Category Archives: Press Releases

January 25, 2021 · 12:45 pm

The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati’s 102nd Season

TCTC_Elf old promo

A. James Jones as Buddy the Elf in TCT’s 2016 production of ELF THE MUSICAL JR. Photo by Mikki Schaffner.

Welcome home to the Taft Theatre this October!

Cincinnati – After a much smaller, socially-distant season inside the company’s Showtime Stage on Red Bank Road, The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati (TCT) is ready to roll out the red carpet and welcome patrons home to the Taft Theatre in Downtown Cincinnati starting this October 2021.

The previously announced Disney Channel smash hit movie musical, Disney’s Descendants, will open the theatre’s 2021-22 MainStage Season at the Taft, followed by the Junior versions of ELF The Musical, ROALD DAHL’S MATILDA THE MUSICAL,and a world-premiere adaptation of THE WIZ.

For the safety of patrons and artists, and based on restrictions for large gatherings, the nation’s oldest children’s theatre postponed large-scale productions to the upcoming 2021-22 season.  Kim Kern, TCT’s Managing Director and CEO says, “While there are certainly unknowns still to be dealt with, I think it’s safe to say the worst-case scenario of having to shutter completely next season is off the table. Vaccine distribution is underway with herd immunity expected in late summer/early fall. We will continue to develop scenario plans, but I am fully confident that we will have a MainStage season at the Taft Theatre in 2021-22!”

Producing Artistic Director, Roderick Justice, says: “We look forward to a “brand-new day” and a new season – including productions which didn’t see the curtain rise in 2019 and 2020– like ROALD DAHL’S MATILDA THE MUSICAL JR. We still have a commitment to keep audiences and artists safe while keeping our mission in focus. I’m looking forward to producing great live family theatre – because there really is no place like home at The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati.”

TCT’s 2021-2022 MainStage Season at the Taft Theatre:

  • DISNEY’S DESCENDANTS:  October 9 – 17, 2021
  • ELF THE MUSICAL JR.:  December 4 – December 13, 2021
  • MATILDA THE MUSICAL JR.:  February 5 – Feb. 13, 2022
  • THE WIZ JR.:  April 2 – April 10, 2022

DISNEY’S DESCENDANTS:
Public Performances: October 9-10, 15-17, 2021
Ideal for ages 4+

About the Show:
It is present-day, and in the kingdom of Auradon, all of Disney’s beloved heroes and royalty are living happily ever after, safe from the terrifying villains and troublesome sidekicks they have banished to the magic-free Isle of the Lost. That is until Ben, the benevolent teenage son of Belle and King Adam (The Beast), offers a chance of redemption for the troublemaking offspring of the evilest villains. Mal, Evie, Jay and Carlos – the children of Maleficent, the Evil Queen, Cruella De Vil, and Jafar – are welcomed to Auradon Prep to attend school with the children of their parents’ sworn enemies. Now entering a completely foreign world and way of life, the four Villain Kids have a difficult choice to make: should they follow in their parents’ wicked footsteps or learn to be good?

Credits:
Book by Nick Blaemire; Songs by Johan Alkenas, Adam Anders, Aristeidis Archontis, Antonina Armato, Howard Ashman, Par Astrom, Stephen Mark Conley, Doug Davis, Charity Daw, Andrew C. Dodd, Josh Edmondson, Pipo Fernandez, Nikki Hassman, Samuel Hollander, Ben Hosteler, Hannah Jones, Jack Kugell, Craig Lashley, Andrew Lippa, Jeannie Lurie, Alan Menken, Grant Phillip Michaels, Anthony Mirabella, Shayna Mordue, Chen Neeman, Susan Paroff, Shelly M. Peiken, Joacim Persson, James K. Petrie, Timothy James Price, Adam Schlesinger, Adam Schmalholz, Tyler Shamy, Jodie Shihadeh, Nikki Ann Sorrentino, Thomas Armato Sturges, Ali Dee Theodore, Matthew Wong, David Zippel. Music Adaptation by Madeline Smith. Vocal and Incidental Arrangements by Madeline Smith. Additional Lyrics by Nick Blaemire. Orchestrations by Matthew Tishler. Music Produced by Matthew Tishler.

ELF THE MUSICAL JR.
Public Performances: December 4-5, 11-13, 2021
Ideal for ages 4+

About the Show:
Buddy, a young orphan, mistakenly crawls into Santa’s bag of gifts and is transported to the North Pole. The would-be elf is raised unaware that he is actually a human, until his enormous size and poor toy-making abilities cause him to face the truth. With Santa’s permission, Buddy embarks on a journey to New York City to find his birth father and discover his true identity. Buddy is determined to win over his new family and help New York remember the true meaning of Christmas.

Credits:
Book by Thomas Meehan and Bob Martin. Music by Matthew Sklar. Lyrics by Chad Beguelin. Based upon the New Line Cinema film written by David Berenbaum. Originally produced by Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures In Association with Unique Features.

ROALD DAHL’S MATILDA THE MUSICAL JR.
Public Performances: February 5-6, 11-13, 2022
Ideal for ages 4+

About the Show:
Broadway’s biggest little hero, Matilda, is an extraordinary little girl with a vivid imagination. Unloved by her cruel parents, Matilda is armed with astonishing wit, intelligence and mysterious powers. At school, she catches the eye of her sweet schoolteacher, Miss Honey, but also the mean headmistress, Miss Trunchbull, who loves to think of clever ways to punish children. Matilda and Miss Honey have a profound effect on each other and together they dare to take a stand against Miss Trunchbull to change their destiny.

Credits:
Book by Dennis Kelly. Music and lyrics by Tim Minchin.

THE WIZ JR.
Public Performances: April 2-3, 8-10, 2022
Ideal for ages 4+

About the Show:
Like an emerald, this precious Broadway gem infuses L. Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz with a dazzling mix of rock, gospel and soul music. The Wiz JR. is a vibrant take on Dorothy’s adventures through the Land of Oz and a fun, family-friendly musical that is considered one of the most popular and creative theatrical adaptations of all time. Packed with iconic songs like “Ease On Down the Road” and “Brand New Day,” this musical includes exciting dance numbers which blend traditional movement from African culture with ballet, jazz, and modern dance! The Wiz originally opened on Broadway, January 5, 1974, a film adaptation, starring Diana Ross, premiered October 24, 1978, and in 2015, NBC presented The Wiz Live!, a live television adaptation of the stage musical starring Shanice Williams as Dorothy Gale.

Credits:
THE WIZ Adapted from “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” By L. Frank Baum. Book by William F. Brown. Additional Material by Tina Tippit. Music and Lyrics by Charlie Smalls. Copyright 1975, 1979, 2006, 2010. This Sixty-Minute Version of THE WIZ JR. was developed by The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati, Deondra Kamau Means, Resident Artist.

Season Subscriptions & Flex Pass Packages

Traditional subscriptions and flex pass packages to the TCT 21-22 MainStage Season are available now at www.thechildrenstheatre.com.

In honor of TCT’s 102nd season – this week only, premium subscriptions are available for $102 dollars for all 4 shows! (New subscribers only, through January 31.)  Regular subscriptions start at just $43!  All subscriptions remain refundable during the pandemic.  Please note: Becoming a Traditional Subscriber is the only way to guarantee seats to DISNEY’S DESCENDANTS.  

Single tickets for all shows will go on sale later this summer.

Showtimes Are Changing in 21-22

To best accommodate our youngest patrons, TCT has adjusted MainStage weekend showtimes. TCT will now host at 5 PM showtime the first Saturday, and an 11 AM show the second Saturday. The Friday 7:30 PM performances will be moving up to 7 PM.

ALS interpretation and audio description will be offered on the first Saturday at 2 PM performances of all productions. Sensory-Friendly performances will be held on Wednesdays at 1 PM during the runs of DISNEY’S DESCENDANTS, ROALD DAHL’S MATILDA THE MUSICAL JR, and THE WIZ JR.

Daytime, weekday school performances will be offered for all productions. Visit www.thechildrenstheatre.com for details.

The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati is supported by ArtsWave and the generosity of tens of thousands of contributors to the ArtsWave Community Campaign.  The Ohio Arts Council helped fund this program with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans.

-end-

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January 22, 2021 · 3:21 pm

ETC Presents Regional Premiere Drama/Comedy 20TH CENTURY BLUES, February 1-14

ETC_20th Century Blues logoGet Ready for a close up!

Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati Presents regional premiere Drama/comedy
20th Century Blues, February 1-14, 2021

(Cincinnati, OH) Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati (ETC) kicks off the new year with the virtual dramatic reading of the regional premiere drama/comedy 20th Century Blues by Susan Miller, streaming online for two weeks only February 1-14, 2021. Originally scheduled to close the 2019-2020 Season, this production was temporarily suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Though this story touches on themes of friendship and art-making, it is “mostly a comedy about aging,” according to the New York Times. Penned by two-time Obie Award-winner Susan Miller, 20th Century Blues questions our place in the world and gives a close-up of a forty-year, age-defying friendship. Production Sponsor is Procter & Gamble. Design Sponsor is Carol Talbot. Directed by D. Lynn Meyers.

An impromptu behind-bars snapshot taken during a 1970s protest lockup sparks an eccentric, four-decade friendship. Every year, photographer Danny and her friends reunite to take a new photo showcasing their changing selves. However, when Danny is offered a career retrospective, the ritual that has been the glue holding them together for 40 years may now also tear them apart. The images unearth secrets, prompting the women to question who they are in this evocative play.

ETC will host a live discussion with acclaimed playwright Susan Miller on February 4, 2021 at 7:00 pm as part of the Meet the Artists Series for a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of 20th Century Blues. This free digital event will be available through ETC’s social media channels and can be accessed through ETC’s website at http://www.ensemblecincinnati.org.

“It’s a true joy to share 20th Century Blues by Susan Miller with you,” says Producing Artistic Director D. Lynn Meyers. “This story of trust, challenges, ambition, compassion, and friendship is exactly what we need right now. It reminds us that each moment of our lives matter. Each one captured in the memories and photos of our mind.” 

About the Cast

Burgess Byrd (Mac) was last seen at Ensemble Theatre in Skeleton Crew  as Faye and the 2019 production of The Frog Princess as the Tsar. She also appeared in ETC’s world premiere of Around the World in 80 Days in the 1999-2000 Season, during which time she was an Acting Intern. Additional credits include Gloria: A Life at the Human Race Theatre Company. 

Annie Fitzpatrick (Sil) last appeared at Ensemble Theatre in The Wolves. Other favorite ETC credits include Luna Gale, Hands on a Hardbody, Next Fall, Rabbit Hole, and String of Pearls. Her most recent production was
The Roommate at American Stage. Her other credits include A Prayer for Owen Meany, To Kill A Mockingbird, Pride and Prejudice, A Christmas Carol, and Hank Williams: Lost Highway, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park; Richard III, Death of a Salesman, Little Women, A Man for All Seasons, and Blithe Spirit, Cincinnati Shakespeare Company; and Silent Sky, Pluto, and Collapse, Know Theatre. She has worked with various regional theatres including The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Geva Theatre, Florida Stage, and Florida Studio. Her television and film credits include Chicago P.D., Those Who Kill, Army Wives, The Old Man and the Gun, Fun Size, and Milk Money. 

Dale Hodges (Bess) was last seen at Ensemble Theatre in Sex and Education, as well as Ripcord, Outside Mullingar, Other Desert Cities, Grey Gardens, and Mrs. Mannerly. Select regional credits include Wit, King Lear, To Kill a Mockingbird, 23 years of A Christmas Carol with Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, and Long Day’s Journey Into Night and Noises Off with Cincinnati Shakespeare Company. Ms. Hodges has worked on Broadway in Equus and Benefactors, off-Broadway in Top Girls and A Woman in Mind, and in regional theatres around the country, including 15 summers with Peterborough Players in New Hampshire. 

Regina Pugh (Danny) most recently served as the director of A Doll’s House, Part 2 at Ensemble Theatre, where she was seen on stage in Annapurna, The Other Place, Next Fall, My Name is Asher Lev, After the Fall, Buckminster Fuller: In and Out Universe, The Water Engine, and Everything in the Garden and Fragments, both directed by Edward Albee. She appeared at Cincinnati Playhouse in A Christmas Carol (1992-2011) and the world premiere of Invention for Fathers and Sons and has performed locally at Cincinnati Shakespeare Company and The Know Theatre of Cincinnati. Regina teaches at acting at Xavier University and is a founding member of Performance Gallery, an alternative theatre collective that specializes in original work and has participated yearly in the Cincinnati Fringe Festival. 

Kate Wilford (Gabby) has appeared in ETC’s productions of Alice in Wonderland (2018), Cinderella: After Ever After, Violet, Cinderella, Luna Gale, Becky’s New Car, Good People, Dead Man’s Cell Phone, and many others. She has appeared at Cincinnati Shakespeare Company in Romeo And Juliet, The Cherry Orchard, All My Sons, and Bedroom Farce. Regionally, she has also worked at The Lyceum Theatre, Beef N Boards, Westgate Theatre, The Kenley Players, and was a founding member of The Troupe in Cincinnati as well as directed at Xavier University, Thomas More College, and Cincinnati Children’s Theatre. 

Crystian Wiltshire (Simon) makes his Ensemble Theatre debut with this production. His recent credits include The Tempest, Fences, and The Winter’s Tale, Cincinnati Shakespeare Company; Kill Move Paradise, Know Theatre of Cincinnati; Ghost, StageOne Family Theatre; Dracula, Actors Theatre of Louisville; As You Like It, Much Ado About Nothing, Romeo and Juliet, Henry IV, Part II, and Twelfth Night, Kentucky Shakespeare Festival; and And In This Corner: Cassius Clay and Hamlet in Kentucky Shakespeare’s co-production with StageOne Family Theatre.


Performance Information
This virtual dramatic reading can be rented through ETC on Demand, the theatre’s new digital streaming platform that will be launching in late January. Tickets are $10 for one 48-hour rental or $60 for a subscription to all upcoming virtual content (excluding benefit readings) through June 2021. ETC On Demand will be able to be accessed through the theatre’s main website. Subscribers can contact the box office Monday through Friday, 9:00 am until 5:00 pm for more information.

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2020-2021 Season Presenting Sponsor is the Otto M. Budig Family Foundation.

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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January 22, 2021 · 2:19 pm

SINGIN’ THE BLUES CABARET Available Online from Queen City Cabaret

QCC_logoJoin Sarah and Matthew for a mini cabaret that has something for everyone—blues, pop, rock, jazz. Just the thing to ward off the January doldrums 👌🏽

Check out the preview below.


Not a Member yet? For 8 bucks a month, you can access this and our whole season of delicious, digital content. Click here for more information.

Up Next….
Don’t miss “Tea for Two: A Valentine from Doris Day” this February 14! We teamed up with our friends at The Fitton Center for Creative Arts to curate a dazzling collection of romantic tunes just for you, in honor of Cincinnati’s beloved star, Ms. Doris Day.

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January 19, 2021 · 2:02 pm

Broadway in Cincinnati Announces New Dates for Scheduled Shows

BIC_Hamilton promo

Elijah Malcomb, Joseph Morales, Kyle Scatliffe, Fergie L. Philippe and Company – HAMILTON National Tour – (c) Joan Marcus 2018.

WICKED ALSO SET TO RETURN IN 2021

Cincinnati, OH (1/19/20) – Broadway in Cincinnati has announced that all shows originally announced for the current season have been rescheduled, and Broadway will return to the Aronoff Center this fall. WICKED has also been added to the previously announced shows and will return to Cincinnati in November.

  • THE BAND’S VISIT, originally rescheduled for October 19 – 24, has been rescheduled to September 14 – 19, 2021.
  • PRETTY WOMAN: THE MUSICAL, originally rescheduled for August 17 – 29 has been rescheduled to October 12 – 24, 2021.
  • HAIRSPRAY, originally scheduled for May 4 – 9, 2021 has been rescheduled to January 4 – 9, 2022.
  • MY FAIR LADY, originally rescheduled for July 6 – 18, 2021 has been rescheduled to February 8 – 20, 2022.
  • AIN’T TOO PROUD, originally scheduled for May 25 – June 6, 2021 has been rescheduled to March 15 – 27, 2022. 
  • Disney’s FROZEN, previously postponed, has been rescheduled for April 20 – May 1, 2022. 
  • TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, originally scheduled for April 6 – 18, 2021 has been rescheduled for May 31 – June 12, 2022. 
  • HAMILTON, previously postponed, has been rescheduled for September 6 – October 2, 2022.
  • In addition, a special engagement of WICKED will now play the Aronoff Center November 17 – December 5, 2021.

Season Ticketholders for the previously announced shows will retain their same seats for the rescheduled engagements and will be notified when tickets for WICKED become available.

The priority of Broadway in Cincinnati continues to be the health and well-being of their artists, crew, staff, and audiences, and they are actively working with their partners at the Aronoff Center in collaboration with local and state health authorities on a health and safety plan in accordance with local, state, and federal guidelines to welcome the public back for Broadway responsibly. The touring industry depends on an interconnected network of presenters in cities throughout the country, and Broadway in Cincinnati is prepared to make any necessary adjustments for the well-being of audiences, staff, cast and crew.

While there may be additional unforeseen scheduling changes in the season, ticket holders will be notified if any future productions need to be rescheduled or canceled. Additional updates will be provided at BroadwayInCincinnati.com.

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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 20/21 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 47 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 47 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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January 13, 2021 · 10:48 am

Addition of Little Free Library at The Carnegie Makes a Big Impact in Local Community

TC_Little Free LibraryCOVINGTON, KY – In partnership with the Kenton County Public Library, The Carnegie recently added a Little Free Library to its grounds in front of The Carnegie’s Eva G. Farris Education Center. Offering free access to books, the Little Library is open to the public under the “take a book, leave a book” model.

The Little Free Library project is just one more way library staff are looking beyond its facilities. “The library is always looking for ways to better serve our community,” stated Dave Schroder, the library’s executive director.  “Little Libraries allow us to provide books to residents who may not normally be able to visit one of our physical locations or who just happen to come across one.  They are a great way to encourage people to read, and hopefully, take the next step and visit the library.”

The initial book collection for the libraries was funded by a $1,000 grant from Save the Children, an international humanitarian organization whose work in the US focuses on early childhood literacy.  Current plans are to re-stock the book collections monthly, using books provided by the Friends of the Kenton County Public Library and other community members.

“We’re excited to participate in the Little Library program and encourage children throughout our community to explore, imagine and learn through the pages of a book.” said Kim Best, Executive Director of The Carnegie.

For more information about the library’s programs and services visit www.kentonlibrary.org or for more information about The Carnegie, visit thecarnegie.com.

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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, 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.

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