Category Archives: Press Releases

December 3, 2019 · 12:00 pm

Local A Cappella Quartet to Compete at World Level, Releases New Video

MISC_Half and Half Quartet promo

Kim Newcomb, Jenni Sheets, Cy Wood & Kohl Kitzmiller.

CINCINNATI, OH – HALF AND HALF, a Midwest-based a cappella quartet, has released their first single and music video this past week. With their mission being one of the importance of inclusivity, love of music and people, and sharing their gifts with everyone – it was a no brainer to choose a song by Dolly Parton, who has represented all of these pillars (epically) for decades.

Half and Half’s recording of Dolly’s “9 to 5” is accompanied by a colorful music video that was filmed in Hamilton, OH by Ethan Bryant Productions with the story created by Cy Wood. You may recognize some of their favorite spots that are around town; True West Coffee, Butler County School of the Arts, and historic Hamilton. The video represents the dedication and hard work it has taken for Half and Half to get where they are in such a short amount of time. Only being together for a little over a year, they have built a robust repertoire by rehearsing hard and often, they have performed in venues that range from coffee shops with a handful of folks all the way to Barbershop Harmony Society’s International stage in Salt Lake City, Utah to thousands of listeners both in-person and live streamed. Recording their first single and filming a new music video has just been the icing on the cake.

You may be wondering, why the name “Half and Half”. Well that is an easy one to answer. Half of the quartet lives in Cincinnati; Jenni Sheets a mezzo-belter who sings lead and Cy Wood who grounds the group singing bass. The other half lives in Indianapolis; Kohl Kitzmiller singing the versatile part of baritone and Kim Newcomb, who sings the difficult high notes with such ease as tenor. Half of the group is men and the other half is female. Half have performance and art backgrounds; Cy who was an actor and producer on Broadway and continues to coach and choreograph for quartets and choruses and Jenni who majored in vocal performance and owns her own small design business, BullFish Graphics. Half are very music theory focused; Kohl who is an arranger/sound engineer with KK Sounds and Kim who is a vocal coach, chorus director and records learning tracks with NewVoice Studio. Both halves of these vocalists’ backgrounds create a well-rounded, whole-brained group and they believe this is the secret to their success.

What’s next for Half and Half? They have been invited to compete at the World Harmony Council in Germany next spring to help represent the USA as well as their Midwest district. Competing is not new to Kohl who won International with his men’s quartet, Instant Classic, back in 2015 for Barbershop Harmony Society.  Also, Kim’s women’s quartet, The Ladies, ranked number 5 in the world, recently, at Sweet Adelines International and won the Rising Star Award in 2016. Cy’s chorus, Southern Gateway Chorus, has competed at International level several years with Barbershop Harmony Society. Competing at this level is very new to Jenni and she can’t believe she has been along for this (warped speed) ride. Half and Half has also been invited to teach as the faculty quartet in Holland at Holland Harmony College, they will lead several classes as well as perform throughout the week for the students.

It’s been a whirlwind year for Half and Half and they hope to continue to make an impact in the music world around. To stay abreast of all of their performances and news; please follow them on Facebook as well as on their website.

Website: www.halfandhalfquartet.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/halfandhalfqt

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November 25, 2019 · 3:13 pm

TDW Presents IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE: A LIVE RADIO PLAY in December

TDW_Its a Wonderful Life promo

Jonathan Goolsby and Erica Beimesche play George and Mary in TDW’s delightful radio production of a cinematic classic. Photo by Tammy Cassesa.

The Drama Workshop, entertaining Westside audiences since 1954, invites everyone to experience a favorite holiday story in a new way – as a live radio play. TDW will present “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play” December 6-22. Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m. and include a special Thursday evening performance on December 19 at 7:30 p.m.  All performances are at The Glenmore Playhouse, 3716 Glenmore, Ave. Cheviot, OH 45211.  Tickets are $18 if purchased online or by phone and $20 at the door.  Tickets may be purchased by calling the TDW ticket line at 513-598-8303 or by ordering online at http://www.thedramaworshop.org.

The play was written by Joe Landry and is very faithful to the screenplay of the classic movie which starred Jimmy Stewart as George Bailey and employs only five performers to bring over 50 characters to life through the skillful use of their voices alone. WVXU radio announcer Bill Rinehart leads the voice actors who also include Jonathan Goolsby as George Bailey and Erica Beimesche as Mary.  Ray Lebowski brings the angel Clarence to life, as well as other characters and Jen Drake plays Violet and others.   Two additional cast members, Kevin Noll and Victoria Covarrubias, will create the live Foley effects.

Director Adam Drake is excited to bring this timeless Christmas story to life in a very different way. “It’s the story you remember, but with a nostalgic 1940’s radio twist.  Having only five actors bringing dozens of memorable characters to life is so much fun.  Not to mention the live, practical sound effects that will amaze audiences!  Come for the holiday spirit, but stay for the fun of seeing how a radio show would have been performed 70 years ago!”

The production team for the play is led by producer Dennis Murphy. The set was designed by Ray Persing and set construction is led by master carpenter Greg Schaper. The costumes are designed by Amanda Borchers. Jason Cox serves as the sound designer. Elaine Volker assembled the props.  Manny Frias designed the wigs.

Make your day “wonderful” by attending “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play”.

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November 25, 2019 · 11:02 am

LIVE ON STAGE: Sinclair Theatre’s A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS

SCCT_A Charlie Brown Christmas 2019 promoBack by popular demand, Sinclair Theatre will present A Charlie Brown Christmas LIVE ON STAGE in Blair Hall, Dec. 13-16, on the downtown Dayton campus. Listed by local media as a “Can’t-Miss Family Show to Celebrate the Holidays,” this 45-minute production is a perfect introduction for young children to LIVE theatre.

Directed by Gina Kleesattel with music direction by David Brush and choreography by Rodney Veal, this faithful stage adaptation of the 1965 animated TV special based on Charles M. Schulz’s Peanuts characters features Charlie Brown, Snoopy and the gang as they grapple with the real meaning of Christmas. Featuring colorful costumes and scenery, the show is perfect for school, church, scout and other youth groups.

“This has become a tradition for groups and families as we enter our sixth year of performances,” says Gina Neuerer, chair of Sinclair’s Music, Theatre and Dance Dept. “We’re thrilled that people are gathering friends and family to come to Blair Hall to experience this very special holiday event together.”

All seats are reserved at $8 each and the regular house policy of  “no children under 6” has been lifted. However, all patrons, regardless of age, must have a ticket. Please review detailed house policies before ordering tickets.

Tickets are available online now at: http://www.sinclair.edu/tickets and one performance is already sold out.

If you need further assistance, email box.office@sinclair.edu or leave a message at 937-512-2808. Box office messages are monitored by student box office agents who work around their class schedules and return calls as quickly as possible.  The box office is open one hour prior to performances if tickets are still available for purchase at the door. Groups of 20 or more should call 937-512-2076.

Cast includes:

  • Charlie Brown: Christopher Koehler
  • Snoopy: Christopher Leavitt
  • Lucy: Kiarra Matos
  • Linus: Austin Vega
  • Pig Pen: Devante’ Wheaton
  • Frieda: Sabrina Smith
  • Schroeder: Nic Mellott
  • Violet: Rebecca Shelley
  • Sally: Riley Karr
  • Patty: Leia Gaddis
  • Shermy: Carter Paige

Performances times:

  • Friday, Dec. 13 – 7* PM
  • Saturday, Dec. 14 – 2*, 4 & 7 PM
  • Sunday, Dec. 15 – 2* & 4 PM
  • Monday, Dec. 16 – Noon*

In partnership with Sinclair’s American Sign Language Dept., Sinclair Theatre will provide *ASL shadow interpreted performances of A Charlie Brown Christmas as indicated. Shadow interpreting is when interpreters follow actors onstage while interpreting, instead of being located to the side of the action. Onstage interpreters include: Annelise Wilimitis as Charlie Brown, Cecelia Shannon as Lucy, Shayla Kohut as Linus and Destinie Warren as all other characters.

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November 25, 2019 · 10:57 am

AN EVENING WITH C.S. LEWIS | Feb. 28-March 1 | Aronoff Center – Jarson-Kaplan Theater

CAA_An Evening with CS Lewis promoAN EVENING WITH C.S. LEWIS
starring David Payne

February 28-March 1
Aronoff Center – Jarson-Kaplan Theater 

Tickets on sale Tuesday, November 26 at 10:00 AM 

CINCINNATI, OH – Acclaimed actor David Payne stars in An Evening with C.S. Lewis: My Life’s Journey at the Aronoff Center’s intimate Jarson-Kaplan Theater for four performances only:  Friday, February 28 at 7:30 PM; Saturday, February 29 at 4:00 PM and 7:30 PM; and March 1 at 2:00 PM. The one-man show is produced by Emery Entertainment, Inc. and is a part of the Cincinnati Arts Association’s 2019-20 Season.

Tickets are $58 and go on sale Tuesday, November 26 at www.CincinnatiArts.org, (513) 621-2787 [ARTS], and the Aronoff Center Ticket Office. Group discount tickets for ten or more are available by calling (513) 977-4157.

The year is 1962 and C.S. Lewis, the famous British author, is hosting a group of American writers at his home near Oxford. They are about to experience a captivating evening with a man whose engaging conversation and spontaneous humor made him one of the great raconteurs of his day. Seated in his living room, he recalls the people and events that inspired his thoughts and shaped his life, his friendship with J.R.R. Tolkien, why he nearly abandoned the Narnia Chronicles, how he came to embrace Christianity, and the American woman who turned his life upside down.

David Payne’s An Evening with C.S. Lewis has proved to be an enthralling theatrical experience, one which has led many thousands to discover, or rediscover, the continuing impact of a man who died more than fifty years ago, and whose collected works made him one of the literary giants of the 20th Century.

London born actor/playwright David Payne’s first encounter with C.S. Lewis was when, as a teenager, he was given a copy of Lewis’ best-selling book The Screwtape Letters.  Little did he realize that some forty years later he would be gaining a reputation for his portrayals of its famous author. He has played Lewis in a number of productions of Shadowlands; in his self-penned Weep for Joy; in more than five-hundred presentations of An Evening with C.S. Lewis: My Life’s Journey; and in St. Jack & The Dragon, a touching, yet sometimes hilarious, account about the relationship between Lewis and his adopted mother, Janie Moore. Payne’s latest self-penned, Lewis-based show is Wardrobes & Rings, which focuses on the very last meeting between Lewis and his great friend, J.R.R. Tolkien.

To learn more about David Payne, visit www.aneveningwithcslewis.com.

CINCINNATI ARTS ASSOCIATION SPONSORS

SEASON SPONSORS:  AMERITAS (Founding Season Sponsor), FIFTH THIRD BANK (Lifetime Endowment Partner), CINCINNATI-NORTHERN KENTUCKY HONDA DEALERS, FURNITURE FAIR, LOCAL12 WKRC-TV, The P&G FUND of The Greater Cincinnati Foundation

SEASON PRESENTING SPONSORS:  21C Museum Hotel, Cincinnati Herald, CityBeat, Courtyard Marriott & Residence Inn-Rookwood, Graphic Village, Heidelberg Distributing, Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza, Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites Cincinnati Downtown, Kroger, Millennium Cincinnati, Pepsi, Skyline Chili, TriHealth, Ultimate Air Shuttle

Founded in 1992, the Cincinnati Arts Association (CAA) is a not-for-profit organization that oversees the programming and management of the Tri-state’s finest performing arts venues – the Aronoff Center for the Arts and Music Hall – and is dedicated to supporting performing and visual arts. Each year, CAA presents a diverse schedule of events; serves upwards of 600,000 people in its venues; features the work of talented local, regional, and national artists in the Weston Art Gallery (located in the Aronoff Center); and supports the work of more than one dozen resident companies. Since the inception of its acclaimed arts education programs in 1995, CAA has reached more than 1.7 million students. For more information, visit www.CincinnatiArts.org.

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November 21, 2019 · 12:48 pm

Tickets on Sale Friday for Four Broadway in Cincinnati Shows

BIC_Four Shows on Sale logos(Cincinnati, OH) ― Ticket go on sale Friday, November 22 for four additional shows in the Fifth Third Bank Broadway in Cincinnati season presented by TriHealth. Ticket prices for all four shows start at $31 and will be available at the Aronoff Center Box Office downtown at 650 Walnut Street, online at CincinnatiArts.org or by phone at 513.621.ARTS starting at 9:00AM.

The world’s most popular musical has audiences leaping to their feet in an acclaimed new production. Set against the backdrop of 19th-century France, LES MISÉRABLES is an unforgettable story of heartbreak, passion, and the resilience of the human spirit, that has become one of the most celebrated musicals in theatrical history. Featuring a timeless score and the beloved songs “I Dreamed A Dream,” “On My Own,” “Bring Him Home,” and “One Day More,” this breathtaking new Broadway production has left both audiences and critics awestruck. LES MISÉRABLES plays the Aronoff Center February 11 – 23, 2020. For complete details and a schedule of performances, please visit BroadwayInCincinnati.com.

Welcome to Margaritaville, where people come to get away from it all—and stay to find something they never expected. With a book by Emmy Award® winner Greg Garcia (“My Name is Earl,” “Raising Hope”) and Emmy Award® nominee Mike O’Malley (“Survivors Remorse,” “Shameless”) ESCAPE TO MARGARITAVILLE is the musical comedy featuring both original songs and your most-loved Jimmy Buffett classics, including “Fins,” “Volcano,” “Cheeseburger in Paradise” and many more. USA Today calls it “A little slice of paradise!” and Entertainment Weekly raves, “It will knock your flip-flops off!” ESCAPE TO MARGARITAVILLE plays the Aronoff Center April 14 – 19, 2020. For complete details and a schedule of performances, please visit BroadwayInCincinnati.com.

Inspired by the beloved films, the romantic and adventure-filled new musical ANASTASIA is on a journey to Cincinnati at last! From the Tony Award®-winning creators of the Broadway classic Ragtime, this dazzling show transports us from the twilight of the Russian Empire to the euphoria of Paris in the 1920s, as a brave young woman sets out to discover the mystery of her past. Pursued by a ruthless Soviet officer determined to silence her, Anya enlists the aid of a dashing conman and a lovable ex-aristocrat. Together, they embark on an epic adventure to help her find home, love, and family. ANASTASIA features a book by celebrated playwright Terrence McNally, a lush new score by Stephen Flaherty (music) and Lynn Ahrens (lyrics) with direction by Tony Award® winner Darko Tresnjak. ANASTASIA plays the Aronoff Center May 12 – 24, 2020. For complete details and a schedule of performances, please visit BroadwayInCincinnati.com.

JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR is an iconic musical phenomenon with a world-wide fan base. In celebration of its 50th Anniversary, a new mesmerizing production comes to North America. Originally staged by London’s Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre and helmed by the acclaimed director Timothy Sheader (Crazy for You, Into the Woods) and award winning choreographer Drew McOnie (King Kong, Strictly Ballroom), this production won the 2017 Olivier Award for Best Musical Revival garnering unprecedented reviews and accolades. Appealing to both theater audiences and concert music fans, this production pays tribute to the historic 1971 Billboard Album of the Year while creating a modern, theatrical world that is uniquely fresh and inspiring. JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR plays the Aronoff Center June 11 – 16, 2019. For complete details and a schedule of performances, please visit BroadwayInCincinnati.com.

Single tickets for LES MISÉRABLES, ESCAPE TO MARGARITAVILLE, ANASTASIA, and JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR will be available at https://www.cincinnatiarts.org/. Performance dates & times for most shows are: Tuesday – Thursday at 7:30PM, Friday at 8:00PM, Saturday at 2:00PM and 8:00PM, Sunday at 1:00PM and 6:30PM. JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR will have a 6:00PM performance on Sunday, June 21. For groups of 10 or more, contact the group sales department at 513.369.4363. Performance schedule, prices and cast are subject to change without notice. For more information on additional shows in the Fifth Third Bank Broadway in Cincinnati season presented by TriHealth please visit 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 19/20 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 45 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.

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