Subscriptions for The Drama Workshop’s 2017-2018 season are on sale now, at only $70 for the exciting five-show season. Next season brings a mix of exciting drama, toe-tapping music, and side-splitting comedies to the intimate 96-seat theater in the heart of Cheviot.
The opening show will be the Tony-award winning musical comedy, A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM, with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbart, and directed by Dennis Murphy. Inspired by the farces of the ancient Rome, the musical tells the bawdy story of a slave named Pseudolus and his attempts to win his freedom by helping his young master woo the girl next door. Chock-full of puns, slamming doors, cases of mistaken identity, and satirical comments on social class, this is sure to delight all audiences. Show dates are August 11 to August 27, 2017.
The next production will be a hysterical British farce, NATURAL CAUSES written by Eric Chappell, and directed by Ray Lebowski. Chappell is widely regarded as one of the top playwrights in the United Kingdom, and provides a laugh-out-loud tale of Vincent and his unusual occupation as a “professional suicide merchant.” When Vincent is invited to Walter’s lovely country house to assist in the disposal of Walter’s wife, Celia, he senses something is wrong. Why are the suicide notes unsigned? What is the role of Walter’s attractive secretary? Why has the Samaritan been sent for? Will any of them die, willingly or unwillingly, from natural causes? NATURAL CAUSES is a sure-fire prescription for laughter, running October 6 to October 22, 2017.
The Drama Workshop’s holiday offering will be the comedy, INSPECTING CAROL, written by Daniel Sullivan, and directed by Ray Persing. INSPECTING CAROL deals with a regional theatre company that is rehearsing its annual production of A Christmas Carol, when it gets news of the impending arrival of an inspector from the National Endowment for the Arts to review their work. When they assume that the man who asks to audition is really an informer for the NEA, everyone caters to the bewildered wannabe actor and he is given a role. What will happen when the actual inspector shows up? Come see this laugh-a-minute romp, running December 1 to December 17, 2017.
TDW’s first show in 2018 will be a real treat, THE GIRLS OF MILLER’S COURT, written by local actor and playwright Jack Williams, and directed by Jef Brown. After Jack the Ripper begins his bloody rampage in 1888, a band of prostitutes join forces to save their own lives by trapping the murderer themselves. A battle of wits ensues, as the hunter becomes the hunted – or does he? Based on true events, this is a Jack the Ripper tale that you’ve never seen before! This world premiere runs from February 23 to March 11, 2018.
Finally, the 2017-2018 season closes with the classic comedy, THE STING, adapted by David Rogers from the screenplay by David Ward, and directed by Fred Hunt. 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. THE STING runs from May 4 to May 20, 2018.
Season tickets will be on sale during the run of The Odd Couple, opening February 24 and running through March 12, or you can inquire with the TDW box office at 513.598.8303.
On Feb 25th from 1-4pm the Long Range Judging Committee (LRJC) will be holding a forum on How to Critique Directing and Props, as well as, how to write a thorough, helpful critique that will benefit groups. We want to create a learning environment with an open dialogue between ACT groups and ACT adjudicators. The LRJC is striving to make our judging system beneficial for all groups and their members. Please consider joining us in a couple of weeks. Last year’s forum was tremendous and so helpful for all of us who attended. We’re hoping this one is just as well attended and advantageous for all.
THE ODD COUPLE
NUNCRACKERS
Behind the Curtain Cincinnati 