Monthly Matinee – October 2015
PIPPIN at the Aronoff Center
I’m definitely behind this month one but I wanted to spotlight some of the great shows opening in October in the Greater Cincinnati area.
First, PIPPIN opens this week and runs Tuesday – Sunday at the Aronoff Center. This international tour is the revamped version of the Broadway show and its getting great reviews. Recent CCM graduate, Kate Wesler (she’ll always be Katie to me) is a swing – and she told me that she will be swinging in on Tuesday (when I see it) and Saturday’s matinee. You can get tickets and more info here.
Wednesdays marks the opening night of BUYER AND CELLAR at Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati. (There’ll be a pay-what-you-can preview on Monday). This frenetic comedy features local-born actor Nick Cearly. Read David Lyman’s feature about him here. Here’s a synopsis:
What’s a renowned diva to do with decades of memories? And where to put the acres of memorabilia bursting the seams of her lavish Malibu estate? If you’re Barbra Streisand, you enshrine them in a mini-mall in your basement where you can pretend to go shopping! Out-of-work actor Alex More can’t pass up an offer to play shopkeeper for one tough customer who doesn’t let anyone rain on her parade. Soon it begins to take a toll on his patience, his love life, and his view of people (who need people).
The show runs through November 1st. Tickets and more info can be found here. I’ll be there for opening night.
Also opening Wednesday is The Clifton Player’s newest, THE NORWEGIANS. Directed by Cathy Springfield, this dark comedy features regulars Michael Bath and Carol Brammer along with newcomers to the space Miranda McGee and Sean Dillon. I plan to see it on Thursday. Here’s a link to the FaceBook event page.
Friday night marks the opening of perhaps Cincinnati Shakespeare Company’s most anticipated shows in some time. DEATH OF A SALESMAN featuring Bruce Cromer should be a terrific production of this American classic. Tickets and more can be found here. It runs through November 7th; I expect it will be a hot seller.
Mad River Rising at the Playhouse in the Park
Also coming later in October:
- THE WINTERS TALE at Northern Kentucky University opens 10/20.
- MAD RIVER RISING at the Playhouse in the Park opening October 22nd. I’m looking forward to this one.
- My favorite comedy, THE 25th ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE at Xavier University also opens on 10/22.
- CAROUSEL at the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music will open on 10/29. This show will be visually stunning and director/choreographer Diane Lala never disappoints. I cannot wait. Click here for more information.
- Wright State University will present CHICAGO opening on 10/29, as well. Tickets can be acquired here beginning tomorrow morning at 10am.
- Don’t forget about these exciting productions that are currently playing:
- THE HUNCHBACK OF SEVILLE at Know Theatre, a joint production with UC-CCM’s drama department running through 10/24
- EXTREMITIES, which I’ve heard good things about, is at the Warsaw Federal Incline Theatre runs through 10/18.
- SEX WITH STRANGERS is at the Playhouse in the Park run through 10/25.
As always, your best and most comprehensive source for all things theatre in this area is Rob Bucher’s BEHIND THE CURTAIN CINCINNATI.
So . . . with all these great choices, what are you going to see this month?