{"id":33529,"date":"2017-09-18T12:52:06","date_gmt":"2017-09-18T16:52:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/libapps.libraries.uc.edu\/liblog\/?p=33529"},"modified":"2017-09-18T13:20:26","modified_gmt":"2017-09-18T17:20:26","slug":"breaking-in-a-new-stage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/libapps.libraries.uc.edu\/liblog\/2017\/09\/breaking-in-a-new-stage\/","title":{"rendered":"Breaking in a New Stage"},"content":{"rendered":"

By: Sydney Vollmer, B.S., Marketing \u201817<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Otto<\/a>Last week, the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company<\/a> said hello to their new home at the Otto M. Budig Theater with performances of A Midsummer Night\u2019s Dream<\/em>. I was fortunate enough to be invited to their Media Night on September 7, when I got a first look at the space and the show.<\/p>\n

The Theater<\/strong><\/p>\n

Located at 1195 Elm Street, the new theater features a modern style of architecture one might not expect for a company boasting Shakespeare\u2019s name. \u00a0There is a large lobby area for everyone to gather before the show and during intermission and it is \"Otto<\/a>peppered with Shakespeare quotes and play titles everywhere you turn, from the steps to the seating. I personally am a fan of the bathroom sinks which read, \u201cA little water clears us of this deed\u201d – a direct quote from Lady Macbeth. When you go to a performance, see how many you can find!\u00a0 Upstairs, an open room is used for classes and meetings for various presentations. During Media Night, Jeremy Dubin, Director of Creative Education, gave an informative presentation on the costuming and set design for A Midsummer Night\u2019s Dream<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\"Breaking<\/a>The theater itself is unlike any other performance venue in Cincinnati. The stage is surrounded by seats on three of the four sides. Only having six rows plus a gallery, no seat in the theater is farther than 20 feet from the stage. This allows for unique performances where characters immerse themselves in their world, rather than making sure their faces are always pointing directly at the back wall.<\/p>\n

The Performance<\/strong><\/p>\n

In the attendance confirmation email from CSC, the listed time of the play had Act 1 at 70 minutes and the second act at 75 minutes. I was a little daunted by length. Though I have an appreciation for Shakespeare\u2019s works as well as a love for performance, I was worried that two and a half hours might exceed my attention span. I was pleasantly surprised to find I was engaged throughout.<\/p>\n

For those of you who don\u2019t know this comedy of Shakespeare\u2019s, first performed in 1605, a summary of the very complex play is as follows:<\/p>\n