Category Archives: Press Releases

March 10, 2020 · 12:24 pm

Keeping Healthy When We Come Play at the Know

KTC_Lets Play logoA note from your Know Theatre family:

Dear friends of the Know,

As we all follow the news of COVID-19 and its impact on communities, the Know team wants to make sure you are aware of how we are keeping our Playground a safe and welcoming place to play.

All performances are proceeding as scheduled.

If you are feeling ill, we would be happy to exchange your ticket for a future performance of your scheduled production, or give you a credit to a future Know show!

To reschedule, just give our box office a call at (513) 300-5669 or email us at info@knowtheatre.com and we’ll get you taken care of.

Here is what we are doing to keep our Playground safe and healthy for patrons, artists, and staff:

  • Sanitizing the theatre, lobby, restrooms, office, and all surface areas daily, on an ongoing basis
  • Providing hand sanitizer at the box office, in addition to ample soap and paper towels in all restrooms

And here’s how YOU can help:

  • Wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds; if soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer;
  • Cover your coughs and sneezes by using the crook of your arm – not your hands!
  • Avoid touching your face;
  • Stay home if you are sick!
  • Get your flu shot to protect against influenza; and
  • If you have recently returned from a country or region with ongoing COVID-19 infections, follow public health guidance and monitor your health. Call your healthcare providers and inform them about your travel history if you need care.

We will be keeping a close eye on the situation as it develops, and we’ll make sure to keep you informed on the status of performances and other updates, as well.

Thank you for being a friend to the Know – be well and keep playing!

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March 10, 2020 · 12:16 pm

Adventure Awaits in The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati’s 101st MainStage Season

TCTC_new logoCincinnati – The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati already announced Disney Channel’s smash hit movie musical, Disney’s Descendants, is coming to life on stage as the opening title of its 101st season at the Taft Theatre.

Now, the nation’s oldest professional theatre for young audiences is announcing three additional shows that will wow young and old alike in 20-21!  From the chronicles of everyone’s favorite Christmas elf, and the tale (tail?) of a doctor that can talk to animals, to the enchanted story of an unlikely human/amphibian pair, this TCT season has something for everyone.

TCT’s Producing Artistic Director, Roderick Justice, says: “Season 101 is full of adventure! We hope everyone will join the fun as we take audiences on an exciting expedition with Dr. Dolittle to have a chat with the rarest of creatures in the animal kingdom, a heart-warming journey with Buddy the Elf to locate his family and find his purpose, an aquatic voyage to transform an enchanted frog back to his true form, and an epic quest to discover if descendants of the most infamous Disney villains are inherently evil or if they have the power to shed their evil stigma. Packed with spectacular entertainment and valuable moral lessons, the stories told in TCT’s 101st season are not to be missed.” 

TCT’s 2020-2021 MainStage Season at the Taft Theatre:

  • Disney’s Descendants:  October 10-19, 2020
  • ELF THE MUSICAL JR.:  December 5-December 14, 2020
  • DOCTOR DOLITTLE JR.:  February 13-Feb. 22, 2021
  • PRINCESS & FROG:  April 17-April 26, 2021

TCTC_Descendents logoDisney’s Descendants:
Public Performances: October 10-11, 16-18, 2020
Ideal for ages 4+
Directed by Roderick Justice
Choreographed by Brandon Kelly

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.

TCTC_Elf logoELF THE MUSICAL JR.
Public Performances: December 5-6, 11-13, 2020
Ideal for ages 4+
Directed by Roderick Justice
Choreographed by Eric Byrd

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.

TCTC_Doctor DolittleDOCTOR DOLITTLE JR.
Public Performances: February 13-14, 19-21, 2021
Ideal for ages 4+
Directed and Choreographed by Eric Byrd

About the Show:
This classic tale of kindness to animals is based on the fantastical 1967 movie musical of the same name. Meet the wacky, but kind, doctor who can talk to animals, taking the audience on a journey from the small English village of Puddleby-on-the-Marsh to the far corners of the world. When Doctor Dolittle attempts to help a seal named Sophie, he’s wrongly accused of murder and stands trial before General Bellowes. Once pronounced innocent, Dolittle is free to continue with his search for the Great Pink Sea Snail — the oldest and wisest of the creatures on earth.

Credits:
Book, Music and Lyrics by Leslie Bricusse. Based on the Doctor Dolittle stories by Hugh Lofting and The Twentieth Century Fox film. Dr. Dolittle originally produced in the United States by the Pittsburgh CLO, Pittsburgh, PA, Van Kaplan, Executive Producer.

TCTC_Princess and Frog logoPRINCESS & FROG
Public Performances: April 17-18, 23-25, 2021
Ideal for ages 4+
Directed by Roderick Justice
Choreographed by Maddie Burgoon

About the Show:
When a beautiful, but spoiled, princess throws her new golden ball down the palace garden well, she encounters an enchanted prince-turned frog, whose only hope at breaking his curse and turning back into a human is to be invited for dinner. Oh… and to be kissed on the nose by a princess. But, this frog prince isn’t the only one under an enchanted curse. With the help of his amphibi-friends, the two form an unlikely bond by teaching each other the importance of self-discovery, friendship, and standing up to bad influence. This fresh new musical adaptation will have you croaking the showtunes all the way home!

Credits:
Book and Lyrics by Debra Clinton. Music by Jason Marks. Based on The Frog Prince by the Brothers Grimm and adapted from the musical Croaker, this world- premiere adaption by Roderick Justice was commissioned and produced by The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati.

Season Subscriptions & Flex Pass Packages

Subscriptions to the TCT 20-21 MainStage Season are available now at www.thechildrenstheatre.com.

For the first time, TCT is offering traditional subscriptions and flex pass packages.

  • Traditional Subscriptions — Guaranteed seats, same seats, same time for every show. Ticket exchanges. Free parking – BEST DEAL!
  • NEW Flex Pass Package(s) of 6 vouchers to be redeemed at any performance.

Prices range from $43 for all four shows in Balcony Price Level 5, to $123 for all four shows in Orchestra Price Level 1, to $150 for a Flex Pass Package. Please note: Becoming a Traditional Subscriber is the only way to guarantee seats to Disney’s Descendants.  

Subscriptions and Flex Pass Packages are on sale now at https://thechildrenstheatre.com/subscribe/

Single tickets for all shows will go on sale on August 24, 2020. 

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.

Showtimes Are Changing in 20-21
To better accommodate our little patrons, TCT has adjusted its MainStage weekend showtimes. TCT will now host 11 AM shows on both Saturdays! The 5 PM showtimes will be discontinued and Friday 7:30 PM show will be moving up to 7 PM.  (This does not affect showtimes for the rest of the 2019-2020 season.)

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, DOCTOR DOLITTLE JR. and PRINCESS & FROG

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

TCT EXTRAS:

The following productions are part of TCT’s 20/21 Touring Division. To bring the magic of live theatre to your school, community center, church, office, library, or other venue please visit www.thechildrenstheatre.com to book our touring productions.  

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
Directed by Deondra Kamau Means 

Rapunzel! Rapunzel! A Very Hairy Fairy Tale
Directed by Eric Byrd

Bah-Humbug! A One-Man Christmas Carol
Directed by A. James Jones 

Nutcracker Rocks!
Directed by A. James Jones                                               

Me…Jane: The Dreams & Adventure of Young Jane Goodall
Directed by Maddie Burgoon 

Jaqueline and the Beanstalk
Directed by Scott Hunt 

Martin’s Dream
Directed by Dr. Daryl Harris 

Cinderella Wore Cowboy Boots
Directed by Roderick Justice

-end-

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March 9, 2020 · 1:28 pm

Taco-Eating Dragon Coming to Cincinnati This Spring

PIP_Dragons Love Tacos promoPlayhouse’s Off the Hill series presents DRAGONS LOVE TACOS
from April 4 through May 17

CINCINNATI – Families are invited on a mouthwatering dragon adventure when Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park stages the beloved children’s book, DRAGONS LOVE TACOS at community centers throughout the region. The show is part of the Playhouse’s Off the Hill series and runs April 4 through May 17.

Based on Adam Rubin’s number-one New York Times bestselling phenomenon, DRAGONS LOVE TACOS will jump off the page in a big way as a boy, Leroy, and his dog throw the taco party of all taco parties one stormy night for their dragon friends. But this taco party comes with fiery consequences when the dragons accidentally eat some spicy salsa: They snort sparks, their ears smoke, and chaos ensues!

Directed for the Playhouse by Dylan Shelton, Artistic Director of Madcap Puppets, this hilarious production will be performed by an ensemble of actors from the Bruce E. Coyle Intern Company and features a colorful set design.

The Playhouse production team has had their hands full with this larger-than-life story. “Working on DRAGONS LOVE TACOS has been boatloads of fun,” says Shelton. “Families will love seeing one of their favorite books come to life. This show expands the world of the book with fabulous surprises and hilarious physical antics.”

The Playhouse’s production will journey all over greater Cincinnati, from Oxford to Lebanon to Covington and many places in between. The family-friendly production is recommended for anyone in the family ages 3 and up.

Click here to see the list of performances.

DRAGONS LOVE TACOS is one of three Playhouse Off the Hill productions in the 2019-20 Season, which has also presented Stuart Little and The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane. Off the Hill is sponsored by The John C. Griswold Foundation and KeyBank. Seasonal support of education and outreach is provided by The Robert and Adele Schiff Family Foundation. The Bruce E. Coyle Acting Intern Company is supported by Jerry and Betsy Shroat as well as Ron Bunt and Wei Sun.

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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March 6, 2020 · 1:52 pm

Who’s the Fairest of them all? Cincinnati Ballet’s Family Series: SNOW WHITE!

CB_Snow White promo

Photo by Aaron M. Conway.

We have made the decision to cancel our upcoming March 28-April 5 performances of Family Series: SNOW WHITE at the Aronoff Center. Click here for more information.

SNOW WHITE will be added to the 2020-2021 Season, in lieu of The Little Mermaid. Cincinnati Ballet is committed to the health of our community and these are difficult but necessary decisions. If you are a ticket holder to an affected performance, we will be reaching out to you directly.

The classic story is now a kid-friendly ballet at the Aronoff March 28–April 5 + Sensory Friendly Performance 

CINCINNATI, OH (March 6, 2020) – Cincinnati Ballet’s hugely popular Family Series returns for its third season with an all-new production of Snow White. The classic story comes to life with Snow White and her animal friends, the seven merry dwarfs and, of course, the Vain Queen! The kid-friendly ballet features the Cincinnati Ballet Second Company – CB2 dancers, with students from Cincinnati Ballet’s Professional Training Division and Otto M. Budig Academy. Experience Family Series: Snow White at the Aronoff Center for eight performances March 28 to April 5, and a special sensory-friendly performance on Friday, April 3 at 6:30 pm.

Cincinnati Ballet’s Family Series is the perfect introduction to ballet for audiences of all ages, with dazzling costumes and sets and live narration by actors playing the Brother Grimm, the authors of the original story. The narrators make it so easy for even the youngest kiddos in the family to understand the story being performed on stage.

Mom and Dad – also don’t forget to get to the show EARLY! The Aronoff Center lobby will be transformed into a scene from Snow White, with fun activities designed to engage children with a special focus on learning more about dance, costumes, and storytelling.  The purpose is to make the entire ballet-going experience one that is compelling and informative for even the youngest of audience members.

Cincinnati Ballet is also proud to continue its sensory-friendly offerings with this production of Family Series: Snow White. The 6:30 pm performance on Friday, April 3 is designed to create an experience that is welcoming and inviting to any patron or child with sensory sensitivities or specific needs. Accommodations include gentle lighting and sound, increased staffing with on-hand specialists, and a flexible, open-door theater environment with designated spaces where parents and children can take a break from the performance.

Tickets start at just $20.

For more information, please call our Patron Engagement Office at 513.621.5282.

PERFORMANCE DATES AND INFORMATION

WHO:
Cincinnati Ballet Second Company (CB2), Professional Training Division Dancers, Otto M. Budig Academy students

Choreography: Pamela Robinson-Harris

WHAT:
Family Series: SNOW WHITE

WHEN:         

  • Saturday, March 28 – 10:30 am, 2:00 pm
  • Sunday, March 29 – 1:00 pm & 4:30 pm
  • Friday, April 3 – 6:30 pm (Sensory Friendly Performance)
  • Saturday, April 4 – 10:30 am, 2:00 pm
  • Sunday, April 5 – 1:00 pm, 4:30 pm

WHERE:
Procter & Gamble Hall
Aronoff Center for the Arts
650 Walnut Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202

HOW:           

  • Call 513.621.5282, visit cballet.org, or
  • visit the Cincinnati Ballet Box Office at 1555 Central Parkway

About Cincinnati Ballet
Since 1963, Cincinnati Ballet has been the cornerstone professional ballet company of the region, presenting a bold and adventurous array of classical, full-length ballets and contemporary works, regularly with live orchestral accompaniment. Under the artistic direction of Victoria Morgan, Cincinnati Ballet has become a creative force within the larger dance community, commissioning world premiere works and exploring unique collaborations with artists as diverse as Grammy winning guitarist Peter Frampton and popular, Ohio-based band Over the Rhine. With a mission to enrich, expand, and excel in the art of dance through performance, a high-caliber academy, and impactful education and outreach in local to global communities, Cincinnati Ballet reaches beyond the stage in programs that allow every person in the region to be part of the continued evolution of dance. To that end, Cincinnati Ballet presents exhilarating performances, extensive education outreach programs and offers top level professional ballet training at Cincinnati Ballet Otto M. Budig Academy. 

CONNECT: READ / WATCH / LISTEN / LEARN / ENJOY at cballet.org

Cincinnati Ballet 2019-2020 Season Sponsors: Rhonda & Larry A. Sheakley, ArtsWave, Mercy Health, Louise Dieterle Nippert Musical Arts Fund, Ohio Arts Council, John A. Schroth Family Charitable Trust, Frisch’s Big Boy, Knowlton

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March 6, 2020 · 10:47 am

Irving Berlin’s Classic ANNIE GET YOUR GUN Opens at Footlighters, Inc. April 23, 2020

FLI_Annie Get Your Gun logoFootlighters, Inc. proudly presents the last show of its 2019-2020 season, the classic Annie Get Your Gun.

Annie Oakley is the best shot around, and she manages to support her younger siblings by selling the game she hunts. When she’s discovered by Col. Buffalo Bill, he persuades the novel sharpshooter to join his Wild West Show. It only takes one glance for her to fall head over heels for dashing shooting ace Frank Butler, who headlines the show. Annie soon eclipses Frank as the main attraction which, while good for business, is bad for romance. Will her success with a gun jeopardize Annie’s chance at love?

Featuring classic songs such as “Anything You Can Do (I Can Do Better)” and “There’s No Business Like Show Business”, the rousing, sure-fire finale hits the mark every time in a testament to the power of female ingenuity.

Annie Get Your Gun marks the Footlighters’ debut of veteran director Gina Kleesattel. Gina spent the last 20 years teaching musical theatre, drama, arts administration, and stage management at SCPA as well as directing over 20 musicals. Prior to SCPA, she was a stage manager, director, writer, and producer for 22 years at numerous venues, including: Showboat Majestic, Cincinnati Zoo Festival of Lights, Kincaid Regional Theatre, Ovation Theatre, Kings Productions Parks, and Carowinds Theme Park. Annie Get Your Gun is a family affair for Gina as she is joined by her brother and longtime Footlighters’ bassist Chuck Kleesattel playing in the show’s orchestra, and her son Alan Kleesattel as the show’s lighting designer.

Performances:

  • Thursday-Saturday, April 23-25 at 7:30pm
  • Sunday, April 26 at 2:00pm
  • Thursday-Saturday, April 30- May 2 at 7:30pm
  • Sunday, May 3 at 2:00pm
  • Wednesday- Saturday, May 6-9 7:30pm

Tickets: $22 each and are available at (859) 652-3849 or FootlightersTickets@gmail.com.

The Footlighters, Inc. has been producing quality community theater shows in the Greater Cincinnati area for over 55 years. The group was established in 1963 by a small group of community theater 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 2018, Footlighters added an ADA ramp to the front of their building to complement the elevator installed in September of 2017, allowing access for all patrons with limited mobility.

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

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