Tag Archives: UC College-Conservatory of Music

CCM’s CARRIE Earns 4 Star LCT Rating

LCT says CCM’s CARRIE was a bloody good show, earning a 4-Star rating

Jennifer Hickman as Margaret White & Hannah Freeman as Carrie White. Photograph by senior Lighting Design major David Seitz.

Jennifer Hickman as Margaret White & Hannah Freeman as Carrie White. Photograph by senior Lighting Design major David Seitz.

The musical, based on a Stephen King horror novel, was presented last weekend, featuring students majoring in the nationally acclaimed Musical Theatre program at UC. LCT Panelists commended Lead Actress Hannah Freeman as Carrie White. “Her vocal clarity and pitch were great and the honesty with which she played the range of emotions was grounded,” stated one panelist. Another said Freeman “drew the audience in from the outset and delivered a vocally beautiful performance with seeming ease. Her acting communicated Carrie’s pain and grace. Even as audiences prepared for the inevitable, Freeman’s authenticity as Carrie made us care so much about her we hoped for a happier ending.”

Also singled out, Jenny Hickman as the mother, Margaret White, who was “an outstanding singer and presence on the stage.”

Scenic designer by Sarabeth Hall also won over the panelists. A panelist noted “she created a visceral environment that thrust audiences into the piece and created palpable excitement well before the first entrance.”

For more information about upcoming performances at UC’s College Conservatory of Music, contact www.ccm.uc.edu or call 513-556-4183.

For more information on The League of Cincinnati Theatres visit http://leagueofcincytheatres.info/.

[Visit my production page for more information.]

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BOEING BOEING Runs Nov. 8-24

CCM Drama majors Sarah Vargo, Fabiola Rodriguez and Megan Marshall in the Carnegie’s co-production of BOEING, BOEING.

CCM Drama majors Sarah Vargo, Fabiola Rodriguez and Megan Marshall.

BOEING BOEING
Presented by The Carnegie and UC College-Conservatory of Music Drama
Nov. 8-24
Covington

Reviews: Behind the Curtain | Citybeat | Enquirer |

Directed by Brant Russell
Produced by Joshua Steele

Cast: Spencer House as Bernard, Hannah Halvorson as Bertha, Shaun Sutton as Robert, Fabiola Rodriguez as Gabriella, Sarah Vargo as Gloria & Megan Marshall as Gretchen

Bernard is engaged to Gloria. And to Gabriella. And to Gretchen. Three beautiful flight attendants kept secret from each other only by Bernard’s precise timetables of flights in and out of Paris. But when Boeing invents a faster engine, Bernard’s three foxy fiancées converge on his flat at the same time, igniting a mad dash of hidden women and nick-of-time maneuvers as Bernard tries desperately to save his perfect bachelor fantasy. Throw in a surprise visit by Bernard’s amorous old school chum, Robert, and Berthe, the reluctant housekeeper to complete this clever physical comedy.

  • Fri-Sat, Nov. 8-9 at 7:30pm
  • Sun, Nov. 10 at 3pm*
  • Fri-Sat, Nov. 15-16 at 7:30pm
  • Sun, Nov. 17 at 3pm*
  • Fri-Sat, Nov. 22-23 at 7:30pm
  • Sun, Nov. 24 at 3pm
    *includes open captioning.

Official page |

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CCM’s THE CRUCIBLE Earns 4 Star LCT Rating

Laura McCarthy as Abigail Williams & Joe Markesbery as John Proctor. Photo by Mark Lyons.

Laura McCarthy as Abigail Williams & Joe Markesbery as John Proctor. Photo by Mark Lyons.

Panelists for the League of Cincinnati Theatres (LCT) have recognized the College Conservatory of Music Drama Department’s THE CRUCIBLE with a 4 Star Rating.

Written in 1953 as a parable for McCarthyism by American playwright Arthur Miller, The Crucible tells a story of hysteria and witchcraft in colonial Salem.

Panelists praised The Crucible as “a skillful, intense, heartfelt, and nearly perfect production of The Crucible. I truly watched in wonder as the story unfolded.” “The ensemble acting was terrific…this cast was admirable in its portrayal of a wide range of ages, young to middle-age to elderly.” As one panelist noted: “I would recommend the production because it is a classic play that still resonates today.”

League of Cincinnati Theatre panelists evaluate productions on a 5 star scale and recommend shows at either a 4 star or 5 star level. Nominations for LCT awards will be determined and announced at the end of the season and winners awarded at the annual LCT gala in the spring.

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CCM and The Carnegie In Stitches Over BOEING BOEING

CCM AND THE CARNEGIE IN STITCHES OVER TONY AWARD WINNING SEX FARCE BOEING BOEING

TC_Boeing BoeingCOVINGTON, KY- How does one man stay secretly engaged to three sexy flight attendant fiancées at the same time? Make sure they work for different international airlines. Make sure to know the flight timetables. And make sure it’s the 60s.

The Carnegie proudly continues its 2013-14 Theatre Series with the Tony Award winning comedy BOEING BOEING, playing weekends November 8 – 24, 2013 at The Carnegie in Covington, KY. Co-produced with The University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music Drama Program (CCM Drama), the show is directed by new faculty member Brant Russell in his Greater Cincinnati debut. Tickets are $17 – $24 and are available online at http://www.thecarnegie.com or by calling The Carnegie Box Office at (859) 957-1940 (open Tu – Fr, noon – 5pm).

“Boeing Boeing” is presented by special arrangement with SAMUEL FRENCH, INC.

The Plot Plot of BOEING BOEING
Bernard is engaged to Gloria. And to Gabriella. And to Gretchen. Three beautiful flight attendants kept secret from each other only by Bernard’s precise timetables of flights in and out of Paris. But when Boeing invents a faster engine, Bernard’s three foxy fiancées converge on his flat at the same time, igniting a mad dash of hidden women and nick-of-time maneuvers as Bernard tries desperately to save his perfect bachelor fantasy. Throw in a surprise visit by Bernard’s amorous old school chum, Robert, and Berthe, the reluctant housekeeper, and the New York Times writes that BOEING BOEING “soars right out of its time zone and into some unpolluted stratosphere of classic physical comedy.”

Gina Gershon, Jerry Lewis, Tony Awards and World Records
Debuting in France in 1962, Marc Camoletti’s BOEING BOEING enjoyed its 1965 English language premiere in London, where it ran for seven years and 2,000 performances on its way to becoming the most performed French play worldwide. In the same year, BOEING BOEING crossed the pond to the United States, where it had a brief stint on Broadway, but more memorably was adapted to a film of the same title, starring Tony Curtis as Bernard and Jerry Lewis at Robert.

Revived in 2008 at New York’s Longacre Theatre, BOEING BOEING played 279 performances on the strength of a revised script and all-star cast including screen actors Christine Baranski (Cybill, The Big Bang Theory) and Gina Gershon (Face/Off, Killer Joe, Rescue Me) and lauded Shakespearean actor Mark Rylance. The show would take home the Tony Award for “Best Revival of a Play,” as well as a “Best Actor” win for Rylance as Robert.

Script, Director Make Regional Debuts with CCM Talent
The Carnegie’s staging of BOEING BOEING will mark the regional premiere of the Broadway revival script, as well as the local debut of new CCM faculty member Brant Russell. An accomplished theatre artist and Chicagoland native with extensive experience as a director, actor and playwright, Russell joined the CCM staff this past fall.

“Coming to a place like CCM is exhilarating,” says Russell. “The talented, driven students, my gifted colleagues, the international reputation, the insistence on excellence all combine to provide a supportive and challenging atmosphere. I’m very grateful to be here.”

Despite impressive credentials working with nationally renowned playwrights, and staff experience with companies including Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Writers’ Theater and Steppenwolf, Russell admits “BOEING is totally outside of my experience. Staging it will be a bit of an experiment for me, but it’s just the kind of fun experiment that a director really relishes.”

CCM’s co-production with The Carnegie is the fourth collaboration between the two organizations, following recent stagings of IN THE NEXT ROOM OR THE VIBRATOR PLAY and the musical PARADE, the latter receiving the League of Cincinnati Theatres award for “Best Musical of 2012-13.”

Dine Under the Dome
On Saturday, November 9 at 6pm, The Carnegie will host Dine Under the Dome, a ticketed dinner in The Carnegie Galleries, to precede the performance. Tickets are $40 per person, and include a themed gourmet dinner by Jeff Thomas Catering, wine, dessert and gratuity. Dinner tickets do not include admission to the performance.

A full menu will be available at www.thecarnegie.com by October 9.

Reservations may be made by calling The Carnegie Box Office at (859) 957-1940 (open Tu – Fr, noon – 5pm).

Ticketing
Tickets to The Carnegie’s production of BOEING BOEING are $17 – $24 and may be purchased online at www.thecarnegie.com or by calling The Carnegie Box Office at (859) 957-1940 (open Tu – Fr, noon – 5pm).

BOEING BOEING will include nine performances over three weekends:

  • Friday, November 8, 7:30pm
  • Saturday, November 9, 7:30pm
  • Sunday, November 10, 3pm†
  • Friday, November 15, 7:30pm
  • Saturday, November 16, 7:30pm
  • Sunday, November 17, 3pm†
  • Friday, November 22, 7:30pm
  • Saturday, November 23, 7:30pm
  • Sunday, November 24, 3pm 

† Performance includes open captioning

Subscriptions
Subscriptions are still available for 2013-14:

Pick Three Subscription: Patrons attend the remaining three 2013-14 Theatre Series offerings, selecting one performance of their choice for each. Pick Three Subscriptions are $67 each ($3 off each of the three remaining performances).

Single Ticket Pricing

  • $24 Adults
  • $22 Carnegie and Enjoy The Arts Members
  • $19 Groups of 8 or More
  • $17 Students

About The Carnegie
THE CARNEGIE is a multidisciplinary arts venue serving the Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati community. Over the course of the past ten years The Carnegie has “morphed” from a grassroots gallery with an education component into an all-inclusive arts organization offering professional theatre, art exhibitions showcasing the best of local and regional artists, and a comprehensive arts education program.

The Carnegie is home to The Carnegie Galleries, comprised of more than 6,000 square feet of gallery space where emerging and established artists exhibit in multiple shows throughout the year; the Eva G. Farris Education Center, which provides arts education to thousands of children, many of whom are at or below the poverty level; and the newly renovated 447-seat Otto M. Budig Theatre, which offers an affordable theatre space for local, up-and-coming and established production companies and is home to The Carnegie’s Theatre Series and Carnegie in Concert series. The Carnegie is the largest arts venue in Northern Kentucky.

The Carnegie receives ongoing operating support from ArtsWave, Kenton County Fiscal Courts, the Kentucky Arts Council, the Greater Cincinnati Foundation and the Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile Jr. / US Bank Foundation.

About the College-Conservatory of Music
The University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) is recognized both nationally and internationally as one of the leading conservatories for the performing and electronic media arts, composition, scholarship and pedagogy. In the most recent rankings by U.S. News and World Report, CCM was honored as the sixth top program in the country for pursuing a graduate degree in music. CCM ensembles have performed internationally, recorded for major labels and won ASCAP awards for excellence and programming.

CCM is the largest single source of performing arts presentations in the state of Ohio. Its annual calendar boasts nearly 1,000 events, ranging from solo recitals to fully staged opera and musical theatre productions.

In 1999 CCM celebrated the completion of the CCM Village, the renovated and expanded home of the college. Its stunning, comprehensive performance and educational facilities are unrivaled in the nation. Designed by architect Henry N. Cobb, the CCM Village received a National Honor Award from the American Institute of Architects in 2001.

In 2011, CCM was officially recognized by the Ohio Board of Regents as the state’s first Center of Excellence in Music and Theatre Arts.

More than 150 internationally recognized faculty members work with students from around the world, specializing in one of eight academic divisions: Composition, Musicology, Theory; Dance; Electronic Media; Ensembles and Conducting; Keyboard Studies; Music Education; Opera, Musical Theatre, Drama, Arts Administration, Theatre Design and Production; and Performance Studies.

For more information, visit http://ccm.uc.edu. Experience the sound of synergy at UC’s College-Conservatory of Music.

BOEING BOEING Cast and Production Team List

Cast

Bernard Spencer House (CCM)
Bertha Hannah Halvorson (CCM)
Robert Shaun Sutton (CCM)
Gabriella Fabiola Rodriguez (CCM)
Gloria Sarah Vargo (CCM)
Gretchen Megan Marshall (CCM)

Production Team

Director Brant Russell (CCM)
Scenic Designer Christina Chester (CCM)
Lighting Designer Ethan Peterson (CCM)
Costumer Janet Powell
Sound Designer Cory Wills (CCM)
Properties Alex Kuntz (CCM)
Wig & Makeup Designer Taylor Malott (CCM)
Stage Manager Clare Jaymes (CCM)
Production Manager Bleu Pellman
Technical Director Richard R. Sillen, Jr.
Producer Joshua Steele

Director Biography
Brant Russell (director) teaches at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, and is Resident Director at the Kenyon Playwrights Conference. Last year at KPC, he developed new plays with Tracey Scott Wilson, Rona Munro, and Craig Lucas. He has directed in Chicago at Next, Steep, Collaboraction, Strawdog, Theater Seven and others. His acting work has been seen at Steep / Naked Angels, Next, TheaterHikes and Strawdog. His short plays have been produced by Collaboraction and American Blues Theater. He has been on staff at Chicago Dramatist, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Writers’ Theater and Steppenwolf. He lives in Pleasant Ridge with his wife, Marta, son, Foster, and cats, Jackson and Pearl.

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Revival of CARRIE: THE MUSICAL Opens CCM’s 2013-2014 Studio Series

A CHILLING REVIVAL OF ‘CARRIE: THE MUSICAL’
OPENS CCM’S 2013-14 STUDIO SERIES 

From outcast to prom queen to mass murderer with paranormal abilities, Carrie isn’t exactly your typical high school student. CCM resurrects this Stephen King classic just in time for Halloween with a modern twist and more terror (and singing) than ever before.

Jennifer Hickman as Margaret White & Hannah Freeman as Carrie White. Photograph by senior Lighting Design major David Seitz.

Jennifer Hickman as Margaret White & Hannah Freeman as Carrie White. Photograph by senior Lighting Design major David Seitz.

Cincinnati, OH — The University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) opens its 2013-14 Studio Series with a newly reworked and fully re-imagined musical adaptation of Stephen King’s CARRIE running Oct. 10-12 in CCM’s Cohen Family Studio Theater. Under the direction of Aubrey Berg, Chair of CCM’s Department of Musical Theatre, with musical direction by Steve Goers and choreography by Vince DeGeorge, this Carrie promises to be both riveting and terrifying!

A pariah at school and a victim at home, Carrie is the story of a girl who, when pushed too far, discovers just how special she really is. Her paranormal abilities allow her to take matters into her own hands and strike back at those who have wronged her. But this isn’t the same old Carrie that you’ve seen before; this is Carrie modernized with a terrifying rock n’ roll edge, and there’s no escape!

CARRIE: THE MUSICAL was adapted from Stephen King’s 1974 bestselling novel by screenwriter Lawrence D. Cohen, who also authored the classic screenplay. New music by dream-team Michael Gore (composer) and Dean Pitchford (lyricist) will dazzle audiences. Gore and Pitchford garnered accolades for their previous collaboration on the Broadway play, Fame, together winning an Oscar, a Golden Globe and a Grammy nomination for Song of the Year.

A unique configuration of CCM’s Cohen Family Studio Theater presents seating on all sides and on every level of the performance space, allowing the audience to literally become part of the production. This intimate style of seating will have audience members twisting and turning in their seats at Carrie’s terrifying transformation, as the carefully choreographed chaos it creates happens all around. With live music, shocking special effects and spectacular acting, singing and choreography, Carrie is sure to amaze and frighten.

Tickets for all Studio Series productions are extremely limited, so get in line early. You don’t want to miss this performance of a lifetime! Recommended for mature audiences.

Learn more about CCM’s 2013-14 Studio Series of Opera, Musical Theatre, Drama and Dance productions by visiting uc.edu/news/NR.aspx?id=18288.

Performance Times

  • 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 10
  • 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 11
  • 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 12 

Location
Cohen Family Studio Theater, CCM Village
University of Cincinnati

Reserving Tickets
Admission is free but reservations are required. Tickets become available at noon on Monday, Oct. 7. Visit the CCM box office or call 513-556-4183 to reserve. Limit two tickets per order.

Parking and Directions
Parking is available in the CCM Garage (located at the base of Corry Boulevard off Jefferson Avenue) and additional garages throughout the UC campus. Please visit uc.edu/parking for more information on parking rates.

For detailed maps and directions, please visit uc.edu/visitors. Additional parking is available off-campus at the new U Square complex on Calhoun Street and other neighboring lots.

For directions to CCM Village, visit ccm.uc.edu/about/directions.

CCM Season Presenting Sponsor & Musical Theatre Program Sponsor: The Otto M. Budig Family Foundation 

Community Partner: ArtsWave

The University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) is recognized both nationally and internationally as one of the leading conservatories for the performing and electronic media arts, composition, scholarship and pedagogy.

All event dates and programs are subject to change. For a complete calendar of events or to view CCM’s 2013-2014 season brochure visit our website at ccm.uc.edu.

UC’s College-Conservatory of Music – Define Your Inspiration

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