Sunday, August 12
Congratulations to talented Northern Kentuck University grad and 2006 Acclaim Rising Star Sarah Peak, who will spend the season as dance captain for the non-Equity tour of “The Wedding Singer.” Peak also plays sidekick Holly.
After opening at the end of this month in Gainesville, the show plays everywhere but here, including Louisville (Nov. 13-18), Columbus (Jan. 8-13) and Indianapolis (Jan. 22-27.)
Monday, August 13
I can’t say it enough. Great theater IS affordable – but you have to be smart. Today is onsale day for Playhouse in the Park’s 2007-2008 season. Tickets for opening week performances for regular season productions (excluding “Dracula”) are half-price if you purchase through Aug. 20. A $5 discount is offered for “A Christmas Carol.”
It is the lowest price of the year (in the $20 range for previews) for the best available seating and – new this season(!) – you can select your own seat at the Web site and even get a look at sight lines from the section you’re interested in. Some restrictions apply.
For tickets or for more information, call the Playhouse box office at 513/421-3888 or toll-free in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana at 800/582-3208. Call 513/345-2248 for TDD accessibility. For single tickets purchased by telephone through the Playhouse box office there is a $3 convenience fee per call. Tickets also can be purchased on the Playhouse web site at www.cincyplay.com.
AND -- Playhouse wants your blood – and you get “Dracula” for half-price. Donate blood from 2 to 8 p.m. today at Playhouse, Tuesday at Joseph-Beth Booksellers in Rookwood Pavilion and Wednesday at Deerfield Towne Center and get a voucher for select performances. (Everybody’s favorite vampire is scheduled to make specail appearances at each site.)
Registration is recommended. Sign up ay www.hoxworth.org/playhouse or call 513-558-1287.
Tuesday, August 14
Will Brandstetter called in to report that “summer has been really busy!” The Mount Washington native is now based in Cleveland, where he graduated from Baldwin-Wallace College in 2004.
Brandstetter grew up as a dancer, but tore cartilege in his knee in his freshman year, when he was a performance major. He moved effortlessly to stage management and, working closely with prof Victoria Bussert (whose directed a number of musicals at Playhouse in the Park).
This summer Brandstetter has worked with Bussert in Chicago on “Married Alive” (he assistant directed), back in Cleveland where he’s the stage manager for “Nine” at beautiful outdoor venue Cain Park and on to Idaho Shakespeare for “Little Shop of Horrors.” “Since the summer after my freshman year I’ve never had to apply for a job.”
Fall will also be busy, with a showcase to work on at the annual National Alliance of Musical Theatre festival in October and then back to Baldwin-Wallace for the really big fall musical, “Phantom of the Opera.”
New York? Who needs it? “Down the road, I want to get a masters in directing,” Brandstetter says. “Basically I want to be (Bussert). I want to program and work in the regions.”
Wednesday, August 15
Xavier Players has signed Dayton playwright and Human Race Theatre resident company member Tony Dallas for a residency that will include the creation of an original murder mystery, to unveil in November.
Xavier has also snagged theater and puppet artist Irini Lewandoski (not coincidentally now based here because husband John has taken over as artistic director of Madcap) to direct an adaptation of “The Snow Queen” for the holiday slot in December.
The Xavier Players fall semester line-up: Sept. 13-23, “Frozen,” regional premiere starring Dale Hodges, Michael Shooner and Molly Brown; Oct. 18-21, “Aida”; Nov. 8-11, “The Lion in Winter”; Nov. 16-17, Murder Mystery, details to come; Dec. 6-9, “The Snow Queen”
Thursday, August 16
Satori Group opens “Hello Again” for a two-weekend run. (Check production details elsewhere on CinStages.)
Friday, August 17
Jersey Productions opens a two-weekend run of “Grease” tonight at the Carnegie but you might want to make your reservation for tomorrow, when the company stages a Sock Hop between the matinee and evening performances, from approxaimately 5:30 to 7 p.m.
Dancing to ‘50s jits, games, prizes, food and hanging with the cast are all promised. Admission is free with a ticket to either Saturday performance. Dress like a show character and get a free ticket to a grand prize raffle.
For reservations and information call the Carnegie box office at 859-957-1940 – or just click to the production page here at CinStages.com.
Saturday, August 18
When did Mama Rose become Momma Rose? The debate began when my colleague Janelle Gelfand interviewed Bernadette Peters, coming to the Aronoff tonight, and used her bio for reference – where Peters’ work in “Gypsy” was prominently featured and where the iconic stage mother was spelled as “Momma.”
I screamed “sacrilege” and pointed to the hundreds of thousands of references to “Mama Rose” online, from Ethel Merman to Angela Lansbury to Tyne Daly and beyond. Janelle countered by (politely) waving a New York Times headline in my face that referenced this summer’s Patti LuPone revival and her character as “Momma.”
I went to licensing agents Tams-Witmark where even the staff musicologist was stumped. “We haven’t done anything to change it,” was the phone report.
If you know the answer – don’t be shy. In any event, tickets are available for Peters’ first Cincinnati concert tonight at 8 p.m., tickets start at $52.25, proceeds benefit Caracole inc. and Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Reserve online at CincinnatiArts.org or call 513-621-2787.
Jackie Demaline
