This is a weekend to catch up on local theater — or perhaps to be reminded of the many riches we have available to us.—- On Friday and Saturday evenings at Know Theatre (1120 Jackson St., Over-the-Rhine) you can see catch reprises of popular productions from the 2009 Cincinnati Fringe. One is The Success Show (both evenings at 8 p.m.), a take-off on a motivational training seminar, complete with PowerPoint and cliches about living a more fruitful life. (Read our review here.) Nothing quite works the way it should, however, and the team of presenters, played with deadpan seriousness by George Alexander and Randy Lee Bailey, find themselves in a downward spiral of mistakes. If you'd like a double-bill, show up on Friday for Incredulity, an improv comedy act that kicks off at 9:30 p.m. When Rodger Pille reviewed this one for CityBeat back in June, he wrote, "“What you look for in an improv troupe is trust and familiarity, and the Incredulities display both. The actors are comfortable enough with each other to enter scenes and go with the flow, regardless of where it is headed.” Tickets will be available at the door ($12 per show), and if you can dig up a stub from a Fringe show from June, you'll get a $2 discount.
And if you're feeling forlorn on Sunday evening, head to Below Zero Lounge (1122 Walnut, OTR) to be cheered up by the 13th Annual Cincinnati Entertainment Awards. It's our local "Tony Awards" for outstanding theater performers and productions during the 2008-2009 season. Recognition will be handed out in 20 categories, some voted on by the public, others by local theater critics. Doors open at 6 p.m., first awards announced at 7 p.m. The event is free, with a cash bar.
