Monthly Archives: November 2020

Weston Art Gallery at the Aronoff Center Announces Temporary Public Closure

WAG_window logo

Weston exterior, 2008, photo Tony Walsh.

[Cincinnati, OH] – The Cincinnati Arts Association’s Alice F. and Harris K. Weston Art Gallery in the Aronoff Center for the Arts will be temporarily closed to the public beginning on Tuesday, November 24 due to the continuing surge in COVID-19 cases and ongoing health concerns related to the pandemic. The health and well-being of the Weston’s guests, staff, and artists continues to be our number one priority.

The following three exhibitions, originally scheduled to open on Saturday, December 5, will be postponed for an indefinite period and rescheduled at a time to be announced.

  • Johnny Coleman: And the Presence of Light
  • A Piece of My Mind: Quilts by Carolyn Mazloomi
  • Heather Jones: A Sense of Place

Information about the Weston and updates to its 2020-21 exhibition season can be found at www.westonartgallery.com. 

Since 1995, the Weston Art Gallery’s mission has been to present and support the visual arts of the Tri-state region through exhibitions and special programs. Its objectives are to foster an awareness and appreciation of the visual arts among area residents and to support the development of professional and emerging artists of the region.

 

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Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati Hosts Third Annual PLAY/WRITE: The Jackie Demaline Regional Collegiate Playwriting Competition

ETC_Play Write 2021 Open logoSubmission Deadline of January 31

(Cincinnati, OH) Tristate area playwrights, it’s your time to shine! Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati hosts the third annual PLAY/write: The Jackie Demaline Regional Collegiate Playwriting Competition, held in memory of writer, critic, and arts advocate, Jackie Demaline. Students currently enrolled full- and part-time at a university or college in the Greater Cincinnati/tri-state region are welcome to submit their plays to the competition. Three finalists will be chosen by a panel of judges. The winner of this competition will receive $2,500 from the Jackie Demaline Fund and a professionally-staged reading of their script.

Demaline’s love of the arts started at a young age. Throughout her life, she continued to be a passionate believer in the arts as an entertainment writer and editor for multiple newspapers and publications. After moving to Cincinnati in 1994, she covered theatre and the arts for The Cincinnati Enquirer for 20 years and worked as an important catalyst for change and growth during a time when new theatres and companies were popping up all over Cincinnati and helped to secure their place in the community.

After a four-year battle with cancer, Demaline passed away on June 17, 2018. As her final gift to the community, she arranged for her estate to fund the PLAY/write competition. Through this, her legacy lives on—providing new voice development, kick-starting arts careers, and caring for the community through thoughtful programming.

Submission guidelines:

WHO:

  • Students currently enrolled at a university in the Greater Cincinnati/tri-state region

WHAT:

  • Original, unpublished full-length plays written in English. Translations, musicals, adaptations, and children’s plays not accepted
  • Plays must be typed and page-numbered
  • Subject matter is open, however, the play should address some of the characteristics Jackie considered when critiquing theatre:
    • Does it tell me something I didn’t know about myself or the world in which I live?
    • Does it hold up a mirror at an angle I’ve never tried so that the things I know now suddenly possess new meaning?
    • Does it move me? Excite me? Provoke me?
    • Does it make me laugh or cry? Make me uncomfortable? Make me think?

WHEN:

  • Submission deadline: 11:59 pm EST, January 31, 2021

HOW:

  • Submit your script electronically at ensemblecincinnati.org/playwriting-competition
  • If you have questions about the competition or submission process, please email Jared D. Doren, Programming & Events Manager, at jdoren@ensemblecincinnati.org

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2020-2021 Season Presenting Sponsor is the Otto M. Budig Family Foundation.

Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati is supported, in part, by the generosity of community contributions to the ArtsWave Campaign.

The Ohio Arts Council helps fund Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans. Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati also receives funding from the Shubert Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati is a professional theatre dedicated to producing world and regional premieres of works that often explore compelling social issues. We fulfill our mission through our stage productions and educational outreach programs that enlighten, enliven, enrich and inspire our audiences.

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Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati Presents DESTINATION DETOUR, An Evening of Theatre and Virtual Benefit

ETC_Destination Detour logo(Cincinnati, OH) Theatre lovers, get ready for a night of past-favorites and familiar faces! Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati (ETC) is proud to present Destination Detour, a virtual evening of performances that is a free gift to our community. Audience members can expect to see favorites from the ETC stage reprising past roles, cameos from friends of Cincinnati theatre, the host for the evening Courtis Fuller, and of course Producing Artistic Director, D. Lynn Meyers, all from the comfort and safety of home.

This event is not only an evening of performances, but also serves as the first virtual benefit hosted by the theatre. Audiences are required to reserve a spot to attend, but are not required to pay admission. If so inclined, there will be the opportunity to donate to help ETC through this difficult time.

For an enhanced experience, audience can also choose from two paid pre-show events, detailed below:

  • FREE ticket: admission to the evening’s virtual performances to enjoy at home.
  • $150 ticket: admission to the evening’s virtual performances; half-hour pre-show event at 6:30 pm with the talented Sara Mackie, Brooke Steele, Michael G. Bath, and Deb G. Girdler; and a virtual goodie bag.
  • $250 ticket: admission to the evening’s virtual performances; half-hour pre-show event at 6:30 pm with host Courtis Fuller, ETC show stoppers Pamela Myers, Dale Hodges and Kenneth Early, and Producing Artistic Director, D. Lynn Meyers. This ticket also includes a special performance and a culinary treat.

Reservations for each ticket type are available at https://ensemblecincinnati.org/calendar/destination-detour/

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2020-2021 Season Presenting Sponsor is the Otto M. Budig Family Foundation.

Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati is supported, in part, by the generosity of community contributions to the ArtsWave Campaign.

The Ohio Arts Council helps fund Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans. Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati also receives funding from the Shubert Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati is a professional theatre dedicated to producing world and regional premieres of works that often explore compelling social issues. We fulfill our mission through our stage productions and educational outreach programs that enlighten, enliven, enrich and inspire our audiences.

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Cincinnati Ballet Keeps THE NUTCRACKER Magic Alive Despite the Pandemic

cb_NutcrackerAtHome_image 2Audiences will enjoy a free, newly-produced digital version of the holiday favorite

CINCINNATI, OH.  (November 20, 2020) ­– The holidays would not be complete without The Nutcracker presented by Frisch’s Big Boy, especially during these challenging times. This year everyone in our community will have the opportunity to experience The Nutcracker for free! As we continue to prioritize the health and safety of our dancers, staff, students, and patrons, Cincinnati Ballet is shifting our family tradition from an in-person experience to a digital one, The Nutcracker at Home presented by Frisch’s Big Boy. “Given the ongoing surge in COVID-19 cases across the region, we’ve made the difficult decision to cancel all in-person performances of The Nutcracker at Cincinnati Music Hall,” said Cincinnati Ballet President and CEO Scott Altman. “We have a responsibility to the community to do all we can to stop the spread of COVID-19. While we will dearly miss performing for live audiences, we are producing and recording a re-imagined, hour-long performance everyone can enjoy in the comfort and safety of their own homes. We could think of no better gift for the community this holiday season.”

The Nutcracker at Home will be recorded at Cincinnati Music Hall following strict health and safety protocols. The production will feature Artistic Director Victoria Morgan’s whimsical choreography, Main Company dancers, and gorgeous sets and costumes. “All those magical moments we share together each year remain in this production,” said Morgan. “Clara and the Nutcracker Prince, the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier, plus we’ve added a few surprises just for this digital version.” Cincinnati Ballet is also honored to partner with Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra to create a unique recording of Tchaikovsky’s iconic music for this special performance. Cincinnati Ballet Music Director Carmon DeLeone will conduct 35 Symphony musicians for the recording at Music Hall.  There will be several opportunities for the community to view the program. Cincinnati Ballet will announce the details in the coming days. The Nutcracker at Home virtual experience will also include behind-the-scenes, bonus content, as well as the online Nutcracker gift shop on our website, cballet.org.

When Cincinnati Ballet announced the re-imagined 2020-2021 Season, we recognized the challenges in producing live performances during the pandemic and included plans to modify productions based on current circumstances. We so enjoyed creating live performances for Ballet in the Park and Cincinnati Made earlier this season. We continue to plan the remainder of the 2020-2021 Season with live, in-person productions, which will be enhanced by digital offerings for audiences everywhere to enjoy the beauty of dance.

About Cincinnati Ballet
Since 1963, Cincinnati Ballet has been the cornerstone professional ballet company of the region, presenting a bold and adventurous array of classical, full-length ballets and contemporary works. Under the artistic direction of Victoria Morgan, Cincinnati Ballet has become a creative force within the larger dance community, commissioning world premiere works and exploring unique collaborations. With a mission to inspire hope and joy in our community and beyond through the power and passion of dance, Cincinnati Ballet reaches beyond the stage in programs that allow every person in the region to be part of the continued evolution of dance through exhilarating performances, extensive community and education programs and top-level professional ballet training at Cincinnati Ballet Otto M. Budig Academy.

Nutcracker at Home Presenting Sponsor: Frisch’s Big Boy, Production Sponsor: MercyHealth

Cincinnati Ballet 2020-2021 Season Sponsors: Rhonda & Larry A. Sheakley, Margaret & Michael Valentine, ArtsWave, Mercy Health, Louise Dieterle Nippert Musical Arts Fund, Ohio Arts Council, Frisch’s Big Boy, The Austin E. Knowlton Foundation

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A CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION Runs Online Nov. 26-Dec. 13

MTC_A Christmas CelebrationA CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION
Merit Theatre Company
Nov. 26-Dec. 13
[Online]

We had hoped to bring A CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION back to Parrish Auditorium this December, but had to make the necessary decision to cancel the live event for the safety and wellbeing of our community.

While we were not able to gather together in person for our 2020 season, we are excited to announce on demand highlights from the holiday spectacular featuring the Merit Company Orchestra, Chorale, and Children’s Choir.

  • Available for download Thu, Dec. 26-Sun, Dec. 13

Official page |

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