Monday, June 11
Cincinnati Fringe Festival officially closed its fourth edition last night by announcing – to absolutely no one’s surprise – that the 2007 Audience Pick is the cheery “Calculus: The Musical!”
Show creator Marc Gutman and actress Sadie Bowman had a really, really, really good time here. Bowman says “Cincinnati math fans are by far the best singers we’ve ever had at our show.”
And I had to ask – which do you like more? Calculus or ice cream? Gutman: “Calculus. I’m lactose intolerant.” Bowman: “Ice cream for me, definitely. Any kind. Just as I’m an actor who can sing about math, I can diversify and embrace many flavors.”
Next up for “Calculus” is the Boulder Fringe in August, and for a look at what other ideas are in the works, scroll down to the June 5 entry in This Week in Cincy Theater.
Fringe Critics Pick was the smart, multi-media “True + False,” all about perception and our ability to identify what’s true and what isn’t.
Producers Pick came after a mighty battle with a lot of titles in play including “The Kid in the Dark,” “MAD,” “Lusthaus,” “How to Fake Clinical Depression” and “girlfight” by Performance Gallery, which has been with the Fringe since its debut.
So many possible picks speaks to just how good the best of this year’s Fringe was.
And the winner – “iLove,” the very cool re-consideration of a Charles Mee play by Sartori Group, mostly CCM Drama grads and most of whom can be found over the next couple of months involved with New Stage Collective’s summer season. (The gang is headed west to Seattle in near-single file.)
Tuesday, June 12
Congrats to Cincinnati’s favorite homegrown playwright Theresa Rebeck. Rebeck gets her first Broadway production with “Mauritius,” opening the Manhattan Theatre Club season in September and directed by Doug Hughes, Tony Award-winning director of “Doubt.”
Rebeck scored on Off-Broadway early this year with Humana Festival of New American Plays hit “The Scene.” Her “Bad Dates” was an audience favorite at Playhouse in the Park, where she’s currently working on a commission.
“Mauritius” is another of Rebeck’s dark comedies, this one about half-sisters and a valuable stamp collection (hence the title.)
Wednesday, June 13
Fresh from Sibiu International Theatre Festival in Romania, Northern Kentucky University opens its summer dinner theater season with “Man of La Mancha.” The experience was amazing, says director Ken Jones, even hauling an electric keyboard and all the props up a moutainside to the church/fortress at the summit where the musical was performed. (Read the full story this coming Friday in the Enquirer’s Weekend section.)
Mark Hardy plays the title role, other local favorites in the cast include Denise Devlin, Roderick Justice, Ken Early, Daryl Harris and Deondra Means.
Many performances of “La Mancha” and the valentine of a musical about antagonistic shop clerks who don’t know they’re loving anonymous pen pals, are already down to single-ticket availability. Call the box office now: 859-572-5464.
Thursday, June 14
If you’re in Prague between today and June 24 be sure to mosey over to the Industrial Palace at the Vystaviste Exhibitions Grounds, home to the 11th quadrennial International Competitive Exhibition of Scenography and Theatre.
Among the entries from almost 60 countries shocasing the latest trends and the best in scenic design (as we call it in the States) are a pair of Playhouse in the Park entries by Joseph Tilford: his 2003 set design for “One” and the watery dream of 2004’s “Twelfth Night.”
Friday, June 15
By my recollection, Cincinnati has never seen a production of “Take Me Out,” the lockerroom drama about a gay baseball player coming out. It’s onstage at Human Race in Dayton through June 24 and tonight there’s a post-performance pizza and dessert party. Check CinStages listings for all the details.
Saturday, June 16
Where in the world is Terry LaBolt? Everywhere. The musical man about town and his Covedale “South Pacific” cast (and their costumes) have been tapped by Kentucky Symphony Orchestra’s J.R. Cassidy for a free sing-along “Sound of Music” with the orchestra in Devou Park on Aug 4. LaBolt staged the Coevedale show and Cassidy steps aside to let him take the podium at Devou Park. This marks LaBolt’s first conducting gig since his liver transplant several years ago. Welcome back! (For more infor visit www.kyso.org.)
More immediately, find LaBolt in Rising Sun, Indiana, where Rising Sun Opera (risingstarsingers.org) is presenting a fully staged version of “The Music Man” July 6-8. LaBolt directs, Scot Woolley, last seen playing the piano and acting the accompanist in “Souvenir” at Ensemble, is music director.
“Music Man” is the first time the summer opera theater and summer program for opera students shifts from opera and operetta to musical, says LaBolt. Artistic directors Thomas Baresel and Barbara Honn, both members of the voice faculty at CCM (and residents of Rising Sun co-incidentally) promise costumes, orchestra, the whole kitchen sink.
LaBolt directs musical satire “Ruthless,” all about a child star from hell and shamelessly referencing Gypsy, All About Eve and The Bad Seed, aboard the Showboat Majestic. Aug. 6-26. One of our favorite performers, 2007 Acclaim Awards Rising Star Roderick Justice, stars. Call the box office at 241-6550.
Sunday, June 17
“Broadway Bares XVII: Myth Behavior” includes a couple of CCM grads/Broadway stars among the annual Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS benefit performance.
Ashley Brown, unpopping starchy Mary Poppins, and Leslie Kritzer (currently in “Legally Blonde,” and signed on as lead in Broadway-bound “A Catered Affair”) will both take the stage at the Roseland Ballroom.
Jackie Demaline
