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Some reasons to head out of town this week

Things to do this week in Columbus, Cincinnati
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By Aaron Epple, Contributing Writer 4:58 PM Thursday, January 28, 2010

From music to comedy to stage, a look at some of the best Cincinnati has to offer this week.

Cincinnati

An Evening With Gov’t Mule

When: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 29

Where: Taft Theatre, 317 E. Fifth St., Cincinnati

Cost: $19.75- $26

More info: (513) 639-3780, or www.livenation.com

The Scoop: Gov’t Mule released their ninth album, By A Thread, last October, the first with new bassist Jorgen Carlsson and with contributions by ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons.

Worth the trip? Gov’t Mule has since become a staple of music festivals across the country, often with notable appearances by other famous, world-class musicians.

Winter Blues Fest 2010

When: 5:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Jan. 29-30

Where: Southgate House, 24 E. Third St., Newport, Ky.

Cost: $15

More info: (859) 431-2201 or www.southgatehouse.com

The Scoop: Thirty bands will take over all three Southgate stages over two nights to bring you the funkiest blues in the Tri-State.

Verdict: Some of the notable local acts include Robin Lacy & Zydeco, G-Miles & The Hitmen, and Michael Locke & The Repeat Offenders.

Worth the trip? For hardcore blues fans anywhere in the Tri-State, this is a must-attend event that will go well into the evening hours.

Jeff Dunham

When: 5 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 31

Where: Bank of Kentucky Center, Northern Kentucky University, 500 Nunn Drive, Highland Heights, Ky.

Cost: $45.50

More info: (859) 442-2652 or www.bankofkentuckycenter.com

The Scoop: Jeff Dunham is a popular stand-up comic who has twice won the Ventriloquist of the Year Award. (Don’t laugh, read on).

Verdict: Although ventriloquism is something most people instinctively rank with Studebakers and corsets, Dunham has found a way to make it hip and edgy.

“Miss Julie”

When: Thursdays and Saturdays through Feb. 13 at 7:30 p.m.

Where: Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, 719 Race St., Cincinnati

Cost: $20 to $26

More info: (513) 381-2273 or www.cincyshakes.com

The Scoop: Exploring the social mores of the late 19th century, “Miss Julie” is a restricted aristocratic princess who cozies up with one of her father’s footmen, who has no noble name but a whole lot of freedom.

Verdict: The play was written by August Strindberg — arguably Sweden’s most famous dramatist — who used to hang out with the likes of Henrik Ibsen, Soren Kierkegaard and Hans Christian Andersen.

Worth the trip? In the century since the play was originally produced, many nations have adapted the play around their own turbulent histories.

Columbus

Jason Castro

When: Monday, Feb. 1, 7 p.m.

Where: The Basement, 391 Neil Ave., Columbus

Cost: $8-$10

More info: (614) 461-5483 or www.promowestlive.com.

The scoop: This disarmingly addled, dreadlocked Texan who finished fourth on the seventh season of “American Idol” will grace our capital for one night only.

Verdict: Castro’s debut post-”Idol” album will be released early this year. Two singles have already been released online, one of which — “Let’s Fall In Love Again” — has charted on Billboard.

Worth the trip? The Basement is the ideal venue for “Idol” fanatics who’d like something more intimate than the arena-atmosphere you find with the “Idol” tour.

Diva Nation

When: 8-10 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 30

Where: Midland Theatre, 36 N. Park Place, Columbus

Cost: $15-$50

More info: (740) 345-5483 or www.midlandtheatre.org.

The Scoop: “Diva Nation” is the latest slice of comic musical theater by the Four Bitchin’ Babes.

Verdict: A hilarious musical journey where chocolate is a vegetable, wine is the food pyramid, and shopping is medicinal.

Worth the trip? The Babes are a singing/songwriting quartet that has been producing albums and shows for 20 years.

Cow Tipping And Other Love Stories

When: 8-9:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 30

Where: Madlab, 105 N. Grant Ave., Columbus

Cost: $10

More info: (614) 221-5418 or www.madlab.net

The Scoop: Madlab members Amanda Bauer and Stephen Woosley are presenting their first theatrical production under the new O.G.P. banner, a moniker so quirky they don’t even know what it stands for.

Verdict: “Cow Tipping” will consist of five one-act plays: Three comedies, and two dramas. Chaos is guaranteed.

Worth the trip? Bauer and Woosley have very different ideas about theater, many of them “shaped by vodka,” and they think those ideas should be represented on stage.

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