scene. Even the queues for some of the held poses at the end of the scenes seemed rushed.

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Torie Pate as Eulalie Shinn, Sara Kenny as Ethel Tofflemeier, Sarah Viloa as Marian Paroo, Burgess Byrd as Alma Hix, Lori Valentine as Maude Dunlop & Lauren Carr as Mrs. Squires. Photo by Mikki Schaffner Photography.

The eight musicians, under the conductor Michael Kennedy had a strong and full presence. Sound designer Eric Bardes did a great job in this somewhat temperamental venue.

Maggie Perrino’s choreography worked well for this production even when dealing with the entire cast on stage together. I thought the teen and youth ensembles really shined in their numbers.

Personally I was not a fan of the set. I think it’s great to use a local artist, and while I found the set to be functional, I also felt it was static and uninspired.

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The School Board and Sarah Viola as Marion Paroo. Photo by Mikki Schaffner Photography..

Small complaints aside, THE MUSIC MAN is a charming and fun, big musical perfect for the whole family.

My rating: 4.0 out of 5

I would enjoy hearing what you think about the show or my review. All I ask is that you express your opinion without attacking someone else’s opinion. You can post your comments below.

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