Monthly Archives: November 2024

November 18, 2024 · 3:56 pm

Two-time “Best of Cincinnati” Winners Bring Celebrated Annual Holiday Concert to Local Venues

CINCINNATI, OH – Warm your holiday spirits with NO PROMISES Vocal Band and their beloved annual “Christmas with No Promises” tour. The “Best of Cincinnati” winners stoke the midwinter hearth with seasonal favorites from Joni Mitchell and A Charlie Brown Christmas, joining selections by Andy Williams, the Temptations, *NSYNC and more. Guest artists Buck Hinman, Paul Phillips and Chancellor Waye lend thrilling lead vocals to a heart-warming, family-friendly program.

“Christmas with No Promises” will include four public performances at venues across Greater Cincinnati:

St. Columban Parish
Thursday, December 5, 7:30pm
894 Oakland Road | Loveland (45140)
60m Family-Length Program
A freewill offering will be accepted; no reservations required

Warsaw Federal Incline Theatre
Wednesday, December 18, 7:30pm
801 Matson Place | Price Hill (45204)
Full-Length Program with Two Sets
Tickets $25 | Purchase Online or 513.241.6550

Community of the Good Shepherd
Thursday, December 19, 6:30pm
8815 East Kemper Road | Montgomery (45249)
60m Family-Length Program; Ends One Hour Prior to Bengals Game
A freewill offering will be accepted; no reservations required

The Carnegie
Saturday, December 21 7:30pm
1028 Scott Boulevard | Covington (41011)
Full-Length Program with Two Sets
Tickets $25 | Purchase Online or 859.957.1940

New Friends & New Music for 2024
Now in its tenth season (including a pandemic-era digital concert in 2020), “Christmas with No Promises” has become a holiday tradition for vocal music lovers across Cincinnati, drawing thousands of listeners to the annual series of concerts at the Tri-State’s popular venues and sacred spaces.

Highlights of this year’s tour include:

  • Three outstanding young singers making their Christmas debuts with No Promises. WLWT-TV executive producer Buck Himan is the newest guest artist to NO PROMISES, bringing with him a passion for barbershop-style singing honed through international competition. Recent Xavier University graduate Chancellor Waye is a bass singer who directed of his university’s a cappella group, Harmon-X, on his way to a degree in choral education. And NO PROMISES’ newest fulltime singer is also the new Director of Choirs at St. Xavier High School: Joey Pace. Similarly coming to the group by way of barbershop music, Joey sings with the Southern Gateway Chorus and enjoys publishing multi-track a cappella recordings.
  • The return of NO PROMISES Christmas favorites. These selections will include:
    • The first post-pandemic performance of Harry Connick, Jr’s. whimsical “I Think I Saw Ol’ Santa.
    • The first public performance since 2015 of NO PROMISES’ lovely and complex “A Charlie Brown Christmas” medley, featuring Vince Guaraldi’s “Skating” and “Christmas Time Is Here.”
    • A re-imagining of the group’s long-time, show-closing ballad “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas,” featured in the musical MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS and featuring NO PROMISES’ own Broadway veteran, Dr. David Baum.
    • The first “Christmas with No Promises” performance of the group’s “Boy Band Medley,” which debuted with the Kentucky Symphony Orchestra featuring hits by *NSYNC, Boyz 2 Men and Cincinnati favorites 98 Degrees. This piece will be performed at the December 18 and 21 programs.

About NO PROMISES
NO PROMISES is a Cincinnati-based professional a cappella ensemble bringing exhilarating vocals and breathtaking harmonizations to jazz and popular music favorites from 1940s classics to today’s jams. Citybeat “Best of Cincinnati” winners in 2017 and 2022, the group has entertained at festivals, concert series, stadiums and performing arts centers throughout the state. Its members have graced the stages of Broadway, fronted major symphony orchestras, and backed the likes of Jim Messina, Steve Winwood, Kenny Loggins and POCO. In their day-to-day lives, the men of NO PROMISES are clinical psychologists, concert promoters, therapists, choir directors, real estate moguls and hairdressers with a passion for fine a cappella singing.

In 2024, NO PROMISES was honored to make their debut at Great American Ballpark, performing the national anthem for two Cincinnati Reds games. During the year prior, the group premiered a newly commissioned work as part of Cincinnati May Festival’s 150th anniversary season, and joined Broadway veteran Sally Wilfert in concert at historic Memorial Hall in Cincinnati’s Over-the-Rhine neighborhood. 2021 saw the ensemble’s debut of “The Boy Band Diaries,” a collaboration with the Kentucky Symphony Orchestra featuring male vocal hits spanning the past century. The group’s numerous other collaborators and guest artist appearances have included the Gem City Chorus, the Southern Gateway Chorus, the Sycamore Community Singers, the Northern Kentucky Brotherhood Singers, the Queen City Sisters, the Three Bald Guys and the Cincinnati Collaborative Ringing Project. NO PROMISES has released three recording projects: A No Promises Christmas (2016), All Wet (2018) and The Nines (2019), as well as the pandemic-era virtual concert, NO PROMISES Saves Christmas.

The members of NO PROMISES are Joshua Steele (resident of Kennedy Heights), Kaeden Kass (Mt. Airy), Joey Pace (Clifton), David Baum (Montgomery), Jeff Grooms (Cold Spring, KY) and Nat Comisar (Symmes Township). Buck Hinman (Walnut Hills), Paul Phillips (Tempe, AZ) and Chancellor Waye (Mason) join the group as guest artist for the 2024 “Christmas with No Promises” tour. Individual bios available at www.nopromisesvocalband.com/lineup/.

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November 18, 2024 · 3:54 pm

The Walnut Hills High School Theatre Department Welcomes Audiences Back For the Annual One Acts Festival, 2024

Cincinnati, OH- Returning to the stage once again, The Walnut Hills High School Theatre Department is eager to welcome audiences to their one acts festival, a production of 3 student-directed one act plays! The show runs November 21st-23rd, 2024 at 7 p.m. and November 23rd at 2p.m.

The one acts festival this year will consist of 3 pieces; A Trip to the Moon by Tracy Wells directed by Elijah Cook and Jonathan Rubin, The Mystery of the Silver Backed Hairbrush: A Whodunnit in One Act by Burton Crane directed by Andrew Canter, and Bad Auditions by Bad Actors by Ian McWethy directed by Noa Jaffee and Jonas Warner.

Tickets are $13 for adults and $11 for students. Tickets can be purchased at: https://sites.google.com/view/whhstheatredepartment/tickets

This production and the entire WHHS Theatre Season is graciously sponsored by:

  • The Walnut Hills High School Class of 1964 Performing Arts Fund
  • Wings Walnut Hills Theatre Boosters
  • WHHS Parent Association
  • Solution Roofing
  • Riverview Heating and Cooling
  • Pepper and Family

Featuring, in A Trip to the Moon, William Crone as Man/Jimmy/Carl, Clara Quintaba as Randy/Woman/Sarah, Sumner Bailey as Brett/Meadow/Cindy, Lenora Cable as Maureen/Suzanne/Lisa, Tuula Hicks as Chris/Gladys/Jeff, Red Brock as Dad/Jessie/Mailman, Mia Kline as Mom/Mother/Mary, and Milan Shah as Jackie/Paula.

In Bad Auditions by Bad Actors, Katherine Hoffman as CD, Levi Singer as Roger, Ivy Syroney as Melissa/Josie/Catherine/Charlize/Meg, Tahirih Fananazapir as Coach/Joe/Martin/Agent/Josh/Edmund, and Willa Turpin as Amy.

In The Mystery of the Silver-Backed Hairbrush, Riya Pasare as J. Grewsome Smith, Amelia Hoops as Murderer, Eleanor Faye as Minnie, Cecily Winner as Flossie, Red Kinnear as Chesterton, and Adina Morvay as Dobson.

Directed by Andrew Canter, Noa Jaffee, Jonas Warner, Elijah Cook, and Jonathan Rubin
Technical Director/Scenic Designer- Helen A. Raymond-Goers
Festival Producer- Mike Sherman
Production Stage Managers- Norah Boehm, Adah Mosher, and Naima Jones
Assistant Stage Manager- Easton Taylor
Production Manager- Nyla Shahanavaz
Costume Designer- Riley Coleman
Lighting Designer- Eleanor Jackson
Head Electrician- Abbie Kershner
Props Designer- Eden Kraus
Props Manager- Peri Brenner
Sound Designer- Violet Garitson
Marketing and Publicity Head- Adelaide Linser
Co-Hair and Makeup Designers- Piper Hawkins and Aunna Phillips

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November 18, 2024 · 3:52 pm

Sinclair Theatre Presents Children’s Holiday Musical

Photo by Scottie Jackson.

Dayton, Ohio – November 14 – Share pure holiday magic with your family, classroom or children’s group when Sinclair Theatre presents ‘TWAS, A Holiday Musical, live on stage from December 19-22 in Blair Hall Theatre, building 2, on Sinclair’s downtown Dayton campus. Tickets cost only $8 and are available online at www.sinclair.edu/tickets. Groups of 20 or more ordering online save all ticketing fees.

New music and dance has been added to this extravaganza which highlights many holidays including Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and Las Posada, while emphasizing “kindness all year through.” Add some snow, a “visitor in red” and a sing-along, and you’ve created memories for children of all ages.

Written by local playwright, Patti Frankhouser Celek, ‘Twas is based loosely on the poem Twas the Night Before Christmas. This story features family pets left home alone on Christmas Eve.  They discover that families celebrate the holiday season in many ways, and although different, we’re all “One Big Rescue Family.”

In addition, this 45-minute presentation is American Sign Language Shadow Interpreted, which means the interpreter follows the character onstage (instead of being placed to one side) creating a seamless experience for Deaf and Hard of Hearing patrons as well as a truly unique event for everyone.

“We’re so proud to have made our holiday children’s show more and more inclusive since we began offering it in 2014,” says Gina Neuerer, Chair of Theatre and Dance and Show Producer. “It’s a joy to see families return year after year and be able to expand the educational opportunities to include multiple cultures.”

Directed by Gina Kleesattel with choreography by Rodney Veal, cast includes both student and community actors: Edward Folkerth, Ayauna Goodwin, Janiece Carver, Olivia Burchfield, Adalia Gaynier, Neveah Webb, Hannah Ramey, Shae Trauthwein, and Saul Caplan. Shadow interpreters are: Amy Crissman, Madison Janson, Kristen Weaver, Olivia Rose Parrish, and Bethany Crank.

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November 18, 2024 · 3:47 pm

A BLAST FROM THE PAST – LITERALLY Runs Dec. 6-15

A BLAST FROM THE PAST – LITERALLY
Sunset Players
Dec. 6-15
Arts Center at Dunham [West Price Hill]

Written and Directed by Bob Kelley

World famous figures–real and literary–drop into a classroom. A small group of students and a teacher must help guide these figures to ensure that they fulfill their destinies without changing history forever.

  • Fri, Dec. 6 at 7pm
  • Sat-Sun, Dec. 7-8 at 2pm
  • Fri, Dec. 13 at 7pm
  • Sat-Sun, Dec. 14-15 at 2pm

Official page |

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November 15, 2024 · 12:55 pm

WITCH Review

By Katrina “Kat” Reynold

WITCH presented by UC College-Conservatory of Music and The Carnegie through November 17th. I attended the Opening Night performance. 

Carson Mehlbauer as Cuddy Banks & Nikolas Gray as Frank Thorney. Photo by Mikki Schaffner Photography.

As part of its new artistic partnership with The Carnegie, UC College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) is bringing WITCH by Jen Silverman to audiences this weekend. Described as “an inventive retelling of a Jacobean drama” (aka The Witch of Edmonton), the fable debates how much souls are actually worth when hope seems lost.

Director Lindsey Augusta Mercer has gathered an impressive village to surround an equally impressive group of CCM students. Pacing of the show is strong and the aesthetics are top-notch. Scenic Design by Doug Stock is quite literally worth the price of admission alone (and mad props to Scenic Carpenters Ethan Kuchta, Jack Murphy, Nathan Neorr, and Patrick Earl Phillips for their execution of it). Excellent, detailed work is also done by Costume Designer Maria Fernanda Ortiz Lopez – she is absolutely one of my favourites in terms of costuming that I have seen in recent years. Finally, particular kudos to Fight Director Gina Cerimele-Mechley for a beautifully choreographed fight scene on stairs. Bra – freaking – va!

WITCH boasts a solid ensemble of performing artists, but this should come as no surprise to CCM fans. Starting the show off strong is Debra Najor as our titular character. Ms. Najor’s delivery of the fresh dialogue is both confident and natural. When I grow up, I’d like to play the role of Scratch – but thankfully until I do, Nico Graves’ iteration of this character will more than satiate your desires. Mx. Graves excels at the physical embodiment of a presumed evil and then just as easily shows us a charming and sensitive side few could resist – excellent work! Finally, special shout-out to Carson Mehlbauer who gives a top-notch turn as Cuddy Banks, an unlikely heir. Mr. Mehlbauer carries out his character’s roller coaster of an arc with the skill envying those of many professionals in the city and beyond. Without a doubt, you will not want to avert your eyes from him when he is present in a scene.

While placed in a very different time period WITCH is ridiculously poignant and significant today, especially in light of some very recent events. The themes of hope and enduring through tough times are ultimately relatable and the play is in turn engaging. Mx. Mercer et al have bestowed a lovely gift upon theatre-goers with this piece and I highly encourage those who were not present for its opening to try and attend before it closes this coming Sunday. What do you do when hope seems lost? For me, theatre helps.

Click here for more information about the production.

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