Category Archives: In Other News

Children’s Book Drive During PETER PAN at Broadway in Cincinnati

BIC_Children's Book DriveHave new or gently used children’s books that you aren’t reading? Bring them to the Aronoff Center during the run of Peter Pan to benefit Queen City Book Bank (QCBB)!
QCBB champions literacy through tutoring, little free libraries, literacy outreach and
guaranteeing book access for all. They aim to provide 10 new books annually to the
25,000 K – 3rd grade under-resourced students in the Greater Cincinnati area.

You can also donate directly to QCBB via their Amazon wishlist. Thank you in advance! https://amzn.to/3T2ySB4

For more information on the run of PETER PAN.

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The Passing of John Keehnen

From Legacy.com

MPI_John KeehnenJohn J. Keehnen, Jr. passed away unexpectedly at the age of 71 on Thursday, January 18, 2024. He was born in Cincinnati, Ohio on September 21, 1952, to John James Keehnen and Elizabeth (Paddock) Keehnen. He is preceded in death by his parents, grandparents, and many aunts and uncles.

John was blessed with a multifaceted life. He was a DJ at a radio station in Florida, hosted The Tall Twelve Television Company’s Show – Expo and the John Keehnen Variety Show, shared his artistic talents as a freelance artist across multiple mediums, and performed in a multitude of community theater productions for Mariemont Players, Footlighters and others. He was a medical sculptor at Shriners Hospitals for Children where he truly cared for the children he served for 31+ years.

John never met a stranger. His great sense of humor and gentle nature put people at ease. He was a loving, devoted, and supportive husband and father who always let it be known how proud he was of “his girls”. He was also a caring brother and uncle to many nieces and nephews and always a great friend. He is survived by his wife, Victoria (Beeler) Keehnen; daughters, Sarah and Erin Keehnen; sisters, Linda Connor and Sr. Judi Keehnen.

The family will receive friends at John H. Evans Funeral Home, 1944 State Route 28, Goshen, Ohio 45122, Thursday, February 1, 2024, from 5:50 PM until 7;30 PM.

All are welcome to attend a Memorial Mass at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church, 5890 Buckwheat Road, Milford, Ohio 45150, Friday, February 2, 2024at 12 PM.
Interment will follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Shriners Children’s Ohio at One Children’s Plaza – 2 West, Dayton, Ohio 45404, or the American Lung Association, 4050 Executive Park Drive Cincinnati, Ohio 45241.

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A Farewell Worthy of Skip’s Passion

MISC_All About SkipAfter the sudden passing of Skip Fenker, his friends gathered together to discuss how best to remember a man who had meant so much to them. It was quickly decided that the best way to honor him would be to put on an event the way Skip would do it himself. So after two months in the making, the result is going to be a non-traditional memorial service that is more akin to The Kennedy Center Honors. The evening will include speakers, video content and live performances which speaks to all aspects of Skip’s life beyond his theater resume.

Spearheading the musical arrangement for this event is Cincinnati native Richard Oberacker, a composer, lyricist, conductor, playwright, and longtime friend of Skip. This fast-paced, ninety-five-minute program promises a moving, funny, and very theatrical experience for all who knew and loved Skip. For his part, Richard has taken songs from the shows Skip has directed over the decades, creating complicated medleys and arrangements of classic tunes in different, fun, and surprising ways. Every moment is crafted using all the theatrical tools to pack an emotional punch, a tribute to the way Skip loved emotion in storytelling.

Scheduled to speak to Skip’s life in story and song are: Kathy Beiting, Debbi Berlon, Jennah Blair, Laurie Brinkman, Marcie Brooks, Megan Ainsley Callahan, Dianna Davis, Jennifer Drake, Roger Dumas, Jr, Ken Early, David Fenker, Bill Geraghty, Heather Hale, Deborah Hunter, Joe Kovacs, Wayne Martin, Richard Oberacker, Brett Parr, Nick Radel, Deb Schubert, John Simpson, Stephen Welch, Wayne Wright & Meghan Zlatic. A few surprises may also be on the agenda.

All who knew Skip are invited to this celebration on Monday, February 5th at the Aronoff Center for the Arts Jarson-Kaplan Theatre. The performance begins at 7pm with doors opening at 6:30pm. No tickets or reservations are required. Additional information is available here.

Following the program, all are invited to a reception in the Procter & Gamble Theater Lobby to share tears, hugs, and laughter. The cash bar will be open to toast Skip’s memory.

You will want to be in the room where it happens.

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The Passing of Joel Lind

MCP_Joel LindJoel Lind died early this morning after suffering for the past 6 months.  Many of you know Joel. He was larger than life. Joel was a talented actor who probably worked with every theater group in greater Cincinnati but he considered Mason Community Players his home. Joel was an ACT representative, a cheerleader for Community theater , leader of MCP trivia team , a wordsmith and had a photographic memory for music after years in the radio business. A celebration of Joel’s life is being planned for April or May and we will post details when more information is available.

His children Dara and Evan request In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the ACLU of Ohio, the National Park Foundation, or the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

-From Gail Randolph

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The Passing of Mary Haas

FLI_Mary HaasIt is with heavy hearts that Footlighters announces the passing of one of our founding members, the incomparable Mary Haas.

Mary was an accomplished director, actor, grant writer, fundraiser, and lifetime board member of Footlighters. Along with her beloved husband Don, the Houcks, and Mario Pitocco, she was part of the group that purchased the Salem United Methodist Church that became Footlighters’ beautiful Stained Glass Theatre. Mary was a champion of all community theater and an integral part of ACT Cincinnati, OCTA, as well as Village Players of Fort Thomas for many years. We are forever grateful for her contributions, both artistically and financially, to Footlighters.

We would not be the organization we are today without her. We miss her already.

Service information to follow.

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