Thursday, May 13, 1999
Opera's about life in OTR
BY JIM KNIPPENBERG
The Cincinnati Enquirer
A little of this and that from the party circuit ...
SING OUT: Whoa, here's an unlikely topic for an opera: life in Over-the-Rhine.
But even as we speak that's what Joe Gorman is doing. And doing it fast, 'cause he wants to stage it this summer with School for the Creative and Performing Arts kids and maybe his sister, singer Dixie Karas.
Right. So what does one sing about here? Or who?
About Leo Sunderman for one. He's the Stenger's Cafe owner (he's selling but hopes it remains a restaurant) who has been at the steam table 52 years, serving blue-plate specials to what Gorman calls “the high rollers and the low rent.”
About OTR's ethnic mix, for another, in “appalachiaN blacK” — last letters are capitalized instead of first. No, we don't know why.
About suburbia's fear of venturing into the neighborhood, the homeless, the businesses and characters.
Gorman is looking to do it with soloists, chorus and a small combo — guitar, drums, keyboard, bass, clarinet, sax and trumpet.
ON THE ROPES: Well, would you look at who's back in town — it's MTV producer Banks Tarver (Real Life), shooting footage for his wrestling documentary.
That's the one, recall, he's shooting at Evendale's Main Event Pro Wrestling Center, a school of hard knocks where young wrestlers learn how it's done. Tarver was here in March, shooting Matt Taglia, 24-year-old trainee learning the ropes. Taglia has dropped out of the school, so Tarver is shifting his focus to Steve Moss, who wrestles under the name Rapid Delivery Rory Fox.
Tarver will shoot at the school today, then head to Hamilton's National Guard Armory Saturday to shoot Moss' match.
Main Event director Les Thatcher expects Tarver back for one more session but isn't sure when. The show will air in the fall.
Psst! appears Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. Have an item to report? Call Jim Knippenberg at 768-8513; fax: 768-8330.
Psst! appears Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. Have an item to report? Call Jim Knippenberg at 768-8513; fax: 768-8330.
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