The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati invites the community to
celebrate the rebirth of a historic landmark
Cincinnati – The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati (TCT) will host a family-friendly Block Party on Sunday, September 7, from 12 PM to 4 PM (rain or shine), to celebrate the reimagining and future opening of its permanent home: the jaw-dropping Emery Theater in Over-the-Rhine.
When The Emery reopens in October 2025, it will be the most technologically advanced proscenium-style theatre in the United States—a dazzling blend of historic preservation and industry-leading innovation.
The party takes place outside 1112 Walnut Street between Central Parkway and 12th Street, which will be closed to traffic for the festivities.
Block Party Highlights
Guests of all ages can enjoy:
- A first look inside the historic and reimagined Emery Theater
- Delicious eats from LaRosa’s, Graeter’s, Kroger’s On-The-Rhine Eatery, and more
- Music from Q102
- Complimentary face painting, balloon animals, glitter tattoos
- Character meet-and-greets with TCT favorites
- Available viewing of the Big Game on a screen outside
- And much more!
Learn more here: https://thechildrenstheatre.com/emery-theater-block-party/
A Historic Moment
At 12:30 PM, a short program will feature Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval, hosted by Local 12’s Bob Herzog. In a playful twist on a ribbon-cutting, Mayor Pureval and Bob Herzog will activate the rotation of the giant crown on The Emery’s marquee, officially opening the doors of the restored theater.
Why It Matters
In 2022, TCT launched a $51.5 million campaign to restore and reimagine The Emery Theater—an acoustic marvel once compared to Carnegie Hall by famed conductor Leopold Stokowski. After decades of abandonment and false starts, TCT is achieving what no other group could: returning The Emery to life as a permanent home for America’s oldest children’s theatre company.
This is not simply a restoration—it’s a reinvention. The Emery will combine its legendary acoustics with cutting-edge technology, including:
- A fully automated stage lift and turntable
- Automated SLOAT system and line sets
- Digital LED rear wall
- Projection mapping across the proscenium and house walls
- All powered by a single NISCON control system
“No other venue in the country combines all of these,” says theatre infrastructure expert Tom Neville of Apeiro Design, TCT’s theatrical consultant on the project. When The Emery reopens in October 2025 with TCT’s production of The Wizard of Oz: Youth Edition, its full suite of cutting-edge technology will set a new national standard as the most technologically-advanced proscenium-style theatre in the United States.
Through this remarkable technology and planned expansion of programming, TCT will revitalize an icon, return it to its original home, and put Cincinnati on the map as a family-friendly theatrical destination.
Coming Soon
The 25-26 Season of The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati at The Emery features the following productions:
- The Wizard of Oz: Youth Edition — October 10-26, 2025
- Elf: The Musical JR. — December 5-21, 2025
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Musical JR. — February 20 – March 8, 2026
- DreamWorks’ How to Train Your Dragon: The Musical JR. — April 17 – May 3, 2026
Tickets and subscriptions on sale now https://thechildrenstheatre.com
Block Party Media Sponsors
The TCT at the Emery Block Party is made possible in partnership with Cincinnati Magazine, Local 12, and Q102.
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