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=1207
(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 2012-2013 season
begins on September 11, 2012

CPI New Voices Staged Readings
at the Aronoff Center



  

 

 


May 21, 2013 at 7:30 PM – Jarson-Kaplan Bank Theater
Momus and Aphrodite
Written by Fred Rothzeid and Directed by Charlie Goetz
Momus, the God of Criticism, Satire and Blame, challenges Aphrodite to find a modern man willing to love her unconditionally. Will she succeed? Does love conquer all? More importantly, can two Greek gods actually find purpose and relevance in small town America?

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=1207
CAST:
Erica Cohen Lanzilotta [APHRODITE], Steve Reger [MOMUS], Andrew Hensley [HERC], Clint Bramkamp [MAYOR / MAN1], Lisa Young [MRS. MAYOR], and Blanchard Nash [BARTENDER]
SUPPORT:
Michelle Rothzeid (Assistant Director / Stage Manager / Singer)
About the Playwright – Fred Rothzeid
Fred is a New York transplant, who developed a passion for writing poetry while in college. After receiving his MBA he discovered he had a knack for composing songs late one night while taking a break from analyzing financial statements (which he still does as Treasurer of CPI). He wrote a cabaret, Occupational Hazards and Other Aggravations, which was performed at regional theater on Long Island, NY. His musical New York in June for which he wrote book, lyrics and music was performed at Claremont McKenna College in California. His play Irene (based on the book “The Longing Pier” written by Rose A. Adkins) received a public staged reading in April 2010. Fred’s The Fool had its debut at the prestigious Jarson-Kaplan Theater in May 2012. In addition to plays he writes liturgy and composes songs for Congregation Beth Adam in Loveland, Ohio.
About the Director – Charlie Goetz
After fifty years of acting and directing in theater, and performing in films and on TV (capturing two Emmys), Charlie Goetz found his first effort as playwright, The Best Intentions, winner of the first "Best of CPI New Voices." Charlie directed a full production of the play, last summer. Charlie's credits range from NY summer stock for Ruth (Tobacco Road) Hunter to Shakespeare, here and in his NY natal place. Locally, he has worked for Cincinnati Playhouse, Cincinnati Opera, Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati (ETC), Dayton's Human Race, Showboat Majestic, La Comedia and Kentucky's Kincaid Regional Theatre. His CPI directing assignments include Fred Rothzeid's Irene and The Fool; Beat the Bear; Brothers' Keepers; Lift Veil Find Veil; and A Play of Seeming Complexity. Most recently, he was seen in CPI's Full Circle.

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

CPI has a winner for it’s 2nd competition of the “Best of CPI New Voices.”
The winning script is ELEGY, written by Herb DuVal.
A full CPI production of the play is planned for October 17-18-19, 2013 (3 performances).
The members of the distinguished independent Judging panel are:
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.

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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