Fundraiser Planning Underway for The Fellowship of the Ring: A Journey Begins
Fundraising efforts are underway for Ovation’s premier production of The Fellowship of the Ring: A Journey Begins, an original stage adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s first book of the trilogy The Lord of the Rings. The book was conceptualized for the stage by Ovation’s own Blake Bowden. Plans for production would incorporate The Fellowship of the Ring: A Journey Begins into Ovation’s fourth season, marking Ovation’s debut in the Jarson-Kaplan Theater, a proscenium stage at the Aronoff Center capable of seating far more patrons than the Fifth Third Bank Theater.
Karen Schulte is heading up Ovation’s fundraising efforts. It is estimated that this production will cost over $68,000. Ovation is appealing to corporate and individual sponsors to help bring this momentous arts collaboration alive.
The Fellowship of the Ring was first published in 1954. It has been widely recognized as one of the most influential works of fiction, spawning and entire genre of fantasy literature. Ovation has secured rights from Tolkien Enterprises to produce this unique show just three months prior to the international screening of the first-ever live action movie of the story. Cincinnati playwright Blake Bowden’s original adaptation has already been previewed at the Cincinnati Playwrights’ Initiative and will be a featured play for analysis and interpretation at Miami University’s Department of Theatre. Dr. Bowden is collaborating on this project with a number of local and national artists, including director Mary Lenning, fight/dance choreographer Gina Cerimele-Mechley, puppeteers Aretta Baumgartner, Carus Wagoner, and Rick Couch, and composer Joel Underwood. Renee Alper will serve as dramaturg. This project has been endorsed by the American Hobbit Association, over which Ms. Alper presides.
Ovation Theatre Company is a non-profit organization. In order to bring this amazing new work to Cincinnati audiences, we need your support. Please contact Ovation if you wish to make a donation, or if you’d like to be added to our mailing list to receive information about this exciting production as it develops.
