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Columbus Civic Theater’s Shakespeare’s Love’s Labor Lost on Saturday, May 1, 11:30am to 2pm at 3837 Indianola, at the corner of Blenheim, between North Broadway and Cooke.
Auditions will be readings from the script, though prepared pieces are fine as well.
PERFORMANCES: July 8-24
Visit Facebook Group page or head to http://www.columbuscivic.org/
BCTCO has about 20 plywood set pieces left behind by a former tenant, some made up to look like trees, some to look like bushes, stone walls, and a fence-type gate. They are from about 3×4 to very large. Would be great for a children’s theatre or a troupe needing easily movable outdoor set pieces, or just a troupe with room to store them (you’d need around a 10×10 space or so to store them). Basically, instant set. We’ll donate them to anyone who wants them, all they have to do is bring a truck to the Harmony Artistic Center sometime when we’re there and take them away. Questions can be directed to bctco1@gmail.com or call 570-0385. We’d like them out of here asap as we need the space for other uses. Thanks.
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THE KILL ‘EM WITH KINDNESS COMEDY FESTIVAL marks the first production at MadLab’s new space at 227 North Third Street. This six week festival features a different comedy act each weekend highlighted by the opening act - THE CODY RIVERS SHOW from Washington. Each weekend will bring you anything from sketch comedy to short-form improv, from stand-up to long-form improv. It’s a little something for everyone each week.
THE CODY RIVERS SHOW - March 12-13
The Cody Rivers Show creates kinetic and unpredictable comedy theatre that has amazed audiences and defied description for the past five years.
Pushing the envelopes of physical theatre, dance, music, and high-concept comedy, The Cody Rivers Show delivers unique shows unlike any other comedy act, past or present. Their latest new piece - ‘Right Back Where We Finished’ - sprints between precocious youths, game theory, pioneer-era linguistics, ants and prairie dogs, the confessions of an unruly teen, eccentric old men, baby, jockeys, ping-pong, and oh so much more. It’s like running a marathon, doing algebra, and eating cake all at the same time.
Andrew Connor of The Cody Rivers Show, on MadLab’s new space:
“Having grown up in Columbus and gone on to do theater all over the world, it’s really awesome to be able to come back home to a thriving fringe theater scene like the one that MadLab is cultivating. For them to be buying a new space and amping up their operations in the current economy is a real testament to their success and the strength of Columbus audiences. It’s totally against the national trend of theaters and arts organizations imploding.
Columbus is one of our favorite tour stops - always fun shows - and we’re super excited to be coming back.”
FAKE BACON/SHIMMY SHAKE PROJECT - March 19-20
Fake Bacon & The Shimmy Shake Project will be teaming up to bring you the finest in short-form improv comedy. Whether putting their own spin on classic improv games or hitting you with their healthy dose of troupe originals, their high-intensity show is certain to generate laughs both long and loud.
COMEDY’SPLOSION - March 26-27
Comedy’splosion returns to MadLab! This will be the third year Columbus-based stand-up comics Justin Golak & Sumukh Torgalkar have put on the mammoth weekend of shows which celebrates stand-up comedy in Columbus. Billed as a stand-up show run by stand-up comics, for stand-up comedy fans, Comedy’splosion features established Columbus-based comics performing alongside standout up-and-comers from the Columbus comedy scene. Come out and see the best stand-up comedy that Columbus has to offer.
SEE YOU THURSDAY - April 2-3
See You Thursday is the resident troupe of Pull The String Productions, a non-profit organization developed by co-founders Bill Sabo and Sean Wheeler to promote the awareness, education and creative development of improvisational performance in Central Ohio. See You Thursday’s show format involves various non-related scenes divided by blackouts and music. The scenes can possibly be related, but generally develop independently from one another. Nothing is scripted out; everything that happens between the performers on stage is entirely spontaneous and made up on the spot. The scenes are character-driven, and with the exception of a suggestion given at the top of the show, audience participation is non-existent (with the hopeful exception of laughter, of course).
THE REGIME - April 9-10
With our newest revue, The Regime is celebrating one more comedy show for Columbus audiences. After four huge ha-ha bashes, quite frankly, we’re wondering why we don’t have our own t.v. show yet. Where’s the love, Hollywood? (And by love, we mean cash.) “Can’t Somebody Else Do It?” is the second most-asked question by Americans. It’s a thought that’s crossed everyone’s mind at some point, from Jesus to John McCain. It’s also the title of our fifth show, natch. You’re going to love this show so much you’re going to want to make love to it in the backseat of your automobile. And that’s cool. You have our blessing.
FULL FRONTAL NUDITY’s WHEEL OF IMPROV - April 15-17
For the last four years, FFN has brought you Columbus’ only true long-form style of improv, creating full thirty to sixty minute plays right before your eyes. This time, you will decide which format of old they will resurrect before your very eyes as they will be at the whim of the deadly….Wheel of Improv!!
With a spin of the wheel by one of the audience members, the troupe will have to jump into and maybe out of one of these longform shows:
FFN’s Sketch You Can Believe In
FFN in Reverse
What’s On Your Mind Now?
Dramatic Turn
Looking for Love
FFN in Spaaaace!!!
What’s On Your Mind?
The Love Jungle
CSI: Columbus
Do they dare?
To order tickets for the events listed, visit the website here.
All performances at: MadLab Theatre and Gallery, 227 N. Third St, Columbus, OH 43215, www.madlab.net Call 614.221.5418 for more information. Tickets cost $10, $8 Students/Seniors, $6 Members.
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Theatre Vault reviewers and writers offer their thoughts on the best theatre they saw in 2009. Congratulations to all!
Best production:
1. Columbus Civic Theater’s A Doll’s House. Nearly every Theatre Vault reviewer mentioned this production in their top five lists. “Solid production… one of the best dramatic pieces I saw this year.” (Krista Threadgill) “CCT definitely tackled this dramatic juggernaut successfully with great and committed actors” (Tahrea Maynard) “The cast, especially Britt Kline, made this classic come alive, despite the long run time and the cramped MadLab setting.” (Danielle Filas)
2. Into the Woods at Weathervane Playhouse. “I watched this play on PBS nearly 20 years ago and was blown away. Weathervane’s production kept that magic alive for me.” (Krista Threadgill) “Professional performances, and an overall wonderful show.” (Tahrea Maynard)
3. Church at Available Light Theatre. “Dramatic, funny, thought-provoking. This was a play that still comes back to me 6 months after seeing it.” (Krista Threadgill) “The inventive company scored another hit with this incredibly though-provoking show. Thank you for not being afraid to be controversial!” (Danielle Filas)
Best season:
1. Emerald City Players. Reviewers recognized nearly every production by this small community theatre tucked away in a strip mall in Dublin had to offer.
Two reviewers put Doubt in their top five shows of the year. “A gutsy move to produce the play on the heels of an incredibly successful movie release, but they handled it beautifully.” (Krista Threadgill) “Kudos to this quality community theatre for taking risks with their season. This show, above all others, showcased what talent, ambition, and imagination can do some bigger theatres with bigger budgets fail to do.” (Danielle Filas)
Robert Weesner also tagged the ensemble for the company’s production of Jekyll & Hyde. “There were some excellent individual performances, but the ensemble work was ultimately what carried the show. Good group, talented, well directed. As a result, this was definitely the best show I saw.” Weesner also gave a nod to ECP’s Tina Gleason for her direction of On Golden Pond. “Tina is a talented and constantly dependable director…. Some day she will receive a lifetime achievement award for a solid body of work, so let’s give it to her now, while she’s still young enough to profit by it.”
2. Curtain Players. Run for Your Wife got recommended by Krista Threadgill for its “raucous British farce, spot-on accent reproduction, and laughter that carried me through my drive home.” In addition to the company’s wacky rendition of Charley’s Aunt, it ended the year with A Little House Christmas, which featured one of Robert Weesner’s favorite actors of the year. “Cherish Myers in Curtain Players production of A Little House Christmas. To me, this energetic 9-year-old carried the bulk of the show, reminding me of the very best of the “Annies” I’ve seen thru the years.” Weesner also mentioned Rich Bloom from the same production, “Rich is a fine actor, not always getting roles that demonstrate his talent. In Little House Christmas he was in a supporting role that was nothing less than enchanting.”
3. Bread and Circus Theatre Company. Reviewers enjoyed the “dark re-imagining” of Macbeth set in the deep south, the hilarious scripts for Funny Money and Right Ho Jeeves, the elaborate sets, and Robert Weesner said of Major Barbara’s Aerika Brofford, “Ol’ George B might have written the role with her in mind.”
Honorable Mentions:
The Weir with Solstice Theatre Company. A new company, Solstice hit the ground running with strong actors, spot on Irish brogues, gracious staff members, and a dark and creepy story perfect for Halloween.
Raconteur Theatre Company. RTC took the risk of delivering a season of new works, including a weekly series of free script readings that allowed the attendees to give feedback on the new works. Kudos for taking bringing Columbus emerging playwrights!
Joe Dallacqua received recognition from multiple reviewers for his roles in Doubt and in The Weir.
Emerald City Players for the best lobby and best concession stand.
Bread and Circus Theatre Company for the best restrooms. (What?! It’s important!)
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We can hardly wait to see what the Columbus theatre community has in store for us next year…
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Theatre Roundtable hosts its annual Awards Night on Sunday, January 31 at 6:00pm at the Roth/Resler Theater at the Columbus Jewish Community Center, 1125 College Ave. Columbus 43209. Theatre Roundtable invites local theatre goers to express their opinions about the best of the best. Visit the Awards and Responder sections of the website to register. Fill out a Responder form for the productions and artists you saw that you feel deserve recognition.
For five years, the Central Ohio Theatre Roundtable has celebrated local productions with its Annual Awards Night. This year will feature a special difference - the theatres being considered the honor of Excellence in Production will be announced in early January. Now, everyone will know which of their favorite shows may be honored. The Theatre Roundtable Awards also feature the Central Ohio Theatre Critics’ Citations.
Actors’ Equity Association (AEA), a major labor union that represents professional actors and stage managers, voted overwhelmingly to ratify a new three-year League of Resident Theatres (LORT) contract. The new contract maintains salaries at current levels for two years, a change from a one year extension of the earlier 2008-9 contract that would have shown significant increases in salaries, health rates and per diems. Executive Director John P. Connolly attributes these changes to “greatly diminished corporate and foundation support and reduced government funding.” The new contract does implement a 2% salary increase in the third year. Other changes to the previous contract include adding more flexibility to the use of promotional clips in new media and a clause ensuring that members receive recognition for participation in such pieces. A related media payment provides, for the first time, employer contributions toward member 401(K) plans, as well.
For more information, see this article from the AEA website.
Yesterday, President of the Curtain Players, James F. Petsche, announced the cancellation of the final weekend of The 2009 Curtain Players Playwrights Festival. The Friday July 24 and Saturday July 25 presentations have been cancelled will not be rescheduled.
In a message posted to members of the company’s website and on its Facebook page, Petsche explains, “We are sorry for the disappointment and inconvenience. Faced with a situation beyond our control, Curtain Players leadership could not proceed with production and had to make this difficult decision, the second cancellation regarding this year’s festival.”
The same message goes on to announce a special reading of “Peaches en Regalia,” which will include a talkback discussion with California playwright, Steve Lyons. The reading has been scheduled for Sunday, August 2. Curtain Players also plant to announce our 2009-2010 lineup of plays at that same reading.
The August 2 event will begin at 7 PM in our Harlem Road playhouse. There is no admission charge and includes refreshments, announcements about the upcoming season, and a discussion about ways to become engaged with Curtain Players as it begins its 47th season of community theater. For more information about the August 2 event, please click the corresponding entry on Theatre Vault’s Columbus Theatre Calendar.
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