Tag Archives: The Clifton Players

Kevin Crowley as Will & MaryKate Moran as Anna.

Panelists for the League of Cincinnati Theatres (LCT) have recognized the Clifton Players’ production of A BRIGHT NEW BOISE with LCT nominations for Ensemble Acting in a Play and Sound Design (David Levy) as well as distinguishing it as a recommended production.

Samuel D. Hunter’s A BRIGHT NEW BOISE is an earnest comedy about the meager profits of modern faith. In the bleak, corporate break room of a craft store in Idaho, someone is summoning The Rapture. Will, who has fled his rural hometown after a scandal at his Evangelical church, comes to the Hobby Lobby, not only for employment, but also to rekindle a relationship with Alex, his brooding teenage son, whom he gave up for adoption several years ago. As their manager, foul-mouthed Pauline, tries ceaselessly to find order (and profit) in the chaos of small business, these and other lost souls of the Hobby Lobby confront an unyielding world through the beige-tinted impossibility of modern faith.

Panelists thought the ensemble was “superb…a seamless, well balanced team”, “fresh ‘new faces’ who were engaging and played solidly”. David Levy’s “soundscape was textured, astoundingly detailed, realistic, and effective”. Overall, panelists recommended it as “a powerful, thought-provoking evening of theatre.”

A Bright New Boise continues through October 28th. Tickets can be purchased at http://cliftonperformancetheatre.com.

Final LCT awards will be determined at the end of the season and announced at the LCT gala in the spring.

The League of Cincinnati Theatres was founded in 1999 to strengthen, nurture and promote Cincinnati’s theatre community. LCT provides its member companies and individual members with education, resources and services to enhance the quality and exposure of the theatre community in Cincinnati and increase community awareness, attendance and involvement. More information about the League can be found at www.leagueofcincytheatres.com.

Buz Davis as Gus, Rachael Christianson as Valentine, Micheal Bath as Lubbock, Adam Marzheuser as Alex & Reggie Willis as Mr. Barcroft.

(CINCINNATI, FEB. 14, 2012) – Cast members Reggie Willis and Buz Davis picked up League of Cincinnati Theatres (LCT) Awards for their performances in the Clifton Players production of disgruntled employees. A regional premiere by Cincinnati actor/playwright Kevin Crowley, disgruntled employees is a dark comedy set among the mail sorters in a Tornado Alley branch of the United States Post Office.

Both Willis and Davis earned their awards in the category of featured actor in a play. LCT panelists described their performances as “highly individualized portraits, textured, consistent and very funny.”

Willis portrays Mr. Barcroft, the office’s nutty supervisor. “Willis plays damaged authority figures with ease, and he is on his game,” said one panelist. “I liked all his scenes, as he is just fun to watch.”

As Gus, the long-time bureaucrat who’s finally been pushed to the dark side, Davis gives a “strong performance” described as “delightful to watch.” According to one panelist, “He’s intense, an any-second-now-I-will-go-off banana peel personality — violent, philosophical, funny.”

The play was workshopped under Artistic Director Lloyd Richards at the National Playwrights Conference, where it received the Charles MacArthur Fellowship Award for comedy. It has subsequently been performed in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago. Produced at the Clifton Performance Theatre, disgruntled employees continues through Feb. 26. Details are available at http://cliftonperformancetheatre.com.

The League of Cincinnati Theatres was founded in 1999 to strengthen, nurture and promote Cincinnati’s theatre community. LCT provides its member companies and individual members with education, resources and services to enhance the quality and exposure of the theatre community in Cincinnati and increase community awareness, attendance and involvement. More information about the League can be found at www.leagueofcincytheatres.info.