Loveland Magazine

Correction

The original posting of the story about the Loveland High School production of Bye Bye Birdie, misidentified Nathan Robbins as Austin Osborne. Our apology to, Nathan Robbins. (Read story here)

Bye Bye Birdie tonight at Loveland High School

(Editor's Note: The original posting of the story misidentified Nathan Robbins as Austin Osborne. Our apology to, Nathan Robbins.)

SYMMES TOWNSHIP, OHIO - Nathan Robbins playing the part of the hapless father of a teenager, and especially Robbins signing "Kids" is well worth the price of admission to the Loveland High School Drama Depertment's production of Bye Bye Birdie which starts tonight at Loveland High School.

The musical runs through Saturday night at 7:30 PM, and a matinee on Saturday at 3 PM. For ticket questions: 774-9329 or catscatscats@cinci.rr.com.

Kids!
I don't know what's wrong with these kids today!
Kids!
Who can understand anything they say?
Kids!
They a disobedient, disrespectful oafs!
Noisy, crazy, dirty, lazy, loafers!
While we're on the subject:
Kids!
You can talk and talk till your face is blue!
Kids!
But they still just do what they want to do!
Why can't they be like we were,
Perfect in every way?
What's the matter with kids today?
Kids!
I've tried to raise him the best I could
Kids! Kids!
Laughing, singing, dancing, grinning, morons!
And while we're on the subject!
Kids! They are just impossible to control!
Kids! With their awful clothes and their rock an' roll!
Why can't they dance like we did
What's wrong with Sammy Caine?
What's the matter with kids today!

Bye Bye Birdie Ticket Info

Kate Westfall returns to Loveland: At buZZthru July 10

LOVELAND, OHIO – Kate Westfall lived in Loveland from 2002 until moving back to her hometown of Mansfield, Ohio in 2005, however, her brief stay here proved she might have been the most creative person/s to ever hit town.

Person/s?

Yes.

She is an artist in the digital mediums, photographer, songwriter, composer, musician, and poet. It is her mastery of all these arts, and her uninhibited approach of melding her art and herself that sets her apart. She is her own best model and instrument, and reflects back to the world what she sees in a mirror. There is very deliberative method in her zaninesses.

On Thursday, July 10 she will be singing and playing music, and she says, “probably some poetry” at the buZZthru espresso bar from 7-10 PM. The coffee house is at 807 Loveland Madeira Road, and admission if free. Acoustic guitar player, Jeff Bell will also be performing.

Westfall has just released her debut CD, VoKate, and will be performing songs from the album at the buZZthru. Westfall said the music for the album, “was created by layering a series of looping vocal melodies and sound effects.” All melodies and sound effects were created “organically” by Westfall. Rhythms were made through body-actions of the feet, hands, arms, mouth, collarbone, and “...so much more,” She said, “The exception to the organic purity is 'Private Scientist' which includes my keyboard and pencil scratchings among other aural teasings.” VoKate was recorded, mixed, and mastered by Eric Barnett.

Westfall's Loveland performances will include live vocal looping, digital rhythms, occasional hand drums, spoken word, and even digeridoo. Kate's CD will be available at the performance.

Joining her at buZZthru will be acoustic guitar player, Jeff Bell, who has been performing for over 20 years and has appeared on a dozen albums.

On Wednesday, July 9th, Westfall will be one of the opening music acts for Matt Baumann (saxophonist) at the Northside Tavern, starting around 10PM.

For more information about Kate Westfall, and to purchase her CD or poetry books visit: http://www.myspace.com/vokate

From Kate's MySpace page:

My most recent 6-poem booklet is called "Ladies of the Sea". I am especially excited about this one because the content focuses strongly on the imaginative. The poems reside in a fantasy realm that includes the seductive and the sinister. It embraces powerful females and explores the danger of the unknown. Each poem tells a story about a specific type of mer-maid. For example, the "Octodame", the "Crabdamsel", the "Whale Woman", etc.

Here is the first poem from "Ladies of the Sea":

Mermaid

Buckled at the boot and woolen waist
in layers to maintain an air on their skin,
behind their sculpted homage personified at the helM,
they sail among the moon’s reflections,
curves of shoreline,
tides,
in a realm of wetness -
a realm of female. ShE
is a mermaid in fishnet hosiery -
a single-stocking lady painted in lace glaze, heR
bondage lingerie a snare for the suited sailors
awash with confidence, defiance combined with deference,
each chest a two-chambered druM
driving a man toward what he hopes to call conquest,
mast hinging on her favor.
At their approach to this part of her body of water,
she decides to deny the men their marinA.
She decides:
this ship will be shuffled.
From their four directions she sends them back.
Pliant as cards, she snaps them
back-flat in a flip of sea-spray confettI.
Knaves with heads knocked together,
in boots meant to anchor them to their decks,
anchored to her bottom,
in their decks they are laiD.

More information on these artists can be found at:
http://www.myspace.com/vokate
www.myspace.com/vokatemusica
www.myspace.com/jbellguitar
www.myspace.com/sohcahtoaeric
www.myspace.com/barnetteric

Loveland Festival 2008

SLOTERPARK, AMSTERDAM - Welcome to Loveland Festival 2008. Feel free to take a dip and get in the mood for August 2nd. We will reveal more and more. For the time being, just swim around a little, enjoy the surroundings and please come back often for the latest updates. Click for more info.

60's 4th of July

MASON, OHIO - Creedence Clearwater Revisited and Grand Funk Railroad will appear as part of Mason's Red Rythem & Boom celebration on Thursday, July 3 between 5:30 - 10:30 PM in Corwin M. Nixon Park.

The Rusty Griswolds kick-off the "Fourth of July Holiday" entertainment at 5:30 PM. But remember it's on July3rd.

Admission is free and parking/shuttle info is available at imaginemason.org.

LOVELAND, OHIO - Photos from Oklahoma

LOVELAND, OHIO - Photos from the recent performance of "Oklahoma" by the Loveland High School Drama Club can be viewed here.

SYMMES TOWNSHIP, OHIO – Oklahoma: not your father's Buick

SYMMES TOWNSHIP, OHIO - Sometimes making the transition when very young people play the part of an adult is seamless. Sometimes it is not. Triumph can be achieved through makeup, costumes and choosing the cast. However it was done – it was done very well at last night's dress rehearsal for “Oklahoma.” Although many of the musical's roles are that of young people, it is usually the stretch of the adult parts of a high school production that can stand out as unbelievable, and distract from other well played parts. Not true however of the spring musical put on by the Loveland High School Drama Club.

The production premiers tonight at 7:30 PM in the Ron DeWitt Theater at the High School, continues at the same time on Friday night, and a matinée performance on Saturday at 2 PM.

Also distracting sometimes, is the transition between speaking parts to singing. But also not true of this production, as the singing roles, either from individuals, duets, or the large chorus is spontaneous in a seamless and artful manner. Speaking of singing, there is not one weak singing role or chorus number to be found. Neither is there one weak character role in the production. All of these students must have worked extremely hard developing their character's believable dialect and stage persona.

The show's Director is New Jersey native Larry Smiglewski, who ended up in Cincinnati after being recruited to the Carnegie Theater in Covington. At the end of his first year teaching 5th grade in Public School 89 in the Bronx, Smiglewski was honored as one of three “Model New Teachers in NYC” by First Lady Laura Bush. Smiglewski is Artistic Director and co-founder of Jersey Productions in Covington and has worked with Tony Award winning, producer Stuart Ostrow and director Walter Bobbie. The student Director is Carrie Southcott. The Musical Director is Jill Stagg, assisted by student Musical Director, Logan Sand. Loveland High School graduate, Kristin Rutter directed the choreography and is proving herself again as an artist and teacher capable of pulling off inspiring stage presence for actors and dancers. Rutter takes the actors to the very edge of the stage at subtle times almost to the front row seats, sucking the audience right into the drama.

This is not your father's Buick production of the World War II era musical, and Director  Smiglewski said last night, “This after all is Rogers and Hammerstein.” He was referring to the murky elements of the story and the loner, Jud Fry character, played by Senior Matt Robinson. The rivalry between farmers and cowboys, Robinson's portrayal of grave and brooding and the dark, earthy, emotions are not shied away from. The forbidding side of the story receives equal weight to the unfolding love story and songs we are familiar with

Dress rehearsal tests the whole production, from lighting, set design, sound, and orchestra. Flaws could be found, such as wireless microphones that cut out because antennas were not yet installed, and orchestra mis-cues, but these problems were already being addressed before people headed home for the evening.

This is an excellent production, not just an excellent high school production, which it is, but a well told story through acting, singing and dancing that is first rate and one that any community would be proud to brag about. You don't have to just like musicals to enjoy this show, it's for those who enjoy well acted drama as well.