Category Archives: Family-Friendly

Lexington Children’s Theatre Brings Beloved Fable to the Fitton Center in Premiere Production

FC_Puss in Boots logoHamilton, Ohio – Lexington Children’s Theatre returns to the Fitton Center for Creative Arts on February 5 for Fitton Family Fridays with their world premiere production of PUSS IN BOOTS. The classic tale was adapted for LCT by Jeremy Kisling, the organization’s associate artistic director in charge of education.

“We all say that writing is in the rewriting,” Kisling says. “It’s a matter of tweaking and deepening and defining those characters and getting them to each have a unique voice. In the end you’re trying to make sure that it’s something new, not a story that’s been told before. I am fairly true to the folk tale in its structure, but in its message I think it’s different.”

Along with emphasizing Puss’s use of wit, rather than force, to perpetuate the storyline, Kisling has also chosen to make Puss female.

“Hopefully, the story and character will make an impact on young girls in the audience that want to make transformations within their lives. Puss is feisty and it excites me to take a character like Puss into schools for little girls to look up to and have her as a reminder that we are all clever and all have the ability to make changes in our lives,” says director Octavia Biggs. “She’s a character in the throes of an exciting personal transformation, whose creative thinking, drive, and ambition seem to motivate the metamorphosis of every other character in the play. Puss is loyal, playful, and musical, but most inspiring, perhaps, because she is vibrant and actively engaged in life. She stands as a singular role model for young women today.”

Thank you to series sponsor Vaden Fitton, as well as reception sponsors G&J Pepsi Cola Bottlers, Inc. and Two Women in a Kitchen for their support. Admission is free for children; tickets are $10 for adult members and $12 for adult non-members (limit four children per adult). The reception begins at 6:30 pm and show begins at 7:30 pm in the Fitton Family Theater.

The Fitton Center for Creative Arts is a not-for-profit community arts center featuring a variety of programs, including: visual and performing arts classes, exhibitions, entertainment and theater productions for all ages. The Fitton Center’s purpose is to provide unique arts experiences and to “build community excellence through arts and culture.” The Fitton Center would like to extend its gratitude to ArtsWave, the Hamilton Community Foundation, and the Ohio Arts Council for their ongoing support.

The Fitton Center for Creative Arts is located at 101 S. Monument Avenue on the Riverfront in downtown Hamilton, Ohio.

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Building Community Excellence through Arts and Culture

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CHARLOTTE’S WEB Runs Jan. 22-Feb. 7

THT_Charlottes Web logoCHARLOTTE’S WEB
Town Hall Theatre
Jan. 22-Feb. 7
Centerville

Official cast list |

A young pig discovers a most unexpected friendship that will not only save his life and but teach him an important lesson about sacrifice and responsibility. Ages 4 and up.

  • Fri, Jan. 22 at 7pm
  • Sat-Sun, Jan. 23-24 at 3pm
  • Fri, Jan. 29 at 7pm
  • Sat, Jan. 30 at 11am & 3pm
  • Sun, Jan. 31 at 3pm
  • Fri, Feb. 5 at 7pm
  • Sat-Sun, Feb. 6-7 at 3pm

Official page |

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THE WIZARD OF OZ Runs Jan. 21-31

TC_The Wizard of Oz promo

Caroline Chisholm as Dorothy Gale. Photo by Mikki Schaffner.

THE WIZARD OF OZ
The Carnegie & The Kentucky Symphony Orchestra
Jan. 21-31
Covington

Directed by Matthew Wilson
Music directed by J. R. Cassidy
Vocal directions by Steve Hinnenkamp
Choreographed by Maggie Perrino

Cast: Caroline Chisholm as Dorothy Gale, Jack Manion as Scarecrow, Tyler Kuhlman as Tinman, Sean Mette as Cowardly Lion, Sarah Viola as Aunt Em/Glinda, Lesley Hitch as Almira Gulch/The Wicked Witch of the West, Will Reed as Uncle Henry/Gatekeeper of Oz & Jeff Richardson as Professor Marvel/The Wizard of Oz
Adult Ensemble: Jennifer Barnaba, Derek Harper, Cody Roberts, Megan Urz
Youth Ensemble: Olivia Bayer, Ben Dropic, Maya Hunt, Charlie Klesa, Sara Moore, Jackson Schabell, Mark Schutzman, Audrey Stith

Based on the hit MGM film, THE WIZARD OF OZ will delight audiences of all ages with classic songs and characters. The Kentucky Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of J.R. Cassidy, will provide soaring accompaniment for such iconic songs as “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” and “We’re Off to See the Wizard.”

  • Thu-Fri, Jan. 21-22 at 7:30pm
  • Sat, Jan. 23 at 2pm & 7:30pm
  • Sun, Jan. 24 at 3pm
  • Thu-Fri, Jan. 28-29 at 7:30pm
  • Sat, Jan. 30 at 2pm & 7:30pm
  • Sun, Jan. 31 at 3pm

Official page |

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The Holiday Tradition Continues with the Price Hill Holiday Xtravaganza at the Arts Center at Dunham

MISC_Santas Forsty Follies promoCINCINNATI, OH – December 11, 2015 — The Price Hill Holiday Xtravaganza at the Arts Center at Dunham is back for a second year of holiday cheer with two performances on Sunday, December 20. Presented by We Duet All—a local entertainment and party planner, the Holiday Xtravaganza will benefit the ongoing repair and restoration of the historic Arts Center at Dunham.

This year’s Holiday Xtravaganza consists of a 30-minute musical revue, Santa’s Frosty Follies, featuring Rudolph, Frosty the Snowman and Suzy Snowflake, followed by an hour of visits with Santa Claus and an interactive sing-a-long with the Frozen sisters. Children of all ages can bring their Christmas lists and get a photo with Santa and the princesses after the show. In addition, local vendors will be on-site before and after the performances offering unique last-minute stocking stuffers for sale.

Performances of the Holiday Xtravaganza are at 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. at The Arts Center at Dunham (1945 Dunham Way) in the Dunham Recreation Complex. Tickets to Santa’s Frosty Follies are $6 for general admission; and $5 for groups of 10 or more. To guarantee seating, RSVP to (513) 588-4988 or purchase online at www.sunsetplayers.org. Tickets may also be purchased at the door.

Celebrating 24 years of business, We Duet All is a full-service entertainment and event planning company based on the West Side of Cincinnati. The company offers services around every aspect of an event, from booking the venue to bringing the entertainment right to the door. We Duet All features some of the most talented singers, impersonators, dancers, actors and musicians in the Tri-State. It is also a parent company to “Cincinnati Princess Parties” and “My Choice Chocolates”, which make this unique organization a one-stop shop for events. There’s no party too big or too small-when it comes to events…They Duet All!

The Arts Center at Dunham is a fine arts center for the Westside of Cincinnati. Housed in one of the three remaining buildings of what was the first municipally owned tuberculosis sanatorium in the United States, the Arts Center includes a 350-seat performance venue as well as extensive studio and programming space. See what is happening at the Arts Center at Dunham on Facebook.

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THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER Offers Heartwarming Tale

TDW_Best Christmas Pageant promo1

Mrs Bradley (Peggy Allen) introduces the Christmas story to the enthralled Imogene (Sami Williams) and Gladys (Katie Waldfogle) in TDW’s production of ‘The Best Christmas Pageant Ever’, running through Dec 19.

(Cheviot, OH) The Drama Workshop’s production of the holiday classic, THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER runs through December 19 at The Glenmore Playhouse, 3716 Glenmore Ave in Cheviot. The show offers Friday and Saturday evening performances beginning at 7:30 pm, and Saturday and Sunday matinees starting at 2 pm.

When the bullying, cigar-smoking Herdman kids find out that church is followed by free cookies, punch, and other refreshments, they show up in force, just in time to learn about auditions for the upcoming Christmas Pageant. When the Herdmans take key parts in the Pageant and collide with the Christmas story head on; the result will either be the most disastrous Christmas Pageant ever . . . or the best!

The show is written by Barbara Robinson, and is directed by an award-winning production team of director Ivory Mazur, producers Megan Schultheis and Gretchen Gantner, and stage manager Wendy Williams.

The cast includes Eric Thomas, Peggy Allen, Nora Daley, Griffin Harding, Ethan Williams, Sami Williams, Joe Hamzy, Sam Schaefer, Camden Doebeli, Katie Waldfogle, Eve Roth, Victoria Covarrubias, Michele Fortman, Amy Waldfogle, Richelle Roth, Claudia Covarrubias, Logan McGill, James Covarrubias, Gary Hohnecker, and Doug Bruening.

As the first show that TDW has done in many years featuring children, the group has focused on ensuring that the young actors have a positive experience as well as growing in their roles. Nora Daley plays Beth Bradley, the narrator of the show. “It’s just been really fun. All the kids are best friends now. But in the end I’d say the best thing in theater is knowing that you made someone smile. When someone sees a show it’s a chance for them to escape their problems and just laugh and enjoy themselves.”

The adults in the show echo Nora’s sentiments. Eric Thomas plays Bob Bradley, Beth’s father. “I’ve seen several TDW productions, but this is my first time working with them. I got to see what makes productions here so special: the people! The dedication to excellence among the behind-the-scenes crew here is extraordinary. The audience will love this play.”

Adult tickets for THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER are $16 each when ordered in advance, or $17 at the door. Tickets for children are $7 each. Shows at TDW frequently sell out, so advance reservations are strongly recommended. Tickets may be ordered by phoning the TDW 24/7 ticket line at 513.598.8303, or by ordering online through the TDW website at www.thedramaworkshop.org.

The Drama Workshop was founded in 1954. TDW is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to advancing education and promotion of the theatrical arts. The Drama Workshop is widely recognized as one of greater Cincinnati’s most accomplished community theater organizations, garnering dozens of awards annually from the Association of Community Theatres of Greater Cincinnati. In 2015, they were the most-recognized group in the greater Cincinnati area for theatrical excellence.

TDW productions are frequently been selected to represent the Southwest Ohio region at the Ohio Community Theatre Association annual conference. TDW was also honored to represent the state of Ohio at the 2013 American Association of Community Theatre regional conference in Hartford, Wisconsin. The Drama Workshop has been recognized the Cincinnati Preservation Association for their efforts to rehabilitate the former Glenmore Bowl into The Glenmore Playhouse.

Prospective members, and individuals or businesses interested in becoming involved or in helping advance TDW’s mission are encouraged to contact the group through our website at www.thedramaworkshop.org, or by phone at 513.598.8303.

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