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At the ripe old age of five, the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park's ALTERACTIVE series runs the risk of being almost "established." But that's precisely what the award-winning theater has avoided in this oddball series of cutting-edge (in fact, downright hard to quantify) series which this year includes bilingual poetry, edgy sketch comedy, a classic American troubadour and a brand new show from a returning favorite. The series, presented on Monday evenings beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the lobby space between the Playhouse's two theaters, begins on Feb. 7 with ESCANDALO POETICO ("Poetic Riot"), an assemblage of five local Latino poets. For Feb. 14 the program is Superbowl & Other Stories, which has nothing to do with the Super Bowl or football. It's an examination of kids, family and Americana in three short stories by Donna Sellinger, presented by the author and Jo Marvel under the banner of TOTALLY REALISTIC PRODUCTIONS, which has been seen at several fringe festivals around North America. Subsequent performances include poet GLENIS REDMOND (Feb. 21), monologist and gay activist TIM MILLER (who has two previous sold-out performances at alteractive) (Feb. 28), singer-songwriter CHRISTINE LAVIN (March 7) and a comedy sketch duo, THE DEFIANT THOMAS BROTHERS (March 28) — Paul Thomas is white, Seth Thomas is black. There will also be a locals only night on March 14. Tickets ($12; students, $8): 513-421-3888 or www.cincyplay.com.
Speaking of performance art, one of the classics of the genre, Eve Ensler's THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES, will be presented on Feb. 13 at Ensemble Theatre (1127 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine) for the annual V-Day event around the world, raising funds for organization's supporting women's issues. This week, CineX, the program's organizer, announced the participants: Fox 19's REGINA CARSWELL, actress SHERMAN FRACHER (currently rehearsing at ETC for the lead role in Sight Unseen, opening on Jan. 26); CEA Hall of Fame actress DALE HODGES; dance presenters JEFFERSON JAMES (Contemporary Dance Theatre) and VICTORIA MORGAN (Cincinnati Ballet); the CAC's new director, LINDA SHEARER; UC's AHOO TABATABAI; and CityBeat's own KATHY Y. WILSON, who brings a whole new dimension (and volume setting) to the concept of "voice."
At the ripe old age of five, the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park's ALTERACTIVE series runs the risk of being almost "established." But that's precisely what the award-winning theater has avoided in this oddball series of cutting-edge (in fact, downright hard to quantify) series which this year includes bilingual poetry, edgy sketch comedy, a classic American troubadour and a brand new show from a returning favorite. The series, presented on Monday evenings beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the lobby space between the Playhouse's two theaters, begins on Feb. 7 with ESCANDALO POETICO ("Poetic Riot"), an assemblage of five local Latino poets. For Feb. 14 the program is Superbowl & Other Stories, which has nothing to do with the Super Bowl or football. It's an examination of kids, family and Americana in three short stories by Donna Sellinger, presented by the author and Jo Marvel under the banner of TOTALLY REALISTIC PRODUCTIONS, which has been seen at several fringe festivals around North America. Subsequent performances include poet GLENIS REDMOND (Feb. 21), monologist and gay activist TIM MILLER (who has two previous sold-out performances at alteractive) (Feb. 28), singer-songwriter CHRISTINE LAVIN (March 7) and a comedy sketch duo, THE DEFIANT THOMAS BROTHERS (March 28) — Paul Thomas is white, Seth Thomas is black. There will also be a locals only night on March 14. Tickets ($12; students, $8): 513-421-3888 or www.cincyplay.com. ...
Speaking of performance art, one of the classics of the genre, Eve Ensler's THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES, will be presented on Feb. 13 at Ensemble Theatre (1127 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine) for the annual V-Day event around the world, raising funds for organization's supporting women's issues. This week, CineX, the program's organizer, announced the participants: Fox 19's REGINA CARSWELL, actress SHERMAN FRACHER (currently rehearsing at ETC for the lead role in Sight Unseen, opening on Jan. 26); CEA Hall of Fame actress DALE HODGES; dance presenters JEFFERSON JAMES (Contemporary Dance Theatre) and VICTORIA MORGAN (Cincinnati Ballet); the CAC's new director, LINDA SHEARER; UC's AHOO TABATABAI; and CityBeat's own KATHY Y. WILSON, who brings a whole new dimension (and volume setting) to the concept of "voice." Vagina Monologues is based on Ensler's series of interviews with women about a body part seldom discussed with anyone, let alone publicly. Proceeds from the evening will benefit Rape Crisis Center of Cincinnati and Planned Parenthood of Greater Cincinnati. Tickets: 513-621-2787. ...
You might have heard that two-time Cincinnati Entertainment Award winner TODD ALMOND is coming back to town for the one-man show I AM MY OWN WIFE in March at ETC. While he's remembered for his two turns in Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Almond has a solid recording career under way, too. If you'd like to see that side of him, you'll have a chance on Jan. 28 when he performs at the Over-the-Rhine bar alchemize (1120 Walnut St., Over-the-Rhine) in a special benefit for ETC, co-sponsored by CityBeat. He'll be joined by local music scene stalwarts John Curley, Bill Alletzhauser and Michael Horrigan. $30 admission ($15 students). 513-421-3555 ...
Need to generate some heat to dispel the January cold? SHADOWBOX CABARET at Newport on the Levee might have just the ticket — SEX AT THE BOX, which kicked off on New Year's Day. It's the comedy and Rock & Roll troupe's annual collection of ribald skits and songs about love, relationships and what they're billing as "America's favorite topic." The show includes John Pielmeier's one-act play, Cheek to Cheek, about a jilted lover trying to win back her man — at his wedding — and Grant Gottschall's I Was A Telephone Gigolo. Shadowbox's Stacie Boord says sex is part of our daily lives, "in the music we hear, on TV, even in political debates. We're going to give you a show that will remind you that love and relationships are what prompt us to do the most ridiculous things." Tickets: 859-581-7625.