Category Archives: Press Releases

March 21, 2025 · 3:35 pm

The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati’s Disney’s FROZEN JR. This April

After 56 years, this will be TCT’s last production in the Taft Theatre

Cincinnati – The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati is about to “Let It Go” – our history with the Taft Theatre that is. The company’s production of Disney’s Frozen JR. April 26 – May 4, 2025, will be its last in the historic space at 5th and Sycamore before opening the reimagined Emery Theater in October 2025. Tickets are on sale now for Disney’s Frozen JR. at the Taft Theatre at www.thechildrenstheatre.com.

Kim Kern, President & CEO of The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati said: “The Taft Theatre has been our home for more than half a century, and we are incredibly grateful for the memories we’ve created within its historic walls, and for our partnership with Music and Event Managment, Inc. It has been a space where generations of families have experienced the joy of live theatre, and we will truly miss it. As we prepare to bring Disney’s Frozen JR. to the stage, we’re celebrating all the laughter, wonder, and magic that have filled this theatre for 56 years. While this marks the end of an era, it’s also the beginning of an exciting new chapter for TCT at The Emery Theater, and we can’t wait to welcome audiences there this fall.”

Disney’s Frozen JR. is based on the 2018 Broadway musical, and brings Elsa, Anna, and the magical land of Arendelle to life, onstage. The show features all of the memorable songs from the animated film, with music and lyrics by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, plus new songs written for the Broadway production.

A story of true love and acceptance between sisters, Disney’s Frozen JR. expands upon the emotional relationship and journey between Princesses Anna and Elsa. When faced with danger, the two discover their hidden potential and the powerful bond of sisterhood. With a cast of beloved characters and loaded with magic, adventure, and plenty of humor, Disney’s Frozen JR. is sure to thaw even the coldest heart!

TCT’s production will be directed by Roderick Justice and choreographed by Angelo Cerniglia

Ideal for ages 4+. This production runs approximately one hour without intermission.

Public Showtimes include:

  • Saturday, April 26 at 2 PM
  • Saturday, April 26 at 5 PM
  • Sunday, April 27 at 2 PM
  • Friday, May 2 at 7 PM
  • Saturday, May 3 at 11 AM
  • Saturday, May 3 at 2 PM
  • Sunday, May 4 at 2 PM

ASL Performance:

  • Saturday, April 26 at 2 PM

Additionally, The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati presents eight additional performances of Disney’s Frozen JR. for school students, including an exclusive homeschool performance. Tickets are $10 per student, with one free adult admission for every 15 students. Call Pam Young at 513-569-8080 ext. 13 for details. Free proficiency test-focused Study Guides are available online at https://thechildrenstheatre.com/study-guides/ 

Dani Lobello, Director of Production and Sound Designer. Adam Koch, Original Scenic Designer. Jessica Drayton, Lighting Designer. Ryan Moller, Original Costume Designer. Jacob Priddy, Music Director. Angelo Cerniglia, Choreographer. Puppets by Scott Molampy & Geppetto Studios, Inc.  Maggie Foley & Andrew Nunley, Technical Direction. Adam Borchers, Properties Supervisor. Jadi Davis, Production Stage Manager.

Disney’s Frozen JR. is made possible by Dress Run Sponsor TriHealth, Production Sponsor The Summit Hotel, and Season Sponsor The Charles H. Dater Foundation. PNC Foundation provides additional funding for MainStage Ticket Subsidies. Additional Sponsors include The Sutphin Family Foundation, Ohio Arts Council, National Endowment for the Arts, and The Shubert Foundation INC.

The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati is supported by the tens of thousands who generously give to the annual ArtsWave Campaign, the region’s primary source for arts funding. The Ohio Arts Council helped fund this program with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence, and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans.

Disney’s Frozen JR. will be performed in the historic Taft Theatre, 5th and Sycamore Streets in Downtown Cincinnati. Tickets start at $12. Visit thechildrenstheatre.com or call the TCT Box Office at 513.569.8080 x10, Monday – Friday from 9 AM to 5 PM to purchase tickets.

CAST

  • *LUCY ARGUETA – Youth Ensemble
  • CHRISTIAN ARIAS – Hans
  • MAKENZIE RUFF BARBRO – Anna
  • AMY S. BAUMANN – Ensemble
  • JATHAN “JB” BRISCOE – Duke of Weselton
  • *CELIA D’ASCENZO – Young Elsa/Ensemble
  • EDRICO EVANS-PRITCHETT – Ensemble
  • JOSH GALLOWAY – Pabbie/Ensemble
  • NICK GUNDRUM – Ensemble
  • BOB HERZOG – Oaken
  • ETHAN KUCHTA – Sven Puppeteer
  • *SHERENE LAVENDER – Young Anna/Ensemble
  • *ELLI MADDOCK – Teen Ensemble
  • ANIMAESH MANGLIK – Kristoff
  • AARON MARSHALL – Olaf
  • AUSTIN MILLS – Ensemble
  • GABRIEL KANAI NAKATA – King Agnarr/Ensemble
  • CLAIRE NORTHCUT – Elsa
  • DELANEY O’TOOLE – Bulda/Ensemble
  • *KIP RICHARDSON – Teen Ensemble
  • EMMA RILEY –  Queen Iduna/Ensemble
  • NICHOLAS LYONS ROHR – Ensemble
  • *ADONIAH ROSS – Teen Ensemble
  • CHELSEA RUSSELL – Ensemble
  • KEVIN SIMONS – Ensemble
  • SAVANNAH SLABY – Ensemble
  • KARI KEELER STEWART – Ensemble
  • *KAVAN VADIVELU – Teen Ensemble
  • *KEYA VADIVELU – Teen Ensemble
    *Denotes TCT’s Young Artists Company

-end-

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March 20, 2025 · 3:36 pm

Cincinnati Opera Announces the Return of OPERA GOES TO CHURCH

Presented in partnership with local congregations, performances take place June 3, 4, and 5, blending opera, gospel, and jazz to create an inspiring celebration of music and community 

CINCINNATI (March 19, 2025)—Cincinnati Opera is delighted to announce the return of its popular performance series, Opera Goes to Church!, coming to area churches this June. Presented in partnership with three local congregations—Lincoln Heights Missionary Baptist Church, Southern Baptist Church, and New Jerusalem Baptist Church—Opera Goes to Church! blends gospel, jazz, and classical music to create a one-of-a-kind, dynamic community concert experience. Performances will feature acclaimed opera artists, inspiring congregational choirs, local musicians, and more. See below for details.

Cincinnati Opera presents
OPERA GOES TO CHURCH!

What:
Experience an unforgettable musical journey with Opera Goes to Church!, a powerful fusion of gospel, jazz, and classical music presented in partnership with local congregations. This uplifting 90-minute concert hosted by WLWT-TV’s Courtis Fuller features world-renowned opera singers, dynamic church choirs, and exceptional local musicians, creating an inspiring community celebration of the transformative power of music.

When and Where:

June 3, 2025, at 7 p.m.
Lincoln Heights Missionary Baptist Church
9991 Wayne Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45215

CINCINNATI (April 9, 2025)—Cincinnati Opera has announced the cancellation of its June 4 presentation of Opera Goes to Church! at Southern Baptist Church due to a scheduling conflict. Existing ticketholders will be offered tickets for other 2025 Opera Goes to Church! events or refunds of their ticket fees.

Other previously announced Opera Goes to Church! events will continue as scheduled. 

June 4, 2025, at 7 p.m.
Southern Baptist Church
3556 Reading Road, Cincinnati, OH 45229

June 5, 2025, at 7 p.m.
New Jerusalem Baptist Church
26 West North Bend Road, Cincinnati, OH 45216

Tickets:
Free; limit two (2) per household. A $2.50 per ticket processing fee will be applied. Tickets are available online at www.cincinnatiopera.org or by calling the Cincinnati Opera Box Office at 513-241-2742.

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.

Cincinnati Opera is supported by the generosity of tens of thousands of contributors to the ArtsWave Community Campaign. This project was supported in part by the Ohio Arts Council, which receives support from the State of Ohio and the National Endowment for the Arts. Cincinnati Opera also receives general season support from The Louise Dieterle Nippert Musical Arts Fund, Patricia A. Corbett Estate and Trust, and the Harry T. Wilks Family Foundation, along with general season and project support from many other generous individuals, corporations, and foundations. Cincinnati Opera is a member of OPERA America. Learn more at cincinnatiopera.org.

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March 20, 2025 · 3:35 pm

ETC Presents the Riveting Regional Premiere Drama THE SOUND INSIDE, April 5-27

(Cincinnati, OH) Everyone has a story . . . the question is how it ends. Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati (ETC) presents the haunting psychological thriller The Sound Inside that will leave you wondering who you can trust. Filled with intrigue, gorgeous writing, stunning imagery, and a healthy dose of mystery, this captivating drama by Pulitzer Prize finalist Adam Rapp (Red Light Winter), playing April 5–27, 2025, explores the limits of what one person can ask of another and has received critical acclaim for its nuanced characters, thought-provoking themes, and masterful storytelling. Directed by Brian Isaac Phillips. Sponsored by Shekhar & Anu Mitra and The Geiger Family.

In this noir-ish campus mystery, not everything is as it seems behind the ivy-covered walls of Yale, where an unlikely bond leads to an unthinkable favor. Writing professor Bella Baird is looking for answers, but a fateful encounter with the brilliant yet enigmatic student Christopher could lead to life-changing consequences for them both. As their relationship intensifies and their lives become entwined in unpredictable ways, their story unfolds to a stunning conclusion. Nominated for six Tony Awards, including Best Play, The Sound Inside is a captivating story that blurs the lines between truth and fiction, mentorship and obsession.

“It’s rather mysterious. You think from the beginning that you’ve figured out the whole story—you’re led to believe you’re in the driver’s seat, but then it takes a turn, then another, then another,” says Producing Artistic Director
D. Lynn Meyers. “This show is so articulate and intelligent; it makes you think while also touching your heart. You will get deeply connected to the two characters. The combination of Annie Fitzpatrick and Rupert Spraul on stage with Brian Isaac Phillips’s strong vision is a beautiful thing. I’m thrilled to have it in the season.”

About the Cast

Annie Fitzpatrick (Bella) last appeared at Ensemble Theare in Hands on a Hardbody. Locally she appeared at Playhouse in the Park, Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, Know Theatre, and the Cincinnati Pops. She has worked with various regional theatres including Indiana Repertory Theatre, American Stage, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Geva Theatre, Florida Stage, Florida Studio. Her TV and film credits include Chicago P.D., Those Who Kill, Army Wives, White Noise, Dark Waters, Mr. Manhattan, Hauntology, The Old Man and the Gun, Fun Size, and Milk Money.

Rupert Spraul (Christopher) makes his Ensemble Theatre debut with this production. His previous work includes Hamlet, Richmond Shakespeare Festival; “Master Harold”…and the Boys, Falcon Theatre; Romeo and Juliet, Classic Theatre of Maryland; As You Like It, Cincinnati Shakespeare Company; Macbeth, Montana Shakespeare in the Parks; Small Engine Repair, Clifton Performance Theatre; A Case for the Existence of God, Know Theatre; and various film work including Netflix’s Shirley.

Production team: Brian c. Mehring (Resident Scenic & Lighting Designer), Maria Fernanda Ortiz Lopez (Costume Designer), Trey Tatum (Sound Designer), Shannon Rae Lutz (Properties Curator & Design Assistant), and Jacob Dowell (Technical Director). Production Stage Manager is Margot Whitney. Assistant Stage Manager is Lexi Muller. 

Performance Information

Performances Tuesday-Saturday at 7:30 pm; Saturday and Sunday at 2:00 pm. A complete calendar of performances is available at www.ensemblecincinnati.org. 

Ticket Prices

Tickets for adults start at $30; 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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2024-2025 Season Presenting Sponsor is the LKC 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 rooted in historic Over-the-Rhine dedicated to engaging, enriching, and inspiring audiences through our thought-provoking world and regional premiere productions, creating and sustaining careers in professional theatre, building community partnerships, and sharing impactful education programs throughout our region.

 

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March 18, 2025 · 3:17 pm

The French Rivera Comes to Newport, KY in the Hilarious Musical Comedy DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS

NEWPORT, KY — The Footlighters, Inc., is ecstatic to present the fourth and final show of their 2024–2025 season, a side-splitting comedy based on the 1988 Steve Martin and Michael Caine movie of the same name, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.

Lawrence Jameson makes his lavish living by charming wealthy women out of their money. Freddy Benson swindles much humbler amounts from sympathetic women with fabricated stories about his grandmother’s failing health. After a chance meeting on a train, the men attempt to work together—only to find that this small French town isn’t big enough for the two of them. They agree on a settlement: The first one to extract $50,000 from heiress Christine Colgate wins, and the other must leave town. But who’s really conning who?

After bringing the house down night after night as UPS delivery man Kyle in last year’s Legally Blonde, longtime community theater stalwart and accomplished performer Rob Workley graces the Footlighters stage once again as French inspector Andre Thibault. After catching the theater bug watching a close friend perform in Chess, Rob made his community theater debut in Cincinnati Music Theatre’s La Cage aux Folles in 2006. He has been an onstage fixture at numerous groups over the last 19 years, including Cincinnati Music Theatre, Mariemont Players, Loveland Stage Company, and Footlighters. Just as capable offstage as onstage, Rob serves on Cincinnati Music Theatre’s Board of Directors as their Aronoff liaison, and he can often be found working behind the scenes—whether running the Aronoff’s fly rail, working as master carpenter to build sets, or serving on various committees. He’ll add another line to his already impressive resume as he puts his design skills to work as set designer and master carpenter of Cincinnati Music Theatre’s fall show, A Christmas Story.

Performances:

  • Thursday – Saturday, May 1 – 3 at 7:30 p.m.
  • Sunday, May 4 at 2:00 p.m.
  • Thursday – Saturday, May 8 – 10 at 7:30 p.m.
  • Sunday, May 11 at 2:00 p.m.
  • Thursday – Saturday, May 15 – 17 at 7:30 p.m.
  • Sunday, May 18 at 2:00 p.m.

Tickets: $25 each and available online at footlighters.org/tickets or by contacting the box office via text or phone call at (859) 652-3849 or FootlightersTickets@gmail.com.

The Footlighters, Inc., has been producing quality community theater shows in Greater Cincinnati for over 60 years. The group was established in 1963 by a small group of volunteers who wanted to bring theater opportunities to the west side of Cincinnati.

In 1987, the group bought the Salem United Methodist Church in Newport and transformed it into The Stained Glass Theatre. The theater is on the National Register of Historic Places and is designated a Kentucky landmark. In September of 2021, Footlighters completed the third and final phase of their accessibility project by adding ADA-compliant seating in their theater to complement the ADA ramp and elevator installed in 2017 and 2018, allowing access for all patrons with limited mobility.

For more information, please visit footlighters.org or like The Footlighters, Inc., on Facebook.

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March 17, 2025 · 3:34 pm

THE BOOK CLUB PLAY, A Play About Books and the People Who Love Them, Begins March 22 in the Rouse Theatre

CINCINNATI – A hit play by Playhouse favorite Karen Zacarías returns March 22 through April 20 to Moe and Jack’s Place – The Rouse Theatre. Presented by the Leading Ladies with Executive Producer Fifth Third Bank, THE BOOK CLUB PLAY is a comedy about books and the people who love them. It returns after a previous sold-out run at the Playhouse in 2013 and selling out theatres across the country.

The inspiration for THE BOOK CLUB PLAY derives from Zacarías’s own experiences. She explains, “I’ve been in a fabulous co-ed book club for 25 years. It’s a sanctuary to talk, laugh and connect to deeper themes with friends. It also can manifest some drama and intense group dynamics.”

In the story, the members of a devoted book club become the subjects of a documentary filmmaker, and their intimate discussions of life and literature take on new meaning with the camera rolling. A provocative new member who arrives unexpectedly leads to the inclusion of questionable book titles. Hilarity ensues.

“It’s one of those scripts that makes me laugh out loud — and that’s always a good sign. I think that now, more than ever, we need to laugh at ourselves a bit. So, it seems like the right moment to create a new production in Moe and Jack’s Place – The Rouse Theatre to bring the laughs to a widespread audience,” says Blake Robison, Osborn Family Producing Artistic Director and director of THE BOOK CLUB PLAY.

The 20-year creative collaboration of Blake Robison and Karen Zacarías includes the world premiere of THE BOOK CLUB PLAY at Round House Theatre, where Robison previously served as artistic director. Robison then staged a new production of THE BOOK CLUB PLAY during his inaugural season at the Playhouse in 2013. Since then, he has since commissioned Zacarías to write Native Gardens and Shane, both world premieres that he directed at the Playhouse. Robison also produced Zacarías’s play Destiny of Desire.

Along with the laughs, Robison hopes audiences will take away this message, “Take it easy, lighten up, don’t be so critical. The play reminds you that it’s people who are dearest to you — not what they do, what they say or what they read.”

CAST

  • Annalisa D’Aguilar – Lily Louise Jackson/Mrs. Simpson
  • Adam Langdon* – Alex/Carl
  • Eli Mayer* –  Robert Novum Smith Jr./Sam
  • Matthew McGloin* – William Lee Nothnagel/Frank
  • Marina Shay* – Ana Smith
  • Kim Wuan* – Jennifer McClintock/Elsa

PRODUCTION

  • Playwright – Karen Zacarías
  • Director – Blake Robison
  • Set Designer – Jo Winiarski
  • Costume Designer – Lauren T. Roark
  • Lighting Designer – Jorge Arroyo
  • Sound Designer/Composer – Matthew M. Nielsen
  • Projection Designer – Amoirie Perteet
  • Casting Director – Stephanie Klapper, CSA
  • Stage Manager – Andrea L. Shell*
  • Assistant Stage Manager – Carolyn Fast*

*Member of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.

TICKETS
Tickets begin at $35.00. Prices vary depending on performance. Preview performances take place at 7:30 p.m. on March 22, 25 and 26. Regular performances will take place on Tuesday-Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 2 and 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. A weekday matinee will take place April 9 at 1 p.m. An audio-described performance is offered on April 12 at 2 p.m. and a signed ASL performance will take place April 13 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 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.

EVENTS
Preview Performances
Be among the first to see the show before opening night and save! Preview performance tickets are discounted.

  • Sat., March 22 at 7:30 p.m.
  • Tue., March 25 at 7:30 p.m.
  • Wed., March 26 at 7:30 p.m.

Opening Night
Share the excitement of Thursday opening nights!

  • Thu., March 27 at 7:30 p.m.

Art Talks
(Formerly Meet the Artists), stay after select performances for a behind-the-scenes discussion with members of the artistic team.

  • Sun., March 30 at 2 p.m.
  • Thu., April 3 at 7:30 p.m.
  • Wed., April 16 at 7:30 p.m.

Read Between the Wines Book Club
Join us in reading and discussing the same books that spark spirited debate in the play at our pre-show Read Between the Wines Book Club events. Each one includes wine, hors d’oeuvres and a fun book discussion facilitated by a member of the Playhouse staff. Doors open at 6 p.m., and the discussion runs 6:15 to 7 p.m. in the Kaplan Lobby. Cost is $25 per person, per event, which includes the hors d’oeuvres, two glasses of wine and doesn’t include tickets to the play (sold separately).

  • Moby Dick by Herman Melville: Wed., April 2
  • The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton: Tue., April 8
  • Twilight by Stephenie Meyer: Fri., April 11
  • The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown: Thu., April 17

To purchase a Book Club event as an add on only (without a ticket to the show) click here.

To purchase both tickets to the play and a Book Club event, choose your date below. The Book Club will be offered as an add-on after you choose your tickets to the play.

PAY-WHAT-YOU-CAN-PERFORMANCES
Pay-What-You-Can performances are an additional way we try to make live theatre accessible to those who otherwise might not be able to attend our shows. Tickets can be purchased by phone at 513-421-3888 or in person beginning at noon, day of the performance only. Tickets are subject to availability.

  • Wed., April 2 at 7:30 p.m.
    Wed., April 9, at 1 p.m. (Tickets available for purchase at 11 a.m.)

ADVISORY
THE BOOK CLUB PLAY is recommended for older teenager and adult audiences. Using only mild adult language, some (very funny) book discussions reference identity, sex and maybe … sparkly vampires?

SPONSORS
THE BOOK CLUB PLAY is presented by the Leading Ladies. Executive Producer is Fifth Third Bank. Production Sponsors are Johnson Investment Counsel and Clark Schaefer Hackett. Design Sponsor is Skidmore Sales & Distributing. Artist Sponsors are Amelia and Tom Crutcher, Karen and Bill Neyer, Eat Well Celebrations and Feasts, and Leon and Barb Meyer. The 2024-2025 season is presented by the Schueler Group. Season Design Sponsor is Kerry Automotive.

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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