Cincinnati’s Own - Ovation Theatre
Company Proudly Announces its 9th Season at the Aronoff Center for
the Arts in Downtown Cincinnati
2006-2007 Season
offers four shows, three regional premieres, two productions in the
Aronoff’s larger Jarson-Kaplan Theatre and one new Artistic
Director to lead the way
(Downtown Cincinnati) - Cincinnati’s Own... Ovation Theatre Company is still the place in Downtown Cincinnati where audiences come to celebrate the city’s local actors and directors. Ovation is proud to continue this tradition with the announcement of its ninth and most ambitious season yet. Ovation is proud to perform its ninth season at the Aronoff Center for the Arts and will move two productions into the larger Jarson Kaplan Theatre with two additional productions inside the black box Fifth Third Theater.
“Ovation Theatre Company’s ninth season is an ambitious and exciting one,” says brand new Artistic Director Alana Ghent. “What a milestone for a company that nine years ago no one thought would make it! We’re proud to be entering our ninth season in Downtown Cincinnati still here with a passion stronger than ever to put on a variety of shows for the diverse Cincinnati theatre audiences that have come to love watching the local professional actors on our stages.”
The season includes the regional premiere of “Valhalla” by Paul Rudnick, the writer who brought us “Jeffrey” and the movie “In & Out”. In the holiday slot this season, Ovation is proud to present William Gibson’s “The Miracle Worker”. The season continues in March with the regional premiere of “Tuesdays With Morrie” by Jeffrey Hatcher and Mitch Albom in the Jarson-Kaplan Theater.
“We fought for those ‘Morrie’ rights, we really did,” says Alana Ghent. “I drove to Mitch Albom’s office in Detroit and Jeffrey Hatcher’s agent in New York City now knows me by name.” I just fell in love with the story and knew we needed to do it. ‘Morrie’ has had very few productions nationally, and Ovation is honored to share this inspirational story with Cincinnati.”
“Our whole season,” Ghent continues, “is about finding joy. The joy of love, education, friendship and theater. At Ovation we don’t tell audiences how to think, we just ask that they do. With season nine at Ovation upon us we’re all finding new ways to make and love theatre. So will our audience.”
Valhalla
October 13-21, 2006
The Aronoff Center Fifth Third Bank Theatre will erupt with laughter in October as Ovation brings another Paul Rudnick comedy to Cincinnati. “Valhalla” is the true story of Bavaria’s Mad King Ludwig told simultaneously with a story about a gay Texas teenager about to be shipped off to World War II where he and a best friend/fellow soldier fall in love. In a beautiful and hilarious search for beauty told in a way only Rudnick could pull off, the two men’s stories intersect leaving the possibility that these two social misfits are really time-traveling soul mates. Paul Rudnick’s “Jeffrey” was a big hit for Ovation not long ago and three of that production's stars are back for “Valhalla”. Michael Monks (Jeffrey) will play King Ludwig and Cincinnati Entertainment Award winner Christine Dye will play Queen Marie while Jason Burgess fills the role of Henry Lee. Blake Ghering (The Water Children), Amy Harpring (As Bees in Honey Drown) and Don Volpenhein (director The Best Christmas Pageant Ever 2004) round out the cast.
“Valhalla is the pursuit of a single-minded dream, exactly the type of show our audience wants,” says Alana Ghent. “It’s moving, it’s so brilliantly funny, and fast-paced - it’s going to be a great night at the theatre.”
The Miracle Worker
December 1 - 9
Ovation’s holiday offering this season is one for every family. Helen Keller’s true and inspirational story comes to life this winter marking Alana Ghent’s directorial debut at Ovation. William Gibson’s classic theatrical masterpiece about a blind, deaf, and mute child taught to communicate by a half-blind Yankee girl is perfect for families at the holiday season.
“The Miracle Worker is a feel-good story about overcoming life’s obstacles to live with passion and richness,” says Ghent.”‘The Best Christmas Pageant Ever’ had a terrific three-season run here at Ovation. This year we want to reach out to the broader community with a story full of inspiration and courage - that’s why we chose to do “The Miracle Worker”.
Tuesdays With Morrie
March 16 - 24
It was first a best-selling memoir and then an Emmy-winning movie that gripped a nation. Now this true story comes to the Cincinnati stage courtesy of Ovation Theatre Company. A talented sports writer reconnects with his old mentor, college professor Morrie Schwartz, and is offered the rare chance to tell this man from his past what an impact Morrie had on him. Chronicling their rekindled friendship through humor and tragic circumstances, “Tuesdays With Morrie” will fill the Jarson Kaplan with laughter and tears this spring.
“We’re so deeply honored to be trusted with this important work of our time,” says Alana Ghent. “It says a lot about our company that Jeffrey Hatcher and Mitch Albom will let us do this.”
