Four local young talents have been awarded Rising Stars from the League of Cincinnati Theatres, as announced at the LCT Awards Gala May 20th.
Rising Stars must be under 25 years of age and are nominated for a body of work. Dr. Sandy Osher is the Honorary Chair of the panel which annual reviews applications and nominations from the local universities and theatres.
ELLIE JAMISON an actor from CCM Drama Department, who has been seen recently at CCM as Titania in Midsummer, among other performances. She has appeared in the film The World“™s Greatest Dad and has completed training at the famed Neighborhood Playhouse in NYC. She’s also a certified stage combatant in unarmed plus sword and dagger.
DREW BLAKEMAN has been a strong component at NKU musical theatre, appearing in My Favorite Year and To Kill a Mockingbird. He has also been involved with the Cincinnati Children’s Theatre.
JON KOVACH recently finished his Theatre degree at Miami University. He has worked with many local companies including The Carnegie (PUMP BOYS AND DINETTES and THE SECRET GARDEN), Children“™s Theatre of Cincinnati, Madcap Puppets, The Covedale, Ensemble Theatre, The Clifton Players and Know Theatre and the as well as The Human Race Theatre Company and Pioneer Playhouse. Jon has also been nominated for three League of Cincinnati Theatres Awards, and is the founding Artistic Director of Unity Productions.
SYDNEY KUHLMAN graduated from Ohio Northern University with a dual BFA in International Theatre Production and Musical Theater, and is a Management Intern at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park. Mike Haney, Playhouse in the Park, says “She is a terrific and accomplished young lady” At Ohio Northern she was a soloist, dance captain and voted best stage manager twice. She spent the summer of 2009 abroad in New Zealand at the National Academy for Singing and Dramatic Art. She’s also Stage Managed “For: Four Choreographers for the Advancement of Dance Art” at Stage 773 in Chicago. She was recently a Stage Management Intern at Cincinnati Opera in the summer or 2012.
Each winner receives $1000 to start them on their career. This program has been funded by Pepsico, coordinated by Rick Gill. The LCT and Pepsico/Fritolay sponsored a ticket giveaway in local Walmart Stores last year. Also supporting the Rising Stars is local resident Larry Weber.
