Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati to Close Out 30th Anniversary Season with VIOLET

All aboard! Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati sends off its 2015-2016 30th anniversary season on a bold adventure with the award-winning musical Violet. Based on The Ugliest Pilgrim by Doris Betts, this deeply stirring musical by Tony-award winning Jeanine Tesori and the acclaimed Brian Crawley follows a scarred woman on a cross-country pilgrimage to find the true meaning of beauty. Violet delivers a powerful story of hope, self-discovery, and the beauty of imperfections. Playing May 3-22, 2016. Directed by D. Lynn Meyers. Premiere Sponsor is John Goering.

With a score of show-stopping anthems ranging from American-roots to folk to gospel, this is the story of a young woman's quest for beauty amidst the image-obsessed landscape of the 1960s. Facially disfigured in a childhood accident, Violet hops a bus, seeking a televangelist in Oklahoma she believes can heal her. Along the way, she forms unlikely friendships with her fellow riders, including a young, African-American soldier whose love for her reaches far past her physical "imperfections."

"Violet is definitely a story about somebody coming into their own and finding their way," explains Producing Artistic Director D. Lynn Meyers. "If that doesn't exemplify ETC, I don't know what does. It's a contemporary play with a social conscience wrapped in a magnificent musical score. Not only do I see this show as a great close to the 30th anniversary season, but I feel it's a great jumping off point for the next stage in ETC's journey."

Cast includes several regular Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati performers, including: Charlie Clark (Father), Phil Fiorini (Preacher), Sara Mackie (Music Hall Singer), Brooke Steele (Violet), Torie Wiggins (Lula Buffington), and Kate Wilford (Old Lady).

Additionally, Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati welcomes the following performers in their ETC debuts: Mark Beyer (Monty), Phillip Johnson-Richardson (Flick), Delaney Ragusa (Young Violet), and ETC 2015-2016 Acting Apprentice Stephen Kell (Radio Singer/Ensemble). Rounding out the ensemble cast is Andrew Maloney (Leroy Evans/Ensemble) and Patrick E. Phillips (Virgil/Ensemble).

About the Cast

Brooke Steele (Violet) returns to ETC, having last appeared as Cinderella in Cinderella. Her favorite roles include Suzy Simpson in three incarnations of The Marvelous Wonderettes at Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati, Leni Riefenstahl in Monstrous Beauty (Northern Kentucky University), June the Ingenue in The Musical of Musicals (The Musical!) (Showboat Majestic) and the title role in Peter Pan (Covedale Center). She studied theatre at NKU and was honored to receive an Acclaim Rising Star award in 2011.

Phillip Johnson-Richardson (Flick) is a rising junior at CCM and makes his ETC debut as Flick in Violet. CCM credits include: Big River (Jim), American Idiot (Ensemble u/s St. Jimmy), The Nutcracker Swing (Dancer). Regional: Hairspray (Seaweed) at Theatre Charlotte, Guys and Dolls (Scranton Slim) at CPCC Summer Stock, Smokey Joe's Cafe (Michael/Fred) at Carolina Broadway Theatre, The Music Man and Aida at The Muny (upcoming).

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Delaney Ragusa (Young Violet) makes her Ensemble Theatre debut as Young Violet in Violet. Seen in the off-Broadway U.S. premiere of A Little Princess, Ms. Ragusa's other New York appearances include Lyrics for Life at Symphony Space. Locally, Ms. Ragusa has played leading roles as Martha Cratchit in Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park's A Christmas Carol, Essie in You Can't Take it With You (SCPA), and Boris the Spy in CTM's production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. As a ninth grade student at The School for Creative and Performing Arts, she performs daily in Drama and Musical Theatre. Other training includes guitar, ukulele, piano, vocal and dance.

Mark Beyer (Monty) makes his debut as a member of AEA with Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati. He graduated from Wright State University last year with a BFA in Musical Theatre. Prior professional credits include the Beast (International Tour of Disney's Beauty and the Beast), Roger (RENT), and Enjolras (Les Miserables).

Production team includes Brian c. Mehring (Resident Scenic & Lighting Designer), Jack Murphy (Technical Director), Matthew Hollstegge (Production Manager & Master Electrician), Shannon Rae Lutz (Properties Master & Design Assistant), Jeremy Lee (Sound Designer), Scot Woolley (Musical Director), Patti James (Choreographer), Reba Senske (Costume Designer), and Kelly Yurko (Wigs & Makeup Designer). Production Stage Manager is Brandon T. Holmes. Assistant Stage Manager is Elizabeth Freyman.

Performance Information

Performances run Tuesday through Sunday. Tuesday-Thursday, 7:30 pm; Friday and Saturday, 8:00 pm; Saturday and Sunday, 2:00 pm; and Sunday, 7:00 pm. A complete calendar of performances is available online at www.ensemblecincinnati.org.

Ticket Prices

Ticket prices range from $28 to $44 for adults; student tickets are $25; and children are $18. For the 2015-2016 season, ETC continues its popular $15 student and half-price rush tickets for all performances, which are available two hours prior to show time and may be purchased by phone or in person at the box office.

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