Category Archives: Press Releases

May 27, 2022 · 11:07 am

Cincinnati Opera Kicks Off its 2022 Summer Festival with Free Community Events on June 12

Opera for All
A lively open house at Music Hall with stage tours, costume displays, stagecraft demonstrations, and more

Opera in the Park
A concert of opera and musical theater favorites at Washington Park performed by stars from Cincinnati Opera’s 2022 season, the Cincinnati Opera Chorus, the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra Brass Institute, and the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra

Photo of Cincinnati Opera's Opera in the Park Conert

Opera in the Park / Photo by Philip Groshong

CINCINNATI, OH—Cincinnati Opera celebrates the kickoff of its 2022 Summer Festival with two free community events on Sunday, June 12.

First up is Opera for All, a lively open house at Music Hall (4–6 p.m.). Guests of all ages are invited to explore the historic venue and enjoy stage tours, costume displays, stagecraft demonstrations, strolling entertainment, and hands-on activities.

That evening, Cincinnati Opera will present Opera in the Park (7:30 p.m.), a free concert in Washington Park featuring a selection of opera and musical theater favorites performed by star singers from Cincinnati Opera’s 2022 Summer Festival, the Cincinnati Opera Chorus, the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra Brass Institute, and the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.

Guests who arrive early can also enjoy a free performance in Washington Park by the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra Brass Institute (6 p.m.).

Admission to both Opera for All and Opera in the Park is free and open to the public. Visit cincinnatiopera.org for more information.

Opera for All

When: Sunday, June 12, 2022, 4–6 p.m.
Where: Music Hall, 1241 Elm Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202

Cincinnati Opera presents Opera for All, a free open house at historic Music Hall. Audiences of all ages are invited to enjoy stage tours, costume displays, stagecraft demonstrations, strolling entertainment, and hands-on activities. Food trucks and ice cream courtesy of Graeter’s will also be on hand.

Admission: Free. For information, visit cincinnatiopera.org/opera-for-all or call 513-241-2742.

Opera in the Park

When: Sunday, June 12, 2022; 7:30 p.m.
Where: Washington Park, 1230 Elm Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202

Cincinnati Opera presents Opera in the Park, a free concert of opera and musical theater favorites in Washington Park.

Featured singers include cast members from the company’s upcoming productions of La Bohème (June 18, 23, 25) and The Pirates of Penzance (July 7, 8, 10): sopranos Talise Trevigne, Raven McMillon, Marlen Nahhas, and Amber Wagner, mezzo-soprano Jasmin White, tenors Ji-Min Park and Houston Tyrell, baritones Thomas Dreeze, Rodion Pogossov, and Ethan Vincent, bass-baritone André Courville, and bass Zachary James.

Also featured are the Cincinnati Opera Chorus, led by Chorus Master Henri Venanzi, and the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra Brass Institute. Conductors David Agler and Stephen Mulligan will lead the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. Evans Mirageas, The Harry T. Wilks Artistic Director of Cincinnati Opera, will emcee.

Just before Opera in the Park, the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra Brass Institute will perform in Washington Park beginning at 6 p.m., presenting music spanning the Renaissance through the modern era.

Guests are invited to bring a lawn chair or blanket to enjoy the performance. Concessions and food trucks will be available in and around Washington Park throughout the evening.

Admission: Free. Guests are encouraged to register in advance for weather alerts and event updates. All registered attendees will also be entered in a drawing to win a prize package featuring Cincinnati Opera season tickets for two, valued at $580. To register, visit cincinnatiopera.org/opera-park-2022.

Opera in the Park is a part of the DBL Law OTR Performs series in Washington Park. Sponsored by DBL Law, GBBN Architects, and First Financial Bank, produced by 3CDC.

Looking ahead:

Cincinnati Opera 2022 Summer Festival
Season Schedule

La Bohème
By Giacomo Puccini
June 18, 23 & 25, 2022
Music Hall

Fierce (world premiere)
By William Menefield and Sheila Williams
July 6, 9 & 10, 2022
SCPA’s Corbett Theater

The Pirates of Penzance
By Arthur Sullivan and W.S. Gilbert
July 7, 8 & 10, 2022
Music Hall

Castor and Patience (world premiere)
By Gregory Spears and Tracy K. Smith
July 21, 23, 24, 28 & 30, 2022
SCPA’s Corbett Theater

Aida
By Giuseppe Verdi
July 22, 26, 29 & 31, 2022
Music Hall

Special concert event!
Morris and Friends
July 27, 2022
Music Hall

Visit cincinnatiopera.org for complete season details.

About Cincinnati Opera
Cincinnati Opera’s mission is to enrich and connect our community through diverse opera experiences. Founded in 1920 and the second-oldest opera company in the nation, Cincinnati Opera presents a thrilling season of grand opera every summer and engaging programs throughout the year. The company’s repertoire includes beloved classics and contemporary masterworks brought to life by some of the world’s most dynamic performers and creative artists.

Season Presenting Sponsor of the 2022 Summer Festival is Huntington. Cincinnati Opera is supported by the generosity of tens of thousands of contributors to the ArtsWave Community Campaign. Cincinnati Opera also receives season support from the Ohio Arts Council, The Louise Dieterle Nippert Musical Arts Fund, Patricia A. Corbett Estate and Trust, and the Harry T. Wilks Family Foundation, along with season and project support from many other generous individuals, corporations, and foundations. Opera for All and Opera in the Park are made possible by American Rescue Plan funds from the City of Cincinnati, administered through ArtsWave. Opera in the Park Sponsor is Western & Southern Financial Group. Media Partners are 91.7 WVXU and 90.9 WGUC. Cincinnati Opera is a proud member of OPERA America.

For more information, visit cincinnatiopera.org.

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May 25, 2022 · 5:17 pm

2022-2023 Season Announced by Know Theatre of Cincinnati

Announcing the Know’s 25th MainStage Season
KTC_Lets Play logoOur twenty-fifth MainStage season will whisk you from the Grand Canyon to small-town England, hunt for magic in the Seattle streets and the Texas plains, and unravel secrets hiding in your household items and in post-apocalyptic forests – all within the walls of our 99-seat black box theatre in Over-the-Rhine.Come with us on a season-long adventure about what it means to be alive, how our lives intertwine, what the risk of truly living can be, and (most importantly) What We Owe to Each Other.

Single tickets will be available from June 13.

“It’s no small thing, when your drug dealer dumps you. I would think it occasions a self-reflection.”

SUNRISE COVEN
By Brendan Bourque-Sheil

Directed by Tamara Winters

A comedy about healers and healing and witchcraft and pharmaceuticals in a town that’s barely hanging on.

Running August 5 – 21, 2022–
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“I need – I don’t know if I know what I need.”

IT’S NOT A TRIP, IT’S A JOURNEY
By Charley Evon Simpson

Directed by Daryl Harris

Road trips, friendships, and finding the difference between surviving and thriving.

Running September 23 – October 9, 2022

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We are proud to produce it’s not a trip it’s a journey as part of a National New Play Network Rolling World Premiere, alongside productions at Round House Theatre (Bethesda, MD) and Good Company Theatre (Ogden, UT). For more information, please visit nnpn.org.
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“I used to think it was a better choice to hide / You took my hand and reminded me of who I am inside.”

LIZARD BOY
Book, music, and lyrics by
Justin Huertas

Directed by Lindsey Augusta Mercer

Comic book lore and an indie rock score collide in a fateful night of adventure, music, and love.

Running November 18 – December 11, 2022
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“Glass meets his temple and EXPLODES!”

DICKLESS
By Aisha Josiah

Directed by Brant Russell

Intertwined stories of gender identity and an adrenaline-fueled quest for revenge through the brutal underworld of small-town England.

Running January 27 – February 12, 2023
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“Absolute Cleanliness is next to Godliness!”

ALL-ONE! The Dr. Bronner’s Play
By Beth Hyland

Directed by Erika Kate MacDonald
Music direction by Paul Strickland

An irreverent pageant of life’s deepest darkness and brightest light, told through the life of the world’s most famous soap maker.

Running March 10 – 26, 2023
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“Given the condition of the world, I feel it’s important people treat each other with dignity.”

BANKERS
By Brant Russell

Directed by Andrew J. Hungerford

A tragicomic look at what’s worth saving in the apocalypse and everything after.

Running April 21 – May 14, 2023
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Also coming next season:

  • A winter round of Serials!, our competitive episodic Monday-night theatre party.
  • Another milestone birthday: the twentieth annual Cincinnati Fringe Festival!
  • More Welcome Wednesdays, to continue opportunities for low-cost and free entry to every MainStage production.

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May 20, 2022 · 1:21 pm

The Further Adventures of a Teen Detective and Her Dog

CFF22_Jinkies logo(CINCINNATI, OHIO) –  JiNKiES! at the 2022 Cincinnati Fringe Theatre Festival, June 3–June 18. A follow-up to their 2019 hit, JINKIES! is the thrilling next adventure in the life of a very meddlesome duo. This hilarious escapade is perfect for both newcomers and returning fans alike and finally answers the question, “What if the Hardy Boys wanted to burn this shit down?”

From the creative force behind 2021’s award winning show You Will Live Under the Sea comes an opioid-fueled dive into the world of latch-key children and the haunted, dangerous places that mischief leads. PICK-OF-THE-FRINGE winners Bridget Leak, Jordan Trovillion and Trey Tatum return with a fresh look at the teen detective genre.

AWARDS AND ACCOLADES FOR QUEEN CITY FLASH

  • 2021  Cincy Fringe All-Access Pick- You Will Live Under the Sea
  • 2020 Cincy Fringe All-Access Pick – Killjoy, Ohio
  • 2020 The Young-Howze Theatre Awards,  Show of the Year Winner – Killjoy, Ohio
  • 2019 Cincy Fringe All-Access Pick – Zoinks!
  • 2018 Cincy Fringe All-Access Pick- Alabama Monster
  • 2014 Cincy Fringe Artist Pick – Slut Shaming 

INTERNATIONAL PRAISE

  • ★★★★★ STARS – Saskatoon Star Phoenix, Alabama Monster
  • ★★★★ STARS – CBC, Alabama Monster
  • ★★★★ STARS – Winnipeg Free Press, Alabama Monster 

THE CREATIVE TEAM

  • Written by Trey Tatum
  • Directed by Bridget Leak
  • Performed by Jordan Trovillion & Trey Tatum
  • Design: Grayson Halonen (Lighting and Puppet Design), Liam Belluso (Lighting, Set, and Puppet Design), and Lucas Wall (Sound and Puppet Design)

SEE JiNKiES! AT THE CINCY FRINGE FESTIVAL!

TICKETS:  Tickets are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased at https://cincyfringe.com/jinkies/

VENUE: Art Academy Room 402 (A402), 1212 Jackson St. Cincinnati, OH 45202

SHOW DATES AND TIMES (60 MINUTES): Saturday June 4 at 3:45pm; Sunday June 5 at 5:30; Thursday June 9 at 7:15pm; Saturday June 11 at 9pm; Sunday June 12 at 2pm; Wednesday June 15 at 7:15pm, Thursday June 16 at 9pm

PRICING: $16 plus $1 ticketing fee. Multi-show passes available

RATING: PG-13 (13+)

Previous Queen City Flash Productions at Cincy Fringe:

  • 2021 – You Will live Under the Sea
  • 2020 – Killjoy, Ohio
  • 2019 – Zoinks!
  • 2018 – of Monster Descent
  • 2017 – The Disappearance of Nicole of Jacobs
  • 2016 – The Midnight Express
  • 2015 – Shelter (with Pones)
  • 2014 – Slut Shaming 

ABOUT TREY TATUM: Trey Tatum is a playwright / composer from Cincinnati, Ohio. Recent credits include ZOINKS!, a Nancy Drew send-up about the opioid epidemic, Alabama Monster, his solo show about mental illness, family ties and creatures that lie just out of sight, and JALZ, a remake of the blockbuster movie JAWS that examines Alzheimer’s disease, end of life care and family legacy. For the past four seasons, Trey has been composer for Playhouse in the Park’s Off the Hill Education Touring Series. Current Projects include Have Monster, Will Travel, a new audio fiction podcast about road trips, monsters and the meaning of family. Trey makes theatre and mischief with his wife, director Bridget Leak. treytatum.com

ABOUT JORDAN TROVILLION: Jordan Trovillion is so happy to be reprising her role of Nolan Blackwell; Teen Sleuth, Girl Detective, from the 2019 Cincinnati Fringe Festival Pick of the Fringe Award Winner “Zoinks!” Interim credits include “Queen” (Ariel) at Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati, “All’s Faire” (Johnson) at Know Theatre of Cincinnati, “Silent Sky” (Henrietta Leavitt) at Falcon Theatre, and “You Will Live Under the Sea” with Queen City Flash at the 2021 Cincinnati Fringe Festival. Other favorite shows include “Puffs” (Susie Bones track) and “The Absentee” (Operator) with Know Theatre of Cincinnati. Jordan is a member of SAG/AFTRA and has performed in various films and television shows, including “The Old Man and the Gun,” “My Days of Mercy,” “Jack Reacher,” and Comedy Central’s “Detroiters.” She is one half of the pair of proprietors of a mysterious magic shop in Covington, a freelance illustrator, and used to be in a cover band.

ABOUT BRIDGET LEAK: Bridget Leak is a freelance director and co-founder of Queen City Flash. Previous directing credits; Queen (Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati), Actually (Playhouse in the Park), Playhouse’s Off-the-Hill Series, and both digital and live productions for the Cincy Fringe Festival. Upcoming productions: more episodes of the podcast Have Monster Will Travel produced by Queen City Flash. Bridget is a People’s Liberty Grant recipient and a Cincinnati Arts Ambassador Fellow. She was recently featured in Movers & Makers, American Theatre Magazine and had her work highlighted in Teaching Theatre magazine, a publication of EdTA. Bridget teaches at Xavier University and has directed at Xavier and Miami University. Bridget has her M.F.A. in Directing from the Actors Studio Drama School at Pace University. She calls East Price Hill home with her husband, playwright-composer Trey Tatum, infant Wilder and pups “Pocket” & “Lint” bridgetleak.com

ABOUT QUEEN CITY FLASH

Queen City Flash is Director Bridget Leak and Playwright/Composer Trey Tatum. We are committed to: Creating. New. Plays. Critically-acclaimed original works, emboldened by experiments with form, augmented with original music, and deepened by collaborations with neighbors and partners. Money in people’s pockets, not on the walls.  Where a minimum of 51% of the budget goes to paying local artists, not sustaining venues or overhead. Open Access. Creating experiences that an entire family can afford, enjoyed in transformed and relaxed environments.

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May 19, 2022 · 9:45 am

Announcing the 2022 OVER-THE-RHINE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL Film Line-Up

OTRFF22_logoFifty Films Celebrating Diversity & The Human Spirit, Including Feature Films, Film Shorts, Student & Curated Films 

CINCINNATI, OH –May 18, 2022 – The premier diversity festival in the United States led by the disability community, The Over-The-Rhine Film Festival, presented by LADD, today officially announced a showcase of independent films for the highly-anticipated event that will occur July 7-10, 2022, in a variety of venues in the diverse Cincinnati neighborhood of Over-the-Rhine. With a stringent film-screening and selection process that rivals film festivals such as the Toronto and Cleveland Film Festivals, The Over-The-Rhine Film Festival, presented by LADD, received over one hundred entries from all over the globe; the film slate was unveiled today at a media event at The Art Academy of Cincinnati’s SITE 1212, in Over-The-Rhine, one of the Film Festival July venues.

The Over-The-Rhine Film Festival, presented by LADD, is in its fourth year and aims to encourage conversation, engagement, and action through the vehicle of film.  Films will be screened at The Art Academy of Cincinnati’s SITE 1212, The Woodward Theater, Harriet Beecher Stowe House and The Freedom Center throughout the four-day event in July.  “The breadth and depth of films from such a diverse group of filmmakers is unprecedented,” said tt stern-enzi, Artistic Director, The Over-The-Rhine Film Festival.  “These films truly represent the five pillars which we base our selection process on: freedom, identity, diversity, disability and faith,” he continued. Mr. stern-enzi is one of the most lauded Black film critics in the United States and is locally known as “The Movie Guy” on Cincinnati’s Fox19 television.

On July 7, the narrative feature Poppy from writer-director Linda Niccol will open The OTR Film Festival, presented by LADD, at 8pm at SITE 1212. Poppy is a young woman with Down Syndrome eager to take control of her life and pursue her dream of becoming a mechanic; look forward to love, laughs and drama.

From the submission side of programming, the feature documentary Here. Is. Better., which addresses PTSD among veterans, allowing them to share their own stories in their own voices, will be presented. Rez Metal, is a film that spotlights the journey of a Navajo band working on their debut album with the award-winning producer of Metallica. And Our Baby Knows, a short film from Cincinnati filmmaker David Chimusoro, finds a young father attempting to explain a harsh reality to his son using personal triumph to soften the blow.

In addition to Poppy on Opening Night, this year’s curated slate includes Omoiyari: A Song Film by Kishi Bashi, a powerful musical odyssey connecting the Muslim ban and the immigration crisis on the US/Mexico border to the Japanese internment during WWII; Marvelous and The Black Hole from director Kate Tsang, capturing the coming-of-age story of a delinquent teen who teams up with a surly children’s magician to navigate a difficult stage of her life.

For the complete film schedule, including a detailed list of films, venues and times, visit https://otrfilmfest.org/festival-schedule/. Tickets to The Over-The-Rhine Film Festival, presented by LADD, can be purchased online as virtual or in-person passes and single tickets at https://otrfilmfest.org/tickets/.

About Over-the-Rhine International Film Festival
The Over-the-Rhine International Film Festival, presented by LADD, is the premier diversity film festival in the United States led by the disability community.  The festival’s founding sponsor is the Saul Schottenstein Foundation B along with leadership support from Procter and Gamble. Set to return July 7-10, 2022, the festival will showcase stories that celebrate the human spirit by providing a platform for audiences to see through another’s eyes. The festival is a catalyst for creating community and connections by telling stories that don’t get told.  LADD brings the annual festival to Cincinnati to continue reframing how we see disability in the entertainment industry’s ongoing discussion of diversity. Learn more at otrfilmfest.org.

About LADD
Guided by the belief that every person has ability and value, LADD empowers adults with developmental disabilities to live, work, and connect. Founded in 1975, the Cincinnati non-profit now supports over 650 adults experiencing disabilities through housing, employment and meaningful community engagement programs. Learn more at laddinc.org.

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May 19, 2022 · 9:25 am

Steven Nicholas’ Award Winning Show ExperiMENTAL Comes to Cincinnati

CFF22_Experi-mental logoCincinnati, June 4-17, 2022 – The Cincy Fringe Festival will feature the regional premier of Steven Nicholas’ spellbinding new mind reading show ExperiMENTAL.  After receiving glowing reviews at the 2021 Orlando, Boulder, and OKC fringe festivals, Steven will be appearing for a two week engagement at the Art Academy of Cincinnati.

With multiple reimagined concepts for the 2022 festival season, ExperiMENTAL will deliver an experience that isn’t just something to view, but something to be a part of.  After the 2021 premier of ExperiMENTAL, the Orlando Weekly said “You’ll be Mesmerized” and selected it as one of the top ten shows to see at the Orlando Fringe Festival.

With a most unusual set of skills, Steven Nicholas promises to get inside your head, find out what you’re thinking, and leave you questioning exactly where to draw the line between fact and fiction.  ExperiMENTAL features engaging autobiographical moments, incredible feats of memory, a hallucination, and mind reading under the strictest of test conditions.  Featuring audience involvement throughout, select individuals will leave the theater with verifiable proof that their potential is much greater than they previously believed it to be.  Differing choices made by every audience lead the show down a new path every night, making each performance a unique event.  ExperiMENTAL promises to twist your reality in a way you can’t help but love.

Tickets are available for $16 at cincyfringe.com/experimental/

About Steven Nicholas
Steven is a mind reader and performer who aims to inspire audiences by expanding their belief in their own limitless potential and ability to overcome obstacles.  He has appeared in numerous national commercials, films, and theatrical productions.  In May of 2021, his debut one man show, ExperiMENTAL, won him the coveted “Patrons’ Pick” award at the Orlando Fringe Festival and went on to sell out seven consecutive performances.  Steven hopes to continue to develop his show and to bring audiences positive and uplifting entertainment with a little added mystery.

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