Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati to Open 2016-17 Season with THE LEGEND OF GEORGIA MCBRIDE

Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati opens its 2016-2017 with a show-stopping, regional premiere of The Legend of Georgia McBride, an edgy and feel-good comedy by award-winning playwright Matthew Lopez. A young Elvis impersonator just scraping by learns life can be a real "drag" when he discovers an unlikely path to prosperity in this music-filled comedy about finding your voice.

With a handbag full of catty humor, sequins, and stilettos (of course!), The Legend of Georgia McBride promises to deliver a whole new level of sass and spirit. Playing September 6-25, 2016. Directed by D. Lynn Meyers.

He's young, he's broke, his landlord's knocking at the door, and he's just found out his wife is going to have a baby. To make matters even more desperate, Casey is fired from his gig as an Elvis impersonator in a run-down, small-town Florida bar. When the bar owner brings in a B-level drag show to replace his act, Casey learns that necessity is the mother of reinvention and that he has a whole lot to learn about show business-and himself.

"The Legend of Georgia McBride is a story that demanded to be told," explains Producing Artistic Director D. Lynn Meyers. "Matthew Lopez has a remarkable ability to craft a very personal story around a universal topic and he has taken on the idea of gender identity with warmth and humor." Meyers goes on to share her excitement for Ray "Raven" Payne joining the production team as the Wig/Makeup Designer and Dragologist for this production. "Raven has a national reputation for drag work," Meyers says. "It's extraordinary to have him on staff for the show to do wigs and makeup, but also to be our 'dragologist'. It's going to be a joy to watch this story unfold."

ABOUT THE CAST

Bruce Cromer (Tracy/Bobby) returns to Ensemble Theatre for his tenth production. Previous roles include The Poet in An Iliad, The Librarian in Underneath the Lintel, Dan in Next to Normal, and C.S. Lewis in Freud's Last Session. He has been an Actors' Equity Association member since 1981, performing in over 160 professional stage productions at: Cincinnati Playhouse, Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, the Human Race Theatre, Milwaukee Repertory, etc. A busy voice-over artist for local television, Mr. Cromer has also performed one-man shows with the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra. He is a Certified Teacher of Stage Combat with the Society of American Fight Directors and has been a Professor of Acting in the BFA Professional Actor Training Program at Wright State University since 1987.

Michael G. Bath (Eddie) returns to ETC's stage having recently appeared in ETC's production of Cinderella. Other ETC credits include Sleeping Beauty, The Other Place, Hands on a Hardbody, Around the World in 80 Days, Alice in Wonderland, Snow White, Next Fall, Cinderella, Becky's New Car and My Name is Asher Lev. Other regional credits include Superior Donuts with The Clifton Players and Angels in America at Know Theatre. Mr. Bath has also performed with Playhouse in the Park, Cincinnati Children's Theatre, the Performance Gallery, Showboat Majestic, and Stage First Cincinnati.

Darnell Pierre Benjamin (Roxy/Jason) has recently been seen at Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati in Detroit '67 and Cinderella. Mr. Benjamin is beginning his seventh season as a resident actor with Cincinnati Shakespeare Company where a few favorite shows include Henry VI, Titus Andronicus, and To Kill a Mockingbird. Other favorite credits include Graphic with Pones, Inc, Angels in America with Know Theatre of Cincinnati, Othello with Human Race Theatre Company, and A Raisin in the Sun with Hope Summer Repertory Theatre. When not performing, he can be found at schools all over Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky teaching for Cincinnati Shakespeare Company and Pones, Inc.

Michael Gerard Carr (Casey) is a Cincinnati native. Favorite roles include Hands on a Hardbody (Greg Wilhote) and Good People (Stevie), both at Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati.

Margaret Ivey (Jo) returns to Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati, having last been seen as Kate in Good People. She has performed in the Off-Broadway productions of Measure for Measure and Dominique Morisseau's Mend with Epic Theatre Ensemble. Ms. Ivey's regional credits include pen/man/ship and The Wedding Gift (Contemporary American Theatre Festival), Richard III, All My Sons, Stargirl (People's Light), As You Like It (Georgia Shakespeare), LES MISERABLES (Aurora Theatre), A Christmas Carol (Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park), Rent and Almost, Maine (Papermill Theatre), and A Christmas Carol (ALLIANCE THEATRE). She is a proud graduate of the University of Southern California, the British American Drama Academy in Oxford, England, the American Theatre Wing's SpringboardNYC Program and the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park Acting Internship Program. Based in New York, Margaret is a teaching artist with Epic Theatre Ensemble, and she leads high school summer abroad programs with the Experiment in International Living.

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), Matt Callahan (Sound Designer), Patti James (Choreographer), Brian Horton (Costume Designer), and Raven (Wigs & Makeup Designer, Dragologist). Production Stage Manager is Brandon T. Holmes. Assistant Stage Manager is Elizabeth Freyman.

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 range from $28 to $44 for adults; student tickets are $25; and children are $18. For the 2016-2017 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.

Available Discounts - Military, Educator, ArtsWave FunCard, AAA, and Enjoy the Arts discounts available; tickets and seating are subject to availability.

Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati is a professional theatre dedicated to producing world and regional premieres of works that often explore compelling social issues. We fulfill our mission through our stage productions and educational outreach programs that enlighten, enliven, enrich and inspire our audiences.