Sunday, July 1
Here’s the thing about “Radiant Baby” at New Stage Collective, and why you should see it – and see it today, when composer Debra Barsha is in from New York to lead a post-performance conversation. (If you have plans today, just see it before it closes July 15.)
Remember when “Tick...Tick…Boom!” put Know Theatre on the map a few seasons back? “Radiant Baby” is that kind of show. The Keith Haring musical bio feels like the best kind of theater lab in the hands of director Alan Patrick Kenny, who fills the stage with young talent who are celebrating their art on that stage, very much in the spirit of Haring’s jolly figures born in the NYC subways. The energy makes you grin from ear to ear and follow cast members from show to show.
Adam Standley (as Haring) has graduated from CCM Drama and is heading on. He’s done right by a lot of roles on a lot of small stages in Cincinnati and he’ll be missed.
You can still find the diva with the big pipes, Julie Conuel, of CCM musical theater. It’s great seeing Kera Halbersleben home from NYU for the summer and demonstrating how she’s honing her talent. Mikhail Roberts takes a real leap from Fancourt Babberly in CCM’s fab “Charley’s Aunt” to play Haring’s lover (and a brave try for a non-singer.)
Phillip Webster is terrific as Haring’s dad; hope the NKU grad is here for more than a brief visit home. Adienne Clark is another stand-out, especially as Andy Warhol, and talk about the legs on Joey Stone, doing a drag queen turn before returning to CCM musical theater.
Alyssa Foley is responsible for the so-bright choreo, the NKU grad is heaed for Middlesex University in autumn to study for a masters degree.
The point is, “Radiant Baby” is “Hey, kids, let’s put on a show” for the 21st century and you shouldn’t be left behind. Find out everything you need to know about getting tickets by clicking “theaters” on the CinStages home page, clicking “N” and then New Stage Collective.
After “The Goat” and “Radiant Baby” as the first two outings in New Stage’s new home at Twelfth and Main – this young company is worth your time.
It’s time to make theater a habit in Cincinnati.
“Company” closes its Broadway run today. Yesterday’s performances of the Playhouse in the Park-born, 2007 Tony Award-winning Musical Revival, were taped for possible airing on PBS (The words “Great Performances” have been mentioned.) Stay tuned.
Monday, July 2
Playhouse associate artistic director Michael Haney is plotting his upcoming flight schedule, and clocking frequent flyer miles.
The biggest gig: Ensemble Theatre’s hit “Souvenir” is booked in Vienna in September and director Haney with cast Neva Rae Powers (Acclaim Award winner) and Scot Woolley will reprise their roles. Powers will again warble as Florence Foster Jenkins in an autumn run opening Sept. 3.
These days Haney is city-hopping with prep for “Bad Dates.” It will be a piece of cake in St. Louis, where Annie Fitzpatrick will star beginning in October. A Kansas City engagement opening in September is a little more problematic. The scheduling precludes Fitzpatrick doing both, so Haney is making casting jaunts to both coasts.
Tuesday, July 3
Dale Hodges takes a break from “Frozen” rehearsals, which has its Cincinnati premiere in September at Xavier University (also starring New Edgecliff’s Michael Shooner) to head for summer rep in New Hampshire.
Where in the world is talented Cincinnati Shakespeare co-founder Marni Penning? She opens tonight in thriller “Write Me a Murder” at Totem Pole Playhouse outside Gettysburg, Pa. At the end of the month she’s in Washington, D.C., starting work on Woolly Mammoth’s “The Unmentionables.”
Wednesday, July 4
Happy Fourth of July!
Thursday, July 5
Great casting for Theresa Rebeck’s “Mauritius” on Broadway. Academy Award-winner F. Murray Abraham (“Amadeus”) will lead a cast of big-name New York actors incuding Dylan Baker and Bobby Cannavale, Tony winner Katie Finneran and Tony nominee Alison Pill. Previews start Sept. 13, opening is Oct. 4 at the Biltmore Theatre, under the banner of Manhattan Theatre Club.
Friday, July 6
Take a drive down Madison road through Madisonville and admire the new electronic billboard up and functioning on the soon-to-be Madisonville Community Arts Center on Whetzel. The “jumbotron” will be featuring coming attractions, starting with CCM Prep and other classes set to start in autumn.
Be sure to keep track up the ArtWorks mural project on the building wall facing Madison. The mural will take shape over the next six weeks. Madisonville co-mastermind Ed Cohen says the image itself is hard to describe, but calls it “aggressive” and “intense” and says it will “generate conversation.”
The mural will be topped by metal sculpture. Between the irridescent paint and the back-lighting planned by the Madisonville gang, it’s going to be impossible to miss, Cohen promises.
Saturday, July 7
Falcon Players announces its 2007-2008 season: Oct. 5-20, “The Diary of Anne Frank”; Dec. 7-16, the return of “The Trial of Ebenezer Scrooge”; Feb. 8-23, “The House of Blue Leaves”; April 4-12, “Art” and May 2-17, “Hair.”
Ticket information and reservations 513-479-6783 and watch for more details of this and other season announcements in Sunday’s Enquirer.
Jackie Demaline
