Josie Merkle News

Original Productions Theatre (OPT) and the Abbey Theater of Dublin, as part of its ongoing Virtual Theatre Project , will present the world premiere production of 'go to coda,' written by Columbus-based playwright Dave Morgan. The production will stream on-demand online from Nov. 20 through Nov. 29, 2020.

On Monday evening June 30th, 2020 at 7:00 PM, Red Herring will be premiering a live streaming platform with a series of monologues curated from across the globe by Vivian Lermond. Hosted by emcee Ruth Sternberg, watch Nikki Smith, Kristin Green, Josie Merkle, Catherine Cryan Erney, Samantha Stark, and Harold Yarborough, perform touching and tender monologues about mothers. Originally scheduled to celebrate Mother's Day in May, Red Herring has revived the show and is using it to debut a new YouTube channel. For the next few months Red Herring is shifting gears and reinventing itself to continue to provide audiences with provocative programs during these challenging times. They have converted their 49 seat black box theater into a television studio and will be broadcasting the event on their new YouTube channel. Please subscribe to see this show and future productions: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1pAqVcVfg7RLStULNd5fww

Mathematical genius Alan Turing was a pioneer in the field of computers and computer science. His work breaking Nazi code during World War II saved countless lives, yet he plummeted into ruin after his secret life was discovered. Co-produced with Evolution Theatre Company Performances are October 24th thru November 11th at the Columbus Performing Arts Center, 549 Franklin Avenue, Columbus, OH 43215. For tickets or more information, visit: http://catco.org/shows/2018-2019/breaking-the-code

True West, an American classic, explores alternatives that might spring from the demented terrain of the California landscape. Sons of a desert-dwelling alcoholic and a suburban wanderer clash over a film script. Austin, the achiever, is working on a script he has sold to producer Saul Kimmer when Lee, a demented petty thief, drops in. He pitches his own idea for a movie to Kimmer, who then wants Austin to junk his bleak, modern love story and write Lee's trashy Western tale. PERFORMANCE DATES: FRI 8/31 at 8pm, SAT 9/1 at 8pm, SUN 9/2 at 3pm, FRI 9/7 at 8pm, SAT 9/8 at 7pm, and SUN 9/9 at 7pm For tickets or more info on upcoming dates for the Sam Shepard Festival visit: https://www.warehousetheatre.org/

Evolution Theatre Company's LOCAL PLAYWRIGHTS FESTIVAL in association with CATCO is Theatre! Presents the world premiere of Sticks & Stones by Cory Skurdal. Winner of the 2014 GCAC / CATCO Playwrights Fellowship Award, this play tells the moving and timely story of the struggles experienced by the transgender community.

Drag artist Charles Busch's outrageously funny melodrama about an aging Hollywood star and her twisted family relationships will bring howls of laughter to the dead of winter. This off-Broadway hit by the author of Psycho Beach Party, Vampire Lesbians of Sodom and last year's smash hit The Divine Sister stars Doug Joseph as the irresistibly evil has-been heroine Angela. Cast also includes the struggling director Sol Sussman (Ralph E. Scott), his daughter (Erin Mellon), her brither Lance (Johnny Robison), former actor/country club tennis pro/humidor repairman/gigolo Tony Parker (Nick Lingofski), and keeping the house in order is Bootsie Carp (Josie Merkle)

Actor Doug Joseph has gone from playing Cecil B. DeMille in the Short North Stage's production of SUNSET BOULEVARD to playing the very Norma Desmond-esque Angela Arden in the theatre's production of DIE, MOMMIE DIE!

Standing Room Only Theatre Company and A&B Theatricals staged in the Van Fleet Theatre, Columbus Performing Arts Center, 549 Franklin Avenue, Columbus, OH 43215.

Short North Stage presents The Divine Sister, written by the celebrated actor, playwright and female impersonator, Charles Busch, author of such camp classics as Vampire Lesbians of Sodom, Die Mommy, Die,and Psycho Beach Party. It runs May 29 to June 15, 2014. Check out a first look below!

It's a safe assumption that if you are female, you have more than likely already emptied a box of Kleenex over "Steel Magnolias" at some point in your life. The 1989 movie version which featured an iconic cast, has deservedly earned its chick-flick staple status. However, as a sold-out crowd at the Riffe Center would attest, it's a show that is at once classic and ageless, with its development of the deep friendship that 6 southern women develop as they mingle regularly at the town's beauty parlor.

SRO Theatre Company Presents DEATH OF A SALESMAN November 14 - 24, 2013 SRO Theatre Company presents Death of a Salesman to be staged November 14 - 24, 2013, at the Shedd Theatre in the Columbus Performing Arts Center, 549 Franklin Avenue, Columbus, OH 43215.

Curtain Players Theatre Company presents Scotland Road by Jeffrey Hatcher to be staged September 6 - 22, at the Curtain Players Theatre, 5691 Harlem Road, Galena, OH 43021.

A&B Theatricals and director Joe Bishara took on middle-class unemployment last night with local playwright, Bill Cook's original script, 'The Promised Land'. Those familiar with Cook's previous work, especially last year's, 'Love In An Age of Clamor', will find several similarities between the two productions, however this one, finds middle-aged, middle-class, Simon (Nick Baldasare) suddenly downsized from his life-long career as a financial analyst.