CCM’s “Speech and Debate” Earns 4.5 Star LCT Rating

Panelists for the League of Cincinnati Theatres (LCT) have recognized the College Conservatory of Music Drama Department’s Speech and Debate with a 4.5 Star Rating.

Written by Pulitzer Prize nominated playwright Stephen Karam, Speech and Debate feels ripped from today’s headlines. What begins as a story of on-line stalking quickly snowballs into a play that is part mystery, part coming-of-age story; a smart comedy and an insightful reflection of what it means to be young in America today.

Panelists called Speech and Debate “a wonderful production…contemporary, real, and sometimes raw.” They were unanimous in praising Richard Hess’s direction: “tight and economical, allowing his actors to bond together in their awkwardness while slowly revealing their secrets.” The ensemble in the show “couldn’t be better…they worked marvelously together as a seamless unit”. Panelists singled out actress Katie Langham’s performance as Diwata: “brilliant, quick-delivery, comic in the truest sense”.

League of Cincinnati Theatre panelists evaluate productions on a 5 star scale and recommend shows at either a 4 star or 5 star level. Nominations for LCT awards will be determined and announced at the end of the season and winners awarded at the annual LCT gala in the spring.