Mark Phillips Schwamberger News

The Inheritance, written by Matthew Lopez, inspired by E.M. Forster’s masterpiece Howards End, “The Inheritance” is an epic examination of survival, healing, class divide and what it means to call a place home. Part 2 - Picking up where PART ONE ended, PART TWO takes its characters on roller-coaster journeys of self-discovery and self-destruction. All lives intersect as they face the decision to heal or to burn. Written by Matthew Lopez, Directed by Joe Bishara, featuring Frank Barnhart, Anthony Baldasare, Niko Carter , Mark P. Schwamberger, Jeff White, Dayton Edward Willison, Euan Baker, Ahmed Ankolkar, Jacob Erney, Bobby Loyd and Josie Merkle. Performances run Sept 21 - 30, 2023 at Abbey Theatre of Dublin, 5600 Post Rd. Dublin, Ohio 43017. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit: https://www.evolutiontheatre.org/

The Inheritance, written by Matthew Lopez, inspired by E.M. Forster’s masterpiece Howards End, “The Inheritance” is an epic examination of survival, healing, class divide and what it means to call a place home.

A girl has watched Alexander McQueen’s Mayfair house. Tonight, she climbs down from her watching tree and breaks into his house to steal a dress, to become someone special. He catches her, but instead of calling the police, they embark together on a journey through London and into his heart. A journey into the visionary imagination and dream world of Alexander McQueen, fashion’s greatest contemporary artist. Written by James Phillips, Directed by Joe Bishara, Cast includes Ben Tracy, Grace Emmenegger-Conrad, Emma Winder, Sydney Campbell, Mark Phillips Schwamberger, Nicolas Brunet, Emma Schachter, Nat Harper. Performances run May 25 - June 3, 2023 at Abbey Theatre of Dublin, 5600 Post Rd. Dublin, Ohio 43017. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit: https://www.evolutiontheatre.org/

Inspired by a true story that explores the tricky terrain of finding love amidst the confusion of sexual identity, and the inextricable bond between doctor and patient. A well-intentioned doctor convinces the parents of a male infant to raise their son as a girl after a terrible accident. Two decades later, the repercussions of that choice continue to unfold. Written by Anna Ziegler. Directed by Mark Phillips Schwamberger, the Cast includes: Ollie Worden, Ralph Scott, Valtinen Erik Karille, Britt Kline, Scott Douglas Wilson. Performances run September 15 - 24, 2022 at Abbey Theatre of Dublin, 5600 Post Rd. Dublin, Ohio 43017. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit: https://www.evolutiontheatre.org/

See photos of Evolution Theatre Company's GENTLY DOWN THE STREAM. Beau, a pianist expat living in London, meets Rufus, an eccentric young lawyer, at the dawn of the internet dating revolution. After a life spent recovering from the disappointment and hurt of loving men in a world that refused to allow it, Beau is determined to keep his expectations low with Rufus.

This heart-warming musical follows the friendship of Alvin and Thomas, two men from a small town. These lifelong friends are reunited after Alvin's mysterious death. In the abstract world of his mind, Thomas struggles to write Alvin's eulogy while recounting the many turns that their lives have taken since meeting as children. Alvin searches through the manuscripts and stories in Thomas' mind to lead him on a journey of remembrance. Through music and song, these two friends recount their adventures, explore their past dissonance and ultimately discover what is at the base of every strong friendship... love. In person and streaming, performances run October 7th thru the 16th, 2021 at the Abbey Theater of Dublin, 5600 Post Road, Dublin, OH 43017. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit: https://www.evolutiontheatre.org/

Evolution Theatre Company, Dublin's only professional theater company, brings to the stage Broadway performer Matt Clemens, and award-winning actor Joe Bishara, Theater Supervisor for the City of Dublin, Abbey Theater in a tour de force performance of the two-person musical, THE STORY OF MY LIFE, by Neil Bartram and Brian Hill.

Based on the life, works and writings of Ohio native and poet Hart Crane, this unique time-traveling dramatization of his life gives insight into his genius and the demons that were his ultimate destruction. Born in 1899 in Garrettsville, Ohio, Hart Crane is considered a pivotal figure in American literature, a Romantic in the age of High Modernism, who sought nothing less than the fullest expression of the American experience. Performances run Sept. 8th thru the 11th, 2021 at Ohio History Center I-71 & 17th Avenue (Exit 111), Columbus, OH 43211. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit: https://www.evolutiontheatre.org/ Tickets for all performances may be purchase at the Box Office. Face masks and proof of vaccination is required.

Evolution Theatre Company, in association with the Abbey Theater of Dublin, announces a world premiere production of the new one-person play, 'The Sissy Chronicles,' written and performed by Mark Phillips Schwamberger and directed by Joe Bishara, Theater Supervisor at the Abbey Theater of Dublin.

In a Berlin nightclub, as the 1920's draw to a close, a garish Master of Ceremonies welcomes the audience and assures them they will forget all their troubles at the CABARET. With the Emcee's bawdy songs as wry commentary, CABARET explores the dark, heady, and tumultuous life of Berlin's natives and expatriates as Germany slowly yields to the emerging Third Reich. Cliff, a young American writer newly arrived in Berlin, is immediately taken by English singer Sally Bowles. Meanwhile, Fräulein Schneider, proprietor of Cliff and Sally's boarding house, tentatively begins a romance with Herr Schultz, a mild-mannered fruit seller who happens to be Jewish. Performances are September 18th thru September 28th, 2019 at the Columbus Performing Arts Center, 549 Franklin Avenue, Columbus, OH 43215. For tickets or more information, visit: http://evolutiontheatre.org/

The Devil Boys are back! We're reviving our 2011 production that started it all. Flying Saucers...Backstabbing Bitches...Muscle Hunks and Men in Pumps! Wake up and smell the alien invasion in this outrageous comedy. Devil Boys from Beyond is an uproarious homage to C-movies, lead-ing ladies, low-budget sci-films of the 50's and the golden age of camp. Cheap in all the right ways, you'll laugh your a#@^ probe off! Performances are September 20th thru September 29th at the Columbus Performing Arts Center, 549 Franklin Avenue, Columbus, OH 43215. For tickets or more information, visit: http://evolutiontheatre.org/

A mixture of love, politics and art in a star-spangled comedy set in Washington, D.C., 1990. When Veronica, a self-absorbed movie star in mid-life (think Liz Taylor) agrees to co-star in a play with her favorite ex-husband (think Richard Burton), both egos and calories get burned. The director (who is young, female and attractive) gets a better performance from Veronica's ex-husband off-stage than on. Meanwhile, Veronica's gay assistant falls in love with an old pal, a controversial photographic artist who has just been denounced by Veronica's current flame, a powerful United States senator. When conflicts build between those she adores, the fervently apolitical Veronica is forced to take a position on the one subject she cares about – love. Veronica's position written by Rich Orloff is directed by Jack Petersen. Featuring: Lori Cannon as Veronica, Robert Needham as Harvey, Mark Phillips Schwamberger as Alan, Krista Lively Stauffer as Mallory, Christopher Storer as Ezekiel, and David Allen Vargo as Philip. Performances are July 18th thru July 28th at the Columbus Performing Arts Center, 549 Franklin Avenue, Columbus, OH 43215. For tickets or more information, visit: http:evolutiontheatre.org

A Columbus native, Mr. Ray comes home performing in the Midwest premiere of his new play. Starring Terry Ray and Ralph Scott. Directed by Mark Phillips Schwamberger. Sex, drugs and booze make up the life of Brad Burke, while ex-seminary student Gary Henderson is so closeted that he hides his sexuality behind an invented wife. This unlikely pair hook up in a motel room after their 10-year high school reunion and it's a monumental clash of worlds that sparks an 'electricity' between them that lures them back to that same motel room after each reunion for the next 3 decades. Electricity is a very funny, sexy and surprisingly emotional journey through the immense changes that happened to the LGBTQ community between 1983 and 2013. It navigates a world where gay life was hidden in bars and sex clubs to one where equality might just be a reality--if Gary and Brad can only believe that they deserve it. Performances are May 30th thru June 9th at 8:00 pm and Matinee Sunday November 12th at 2:00 pm. Columbus Performing Arts Center, 549 Franklin Avenue, Columbus, OH 43215. For tickets or more information, visit: http://evolutiontheatre.org/

On Wednesday May 11th, 2018 Evolution Theatre Company hosted a staged reading of Charles Busch's The Lady In Question to benefit their 2018 Season. A freewheeling satire of patriotic 1940s thrillers. A glamorous concert pianist is challenged when a handsome American professor engages her aid in rescuing his mother from a Nazi prison. The reading was be held in the Schottenstein Property Group Pavilion of the Columbus Museum of Art.

A renowned dancer and choreographer (Mark Phillips Schwamberger) traveling towards an uncertain future is comforted by his young lover (Nick Hardin), an elite dance student. But he is haunted and challenged by the presence of a silent dancer (Tony White), seen only by him. A visit from his first love and college roommate (David Allen Vargo), a precious fun and memory-filled reunion ultimately threatens relationships and forces all to examine the fine line between the embrace and comfort of memories and the danger of living in the past, relying on illusion to avoid the future. Written by Kenneth Talberth, Directed by Dee Shepherd, Music by Russell Boiarsky, Choreography by Tony White. Performances are Thursday Saturday September 28 30 at 8 PM; Sunday October 1 at 2 PM; Wednesday Saturday October 4 7 at 8 PM. Columbus Performing Arts Center, Van Fleet Theatre, 549 Franklin Avenue, Columbus, OH 43215. For tickets or more information, visit: http://evolutiontheatre.org/ or by calling 614-233-1124.

Two bantering, scheming 'women of fashion' have long lived together on the fringes of upper-class society. One becomes the mistress of a wealthy man, from whom she has received an enormous emerald and an income to match. One is infatuated with a respectable young lady but the young inamorata's sudden appearance sets off a crisis that puts both the valuable emerald and the women's futures at risk. Directed by Mark Phillips Schwamberger and featuring Vicky Welsh Bragg, Kathy Sturm and Kathy Hyland. Performances are July 20, 21, 22, 26, 27, 28, 29 at 8 PM; July 23 at 2 PM. Columbus Performing Arts Center, 549 Franklin Avenue, Columbus, OH 43215.  For tickets or more information, visit:  http://evolutiontheatre.org/

The story of Edison, a young man with leukemia and Robert, an older HIV+ man. Toss in an aging stage star, an eccentric medium, an old-school queen, a ghost, and you get a funny, thought-provoking, unconventional love story. Edison is a handsome young man with leukemia who can only get insurance to cover his chemo if he's HIV+. Robert is an older man, HIV+, and a self-proclaimed 'sex pig' trying to change his life. Each has what the other wants. But what will they do to get it? The comedy is a wonderful new work that blends realism with other-worldly fantasy in a script that's fresh, smart and laced with inside-theater references. POZ has some supremely likeable characters. The script alternates its humor between a warm glow and sharp, laser-like bursts finding the most unlikely path, constantly surprising with the off-ramps, each of them shockingly funny and breathtakingly beautiful. It's funny, it's tender, and it rings with truth. It is a love story with people we care about. If there's such a thing as farce with a heart, then POZ is it.

Four Shorts by local playwrights all with a 'LGBTQQIA in Politics' theme:

The Central Ohio Theatre Critics Circle has presented its 22nd annual citations for outstanding achievements in theater. Rather than focusing on competitive annual 'best' categories, the circle annually honors local individuals or groups whose work 'promotes the higher values of theater' or 'expands the possibilities of theater. All citations, presented Sunday night, January 31, 2016 during the Theater Roundtable's 16th annual Theater Awards Night at the Jewish Community Center, reflect a consensus of central Ohio theater critics:

Tonight, September 10, Evolution Theatre Company will bring to the stage the Columbus premiere of bare:A Pop Opera book by Jon Hartmere and Damon Intrabartolo, music by Damon Intrabartolo, lyrics by Jon Hartmere.