Category Archives: Events

Local Holocaust Survivors to Speak at THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK

CSC_Anne Frank 1

Courtney Lucien as Anne Frank. Photo by Mikki Schaffner Photography.

The Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, in collaboration with the Center for Holocaust and Humanities Education, is pleased to present two special guest speakers during our production of THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK.

These talks, given by local survivors of the Holocaust, are open to all ticket-holders for THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK, so please feel free to attend one of these rare opportunities if you’ve purchased a ticket for another night. These talks will be held on Saturday, September 10 at 6:30 PM and Sunday, September 18, at 4:30 PM.

For more information on guest speakers Conrad Weiner and Al Miller, click here.

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Knox Church Sponsors Free Concert for Children Featuring Zac Morgan

Knox Church sponsors free concert for children
featuring well-known recording artist Zac Morgan

MISC_Zak Morgan pic

Zac Morgan.

The first annual “Knox Rocks”, a free concert for children, is set for Saturday, September 10, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on the front lawn of Knox Presbyterian Church, 3400 Michigan Avenue, in Cincinnati’s Hyde Park neighborhood.

Featured artist at the event is the well-known, Cincinnati-based children’s recording artist Zac Morgan.  The Cincinnati Enquirer says of Morgan, “The beauty of Morgan’s style is that adults are entertained as well, chuckling along to Morgan’s inventive vocabulary. The hokey pokey, or Barney, this is not. It owes more to the storytelling of Shel Silverstein, or Roald Dahl, Morgan’s two main influences.”

In addition to Morgan’s performance, Knox Rocks also will feature free food, games, and other activities for children through grade four.

In the event of inclement weather, the event will move indoors to the Knox Commons.

For more information about Zac Morgan, please see www.zacmorgan.com.

For more information about Knox Rocks, please contact Glenn Williams, Knox Director of Communications, at gwilliams@knox.org or 513.321.2573.

ABOUT KNOX PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH: Knox Presbyterian Church (Presbyterian Church USA) is a growing, progressive church of more than 1,000 members in Cincinnati’s Hyde Park neighborhood.  The church is known throughout the region for its community outreach, music program, and vibrant, diverse congregation.  Adam Fronczek is Pastor and Head of Staff, and Jana Reister is Associate Pastor.

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Caffeinated Conversations Return to ETC

ETC_Caffinated Conversations logoCaffeinated Conversations returns for the 2016-2017 Season at Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati.

Good news: last year’s popular, sold-out program returns for the 2016-2017 Season! Join us on select Saturday mornings throughout our season for a relaxed seminar on topics that range from how our talented designers create breathtaking scenery in a building originally built as a bank to our Producing Artistic Director’s play-selection process, as well as a tour of our scene shop. Enjoy a cup o’ joe and ask the questions you’ve long been yearning to ask our designers, stage managers, and technicians.

2016-2017 Caffeinated Conversations Dates

  • September 24, 11:00 am: Getting to Know You
  • October 29, 11:00 am: Stage Management
  • February 4, 11:00 am: The Making of a World Premiere
  • March 11, 11:00 am: Designing in a Bank
  • April 22, 11:00 am: The Business of Play

Cost: $10.00 per event
Hurry, space is limited!

Click here to purchase tickets.

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OTRimprov presents the 3rd Annual Improv Festival of Cincinnati (IF Cincy)

You’re going to want to be there when IF Happens

IF_logo 2016Cincinnati’s OTRimprov proudly presents the Third Annual Improv Festival of Cincinnati (IF Cincy). This year’s Festival features improvisors from Chicago, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Detroit, Ann Arbor, Portland (OR), Minneapolis, Louisville, and Cincinnati. The festival runs September 6-11, 2016 at Know Theatre of Cincinnati in Over-the-Rhine. If Cincy is excited to expand this year’s Festival with an episode of the Improv Yak Podcast on Tuesday September 6 and an additional performance night on Wednesday September 7.

Craig Cackowski, known for his roles on Community, Veep, and Drunk History as well as earning three Del Close Teacher of the Year awards at iO West in Los Angeles, and Amber Nash known for her role as the voice of Pam Poovey on the hit animated show Archer and her work with Dad’s Garage, Atlanta’s Best Improv Theater for the last 15 years, are in two of our headlining troupes, Orange Tuxedo and Fun Bags, respectively.

Produced in partnership with Know Theatre of Cincinnati’s Jackson Street Market, IF Cincy has also benefitted from the support of business sponsors and individuals willing to support the festival through crowdfunding. IF Cincy marks the sixth anniversary of OTRimprov, a group of dedicated improvisors who created the strong improv community in Cincinnati while winning Best Improv Troupe in Cincinnati for 2015 and 2016.

Local troupes performing are Basement Dwellers, Coincidence Improv, Don’t Tell Anna, Highly Improvable, Killer B’s, The Middle Child, OTRnext, Portals to Possibility, and What It Ain’t.

National improv performers traveling to Cincinnati are B&B (Portland, OR), Bearded Men (Minneapolis, MN), Damaged Goods (Louisville, KY), Devil’s Daughter (Chicago, IL), Fun Bags (Atlanta, GA), Human Amusements (Detroit, MI), The Improvised Sondheim Project (Chicago, IL), The League of Pointless Improvisors (Ann Arbor, MI), Orange Tuxedo (Los Angeles, CA),  and Shade (Chicago, IL).

Many of the performers taking the stage in the evening will also be hosting workshops for experienced and beginner improvisors, giving Cincinnatians an opportunity to learn alongside the impressive visiting national talent. Workshops will be offered by Megan Leahy & Leslie Sharp (Fun Bags), The Improvised Sondheim Project, and Craig & Carla Cackowski (Orange Tuxedo). In addition, for the first time OTRimprov will be offering a workshop focused on teen improvisors in the Cincinnati area.

“For our third year, we wanted to raise the bar with a bigger and bolder IF Cincy,” says Kat Smith, co-director of OTRimprov. “In addition to top-notch improv troupes from all over the country, we’re adding another night to accommodate more local troupes from the ever-expanding Cincinnati improv scene. Our workshops this year include a musical improv workshop and a teen-focused workshop.” Smith continues, “Six years ago, you would have been hard-pressed to find a monthly improv show in Cincinnati. Today, there are multiple shows a month at venues across the city. Thanks to the efforts of this small but mighty community, we continue to build a thriving improv scene here and IF Cincy lets people know improv is here to stay!”

The All Access Pass allows entry to all five evenings, Tuesday – Saturday, for $90, the Weekend Pass covers Friday and Saturday evening’s performances for $70, and a One Night Pass is available for entry on either Friday or Saturday evening for $35.

Single tickets are $5 each for the Tuesday September 7th Improv Yak Podcast performance, $10 for Wednesday evening, and $20 for Thursday – Saturday’s performances.

 The Basics:

Who: OTRimprov presents
What: Improv Festival of Cincinnati (IF Cincy)
Where: Know Theatre of Cincinnati, 1120 Jackson Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202
Featuring: Improv artists from Chicago, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Detroit, Ann Arbor, Portland (OR), Minneapolis, Louisville, and right here in Cincinnati.
Tickets: http://www.ifcincy.com
How Much: Single tickets (Tuesday) $5, Wednesday ($10) (Thursday-Saturday): $20, All Access Pass: $90, Weekend Pass: $70, One Night Pass: $35 (Friday & Saturday only).

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LAST POET STANDING III | Fri., August 19 | Aronoff Center – Jarson-Kaplan Theater

MISC_Last Poet StandingThe Signature: A Poetic Medley Show
to Host Spoken Word Competition –

LAST POET STANDING III

Friday, August 19
Aronoff Center – Jarson-Kaplan Theater

Cincinnati, OH – Oral Funk Poetry Productions is taking the show on the road! Last Poet Standing III is a head-to-head spoken word competition which will be featured as a part of the ninth season of the Off-Broadway Theatrical Revue, The Signature: A Poetic Medley Show. See some of the greatest talent from across the Midwest perform at the Aronoff Center’s intimate Jarson-Kaplan Theater in downtown Cincinnati at 650 Walnut Street on Friday, August 19 from 8:00 – 11:00 PM. The Signature Lounge opens in the lobby at 7:30 PM, featuring live music and a full bar.

Tickets are $25.00 and are on sale now at www.CincinnatiArts.org, (513) 621-ARTS [2787], or at the Aronoff Center Ticket Office.  STUDENT DISCOUNT (on sale now):  $15.00 with a valid student I.D.  Limit (1) discount ticket per student. Available only in person at the Aronoff Center Ticket Office.

The winner of Last Poet Standing III will receive a grand prize of $1,000 and the second-place winner will be featured during the 2017 season of The Signature. This event is designed to spotlight the word-play, story-telling, fiery aesthetic of spoken word and will be hosted by DJ Vader and nationally-renowned performing artist “Just Greg.”

“Artist often want to experience and participate in diverse projects.  Last Poet Standing III is a universal platform that crosses generational and cultural divides,”  said Sierra Leone of Oral Funk Poetry Productions. “It opens the door for everyone to come together and share the same space. It takes a lot of heart to be a part of this. Past years’ competitions have been amazing and even featured two high school students from Stivers School for the Arts [Dayton , OH]. The production serves as an homage to the spoken word genre and will be a night of exciting, fast-paced, engaging and spontaneous fun.”

Host for the evening, Greg “Just Greg” Corbin, is a poet, writer, teacher, hip hop artist and community activist. He has performed across the globe from England to South Africa and shared stages with India Arie, Mos Def, Nikki Giovanni , and Saul Williams, among others. Founder of the Philadelphia Youth Poetry Movement (featured on the HBO program “Brave New Voices”), Greg is a socially and politically engaged artist, frequently conducting workshops in prisons and schools and tackling controversial topics including religion, the politics of education and love, bullying, racism, and parenting in today’s world.

Music will be provided by Cincinnati-based DJ Vader, who has been recognized as “Best DJ/Radio Personality” by Best of Black Cincinnati. You can hear him spinning your Old School favorites on Cincinnati’s 100.3, or on his podcast, WTFU Radio.

“Last Poet Standing III is a great opportunity for the community to support Urban Creative Arts and Midwest performing artists,” Leone said. “It is a wonderful theatrical experience for those who love the arts and appreciate all the genres within spoken word and poetry.”

FREE WORKSHOP:  The Art of Word – Friday, August 19, 4:00- 5:30 PM

Whether you are starting out as an amateur artist or you are a professional that wants more out of your craft, it all starts with a thought for success. This workshop will demonstrate how to turn those thoughts into tangible things. In this dynamic visual concepts and imagination workshop, participants will apply concept-imaging for creativity that focuses on innovative tactics to revolutionize the way artist think, create, and perform. This creative art-themed holistic system provides the foundation necessary for artists of all genres to transcend from amateur to professional.  The holistic approach will help artists reach their full potential.  Today, more artists are learning the four elements of the human personality – body, mind, soul, and spirit – and the Natural Laws under which these artists operate to produce achievement in their craft rather than failure.  Transform your creative world with the power of ideas and application.   Attendees will be able to demonstrate artistic restructuring and concept –imaging techniques used to build a positive foundation of thought and action easily applied to everyday life for success  in business, personal development, and relationships.  This interactive  session, featuring Just Greg among the panel of presenters, will offer expert advice from those seasoned in the fields of performance & spoken word as well as DJ/radio hosting. Professionals are welcome to attend as well, and encouraged to contribute their experiences to the conversation.

The Signature is supported by the Cincinnati Arts Association, the University of Dayton ArtStreet, and DeLish Cafe Dayton. Sponsorship opportunities are still available for local businesses interested in increasing their visibility while investing in the arts in Cincinnati. For sponsorship information, contact Oral Funk Poetry Productions at (937) 241-4957.

The Signature: A Poetic Medley Show has earned a reputation across the Midwest for being edgy, thought provoking, groundbreaking, funny, engaging, sexy, diverse, and spontaneous. More information and details are available online at www.tripplecroxxent.org, the home of Urban Creative Arts.

CLICK HERE to watch Last Poet Standing III video

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