Jerry Springer: The Opera

by Richard Thomas and Stewart Lee

directed by Alan Patrick Kenny

New Stage Collective

Summer 2008

PRESS

Now, give that the sort of exuberant, take-no-prisoners production that director Alan Patrick Kenny and his New Stage Collective minions have used for Jerry Springer: The Opera and you have an evening of mocking, stomping, slap-dazzle fun.

Kenny packs the narrow loft space on Main Street with a dozen full-voiced principles (nary a dud among them), a well-tuned chorus of 13, eight musicians, an army of technicians and, on opening night, a sell-out audience of 105.

Springer is designed to incite laughter and to entertain. At New Stage it succeeds. Operatically. Amen. Critic's Pick

CINCINNATI CITYBEAT

‘Jerry Springer: The Opera’ was as much a happening as an opening night on Thursday. Protesters stood outside in torrential rain outside New Stage Collective, I think praying for our souls, and the excitement added a nice adrenalin buzz for the audience inside.

Director Alan Patrick Kenny frontloads his show with talent.

CINCINNATI ENQUIRER

‘Jerry Springer’ was given full foul-mouthed exposure by the alternative theater company, New Stage Collective, at its modest, rehabbed venue on Main Street on the opposite end of the historic, inner-city neighborhood.

Both were enthusiastically received -- if you don’t count the pickets from America Needs Fatima, who demonstrated against the blasphemy in "Jerry" outside the theater opening night.