Tag Archives: UC College-Conservatory of Music

The dark comedy comes to Covington November 14-17

The Carnegie and University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) are joining forces this November for Jen Silverman’s WITCH.

A beguiling devil arrives in a quiet English town to bargain for the souls of its residents in exchange for their darkest wishes — unexpected passions flare, alliances are formed, and the village is forever changed. This smart modern fable explores the intricacies of temptation and resilience.

Inspired by John Ford, Thomas Dekker, and William Rowley’s 1621 drama The Witch of Edmonton, Silverman’s bold transformation of a Jacobean drama begs the question: would you know what to ask for if the Devil came knocking on your door?

“WITCH is a bold, electrifying play that shatters expectations in thrilling ways. Silverman weaves a sharp, darkly comic tale that explores temptation and power,” says Tyler Gabbard, Director of Theatre at The Carnegie. “I’m excited to launch this new partnership with CCM with this hauntingly relevant play.”

Director Lindsey Augusta Mercer returns to helm the production after staging hit productions of TICK, TICK… BOOM! and KINKY BOOTS for The Carnegie.

Samuel Stricklen, a CCM Acting professor and professional actor, plays Sir Arthur Banks. Stricklen has appeared on and off-Broadway and at regional theatres including The Old Globe, Premiere Stages, La Jolla Playhouse, The Getty Villa, Brooklyn Academy of Music, and Actors Theatre of Louisville. His tv and film credits include Law and Order, Six Degrees, The Good Wife, Mozart in the Jungle, High Maintenance, and more.

The CCM student cast includes Staylie Grace, an alumni of The Carnegie education department’s summer and after-school programs and Carson Mehlbauer, who Carnegie audiences will recognize from his turn as Ambrose Kemper in HELLO, DOLLY! earlier this year. CCM student cast members making their Carnegie debut include Nico Graves, Debra Najor, and Nikolas Gray.

Playwright Silverman is currently represented on Broadway with their new comedy, THE ROOMMATE, starring Patti LuPone and Mia Farrow.

Tickets range from $13-$35 and may be purchased by calling (859) 957-1940 or by visiting
thecarnegie.com.

PRODUCTION TEAM

• Director – Lindsey Augusta Mercer
• Scenic Designer – Doug Stock
• Costume Designer – Maria Fenanda Ortiz
• Lighting Designer – Ashton Karp
• Sound Designer – Kaitlin Barnett
• Asst. Director – Hannah Toronto
• Fight Director – Gina Cerimele-Mechley
• Intimacy Coordinator – Torie Wiggins
• Production Stage Manager – Anika Shirvaikar
• Asst. Stage Manager – Ali Fishbain
• Producer – Tyler Gabbard

CAST

• Elizabeth Sawyer – Debra Najor
• Scratch – Nico Graves
• Sir Arthur Banks – Samuel Stricklen
• Cuddy Banks – Carson Mehlbauer
• Frank Thorney – Nik Gray
• Winnifred – Staylie Brunner
• Understudy – Victor Brame
• Understudy – Katie Reeser

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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 is supported by the generosity of tens of thousands of contributors to the ArtsWave Community Campaign. The Carnegie receives ongoing operating support from the Kentucky Arts Council, City of Covington, Kenton County Fiscal Courts, Carol Ann & Ralph V. Haile, Jr. Foundation, the Greater Cincinnati Foundation, and Cincinnati International Wine Festival.