 |
Theater scene clear for arrival of new company
 |
Blake Bowden (left) has resigned from Ovation
Theatre Co. but still is hoping to stage his third Lord of
the Rings play.
|
A few weeks back I wrote about several theaters departing the local scene. This week I bring you news of a new theater that could be up and running by the fall. TROY BAUSCH, a Thomas More grad who interned at Ensemble Theatre and has worked with other theaters, including Stage First Cincinnati (which recently ceased operations) is putting together CLEAR STAGE CINCINNATI. His organization's goal, he says, is to focus on the development and showcasing of young theater artists. "We plan to provide an opportunity for recent college grads to gain onstage experience -- perhaps the next step to becoming a professional." Bausch envisions his group as providing chances, perhaps four times per season, for recent grads who are interested in all dimensions of theater -- actors, directors and technicians -- and he hopes it will retain some of the excellent talent graduating from area universities right here in Cincinnati. He intends Clear Stage to have an educational outreach program that will supplement the budget. Right now he's getting his ducks in order by building an administrative foundation for Clear Stage, seeking nonprofit status and assembling a board. Bausch needs volunteers and board members with expertise in accounting, marketing, education, finance, law and so on. If you're interested in learning more or getting involved, Bausch would like to hear from you: tbausch@clearstagecincinnati.com ...
This weekend OVATION THEATRE COMPANY opens its production of Wendy Kesselman's adaptation of THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK at the Fifth Third Bank Theater at the Aronoff Center. (It runs through April 19; tickets: 513-241-7469.) In a recent news release, Ovation announced the resignation of two key company members, BLAKE BOWDEN, who has been handling marketing, and GINA CERIMELE-MECHLEY, responsible for educational programs. The five-year-old group is currently staffed by three founding members: Managing Director LISA HALL BREITHAUPT (who is appearing as Mrs. Frank in the current production), Artistic Director JOE STOLLENWERK and Special Programs Director KAREN SCHULTE. In the news release, Ovation's board president, ALLISON DAVIDSON, describes the nature of Bowden and Cerimele-Mechley's resignations as "administrative differences." Bowden authored scripts based on J.R.R. Tolkien's The Fellowship of the Ring (staged by Ovation in 2001) and The Two Towers (staged in 2002). He tells me he and Cerimele-Mechly, who directed the second script, are negotiating with another area theater interested in staging the final work of the trilogy, The Return of the King. "We remain hopeful that the show will be produced locally within the next 6-12 months," he says. ...
She'll be coaxing the Blues right out of the horn -- that's MAME, in case you didn't recognize her theme line. CINCINNATI MUSIC THEATRE will stage the classic musical at the Aronoff's Jarson-Kaplan Theater from Friday through April 12, directed by veteran SKIP FENKER and starring DIANNA DAVIS, WAYNE WRIGHT, MARCI BROOKS, CATHY GILL and JOE HORNBAKER. CMT's shows are typically among the best in local community theater, and this one should be no exception. (Tickets: 513-241-7469) ...
Speaking of CMT, director-team (and husband-and-wife) ED COHEN and DEE ANNE BRYLL tell me they'll be directing the first local staging of Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens' RAGTIME for CMT in November. (Auditions in June.) In the meantime, Cohen's IF THEATRE COLLECTIVE will stage Lanford Wilson's interesting script, SYMPATHETIC MAGIC at Xavier University's Studio Theater, May 15-25. He's put together a great cast for this one, featuring MATTHEW PYLE and CORINNE MOHLENHOFF, who stood out in IF's fall production, Lebensraum. ...
In case you had Ensemble Theatre's BREATH, BOOM on your calendar for this coming week, erase it. It's been postponed so ETC can explore a more extensive collaboration with playwright KIA CORTHRON, a noted African-American playwright. To replace this show on the Off-Center/On-Stage Series, ETC will present LIFT HER VOICE FROM DARKNESS, a dramatization of writings by women Holocaust survivors on April 30, May 1, 5 and 6. Info: 513-421-3555.
E-mail Rick Pender
 Printer-friendly version
Previously in Curtain Call
Curtain Call: Theaters, Actors, Etc. Playwright Carson Kreitzer strums a love song to J. Robert Oppenheimer
By Rick Pender
(March 26, 2003)
Curtain Call: Theaters, Actors, Etc. CSF bites into a new season with visits from past company members
By Rick Pender
(March 19, 2003)
Curtain Call: Theaters, Actors, Etc. Playhouse and Broadway in Cincinnati announce new seasons
By Rick Pender
(March 12, 2003)
more...
Other articles by Rick Pender
Good Will CSF offers a dream of a comedy, and it's good therapy (March 26, 2003)
Three-Dimensional Theater Julie Taymor relished the challenge of bringing cartoons to life onstage (March 19, 2003)
Bringing Stories To Life Tony Award winner Warren Leight is creating a new play at Ensemble Theatre (March 12, 2003)
more...
personals |
cover |
news |
columns |
music |
movies |
arts |
dining |
listings |
classifieds |
mediakit |
promotions |
home
|
|
To Do: Civil Action
Museum Center explores the line between North and South
The Woman No One Wants
Words from two dancers performing the same role in Carmina Burana
Hitting Home
The Lion King brings its powerful message for a long run in Cincinnati
Organic Creation
Bohjalian's new novel is an exploration of grief
Poisoned Apple
New play explores the legacy of the creator of the atomic bomb
Brotherly Love
Publico is a low-rent art space with a tolerant landlord
Fine Tuning
Wynton Marsalis boycotts talking about boycott
Writer's Block
UC makes the grade for poetry month
Groove Tube: On Your TV
A&E lassoes the Mustang Ranch
Calendar Listings
|
