Ovation Shares its ‘Diary’ With Cincinnati Audiences
by Jon Vater
In April of 2003, Ovation audiences will enter into the brief, but profoundly moving life of a legendary young lady. Opening April 4th, The Diary of Anne Frank presents the story of a teenage Jewish girl who, along with her family and some of their friends, lived in hiding for nearly two years in Nazi-occupied Holland during WWII. The story takes place from the day the group enters their annex hideaway until the day they leave it. The potentially bleak material is countered by the innate humanity of the characters and all the aspects of life, the good and the bad, which they experience together while confined to the space. This true story was transformed into a Pulitzer Prize-winning play by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett in 1955. Ovation will be presenting the 1997 revised version by Wendy Kesselman. This treatment of the material includes some of Anne's thoughts and experiences which were not printed in the diary's original publication. It also streamlines the story somewhat, stays truer to the real people involved and enhances their cultural aspects a bit more than the original play did. The nearly two year experience, while confined and, at times, terrifying, nonetheless brought about a beautiful awakening in Anne which is enhanced by voice-overs culled from the diary during the performance. There are also many moments of warmth and humor throughout the play. A regional premiere, this is the first chance Cincinnati audiences will get to experience this engrossing story. Ovation has also scheduled five school day matinees so that high school students may see this very special person's story.
‘Anne Frank’ Director Hopes to Enlighten and Entertain
by Jon Vater
Though the effects of the Holocaust are massive and shattering, it is a more intimate viewpoint that The Diary of Anne Frank director Patrick Downey hopes to capture in Ovation's upcoming production. "Putting a 'real face' on any mass tragedy is the key to driving home the sheer magnitude of the devastation", he explains. "Whether it's the Holocaust, the killing fields of Cambodia, the persecution of the Kurds or the atrocities in Serbia, we who are further removed from the situation shake our heads and feel dismayed at the numbers, but our minds have trouble coping with the idea that each one amongst the millions is SOMEBODY, a neighbor, a girlfriend, an aunt or sister or mother". He believes that stories like this one display the faces behind the numbers and hopes that they inspire people to act against allowing these events to take place. His wish is for audiences, all people in fact, to "do something...anything, no matter how small to help fight ignorance and prejudice." Downey feels that this version of the diary best represents the real Anne. When asked how to keep an audience member who fears a potentially depressing evening from avoiding the show, he responds, "The play is more about the people who lived through a tragic situation rather than the situation itself. Anne and her family's bravery isn't depressing at all. It's inspirational." He feels that the more 'real' Anne becomes, the more inspirational she becomes, as compared to some previous works which idealized or "sugar coated" her innate spunkiness and opinions. Downey is striving to keep the drama intimate and involving while getting the larger themes of oppression and bigotry across. He states, "Prejudice is, at it's root, ignorance. Knowledge is the principal weapon against it. A little education can go a long way in making this world a better and easier place to live".
OTC Event Offered Various Attractions
by Jon Vater
Ovation's second Saturday Symposium for actors was a great success. Actor-Attendees found the 50-90 minute long seminars engaging, entertaining, and (most of all) educational! Seminars ranged from Fight Combat (with Gina Cerimele-Mechley) and Movement/Puppetry (with Aretta Baumgarter) to Musical Auditions (with local actor, Jim Stump) and Lighting Techniques (with lighting designer, Dave Schmidt, MFA). Two PhD's threw in their two cents as well - Rick Pender (CityBeat Arts Editor) discussed Theatre Arts and the Media and Blake Bowden (Clinical Psychologist) presented a workshop on Actor Anxiety. Local professional photographer, Rich Sofranko, also provided his expertise and skill for attendees wanting headshots. Kudos to all - and keep an eye out for the next Saturday Symposium - coming soon to a theatre near you!
OTC’s First Musical Play Drew Large Audiences
by Jon Vater
Triumph of Love, Ovation's most recent production lived up to its name as four of the six performances sold out completely and audiences left the theater delighted with what they had just seen. The relatively obscure musical play scored with audiences in the mood for laughs and light romance just prior to Valentine's Day. Local critics also found things to love about the show. CityBeat reviewer Paul Kreft wrote, "Director Dennis Murphy blends his concoction well, treating this sometimes bawdy material with a sly sense of humor." He also singled out the show's lighting (by OTC veteran Eric Bardes) as "the finest lighting design to grace a Cincinnati stage in a long time." Both Kreft and The Cincinnati Enquirer’s Joe McDonough singled out lead actress Shannon Kramer for special praise. McDonough stated, "Ms. Kramer is amusingly spunky, but also sincere as Leonide. She knocks out her two big songs - "Anything" and "What Have I Done?..." Kreft went even further saying, "Kramer... turns in the complete performance one expects from a professional actor...Her crystalline voice and physical grace are a pleasure to behold." The raised topiary set and colorful costumes were also cited. Kreft noted that, "...the ensemble provides a completely satisfying evening..." which was reinforced by the terrific turnout of Ovation audiences. We thank you, once again, for your support of theater in Cincinnati.
OTC Talent Assisted With Recent Theater Fund-raiser
by Jon Vater
On Sunday, February 9th, The Cincinnati Enquirer theater columnist Jackie Demaline organized a two-show evening at Carol's on Main, which was to raise funds for cross- promotion of the downtown theaters. Ovation Artistic Director Joe Stollenwerk sang several of his "signature" tunes, along with the likes of Tony nominee Pam Myers, Broadway actor Mark Hardy, and local performers Spring Pillow, David Kisor, Dianna Davis, Marcie Brooks, Blythe Walker, and others including students from Northern Kentucky University and Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. Stollenwerk and Jim Stump also led the entire crowd in several sing-a-longs. Stollenwerk and a few others were accompanied at the piano by Mark Femia, who recently vocal directed Ovation's Triumph of Love.