Elsewhere on this site, you can read my review of Jersey Productions' Oklahoma!, which represents more than the opening of Jersey’s fourth season. It’s part of an innovative arrangement with Know Theatre of Cincinnati.
Some history: Back in 2006, as Covington’s Carnegie Center launched its renovated theater, a new summertime musical theater company was established. Eric Vosmeier was managing the theater and recruited Kelly Martin to oversee the musical side of the new company and handle its business affairs. (Martin and Larry Smiglewski, the first artistic director, hail from New Jersey, hence the group’s name.)
Last summer, after two seasons at The Carnegie, Jersey moved to the Aronoff Center’s Jarson-Kaplan
Theater, which offers more exposure and parking. The J-K’s spacious
stage made possible more ambitious productions. Last summer Jersey
presented The Sound of Music and West Side Story.
But
Smiglewski left Jersey a year ago, and Martin — who spends much of the
year in New York City as a music teacher — had to find a new way to
sustain her company’s future. She turned to Vosmeier, who’s now managing director of Know Theatre. Following
some conversations between them and Know’s artistic director, Jason
Bruffy, the groups decided to collaborate.
Here’s how it
works: Know provides a variety of support services, with Bruffy serving
as Jersey’s interim artistic leader, a job that includes directing
Oklahoma!. Martin handles marketing and the musical aspects of Jersey’s
shows in addition to recruiting performers from beyond Cincinnati,
such as Broadway-experienced Case Dillard, playing Curly in the current
production.
“Jersey Productions is still a new company,”
Vosmeier says. “They are still finding their footing. Their success
last season proves they are beginning to carve out an audience for
themselves, and I want to help them continue to grow.”
Bruffy adds,
“Jersey is filling a niche that downtown Cincinnati has not had for a
while — a quality summer-stock theater."
That help is coming
from Know Theatre. After the successful but labor-intensive Fringe
Festival in June, Know wasn't producing a summer show. That meant the
experienced team from the Over-the-Rhine theater could assist Jersey:
Liz Vosmeier is choreographing Oklahoma!, while tech director Doug
Borntrager is the production manager. Know’s stage manager, Kristen
Ruthmeyer, is keeping Jersey’s actors organized and operations
backstage running smoothly.
The connection also means that some of Know’s actors have performing opportunities: Courtney Brown, who had leads in several Know productions during the 2008-09 season, is playing Laurey in Oklahoma!.
Martin was grateful for Know’s assistance and expertise: “I’m grateful to be able to learn from the entire Know Theatre staff and produce another successful season.”
What
does this mean for theater fans in Cincinnati? The bottom line is
simple — it’s a win/win: Rather than two theaters struggling to make
ends meet during a difficult economy, Jersey and Know are producing
better theater and keeping actors and backstage personnel busy and
working.
Know, which presents works that push the envelope
(like last season’s satirical Reefer Madness: The Musical or Sarah
Ruhl’s poetic drama Eurydice) is never going to add classic musicals to
its season. And Jersey’s traditional summer fare occurs at a time when
Know is at low tide.
In other words, the two companies are not only moving forward with complimentary programs, they're strengthening one another with this collaboration. That’s good news for everyone who cares about live theater in Greater Cincinnati.
CONTACT RICK PENDER: rpender@citybeat.com
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