Category Archives: Press Releases

March 5, 2020 · 12:24 pm

Cincinnati Ballet Announces 2020-2021 Season

CB_new logoCincinnati Ballet unveils new two-week dance experience, BOLD MOVES FESTIVAL, family favorite Cinderella, and Balanchine’s Jewels

PLUS The Nutcracker presented by Frisch’s Big Boy, Kaplan New Works and Family Series: The Little Mermaid

CINCINNATI, OH (March 5, 2020) – Cincinnati Ballet is thrilled to announce today the  2020-2021 Season! This upcoming season, Cincinnati Ballet will launch the most ambitious artistic programming in its history – Bold Moves Festival, a two-week dance experience at the end of April 2021. The festival will be a destination for dance lovers from the around the region, the country, and the world with productions from choreographers William Forsythe, Jiří Kylián, Helen Pickett, Twyla Tharp, Trey McIntyre, Cincinnati choreographer Heather Britt, and Cincinnati Ballet soloist David Morse. Bold Moves will also offer attendees plenty to do and enjoy all day long with guest artists, classes, and other interactive opportunities. See below for more details on Bold Moves programming.

CB_Kaplan New Works logoThe Season opens September 10-20, 2020 with The Kaplan New Works Series and a parade of world premieres at the Aronoff Center for the Arts’ intimate Jarson Kaplan Theater. Audiences can look forward to athletic and innovative new works from Cincinnati Ballet Artistic Director Victoria Morgan and Resident Choreographer Jennifer Archibald, as well as a provocative piece from choreographer Dana Genshaft. Two Cincinnati Ballet dancers will also premiere works chosen during our annual Choreographer’s Workshop.

CB_Cinderella logoDream do come true this fall with Cinderella! The plucky heroine’s good deeds awaken a magical transformation thanks to a little help from her fairy godmother. Laugh out loud with the riotous stepsisters, hilariously performed by male dancers, and marvel as an ordinary pumpkin becomes a spectacular carriage. The audience even becomes a part of the story in this clever production. Elegant and with a twist of humor, Victoria Morgan’s choreography is paired delightfully with the charming music of Sergei Prokofiev. Enjoy Cinderella at the Aronoff Center for the Arts October 22-November 1, 2020.

CB_Nutcracker 20Create a cherished family tradition in the Land of Sweets! Join Clara and her Nutcracker Prince in the holiday classic, The Nutcracker presented by Frisch’s Big Boy. During a Victorian Christmas party, a visit from her uncle and a mysterious gift begin Clara’s wondrous journey to a magical land. Along the way, Clara meets a colorful cast of characters and, of course, the Sugar Plum Fairy. Artistic Director Victoria Morgan’s colorful choreography is a treat to behold, with Tchaikovsky’s beloved score performed by Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra at historic Music Hall December 17-27, 2020.

CB_Jewels logoSure to delight your valentine, experience choreographer George Balanchine’s Jewels, at Music Hall February 11-14, 2021. Created by Balanchine in 1967, Jewels puts precious stones on grand display. The three-act, full-length ballet is a masterpiece on the facets of classical dance.  Each act of Jewels is costumed in a different gem – emeralds, rubies, and diamonds. The distinct costumes unify the disparate themes of each jewel –the French romanticism of Emeralds, danced to Fauré’s dreamy score; Stravinsky’s Modernist, high energy score for Rubies; and Tchaikovsky’s regal classicism, evoking the imperial court of Russia in Diamonds. This is the first time Cincinnati Ballet will perform all three ‘jewel’ acts together.

CB_The Little Mermaid logoTake a magical journey under the sea with our Family Series: The Little Mermaid February 26-28, 2021 at the Aronoff Center for the Arts. Join Second Company – CB2 dancers and students from the Otto M. Budig Academy for the delightful family adventure. Splash into Hans Christian Andersen’s fantastic world, complete with a love-struck mermaid, a prince, and a devious sea witch. The narrated production runs just over an hour and is the perfect introduction to ballet for the young and young at heart!

CB_Bold Moves FestivalOur inaugural BOLD MOVES FESTIVAL will debut at the Aronoff Center for the Arts April 22–May 2, 2021. The festival will feature seven rotating mainstage productions accompanied by a variety of activities that will wow both ballet connoisseurs and those who love dance of all genres! Bold Moves will feature the legendary work of William Forsythe in the Cincinnati premiere of In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated, the return of Trey McIntyre’s zany favorite, Wild Sweet Love, along with Jiří Kylián’s whimsical Sechs Tänze, plus a world premiere from soloist David Morse, Our Story. Continuing our commitment to champion female choreographers, Bold Moves will feature a second world premiere from DanceFix choreographer-extraordinaire Heather Britt. Cincinnati will also receive its first glimpse of the leading-edge choreographer, Helen Pickett, in her work, Petal and Twyla Tharp returns to our stage with her nostalgic, Nine Sinatra Songs. In addition to these amazing performances, audiences have a menu of guest artists, talks, film screenings, dance classes, after-parties and more to choose from during this exhilarating and immersive experience.

Subscriptions on sale now. Subscription pricing starts at around $132. For more information visit cballet.org. 

CB_2020-2021 Season logoAbout 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 4, 2020 · 6:30 pm

Cincinnati Shakespeare Company Announces the 2020-2021 Season at The Otto M. Budig Theater

CSC_logoCINCINNATI – Cincinnati Shakespeare Company (CSC) announced the titles for the 2020-2021 Season at The Otto M. Budig Theater in an event on March 4.  This season features Shakespeare greats, classic comedies, fresh adaptations, American masters, and regional premieres. All productions will feature Cincinnati Shakespeare Company’s Resident Company of Actors.

CSC’s 2020-2021 Season is generously sponsored by The Otto M. Budig Family Foundation and The John Bridgeland, Crilley, Long, and Mason Families Honoring James R. Bridgeland Jr., The Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile Jr. Foundation, The Robert and Adele Schiff Family Foundation, The National Endowment for the Arts with Arts Midwest, Lightborne, The Shubert Foundation, Ohio Arts Council, and ArtsWave.

Producing Artistic Director, Brian Isaac Phillips says “in our 2020-2021 season, I am excited to share with you stories that I hope you will find as compelling as I do and to discuss with you how they touch our modern lives.” The 2020-2021 Season starts with a summer time send up of politics and perceptions in the comedy “Born Yesterday” by Garson Kanin, July 17-August 2, 2020.  This is followed by the regional premiere of the adaptation for the stage of the Academy Award® winning film “Network” playing September 4-26, 2020. This production is fresh from Broadway and London’s National Theatre.  This is followed by a production of “Romeo and Juliet” October 9-31, 2020 that will be staged in a traditional, opulent Elizabethan setting.  CSC is happy to welcome international director Guy Roberts, Artistic Director of the Prague Shakespeare Company.  A regional premiere adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s “Little Women” by Kate Hamill follows for the start of the holiday season November 13- December 5, 2020.  This comes after the recent success of Kate Hamill’s adaptation of “Pride and Prejudice” at Cincinnati Shakespeare Company.  Producing Artistic Director Brian Isaac Phillips says “we are very proud to have brought Kate Hamill to Cincinnati and if the raving audiences from her “Pride and Prejudice” are any indication, we know that Cincinnati audiences will love ‘Little Women’.”  For the 15th time this Christmas season, “Every Christmas Story Ever Told (and Then Some!)” by Michael Carleton, James FitzGerald, and John K. Alvarez will continue to delight audiences with its brand of irreverent pop culture holiday humor from December 11-27, 2020.

In 2021, the season continues with American master August Wilson and his play “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” with a powerhouse music filled production January 22-February 13, 2021.  This production welcomes back 2019’s smash hit “Fences” director Christopher V. Edwards from Boston’s Actor’s Shakespeare Project.  Then from February 26-March 20, 2021, CSC will present the classic literary adaptation of “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” by Dale Wasserman based on the novel by Ken Kesey.  Shakespeare is back on the stage with “The Comedy of Errors” April 2-24, 2021 this time with a Sin City twist, inspired by golden era Las Vegas.  And then the season concludes with a very special production of “King Charles III” by Mike Bartlett.  “This future history, written in the style of Shakespeare, is a perfect match for this theater and our resident ensemble. We are thrilled to be able to present it now as the play feels ripped from today’s headlines,” says Mr. Phillips.

Featured cast was also announced at the event on March 4. For “Born Yesterday”, CSC welcomes back Rachael Elizabeth Perin as Billie Dawn with her debut appearance in “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” in 2018.  “Network” features Bruce Cromer as Howard Beale.  Bruce is a long time member of the CSC Resident Ensemble having recently appeared a J. Edgar Hoover in “All the Way” in 2020.  The star-crossed lovers in “Romeo and Juliet” will be Courtney Lucien and Crystian Wiltshire.  Both actors are regulars at CSC with Courtney currently appearing as Jane Bennet in “Pride and Prejudice” and Crystian Wiltshire appearing this season in “The Merry Wives of Windows” and “All the Way”.  In the next Kate Hamill play produced by Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, “Little Woman” Caitlin McWethy, currently appearing as Lizzy Bennet in “Pride and Prejudice,” will helm the role of Jo March joined by Ernaisja Curry as Amy, Maliyah Gramata-Jones as Beth, and Maggie Lou Rader as Meg.  In August’s Wilson’s “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” Torie Wiggins will lend her powerful voice in the title role after her work in last season’s August Wilson production of “Fences”.  Long time company member Josh Katawick leads as the rebel rouser Randle P. McMurphy in “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” joined by Kelly Mengelkoch as Nurse Ratched.  For “The Comedy of Errors” CSC Resident Ensemble favorites Justin McCombs and Geoffrey Warren Barnes II will appear as Dromio of Syracuse and Antipholus of Ephesus, respectively.  And, closing the season will be long time CSC Resident Ensemble Barry Mulholland in “King Charles III” in the title role having just appeared in “All the Way” and “August: Osage County” at CSC this season.

Cincinnati Shakespeare Company continues to offer audiences great value with affordable, flexible subscriptions that include flexible tickets that can be used in any combination for any performance. Subscription packages start at $284.  All subscriptions are currently on sale now and may be purchased through the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company website www.cincyshakes.com or box office by calling 513-381-BARD (2273) ext. 1.  Single tickets for all shows will go on sale Wednesday April 1, 2020 but the recommended way to get the best price and first access to seats now is by becoming a subscriber!  Single tickets range from $14-$68.  There are also discounts available for students, seniors, local residents, and community partners as access to all is important to CSC.

The 2020-2021 Season at The Otto M. Budig Theater is as follows:

CSC_Born Yesterday promo

Rachel Elizabeth Perin as Billie Dawn. Photo by Mikki Schaffner Photography.

BORN YESTERDAY*
by Garson Kanin
July 17 – August 2, 2020

Just when you think politics has lost its sense of humor, in rides Billie Dawn on a breath of fresh air in this romantic comedy from the Golden Age of Broadway. She’s buried her smarts beneath layers of satin and showgirl sass, but hers is a special kind of clever. So when her powerful, gangster boyfriend sets out to bribe a senator, he decides his girl should be a little more D.C., providing her a tutor and striking the flint that sets her mind, and heart, ablaze. Billie may be the new kid in class, but she’s nobody’s fool. A hilarious and timely send up of politics and perceptions. 

CSC_Network promo

Bruce Cromer as Howard Beale. Photo by Mikki Schaffner Photography.

NETWORK
adapted for the stage by Lee Hall
based on the film by Paddy Chayefsky
September 4 – 26, 2020

In this new adaptation for the stage of the Academy Award® winning film, anchorman Howard Beale unravels live on-screen. But when the ratings soar, the network seizes on its newfound prophet, and Howard becomes the biggest thing on TV, producing repercussions the network never could have imagined.  After hit runs on Broadway and the West End, where audiences were chanting “I’m mad as hell, and I’m not going to take it anymore,” Network receives its regional premiere in Cincinnati.

CSC_Romeo and Juliet promo

Crystian Wiltshire as Romeo & Courtney Lucien as Juliet. Photo by Mikki Schaffner Photography

William Shakespeare’s
ROMEO AND JULIET
October 9 – 31, 2020

William Shakespeare’s timeless tale of two star-crossed lovers and the feuding families who tear them apart, returns to the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company stage in all of its everlasting grandeur. Revel in lavish masked balls, rousing street brawls, tragic young love, and some of the most exquisite poetry ever penned, all in a traditional, opulent Elizabethan setting. Fall in love again for the first time.

CSC_Little Women promo

Caitlin McWethy as Jo March. Photo by Mikki Schaffner Photography.

LITTLE WOMEN
by Kate Hamill
adapted from the novel by Louisa May Alcott
November 13 – December 5, 2020

Louisa May Alcott’s treasured classic, Little Women tells the enduring story of the March family and their four daughters; romantic Meg, shy Beth, willful Amy, and of course, fiery and independent Jo.  Through the intertwining lives of the sisters, we see the familiar hardships and heartbreak, humor and humility of these passionate and unique young women.  Little Women continues to enchant new generations each year and is now on the stage in the regional premiere of this fresh new adaptation.

CSC_Every Christmas Story2021 promo

Miranda McGee as Santa. Photo by Mikki Schaffner Photography

EVERY CHRISTMAS STORY EVERY TOLD (AND THEN SOME!)*
by Michael Carleton, James FitzGerald, and John K. Alvarez
December 11 – 27, 2020

CSC’s holiday smash hit Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some!) is back again for another season of holiday hilarity! What begins as another annual production of A Christmas Carol, soon devolves into a slightly irreverent look at all of our favorite “Beloved Holiday Classics” including pop culture favorites like It’s a Wonderful Life, Rudolph, Charlie Brown and more! Add in topical references that always keep this annual tradition fresh and fun as we send up everything from Dickens to Dr. Seuss for 90+ minutes of high octane jollity and frivolity.

CSC_Ma Rainey promo

Torie Wiggins as Ma Rainey. Photo by Mikki Schaffner Photography

August Wilson’s
MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM
January 22 – February 13, 2021

Ambition and art collide with the business of the blues in this red hot play filled with the live music that made the ’20s roar. An American masterpiece, August Wilson’s Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom is set in 1927 Chicago in a ramshackle recording studio. Ma Rainey, the undisputed queen of the blues, squares off against a battling quartet of musicians and a tight-fisted producer.  As egos and ideologies clash in an increasingly violent way, the band enters a battle of wills in this Tony Award® Winning powerhouse of a play. 

CSC_One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest promo

Josh Katawick as Randle P. McMurphy. Photo by Mikki Schaffner Photography.

ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO’S NEST
by Dale Wasserman
based on the novel by Ken Kesey
February 26 – March 20, 2021

When rambunctious rabble-rouser Randle P. McMurphy manages to get his prison sentence commuted into a stint at an Oregon state mental hospital, he thinks he’s got it made. But he didn’t count on the tyrannical treatment of Nurse Ratched, who rules the ward with an iron fist, keeping patients in line with drugs and shock therapy. Soon McMurphy finds himself in an all-out war of wills with the unbending Ratched, whose increasingly severe punishments incite him and his fellow inmates to increasingly outrageous acts of rebellion. A groundbreaking novel and iconic film, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest is a compelling portrait of the struggle against conformity and the strictures of sanity.

CSC_Comedy of Errors promo

Justin McCombs as Dromio of Syracuse & Geoffrey Warren Barnes II as Antipholus of Ephesus. Photo by Mikki Schaffner Photography.

William Shakespeare’s
THE COMEDY OF ERRORS
April 2 – 24, 2021

What do you get when you mix love triangles, a jealous wife, a vindictive mistress, a deranged doctor, and not one, but TWO sets of identical twins separated at birth? Well, it can only be The Comedy of Errors. Shakespeare’s silliest, screwiest, and slapstickiest comedy returns to the CSC stage, this time with a Sin City twist. Inspired by golden era Las Vegas, this music filled production will be packed with cool cats, rat packs, showgirls, wise guys, and more!  So place your bets, roll the dice, and check it out, but remember- what happeneth in the theater, stayeth in the theater.

CSC_King Charles promo

Barry Mulholland as King Charles. Photo by Mikki Schaffner Photography.

KING CHARLES III
by Mike Bartlett
May 7 – 23, 2021

Welcome to the future. The Queen has died. Long live the King. After a lifetime of waiting, Prince Charles finally ascends to the throne with Camilla by his side. William, Kate, Harry and the rest of the royal entourage look on as the regime change begins to cause a political upheaval.  This tale of modern royalty explores the people underneath the crowns, the unwritten rules of Britain’s democracy, and the conscience of its most famous family.  Evoking the style and spirit of Shakespeare, this regional premiere blends past and future to ask some very penetrating questions about our present.

*Season Specials

###

About Cincinnati Shakespeare Company:
Cincinnati Shakespeare Company is a professional theatre company dedicated to bringing Shakespeare and the classics to life for audiences of all ages.  In the summer of 2017, the theater relocated to the Otto M. Budig Theater, a brand new facility in OTR. CSC’s repertoire is made up of the works of William Shakespeare, literary adaptations, and contemporary classics.  CSC performs on a Small Professional Theatre contract with Actors’ Equity Association. Cincinnati Shakespeare is a member of the Theater Communications Group and the Shakespeare Theatre Association.  Each year, Cincinnati Shakespeare Company’s Education and Outreach Programs reach over 50,000 young people and underserved community members each season by taking Shakespeare into schools, parks, community centers and by hosting educational matinees of mainstage productions.  In 2015, CSC was proud to become one of the first five theaters in the United States to “Complete the Canon” by producing all 38 plays by William Shakespeare. CSC is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization and all donations are tax deductible.  Cincinnati Shakespeare Company is proud to be Cincinnati’s stage for the classics!

Production dates and information on the season are available online at www.cincyshakes.com.

About The 2020-2021 Season:
CSC’s 2020-2021 Season is generously sponsored by The Otto M. Budig Family Foundation and The John Bridgeland, Crilley, Long, and Mason Families Honoring James R. Bridgeland Jr., The Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile Jr. Foundation, The Robert and Adele Schiff Family Foundation, The National Endowment for the Arts with Arts Midwest, Lightborne, The Shubert Foundation, Ohio Arts Council, and ArtsWave.

The Ohio Arts Council helped fund this program/organization with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans.

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March 4, 2020 · 3:23 pm

Established Broadway Veteran Named Patricia A. Corbett Distinguished Chair of Musical Theatre at CCM

CCM_Santagata-Courtesy-of-Walter-McBride-web

Eric Santagata. Photo courtesy of Walter McBride.

CCM Alumnus Eric Santagata (BFA ’04) is the new head of CCM’s nationally recognized Musical Theatre program

CINCINNATI, OH — UC College-Conservatory of Music Dean Stanley E. Romanstein has announced the appointment of Eric Santagata to the position of Associate Professor and Patricia A. Corbett Distinguished Chair of Musical Theatre at CCM. A 2004 graduate of CCM’s nationally recognized BFA Musical Theatre program, Santagata’s appointment begins on Aug. 15, 2020.

“The appointment of Eric Santagata ushers in an exciting new era for CCM Musical Theatre, which is recognized nationally for its tradition of excellence in preparing our graduates to take their places on the world’s stages,” Romanstein says.

The Musical Theatre program at CCM was the first of its kind in the country. A four-year bachelor of fine arts (BFA) program, it was used by the National Association of Schools of Theatre in creating the guidelines for accreditation of Musical Theatre programs nationwide. The program is widely recognized for its “triple-threat” approach to training and many of its graduates are following careers as performers and creative artists in every facet of the entertainment industry. The program is regularly ranked near the top of Playbill Magazine’s annual list of “10 Most Represented Colleges on Broadway.”

“A gifted director, teacher and nurturing mentor, Eric is precisely the kind of educator who will lead our top-rated musical theatre training program to even greater heights,” says Denton Yockey, CCM Professor of Arts Administration and Head of the Division of Theatre Arts, Production and Arts Administration (TAPAA).

Santagata’s appointment concludes an extensive national search that began when long-time CCM Musical Theatre Chair Aubrey Berg retired at the end of the 2018-19 academic year after holding the position for 32 years. Yockey chaired the search committee, which consisted of CCM faculty members Diane Lala, Roger Grodsky, Vincent DeGeorge, Richard Hess, Robin Guarino, Mark Halpin, Katie Johannigman, Shauna Steele and UC College of Arts and Sciences faculty member Sharrell Luckett.

“As a musical theatre alumnus, CCM has been crucial in my development as both an educator and an artist,” Santagata says. “The tools and training I honed here have been the backbone of my career. I look forward to having the opportunity to take the knowledge I’ve accrued in the professional entertainment industry and focus it into a curriculum that speaks to the tradition that CCM is founded on, while ushering it into a new era of success.”

An accomplished director, choreographer, performer and educator, Santagata has worked on Broadway, Off-Broadway, on national tours and in regional theaters across the country. He was most recently seen on Broadway in the Hal Prince retrospective Prince Of Broadway at the Manhattan Theater Club. His other performing credits include Bullets Over Broadway at St. James Theatre, Chaplin at Barrymore Theatre, The Apple Tree at Roundabout Theatre Company, Happiness at Lincoln Center Theater, Stairway to Paradise and Face the Music at City Center Encores!.

Santagata has served as associate director to Tony Award-winning director/writer James Lapine in the national tour and Broadway productions of Falsettos — nominated for five Tony Awards — as well as assistant director and choreographer to Lapine in A New Brain at Encores! Off-Center in New York. He has also served as associate director and choreographer to Tony Award-winning director/choreographer Susan Stroman in Off-Broadway productions of The Beast in the Jungle and Dot at Vineyard Theatre as well as Broadway productions of The Scottsboro Boys, which received 12 Tony Award nominations, seven Olivier Award Nominations and the Ned Sherrin Award for Best Musical. In London, Santagata was the associate choreographer on Stroman’s The Scottsboro Boys at the Young Vic and West End theaters.

In addition to his work on stage and behind-the-scenes, Santagata has presented master classes and taught theatre arts at universities and programs across the country including at Penn State STAGES Conference, Eugene O’Neill Theater Center, Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival, Orpheum Theater Group, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Oklahoma City University and the Open Jar Institute as well as London’s Mousetrap Theatre Organization. His master classes and talkbacks focus on Santagata’s professional experiences in acting, singing, dancing, directing, choreographing and audition techniques.

He is also an active board member of Westport Country Playhouse’s Resident Conservatory – the Broadway Method Academy, a non-profit program that offers focused training for young adults while connecting them with established industry professionals. He previously served as an adjudicator at the 2017-18 Stephen Sondheim Awards, Connecticut’s Regional Award program in association with the Jimmy Awards and the National High School Musical Theatre Awards; and as a directing mentor during the week-long Staples High School Directing Intensive in Westport, Connecticut.

Santagata is a member of the Screen Actors Guild, American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, Actors Equity Association and Stage Directors and Choreographers Society.

About CCM Musical Theatre
The Musical Theatre program at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) is the oldest in the country and was the first of its kind. A four-year bachelor of fine arts (BFA) program, it was used by the National Association of Schools of Theatre in formulating the guidelines for the accreditation of Musical Theatre programs nationwide.

The program provides professional conservatory training designed to help singers, dancers and actors become accomplished musical theatre performers. Students participate in a number of productions while in residence and create a freshman and a senior showcase, the latter functioning as their New York debut for agents and casting directors. In addition, students undertake courses in English, history, psychology, dramatic literature, social and ethical issues and the humanities.

CCM Musical Theatre is widely recognized for its “triple-threat” approach to training and many of its graduates are following careers as performers and creative artists in every facet of the entertainment industry. CCM Musical Theatre graduates are working on Broadway and throughout the nation in such productions as Anastasia, Hamilton, Waitress, Moulin Rouge, The Phantom of the Opera, The Book of Mormon, Pippin, Wicked, Jersey Boys, Les Misérables, Kinky Boots, Big Fish, Newsies and The Lion King. Students represent CCM in national and international touring productions, in dinner theatres and theme parks, on cruise ships, on television, in talent agencies, as producers and in many of the related entertainment fields.

The Musical Theatre program is part of a larger academic division known as TAPAA: Theatre Arts, Production and Arts Administration. At the time of its establishment in 1991, the Patricia A. Corbett Distinguished Chair of Musical Theatre at CCM was the only academic chair of its kind in the United States, the American equivalent of the Chair in Musical Theatre endowed by Cameron Macintosh in honor of Stephen Sondheim at Oxford one year later.

About CCM
Nationally ranked and internationally renowned, the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) is a preeminent institution for the performing and media arts.

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’s stage. For more information about CCM, please visit us online at ccm.uc.edu.

A preeminent institution for the performing and media arts, the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) is the largest single source of performing arts presentations in the state of Ohio. All event dates and programs are subject to change. For a complete calendar of events, please visit us online at https://ccm.uc.edu/.

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March 4, 2020 · 11:45 am

Selections Announced for HOME BREW THEATRE at The Drama Workshop

TDW_Home Brew 5 logoThe Drama Workshop will present HOME BREW THEATRE the weekend of June 12-14, 2020 at the Glenmore Playhouse in Cheviot.

Due to popular demand a 4th performance has been added this year – a Saturday matinee!

The annual festival features full productions of short plays by local authors, and a Meet the Artists reception featuring local beer.

This year again the beer will be supplied by our friends at West Side Brewing.

The selected plays are:

A BEER* by Peter J. Stavros
Directed by Becky Collins

FIRST KISS* by Betsy Bossart
Directed by Stephanie Klein

GATE EXPECTATIONS* by Chris Bishop
Directed by Jeff Nieman

HEART CONDITION by Eric Thomas
Directed by Judy Berrens

MADAME MISTY by Megan Ann Jacobs
Directed by Trisha Cooper
 
PUDDLE JUMPERS: A MUSICAL* by Fred Tacon
Directed by Lynne Aronson

THAT WASN’T MY INTENT* by Patricia Mullins
Directed by Betsy Bossart

THE MILE HIGH CLUB* by Arny Stoller
Directed by Amy Eyers

THE SURPRISE ENGAGEMENT* by Christine Charlson
Directed by Greg Hatfield

ZOMBIES ARE TAKING OUR JOBS* by Micheal Hickerson
Directed by Rose Vanden Eynden

*Indicates World Premier.

Tickets are available at www.thedramaworkshop.org or by calling (513)598-8303.

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March 3, 2020 · 7:31 pm

Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park Announces 2020-2021 Season Featuring THE WIZARD OF OZ, a Brand-New Sherlock Holmes Mystery and a World Premiere Set in 1941 Cincinnati

Season features musicals, comedies, multiple premieres and new work 

CINCINNATI –Artistic Director Blake Robison announced Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park’s 2020-21 season today, which features much-loved music, cherished stories, heartfelt humor, U.S and world premieres and two Cincinnati stories.

“From the extravagant, family-friendly production of The Wizard of Oz to Pressure – the U.S. premiere of a gripping and true World War II story – the new season showcases the range, scale and diversity of the Playhouse,” says Robison. “I’m especially proud to bring the world premiere of The West End to our mainstage. Keith Josef Adkins is a major American playwright and a Cincinnati native. We commissioned him to write about our city, and his new play shines a light on a transformative chapter in local history.”

The 2020-21 season includes:

  • MUCH-LOVED MUSIC: Go over the rainbow in The Wizard of Oz, an extravagant musical adaptation of the 1939 classic film; and witness Billie Holiday, one of the greatest jazz singers of all time, in Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill.
  • CINCINNATI TALES: Step back in time to 1941 for The West End, an authentically Cincinnati story and world premiere drama; and reunite with a Queen City icon in Tenderly: The Rosemary Clooney Musical, back by popular demand.
  • PLAYHOUSE PREMIERES: Don’t miss the U.S. debut of Pressure, the gripping true story about forecasting the weather for the D-Day invasion; and set out on a thrilling, world premiere adventure in Ken Ludwig’s Moriarty: A New Sherlock Holmes Mystery.
  • CHERISHED STORIES AND STORYTELLERS: Catch all the best gossip at Truvy’s Salon in Steel Magnolias; and experience best-selling author Cheryl Strayed’s uplifting insight in a heartfelt adaptation of Tiny Beautiful Things.
  • HEARTWARMING HILARITY: Watch the Irish-Catholic O’Sheas navigate a series of humorous family mishaps in Incident at Our Lady of Perpetual Help; and see a reclusive amateur botanist become a new-age, YouTube messiah in the world premiere of Rooted.

2020-21 MARX THEATRE SEASON
Presented by Schueler Group
Season Sponsor of New Work: The Rosenthal Family Foundation

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Photo by Tony Arrasmith/Arrasmith & Associates.

THE WIZARD OF OZ
By L. Frank Baum
With Music and Lyrics of the MGM motion picture score by Harold Arlen and E.Y. Harburg
Background Music by Herbert Stothart
Book Adaptation by John Kane from the motion picture screenplay
Directed by Blake Robison
Aug. 29 – Oct. 4, 2020

We’re off to see the wizard! Dorothy and Toto find themselves over the rainbow, where they travel the Yellow Brick Road to the city of Oz alongside new friends Scarecrow, Tin Man and Cowardly Lion. Adapted from the 1939 movie and featuring all of the film’s familiar songs, this extravagant musical will make you fall in love all over again with Dorothy’s enchanting story.

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Photo by Tony Arrasmith/Arrasmith & Associates.

THE WEST END
By Keith Josef Adkins
Directed by Playhouse Associate Artist Nicole A. Watson
Oct. 17 – Nov. 14, 2020
WORLD PREMIERE

It’s 1941 in Cincinnati’s West End, and African Americans migrate from the Deep South to forge new lives. At the same time, German residents face growing hostility on the brink of World War II, and Grace houses people of both backgrounds in her row house. But when a stranger arrives, she must confront her secretive past. This world premiere drama shines a light on a transformative chapter of Cincinnati history.

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Cast of 2019’s A CHRISTMAS CAROL. Photo by Mikki Schaffner.

First Financial Bank presents
A CHRISTMAS CAROL
By Charles Dickens
Adapted by Howard Dallin
Directed by Michael Evan Haney
Nov. 25-Dec. 27, 2020
A CHRISTMAS CAROL is not part of the season subscription, but subscribers get early access and special discounts on tickets.

Faithful storytelling and spellbinding stage magic bring to life Ebenezer Scrooge’s time-traveling journey with the spirits one magical Christmas Eve. Returning for its 30th anniversary season, the heartwarming message helps to make the show one of the Playhouse’s most popular productions each season.

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Photo by Tony Arrasmith/Arrasmith & Associates.

Moe & Jack Rouse and Randolph Wadsworth present
PRESSURE
By David Haig
Directed by Blake Robison
Jan. 23 – Feb. 21, 2021
U.S. PREMIERE

D-Day. June 1944. Allied military personnel have everything in place for the biggest military invasion ever known, but will the weather be on their side? As the fates of thousands of men hang in the balance, a Scottish meteorologist must advise General Eisenhower on the uncertain weather forecast for that day. This gripping true story makes its U.S. premiere at the Playhouse after a critically acclaimed run in London’s West End.

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Photo by Tony Arrasmith/Arrasmith & Associates.

Leading Ladies presents
STEEL MAGNOLIAS
By Roger Harling
Directed by Laura Gordon
March 6 – April 4, 2021

A tight-knit group of six Louisiana women gather regularly to bond, dish and offer advice on everything from motherhood and marriage to tragedy and loss. As they find their lives and relationships tested, their bonds with one another only strengthen. Written with heartwarming dialogue and snappy repartee, Steel Magnolias revels in the power and grace of female friendship.

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Photo by Tony Arrasmith/Arrasmith & Associates.

Ken Ludwig’s
MORIARTY: A NEW SHERLOCK HOLMES MYSTERY
Sponsored by U.S. Bank
April 17 – May 16, 2021
WORLD PREMIERE

Sherlock Holmes is back in a world premiere mystery! The King of Bohemia enlists Holmes and Dr. Watson to resolve a matter that could lead to catastrophe. The game’s afoot when Irene Adler — the only woman to ever outsmart Holmes — arrives on the scene. But the investigation takes a terrifying turn that leads to the phenomenally brilliant and extremely dangerous Professor James Moriarty.

2020-21 ROSENTHAL SHELTERHOUSE SEASON
Presented by Heidelberg Distributing Co.
Season Sponsor of New Work: The Rosenthal Family Foundation

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Photo by Tony Arrasmith/Arrasmith & Associates.

TINY BEAUTIFUL THINGS
Based on the Book by Cheryl Strayed
Adapted for the Stage by Nia Vardalos
Directed by Brendon Fox
Sponsored by Digi and Mike Schueler
Sept. 12 – Oct 25, 2020

How do we become un-stuck? What’s this love thing all about anyway? In her book Tiny Beautiful Things, Cheryl Strayed (author of Wild) tackled these questions and more as the anonymous advice columnist Dear Sugar. This poignant adaptation brings to life some of the column’s real-life letters and heartfelt, empathetic responses. Tiny Beautiful Things is at once cathartic and uplifting.

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Photo by Tony Arrasmith/Arrasmith & Associates.

INCIDENT AT OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP
By Katie Forgette
Nov. 7, 2020 – Jan. 3, 2021

The O’Sheas are just like any other family in their town in 1973: middle-class, Irish, Catholic and determined to avoid public ridicule. With dry yet affectionate humor, 19-year-old Linda O’Shea narrates the most turbulent day of her life when a series of hilarious mishaps jeopardizes the family’s reputation. Whether you’ve grown up Catholic or you simply can relate to the craziness of family, this new comedy will leave you in stitches.

PIP_S3_LadyDay_NewsroomLADY DAY AT EMERSON’S BAR AND GRILL
By Lanie Robertson
Directed by Kenneth Roberson
Sponsored by Jennifer and Woody Taft
Jan. 16 – March 7, 2021

In one of her last and most intimate performances, Billie Holiday — known as Lady Day — tells the story of her life through her music with heartfelt honesty and a touch of salty humor. This captivating and moving play with music features over a dozen jazz standards like “God Bless the Child,” “Strange Fruit” and “When a Woman Loves a Man.”

PIP_S4_Rooted_NewsroomROOTED
By Deborah Zoe Laufer
Directed by Noah Himmelstein
Sponsored by The Geiler Company
March 20 – April 25, 2021
WORLD PREMIERE

People can be so weird, which is why Emery Harris has lived alone for over a decade. Her only connection to the outside world is through her YouTube channel where she documents research on plants and has garnered several thousand followers. When strangers begin gathering near her home, she learns she’s been unwittingly elected as her followers’ new-age messiah. This quirky world premiere comedy studies the power of plants and the idiosyncrasies of people.

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Susan Haefner in the 2014 Playhouse production of TENDERLY: THE ROSEMARY CLOONEY MUSICAL. Photo by Sandy Underwood.

Clark Schaefer Hackett and Johnson Investment Counsel present
TENDERLY: THE ROSEMARY CLOONEY MUSICAL
Based on the life of Rosemary Clooney
By Janet Yates Vogt and Mark Friedman
Directed by Eleanor Holdridge
May 8 – June 27, 2021

BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND! America’s favorite girl singer comes home again in this exhilarating and inspiring musical biography. Rosemary Clooney’s journey starts with her Cincinnati childhood and rise to Hollywood stardom and continues beyond battles with depression to a triumphant comeback. Through it all, she topped the charts for nearly five decades with signature songs like “Come On-A My House,” “Mambo Italiano,” “Sisters” and more. Tenderly offers a remarkably personal and poignant picture of the woman whose unparalleled talent and unbridled personality made her a legend.

2020-21 SEASON SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION

Subscriptions to the 2020-21 Playhouse season are available now in a variety of packages.

Prices range from $157.50 to $420 for the five-show Marx Theatre season; $157.50 to $405 for the five-show Rosenthal Shelterhouse Theatre season; and $280 to $732.50 for the full 10-show combination series.

The popular Build Your Own subscription allows patrons to create their own season of four to nine shows. Once again this season, all price options are available in the lower level of the Marx Theatre. The Playhouse offers two-, three-, six- and nine-month payment plans for subscribers. Some restrictions apply.

A student Build Your Own package allows full-time students to pick as few as four shows and as many as all 10 for just $15 per show.

Subscriptions can be purchased by visiting the Playhouse website at cincyplay.com or by calling the Box Office at 513-421-3888 or 800-582-3208 toll-free in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. For TDD (Telecommunications Device for the Deaf) access, call 513-345-2248. The Playhouse is fully accessible.

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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