Column: Theater still offers more than movies

The first real theater experience I had was during a Shakespeare class field trip in my senior year of high school. The class was going to see a production of Twelfth Night at the Cincinnati Shakespeare Festival.

It was amazing to watch the actors at work, conveying so many emotions on stage.

The class didn't get to stay to finish the play, so I persuaded my parents to let me stay out late on a school night to go back to CSF and watch the free dress rehearsal.

After that, I was hooked.

Some people think theater is not as good as films and television, but I tend to think it is superior (the majority of the time - there are, of course, exceptions).

Some see the stage in terms of its limitations. I see the lack of computerized special effects and sweeping camera angles as a challenge to rise to the occasion. The so-called "limitations" force sound, lighting and scenery technicians, as well as directors and actors, to stretch their creative muscles.

Furthermore, watching an actor live and up-close on stage just seems so much better than watching an actor on film. The audience, perhaps because of their proximity to the actor, can be impacted more by their words, expressions and actions.

The spontaneity of the stage, where every performance can bring something different, is something most films and television programs can never achieve.

Now that I've thoroughly rambled on about my love of all things theater, let me also say how happy I am to be writing a column about a subject I enjoy so much. I may not be a theater expert, but I sure do like watching it, analyzing it - just talking about it in general.

The amount of talent in this city is pretty amazing, but the sad thing is that many people haven't been exposed to it or given it the recognition it deserves. That's why this time of year is so exciting.

That's right - voting time.

No, not the presidential election. Although voting in that election is important as well.

It's time for CityBeat's eighth- annual Cincinnati Entertainment Awards, a ceremony recognizing Cincy's talented artists in the fields of music and, of course, theater.

The great thing about these awards is not only do they honor the talented artists in Cincinnati, but they can also introduce those unfamiliar with local theater to just what is out there.

CSF, Cincinnati Playhouse, Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati and the wonderfully risk-taking Know Theatre Tribe, to name a few, snagged several nominations each.

Four UC College-Conservatory of Music students are among the nominees as well, and CCM's production of Ghetto is nominated for the Ensemble Acting Performance award.

Even local community theater productions get recognition. The Village Players' production of The Voice of the Prairie, is one nominated for the Community Theater Production award.

These folks deserve just as much, if not more, recognition as professional theater groups. Many community theater groups work on drastically smaller budgets and the actors, directors, producers and technicians are mostly comprised of people who work their normal jobs everyday, then spend their evenings working (without pay the majority of the time) at the theater house.

These people do productions purely for the love of theater.

The awards ceremony will take place Nov. 24 at Old St. George and will benefit LINKS (Lonely Instruments for Needy Kids), a program that donates old instruments to children.

To vote visit CEA's Web site, located at www.citybeat.com/cea.

Comments? Contact Amy at amy.witherby@fuse.net.