(Cheviot, Ohio) The Drama Workshop is proud to present its stage adaptation of the classic movie ‘The Sting’ to close out its 2017-2018 season. This edge-of-your-seat story of ‘The Big Con’ opens May 4th and runs through May 20th.
Shows are Friday and Saturday evenings at 8 pm, and Sunday afternoons at 2 pm. Because of anticipated ticket demand, a special performance has been added for Thursday, May 17th, at 7:30 pm. All performances are at The Glenmore Playhouse, 3716 Glenmore Ave in Cheviot.
The excitement, maneuvers and comedy of the Paul Newman/Robert Redford screen triumph have been brilliantly adapted for stage production – in 1936 Chicago, small-time grifter Johnny Hooker joins forces with master con man Henry Gondorf to exact revenge on a powerful racketeer. The explosive excitement will have the audience guessing and gasping as it builds to the final con movement.
This is, by far, the largest cast ever to be seen at The Drama Workshop and includes both veteran TDW performers as well as newcomers to the Cheviot stage. Headlining the cast are Chris Bishop as Henry Gondorf, Nathan Henegar as Johnny Hooker, and Kevin Noll as Doyle Lonnegan. The rest of the cast includes Valeria Amburgey, Whitney Ball, Dan Bathe, Erica Beimesche, Meagan Blasch, Amanda Borchers, Clint Bramkamp, Trisha Cooper, Adam Drake, Gretchen Gantner, Neil Geoppinger, Julie Jordan, Cathy Judge, Ben Lacy, Camron Lacy, Ray Lebowski, Burt McCollom, Russ McGee, Mark Miller, Kaitlyn Moss, Gail Nixon, Ray Persing, Bill Rinehart, Erin Marie Schwartz, Kent Smith, Michael Urriquia, Jim Waldfogle, Lee Anne Waldfogle, Joe Ward, Matt Wick, Jack Williams, and Mike Williams.
The production crew is headed by director Fred Hunt, producer Elaine Volker, and stage manager Tobie Braverman. The technical team features some of the top talent in greater Cincinnati, including Eric Bardes, Jason Cox, Gretchen Gantner, John Netzley, and Greg Schaper.
Amanda Borchers plays Billie, the role made famous by Eileen Brennan in the 1975 film. “Audiences will enjoy The Sting for the same reasons depression- era Americans fell in love with outlaws,” she said. “Within the context of 1930s Chicago, Gondorf and Hooker are modern day Robin Hoods. The characters are engaging and their motivations are oddly pure for a group of gangsters: survival and justice for a fallen friend.”
TDW newcomer Erica Beimesche echoed those sentiments. “The show pays homage to the movie, if you’re familiar with it, but it’s different enough to be exciting to newbies and old fans alike. The cast puts their own twist on each role and brings a fresh energy to a classic story.”
Tickets for ‘The Sting’ are $18, and can be obtained by calling The Drama Workshop’s 24/7 ticket line at 513.598.8303, or by ordering online at www.thedramaworkshop.org. Seating is limited, and purchasing your tickets in advance is strongly encouraged.
THE DRAMA WORKSHOP was founded in 1954. TDW is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to advancing education and promotion of the theatrical arts. The Drama Workshop is widely recognized as one of greater Cincinnati’s most accomplished community theater organizations, garnering dozens of awards annually from the Association of Community Theatres of Greater Cincinnati. TDW productions are frequently selected to represent the Southwest Ohio region at the Ohio Community Theatre Association annual conference, including this past season with a production of “Aways…Patsy Cline.” TDW was also honored to represent the state of Ohio at the 2013 and 2017 American Association of Community Theatre regional conferences. The Drama Workshop has been recognized by the Cincinnati Preservation Association for their efforts to rehabilitate the former Glenmore Bowl into The Glenmore Playhouse. Prospective members, and individuals or businesses interested in becoming involved or in helping advance TDW’s mission are encouraged to contact the group through our website at www.thedramaworkshop.org, or by phone at 513-598-8303.