Monday Matinee 03.09.15 – This Week in Cincinnati Theatre

Last week was certainly exciting.  Finally got to experience CCM’s PETER PAN after month’s of anticipation, was reminded just how much words matter, and also saw a great staged reading from Unity Productions of a play called GRACE.  And now its time to move on, because this week is even more jam-packed.

So, last week it was all about PETER PAN. And this week, I’m seeing the prequel, PETER AND THE STARCATCHER at the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park. Here’s a description from CincyPlay.com:

Encounter the Neverland you never knew in this hilarious and inventive play, winner of five Tony Awards. When the insatiably curious Molly, a starcatcher in training, meets an orphan boy longing for a home, they embark on the adventure of a lifetime. A daring sea mission, not-so-swashbuckling pirates and singing mermaids combine for a magical Peter Pan prequel that will have you hooked the moment you let your imagination take flight.

This production is different from the touring show.  Director Blake Robison has worked with some stellar design folks to bring this unique story to life.  Here’s an article by David Lyman about that process.  I’ll see the show on Thursday night.

Annie Grove and the cast of The 17th Annual Snipes, Arkansas, Harvest Festival in last year’s TRANSMIGRATION

I’ll be back to CCM on Wednesday (and Friday) to see the student produced festival, TRANSMIGRATION. This cycle of plays features students from the Drama department in original works – all for free. Last year I had a blast going from show to show and I can’t wait for this year’s event.  This is where we get to see some of the creative minds of the stars of tomorrow at work.  The show runs for three nights and admission, as I said, is free.  Call the Box Office starting today at noon at 513-556-4183.  You need to attend two nights to see all of the performances.

This week, Cincinnati Landmark Productions opens THE MARVELOUS WONDERETTES at the Covedale Theater.  “THE MARVELOUS WONDERETTES, created by Roger Bean, takes you to the 1958 Springfield High School prom where we meet the Wonderettes, four girls with hopes and dreams as big as their crinoline skirts! As we learn about their lives and loves, we are treated to the girls performing such classic ‘50s and ‘60s songs as “Lollipop,” “Dream Lover,” “Stupid Cupid,” “Lipstick on Your Collar,” “Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me,” “It’s My Party,” and over 20 other classic hits!”

The show stars Kate Mock Elliott as Cindy Lou, Grace Eichler as Suzy,
Lauren Carr as Betty Jean & Blair Godshall as Missy and is directed by Elizabeth Harris.  Choreography is by Maggie Perrino and music direction is from Steve Milloy.

Tickets and more information can be found here.

Theatre Upstart, Dare To Defy Productions, will produce THE MUSIC OF HAIR this weekend.  This show, directed by CCM Senior Dallas Padoven, features talent from Wright State, CCM, and the recognizable faces from the Dayton theatre community. Tickets and more information can be found here.

Sherman Fracher, Jennifer Johansen, Ben Palacios and Matthew Boston

I’lll be heading to Dayton Tuesday to see opening night of VONIA AND SONYA AND MASHA AND SPIKE at the Victoria Theatre.  While the Playhouse will produce this script later this season, I’m anxious to see the Tony Award winning play especially since it features some local talent including Sherman Fracher, Torie Wiggins, and Alex Sunderhaus.

“Award-winning playwright Christopher Durang has created a witty and incisive new farce for our modern hyperconnected world. In bucolic Bucks County, PA, Vanya and Sonia have frittered their lives away in their family’s farmhouse full of regret, angst and the alarmingly ambiguous prophecies of their addled housecleaner Cassandra. Enter their sister, self-absorbed movie star Masha, with her prized 20-something boy toy Spike, and the stage is set for an absurd weekend of general hilarity and global warming.”

Tickets and more information can be found here.

Also happening this week is Queen City Queer Theatre Collective’s STOP KISS tonight at Below Zero Lounge, CPI’s reading of HOUR FATHER by David Greer featuring Piper Davis, Derek Snow, and Reggie Willis among others at the Aronoff Center, and the Fringe Encore of THE LEGEND OF WHITE WOMAN CREEK at Know Theatre.

As always for all the details on area theatre, check out Rob Bucher’s BEHIND THE CURTAIN CINCINNATI.

That’s  a lot of theatre! What are you going to do to help support it this week?