by Danny Cross
09.11.2011
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Stern Endowment bodes well for Playhouse’s future
Supporters hope to raise $5 million to honor retiring artistic director
Ed Stern retires from the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park next spring after 20 seasons, but his presence will be felt long after that thanks to funds that are being raised to honor him. The Edward Stern Endowment for Artistic Excellence will ensure the Playhouse’s future as a place where the nation’s finest directors, actors, designers and playwrights can produce remarkable work for Cincinnati audiences.
by Rick Pender
09.07.2011
Next to Normal, Hard to Get
Rush Tickets at Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati
In this week’s issue of CityBeat you can read my feature about Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati’s first regional production of the rock musical Next to Normal, a real coup for them. Locally audiences have been responding, and the first week is nearly sold out, except for the new Saturday matinee series, a good bet if you want to get in soon. I’ve also learned that several other weekend performances throughout the run are very full and starting to have limited availability. You can still find good seats for the entire run, but I suggest you make a reservation as soon as possible. (Note: Because of ETC's production calendar, Next to Normal will NOT be extended.)
by Rick Pender
08.29.2011
'Fricative' Making Noise at Indy Fringe
If another Cincinnati theater critic actually attended the Cincinnati Fringe, she might know that Performance Gallery’s fricative was not a production from “last year’s” Fringe, as she posted recently in her blog. It was, in fact, three years ago when it won a 2008 Cincinnati Entertainment Award for Best Alternative Theatre Performance.
by Rick Pender
08.26.2011
Stage Door: Swing on Sunday at Know
The Manhattan Dolls will make a one-night tour stop at Know Theatre on Sunday evening at 7:30, performing their Swing-style revue of tunes from the 1930s and 1940s, "Sentimental Journey," in the Over-the-Rhine theatre’s Underground cabaret space. The trio of singers from New York City travel the world performing for military events, air shows, award ceremonies, parades, Jazz clubs and concert series.
by Rick Pender
08.19.2011
Stage Door: 'Pippin' Steps Out at Carnegie
Stephen Schwartz is well known in the world of musical theater as the composer of Wicked, the mega-hit Broadway musical that’s been running since 2003 (more than 3,200 performances to date). But he started his career a long time ago, composing the music for Godspell way back in 1971. At the age of 24, he followed Godspell with another hit, the 1972 musical Pippin (which ran for five years, nearly 2,000 performances). It’s the season opener in a three-weekend run at Covington’s Carnegie Center beginning Friday.
by Rick Pender
08.10.2011
Showboat: All Aboard for 2012
Even as the Showboat Majestic opens another show this summer (The Art of Murder by Joe DiPietro kicks off tonight and continues through Aug. 28), it’s time to announce the ’boat’s 90th season in 2012, featuring an all-American slate of musicals and comedies to please patrons aboard America’s last showboat, a National Historic Landmark. Here’s the 2012 season:
by Rick Pender
08.05.2011
Tracy Letts' 'Superior Donuts' coming to Cincinnati
Tracy Letts' plays haven't quite caught on in Cincinnati. We're yet to see a production locally of August: Osage County, his 2008 Pulitzer Prize winner. Neither the Cincinnati Playhouse nor Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati� have picked up Superior Donuts, his 2011 Tony-nominated script that will be staged by at least eight major regional theaters across the United States during the coming season. However, a local pick-up company will present Letts' latest script at the Clifton Performance Theatre (404 Ludlow Ave.) in a brief run (Sept. 9-18).
by Rick Pender
07.26.2011
A Positive Sign at Know Theatre
Know Theatre of Cincinnati has called Jackson Street in Over-the-Rhine home for several years, but it's been easy to miss them, tucked away behind the Gateway Garage on a short block between Central Parkway and 12th Street. That's being remedied right now with the construction of a marquee that should be highly visible from both north and south of the theater, especially from busy Central Parkway.
by Rick Pender
07.22.2011
Stage Door: Lyle Benjamin Is Back
Lyle Benjamin has been on and off a lot of local stages with his company Queen City Off-Broadway. He's been dormant for a few seasons, but he's back with a slightly new name — it's now called Queen City Theater — and a couple of mid-summer productions using the black box theater at the new School for Creative and Performing Arts (108 West Central Pkwy., Over-the-Rhine) as his venue. Tonight is the opening performance of The Amish Project by Jessica Dickey.
by Rick Pender
07.18.2011
More Plays for Your Calendar
More word about upcoming seasons from two of Cincinnati’s smaller but adventurous companies. New Edgecliff Theatre (NET) has put forth a five-show season with work by several excellent contemporary playwrights, as well as a holiday offering partnering with the True Theatre. Queen City Theatre (QCT is the current incarnation of the dormant Queen City Off Broadway) will offer productions of dramas using the black box theater at the School for Creative and Performing Arts.
