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A perfect demonstration of a flourishing theater community is when a director can find local actors to fill challenging roles; it's even more encouraging when those actors come from training programs anchored at local theaters. ENSEMBLE THEATRE OF CINCINNATI (ETC) provides a good example with the cast recently announced for its upcoming production of the world premiere of Robert Lewis Vaughan's THIRTY GHOSTS (Oct. 13-31). Three of the six cast members for the contemporary ghost story, are products of local internship programs: from ETC's program come STEPHEN BISHOP (who interned in 2003-2004) and SHELLEY LITTLE (interning this season); JOSHUA NETH is a member of the Cincinnati Shakespeare Festival's intern group, the "Young Company." The play is about a journalist who writes a magazine story centering on a talented baseball player who dies at the hand of a crazed fan; the actors play characters from the past and the present. Broadway veteran PEGGY COSGRAVE will play the writer; she performed in ETC's The Women of Lockerbie last season. Also in the cast are JIM NELSON from Thomas More College and A. BETH HARRIS, an ETC regular and a Cincinnati Entertain-ment Award nominee for her performance in ETC's 2003 production of Nite Club Confidential. Tickets: 513-421-3555.
If you'd like to meet Harris and other CEA nominees in person, you need only show up on Monday evening at Arnold's Bar & Grill (210 E. Eighth St., Downtown). Your $5 admission includes a buffet of appetizers (you get to buy your own beverage) and the chance to meet local actors whose 2003-2004 performances are highlighted by CityBeat's annual recognition program. Cincinnati is blessed with a strong community of actors: Don't miss this opportunity to meet a few of them, and then be sure to cast your vote, using the ballot on page 41 or online at
 Broadway veteran Peggy Cosgrave plays a writer whose story has unfortunate results in Thirty Ghosts at ETC.
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A perfect demonstration of a flourishing theater community is when a director can find local actors to fill challenging roles; it's even more encouraging when those actors come from training programs anchored at local theaters. ENSEMBLE THEATRE OF CINCINNATI (ETC) provides a good example with the cast recently announced for its upcoming production of the world premiere of Robert Lewis Vaughan's THIRTY GHOSTS (Oct. 13-31). Three of the six cast members for the contemporary ghost story, are products of local internship programs: from ETC's program come STEPHEN BISHOP (who interned in 2003-2004) and SHELLEY LITTLE (interning this season); JOSHUA NETH is a member of the Cincinnati Shakespeare Festival's intern group, the "Young Company." The play is about a journalist who writes a magazine story centering on a talented baseball player who dies at the hand of a crazed fan; the actors play characters from the past and the present. Broadway veteran PEGGY COSGRAVE will play the writer; she performed in ETC's The Women of Lockerbie last season. Also in the cast are JIM NELSON from Thomas More College and A. BETH HARRIS, an ETC regular and a Cincinnati Entertain-ment Award nominee for her performance in ETC's 2003 production of Nite Club Confidential. Tickets: 513-421-3555.
If you'd like to meet Harris and other CEA nominees in person, you need only show up on Monday evening at Arnold's Bar & Grill (210 E. Eighth St., Downtown). Your $5 admission includes a buffet of appetizers (you get to buy your own beverage) and the chance to meet local actors whose 2003-2004 performances are highlighted by CityBeat's annual recognition program. Cincinnati is blessed with a strong community of actors: Don't miss this opportunity to meet a few of them, and then be sure to cast your vote, using the ballot on page 41 or online at citybeat.com/ cea.
A perfect demonstration of a flourishing theater community is when a director can find local actors to fill challenging roles; it's even more encouraging when those actors come from training programs anchored at local theaters. ENSEMBLE THEATRE OF CINCINNATI (ETC) provides a good example with the cast recently announced for its upcoming production of the world premiere of Robert Lewis Vaughan's THIRTY GHOSTS (Oct. 13-31). Three of the six cast members for the contemporary ghost story, are products of local internship programs: from ETC's program come STEPHEN BISHOP (who interned in 2003-2004) and SHELLEY LITTLE (interning this season); JOSHUA NETH is a member of the Cincinnati Shakespeare Festival's intern group, the "Young Company." The play is about a journalist who writes a magazine story centering on a talented baseball player who dies at the hand of a crazed fan; the actors play characters from the past and the present. Broadway veteran PEGGY COSGRAVE will play the writer; she performed in ETC's The Women of Lockerbie last season. Also in the cast are JIM NELSON from Thomas More College and A. BETH HARRIS, an ETC regular and a Cincinnati Entertain-ment Award nominee for her performance in ETC's 2003 production of Nite Club Confidential. Tickets: 513-421-3555. ...
If you'd like to meet Harris and other CEA nominees in person, you need only show up on Monday evening at Arnold's Bar & Grill (210 E. Eighth St., Downtown). Your $5 admission includes a buffet of appetizers (you get to buy your own beverage) and the chance to meet local actors whose 2003-2004 performances are highlighted by CityBeat's annual recognition program. Cincinnati is blessed with a strong community of actors: Don't miss this opportunity to meet a few of them, and then be sure to cast your vote, using the ballot on page 41 or online at citybeat.com/ cea. The Arnold's evening is a benefit for the LEAGUE OF CINCINNATI THEATRES (LCT), which nurtures a strong, local theater scene. Info: www.leagueofcincytheatres.com ...
Stick around at Arnold's on Monday evening after LCT's event, and celebrate NATIONAL COMING OUT DAY. To mark the event, Cincinnati's own KNOW THEATRE TRIBE is presenting an evening of readings drawn from essays, poetry, stories and anecdotes that retell an array of personal experiences about people who have divulged their sexual orientation to others. Also presented on Sunday evening at Arnold's, the words will be brought to life by some of Cincinnati's best performers. You can gain entrance by making a donation ($10-15 is suggested) to Know Theatre, or by supporting Citizens to Restore Fairness, the organization seeking to repeal Article 12, the anti-gay ordinance in Cincinnati's City Charter. ...
Historian George Santayana warned that people who can't learn from history are doomed to repeat it. That's the mindset behind OUR PAST SPEAKS AS OUR FUTURE LISTENS, presented by the CINCINNATI BLACK THEATRE CHILDREN'S COMPANY. The West African Wisdom of "sankofa" teaches the necessity of returning to roots in order to move forward; this multigenerational, multimedia documentary takes that lesson to heart, combining storytelling by senior citizens with video technology, song, dance and poetry. The program is presented Friday and Saturday evenings at the Arts Consortium (1515 Linn St., West End). Info: 513-241-6060.
MINI REVIEWS
This is your last weekend to see THE CINCINNATI PLAYHOUSE's glorious and showy production of Twelfth Night. The show is a feast for the eyes, the ears and the emotions, from a breathtaking scenic concept (water surrounding an island) to a cast of delightful and diverse actors. The Asian heritage of Angela Lin (Viola) and Keong Sim (Sebastian) makes them a good pairing as twins whose resemblance is the source of confusion and merriment. The show's wonderful comic ensemble captures the essence of Shakespearean wit and physicality. (Rick Pender) Grade: A
