CCM Announces Sesquicentennial Studio Series of Acting, Dance, Musical Theatre and Opera Performances

The

University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music

(CCM) presents nine eclectic and electrifying productions as part of its

150th Anniversary Studio Series of Acting, Dance, Musical Theatre and Opera

. This annual series of performing and media arts events features CCM's acclaimed "stars of tomorrow" in a collection of scaled-down stagings set in the Cohen Family Studio Theater and other intimate performance spaces.

The 2017-18 series opens in October with the musical revue

Sondheim on Sondheim

, which showcases the songs of legendary musical theatre composer/lyricist Stephen Sondheim. In November, CCM proudly presents

The Earth is Flat

, a touching coming-of-age story written by CCM alumnus

Todd Almond

(BM, 1999) and set in UC's Calhoun Hall. November also sees the return of the

48-Hour Film Festival

, which showcases 10 student-created short films produced over the course of a single weekend.

The series continues in early 2018 with productions of the operas

Trouble in Tahiti

,

The

Telephone

,

Tale for a Deaf Ear

and

Ariodante

. CCM's popular

Dance Student Choreographers' Showcase

and

TRANSMIGRATION Festival of Student-Created New Works

both return in March. The 150th Anniversary Studio Series concludes in Spring 2018 with the unconventional and moving musical drama

The Theory of Relativity

and the debut of an original 60-minute play created by CCM Acting for the 71st

Edinburgh Fringe Festival

.

The Studio Series is just one part of the yearlong

CCM Sesquicentennial Celebration

, which includes world premieres, guest artist performances, a series of off-campus concerts and a one-of-a-kind alumni showcase event. For an initial overview of CCM’s 150th anniversary programming, please visit

ccm.uc.edu/about/villagenews/notations-ovations/sesquicentennial-celebration

.

The complete 2017-18 Studio Series lineup is listed below. Titles and dates are subject to change.

Tickets and Parking Information

All Studio Series performances are free and open to the general public, but reservations are required and seating is limited. Reservations can be made the week of each show by visiting the CCM Box Office in UC’s Corbett Center for the Performing Arts or by calling 513-556-4183.

Unless otherwise noted, all Studio Series productions take place in CCM’s intimate and versatile “black box” performance space, the Cohen Family Studio Theater.

Parking is available in the CCM Garage (located at the base of Corry Boulevard off Jefferson Avenue) and additional garages throughout the UC campus. Please visit

uc.edu/parking

for more information on parking rates. For directions to CCM Village, visit

ccm.uc.edu/about/directions

.

____________________

CCM's 150TH ANNIVERSARY STUDIO SERIES
Acting, Dance, Musical Theatre, Opera

8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 5

8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 6

2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 7

• Studio Musical Theatre Series •

SONDHEIM ON SONDHEIM
Music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
Conceived and originally directed by James Lapine
Aubrey Berg, director
Stephen Goers, music director
Katie Johannigman, choreographer

A "revelatory revue full of wonderful moments,"

Sondheim on Sondheim

is an intimate portrait of the famed songwriter in his own words... and music. Ranging from the beloved to the obscure, the songs are interspersed with in-depth video interviews, delving into Sondheim’s personal life and artistic process. Far from the typical song cycle,

Sondheim on Sondheim

has massive theatrical potency, as well as inarguable staying power. A “funny, affectionate and revealing tribute to musical theater’s greatest living composer and lyricist” and a wonderful showcase for CCM’s Musical Theatre stars of tomorrow.

Location:

Cohen Family Studio Theater

Admission:

Admission is free. Reservations are required. Tickets become available at noon on Monday, Oct. 2. Please visit the CCM Box Office or call 513-556-4183 to reserve. Limit two tickets per order.

____

8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 2

8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 3

2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 4

• Studio Acting Series •

THE EARTH IS FLAT
Written by Todd Almond
Richard E. Hess, director

The CCM Sesquicentennial celebrates the work of accomplished alumnus Todd Almond! A love letter to the University of Cincinnati written by Almond,

The Earth is Flat

explores the universal awkwardness of the American college experience. The search for identity by those least prepared with answers resonates with unexpected comedy in this new play commissioned by CCM Acting as part of the Cincinnati Playwrights Conference in 2016. A coming-of-age story set in Calhoun Hall,

The Earth is Flat

follows purple-haired Ethan as he takes his first tentative steps toward self-knowledge.

Location:

Cohen Family Studio Theater

Admission:

Admission is free. Reservations are required. Tickets become available at noon on Monday, Oct. 30. Please visit the CCM Box Office or call 513-556-4183 to reserve. Limit two tickets per order.

Acting Studio Series Sponsor: Neil Artman and Margaret Straub

____

7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 19

• Studio Acting/Digital Media Collaborative/E-Media Series •

FOURTH ANNUAL 48-HOUR FILM FESTIVAL
Richard E. Hess and John Owens, producers

Join us for our annual celebration of original film work by students. After random team placement, student authors, actors, directors, editors, and composers have 48 hours from 7 p.m. on Friday night to 7 p.m. on Sunday night to create finished original short films. All UC students are invited to participate.

Location:

MainStreet Cinema, Tangeman University Center

Admission:

Admission is free. Reservations are not required, but space may be limited.

____

8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 2

8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 3

2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 4

• CCM at 150 Celebrates Bernstein at 100/Opera d’arte Series •

TROUBLE IN TAHITI + THE TELEPHONE + TALE FOR A DEAF EAR
Music and libretto by Leonard Bernstein/Music and words by Gian Carlo Menotti/Music and lyrics by Mark Bucci

Brett Scott, conductor
Amy Johnson, director and co-producer
Kenneth Shaw, co-producer
Gabriela Sam, assistant director

The CCM Opera d’arte Series of undergraduate productions proudly presents a triple bill of one-act American operas! Featured works include Leonard Bernstein’s

Trouble in Tahiti

, a one-act opera that candidly portrays the troubled marriage of a young suburban couple. Written between Bernstein’s biggest Broadway successes,

Trouble in Tahiti

draws upon popular song styles to deliver an uncompromising critique of Mid-century American marriage. The triple bill also includes Gian Carlo Menotti’s bit of froth,

The Telephone

, and Mark Bucci's rarely produced, but haunting

Tale for a Deaf Ear.

Taken together, Opera d’arte's triple bill offers three vastly contrasting views into the extremes of human relationships.

Location:

Cohen Family Studio Theater

Admission:

Admission is free. Reservations are required. Tickets become available at noon on Monday, Jan. 29. Please visit the CCM Box Office or call 513-556-4183 to reserve. Limit

two tickets per order.

____

8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 16

8 p.m. Saturday, Feb 17

2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 18

• Studio Opera Series •

ARIODANTE
Music by George Frideric Handel
Libretto based on a work by Antonio Salvi
Aik Khai Pung, conductor
Robin Guarino, director

Hailed as one of Handel’s finest operas,

Ariodante

presents a tale of royal intrigue and betrayal set in the remote Scottish Highlands. The daughter of the King of Scotland is happily engaged to Prince Ariodante, but the scheming Duke Polinesso plots to take the princess’ hand in marriage and seize the throne for himself. Intrigue ensues in this celebrated

opera seria

, but true love wins the day!

Location:

Cohen Family Studio Theater

Admission:

Admission is free. Reservations are required. Tickets become available at noon on Monday, Feb. 12. Please visit the CCM Box Office or call 513-556-4183 to reserve. Limit two tickets per order.

Opera Department Sponsor: Mr. and Mrs. Edward S. Rosenthal
Opera Production Sponsor: Genevieve Smith

____

8 p.m. Thursday, March 1

8 p.m. Friday, March 2

2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, March 3

• Studio Dance Series •

DANCE STUDENT CHOREOGRAPHERS SHOWCASE
André Megerdichian, director

Come experience the next generation of emerging choreographers as CCM dance majors take the stage with exciting and diverse new works.

Location:

Cohen Family Studio Theater

Admission:

Admission is free. Reservations are required. Tickets become available at noon on Monday, Feb. 26. Please visit the CCM Box Office or call 513-556-4183 to reserve. Limit two tickets per order.

____

7 p.m. Wednesday, March 7

7 p.m. Thursday, March 8

7 p.m. Friday, March 9

• Studio Acting Series •

TRANSMIGRATION 2018
A Festival of Student-Created New Works
Richard E. Hess and Brant Russell, producers

TRANSMIGRATION, so named for “the movement from one place to another” or “the transition from one state of being to another,” is a festival of new works created by the students in CCM Acting. Six teams of actors craft and perform six original 30-minute shows. Performed simultaneously in different locations throughout CCM Village, this 10th Anniversary Edition of TRANSMIGRATION will allow the audience to sample four different new works of their choosing in one spectacular evening. “Thanks to the [Acting] program at UC’s College-Conservatory of Music, theatre fans were offer a jolt of onstage vitality,” observed

CityBeat

’s Rick Pender.

Location:

CCM Village

Admission:

Admission is free, but reservations are required. Tickets become available at noon on Monday, March 5. Visit the CCM Box Office or call 513-556-4183 to reserve. Limit two tickets per order.

Acting Studio Series Sponsor: Neil Artman and Margaret Straub

____

8 p.m. Thursday, March 29

8 p.m. Friday, March 30

2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, March 31

• Studio Musical Theatre Series •

THE THEORY OF RELATIVITY
Music and lyrics by Neil Bartram
Book by Brian Hill
Katie Johannigman, director and choreographer
Stephen Goers, musical director

From Drama Desk Award nominees Neil Bartram and Brian Hill (

The Story of My Life

),

The

Theory of Relativity

is a joyous and moving look at our surprisingly interconnected lives. Whether you’re allergic to cats, in love for the first or tenth time, a child of divorce, a germophobe or simply a unique individual, audience members and actors alike are sure to find themselves in this fresh new musical. Created using the real-life experiences and struggles of Millennials,

The Theory of Relativity

introduces a compelling array of characters experiencing the joys and heartbreaks, liaisons and losses, the inevitability and the wonder of human connection.

Location:

Cohen Family Studio Theater

Admission:

Admission is free, but reservations are required. Tickets become available at noon on Monday, March 26. Visit the CCM Box Office or call 513-556-4183 to reserve. Limit two tickets per order.

____

8 p.m. Thursday, April 19

8 p.m. Friday, April 20

2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, April 21

• Studio Acting Series •

EDINBURGH FRINGE FESTIVAL PROJECT
Susan Felder and Richard E. Hess, directors

Every year thousands of performers take to hundreds of stages all over Edinburgh, Scotland for the largest arts festival in the world. For the first time, CCM Acting will present an original 60-minute piece in August of 2018 in the 71st Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Join us at CCM in April as we present our original creation for Cincinnati audiences.

Location:

Cohen Family Studio Theater

Admission:

Admission is free, but reservations are required. Tickets become available at noon on Monday, April 16. Visit the CCM Box Office or call 513-556-4183 to reserve. Limit two tickets per order.

Acting Studio Series Sponsor: Neil Artman and Margaret Straub

____________________

CCM Season Presenting Sponsor: The Otto M. Budig Family Foundation

____________________

A preeminent institution for the performing and media arts, CCM is the largest single source of performing arts presentations in the state of Ohio.

All event dates and programs are subject to change. For a complete calendar of events, please visit us online at

ccm.uc.edu

.

This is our story. This is your season. Join us for a celebration 150 years in the making...