BY RICK PENDER

When the Cincinnati Entertain-ment Awards roll around in November, the program will include recognition of drama professor MICHAEL BURNHAM, who teaches at the University of Cincinnati's College-Conservatory of Music (CCM). The LEAGUE OF CINCINNATI THEATRES (LCT) has designated him for its 2003 Award for Continuing Excellence in Theater, honoring an individual who has made a significant and sustained contribution to Cincinnati's theater scene. Laura Lowe Everhart, LCT's president, says, "Michael's passion, intellect and creativity, combined with his tireless advocacy of the arts have greatly enriched Cincinnati theater for many years." Burnham, who recently directed Corpus Christi for the Know Theatre Tribe, will be recognized at LCT's Season Kickoff Party at the Playhouse on Sept. 29, in addition to the CEAs in November. ...

On Monday we'll hear a new voice on the local theater scene: NEW VOICE THEATER presents a benefit concert reading of THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO FISHMAN, a new musical by Cincinnati native RICHARD OBERACKER, back in town recently as the music director for the national tour of The Lion King. Oberacker is still helping, and veteran Cincinnati community theater director SKIP FENKER is directing the evening, which features E. Faye Butler and Ta'rea Campbell, both nominated for Washing-ton, D.C., Helen Hayes Awards for their roles in Fishman's premiere at Signature Theatre in Arlington, Va. Fishman is set in 1963 and features a young Jewish composer who dreams of writing Gospel tunes; he tours the America South with a rising singer, and gets caught up in an interracial romance as the Civil Rights struggle blossoms into violence. IAN DAHLMAN, an intern at Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati in 2001-02, plays the title role. The benefit, at the Aronoff's Jarson-Kaplan Theater, is the first step in building a war chest for future New Voice productions. Earlier this summer Oberacker assembled a cabaret of his works at Plush Lounge; both performances were completely sold out. Tickets for Monday are still available: 513-241-7469 ...

Stephen Sondheim's MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG is the story of some young friends who make it big in the entertainment industry, but lose their way -- and their friendship -- in the process. The show has some fine tunes ("Not a Day Goes By"), although its odd chronology (the friends get younger) can be hard to follow. Nevertheless, a group of young friends here in Cincinnati, calling themselves NEW STAGE COLLECTIVE (NSC), is presenting Merrily at Sycamore Junior High School Auditorium on Friday and Saturday. NSC assembled itself in January, bringing together a group of former local high school theater students now studying at Ohio State, Wright State, Boston University, Baldwin-Wallace College, Georgia Tech, Ithaca College and Saint Louis University. Info: 513-793-5516 or www.nsc.no-ip.org ...

Know a stage-worthy teenage boy? You might want to alert him to an audition opportunity at the CINCINNATI SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL which will be staging THE TAMING OF THE SHREW, opening Sept. 18. On Monday evening from 6-9 p.m. CSF will audition young men, ages 12-18, for the role of Biondello. Artistic director Nick Rose says actors of all races are encouraged to try out. For an appointment, call Rose at 513-381-2289.

E-mail Rick Pender

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