This coming week is time to wish a fond farewell to CCM graduating seniors. Drama and Musical Theatre will both preview the senior (audition) showcases they’ll take on the road to New York (with Drama continuing on to El-lay.)
Want to see what the industry pros see? You can – for free. Details at the end of the blog entry.
Drama starts things off on Wednesday, with 2 and 7 p.m. shows. The evening performance includes the 2008 Dolly Awards (named for CCM philanthropist Dolly Cohen).
Aaron Serotsky (class of ’97) wins the Julia Winter Cohen Career Excellence Award, but since he’s in NYC hard at work on “August: Osage County” (covering two roles) the award will be taken to NYC, where the 2008 grads will see the show and get a backstage tour the day before they perform for New York agents and producers on April 7.
This year’s terrific class includes talent who have performed memorably at Know, New Edgecliff, Cincinnati Fringe and New Stage Collective as well as on their home stage, including (alphabetically): Brandon Burton (who stepped into New Stage’s “Take Me Out” at the 11th hour); Lauren Carter (tiny but mighty); Adrienne Clark (a knock-out for CCM and Satori Group); Nathan Elam; Adrien Elliott; Jacob Jones; Joy Lanceta; Ian Lokey; Kyle Nunn; Mikhail Roberts (loved him in “Charley’s Aunt” on campus, among his many off-campus roles were “Thrill Me” at Know and “Radiant Baby” at New Stage); and Sarah Stephens.
Musical Theatre takes the stage Thursday-Saturday with the annual “Not Famous Yet” showcase before performing on April 10 at NYC’s Westside Theater.
Applause to: Christy Altomare, Preston Truman Boyd, Kyle Brown, Julie Conuel, Alexa Green, Sarah Jay, Ashley Landroche, Alessa Neeck, Max Quinlan, Natalie Reder, Sara Sheperd, Lynette Toomey, Danny Visconti, Mitchell Walker and Christopher Williams. We knew them when.
The showcases are open to the general public except for Thursday, which is a gala fundraiser. Musical theater grad Ashley Brown, (a.k.a. Mary Poppins on Broadway) will stop by to pick up the department’s 2008 Distinguished Alumni Award. (Tickets $75, check availability by calling 513-556-5000.)
You can order free showcase tickets beginning NOON MONDAY at the CCM box office, 513-556-4183. This is traditionally a hot ticket, so don’t dawdle in making a rez.
Jackie Demaline
