Category Archives: Press Releases

June 16, 2021 · 2:02 pm

It’s Back! TO BE BLACK is Available to Stream through June 27

CBTAC_To Be Black logo2Cincinnati Black Theatre Artist Collective (Cincy BlackTAC) with Falcon Theatre is excited to announce that back by popular demand, TO BE BLACK is available for streaming through June 27, 2021.

Whether you’re seeing these special performances for the first time or re-visiting these dynamic and nuanced works, we can’t wait to bring these stories back into your homes.

Cincy BlackTAC is excited to expand their work to focus on new voices. In their successful 2020 summer weekly series, Monologues For Us By Us, they featured the work of August Wilson and his contemporaries. In this new collaboration, they will continue to showcase the stories of Black life in the most varied and multi-faceted way; promoting the awareness that the Black experience is not monolithic. Under the direction of Piper N. Davis and Candice Handy, local playwrights will have the opportunity to have their work brought to life by some of Cincinnati’s favorite faces, including Geoffrey Barnes, Burgess Byrd and Ernaisja Curry. Featured playwrights include Derek J. Snow, Cris Eli Blak, A.J. Baldwin Arethia Hornsby Rinfrow, and Curtis Shepard.

“The audience will get to hear from a variety of Black voices with TO BE BLACK. I hope that viewers will gain some perspective in subject matters like identity, gentrification and trauma that affect Black people every day in a different way than our white peers. I also hope that the audience will have a good time! There are some new, fresh and comedic voices in TO BE BLACK that truly showcase the vibrancy of Black culture and quick-wittedness of Black folks!” says Cincy BlackTAC Artistic Director, Candice Handy.

Falcon Theatre is proud to bring Cincinnati Black Theatre Artist Collective to their space to produce this virtual theatrical event. “Theatre, at its core, is a collaborative process. Part of Falcon Theatre’s mission is to advocate new voices, foster talent and vision and provide a safe, inviting environment for all artists to grow and share their work. Collaborating with Cincy BlackTAC is a fundamental way Falcon can help support the efforts of BIPOC artists so the momentum gained through tragedy is not lost to complacency,” says Artistic Director and Founder of Falcon Theatre, Ted Weil.

TO BE BLACK will be available for streaming through June 27, 2021, for $15. Tickets will be available for purchase on both the Falcon and Cincinnati Black Theatre Artist Collective’s websites. Ticketholders will be able to view the show for 48 hours after their purchase.

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June 16, 2021 · 11:24 am

Cast Announced for LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS at The Carnegie

TC_Little Shop of Horrors logo

Little Shop of Horrors Kicks Off The Carnegie’s
2021-22 Theatre Season

Beloved musical to be performed outdoors Aug. 13-15 and 20-22, 2021

COVINGTON, KY – It’s an American classic featuring a meek floral assistant, a woman he loves … and a giant, fast-talking – and singing – plant. This August, get ready to experience the musical magic of LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS. 

A show that has delighted audiences for more than 30 years, LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS kicks off The Carnegie’s 2021-22 theatre season with two weekends of rousing outdoor performances at Covington Plaza at Riverfront Commons (144 Madison Ave., Covington, KY 41011). The show tells the tale of Seymour, a down-on-his-luck floral assistant who lives on Skid Row and spends his days pining for his co-worker (and the love of his life), Audrey.

Once Seymour meets a plant that can talk, he suddenly sees his fortune change as his new companion (whom he promptly names “Audrey II”) promises wealth, fame and his dream girl can all be his. There’s just one problem: In exchange for his dreams, he must be willing to submit to Audrey II’s nightmarish dreams of world domination.

Featuring a beloved score in a Motown style, you’ll be hopping and bopping to hits like “Suddenly Seymour,” “Skid Row,” and “Somewhere That’s Green.” Howard Ashman and Alan Menken (Disney’s THE LITTLE MERMAID, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST and ALADDIN) are the creative geniuses behind what has become one of the most popular shows in the world.

“The magic of LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS crosses generations, stage and film. Given the setting of the beautiful new amphitheater at Covington Plaza, it’s a perfect production to bring to life this summer,” said Carnegie Theatre Director Maggie Perrino. “From the classic Motown flavor of the music to the inherent entertainment value of the dialogue and characters, this show’s name belies the fun and flair within that’s made it a classic.”

The Carnegie’s production of LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS will be presented Friday, August 13, 8 p.m.; Saturday, August 14, 8 p.m.; Sunday, August 15, 6 p.m.; Friday, August 20, 8 p.m.; Saturday, August 21, 8 p.m.; Sunday, August 22, 6 p.m. Shows will be performed at Covington Plaza’s amphitheater, located near Roebling Bridge spanning the riverfront from Madison to Greenup Street.

Subscriptions and single tickets for the 2021-22 Theatre Season are on sale now. Full season subscriptions are $106 and $102 for Carnegie Members. Pick three subscriptions are available for $82-87 depending on selected titles. Individual tickets for LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS are $32 for adults, $29 Carnegie members and $25 for students. Individual tickets and subscriptions can be purchased through The Carnegie Box Office, Tuesday–Friday noon to 5 p.m., in person or by phone at (859) 957-1940 or online at www.thecarnegie.com. Patrons seeking group or student tickets should call to arrange.

Cast List

  • Seymour- Kyle Taylor
  • Audrey- Maddie Vaughn
  • Mr. Mushnik- Dan Cohen
  • Crystal- Sasha Spitz
  • Chiffon-Alloria Frayser
  • Ronnette- Christian Kidd
  • Orin- Ryaan Farhadi
  • Audrey II (Voice of the Plant)- Michael Lee Jr.
  • Featured Ensemble/ Audrey II Puppeteer- Jamal Stone
  • Featured Ensemble- Jack Johnson
  • Featured Ensemble- Je’Shaun Jackson
  • Featured Ensemble- Cassidy Steele

Production Staff

  • Director/Choreographer- Maggie Perrino
  • Music Director- Steve Goers
  • Stage Manager- Carissa Gandenberger
  • Asst. Stage Manager- Shauna Nelson
  • Technical Director- Doug Stock
  • Costume Designer- Cat Schmeal-Swope 

The Carnegie’s 2021-22 Theatre Series is presented by the Otto M. Budig Family Foundation. 

Additional production support for LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS comes from Johnson Investment Counsel. 

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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 www.thecarnegie.com or by calling (859) 491-2030. 

The Carnegie receives ongoing operating support from ArtsWave, Cincinnati International Wine Festival, City of Covington, The Greater Cincinnati Foundation, Kenton County Fiscal Courts, the Kentucky Arts Council and the Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile Jr. Foundation. 

ABOUT THE CARNEGIE THEATRE SERIES:
The Carnegie Theatre Series produces professional, innovative stagings of an eclectic range of theatrical 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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June 16, 2021 · 9:21 am

2021-2022 Season Announced by Village Players

VP_Outdoor AwningVILLAGE PLAYERS OF FORT THOMAS ANNOUNCES
2021-2022 MAINSTAGE SEASON, LIVE AND IN-PERSON!

 June 16, 2021, Fort Thomas, KY— Village Players of Fort Thomas is thrilled to announce its live and in-person 2021-22 mainstage season, a collection of popular, crowd-pleasing shows beautifully balanced by light-hearted humor and sentimentality. The season opens with the previously-scheduled-but-Covid-cancelled musical The Last Five Years by Jason Robert Brown, and there’s a bonus with this show: the first twenty patrons to use the code welcomeback will receive half off their second ticket! 

Village Players Vice President and play reading committee member Angela Klocke Forbes explains the process behind the selections. “We approached this ‘return-to-the-theater’ season by asking ourselves, ‘What have we missed most about live theater?’ And the answer we came up with, in a nutshell, was celebration—that uplifting feeling you have after the curtain falls on a show that was just simply special,” she says. “With that in mind, we chose shows that are sure to leave audiences feeling good, whether through comedy or music or heart.”

Village Players’ 2021-22 Season 

October 1-3 & 7-9, 2021
THE LAST FIVE YEARS by Jason Robert Brown
Courtesy of Music Theatre International
Directed by Nathan Henegar

An emotionally powerful and intimate musical about two New Yorkers in their twenties who fall in and out of love over the course of five years, the show’s unconventional structure consists of Cathy, the woman, telling her story backwards while Jamie, the man, tells his story chronologically; the two characters only meet once, at their wedding in the middle of the show.

December 3-5 & 9-11, 2021
DASHING THROUGH THE SNOW by Jessie Jones, Nicholas Hope, Jamie Wooten
Courtesy of Dramatists Play Service
Directed by Dan Maloney

It’s four days before Christmas in the tiny town of Tinsel, Texas, and a colorful parade of eccentric guests arrive at the Snowflake Inn and deck the halls with holiday hilarity. You’ll swear this family-friendly Jones/Hope/Wooten Christmas comedy is more fun than a joyride in a one-horse open sleigh!

February 25-27 & March 3-5, 2022
YOU CAN’T TAKE IT WITH YOU by Moss Hart and George S. KaufmanBottom of FormTop of FormTop of Form
Courtesy of Dramatists Play Service
Directed by Greg Hatfield

At first the Sycamores seem mad, but it’s not long before we realize that if they are mad, the rest of the world is madder. In contrast to these delightful people are the unhappy Kirbys. The plot shows how Tony, attractive young son of the Kirbys, falls in love with Alice Sycamore and brings his parents to dine at the Sycamore home on the wrong evening. You Can’t Take It With You is a madcap, idealistic comedy that reinforces the idea that you can only live life to the fullest by doing whatever makes you happy. 

April 29-May 1 & May 5-7, 2022
SYLVIA by A.R. Gurney
Courtesy of Dramatists Play Service
Directed by Steven Ducker

Greg and Kate have moved to Manhattan after twenty-two years of child-raising in the suburbs. Greg’s career as a financial trader is winding down, while Kate’s career, as a public-school English teacher, is beginning to offer her more opportunities. Greg brings home a dog he found in the park—or that has found him—bearing only the name “Sylvia” on her name tag. A street-smart mixture of Lab and poodle, Sylvia becomes a major bone of contention between husband and wife. The marriage is put in serious jeopardy until, after a series of hilarious and touching complications, Greg and Kate learn to compromise, and Sylvia becomes a valued part of their lives.

Season packages include all four shows for a discounted rate of $60 per person. Individual show tickets are $20. Purchase season packages or individual show tickets online now at villageplayers.org.  

Village Players of Fort Thomas, Kentucky, is a vibrant community theatre that has produced plays and musicals for more than 50 years. Performing in an intimate space, you will feel like you are part of the action, sitting inches from the actors on three sides of the stage. We strive to appeal to a broad audience, producing three main-stage shows of varying styles and a children’s show each winter. Village Players is a member of the American Association of Community Theatre (AACT), Association of Community Theatres Cincinnati (ACT), Ohio Community Theatre Association (OCTA), and the Kentucky Theatre Association (KTA).

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June 15, 2021 · 10:46 am

2021-2022 Season Announced by The Carnegie

TC_logo_newTHE CARNEGIE ANNOUNCES 2021-22 THEATRE SEASON

COVINGTON, KY – The Theatre Series is back! The Carnegie’s 2021-22 season features a fast-talking plant; an intimate glimpse into the complicated life of a Hollywood icon; a heartwarming, family musical that will have everyone humming “Do-Re-Mi”; and the debut of a new script by a local arts leader.

The season opens in August with outdoor performances of LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, a deliciously hilarious musical about a man-eating plant. In September, audience members will finally have the opportunity to see Judy Garland as she navigates a comeback in END OF THE RAINBOW, the final production of The Carnegie’s 2019-2020 season that was canceled due to COVID. Families are welcome to return to The Carnegie Theatre with a winter production of THE SOUND OF MUSIC in January of 2022. Closing out the season in April will be a new play by D. Lynn Meyers – in a first-of-its-kind regional collaboration, The Carnegie and NKU School of the Arts will work together to produce a new play by Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati’s Producing Artistic Director.

Subscriptions and single tickets for the 2021-22 Theatre Season are on sale now. Full season subscriptions are $106 and $102 for Carnegie Members. Pick three subscriptions are available for $82-87 depending on selected titles. Subscriptions may be purchased through The Carnegie Box Office at (859) 957-1940, Tuesday – Friday, Noon – 5 pm, or online at thecarnegie.com.

The Carnegie’s 2021-22 Theatre Series is presented by the Otto M. Budig Family Foundation.

The Carnegie’s 2021-22 Theatre Series

LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS | Playing August 13-22, 2021
Performances at Covington Plaza Amphitheater (144 Madison Ave, Covington KY 41011)
Book and Lyrics by Howard Ashman | Music by Alan Menken
Based on the film by Roger Corman | Screenplay by Charles Griffith
Originally produced by the WPA Theatre (Kyle Renick, Producing Director)
Originally produced at the Orpheum Theatre, New York City by the WPA Theatre, David Geffen, Cameron Mackintosh and the Shubert Organization

A Broadway and Hollywood smash musical, LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS has devoured the hearts of theatregoers for over thirty years. Seymour is a down-on-his-luck floral assistant living on Skid Row and pining for the love of his co-worker, Audrey. But his fortunes change when he meets a fast-talking plant who promises him wealth, fame, and the love of his dream girl to boot. There’s just one problem. In exchange for his wildest dreams coming true, Seymour must follow the plant down a murderous path to world domination.

Featuring a beloved score in a Motown style, you’ll be hopping and bopping to hits like “Suddenly Seymour,” “Skid Row,” and “Somewhere That’s Green.” Howard Ashman and Alan Menken (Disney’s THE LITTLE MERMAID, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, ALADDIN) are the creative geniuses behind what has become one of the most popular shows in the world.

Six Performances:

  • Friday, August 13, 8 pm
  • Saturday, August 14, 8 pm
  • Sunday, August 15, 6 pm
  • Friday, August 20, 8 pm
  • Saturday, August 21, 8 pm
  • Sunday, August 22, 6 pm

Tickets are $32 for adults, $29 Carnegie members and $25 for students.

LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS-Broadway Version is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MIT). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MIT. www.MTIShows.com

Content Advisory: Production includes adult themes and language. Not recommended for children under 13.

END OF THE RAINBOW | Playing September 10-19, 2021
Performances at Covington Plaza Amphitheater (144 Madison Ave, Covington KY 41011)
By Peter Quilter 

The year is 1968 and Judy Garland is set firmly on the comeback trail. The failed marriages, the suicide attempts and the addictions are all behind her. At forty-six and with new flame Mickey Deans at her side, she seems determined to carry it off and recapture her magic. But lasting happiness always eludes some people, and there was never any answer to the question with which Judy ended every show: “If happy little bluebirds fly beyond the rainbow, why, oh, why, can’t I?”

END OF THE RAINBOW is a savagely funny drama featuring a glorious ensemble of Judy Garland hits such as “The Trolley Song,” “The Man that Got Away,” and of course “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.”

Six Performances:

  • Friday, September 10, 8 pm
  • Saturday, September 11, 8 pm
  • Sunday, September 12, 6 pm
  • Friday, September 17, 8 pm
  • Saturday, September 18, 8 pm
  • Sunday, September 19, 6 pm

Tickets are $32 for adults, $29 Carnegie members and $25 for students.

END OF THE RAINBOW is presented by special arrangement with CONCORD Theatricals, Inc.

CONTENT ADVISORY: Production includes adult themes and language. Not recommended for children under 13.

THE SOUND OF MUSIC | Playing January 29-February 13, 2022
Performances at The Carnegie Theatre (1028 Scott Blvd, Covington KY 41011)
Music by Richard Rodgers | Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II
Book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse | Suggested by The Trapp Family Singers by Maria Augusta Trapp

THE SOUND OF MUSIC is one of the most beloved musicals of all time! In Austria, 1938, an exuberant young governess brings music and joy back to a broken family, only to face danger and intrigue as the Nazis gain power.

Featuring an iconic score including “My Favorite Things,” “Sixteen going on Seventeen,” and “Climb Every Mountain,” this family-friendly favorite shares a meaningful story for all ages.

Ten Performances:

  • Saturday, January 29, 7:30 pm
  • Sunday, January 30, 3 pm
  • Friday, February 4, 7:30 pm
  • Saturday, February 5, 2 pm & 7:30 pm
  • Sunday, February 6, 3 pm
  • Friday, February 11, 7:30 pm
  • Saturday, February 12, 2 pm & 7:30 pm
  • Sunday, February 13, 3 pm

Tickets are $32 for adults, $29 Carnegie members, $25 for students and $15 for children.

THE SOUND OF MUSIC is presented by special arrangement with CONCORD Theatricals, Inc.

CONTENT ADVISORY: This is a family-friendly production. Appropriate for all ages.

The Carnegie Presents, in Collaboration with NKU School of the Arts
A New Play by D. Lynn Meyers | Playing April 1-16, 2022
Performances at The Carnegie Theatre (1028 Scott Blvd, Covington KY 41011)

In a first-of-its-kind regional collaboration, The Carnegie and NKU School of the Arts will work together to produce a new play by Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati’s Producing Artistic Director, D. Lynn Meyers. This bold pairing of educational and creative goals will allow the students of NKU’s School of the Arts Theatre + Dance Program to work intimately with Meyers to workshop and refine the new playscript through the ‘21-22 school year. The Carnegie will then debut this world premier script and kick-off the 20th anniversary of NKU’s YES festival, the oldest collegiate new-play festival in the country.

Eight Performances:

  • Friday, April 1, 7:30 pm
  • Saturday, April 2, 7:30 pm
  • Sunday, April 3, 3 pm
  • Friday, April 8, 7:30 pm
  • Saturday, April 9, 7:30 pm
  • Sunday, April 10, 3 pm
  • Friday, April 15, 7:30 pm
  • Saturday, April 16, 7:30 pm

Tickets are $28 for adults, $25 for Carnegie members and $21 for students. 

CONTENT ADVISORY: Production includes adult themes and language. Not recommended for children under 13.

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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 thecarnegie.com or by calling (859) 491-2030. 

The Carnegie receives ongoing operating support from Cincinnati International Wine Festival, The Greater Cincinnati Foundation, Carol Ann & Ralph V. Haile, Jr. Foundation, Kenton County Fiscal Courts, the Kentucky Arts Council and the City of Covington. The Carnegie is also supported by the generosity of more than 40,000 contributors to the ArtsWave Community Campaign.

About The Carnegie Theatre Series
The Carnegie Theatre Series produces professional, innovative stagings of an eclectic range of theatrical 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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June 15, 2021 · 10:25 am

CCM’s Streaming Series Continues with Opera Gala Concerts Premiering on June 17 and 18

CCM_Opera Gala 2021CCM’s award-winning student singers take the stage with the Philharmonia Orchestra to perform excerpts from iconic operas 

CINCINNATI, OH—The University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music’s virtual performance series continues with a pair of Spring Opera Gala concerts, which will be released back-to-back at 7:30 p.m. EDT on June 17 and 18.

CCM’s Spring Opera Gala is a double-casted production: the same repertoire is performed during both broadcasts, but each features a different cast of singers performing arias and duets from such classic Italian operas as Gaetano Donizetti’s L’Elisir d’Amore, Gioacchino Rossini’s Otello and Ruggero Leoncavallo’s Pagliacci.

Each concert stream also begins with a spirited performance of the Overture to Rossini’s L’Italiana in Algeri by the CCM Philharmonia and concludes with a rousing rendition of the “Sola, sola in buio loco” sextet from Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Don Giovanni.

CCM Professor of Music and Director of Orchestral Studies Mark Gibson conducts both performances, with musical preparation by Associate Professor of Opera Kathleen Kelly along with Professor of Opera/Voice Coaching and J. Ralph Corbett Distinguished Chair of Opera Marie-France Lefebvre (preparation for the Don Giovanni sextet). See below for complete program and cast information for both broadcasts. Watch an excerpt from the June 18 broadcast here.

All episodes of CCMONSTAGE Online can be digitally streamed for free. After the premiere broadcast, each installment in this ongoing series will remain available for on-demand viewing on CCM’s website, YouTube channel and Facebook page.

CCM’s Spring Opera Gala was recorded live in CCM’s Corbett Auditorium on March 26 and 28, 2021. Both performances observed all of the COVID Careful protocols that were required at the time of recording. Video production by MasseyGreenAVP, LLC. Audio production by Joel Crawford Recording. This digital performance series is made possible by support from CCMONSTAGE Online Broadcast Sponsors CCMpower and ArtsWave, and CCMONSTAGE Online Production Sponsors Dr. & Mrs. Carl G. Fischer.

View full details online

Receive broadcast reminders and information on future episodes of CCMONSTAGE Online by subscribing to CCM’s YouTube channel and email newsletter.

CCMONSTAGE Online Presents
SPRING OPERA GALA
Featuring CCM Opera and Voice Majors and the CCM Philharmonia
Mark Gibson, music director and conductor
Kathleen Kelly, musical preparation
Marie-France Lefebvre, musical preparation for the Don Giovanni Sextet

Streaming Premieres 

  • Spring Opera Gala 1: 7:30 p.m. EDT Thursday, June 17, 2021
  • Spring Opera Gala 2: 7:30 p.m. EDT Friday, June 18, 2021

Performance Details
(both concerts feature the same repertoire)

  • Overture to L’Italiana in Algeriby Gioacchino Rossini
  • Aria: “Ah! Per sempre” from I Puritaniby Vincenzo Bellini
  • Duet: “Esulti pur la barbara” from L’Elisir d’Amoreby Gaetano Donizetti
  • Aria: “Eccomi in lieta vesta … O quante volte” from I Capuleti e i Montecchiby Vincenzo Bellini
  • Duet: “Non m’inganni,” from Otello by Gioacchino Rossini
  • Duet: “Verranno a te” from Lucia di Lammermoorby Gaetano Donizetti
  • Duet: “Silvio, a quest’ora” from Pagliacciby Ruggero Leoncavallo
  • Sextet: “Sola, sola in buio loco” from Don Giovanniby W. A. Mozart

View the cast list, orchestra roster and additional performance details by visiting the CCM website

A preeminent institution for the performing and media arts, the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music offers nearly 120 possible majors, along with a wide variety of pre-collegiate and post-graduate programs.

The synergy created by housing CCM within a comprehensive public university gives the college its unique character and defines its objective: to educate and inspire the whole artist and scholar for positions on the world stage.

For more information, please visit us online at https://ccm.uc.edu/.

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