The Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park Opens Thompson Shelterhouse 50th Anniversary Season With VICTORIA MUSICA

The Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park will open its Thompson Shelterhouse 50th Anniversary Season with the world premiere of VICTORIA MUSICA by Michele Lowe. This fast-moving story that journeys into the heart of an artist and the nature of fame begins public previews on September 26 and continues through October 25.

When a world-famous cellist dies, a music critic begins to suspect that her legacy of extraordinary recordings are all frauds. Sacrificing his own career to find the truth, he uncovers the cellist?s past as a young, struggling artist and discovers how her music and marriage fit into the puzzle.
Playwright Michele Lowe is the author of Playhouse's wickedly funny 2003 production THE SMELL OF THE KILL.

Her other plays include Inana, which recently premiered at the Denver Center Theatre and was a finalist for the 2009 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize, String of Pearls (Primary Stages, Outer Critics Circle nomination for Outstanding Off-Broadway Play), Mezzulah, 1946 (City Theatre) and Backsliding in the Promised Land (Syracuse Stage). Screenplays include The Emergence of Emily Stark and Quitting Texas. She recently completed her first novel, It Goes Without Saying.

The cast for VICTORIA MUSICA includes Stephen Caffrey as Jonathan Wedlan, Judith Hawking (BAD DATES and THE LOVE SONG OF J. ROBERT OPPENHEIMER) as Dr. Madeline Lipton/Stacey Bates/Mrs. Templeton, Drew Cortese as Paul Torres/Edward Fistler/Martin Laredo, Mariann Mayberry as Victoria Wedlan, Thom Rivera (A FLEA IN HER EAR) as Paolo Favanti, Tommy Schrider as Jeremy Lenz, Peter Van Wagner (MY FAIR LADY) as Daniel Barenboim/James Glickman and Evan Zes (AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS) as Alex Cutty-Drake/Rudy English/Clive Rollo.

The Playhouse in the Park commissioned VICTORIA MUSICA through the Jerome Fey Endowment for New Plays. Producing Artistic Director Edward Stern will direct the production. According to Stern, "VICTORIA MUSICA is „about? many things: passion, art, fame and fortune. For me, it ultimately focuses on Truth: running towards it, fleeing from it and the toll it takes no matter which road you choose."

Other members of the production team include Joseph P. Tilford, (Set Designer), Gordon DeVinney (Costume Designer), Thomas C. Hase (Lighting Designer) and Chuck Hatcher (Sound Designer). The Stage Manager is Andrea L. Shell. In honor of the 50th anniversary of SDC (Stage Directors and Choreographers Society), Stern is opening up a technical rehearsal of VICTORIA MUSICA to the public for free on Wednesday, September 23. Visitors can rotate in every 90 minutes. There will be admissions at 7 p.m., 8:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. Latecomers will not be admitted so as not to disturb the rehearsal in progress. Those interested must make reservations by calling the box office at 513/421-3888.

The Playhouse has partnered with the University of Cincinnati?s College- Conservatory of Music LINKS (Lonely Instruments for Needy Kids) program. During the run of VICTORIA MUSICA, patrons can dust off their old instruments and bring them to The Playhouse to be matched with a young, talented musician who can?t afford one. All donations are tax-deductible and will bring the joy of music to a needy student. Donations will be accepted at The Playhouse box office during regular hours.

Special Performances
Meet the Artists
These free programs allow audiences to interact with cast members and others associated with the
production following the show. 2 p.m. Sunday, October 4 2 p.m. Sunday, October 11 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, October 14 8 p.m. Thursday, October 22

Prices for VICTORIA MUSICA range from $45-$61, depending on day and seat location.
All tickets are $45 for the preview performances at 8 p.m. on Saturday, September 26; 7 p.m.
Sunday, September 27; 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, September 29; and 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, September
30. The official opening night is Thursday, October 1 at 8 p.m.

Performances take place at 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 8 p.m. Thursdays and
Fridays, 4 and 8 p.m. on Saturdays and 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Sundays.

Tickets to VICTORIA MUSICA are on sale now. For more information, call The Playhouse box office at 513/421-3888 (toll-free in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana at 800/582-3208) or visit www.cincyplay.com. Call 513/345-2248 for TDD accessibility.

The Playhouse has teamed up with Ensemble Theatre, Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra and Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra to offer patrons with tickets to VICTORIA MUSICA great discounts to see more performances that feature or are about classical music. Visit www.cincyplay.com for full details. Some restrictions apply to all offers. The Playhouse is fully accessible. Audio enhancement receivers, large print programs and complete wheelchair access are available. The Playhouse is supported, in part, by the generosity of the tens of thousands of individuals and businesses that give to the Fine Arts Fund. The Ohio Arts Council helps fund The Playhouse with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans. The Playhouse also receives funding from the Shubert Foundation.

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