New Plays, New Voices, New Talents
2013 - 2013 - 2013
 
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SEE the latest NEWS about:
CPI New Voices Staged Readings
CPI Playwriting Salon
CPI Special Events
Newly Designed CPI Website
Announcing this makes me dance . . .
 
Cincinnati Playwrights Initiative (CPI)
Please continue to visit this website for comprehensive updates of all CPI’s activities. This HOME PAGE will always feature the upcoming New Voices Staged Readings.
For a complete program, including CPI Board Monthly Business Meeting, Informal Cold Reading / Playwriting Salon, and any other relevant CPI venues, visit the CALENDAR PAGE.
For Informal Cold Reading / Playwriting Salon, visit PLAYWRITING SALON PAGE
If you are a playwright, send us your new work; we are looking for good manuscripts!
CPI’s New Voices Staged Readings are normally performed at the Aronoff Center for the Arts, Fifth-Third Bank Theater (Black Box), corner of Main and Seventh Streets. Occasionally they are performed at the Jarson-Kaplan Theater, 650 Walnut Street.
Tickets are only $ 8. Reservations may be made in advance at Aronoff Center Box Office, or by calling:
513-621-2787, or online at:
http://www.cincinnatiarts.org/index.jsp?eventDetail=1&event_id=1390
(Page address changes each season.)
To avoid surcharge, get your tickets at the box office at normal work hours.
  
CPI's NEW VOICES STAGED READINGS
CPI's 2013-2014 season
begins on September 10, 2013
CPI New Voices Staged Readings 
at the Aronoff Center
  
 
   
  
  
  
  
Sep. 10, 2013 at 7:30 PM – Fifth-Third Bank Theater
Redford's Rules
Written by Doug Decatur & Joe Bobbitt
Directed by Jim Waldfogle
Steve is struggling with dating. His buddies’ conflicting ideas are more humorous than helpful. As a possible solution, Steve has invited their old college Professor to poker night. “Redford’s Rules” is a collection of good laughs and perhaps some thought provoking wisdom.
Tickets are only $8
Reservations may be made in advance at Aronoff Center Box Office,
or by calling 513-621-2787, or online
http://www.cincinnatiarts.org/index.jsp?eventDetail=1&event_id=1390
CAST:
TBA
SUPPORT:
TBA
About the Playwright – Doug Decatur
Doug has written for SportsIllustrated.com and MLB Expert Analysis.com. He is the author of two baseball books, Behind-the-Scenes Baseball (ACTA Sports 2006) and Traded (ACTA Sports 2009) and has appeared on the sport talk show circuit, including ESPN and MLB networks. Since his switch to fiction, he and Joe Bobbitt have authored two plays (Redford’s Rules and 1832) and two novels (Black Acre and Aaron Mann). Doug, a Cincinnati native, is a Bank Examiner for the State of Ohio. He has two sons, Stephen age 21 and James age 19.
About the Playwright – Joe Bobbitt
Joe debuted with CPI last September with his production of 1832, a collaborative effort with friend and co-writer, Doug Decatur. Redford’s Rules is the second collaborative piece created with Doug. Joe is currently working on an Elizabethan era play. Joe’s writing talents are not limited to this newest play but include a contemporary murder mystery novel, “Aaron Mann.” A native Cincinnatian and University of Cincinnati graduate, Joe, his wife, Nancy, and two children live in Kenwood.
About the Director – Jim Waldfogle
Jim has directed a number of staged readings for Cincinnati Playwrights Initiative over the years, including In the Rooms Where the Gods Repose, A Clear View of Heaven, Pure, What is Your Emergency?, A Stop in Paris, Freud on the Couch, 1832 and his own Spider Baby: The Musical. Jim has also directed shows with the Know Theatre, Milford Theatre Guilde, Tri-County Players, Wyoming Players, and Pegasus Players. Jim is happy to be working with Doug and Joe again, and is glad to be guiding this work to its world premiere.
MORE TO COME
Oct. 17, 18 & 19, 2013 at 7:30 PM – 5/3 Bank Theater
Elegy
Winner of "The Best of CPI New Voices"
A full Staged Production
Written by Herb Duval
Directed by Regina Pugh
Elegy is the story of a young man, Norman, who resists the urgings of his closest friend and his girlfriend to leave home to make his way in the world during America’s Great Depression. Norman feels strongly he must remain to care for his parents. Whether it’s fear of the unknown that might lie ahead or sense of duty, he chooses to stay, and thus becomes a caretaker of a way of life that was fast disappearing. Ten vivid characters tell us about a time and place in our lives and give us a lot to root for in the American spirit.
Tickets are only $15
Reservations may be made in advance at Aronoff Center Box Office,
or by calling 513-621-2787, or online
http://www.cincinnatiarts.org/index.jsp?eventDetail=1&event_id=1390
CAST:
TBA
SUPPORT:
TBA
About the Playwright – Herb DuVal
Herb DuVal, an actor, director, playwright and producer, started “Play With Your Lunch” (PWYL) in 2009 after doing similar programs in NYC and Westport, CT. He has produced fifteen editions of it at several locations, most often at the Wyoming Civic Center. The latest program was completely sold out in January of this year in Springfield Township. He has toured the US with such plays as Equus, Broadway Bound, and Children of a Lesser God. Locally, he has performed with the Human Race and the New Edgecliff. His short play, Summer Cabin, was chosen to be performed at the Samuel French Competition in New York in 2005. Previous CPI associations: Hell on I-71, Margaret Mead’s Notes from the Field, Elegy, Jockey Jim, and Embers from the Ashes: a Girl’s Holocaust Diary.
About the Director – Regina Pugh
Regina Pugh is a member of Actor’s Equity and has performed and directed in Cincinnati for over twenty-five years, including twenty years in the Cincinnati Playhouse annual production of A Christmas Carol (1992-2011). She has appeared at ETC in over a dozen productions, including two directed by Edward Albee. She has worked locally with CCM, New Edgecliff, New Stage Collective, Performance Gallery and Downtown Theatre Classics. Regina has directed productions for Ensemble Theatre, Performance Gallery, Women’s Theatre Initiative and the Cincinnati Playhouse Skilken-Brown Touring Company. She is a founding member of Performance Gallery, a local alternative theatre collective.
The members of the distinguished independent Judging panel were:
Regina Pugh (Chairperson), Catie O’Keefe and Arlene Borock.
The Panel's comment regarding the choice to pick Elegy:
“The characters in this charming story are engaging, lovable and flawed – all things that makes us understand and admire them. The selection panel found the 1930’s era setting to be well researched and hold some thought provoking and surprising twists. As the title suggests, there is a dark, melancholic undertone to the otherwise comedic lightness, and energy that permeates the dialogue and action. The effect is to bring the audience closer to the characters – we want to know more about each of their stories.”
Regina Pugh (Chairperson)
Regina Pugh is a member of Actor’s Equity and has performed and directed in Cincinnati for over twenty-five years, including twenty years in the Cincinnati Playhouse annual production of A Christmas Carol (1992-2011). She has appeared at ETC in over a dozen productions, including two directed by Edward Albee. She has worked locally with CCM, New Edgecliff, New Stage Collective, Performance Gallery and Downtown Theatre Classics. Regina has directed productions for Ensemble Theatre, Performance Gallery, Women’s Theatre Initiative and the Cincinnati Playhouse Skilken-Brown Touring Company. She is a founding member of Performance Gallery, a local alternative theatre collective.
Catie O’Keefe
Catie O’Keefe holds a BA in Theatre from Lewis & Clark College and a Masters in Playwriting from Royal Holloway University of London. She studied in the Royal Court Theatre young writers program in London. Her work has been performed in London, Scotland, Holland, New York, Oregon, Colorado, Louisiana, Washington DC and Ohio with CPI, New Edgecliff Theatre and The Emery. She is currently the Playwright in residence at New Edgecliff Theatre. Catie is the Artistic Director of the Shark Eat Muffin Theatre Company, she teaches playwriting workshops in the greater Cincinnati area and is a recipient of the Peggy Ramsay Grant working in the US and abroad.
Arlene Borock
Arlene Borock has taught drama, speech, English and journalism at Mason City Schools and started up their drama department. She has directed and/or choreographed almost sixty shows, performed in over twenty, dabbed in many other theatre disciplines, and has been awarded Orchid and OCTA awards. Arlene is an Adjudicator and a Judging Assistant for ACT Cincinnati. She co-founded both ACTING UP and Brieabi Productions, and is currently Vice President of Brieabi. Arlene earned a degree in Telecommunications from Indiana University, a degree in Education from the University of Cincinnati and a Master’s in Education Degree from Miami University.
MORE TO COME
Meet CPI's New Elected Officers
Elected to a second 2-year term (May 2012-May 2014)
 . . . .  . . . .  . . . .
Kalman Kivkovich . . . . . . . . . . . . .Sandi Kivkovich . . . . . . . . . .Fred Rothzeid . . . . . . .Dennis Blom
President . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . Vice President. . . . . . . . . . . .Treasurer . . . . . . . . . .Secretary
Please visit the President's Corner to learn more about the team
 Please visit our PRESIDENT’S CORNER
CPI Playwriting Salon
I acknowledge
Dan Cohen and the folks at Cinstages.com
for the great job they do for the locale theater community and of course for CPI.
Kalman Kivkovich, CPI President
NEXT at the SALON:
NEXT is on May 26, 2013 – 
Cold reading of a new play - read by actors
NEXT is on July 28, 2013 –
Cold reading of a new play - read by actors
NEXT is on August 25, 2013 –
Guest Speaker - Blake Robison, Arstistic Director, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park
NEXT is on September 22, 2013 –
Cold reading of a new play - read by actors
CPI Members' News Highlights
Congratulations to Eileen Tull
Eileen's one-woman show, Jesus, Do You Like Me?, will be performed at Moeller High School ( 9001 Montgomery Road, Cincinnati, OH) on May 29th, 2013 at 7:30. for more info go to: http://jesusdoyoulikeme.wordpress.com
Congratulations to Charlie Goetz
CPI-er Charlie Goetz performs his 63'd show at La Comedia: The Sound of Music, running Wednesdays—Sundays, from May2 through June 30 (lacomedia.com). Too old to play Mother Abbess, he'll portray two geezers: Baron Elberfeld and Admiral von Schreiber—who?--and will understudy (not Mother Abbess).
Congratulations to David Bezona
David, an actor, opera singer and music director, provides Cincinnati with the FREE chamber concert series, "Music at Ascension," now in its 8th season. Location: Ascension Lutheran Church, 7333 Pfeiffer Road, Montgomery, Ohio 45242 - music director, David Bezona 513-237-3636.
Next: June 1, 2013. All concert begin at 7:30 PM.
 Please visit ABOUT US
 Please visit our CALENDAR for upcoming events
 Manuscripts Wanted. Please visit SUBMISSIONS
Please visit our PRESIDENT’S CORNER
 Please visit our MEMBERS’ NEWS
Please visit our NEW VOICES ARCHIVE
Please visit our PLAYWRITING SALON
 For more theater news go to:  
Also, http://www.kalmankivkovich.com/
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