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10.06.05
Shake You Up!
by Sarah Tsai, iRhine
"Cut the crap Hamlet!" Ophelia screeched. "My biological clock is ticking. I want a baby now!" Call it Classic!? Call it Wacky!? Is it not just way too "cool" for a hot summer day!? The Cincinnati Shakespeare Festival ended last season with a presentation of The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) - an irreverent, fast-paced romp though the Bard's plays, praised by the Los Angeles Times as "wildly funny." London's longest-running comedy, it breezes through 37 plays in 97 minutes, including Othello in rap; Titus Andronicus as a cooking show; all the historical plays as football commentary; and Hamlet performed frontwards, backwards and sideways!
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Thematic Drama
Located in downtown Cincinnati, The Cincinnati Shakespeare Festival (CSF) is the only theater in the Mid-West region that zeros in on Classical plays. The theater timely presents timeless themes. After investigating "Love and War" last season, the CSF ushers us into its twelfth season, titled "Empire," starting with Thornton Wilder's Our Town. Here is a quote from this Pulitzer Prize winning play, written in 1938:
"Wherever you come near the human race, there's layers and layers of nonsense.... Over there are some Civil War veterans. Iron flags on their graves... New Hampshire boys...had a notion that the Union ought to be kept together, though they'd never seen more than fifty miles of it themselves. All they knew was the name, friends-the United States of America. The United States of America. And they went and died about it."
Define Classic? I ask the Artistic Director Brian Isaac Philips. "By classic we mean plays written over 20 years ago that have not only changed the face of the theater as we know it, but also bear relevance to the world we live in today".
Why are we here? How are communities developed? Do people determine their destiny and create the structure and content of the society they live in, or are they molded by the context in which they live? We are invited to intimately follow the rise and fall of the greatest civilizations as well as the inner workings of individual human beings. Going to the theater is thought-provoking: watching the characters go through life and its challenges. Their joy and pain tugs on our emotional awareness. We take away from the theater far more than what we came in with, taking a closer look at humanity- where we come from and how it all began.
The History of Cincinnati Shakespeare Festival
From humble beginnings - college students who put together classical plays by pulling wardrobes out of their own closets and rehearsing during their after-work hours, the Cincinnati Shakespeare Festival has grown to include its own independent performance space, 3 rooms full of eclectic costumes, a devoted production crew and talented actors.
The company was originally incorporated under the name Fahrenheit Theater Company with the mission to produce Shakespeare and the classics for modern audiences. Beginning with a small grant in 1993, it produced five plays in its first season (the first show was Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew). In 1997, the company changed its name to Cincinnati Shakespeare Festival. The meaning behind the name is that classics are fun and exciting. Revamping Shakespeare's plays and classics has given CSF distinct character unlike other regional Shakespeare theaters in the region.
After several moves, from Gabriel's Corner (currently occupied by the Know Theater Tribe) to the Aronoff Center, the crew finally settled into its current location on Race Street with the support from the City of Cincinnati and the Fine Arts Fund. The performance space, a former movie theater, contains a small thrust-stage theater with 185 seats (including 45 seats on the stage).
In 2001, seven founding members became full-time staff, forming the first resident acting ensemble at the CSF. In the following year the "Young Company Program" was launched, providing early-career classical actors/interns a full year of training with resident actors. The company takes much pride in taking care of their actors and interns, providing housing and stipend, which allows them to focus on their craft. The actors learn to trust each other, and take big chances on stage. The Cincinnati Shakespeare Festival is a part of the Actor's Equity Association (AEA) upholding artistic standards and fair treatment of the actors and stage managers under its employment. Many of the former CSF actors now work with prestigious regional theaters throughout the country.
"A theater in itself is an epic tale of triumph and tragedy," said the Artistic Director who is also one of the founding members of the Fahrenheit Theater Company. "Sometimes we put on a brilliant show and there isn't enough audience. Sometimes the production is amazing in the theater but we have plumbing problems backstage. Every night is a brand new experience."
While the company is financially supported by loyal audiences, donors and sponsors, local businesses and organizations can help them out by leaving CSF bookmarks at the checkout counter or hanging a CSF poster in the store window. Even more importantly, the performances would not be possible without the dedicated volunteers who serve as ushers and office assistants.
Bring The Classics to Schools
The mission of CSF is to bring Shakespeare and Classics to life for audiences of all ages. The company offers Shakespeare Summer Camp, a theater experience that includes the art of acting and text analysis. Working with professional CSF actors, students rehearse and perform their own production of a Shakespearean play, perform scenes from Shakespeare's comedies, and learn the skills needed to become excellent actors and confident individuals.
To give back to the community, the company also provides education programs for schools within a two-hour radius from Over-the-Rhine, to bring Shakespeare and classic stage drama into classrooms. Troops of five actors each are sent to schools to perform and interact with students, working with teachers to design performances that tailor to the existing curriculum. The theater also provides Weekday Matinees for groups of students. In terms of getting funding for these education programs, "the challenge is that the majority of the grants are usually offered younger children and not for high school students", said Education Director Jeff Groh.
Depth, Meaning, Beauty
Most people I know that have learned to love the CSF came to the realization at some point that "A Shakespearean Play" and "The Classics" seen and felt on stage with the CSF was completely different than what they were forced to endure in high school English classes. The CSF has made classical plays meaningful especially to those who have expanded on their life experiences, and who understand the power, struggle, and beauty we find in our everyday lives.
Witty comedies, epic drama and heartwarming classics - the CSF has it all. Give up reality television, get yourself a seat in the theater and let Cincinnati Shakespeare Festival "shake you up!"
iRhine articles are reproduced specifically for Queen City Forum Magazine with the expressed consent of iRhine.
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Sarah Tsai is a Project Manager for Proxi Market Solutions, a consultancy firm that specializes in developing marketing strategies that leverage information technology for business applications. To make Cincinnati a better place to live, work and play, she volunteers with CincyUpdate (event calendar/weekly newsletter) and iRhine. She is a freelance writer, actor and model (visit sarahtsai.com). Contact: sarah@iRhine.com
Photograph by Rich Sofranko. RichSofranko.com
About Cincinnati Shakespeare Festival
The Cincinnati Shakespeare Festival is a resident ensemble theatre bringing Shakespeare and the Classics to life for audiences of all ages.
Classic.Company.Cool
719 Race Street
Cincinnati, OH 45202
513-381-BARD
cincyshakes.com
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About iRhine
iRhine is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that develops the focus of communication for the many diversified offerings in the historic Cincinnati neighborhood of Over-the-Rhine (OTR). Through the Web site, e-mails, educational meetings, events, and volunteering, iRhine has supported and encouraged socio-economic development for OTR and the Greater Cincinnati Region since 2000.
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Aug 23, 2005
Art Academy Move
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