Yearly Archives: 2019

The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati Presents CASPER THE FRIENDLY MUSICAL

TCTC_Casper logo2

Casper as imagined by illustrator James Claridades.

A world-premiere production at the Taft Theatre this October!

CINCINNATI:  The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati’s world-premiere of CASPER THE FRIENDLY MUSICAL flies into the Taft Theatre October 12-October 21, 2019 and kicks off TCT’s 100th birthday celebration season!

In TCT’s world-premiere musical adaptation, everyone’s favorite friendly ghost and his three uncles live in the family mansion. Fifty years after their lives were cut short in a lightning storm, Magdalena, their former maid, re-enters their (after)lives! Now a famous Reality TV Host, she’s looking for the mansion’s deed and believes it will lead her to a “great treasure.” She hosts a live million-dollar treasure hunt in the mansion. It’s up to Casper and his new friends, the contestants, to save the mansion and discover the greatest treasure of all!

Ideal for ages 4 and up.

Book and lyrics by Stephen Cole. Music by Matthew Martin Ward. Adapted by TCT and Roderick Justice. By special arrangement with Universal Theatrical Group. Directed by Roderick Justice. Choreographed by Eric Byrd.

Showtimes for CASPER THE FRIENDLY MUSICAL include:

  • Saturday, October 12 at 2 PM* (this performance is signed for the hearing impaired)
  • Sunday, October 13 at 2 PM and 5 PM
  • Wednesday, October 16 at 12:15 PM (this is a Sensory-Friendly performance)
  • Friday, October 18 at 7:30 PM
  • Saturday, October 19 at 2 PM and 5 PM
  • Sunday, October 20 at 2 PM

Families are encouraged to “test-drive” their Halloween costumes and wear them to the performances!

All of The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati’s Broadway-style MainStage productions, including CASPER THE FRIENDLY MUSICAL, are performed in the historic Taft Theatre, 5th and Sycamore Streets in Downtown Cincinnati. Tickets start at $10.  Starting August 30, visit www.ticketmaster.com for tickets, or visit the TCT Box Office at 4015 Red Bank Road, Cincinnati, OH  45227, Mondays/Wednesdays/Fridays from 10 AM to 4 PM and Tuesdays/Thursdays from 10 AM to 7 PM  to purchase tickets in person with reduced fees.

Public subscriptions for the entire 2019-2020 season available now at www.thechildrenstheatre.com.

School performances of CASPER THE FRIENDLY MUSICAL will be held October 15-18 and October 21, 2019 during the daytime hours.

The sensory-friendly performance of CASPER THE FRIENDLY MUSICAL on October 16 is intended for individuals on the autism spectrum, as well as children (and adults) with other special needs who may benefit.  To create a sensory-friendly performance, the show is performed in a welcoming, supportive environment for those with sensory challenges.  Slight adjustments to lighting and sound are made and effects such as fog, strobes, and lights that extend into the audience are minimalized.  A downloadable Social Narrative (in Word format) is made available on the TCT website one week before the performance.  At the theater, TCT provides an area staffed by specialists in the field where patrons can take a break from the performance if necessary, and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center has trained staff on hand.

For details about how to purchase tickets to TCT’s School or Sensory-Friendly performances, visit www.thechildrenstheatre.com.

And don’t miss The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati’s brand-new Podcast, Audio Footlights. Hosted by Producing Artistic Director, Roderick Justice, listeners will get to know the actors and actresses in each show. This podcast is designed to look at the shows we produce, and to ignite, impact, and inspire all of our young listeners to have a lifelong love of theatre. Flex your imagination and join us!  This free TCT Podcast runs about 8 minutes, and is currently available on iTunes as well as Stitcher, SoundCloud, GooglePlay, TuneIn, and Spotify!

Here’s a link to SoundCloud:  https://soundcloud.com/tctcincinnati.  New episodes start this fall.

The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati’s production of CASPER THE FRIENDLY MUSICAL is made possible by the generosity of Production Sponsor Edyth B. Lindner and TriHealth; Season Sponsors H.B., E. W. and F. R. Luther Foundation and the Charles H. Dater Foundation; and ArtsWave and the generosity of tens of thousands of contributors to the ArtsWave Community Campaign.  The Ohio Arts Council helped fund this program with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans.  Media sponsors are LOCAL 12 and Q102.  Sea of Smiles Pediatric Dentistry is TCT’s Ticket Envelope Season Sponsor.  First Watch: The Daytime Café is TCT’s Crown Club Sponsor.

Starring Jack Theodore Kruse † as Casper

(Cast in alphabetical order):

  • Donald….Evan Blust †
  • Minnie…Lyndsey Bowman
  • Lane…MADELEINE BURGOON
  • Precious…Brinley Culver †
  • Coco…Haley Gillman
  • Pierce…Nicholas Gundrum †
  • Gretchen…Abby Johnson †
  • Stretch…Sam Johnson
  • Stinky…A. JAMES JONES
  • Bradley…Andrew Lippert †
  • Fatso…Joey Logan
  • Magdalena…Marissa Poole
  • Bettina…Makenzie Ruff 

ENSEMBLE
Brian Anderson, Donald Burns, Sara Cox, Marlo D’Ascenzo †, Alexis Rae Diggs, Faustina Gorham, Joseph Green, Jackson Hurt, Mackenzie Kasbaum, Ashley Olivia Morton, Talia Raider-Roth †, Ryan-Chavez Richmond, CJ Zimmer †

† Denotes members of TCT’s Young Artists Company

-end-

 

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IS HE DEAD? Runs Sept. 13-29

MPI_Is He Dead logoIS HE DEAD?
Mariemont Players Inc.
Sept. 13-29
Walton Creek Theater [Walton]

Directed by Michele Mascari

Cast: Nick Young as Francois Millet/Daisy Tillou, Ryan Bowron as Chicago, Jimmy Jackson as O’Shaugnessy, Darren Lee as Dutchy, Katie Jensen as Marie, Cat Cook as Cecile/Lefaux, Roscoe Mlinek as Papa Leroux, Petrina Barresi as Mme. Bathilde, Tara Pettit as Mme. Caron, Ray Lebowski as Andre Bastien & Danny Davies as Charlie/Basil/Claude/King of France/Policeman

IS HE DEAD? presents a fictional version of the great French painter Jean-François Millet as an impoverished artist in Barbizon, France. He stages his own death with the help of his colleagues to increase the value of his paintings, then dresses as a woman – ostensibly his sister, the Widow Daisy Tillou – to keep his secret safe. Is He Dead? combines elements of burlesque, farce, and social satire; it features devices like cross-dressing, mistaken identities and romantic deceptions to tell a story that raises questions about fame, greed and the value of art.

  • Fri-Sat, Sept. 13-14 at 8pm
  • Sun, Sept. 15 at 2pm
  • Thu, Sept. 19 at 7:30pm
  • Fri-Sat, Sept. 20-21 at 8pm
  • Sun, Sept. 22 at 2pm & 7pm
  • Thu, Sept. 26 at 7:30pm
  • Fri, Sept. 27 at 8pm
  • Sat, Sept. 28 at 3pm & 8pm
  • Sun, Sept. 29 at 2pm

Official page | Facebook event |

 

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Disney’s FROZEN JR. Runs Sept. 13-29

THT_Frozen Jr logoDisney’s FROZEN JR.
Town Hall Theatre
Sept. 13-29
[Centerville]

Official cast |

FROZEN JR. is based on the 2018 Broadway musical, and brings Elsa, Anna, and the magical land of Arendelle to life, onstage. The show features all of the memorable songs from the animated film, with music and lyrics by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, plus five new songs written for the Broadway production.

  • Fri-Sat, Sept. 13-14 at 7pm
  • Sun, Sept. 15 at 3pm
  • Fri, Sept. 20 at 7pm
  • Sat, Sept. 21 at 11am (Sensory Performance) and 3pm
  • Sun, Sept. 22 at 3pm
  • Fri-Sat, Sept. 27-28 at 7pm
  • Sun, Sept. 29 at 3pm

Official page |

 

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GRUESOME PLAYGROUND INJURIES Run Aug. 30-Sept. 1

TRT_Gruesome Playground Injuries promoGRUESOME PLAYGROUND INJURIES
The Regular Theatre
Aug. 30-Sept. 1
Essex Studios [Avondale]

Directed by Kyle Parker Daniels

Cast: Mandy Goodwin as Kayleen & Micah Price as Doug

GRUESOME PLAYGROUND INJURIES is a surreal, anecdotal two-hander that explores the tumultuous relationship between two childhood best friends, Doug and Kayleen. Through a non-linear timeline, Joesph explores life, loss, and codependence as the characters discover, lose, and rediscover each other over the span of thirty years.

  • Fri, Aug. 30 at 7:30pm
  • Sat, Aug. 31 at 2:30pm & 7:30pm
  • Sun, Sept. 1 at 2:30pm

Official page | Facebook event |

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Exciting 2020 ‘Summer Classics Season’ Announced for Warsaw Federal Incline Theater

WFIT_Sign at nightAll Musical  Season Features Dancing, Laughs, Love Songs and One of Musical Theatre’s All Time Classics

Cincinnati Landmark Productions announced this week its four-show 2020 Summer Classics Season at the Warsaw Federal Incline Theater

The 2020 Summer Classics Season, presented by TriHealth, includes:

  • NEWSIES – April 22 – May 17, 2020
  • A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM – June 3 – 28, 2020
  • JERRY’S GIRLS – July 8 – August 2, 2020
  • CAROUSEL – August 19 – September 13, 2020

“We broke our own attendance records with our Summer Classics Season in 2018, but wouldnt you know it – we did it again in 2019,” said Tim Perrino, Executive Artistic Director for Cincinnati Landmark Productions. “We can’t wait to present these four great titles in 2020 and keep this amazing momentum going for years to come!”

The Warsaw Federal Incline Theater is the purpose-built, 229-seat performing arts center and parking garage in the Incline District in East Price Hill. Located at the corner of Matson Place and West 8th Street, the $6 million project opened on June 3, 2015.

Subscriptions for the 2020 Summer Classics Season – only $104 – are now on sale.

Subscribers to the 2019 Summer Classics Season will have their seats held for renewal until March 2, 2020. All seats not renewed by that time will be released. Tickets to individual shows go on sale on March 23, 2020.

The Warsaw Federal Incline Theater is programmed year-round by Cincinnati Landmark Productions, culminating in over 120 show nights. In addition to the Summer Classics Season, the venue hosts the three-show District Series season (September to May), an edgier slate of productions designed as an alternative to the concurrent Marquee season at the Covedale Center.

Cincinnati Landmark Productions has been serving the West Side for over 35 years – first through its Cincinnati Young People’s Theatre program and then through its ownership and management of the Covedale Center for the Performing Arts in West Price Hill.

For more information about the Warsaw Federal Incline Theater, visit www.clpshows.org or call (513) 241-6550.

# # #

More about the 2020 Summer Classics Season
at the Warsaw Federal Incline Theater

NEWSIES
April 22 – May 17, 2020
Music by Alan Menken; Lyrics by Jack Feldman; Book by Harvey Fierstein
Based on the Disney film written by Bob Tzudiker and Noni White

Set in turn-of-the century New York City, Newsies is the rousing tale of Jack Kelly, a charismatic newsboy and leader of a band of teenaged “newsies.” When titans of publishing raise distribution prices at the newsboys’ expense, Jack rallies newsies from across the city to strike against the unfair conditions and fight for what’s right! Based on the 1992 motion picture and inspired by a true story, Newsies features a Tony Award-winning score by Alan Menken (Little Shop of Horrors, Sister Act) and Jack Feldman and a book by Tony Award winner Harvey Fierstein (Kinky Boots). Featuring the now classic songs “Carrying the Banner,” “Seize the Day,” and “Santa Fe,” Newsies is packed with non-stop thrills and a timeless message.

A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM
June 3 – June 28, 2020
Book by Burt Shevelove & Larry Gelbart; Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
Based on the plays of Platus

Broadway’s greatest farce is light, fast-paced, witty, irreverent and one of the funniest musicals ever written. A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum takes comedy back to its roots, combining situations from time-tested, 2000-year-old comedies of Roman playwright Plautus with the infectious energy of classic vaudeville. A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum is a nonstop laughfest in which Pseudolus, a crafty slave, struggles to win the hand of a beautiful, but slow-witted, courtesan named Philia for his young master, Hero, in exchange for freedom. The plot twists and turns with cases of mistaken identity, slamming doors and a showgirl or two.

JERRY’S GIRLS
July 8 – August 2, 2020
By Jerry Herman, Larry Alford and Wayne Cilento

A beautiful musical revue! Jerry Herman has always put the “larger-than-life” female characters in his shows center stage. There’s Dolly Gallagher Levi of Hello, Dolly!, Auntie Mame Dennis of Mame, Countess Aurelia of Dear World, Mabel Normand of Mack and Mabel. And female impersonator ZaZa of La Cage Aux Folles. So it is fitting that in Jerry’s Girls, the powerhouse women are center stage again. The all-women cast affectionately celebrate Jerry’s special gift for writing songs that capture the true spirit of the American musical theatre. A gorgeous, moving two-hour musical entertainment of glamour, optimism, love, melody, and women.

CAROUSEL
Aug. 19 – Sept. 13, 2020
Music by Richard Rodgers; Book by Oscar Hammerstein II; Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstien II; Based on the Play LILIOM by Ferenc Molnar; As adapted by Benjamin F. Glaser; Original Dances by Agnes de Mille

In a Maine coastal village toward the end of the 19th century, the swaggering, carefree carnival barker Billy Bigelow captivates and marries a naïve millworker, Julie Jordan. Billy loses his job just as he learns that Julie is pregnant and, desperately intent upon providing a decent life for his family, he is coerced into being an accomplice to a robbery. Caught in the act and facing the certainty of prison, he takes his own life and is sent “up there.” Billy is allowed to return to earth for one day, 15 years later, and he encounters the daughter he never knew. She is a lonely, friendless teenager. Her father’s reputation as a thief and bully has haunted her throughout her young life. How Billy instills in both the child and her mother a sense of hope and dignity is a dramatic testimony to the power of love. A powerhouse musical and one of theatre’s all-time classics.

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