Tag Archives: The Drama Workshop

TDW’s world premiere of THE GIRLS OF MILLER’S COURT received 17 awards for excellence from the Association of Community Theatres of Greater Cincinnati. Tickets for the 2018-2019 season are on sale now. (Left to Right: Susan Unes, Jeanette Tacon, Stephanie Klein, Heather Pfeiffer & Elizabeth Beatty. Photo by Tammy Cassesa.

(Cheviot, Ohio) The Drama Workshop has concluded another great year of theatre in its home in the Cheviot business district, setting new records for attendance and critical recognition, and is excited to build on last year’s success as it prepares for its 2018-2019 season.

For the 2017-2018 season, over 4,000 people attended shows at The Drama Workshop, and the theatre company has now welcomed over 20,000 patrons since opening its facility in October 2012.

The group also received a record number of annual awards from the Association of Community Theatres of Greater Cincinnati, with 80 citations for excellence in acting, direction, and other performance and technical areas ranging from scenic design to properties to costuming. This makes the Cheviot-based company among the most widely acclaimed theatre groups in greater Cincinnati.

Among the highlights of the past season was the world premiere of local author Jack Williams’ play, “The Girls of Miller’s Court,” which chronicles the 1888 battle of wits between Jack the Ripper and his intended victims. The show sold out all 9 performances, and brought home 17 awards for theatrical excellence, including for producer Valeria Amburgey, director Jef Brown, and a host of other technicians and actors. The show was named the Cincinnati-region alternate to the Ohio Community Theatre Association state festival to be held in September.

Sold-out performances were not unique to this one show – in the last six years, TDW has seen its attendance increase 300%. Next season, the all-volunteer group is increasing the number of performances for each play to accommodate the increased demand for seats.

Tobie Braverman, TDW’s president, attributes the success of the group to its many volunteers. “TDW can produce quality theatre at an affordable price thanks to all the actors and production crew who commit countless hours simply for the love of live theatre,” she said. “It’s because of them that TDW gets these accolades, and it’s because of them our audiences see consistently great shows. We are extremely proud that the 2017-18 season has continued that trend, and we are excited to move on to the 2018-19 season.”

TDW’s new five-show season kicks off on August 10th, with the hysterical old-style melodrama, “Egad! The Woman in White,” followed by four more shows between October 2018 and May 2019: the American classic, “The Philadelphia Story”; a Christmas-themed musical review, “A Taffeta Christmas”; the thought-provoking “Love, Loss, and What I Wore”; and the inspirational musical, “Working.”

Season tickets are $70 each and may be ordered by phoning the TDW box office at 513.598.8303. In addition to a discount over the regular ticket prices, season ticket holders also receive reserved, preferred seating in what is normally a general seating venue.

In addition to season tickets, single show tickets for “Egad! The Woman in White” are also on sale and can be ordered through the TDW box office. Seating is limited, and reservations are strongly recommended.

THE DRAMA WORKSHOP was founded in 1954. TDW is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to advancing education and promotion of the theatrical arts. The Drama Workshop is widely recognized as one of greater Cincinnati’s most accomplished community theater organizations, garnering dozens of awards annually from the Association of Community Theatres of Greater Cincinnati. TDW productions are frequently selected to represent the Southwest Ohio region at the Ohio Community Theatre Association annual conference, with this past season’s production of “The Girls of Miller’s Court” being named alternate from the region. TDW was also honored to represent the state of Ohio at the 2013 and 2017 American Association of Community Theatre regional conferences. The Drama Workshop has been recognized by the Cincinnati Preservation Association for their efforts to rehabilitate the former Glenmore Bowl into The Glenmore Playhouse. Prospective members, and individuals or businesses interested in becoming involved or in helping advance TDW’s mission are encouraged to contact the group through our website at www.thedramaworkshop.org, or by phone at 513-598-8303.

Johnny Hooker (Nathan Henegar), Billie (Amanda Borchers), and Henry Gondorf (Chris Bishop) join forces to take revenge on a ruthless gangster in THE STING. Photo by Tammy Cassesa.

(Cheviot, Ohio) The Drama Workshop is proud to present its stage adaptation of the classic movie ‘The Sting’ to close out its 2017-2018 season. This edge-of-your-seat story of ‘The Big Con’ opens May 4^th and runs through May 20th.

Shows are Friday and Saturday evenings at 8 pm, and Sunday afternoons at 2 pm. Because of anticipated ticket demand, a special performance has been added for Thursday, May 17^th, at 7:30 pm. All performances are at The Glenmore Playhouse, 3716 Glenmore Ave in Cheviot.

The excitement, maneuvers and comedy of the Paul Newman/Robert Redford screen triumph have been brilliantly adapted for stage production – in 1936 Chicago, small-time grifter Johnny Hooker joins forces with master con man Henry Gondorf to exact revenge on a powerful racketeer. The explosive excitement will have the audience guessing and gasping as it builds to the final con movement.

This is, by far, the largest cast ever to be seen at The Drama Workshop and includes both veteran TDW performers as well as newcomers to the Cheviot stage. Headlining the cast are Chris Bishop as Henry Gondorf, Nathan Henegar as Johnny Hooker, and Kevin Noll as Doyle Lonnegan. The rest of the cast includes Valeria Amburgey, Whitney Ball, Dan Bathe, Erica Beimesche, Meagan Blasch, Amanda Borchers, Clint Bramkamp, Trisha Cooper, Adam Drake, Gretchen Gantner, Neil Geoppinger, Julie Jordan, Cathy Judge, Ben Lacy, Camron Lacy, Ray Lebowski, Burt McCollom, Russ McGee, Mark Miller, Kaitlyn Moss, Gail Nixon, Ray Persing, Bill Rinehart, Erin Marie Schwartz, Kent Smith, Michael Urriquia, Jim Waldfogle, Lee Anne Waldfogle, Joe Ward, Matt Wick, Jack Williams, and Mike Williams.

The production crew is headed by director Fred Hunt, producer Elaine Volker, and stage manager Tobie Braverman. The technical team features some of the top talent in greater Cincinnati, including Eric Bardes, Jason Cox, Gretchen Gantner, John Netzley, and Greg Schaper.

Amanda Borchers plays Billie, the role made famous by Eileen Brennan in the 1975 film. “Audiences will enjoy The Sting for the same reasons depression- era Americans fell in love with outlaws,” she said. “Within the context of 1930s Chicago, Gondorf and Hooker are modern day Robin Hoods. The characters are engaging and their motivations are oddly pure for a group of gangsters: survival and justice for a fallen friend.”

TDW newcomer Erica Beimesche echoed those sentiments. “The show pays homage to the movie, if you’re familiar with it, but it’s different enough to be exciting to newbies and old fans alike. The cast puts their own twist on each role and brings a fresh energy to a classic story.”

Tickets for ‘The Sting’ are $18, and can be obtained by calling The Drama Workshop’s 24/7 ticket line at 513.598.8303, or by ordering online at www.thedramaworkshop.org. Seating is limited, and purchasing your tickets in advance is strongly encouraged.

For additional information on The Drama Workshop or The Glenmore Playhouse, or for press comp tickets, please contact either of us via email or phone.

THE DRAMA WORKSHOP was founded in 1954. TDW is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to advancing education and promotion of the theatrical arts. The Drama Workshop is widely recognized as one of greater Cincinnati’s most accomplished community theater organizations, garnering dozens of awards annually from the Association of Community Theatres of Greater Cincinnati. TDW productions are frequently selected to represent the Southwest Ohio region at the Ohio Community Theatre Association annual conference, including this past season with a production of “Aways…Patsy Cline.” TDW was also honored to represent the state of Ohio at the 2013 and 2017 American Association of Community Theatre regional conferences. The Drama Workshop has been recognized by the Cincinnati Preservation Association for their efforts to rehabilitate the former Glenmore Bowl into The Glenmore Playhouse. Prospective members, and individuals or businesses interested in becoming involved or in helping advance TDW’s mission are encouraged to contact the group through our website at www.thedramaworkshop.org, or by phone at 513-598-8303.