cLUB rOYAL

“Club Royal” is a jazz club-themed Cabaret show that features classic songs such as “Beyond the Sea”, “SING,SING,SING” and so much more. It features a cast of 5 talented singers along with an 8-piece orchestra. This show will be a resident show inside the Serenade of The Sea, which is a world cruise from the Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines.

Creative Director: Taylor Roberts

Co-Creative Director and Choreographer: Jamie Keen

Funny, Like an Abortion

Funny, Like An Abortion is a dark comedy about a pregnant woman weighing her abortion options in an America where reproductive rights have been fully stripped away.

Writer: Rachel Bublitz
Director: Madsie Flynn
Stage Manager: Ariel Legere
Scenic and Prop Design: Emmett Grosland
Costume Design: Ricky Lurie
Sound Design: Nikki Belenski
Photo Credits: David White (First 8 photos, last 2 by me)

Location: Miles Square Theater

The Living Dead

When a zombie apocalypse ravages the world, a band of strangers seek refuge in an abandoned house, forcing the group to work together to see the light of day. However, individualism, egos, and power struggles expose the horrifying nature of survival. A new vision of contemporary horror inspired by the cult classic, Isaiah Reaves’ The Living Dead makes its world premiere in time for the Halloween season.
https://cincyshakes.com/event/living-dead/
Photo by Mikki Schaffner.

Playwright: Isaiah Reaves
Director: Brian Isaac Phillips
Scenic design: Samantha Reno
Costume design: Rainy Edwards
Lighting design: Nina Agelvis
Projections design: Robert Stimmel
Sound design: Zachary Bennett
Props design: Kara Trusty
Fight choreography: Gina Cerimele-Mechley
Production stage manager: Brenna Bishop

Location: Cincinnati Shakespeare Company

The Brothers Paranormal

Ghost hunting is not your typical career path, but for Thai brothers Max and Visarut, investigating spirit encounters is simply another day in the life. Spurred by a nationwide increase in sightings of “Asian-looking ghosts”, these entrepreneurial siblings hatch a business venture specializing in all things paranormal. But on their next job, they find themselves facing fears they never thought possible, and questioning everything they thought to be true. Love, grief, humor, and HORROR collide in this haunting tale that is sure to leave you shaking in your seat!

Director: Randy Reyes

Costume Designer: Shelly Wright

Scenic Designer: Leah Ramillano

Sound Designer: Scott W. Edwards

Photo Credit: Nina Agelvis

Location: Perseverance Theater

Pride & Prejudice (2022)

When Pride & Prejudice opened in 2020 it was unfortunately shut down after its second-week run. Thankfully in 2022, Cincinnati Shakespeare Company brought back the original production team and gave the show a second chance, and gave it its proper run. This remount has brought joy to all of us, and it was amazing seeing the audience have a wonderful time watching this beautiful show.

Director: Sarah Clark

Costume Designer: Clara Jean Kelly

Scenic Designer: Shannon Moore

Sound Designer: Kevin Semancik

Props Designer: Kara Trusty

Photo Credit: Mikki Schaffner

Location: Cincinnati Shakespeare Company; Otto M. Buding Theater

A Day in a Wizard’s Life

Unlike your typical theatrical play, “A Day in a Wizard’s Life” is an animated short created for my Thesis on Lighting Design in Animation. The story is a quirky tale of a wizard’s daily life. To watch the animated short [click here]

(Production Team credited in the video)

Pride & Prejudice

A “delightfully different,” “fizzy and festive,” and “unlike any adaptation of Jane Austen one has seen before.” Sweepingly romantic, with a good dose of the tongue-in-cheek, Pride and Prejudice follows the affaires de cœur of the witty and willful Elizabeth Bennet, as she finds that the path to true love can lead to the most unexpected of places.

Click to read review by League of Cincinnati Theaters

Director: Sarah Clark

Costume Designer: Clara Jean Kelly

Scenic Designer: Shannon Moore

Sound Designer: Kevin Semancik

Props Designer: Kara Trusty

Photo Credit: Mikki Schaffner

Location: Cincinnati Shakespeare Company; Otto M. Buding Theater

Clybourne Park

"Clybourne Park", Winner of a Pulitzer Prize, Olivier Award and Tony Award, is a provocative comedy that examines how Americans talk — or don’t talk — about race, class and real estate.

Director: Richard Hess

Scenic Designer: Mark Halpin

Sound Designer: Ryan Hurt

Costume Designer: Joanne West

Makeup & Wigs Designer: Jerome Horng

Photo Credits: Mark Lyons

The Bartered Bride

The Bartered Bride is a comedic Czechoslovakian opera that follows the story of two young lovers fighting against an arranged marriage in order to be together. CCM’s production created an English version set in 1948 Texas, in a small immigrant Czechoslovakian community. The purpose of the lighting design was to create the realistic aspect of time outdoors, and also create a fun comedic atmosphere for the traveling circus. Unlike most opera’s, The Bartered Bride consisted a lot of dance numbers and movement, which allowed the design to be driven by musicality and creativity.

Director: Audrey Chait

Scenic Designer: Joshua Galigar

Sound Designer: Zachory Ivans

Costume Designer: Blaine Sheldon

Makeup & Wigs Designer: Cheyenne Holbert

Photo Credits: Kaelin Hagler

dinner at eight [opera]

Dinner at Eight is based on the original comedic drama that follows the story of the wealthy Jordan family through their financial woes and affairs. The purpose of the lighting was to create a musical like experience to emphasize on the comedy and the imaginary, while shifting to a realistic design that carries a theme through each location introduced within the opera.

Location: CCM, University of Cincinnati

Director: Audrey Chait

Scenic Design: Marissa Picciuto

Sound Design: Chris Jacobs

Costume Design: Emily Eckhardt

Makeup & Wigs Design: Cheyenne Holbert

Photo Credits: Mark Lyons

Created: A New Musical

CREATED: A NEW MUSICAL is set in a science fiction world where human genetics have been altered fro the sole purpose of hard labor. Those who carry the original human genetics (Primagen) are at the top of the societal hierarchy and rule over those created for hard labor (Neogen). The goald of the design was to capture the scorching heat of their planet while creating a balance betweeen the mechanical and natural worlds through the use of linear textures versus organic textures.

Directed by Luzma Ortiz

Photo Credit: Jon Trent Lonner

Crooked

Crooked follows the story of confusion, pain, and isolation within two teenage girls’ daily lives. They learn from each other, growing in their contrasting faiths, from what they are told to believe to questioning and applying their beliefs to their lives and relationships. The goal of the design was to capture isolation with cool tones and isolated angles, simultaneously capturing the difference in emotional growth between the two girls with the use of icy tones versus warmer tones.

Directed by Zaynab Yasmine

Photo Credit: Alan Wu

I’m On My Way

I’m On My Way was a performance of a variety of songs sung by a choir group called “Harmonix.” Each song had a different emotional tone, represented through their voices and dance. The goal of the design was to use vibrant colors and effects to capture the kinetic energy of their upbeat songs and use slow shifts and low angles to create mysterious shadows for their sultrier songs.

Directed by Taylor Fagins

Photo Credit: Jerel Cabesas

Jeweled Toned Dresses & Character Heels

Jeweled Toned Dresses & Character Heels was performed by Laurence Turner in drag onstage, lip-syncing to Musical Theater students singing popular musical tracks live off stage. The design captured the powerful and colorful atmosphere of each musical song. It was a show where the costume changes, flashing lights, and beautiful songs made the audience laugh while filling them with awe.

Directed by Laurence Turner

Photo Credit: Caitlin S. Hemmings

Little Women

Little Women follows the story of four sisters living with their mother through the Civil War. The story is told from the perspective of Jo as the sisters learned to support each other and discovered their futures together. The lighting design captured the moments of struggle with the use of crisp, dramatic angles that isolated and carved out the characters. As the story followed each sister’s life, their personalities were captured through the use of soft colors that best represented each of them.

Directed by Zaynab Yasmine

Photo Credit: Anita Abdinezhad

Much Ado About Nothing

Much Ado About Nothing is a comedic Shakespearian tale of romance and dishonesty within a family. Our production was set outdoors. The lighting design emphasized the dishonesty with cool colors and shadows. In moments of romance, the design brought out the mood of happiness and lightheartedness with warm amber.

Directed by Dalia Anderton

Photo Credit: Christian Cortez

The Science of Happiness

The Science of Happiness follows the story of Cecelia overcoming tragic events without the use of anti-depressants. The story takes place in the underworld, which Cecelia enters through putting on a pair of glasses. Anti-depressants are used to find happiness, yet Cecelia refuses to accept the use of science as a way to happiness. The design captured the dreamscape of the underworld with the use of cool, eerie colors. Warm, amber tones were brought into the underworld whenever Cecelia entered, which added emphasis on her being a part of the living.

Directed by Keira Logan Talley

Photo Credit: Tracey Smith Talley

Twelfth Night

Twelfth Night is a comedic Shakespearean story of romance through disguise. The design created visibility through the use of warm colors, bringing out the comedic atmosphere. The romantic atmospheres were captured through the use of soft lavender washes.

Directed by Melissa Livingston

Photo Credit: Christian Cortez