Monthly Archives: January 2023

Northern Kentucky University to Host Piano Conference

NKU_Dr. Leah Claiborne

Dr. Leah Claiborne

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, KY – The Fifteenth Northern Kentucky Winter Piano Pedagogy Conference will take place on the campus of Northern Kentucky University (NKU) in Greaves Concert Hall on February 10-11, 2023. The conference is co-sponsored by Northern Kentucky University, the Northern Kentucky Music Teachers Association, and the Ohio Music Teachers Association, Southwest District.

The conference will feature a solo recital by Dr. Leah Claiborne, a renowned pianist, scholar, and teacher who is dedicated to promoting diversity in the arts through her performances of piano music by Black composers. The recital, titled “I, Too, Sing America: Piano Music by Black Composers” will take place on Friday, February 10 at 7 p.m. On Saturday morning, February 11, Dr. Claiborne will share her expertise in a workshop and masterclass focusing on “Pedagogical Works by African American Women Composers.”

  • What: Northern Kentucky Winter Piano Pedagogy Conference
  • When: Feb. 10-11, 2023
  • Where: NKU Greaves Concert Hall
  • Information: nku.edu/piano

Dr. Leah Claiborne, D.M.A., has established herself as a leading figure in promoting diversity in the field of music. She established the first Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion column for American Music Teacher and was recently named the inaugural winner of the Stecher and Horowitz Power of Innovation Award through Music Teacher National Association for her artistic excellence, pedagogical leadership, nurturing spirit, and community service. The award recognizes teaching artists under the age of 36 who are making a significant impact in the field of music. Dr. Claiborne currently serves as the Coordinator of Keyboard Studies at the University of the District of Columbia and as Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for the Frances Clark Center.

The Northern Kentucky Winter Piano Pedagogy Conference is a unique opportunity for piano teachers, students, and music enthusiasts to learn from a world-class artist and expert in the field of piano pedagogy. Attendees will have the chance to hear Dr. Claiborne perform, attend her workshop and masterclass, and network with other music professionals.

For more information, please visit nku.edu/piano or contact Dr. Richard Van Dyke at vandyker1@nku.edu.

About NKU: Founded in 1968, we are a growing metropolitan university of more than 15,000 students served by more than 2,000 faculty and staff on a thriving suburban campus near Cincinnati. Located in the quiet suburb of Highland Heights, Kentucky—just seven miles southeast of Cincinnati—we have become a leader in Greater Cincinnati and Kentucky by providing a private school education for a fraction of the cost. While we are one of the fastest growing universities in Kentucky, our professors still know our students’ names. For more information, visit nku.edu.

About SOTA: The Music, Theatre & Dance, and Art & Design programs make up the School of the Arts that sit in the College of Arts and Sciences at Northern Kentucky University. The Music Program offers a full range of educational opportunities as well as solo and ensemble performances to support individual growth and meaningful collaboration. Graduates of Music pursue successful careers as professional performers, college and university faculty, public school music teachers, private studio instructors and in allied fields within the music industry. For more information, please visit music.nku.edu.

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Casting Call for Role of Jervis Pendleton in DADDY LONG LEGS at Sunset Players

SSP_logoThe Sunset Players community theater group and director Allen Lindsey will hold open auditions for the role of Jervis Pendelton for their spring show DADDY LONG LEGS, a musical by Paul Gordon and John Caird. The role of Jerusha Abbott has already been cast.

Synopsis:
Jerusha Abbott is the “Oldest Orphan in the John Grier Home” until a mysterious benefactor decides to send her to college to be educated as a writer. Required to write him a letter once a month, she is never to know the benefactor’s identity – so she invents one for him: Daddy Long Legs. Although she knows that he will never respond to her letters, she grows more and more fond of this elusive and kindly “old” gentleman. But another relationship soon begins to develop in Jerusha’s life. Jervis Pendleton is the well-do-do, “youngish” uncle of one of Jerusha’s roommates, and he introduces her to a world of literature, travel and adventure. Through her correspondence with Daddy Long Legs and her growing intimacy with Jervis, Jerusha’s letters chronicle her emergence as a delightfully independent “New American Woman.” Yet, there is one startling fact that Jerusha has yet to uncover – a fact that will change her life forever.

Auditions by Appointment Only:
Please contact director Allen Lindsey, alindsey@gmail.com, (513) 582-7512 to arrange an audition. Conflicts, rehearsal schedule, etc. will be addressed at that time. Auditions will consist of a song appropriate to the style of the show that can be submitted via video/audio clip or in person. Callbacks will consist of readings from the script in person opposite the actress playing Jerusha

Characters:

  • Jervis Pendleton
    Jerusha’s anonymous benefactor. A shy, highly educated East Cost aristocrat.
    Age – mid-20’s to early 30’s
    Vocal range: Bari-Tenor, top G#4, bottom G3
  • Jerusha Abbot
    The oldest orphan in the John Greer Home.
    Stage age 18-22 (THIS ROLE HAS BEEN CAST)

Rehearsals:
A table read in early February followed by a rehearsal schedule TBD based on availability. Tech week will be from April 30 to May 4. We will try to be dark on Wednesday but no promises.

Show Dates:
May 5-6, 12-14, and 18-20 at the Arts Center At Dunham.

Questions:
Contact director Allen Lindsey by phone or text at (513) 582-7512,  or email: alindsey@gmail.com,

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Down the Rabbit Hole We Go! ALICE (in wonderland), Feb. 10-19 at Music Hall

CB_AliceChoreographer Septime Webre’s wildly popular production returns after an 8-year hiatus 

CINCINNATI, OH (January 17, 2023) – Cincinnati Ballet is proud to present ALICE (in wonderland) at Cincinnati Music Hall, February 10-19, 2023. Choreographer Septime Webre’s entertaining production of the beloved Lewis Carroll classic premiered at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., and has subsequently been performed around the world. The production features a buoyant score from composer Matthew Pierce performed with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. Cincinnati audiences were among the first to experience the blockbuster ballet, which features over-the-top costumes and sets, when our dancers performed ALICE during our 2012-2013 Season. Patrons loved it so much; we performed it again during the 2014-2015 Season. We are thrilled to once again be going down the rabbit hole! If you enjoyed Webre’s The Wizard of Oz during our 2018-2019 Season, ALICE is the perfect winter escape. ALICE is a celebration of color, fun, and humor which features spectacular sets, flying effects, and effervescent choreography. Alice’s growth to giant size and the Caterpillar’s transformation into butterfly are jaw-dropping showstoppers. When he was adapting Carroll’s 1865 novel “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” and the 1871 sequel “Alice Through the Looking-Glass” into his stylish, full-length ballet, Webre called upon French-Canadian costume designer Liz Vandal — best known for designing the costumes for the Cirque du Soleil— to create more than 500 fantastic costume pieces. Along with Main Company and Second Company – CB2 dancers, the production features dancers from our professional training division, as well as young performers from Cincinnati Ballet’s Otto M. Budig Academy. Journey into a world of wonder with us this February at Music Hall.

Masking is optional for performances.

PERFORMANCE DATES AND INFORMATION

WHO:         Cincinnati Ballet
Choreography: Septime Webre
Music: Matthew Pierce

WHAT:       ALICE (in wonderland)

WHEN:      

  • Friday, February 10 – 8:00 pm
  • Saturday, February 11 – 2:00 pm
  • Saturday, February 11 – 8:00 pm
  • Sunday, February 12 – 1:00 pm
  • Thursday, February 16 – 7:30 pm
  • Friday, February 17 – 8:00 pm
  • Saturday, February 18 – 2:00 pm
  • Saturday, February 18 – 8:00 pm
  • Sunday, February 19 – 1:00 pm

WHERE:      Music Hall
1241 Elm St.
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202

Cincinnati Ballet 2022-2023 Season Sponsors:
Rhonda & Larry A. Sheakley, Margaret and Michael Valentine, ArtsWave, Mercy Health, Louise Dieterle Nippert Musical Arts Fund, Ohio Arts Council, The Austin E. Knowlton Foundation

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, regularly with live orchestral accompaniment. Under the artistic direction of Jodie Gates, Cincinnati Ballet is a creative force within the larger dance community, commissioning world-premiere works and exploring unique collaborations. With a mission to enrich, expand, and excel in the art of dance through performance, a high-caliber academy, and impactful education and community engagement in local to global communities, Cincinnati Ballet reaches beyond the stage in programs that allow every person in the region to be part of the continued evolution of dance. To that end, Cincinnati Ballet presents exhilarating performances, provides extensive education and community engagement programs, and offers top-level professional ballet training at Cincinnati Ballet Otto M. Budig Academy.

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SIX, BEETLEJUICE, MJ: THE MUSICAL, MRS. DOUBTFIRE, and More Part of Broadway in Cincinnati’s ’23-’24 Season

BIC_logo trimmedCincinnati, OH (January 17, 2023) – Fifth Third Bank Broadway in Cincinnati presented by TriHealth announces a highly-anticipated season lineup of shows including previously announced SIX, along with new musicals BEETLEJUICE, MJ: THE MUSICAL, GIRL FROM THE NORTH COUNTRY, MRS. DOUBTFIRE, and family favorite, PETER PAN. These shows will be joined by one-week engagements of Disney’s ALADDIN and CLUE.

23/24 SEASON SHOWS

MJ: THE MUSICAL                                                    September 5 – 17, 2023

GIRL FROM THE NORTH COUNTRY                  October 17 – 29, 2023

Disney’s ALADDIN*                                                    November 14 – 19, 2023

MRS. DOUBTFIRE                                                     December 5 – 17, 2023

BEETLEJUICE                                                           January 16 – 28, 2024

PETER PAN                                                                 March 12 – 24, 2024

SIX                                                                                 April 23 – May 5, 2024

CLUE**                                                                        May 14 – 19, 2024

*Week One Season Subscribers will automatically be seated into Disney’s ALADDIN.
**Week Two Season Subscribers will automatically be seated into CLUE.

Full show descriptions below.

Season tickets for the 23/24 Fifth Third Bank Broadway in Cincinnati Season presented by TriHealth will go on sale Tuesday, January 17 online, by phone and in-person at 10:00am.

There will be three convenient ways to purchase season tickets:

  1. Select your seats in person at the Aronoff Center ticket office, downtown at 650 Walnut Street, Monday – Friday, 10:00am – 5:00pm
  2. Order online 7 days a week/24 hours a day at BroadwayinCincinnati.com
  3. Call the toll-free Broadway in Cincinnati Season Ticket Hotline at 800.294.1816. The Hotline hours are Monday – Friday, 10:00am – 5:00pm, closed Saturday and Sunday.

Prices for the seven-show season subscription range between $247.00 and $818.00 depending on seat location. 

MONTHLY PAYMENT PLAN
Order by February 21 and make six easy monthly payments.  (Offer only available using a credit card.)

EXCLUSIVE SEASON TICKET HOLDER BENEFITS                 

  • Free online ticket exchanges.
  • Priority purchase opportunities for additional tickets to series shows and any season specials.
  • Lost ticket insurance and replacement service.
  • Purchasing privileges in any of our other Broadway Across America cities.
  • Same premium seat location for all two-week season shows.
  • Priority renewal for future seasons.

SEASON PATRON CLUB
In addition to all the regular season ticket holder benefits, special Patron Club season tickets (available with an annual membership fee of $120) guarantee seating in the front orchestra or first three rows of the loge and include extended benefits such as complimentary drink vouchers and recognition in the PLAYBILL program.

CLOUD CLUB
For Broadway fans on a budget, the “Cloud Club” offers our seven-show package with complete subscription benefits starting at $247 for all performances. 

PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
Broadway in Cincinnati shows typically run for two weeks at the Aronoff Center.  Performance options are Tuesday through Thursday evenings at 7:30pm, Friday evenings at 8pm, Saturdays at 2pm & 8pm and Sundays at 1pm & 6:30pm. (All times subject to change.) An audio-described performance for the visually impaired and an American Sign Language interpreted performance for the deaf are available.  Anyone requiring either of these services or accommodations for the physically challenged may should request so when purchasing season tickets.  Guests interested in learning more about age appropriateness and content of shows can visit BroadwayInCincinnati.com/FamilyGuide.

GROUP SALES AND SINGLE TICKETS
Group sales information is now available for all shows. Reservations for all shows may be made by calling Group Sales Manager Peggy Hughes, at 513.369.4363 or email at Peggy.Hughes@BroadwayAcrossAmerica.com. For more information visit BroadwayInCincinnati.com

Single ticket on-sale dates for individual shows will be announced at a later date.    

23/24 Season Show Descriptions:

BIC_MJ

Myles Frost and Cast in MJ. Photo by Matthew Murphy.

MJ: THE MUSICAL
September 5 – 17, 2023

The music. The moves. The icon. Now, the unparalleled artistry of the greatest entertainer of all time comes to Cincinnati as MJ, the Tony Award®-winning new musical centered around the making of the 1992 Dangerous World Tour, begins a tour of its own. Created by Tony Award-winning Director/Choreographer Christopher Wheeldon and two-time Pulitzer Prize-winner Lynn Nottage, MJ goes beyond the singular moves and signature sound of the star, offering a rare look at the creative mind and collaborative spirit that catapulted Michael Jackson into legendary status. MJ is startin’ somethin’ as it makes its Cincinnati premiere at the Aronoff Center in September 2023.


BIC_Girl from the North County

Todd Almond and the Cast of Girl From The North Country on Broadway. Photo by Matthew Murphy.

GIRL FROM THE NORTH COUNTRY
October 17 – 29, 2023

Girl from the North Country is the Tony Award-winning new musical that the Chicago Tribune declares is “a Broadway revelation!”  Written and directed by celebrated playwright Conor McPherson and featuring Tony Award-winning orchestrations by Simon Hale, Girl from the North Country reimagines 20 legendary songs of Bob Dylan as they’ve never been heard before, including “Forever Young,” “All Along The Watchtower,” “Hurricane,” “Slow Train Coming,” and “Like A Rolling Stone.”

It’s 1934 in Duluth, Minnesota. We meet a group of wayward travelers whose lives intersect in a guesthouse filled with music, life and hope. Experience this ‘profoundly beautiful production (The New York Times) brought to vivid life by an extraordinary company of actors and musicians.


BIC_Aladdin

Senzel Ahmady as Jasmine and Adi Roy as Aladdin. Aladdin Tour Photo by Deenvan Meer Disney

Disney’s ALADDIN
November 14 – 19, 2023

Discover a whole new world at Disney’s Aladdin, the hit Broadway musical. From the producer of The Lion King comes the timeless story of Aladdin, a thrilling new production filled with unforgettable beauty, magic, comedy and breathtaking spectacle. It’s an extraordinary theatrical event where one lamp and three wishes make the possibilities infinite. See why audiences and critics agree, Aladdin is “Exactly What You Wish For!” (NBC-TV).


BIC_Mrs Doubtfire

Austin Elle Fisher as Natalie Hillard, Tyler Wladis as Christopher Hillard, Analise Scarpaci as Lydia Hillard, Jenn Gambatese as Miranda Hillard and Rob McClure as Daniel Hillard as Euphegenia Doubtfire in the Original Broadway Cast of Mrs. Doubtfire

MRS. DOUBTFIRE
December 5 – 17, 2023

Everyone’s favorite Scottish nanny is headed to Cincinnati in an internationally-acclaimed new hit musical critics call “wonderful, heart-warming, and laugh-out-loud funny” (Manchester Evening News) and “a feel-good, family-friendly comedy that delivers” (The Hollywood Reporter). Based on the beloved film and directed by four-time Tony Award-winner Jerry Zaks, Mrs. Doubtfire tells the hysterical and heartfelt story of an out-of-work actor who will do anything for his kids. It’s “the lovable, big-hearted musical comedy we need right now,” raves the Chicago Tribune – one that proves we’re better together.


BIC_Beetlejuice

Britney Coleman as Barbara, Will Burton as Adam, Isabella Esler as Lydia and Justin Collette as Beetlejuice. Photo by Matthew Murphy, 2022

BEETLEJUICE
January 16 – 28, 2024

He earned his stripes on Broadway…now the ghost-with-the-most is coming to Cincinnati. It’s showtime! Based on Tim Burton’s dearly-beloved film, this hilarious musical tells the story of Lydia Deetz, a strange and unusual teenager whose whole life changes when she meets a recently deceased couple and a demon with a thing for stripes. With an irreverent book, an astonishing set, and a score that’s out of this Netherworld, Beetlejuice is “screamingly good fun!” (Variety). And under its uproarious surface (six feet under, to be exact), it’s a remarkably touching show about family, love, and making the most of every Day-O!


BIC_Peter PanPETER PAN
March 12 – 24, 2024

Join the Darling Family as Peter Pan and Tinkerbell take them on a soaring adventure all the way to Never Never Land. All you have to do is believe.  Featuring a timeless score that includes “I’m Flying,” “I’ve Got To Crow,” “Never Never Land,” “I Won’t Grow Up,” and so many more, Peter Pan is now updated for a new generation of thrill-seekers—and more spectacular than ever. Come witness the new definitive version of a story that never grows old. Your whole family will be hooked!


BIC_Six

Gerianne Pérez as Catherine of Aragon (center) in The North American Tour Boleyn Company of SIX. Photo by Joan Marcus.

SIX
April 23 – May 5, 2024

From Tudor Queens to pop icons, the SIX wives of Henry VIII take the microphone to remix five hundred years of historical heartbreak into a euphoric celebration of 21st century girl power. This new original musical is the global sensation that everyone is losing their head over.  SIX has won 23 awards in the 2021/2022 Broadway season, including the Tony Award for Best Original Score (Music and Lyrics) and the Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Musical. The New York Times says SIX “totally rules!” (Critic’s Pick) and The Washington Post hails SIX as “Exactly the kind of energizing, inspirational illumination this town aches for!”


BIC_ClueCLUE
May 14 – 19, 2024

Murder and blackmail are on the menu when six mysterious guests assemble at Boddy Manor for a night they’ll never forget.  Was it Mrs. Peacock in the study with the knife? Or was it Colonel Mustard in the library with the wrench? Based on the cult 1985 Paramount movie and inspired by the classic Hasbro board game, Clue is the ultimate whodunit that will leave you dying of laughter and keep you guessing until the final twist.

#   #   #

Fifth Third Bank Broadway in Cincinnati presented by TriHealth is committed to bringing the very best of Broadway to the Tri-State, presenting touring Broadway plays and musicals in Cincinnati since 1987. For over twenty years, Broadway in Cincinnati has presented all shows at the Aronoff Center. The Broadway in Cincinnati series brings more than 185,000 people downtown to the Aronoff Center each year and contributes an average of $30 million to the local economy each season. Broadway in Cincinnati is a member of the Greater Cincinnati Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Greater Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce and The Broadway League. Fifth Third Bank is the sponsor of the Cincinnati 23/24 Season, and the season is presented by TriHealth. 

Broadway Across America (BAA) is part of the John Gore Organization family of companies, which includes Broadway.com, The Broadway Channel, BroadwayBox.com and Group Sales Box Office.  Led by 14-time Tony-winning theater producer John Gore (Owner & CEO), BAA is the foremost presenter of first-class touring productions in North America, operating in 48 markets with over 400,000 subscribers. Presentations include Disney’s The Lion King, Wicked, The Book of Mormon, The Phantom of the Opera and Hamilton. Current and past productions include Ain’t Too Proud, Beautiful, Cats, Chicago, Dear Evan Hansen, Mean Girls, Moulin Rouge! and To Kill A Mockingbird. 

The John Gore Organization is the leading developer, producer, distributor and marketer of Broadway theatre worldwide. Under the leadership of 14-time Tony-winning theater producer and owner John Gore, its family of companies includes Broadway Across America, Broadway.com, The Broadway Channel, BroadwayBox.com, and Group Sales Box Office. The company presents shows in 47 cities across North America as well as on Broadway, Off-Broadway, London’s West End, Japan, and China. It has won Tony Awards in every producing category as well as numerous other Drama League, Drama Desk and Olivier awards.

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OUR TOWN Runs Feb. 10-18

BPI_logoOUR TOWN
Beechmont Players
Feb. 10-18
Anderson Center [Anderson Township]

Directed by Dianna Davis
Produced by Maggie Ingram King

Cast: Dan Cohen as Stage Manager, Scott Carter as Dr. Gibbs, Jody Hart as Mrs. Gibbs, Thomas Carroll as George Gibbs, Allie Decima as Rebecca Gibbs, Terry Gosdin as Editor Webb, Dana Tower as Mrs. Webb, Meghan Moore as Emily Webb, Nate Oester as Wally Webb, Steve Phalen as Professor Williard, Jamie Ball as Simon Stimson, Amy Sullivan as Mrs. Soames, Stephen Beck as Constable Warren, Joe Kozak as Howie Newsome, Sam Level as Joe Crowell Jr/Si Crowell & Art Kibbey as Joe Stoddard
People of the Town: Maggie Harris, Steve Phelan, Amy Sullivan, Stephen Beck, Art Kibbey & Joe Kozak

Described by Edward Albee as “the greatest American play ever written,” Our Town presents the small town of Grover’s Corners in three acts. “Daily Life,” “Love and Marriage” and “Death and Eternity.” Narrated by a stage manager and performed with minimal props and sets, the play depicts the simple daily lives of the Webb and Gibbs families as their children fall in love, marry, and eventually — in one the most famous scenes in American theatre — die.

  • Fri-Sat, Feb. 10-11 at 8pm
  • Sun, Feb. 12 at 3pm
  • Fri, Feb. 17 at 8pm
  • Sat, Feb. 18 at 3pm

Official page |

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