Category Archives: Press Releases

November 7, 2022 · 5:57 am

ANNIE Individual Tickets On Sale Now

THE SUN WILL COME OUT

BIC_Annie logo

©2022 Tribune Content Agency, LLC

New North American Tour of the Iconic
Tony Award-winning musical to play
the Aronoff Center February 7-12 

Tickets On Sale Now!

Cincinnati, OH – Leapin’ Lizards! Broadway in Cincinnati announced today that the individual tickets for an all-new tour of the iconic Tony Award®-winning musical ANNIE are on sale now, as part of the Fifth Third Bank Broadway in Cincinnati series presented by TriHealth. Performances will run February 7 – 12, 2023, and tickets will be available online at CincinnatiArts.org, by phone at 513.621.ARTS or in person at the Aronoff Center Box Office, downtown.

This new multi-week tour is produced by TROIKA Entertainment, LLC, and launches at The Landmark Theatre in Syracuse, NY on October 4th. TROIKA Entertainment’s COO and Executive Producer, Kori Prior says, “We’re thrilled to be bringing such a fresh, new and heartfelt production to audiences across North America starting this fall.”

BIC_Annie0906“This show, with its iconic title character, continues to delight generations of theatre-lovers old and new by joyfully singing directly into the face of great adversity with perseverance, guts and guile,” says director Jenn Thompson. “For decades, ANNIE has continued to shine brightly, not only as an appeal to our better angels, but also as an example of the thrill of hope, hard-won: promising a better ‘Tomorrow’ not only for Annie herself, but for all who need her message now more than ever.”

ANNIE is directed by Jenn Thompson, who at the age of 10 stepped into the role of “Pepper” in the Original Broadway production, choreographed by Patricia Wilcox (Motown, A Night with Janis Joplin), with orchestrations by Dan DeLange. Talitha Fehr is the Music Coordinator and Elaine Davidson is the Music Director.

The design team includes scenic design by Wilson Chin (Pass Over), costume design by Alejo Vietti (Jersey Boys), lighting design by Philip Rosenberg, sound design by Ken Travis (Disney’s Aladdin), hair & wig design by Ashley Rae Callahan and casting by Paul Hardt of Hardt Casting, LLC.

The lovable mutt “Sandy” is once again trained by Tony Award®Honoree William Berloni (ANNIE, A Christmas Story, Legally Blonde).

In the title role of Annie is Ellie Pulsifer, a 12-year-old actress from South Florida, making her tour debut.  Christopher Swan will star as Oliver Warbucks.  In the role of Miss Hannigan is Stefanie Londino.  Also starring in the tour are Julia Nicole Hunter as Grace, Nick Bernardi as Rooster, Krista Curry as Lily and Mark Woodard as FDR.  Addison, a stray mutt rescued by William Berloni through the Humane Society in 2017, stars as Sandy.

The Orphans are Riglee Ruth Bryson, Bronte Harrison, Vivianne Neely, Izzy Pike, Kenzie Rees and Valeria Velasco.

The featured ensemble includes Kolten Bell, Bradley Ford Betros, Luther Brooks IV, Harrison Drake, Laura Elizabeth Flanagan, Jataria Heyward, Carly Ann Moore, Kevin Ivey Morrison, Leeanna Rubin, Andrew Scoggin, Sophie Stromberg and Kaley Were.

Holding onto hope when times are tough can take an awful lot of determination, and sometimes, an awful lot of determination comes in a surprisingly small package. Little Orphan Annie has reminded generations of theatergoers that sunshine is always right around the corner, and now the best-loved musical of all time is set to return in this new production – just as you remember it and just when we need it most.  This celebration of family, optimism and the American spirit remains the ultimate cure for all the hard knocks life throws your way.

Hailed by the Chicago Tribune as, “one of the best family musicals ever penned!”, ANNIE features a book by Thomas Meehan, music by Charles Strouse and lyrics by Martin Charnin. All three authors received 1977 Tony Awards® for their work.

By permission of Tribune Content Agency, LLC, ANNIE is based on Harold Gray’s popular comic strip “Little Orphan Annie” which premiered in the 1920s in the New York Daily News and became one of the most widely read strips in the 30s and 40s.  Lyricist Martin Charnin bought a coffee table book called “The Life and Hard Times of Little Orphan Annie” as a Christmas gift for a friend in 1970. The clerk at the bookstore was too busy to wrap the book, so Charnin took the book home to wrap it.  Instead, he read it and fell in love with the strip and set out to secure the rights. The friend never got the book.

The original production of ANNIE had its world premiere on Aug 10, 1976 at the Goodspeed Opera House (Michael J. Price, Executive Director) and opened on Broadway on April 21, 1977 at the Alvin Theatre (Neil Simon theatre).  It went on to win the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Musical, seven Drama Desk Awards including Best Musical, the Grammy for Best Cast Show Album and seven Tony Awards including Best Musical, Best Book (Thomas Meehan) and Best Score (Charles Strouse, Martin Charnin).  It closed on Broadway after playing 2,377 performances.  ANNIE was revived on Broadway in 1997 and again in 2014. It has been made into a film three times (1982, 1999, 2014) and was most recently featured as a live television production on NBC.  The show remains one of the biggest Broadway musical hits ever; it has been performed in 28 languages and has been running somewhere around the world for 45 years.

The beloved score for ANNIE includes “Maybe,” “It’s the Hard Knock Life,” “You’re Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile,” “Easy Street,” “I Don’t Need Anything But You” and the eternal anthem of optimism, “Tomorrow.”

This production of ANNIE was licensed by Music Theatre International.

ANNIE will play the Aronoff Center from February 7 – 12, 2023: Tuesday – Thursdays at 7:30PM, Fridays at 8:00PM, Saturdays at 2:00PM and 8:00PM, Sundays at 1:00PM and 6:30PM. Tickets start at $36.25 and will be online at CincinnatiArts.org, by phone at 513.621.ARTS or in person at the Aronoff Center Box Office downtown. For groups of 10 or more, contact the group sales department at 513.369.4363. Performance schedule, prices and cast are subject to change without notice. For more information, please visit BroadwayInCincinnati.com.

Connect with ANNIE on tour:

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Fifth Third Bank Broadway in Cincinnati presented by TriHealth is committed to bringing the very best of Broadway to the Tri-State, presenting touring Broadway plays and musicals in Cincinnati since 1987. For over twenty years, Broadway in Cincinnati has presented all shows at the Aronoff Center. The Broadway in Cincinnati series brings more than 185,000 people downtown to the Aronoff Center each year and contributes an average of $30 million to the local economy each season. Broadway in Cincinnati is a member of the Greater Cincinnati Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Greater Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce and The Broadway League. Fifth Third Bank is the sponsor of the Cincinnati 22/23 Season, and the season is presented by TriHealth. 

Broadway Across America (BAA) is part of the John Gore Organization family of companies, which includes Broadway.com, The Broadway Channel, BroadwayBox.com and Group Sales Box Office.  Led by 14-time Tony-winning theater producer John Gore (Owner & CEO), BAA is the foremost presenter of first-class touring productions in North America, operating in 48 markets with over 400,000 subscribers. Presentations include Disney’s The Lion King, Wicked, The Book of Mormon, The Phantom of the Opera and Hamilton. Current and past productions include Ain’t Too Proud, Beautiful, Cats, Chicago, Dear Evan Hansen, Mean Girls, Moulin Rouge! and To Kill A Mockingbird. 

The John Gore Organization is the leading developer, producer, distributor and marketer of Broadway theatre worldwide. Under the leadership of 14-time Tony-winning theater producer and owner John Gore, its family of companies includes Broadway Across America, Broadway.com, The Broadway Channel, BroadwayBox.com, and Group Sales Box Office. The company presents shows in 48 cities across North America as well as on Broadway, Off-Broadway, London’s West End, Japan, and China. It has won Tony Awards in every producing category as well as numerous other Drama League, Drama Desk and Olivier awards.

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November 4, 2022 · 10:04 am

The Carnegie Names Tyler Gabbard New Theatre Director and Announces Lineup of Hit Musicals

TC_Tyler Gabbard headshotSUMMER SERIES RETURNS FOR SECOND YEAR IN 2023 FOLLOWED BY A BELOVED BROADWAY CLASSIC IN WINTER 2024

COVINGTON, Ky. (November 3, 2022) – The Carnegie is pleased to announce that Tyler Gabbard has been named Theatre Director of The Carnegie’s Otto M. Budig Theatre. Along with this news comes the unveiling of an exciting season of musicals that offers something for everyone to enjoy.

“The Carnegie has been an artistic home for me for many years now and I’m grateful for the opportunity to lead the Theatre Department and build on the transformative work of my predecessor Maggie Perrino,” said Gabbard. “As someone born and raised in Northern Kentucky and a current resident of Covington, I’m excited to continue offering meaningful artistic experiences that are both entertaining and enriching to the community.”

Gabbard comes to The Carnegie from The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati where he was the Patron Experience Manager. Previously, he was the Box Office and Patron Communications Manager for the Lisa Smith Wengler Center for the Arts at Pepperdine University in Malibu, California, the Events and Publicity Manager for the School of the Arts at Northern Kentucky University, and Vice President of the League of Cincinnati Theaters.

Gabbard’s educational credentials include a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Drama from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts where he focused in Theatre Management and Scenic Design. He has a Certificate in Nonprofit Management from Northern Kentucky University. In January 2020 Gabbard was one of 27 individuals selected from across North America to take part in the Emerging Leadership Institute at the Association of Performing Arts Professionals’ annual conference in New York City.

Gabbard has a decade long history with The Carnegie as the Scenic Designer for over a dozen productions including RENT, INTO THE WOODS, GEORGE REMUS, THE SOUND OF MUSIC, SWING!, TENDERLY, and THE LAST FIVE YEARS. His design work has also been seen onstage at theatres in New York City and Los Angeles and locally at Memorial Hall, New Edgecliff Theatre, Kincaid Regional Theatre, Northern Kentucky University, Falcon Theatre, Commonwealth Theatre Company, Stage Right Musical Theatre, Cincinnati Chamber Opera, Catacoustic Consort, Woodford Theatre, and the Stephen Foster Drama Association.

“The Carnegie’s Theatre Department could not be in better hands,” said Kim Best, Executive Director of The Carnegie. “Since joining the team in October, Tyler has brought an excitement and enthusiasm to The Carnegie that I’m sure patrons will see reflected in these upcoming productions.”

Following the success of the inaugural Summer Series in 2022, the repertory model returns in June 2023 with the huge-hearted, high-heeled hit KINKY BOOTS. In July, audiences will travel back in time to one of the final performances of Billie Holiday’s storied career in LADY DAY AT EMERSON’S BAR & GRILL. The summer will continue with one of the greatest musical comedies ever written, GUYS & DOLLS. All three productions will play in rotation through August, allowing theatergoers their choice of multiple shows in one weekend or the ability to come back to catch a favorite performance again.

In January 2024, HELLO, DOLLY! will burst onto The Carnegie stage with romance, humor, and joy-inducing song and dance that promises to delight audiences of all ages.

“All of this season’s musicals celebrate the big rewards that come with taking big risks,” said Gabbard. “They’re populated by a captivating assortment of characters, both real and imagined, that will take theatregoers along for quite the ride.”

Tickets, multi-show packages, and performance times for The Carnegie’s 2023 Summer Series and 2024 Winter Musical will be announced later at thecarnegie.com.

The current season concludes with the family-friendly classic, SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN, from Jan. 28 through Feb. 12, 2023. The production is directed and choreographed by Maggie Perrino, former Theatre Director at The Carnegie. Tyler Gabbard, the new Theatre Director, will be the production’s Scenic Designer. Tickets for SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN can currently be purchased at https://thecarnegie.com/theatre/summer-theatre-series/singin-in-the-rain/

The following includes more information about each production in the 2023-24 season.

OPENING JUNE 2023

KINKY BOOTS
Music and Lyrics by Cyndi Lauper
Book by Harvey Fierstein
Original Broadway Production Directed and Choreographed by Jerry Mitchell

Based on the Miramax motion picture of the same name, written by Geoff Deane and Tim Firth

KINKY BOOTS, the winner of six Tony® Awards, including Best Musical, is a huge-hearted, high-heeled hit featuring music and lyrics by pop legend Cyndi Lauper. Factory owner Charlie is struggling to save his business when he meets Lola, a drag queen with a wildly exciting idea that just might save the day. Inspired by true events, KINKY BOOTS tells the story of a mismatched pair of friends who together learn that sometimes, the best way to fit in… is to stand out!

OPENING JULY 2023

LADY DAY AT EMERSON’S BAR & GRILL
By Lanie Robertson
Musical Arrangements by Danny Holgate

LADY DAY AT EMERSON’S BAR & GRILL is a riveting portrait of Billie Holiday and the songs that made her famous. In a captivating evening of story and song, audiences will be transported to the gritty Philadelphia bar where the legendary jazz singer gave one of her final public performances in 1959. The hard-hitting musical chronicles the singer’s life story – both humorous and heart-wrenching – and celebrates the music she gave the world including “What a Little Moonlight Can Do,” “Strange Fruit,” “God Bless the Child,” and “Ain’t Nobody’s Business if I Do.”

OPENING JULY 2023

GUYS AND DOLLS
A Musical Fable of Broadway
Music and Lyrics by Frank Loesser
Book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows
Based on a Story and Characters of Damon Runyon

GUYS AND DOLLS is musical theatre at its show-stopping best! Hailed by many as the perfect musical comedy, this colorful classic follows a rowdy bunch of gamblers and showgirls in a wild game of chance and love. Set in bustling 1950s Manhattan, GUYS AND DOLLS features some of the most memorable showtunes of all time, including “Luck Be a Lady,” “I’ve Never Been in Love Before,” and the irrepressible anthem “Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ the Boat.”

OPENING JANUARY 2024

HELLO, DOLLY!
Book by Michael Stewart Music and Lyrics by Jerry Herman
Based on the play The Matchmaker by Thornton Wilder
Original Production Directed and Choreographed by Gower Champion
Produced for the Broadway Stage by David Merrick and Champion Five, Inc.

HELLO, DOLLY! is a blockbuster Broadway hit bursting with romance, humor, and some of the greatest songs in musical theater history. Boisterous and charming from start to finish, the musical follows the exploits of meddling matchmaker Dolly Levi over the course of one unforgettable day. Audiences will delight in one crowd-pleasing musical number after another including “Put on Your Sunday Clothes,” “Ribbons Down My Back,” “Before the Parade Passes By,” and the effervescent title song.

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About The Carnegie
The Carnegie is Northern Kentucky’s largest multidisciplinary arts venue providing theatre events, educational programs and art exhibitions to the Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati community. The Carnegie facility is home to The Carnegie Galleries, the Otto M. Budig Theatre, and the Eva G. Farris Education Center. More information about The Carnegie is available at http://www.thecarnegie.com or by calling (859) 491-2030.

The Carnegie is supported by the generosity of tens of thousands of contributors to the ArtsWave Community Campaign. The Carnegie receives ongoing operating support from the Kentucky Arts Council, City of Covington, Kenton County Fiscal Courts, Carol Ann & Ralph V. Haile, Jr. Foundation, the Greater Cincinnati Foundation, and Cincinnati International Wine Festival. 

About The Carnegie Theatre Series
The Carnegie Theatre Series produces professional, innovative stagings of an eclectic range of musical theatre works. Striving to unite the greater Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati theatre community through partnerships and collaborations, the series engages and nurtures both emerging and established talent, including working professionals, committed part-time theatre artists, university performing arts students and younger students. The Carnegie Theatre Series productions bring together these forces to provide quality theatre for Northern Kentucky and the Greater Cincinnati area.

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November 4, 2022 · 6:50 am

Mason Community Players Prepare for Final Show in Season

MCP_The Last Five Years logoThe Mason Community Playhouse, located at 5529 Mason Rd. in Mason, OH, has been the location of the Mason Community Players for just over a year now; since September of 2021. Over the past year, the love, energy, and perseverance of the group have turned this location from a building into a home.

Mason Community Players is busy preparing for the final show of their 2022 season, The Last 5 Years. What happens in a relationship as it begins? What happens when it comes to a close? Join this intimate cast of two as each explores the different stages of coupling from contrasting perspectives. Gunner Shoemake and Lexi Zapata will take you on an unforgettable journey and unique perspective of love.

This heartwarming show, produced by Jim Cronin and directed by Jason Gonzalez presents a musical experience unlike any other.   With musical direction by Brian Bisig, join these two talented people as they move towards, and away from each other with the most endearing of performances.

All shows will be at the Mason Community Playhouse. Join the players on November 11, 12, 17, 18, and 19 at 8:00 p.m. and on Sunday, November 13, for a 2:00 p.m. matinee.

The Last 5 Years will conclude the 2022 season for the Mason Community Players. Their next show, Puffs, to be performed in March of 2023, will launch a year-long jubilee celebration to commemorate 50 years of “playing around.” The group is beyond thrilled to share a love of theater that beats in the heart of the City of Mason.

The Mason Community Players maintain a presence online through Facebook, Instagram and at their website. Tickets are now available by leaving a message at 513-398-7804 or visit the website www.MasonPlayers.org.

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November 4, 2022 · 6:46 am

Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati Presents Family-Friendly Holiday Musical THE DANCING PRINCESSES, Nov. 30-Dec. 30, 2022

ETC_The Dancing Princesses logoAn Enchanting Mystery is afoot!

(Cincinnati, OH) The tango, the cha cha, and the waltz, oh my! It’s time to break out those dancing shoes with the return of Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati’s family-friendly musical The Dancing Princesses, by local playwright Joseph McDonough with music and lyrics by David Kisor. This whimsical production brings to life a royal mystery as five diverse sisters dance their way through an incarnation of the classic, enchanting story. With hot chocolate, dance numbers, and shenanigans aplenty, The Dancing Princesses is holiday fun for the entire family! Playing November 30-December 30, 2022. Directed by D. Lynn Meyers. Premiere Sponsor is The Schueler Group. Opening Night Sponsors are Messer Construction and the Johnson Investment Counsel.

Wanting the best for his daughters, an overprotective king locks the castle doors each night. Yet, each morning, the princesses’ shoes have been curiously worn to tatters. Keen to cobble together the mystery of the frayed footwear, the King resorts to drastic measures of royal proportions. This heartfelt and humorous story of five uniquely different princesses explores the universal quest for understanding, acceptance, and love.

“We commissioned this play in 2017 when we had just opened our newly renovated facilities,” says Producing Artistic Director D. Lynn Meyers. “It gave us a sense of renewal then and gives us that same sense now after a tentative few years. This show, maybe more than any of our other holiday productions, is about how to never stop growing, learning, and moving forward. It’s all about learning to thrive.”

About the Cast

Michael G. Bath (Joziam) returns for his 25th consecutive holiday show with Ensemble Theatre, where he has also appeared in Tiny Beautiful Things, Cinderella, The Frog Princess, Fly By Night, The Legend of Georgia McBride, Sleeping Beauty, and Hands on a Hardbody, among others. Other regional credits include Superior Donuts with Clifton Players and Angels in America at Know Theatre. Michael has also performed with Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati, the Performance Gallery, Showboat Majestic, and Stage First Cincinnati.

Darnell Pierre Benjamin (Jack/Dream Dancer) has been seen at Ensemble Theatre in The Legend of Georgia McBride, Detroit ’67, and many holiday shows. Darnell has been a professional performing artist, director, choreographer, educator, and activist for over 15 years. He works as a professor in the arts programs at Northern Kentucky University and College-Conservatory of Music and is also an active board member with Caracole, Pones, Stop the Stigma Productions, and Treehouse Cincinnati.

Kenneth Early (Aldrin) was last seen at Ensemble Theatre in Pipeline, where his other credits include Alice in Wonderland, The Dancing Princesses (2017), Red Velvet, The Whipping Man, Grey Gardens, Snow White, and The Frog Princess. Other regional credits include Once on This Island, Misery, August Wilson’s Jitney, and To Kill a Mockingbird, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park; Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner, Macbeth, Of Mice and Men, and To Kill a Mockingbird, Cincinnati Shakespeare Company; On Golden Pond, The Human Race Theatre; Once on This Island, Actor’s Theatre of Louisville; Pluto and Harry and the Thief, Know Theater; and Awaited at the Aronoff.

Sara Mackie (Woman) is an alumna of the Wright State Acting BFA Program. She performed with Ensemble Theatre most recently in Cinderella, The Frog Princess, Fun Home, and many other productions since 1999, including Hands on a Hardbody, all three Wonderette iterations, Rabbit Hole, and Mauritius, among others. Some of her other credits include An Act of God, Family Ties, Twelfth Night, Human Race Theatre; Pride and Prejudice and Romeo and Juliet, Cincinnati Shakespeare Company; Pump Boys and Dinettes, The Carnegie; and Frankie and Johnny in the Claire de Lune, New Edgecliff Theatre. You can also catch her briefly in the feature films The Public and Dark Waters.

Andrew Maloney (Mack/Dream Dancer) is back on the Ensemble Theatre stage where he was last seen in Alice in Wonderland, The Dancing Princesses (2017), and First Date. His other ETC credits include Violet, Around the World in 80 Days, and Snow White. Internationally, he appeared in the Ecuadorian premiere of West Side Story at the Teatro Nacional Sucre in Quito, Ecuador. His recent credits include Rent, Assassins, The Little Mermaid, and A Chorus Line.

Brooke Steele (Tiva/Young Zilda) has appeared numerous times at Ensemble Theatre, where some of her favorite credits Cinderella in Cinderella, Vasilisa in The Frog Princess, Miriam in Fly By Night, Violet in Violet, and Suzy Simpson in The Marvelous Wonderettes.

Kate Wilford (Zilda) has appeared in ETC’s productions of Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland, Violet, Luna Gale, Becky’s New Car, Good People, Dead Man’s Cell Phone, and many others. She has appeared at Cincinnati Shakespeare Company in August: Osage County and All the Way and A Prayer for Owen Meany with Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park. Regionally, she has also worked at The Lyceum Theatre, Beef N Boards, Westgate Theatre, and The Kenley Players and was a founding member of The Troupe in Cincinnati. She has also directed at Xavier University, Thomas More College, and The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati.

Shonita Joshi (Nritya) was last seen at Ensemble Theatre in Queen. She is a south Asian actor, born and brought up in Pune, India. Prior to moving to the US, she worked for three years in Mumbai in the Indian film industry and two years at Google. Shonita graduated in 2019 from Stella Adler School of Acting in New York. Some of her recent credits include Antony & Cleopatra, Pericles, Much Ado About Nothing, and Twelfth Night with Hip to Hip Theater Company NYC and A Christmas Carol, Stuart Little, and The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane with Playhouse in the Park.

Antonio Cruz (Pharron) is a Mexican American operatic baritone from Tucson, Arizona. Some of his roles include Silvio in Pagliacci with El Paso Opera, L’horloge Comtoise in L’enfant et les Sortilèges with Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, and as Jim/Troll #2 in the world premiere of Fierce with Cincinnati Opera. Tony has been an apprentice artist with Kentucky Opera, The Glimmerglass Festival, and Des Moines Metro Opera respectively. He holds an Artist Diploma in Opera and a Master’s of Music from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, as well as a Bachelor’s of Music from the University of Arizona. 

Rounding out the ensemble cast is last season’s Acting Apprentice Malyssa Quinn (Tusu), as well as this season’s Acting Apprentices Andrea Beasley (Dream Dancer/Courtier), Timothy Belton (Dream Dancer/Courtier), Caroline Mariono (Woman u/s), Emmy Rice (Natalya/Young Asa), and Elexis Selmon (Gidela).

Production team: Brian c. Mehring (Resident Scenic & Lighting Designer), Steve Goers (Music Director), Dee Anne Bryll (Choreographer), Patti James (Choreographer), Lea Lachey (Choreographer), Reba Senske (Costume Designer), Matt Callahan (Sound Designer), Kelly Yurko (Wig & Makeup Designer), Shannon Rae Lutz (Properties Curator & Design Assistant), and Jack Murphy (Technical Director). Production Stage Manager is Margot Whitney. Assistant Stage Manager is Lexi Muller.

Performance Information
Performances are on Tuesday-Saturday at 7:00 pm; Saturday and Sunday at 2:00 pm. Performances vary. A complete calendar of performances is available at www.ensemblecincinnati.org.

Ticket Prices
Tickets start at $52 for adults; student tickets are $28; and children are $24. Half-Price Rush Tickets: All remaining tickets for the current day’s performance(s) are available two hours prior to each show time for half-price (discount only applies to adult tickets) when purchasing by phone or in person. $15 Student Rush Tickets: Students may purchase up to two $15 student rush tickets two hours prior to show time with valid student I.D. Available in person only.

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Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati is supported, in part, by the generosity of community contributions to the ArtsWave Campaign.

The Ohio Arts Council helps fund Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans. Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati also receives funding from the Shubert Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati is a professional theatre dedicated to producing world and regional premieres of works that often explore compelling social issues. We fulfill our mission through our stage productions and educational outreach programs that enlighten, enliven, enrich, and inspire our audiences.

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November 1, 2022 · 6:22 am

Straight From London, Cincinnati Playhouse To Bring Exclusive Engagement of THE LION Nov. 12

PIP_The Lion promo

Photo of Max Alexander-Taylor in THE LION at the Southwark Playhouse in London. Photo by Pamela Raith.

CINCINNATI PLAYHOUSE WILL BRING AN EXCLUSIVE ENGAGEMENT OF THE LION STRAIGHT FROM LONDON TO THE WARSAW FEDERAL INCLINE THEATER NOV. 12

CINCINNATI (Oct. 31, 2022) — THE LION, an acoustic storytelling event, comes from the London stage for an exclusive engagement with Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park beginning Nov. 12. The genre-redefining musical will run through Dec. 4 at Warsaw Federal Incline Theater in Price Hill. Opening night is Nov. 17.

Written and originally performed by Benjamin Scheuer, THE LION is a story of love, loss and ultimately, hope that premiered off-Broadway in 2014 and then toured the U.S. and the U.K. for over 500 performances. This revival, directly from London, features Max Alexander- Taylor as Benjamin, the show’s musician-storyteller. The new production was hailed by WhatsOnStage as “an incredibly life-affirming theatrical experience.” Musical Theater Review called the revival “a rare and beautiful gem.”

“Unusually for a musical, this piece has a real intimacy and directness with an audience, and we’ve directed the show to be far more live and spontaneous than is often possible to be with a large ensemble or orchestra…THE LION is an exciting example that musicals can be small, subtle, sincere and stripped right back to just a person in a room telling a brilliant story,” said Alex Stenhouse, who also co-directs the Playhouse engagement with Sean Daniels.

The turbulent story in the musical begins with a boy named Benjamin, whose father loved music and writing folk songs. An unexpected event sends shock waves throughout the family, splintering Benjamin’s relationship with them into adulthood. When he experiences a brush with his own mortality, the audience sees Benjamin summon the courage to weather the storm.

“…to be bringing our production to Cincinnati this year is so surreal and a truly special experience,” Stenhouse continued. “We’re so proud of it, and we can’t wait for you all to see what we’ve been cooking up across the pond.”

LOCATION

Due to construction, the Playhouse’s Eden Park facility is temporarily closed. Performances of THE LION will take place at The Warsaw Federal Incline Theater in Price Hill: 801 Matson Pl, Cincinnati, OH 45204.

ARTISTS

Max Alexander-Taylor (Benjamin); Benjamin Scheuer (Book, Music & Lyrics); Sean Daniels (Director); Alex Stenhouse (Director); Simon Kenny (Scenic & Costume Designer); Emma Chapman (Lighting Designer); William Kirkham (Associate Lighting Designer); Andrew Johnson (Sound Designer); Brandon T. Holmes (Stage Manager); Andrea Shell (Second Stage Manager); Arizona Theatre Company (Co-Producer)

TICKETS 

Performances will take place at Warsaw Federal Incline Theater on Tuesdays through Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m. An additional matinee performance is offered on Nov. 23 at 1 p.m. No performance on Thanksgiving Day. An audio-described performance will be offered on Dec. 3 at 2 p.m., and a signed performance will be offered on Dec. 4 at 2 p.m.

To purchase tickets or for more information, call the Playhouse Box Office at 513-421-3888 (toll-free in Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana at 800-582-3208) or visit http://www.cincyplay.com. Patrons who are deaf, hard-of-hearing, deaf-blind or speech disabled: dial 711 to connect to the Box Office via Ohio Relay Services.

ADVISORY

THE LION is suitable for ages 12 and up. This heartrending yet uplifting story about one man’s personal journey through loss, illness and relationship challenges includes mature themes and some amazing music. We recommend you bring tissues.

SPONSORS

Production Sponsor is Roto-Rooter. Design Sponsor is Frost Brown Todd, LLC.  Honorary Producers are Barbara and Leon Meyer. Season Sponsors are the Vontz Family and the Rosenthal Family Foundation.

The Playhouse is supported by the generosity of almost 40,000 contributors to the ArtsWave Community campaign. The Ohio Arts Council helps fund the Playhouse with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans. The Playhouse also receives funding from the Shubert Foundation.

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