by Jac Kern
03.01.2012
Doug Stanhope, Swizzle Soiree and more arts, theater and music suggestions
Comedian Doug Stanhope is performing at Go Bananas in Montgomery nightly through Sunday. Known for his sharp tongue and boozy performances, Stanhope is a comedy giant. He has released a number of comedy CDs and DVDs, toured around the globe and recently played a seriously deep character in an episode of Louie. Expect plenty of foul-mouthed fun. Tonight's show is at 8 p.m. Find details here.Speaking of people who like to drink, tonight is our Swizzle Soiree, an annual celebration of the release of our bar guide. Head on over to PLAY downtown from 5:30-10:30 p.m. There will be free drink tickets and hors d'oeuvres from area restaurants, happy hour specials all night, music from Pop Empire and lots of giveaways — movie passes, shot glasses and two passes to Bonnaroo! Sign up to register and be present at 9 p.m. to win. It's gon' be fun. Check out the event on Facebook for more info.The Cincinnati Opera's Opening Gala takes place April 28, with an after-party at the Duke Energy Center. In preparation for this "Late Night in Charleston," Japp's is hosting a happy hour tonight. Preview the event, and help the Opera decide which signature cocktail (by none other than Molly Wellman) to serve next month. The party runs 6-9 p.m. Go here for details.Catie Curtis performs at the Clifton Cultural Arts Center, Yonder Mountain String Band will be at Madison Theater and Ultraviolet Hippopotamus play The Mad Frog tonight. Find live music details here.Tonight in theater: Collapse at Know Theater, West Side Story at the Aronoff and Into the Woods at CCM. Find more recommended picks for tonight here.Before you leave for the night, set up that DVR for Delocated, Awake, 30 Rock and more Thursday television gems. Peep our TV column for details.
by Jac Kern
02.29.2012
Leap Day means different things to everyone (like those with rare Feb. 29 birthdays), but we suggest spending this extra day exploring all the fun events our city has to offer. Or this:Do you love the true storytelling style of This American Life and live groups like The Moth and Cincinnati's True Theater? Head down to Below Zero Lounge tonight for Teilen (German for "to share"), a local storytelling night. In honor of Leap Day, tonight's theme will be "leaping out." Enjoy a variety of true stories told without notes, and feel free to share your own five-minute anecdote. Storytelling is one of the oldest human traditions and it's still a great way to connect with others. Doors open at 6 p.m.; the free event starts at 7. Find details here.Sexy Time Live Band Karaoke continues its weekly mission to make us all feel like Rock Stars. Become a frontman (or woman!), if only for three minutes. Karaoke kicks off at 9 p.m. in Northside Tavern's back room. Check out the group's Facebook page for details and an extensive song selection (start rehearsing now!).The Lackman hosts a party to introduce new Six Point Brewery beers tonight, featuring Sweet Action (barley and hops), Bengali Tiger IPA (bitter hops and sweet malt) and Resin Double IPA (just delicious). Reps will be on hand for all questions. The tasting event runs 4-6 p.m. Find more info here.Find more To Do suggestions, like theater productions and art shows, here. Check out Mike Breen's blog for tonight's live music happenings. And a head's up: Our Swizzle bar guide came out today (purty, ain't it?) and if reading that doesn't make you want to grab a cocktail at one of many amazing local watering holes, nothing will! Celebrate the issue with us tomorrow at PLAY downtown. Guests can expect free cocktails and food from Bolly Bears and FUSIAN, live music from Pop Empire, a fabulous Flashbox photo booth and tons of giveaways. And when I say giveaways, I don't just mean movie passes and shot glasses (though there will be plenty of those) — one lucky partier will walk away with two passes to Bonnaroo! If you miss this, you cray. RSVP here.
Coal-burning electricity fuels production at Aronoff
0 Comments · Thursday, January 19, 2012
You can’t go wrong
with this much expressive dancing, and the kids who perform it will
win your heart, from tiny Jeremy Zorer who gets the show started, to
Billy’s ebullient, cross-dressing friend Michael (Ben Cook). The
show evoked a rousing, and well-deserved response from the audience
on opening night.
Cincinnati Playhouse portrays a singer whose calling card was honesty
1 Comment · Monday, November 28, 2011
There’s a lot to like about the Cincinnati Playhouse’s non-holiday show for the holiday season.
It’s a revue that includes two dozen of Cline’s best-known songs, and
actress Carter Calvert perfectly captures the iconic Country singer’s
delivery and manner.
Covedale holiday production is an entertaining eyeful
0 Comments · Friday, December 9, 2011
This backstage musical about good-hearted people
putting on a show to save a struggling Vermont ski lodge is perfect
for the Covedale’s mainstream audience, and the performance I
attended at the converted movie theater, a Sunday matinee, had every
one of its 400 seats filled with people loving what they were seeing.
ETC production offers a different telling of a familiar story
0 Comments · Friday, December 2, 2011
Good and evil play tug-of-war throughout the story of Snow White,
Ensemble Theatre’s new holiday fairytale musical.
Know production is passionately conceived but a little zany
0 Comments · Monday, November 28, 2011
Don’t go thinking this show has anything to do with the holidays, and
despite the fact that some fourth-graders light its political fuse when
their teacher replaces a holiday pageant with a script that references a
possible gay relationship involving the 16th president, this is not a
show for kids. Who is it for? I’m not really sure, although some at the
opening performance found it hilarious.
CCM production at the Carnegie has a thrilling current
1 Comment · Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Sarah Ruhl’s In the Next Room, or the vibrator play,
now at Covington’s Carnegie Center in a production by the drama program
at UC’s College-Conservatory of Music, has a current running through
it. The production is warm, bright and slightly shocking.
0 Comments · Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Whatever else, it requires bravery for a
photographer to wander around abandoned buildings, subway stations, wave
pools and other derelict remnants of the built environment. Vince Geier
of Northside, who died in June at age 37, had it. His friend Cathy Heil, who accompanied
him (and others) into Detroit’s massive Michigan Central (Railroad)
Station, empty since 1988, can attest to that.
2 Comments · Friday, November 4, 2011
Stephen Schwartz’s Wizard of Oz-inspired
musical about the green witch has become a cultural icon for adolescent
girls who yearn for freedom and success. Thousands, with or without
their families, will flock downtown between now and Thanksgiving
weekend, and they won’t be disappointed.