Yearly Archives: 2012

November 13, 2012 · 2:05 pm

TCT’s SANTA’S TOY FACTORY Features Local Celebrities for the Holidays

The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati’s SANTA’S TOY FACTORY Features Local Celebrities for the Holidays

The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati and Santa will bring local audiences a lot to smile about this holiday season! TCTC’s production of SANTA’S TOY FACTORYwill feature not only LOCAL 12’s morning team of anchor Bob Herzog and meteorologist John Gumm as the Miser Brothers (Heat and Snow, respectively — you might remember them from the 1970s TV special, ” The Year Without a Santa Claus”), but also, 16 year-old Eben Franckewitz fresh off “American Idol” starring as the show’s leading character, Wendell the Elf. Eben made history last season when he was the youngest “American Idol” hopeful to ever make it into the top 24.

SANTA’S TOY FACTORY is a new holiday musical filled with fun for the whole family. The show was written and compiled by Ken Jones, is being produced by special arrangements with IO Productions, and is being directed by Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati’s Artistic Director, Angela Powell Walker.

“We are so excited to have Eben, Bob and John join us for this show,” said Powell Walker. “What a wonderful time of year for them to spend with us and to bring so much joy to the Cincinnati community — it’s a thrill! Bob and John are going to be hilarious as the Miser Brothers, it was a natural fit for them. And you will not want to miss seeing Eben on the stage of the Taft Theatre singing, acting and dancing this wonderful holiday show!”

Bob Herzog is no stranger to The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati stage. Past roles include Captain Hook (Disney’s Peter Pan JR. in the 2010-2011 season), Gaston (Disney’s Beauty and the Beast JR. in the 2009-2010 season) and Genie (Disney’s Aladdin JR in the 2006-2007 season.)

SYNOPSIS:
SANTA’S TOY FACTORY takes us on a trip to the North Pole to visit all the hard working elves readying Santa’s Sleigh for his Christmas Eve journey. Poindexter, the head elf, is busy keeping everyone on task to create all the new high tech toys he thinks the children of the world want. All seems to be going well with the exception of the Holiday Spirit Meter dipping very low. Everyone must have Christmas Spirit in order for Santa’s sleigh to take off. Wendell, a kind and gentle elf, is having a very hard time finding his Christmas Spirit because he doesn’t want to make high-tech toys, just simple, old-fashioned ones like teddy bears. As soon as Santa hears about Wendell’s dilemma, he takes him on a fantastic journey to find his Christmas Spirit. We travel with Santa and Wendell as they visit Rudolph, Blitzen, Dasher and all the other reindeer, the North Pole Penguins, the Heat and Snow Miser Brothers with all their minions and the magical Frosty the Snowman! Wendell, with Santa and everyone’s help, discovers that the real Spirit of Christmas is the joy of a happy heart and the magic of a holiday wish.

Single tickets and subscriptions for the entire season are available now by calling 513-569-8080 ext. 10. Visit www.thechildrenstheatre.com for more information.

SANTA’S TOY FACTORY, The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati, through December 15. 7:30 p.m. Friday December 7, 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. Saturday December 8 & 15, 2 p.m. Sunday December 9. Taft Theatre, 317 East 5th Street in Downtown Cincinnati. Tickets $7-$25. 513-569-8080 ext. 10 and www.ticketmaster.com.

Q102 and The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati are proud to collect items for St. Joseph Orphanage at all performances of SANTA’S TOY FACTORY. Children and adults are encouraged to bring any new or unwrapped item and we’ll collect them in the Taft Theatre lobby. Visit http://www.stjosephorphanage.org/ for a list of holiday requests. SANTA’S TOY FACTORY is made possible by the generous support of Macy’s. The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati is supported by the generosity of community contributions to the ArtsWave Campaign. The Children’s Theatre’s Season Sponsors are the Charles H. Dater Foundation and the Marge and Charles J. Schott Foundation. Media sponsors are The Cincinnati Enquirer, LOCAL 12 and Time Warner Cable. The Ohio Arts Council helped fund this program with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans.

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November 13, 2012 · 1:51 pm

THE MAN WHO CAME TO DINNER runs Nov. 30-Dec. 16

THE MAN WHO CAME TO DINNER
Presented by The Drama Workshop
Nov. 30-Dec. 16
Cheviot

Directed by Amy Hamilton
Produced by Mary Stone and Valeria Amburgey

Cast: Wayne Kirsch as Whiteside, Mary Stone as Maggie, Joe Kozak as Bert Jefferson, Stefanie Adams as Lorraine, Joe Ward as Ernest Stanley, Gretchen Gantner as Daisy Stanley, Kiya Fix as June, Ryan Paluch as Richard, Ann Barfels as Harriet Stanley, Chris Weidner as Sandy, Rusty Lacy as Sarah, Jason Cox as John, Julia Hedges as Miss Preen, Clint Bramkamp as Dr. Bradley, Ray Lebowski as Banjo, Dennis Murphy as Beverly, Jim Waldfogle as Professor Metz, Valeria Amburgey as Mrs. McClutchen, Abby Doench as Mrs. Dexter, Josh Roden as Expressman/Radio Tech, Scott A. Baker as Westcott/Mr. Baker/Deputy, Thom Williams as Expressman/Radio Tech/Plainclothes Man/Convict, John Netzley as Convict/Deputy & Ray Persing as Convict/Deputy

An American classic set in the 1930s. Famously outlandish radio wit Sheridan Whiteside is invited to dine at the home of a small-town Ohio factory owner and his family. However, before Whiteside enters the house, he slips on a patch of ice outside the front door and injures his hip. Whiteside is forced to remain at the home indefinitely, and in the process of recovering alternately terrorizes the family and household staff, meddles in the love life of his long-suffering assistant, Maggie, and endears himself to the rest of the community. Great for all ages!

  • Fri-Sat, Nov. 30-Dec. 1 at 8pm
  • Sun, Dec. 2 at 2pm
  • Fri-Sat, Dec. 7-8 at 8pm
  • Sun, Dec. 9 at 2pm
  • Fri-Sat, Dec. 14-15 at 8pm
  • Sun, Dec. 16 at 2pm

Official page | Online ticketing | FaceBook event |

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November 12, 2012 · 6:19 pm

ANNIE runs Nov. 30-Dec. 15

ANNIE
Presented by Troy Civic Theatre
Nov. 30-Dec. 15
Troy

Directed by Barrie Van Kirk
Choreography and vocal coaching by McKenzie Stotler
Produced by Barb Lurie

Cast: Kayleigh Gleason as Annie, James Trzeciah as Oliver ‘Daddy’ Warbucks, Lori Robinson as Miss Agatha Hannigan, Joe Meyer as Daniel ‘Rooster’ Hannigan, Jill Lynott as Lily St. Regis, Kissy McKim Barker as Grace Farrell, Kevin Glover as Franklin D. Roosevelt and ‘Sandy’, the dog played by Indy
Adult ensemble: Scott Atkinson, Jessica Carson, Sydney Edington, Sandy Erlich, Nikki James, Kali Jordan-DeBuin, Sarah Jordan, Josh Lisec, Josh Lurie, Lori Robinson & Jason Studebaker
Children ensemble: Fiona Atkinson, Julia Couser, Lauren Fonner, Victoria Glover, Azaleigh Hammer, Emily Huber, Lilly James, Meaghann Joseph, Rebecca Martin, Katie Robinson, Jovie Studebaker, Evelynn Turnbull, Gwendolyn Turnbull, Kayleigh Via & Campbell Zwierzchowski

Abused by a cruel orphanage matron, Annie, a spunky, redheaded orphan, decides to run away and find her parents. After eventually managing to escape the orphanage, she sadly is caught and sent back by Officer Ward of the NYPD. Soon though, her luck improves. Billionaire Oliver Warbucks decides to invite an orphan over to his house for Christmas and Annie is chosen. The two quickly hit it off and he agrees to help Annie find her parents by putting up a $50,000 reward. –StageAgent.com

  • Fri-Sat, Nov. 30-Dec. 1 at 8pm
  • Sun, Dec. 2 at 4pm
  • Fri-Sat, Dec. 7-8 at 8pm
  • Sun, Dec. 9 at 4pm
  • Fri-Sat, Dec. 14-15 at 8pm

Official page |

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November 12, 2012 · 3:15 pm

Thompson House Presents J STRING Debut

NEWPORT (KY.) – Thompson House Newport – Greater Cincinnati’s live music and creative hub – announces the world premiere live performance of internet sensation J String at 9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 30, in the Tommygun Theater at Thompson House, 24 E. 3rd Street, Newport, Kentucky.

J String is the duo of Broadway veteran Jessica Hendy and classical cellist Jacob Yates. The two met during the award-winning Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati production of the Pulitzer- and Tony-winning “Next to Normal.” Hendy starred as Diana; Yates played cello and second keyboard.

They became fast friends after discovering a mutual love of music and covers of well-known songs. Their different musical backgrounds led to surprising and exciting collaborations on covers of popular songs. Their first video (“Edge of Glory”) became an instant YouTube success and was featured on websites such as BroadwayWorld.com.

Tickets for the J String show are $20 each and available at www.ticketweb.com.

“This is going to be an amazing night,” said Cathy Creason, Thompson House artistic director. “The way these two artists combine their talents and passions to interpret pop music is electric. It’s sure to be an unforgettable show.”

Jessica Hendy’s Broadway credits include “Cats”(Grizabella), “Aida” (Amneris) and “Amour.” She has toured nationally and in Canada with “Cats” and “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.” In New York, she received rave reviews for her one-woman cabaret, “A Life To Call Your Own,” and a Bistro Award for the review “Get Your Tickets Now.” Hendy has performed with Pittsburg Civic Light Opera, North Shore Music Theatre and Helen Hayes Performing Arts Center. In addition to N2N, Hendy won an Acclaim Award for her performance in Ensemble’s “The Great American Trailer Park Musical” and another for the world premiere of “Don’t Make Me Pull This Show Over, Dispatches at the Front Lines of Parenting” in the Cincinnati Fringe Festival. Her concert work includes performances with the Cincinnati Pops, Modesto Symphony, Long Beach Symphony, Ft. Worth Symphony, Grand Rapids Symphony and the Kentucky Symphony Orchestra. She has traveled the country with the concert “Broadway Today,” and “Cinema Toast.”

Jacob Yates is a classically trained cellist who loves bringing out the diversity of the cello. He began playing at the age of nine in the public school system of Lexington, Kentucky, his hometown. He continued his studies with established local musicians Clyde Beavers and Yoonie Choi. In high school he discovered the many voices a cello can have and decided to explore them with the help of fellow cello pioneer Ben Sollee. He attends the University of Cincinnati-College Conservatory of Music under the teaching of Yehuda Hanani and Ilya Finkelshteyn. Yates was twice principal cellist in the Honors Orchestra of America and has performed in master classes for Avery Fisher Grant recipient Priscilla Lee, Paul York and Mark Rudolph. Outside the classical realm, he has performed alongside fiddle legend Mark O’Connor and the high-octane fiddling group, Barrage. Yates is also an accomplished pianist and music director. Most recently he served as musical director for the Broadway Dreams Summer Intensives where he worked alongside Jason Robert Brown, Tituss Burgess, Nikki Snelson and others.

For more information on Thompson House Newport and its many events and programs, please visit www.thompsonhousenewport.com.

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November 12, 2012 · 3:05 pm

ON CHRISTMAS DAY IN THE MORNING runs Nov. 30-Dec. 9

ON CHRISTMAS DAY IN THE MORNING
Presented by Beavercreek Community Theatre Children’s Theatre
Nov. 30-Dec. 9
Beavercreek

Directed by Teresa Connair

Cast list:

Lucy James is the most obstinate orphan to ever live at the Little Angels. She was adopted seven times in the last year, but she kept coming back! On this Christmas of 1935, Little Angels is in trouble and may not be around another year. With what the orphans believe to be divine intervention, a bus breaks down, bringing a traveling evangelist group and one lonely traveler to the orphanage door. In this motley group of travelers, Lucy finds the father she had in mind and each person discovers what it means to be a family.

  • Fri-Sat, Nov. 30-Dec. 1 at 7pm
  • Sun, Dec. 2 at 3pm
  • Fri-Sat, Dec. 7-8 at 7pm
  • Sun, Dec. 9 at 3pm

Official page | Online ticketing |

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