Category Archives: Press Releases

March 15, 2017 · 6:35 am

CAA Announces 2017 Overture Award Winners

CAA_Overture Awards logo$45,500 Awarded for Excellence in the Arts
Arts Educator Award Winner Also Announced

CINCINNATI, OH – The Cincinnati Arts Association is pleased to announce the winners of its Overture Awards Competition, held on Saturday, March 11, 2017 at the Aronoff Center’s Jarson-Kaplan Theater, and the winner of its Arts Educator Award for Excellence in Arts Instruction. The competition awarded $4,000 to six area students for education and training, with 18 runners-up each winning $1,000, while the Arts Educator Award winner received $2,500 and two finalists were awarded $500 each.

The Overture Awards recognizes, encourages and rewards excellence in the arts among Tri-state students in grades 9-12 and is the area’s largest solo arts competition. Students are nominated by their schools or private studios to compete in one of six disciplines: Creative Writing, Dance, Instrumental Music, Theater, Visual Art, and Vocal Music. There are three levels of competition: Regional, Semi-Final, and Final.

The Arts Educator Award promotes and rewards excellence in arts instruction throughout Greater Cincinnati. An educator who teaches any of the following arts disciplines may be nominated: Creative Writing, Dance, Instrumental Music, Theater, Visual Art, and Vocal Music. They can be a high school arts specialist, teaching artist working with high school students, or an arts professional or educator providing private lessons or instruction. Nominations for the award must come from students between the ages of 14-19 who are currently enrolled in high school. The Arts Educator Award finalists and winner are selected by a panel of judges who are arts professionals.

2017 Overture Awards Winners

CREATIVE WRITING:  Olivia Short – grade 12, Mother of Mercy High School
HOMETOWN: Delhi, OH – Olivia Short is a poet and prospective English major. This is her second year as an Overture finalist. She works in school as a peer writing tutor, newspaper co-editor, and Creative Writing Club chair. Outside of school, she works with GLSEN (pronounced “glisten”), a local nonprofit, where she runs a lending library for LGBTQ youth. She sees writing as an extension of one’s culture, identity, and chosen family.

DANCE:  Annika Hsi – grade 10, Walnut Hills High School/Northern Cincinnati Youth Ballet
HOMETOWN: Montgomery, OH – Annika began dancing at age five. Learning different genres, she found her passion in ballet. At age nine, she started training at Northern Cincinnati Youth Ballet under Mr. Oliver Arana. She was a finalist at World Ballet Competition, Indianapolis International Ballet Competition, and was invited to compete at the Youth America Grand Prix finals in New York. Annika is excited to perform in the Overture finals for the second year.

INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC:  Christina Nam – grade 9, Walnut Hills High School
HOMETOWN: West Chester, OH – Christina loves communicating through playing violin. She made her solo debut with Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra at age nine. She has enjoyed performing solos with many orchestras and won numerous prizes and awards nationally and internationally. She was a semi-finalist at the 8th Louis Spohr International Violin Competition held in Weimar, Germany. Christina is concertmaster of Starling Chamber Orchestra, WHHSCO, and a member of Cincinnati Symphony Youth Orchestra. She appeared twice on NPR’s From the Top and Showcase with Barbara Kellar on PBS/CET.

THEATER:  Anthony Frederickson – grade 9, Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy/McCready Voice Studio
HOMETOWN: Mason, OH – Anthony, age 15, first found his passion for performing while participating in a theater camp at age 10. His family, and particularly his cousins, has inspired his journey. He has appeared in over 140 shows, including The Secret Garden (Colin) at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park and Center Stage in Baltimore, and Elf Jr. and The Wizard of Oz Jr. at the Taft Theatre. His dream is to be on Broadway.

VISUAL ART:  Ava Grannan – grade 12, Wyoming High School
HOMETOWN: Wyoming, OH – Ava started exploring art at a young age with her family at art galleries. Ava is a fashion designer in the making and plans to attend college. She is inspired by John Fluevog. Her work has been recognized by six gold keys in Scholastics, Ohio Governor’s Art Awards, and Rhode Island School of Design Art Book Awards. Ava loves to create, volunteer, and play Ultimate Frisbee. She works at a restaurant to save for college.

VOCAL MUSIC:  Katherine Sharp – grade 12, Indian Hill High School/The Music House (Anne Moss)
HOMETOWN: Indian Hill, OH – Katherine is honored to study music with Anne Moss (The Music House). She performs with the May Festival Youth Chorus and Indian Hill Church Choir, competed in the Schmidt Vocal Competition, and has sung the national anthem at Cincinnati Reds and Bengals games. Next year, Katherine plans to continue her passion for music by pursuing a Bachelor of Music degree in vocal performance.

2017 Arts educator award Winner

Becky Childs, UC-CCM Preparatory Department
Discipline: Musical Theater
Nominated by Annabel Forman

The Overture Awards Regional Competitions were held on January 21 at the Mount Saint Joseph University, Northern Kentucky School of Music of Immanuel UMC, and Northern Kentucky University. The top twenty percent of competitors in each discipline advanced to the Semi-Finals, which were held at the Aronoff Center on February 10- 11.

Now in its twenty-first year, The Overture Awards was launched in 1996 by the Cinergy Foundation (now Duke Energy) and Leadership Cincinnati (a program of the Greater Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce). The Overture Awards is funded and administered by the Cincinnati Arts Association, which operates and manages the Aronoff Center and Music Hall. The Overture Awards also relies on hundreds of volunteers from the community who help raise funds, adjudicate and manage the competitions, and nurture the program.

The Overture Awards are endowed by The Otto M. Budig Family Foundation.

Overture Awards Presenting Sponsors:  TriHealth; The Eleanora C.U. Alms Trust, Fifth Third Bank, Trustee; Fort Washington Investment Advisors, Inc.; Otto M. Budig Family Foundation.

Scholarship Sponsors:  Arthur Murray – Cincinnati, Doreen Beatrice, Douglas Beal, Bonita Brockert, Cincinnati Ballroom Company, Jozsef Parragh, Pebble Creek Group, Phoenix Rising Ballroom,  Summerfair Cincinnati, Josh Tilford, Western & Southern Financial Fund, The William O. Purdy, Jr. Foundation

Competition Sponsors:  Mount Saint Joseph University, Northern Kentucky School of Music of Immanuel UMC, Northern Kentucky University

Printing Sponsor:  Crest Graphics

The 2017 Overture Awards Finalists
Winners listed in bold.

CREATIVE WRITING

  • Presley Hargis – grade 12, Conner High School
  • Hallie Menkhaus – grade 11, Taylor High School
  • Olivia Short – grade 12, Mother of Mercy High School
  • Jessica Sommerville – grade 12, William Mason High School

DANCE

  • Joseph Harrington – grade 12, School for Creative & Performing Arts/Just Off Broadway
  • Annika Hsi – grade 10, Walnut Hills High School/Northern Cincinnati Youth Ballet
  • Anna Robertson – grade 12, Bellbrook High School/McGing Irish Dancers
  • Ava Sine – grade 9, School for Creative & Performing Arts/Just Off Broadway

INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC

  • Cory Bargemann – grade 12, Walnut Hills High School
  • Calvin Huang – grade 11, St. Xavier High School/Inna Terekhov
  • Christina Nam – grade 9, Walnut Hills High School
  • Jiin Woo – grade 11, Sycamore High School

THEATER

  • Elsa Benson – grade 12, Sycamore High School/Karl Resnik Studio
  • Anthony Frederickson – grade 9, Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy/McCready Voice Studio
  • Chandler Hoffert – grade 12, Fairfield High School/McCready Voice Studio
  • Morgan Reece – grade 12, Kings High School/Lincoln Chapman Studio

VISUAL ART

  • Ava Grannan – grade 12, Wyoming High School
  • Madyson Haynes – grade 12, Dixie Heights High School
  • Geneva Huffman – grade 10, School for Creative & Performing Arts
  • Sarah Kenkel – grade 12, Mother of Mercy High School

VOCAL MUSIC

  • Taylor Kay Baer – grade 12, School for Creative & Performing Arts /Wyant-Zenni
  • Reed Gnepper – grade 10, School for Creative & Performing Arts/Mary Ann Powers-Buyukisik
  • Katherine Sharp – grade 12, Indian Hill High School/The Music House (Anne Moss)
  • Nathaniel Wilkens – grade 12, St. Xavier High School/Melody Wallace Voice Studio

2017 Arts educator award Finalists

Susan Jung, Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy
Discipline: Theater
Nominated by Carter Jackson

Marion Peraza de Webb, Peraza Music Workshop
Discipline: Instrumental Music
Nominated by Beatrice Baker

2017 Arts Educator Award Honorable Mentions

Hitomi Koyama, UC-CCM Preparatory Department
Discipline: Instrumental Music
Nominated by Chisato Fuji

Melody Wallace, Wallace Voice Studio
Discipline: Vocal Music
Nominated by Anna Greco

Founded in 1992, the Cincinnati Arts Association (CAA) is a not-for-profit organization that oversees the programming and management of two 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 700,000 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 1.5 million students.

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March 15, 2017 · 6:27 am

TONY N’ TINA’S WEDDING Coming to Memorial Hall

memo_tony-and-tinas-wedding-promoDirect from New York, the world’s #1 immersive theater experience, TONY N’ TINA’S WEDDING, is coming to Cincinnati! The show will be at Memorial Hall for 8 performances, March 23rd-April 2nd. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at MemorialHallOTR.com or by phone at 513-977-8838. Tickets are $65 and include dinner, a champagne toast, & wedding cake. Discounts are available for groups of 8 or more at $50 per-person.

TONY N’ TINA’S WEDDING is a festive celebration in which the audience doesn’t just watch a show, but participates directly in the fun. Join Tony and Tina, along with their colorful and madcap ItalianAmerican families, as they tie the knot; then take your seat for the wildest, wackiest wedding reception you’ll ever experience. You can kiss the bride, dance with the groom, and make friends with the family. TONY N’ TINA’S WEDDING is an experience like no other.

The hilarious TONY N’ TINA’S WEDDING is the longest running Off-Broadway comedy in history. Since opening February 14th, 1988 in New York City, this unique theatrical experience has won over the hearts of thousands of people, in over 100 cities worldwide, including Japan, Australia and throughout Europe.

From the first toast to the last slice of cake, critics agree! You’ll want to RSVP today for TONY N’ TINA’S WEDDING.

“It’s a wedding to remember!” – New York Post
“It’s a hit!” – People Magazine
“Get yourself invited!” – WABC-TV
“One of the most successful and imaginative hits in history.” – New York Daily News

To learn more, visit MemorialHallOTR.com.

CALENDAR LISTING:
TONY N’ TINA’S WEDDING
Thursday-Sunday, March 23rd-April 2nd
Memorial Hall (1225 Elm St. Cincinnati, Ohio 45202)

Direct from New York, the world’s #1 immersive theater experience, TONY N’ TINA’S WEDDING, is coming to Cincinnati! Tickets are $65 including dinner and are available at memorialhallotr.com. To purchase tickets by phone, please call (513) 977-8838.

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About Memorial Hall:
Memorial Hall, managed and programmed by 3CDC, is conveniently located in the heart of the revitalized arts district of Over-the-Rhine. This exquisite venue overlooks Washington Park, and is adjacent to Music Hall in addition to being down the street from both the School for Creative and Performing Arts and soon-to-be completed new home of the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company. Designed by Samuel Hannaford, the hall features marble staircases adorned with intricate wrought iron that lead to the 550-seat proscenium theater, dubbed the Annie W. and Elizabeth M. Anderson Theater. Exceptional acoustics, decorative murals and Tiffany chandeliers enhance this historic theater. Memorial Hall offers an elegant setting for performances and unique spaces for social and business events.

About 3CDC:
3CDC is a private, non-profit, real estate development and finance organization focused on revitalizing Cincinnati’s urban core in partnership with the City of Cincinnati and the Cincinnati corporate community. 3CDC’s work is specifically focused on the Central Business District and in the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood. 3CDC also manages The Cincinnati Equity Fund (CEF) and the Cincinnati New Markets Fund (CNMF). These investment funds play an important role by providing needed financial capital to 3CDC’s development projects. For more information, visit www.3cdc.org.

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March 14, 2017 · 6:20 am

Cincinnati Playhouse Off the Hill Tour Presents THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE

PIP_The Lion the With and the Wardrobe promoThe magic of Narnia comes to Cincinnati communities April 7

(CINCINNATI) Cincinnati Playhouse’s popular Off the Hill series explores the magical land of Narnia with THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE, touring community centers throughout greater Cincinnati from April 7 to May 26.  Combining inventive staging with playful performances, the beloved C.S. Lewis novel becomes a play the whole family will enjoy.

Click here for the most up to date schedule.

The adaptation by Le Clanché du Rand introduces audiences to a vast array of C.S. Lewis’ classic literary characters played by two casts of two actors from the Playhouse’s 2016-17 Bruce E. Coyle Acting Intern Company, including Richard Buchanan, Ernaijsa Curry, Tatum Hunter and Taha Mandviwala.

Brian Isaac Phillips, Artistic Director of Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, is directing the play. “The thing that excites me the most about working with the team is the variety of imaginations coming together to work on the same story,” says Phillips. “The script is minimal in what it demands, but it inspires many different takes on how to tell the story. I was first exposed to this story in elementary school. My hope is that our production will be an introduction for a new generation and make the same lasting impression.”

THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE tells the story of Narnia, beginning when the Pevensie children are taken to Professor Digory Kirke’s house in the height of the Blitz during World War II. Though they’ve escaped the dangers that lurk over London, England, the siblings grow bored in the quiet house. Trying to make the most of their dreary situation, their adventures begin with an innocent game of hide-and-seek. Lucy Pevensie stumbles upon a land she never could have dreamed of when she chooses a lone wardrobe as a hiding place from her siblings.

The original C.S. Lewis novel was published in 1950 after the tough times of the war ended. Lewis takes the audience’s imaginations to their full capacities with mythical characters, including fauns, dwarves and talking lions. The adaptation begins with Lucy and Peter talking about what happened to them in Narnia. Lucy then prompts Peter to share their experiences with the audience.

With only two actors and a traveling set, the show is a performance in trunk-style theatre, with wardrobe and props emerging from a single place throughout the show. Even very young children are able to see themselves in the characters, as the structure of this adaptation mimics children at play.

Daunielle Rasmussen, Director of Education and Community Engagement says, “This adaptation will be a completely magical experience for little ones. It definitely meets them on their level because the way that our team is going to play is how they play: with their imaginations.”

THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE is the third and final Playhouse Off the Hill production for the 2016-17 season. The Playhouse Off the Hill series is supported by The Robert and Adele Schiff Family Foundation and John C. Griswold Foundation. To see where this play is touring near you, visit cincyplay.com.

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March 13, 2017 · 6:32 am

American Classic A RAISIN IN THE SUN Comes Alive at Cincinnati Shakespeare Company

CSC_A Raisin in the Sun- Press 3

Geoffrey Warren Barnes as Walter Younger, Torie Wiggins as Ruth Younger, Shadow Avili’ as Travis Younger, Renika Williams as Beneatha Younger & Burgess Byrd as Lena Younger. Photo by By Mikki Schaffner Photography.

CINCINNATI, March 10, 2017 – Cincinnati Shakespeare Company’s mainstage season continues with the American classic A Raisin in the Sun, by Lorraine Hansberry. The production, running March 24 – April 15, 2017, is directed by Christopher V. Edwards and features Geoffrey Warren Barnes II, Burgess Byrd, and Torie Wiggins in the leading roles. The production is generously sponsored by Johnson Investment Council and Thompson Hine LLP.

A Raisin in the Sun tells the story of the Youngers, a working-class family in 1950s Chicago. An unexpected financial windfall gives them an opportunity for a better life, but tensions between Walter Lee (Geoffrey Warren Barnes) and family matriarch Lena (Burgess Byrd) combine threaten to shatter their opportunity at the American dream. A Raisin in the Sun’s premiere in 1959 made Lorraine Hansberry the first black female playwright to have a play produced on Broadway, as well as the youngest American playwright to win the New York Critics Drama Desk Award. The production also had Broadway’s first-ever black director, and was nominated for four Tony Awards. The play was notably revived on Broadway in 2004, and has been adapted multiple times to film, most notably in 1961 and in 2008, with productions featuring Sidney Poitier and Sean Combs, respectively, as Walter Lee.

Veteran director Christopher V. Edwards joins Cincinnati Shakespeare Company for the first time to direct this production. He says he is “very excited to be directing A Raisin in the Sun, as it’s one of the iconic plays that changed the landscape of American theater. It’s an epic play with a lot of dynamic language and deep relationships, and a Shakespeare company is well-prepared to handle that, because it’s the sort of thing they do all the time!”  Mr. Edwards is currently the Artistic Director of Nevada Conservatory Theatre in Las Vegas, Nevada.  He is also on the faculty at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas where he teaches Directing, Theatre Management, Stage Combat and Performance. Prior to this, Chris was a company member, Director of Education, Associate Artistic Director and on the Interim Creative Team for the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival in Cold Spring, NY.

A Raisin in the Sun runs March 24 – April 15, with performances on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 7:30 PM and Sunday at 2:00 PM as well as April 15 at 2:00 PM. There is no performance on Sunday, March 26. Preview performances are Wednesday April 22 and Thursday April 23.

The theater is currently located at 719 Race Street, downtown Cincinnati, two blocks west of the Aronoff Center.  Single ticket prices range from $22-$38 on Thursdays and Sundays and from $26-$42 on Fridays and Saturdays.  Previews are $25.  If available, $14 student rush tickets may be purchased one hour before a show with a valid student ID.  This production is a part of this season’s subscription package. Visa, Discover, MasterCard, and American Express are accepted.  Ticketing fees may apply.  Discounts are available for students, seniors and groups as well as AAA members.  To purchase tickets or for more information, call the CSC Box Office at 513.381.BARD (2273) ext. 1, or go online at http://www.cincyshakes.com.

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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.  Currently located in the heart of downtown Cincinnati, CSC produces a dozen mainstage productions each season. In the summer of 2017, the theater will relocate 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 Theater Association.  Cincinnati Shakespeare Company’s Education and Outreach Programs reached 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!

About The 2016-2017 Season:
This season is generously sponsored by The Otto M. Budig Family Foundation.  Cincinnati Shakespeare Company receives operating support from The Ohio Arts Council, the Shubert Foundation and is supported, in part, by the generosity of thousands of individuals and businesses that give annually to 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. Production dates and information on the season are available online at www.cincyshakes.com.

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March 10, 2017 · 2:36 pm

Cincinnati Opera Announces U.S. Premiere of ANOTHER BRICK IN THE WALL-The Opera in July 2018

Original Words and Music by Roger Waters
Operatic Version Composed by Julien Bilodeau
Concept and Stage Direction by Dominic Champagne

ANOTHER BRICK IN THE WALL-THE OPERA
Will Close the 2018 Summer Festival,
Celebrating Cincinnati Opera’s Return to the
Renovated Cincinnati Music Hall

CO_Another Brick in the Wall logoCINCINNATI, OH–Evans Mirageas, The Harry T. Wilks Artistic Director of Cincinnati Opera, today announced that Cincinnati Opera will present the United States premiere of Another Brick in the Wall-The Opera, based on Roger Waters’s legendary album The Wall, in celebration of the company’s return to Cincinnati Music Hall for its 2018 Summer Festival. The production, scheduled for July 2018, will close Cincinnati Opera’s 98th season, its first to be held at Music Hall following the building’s $135 million revitalization.

With original words and music by Roger Waters, the operatic version of Another Brick in the Wall-The Opera is composed by Julien Bilodeau and brought to life through the concept and stage direction of Dominic Champagne. Another Brick in the Wall-The Opera completely transforms Roger Waters’s original work into a standard operatic form, with eight soloists, 48 chorus members, and a 70-piece orchestra.

“Another Brick in the Wall-The Opera is a genuine opera, not a ‘rock opera’–there’s nary a drum set or electric guitar to be heard,” said Mirageas. “It will sound breathtaking in the renovated Music Hall with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra in the pit.”

Cincinnati Opera is a co-producer of the opera with Productions Opéra Concept M.P., Inc., led by executive director Pierre Dufour. Another Brick in the Wall-The Opera will receive its world premiere on March 11, 2017 at the Opéra de Montréal in Québec, Canada. The opera has already proven to be tremendously popular. Though seven performances were originally announced, to meet an unprecedented demand for tickets the company has since expanded to a run of ten performances.

Reprising their world premiere performances, both conductor Alain Trudel and baritone Etienne Dupuis, who will create the leading role of the fallen rock star Pink, will return for the Cincinnati Opera production. Set design is by Stéphane Roy, with costumes by Marie-Chantale Vaillancourt. The video designer is Johnny Ranger, and the lighting design is by Étienne Boucher.

“There is no question about the melodies; they are pre-existing and famous,” said Mirageas. “The discovery is how those melodies have been transformed into genuine ‘opera speak.’ I am excited that we are contributing to the birth of this new work as a co-producer and that we will present the U.S. premiere in Cincinnati.”

“It is with great pride that we welcome Cincinnati Opera as co-producer and as the first U.S. presenter of this outstanding opera,” said Pierre Dufour, executive director of Productions Opéra Concept M.P. “To create a good opera, you first need a moving story, and that is exactly what we have in the concept album of The Wall. Cincinnati Opera’s audience will be the first to discover a new dimension of this legendary work.”

“Participating in the creation of this world premiere has been a labor of love,” said Opéra de Montréal Artistic Director Michel Beaulac. “How fitting that Cincinnati Opera should celebrate the re-opening of their opera house with this epic work, since Another Brick in the Wall is the cultural cornerstone of Montréal’s 375th Anniversary Celebrations. We are thrilled to see this project, created in Montréal, demonstrate our city’s creativity and talent beyond our borders.”

Single tickets for the U.S. premiere of Another Brick in the Wall-The Opera will be available in a limited engagement presale, with details to be announced at a later date. To receive the latest news and ticket sale information, sign up at www.cincinnatiopera.org/the-wall.

The Creative Team

Roger Waters
Roger Waters co-founded Pink Floyd in the mid-1960s. Under his guidance as lyricist and principal composer, the group made a series of best-selling albums including The Dark Side of the Moon, Wish You Were Here, Animals, and The Wall. Waters conceived The Wall as an album, a show, and a film, and it achieved huge success. In 1985 Waters left Pink Floyd to pursue a solo career. There followed the albums The Pros and Cons of Hitch Hiking, Radio K.A.O.S., and Amused to Death. Twelve years later, Waters took to the road with his “In The Flesh Tour,” culminating in the release of a live album and DVD. He briefly reunited with Pink Floyd for an acclaimed performance at the Live 8 concert in London’s Hyde Park in July 2005. That same year saw the completion, CD/DVD release, and premiere of his opera Ça Ira. From 2006-2008 Waters toured the globe with “The Dark Side of the Moon Live.” In late 2009, he began to contemplate a new staging of The Wall. ”The Wall Live” played a total of 219 dates to 41.1 million people worldwide from 2010-2013 and was the most successful tour ever by a solo artist. Waters produced, co-directed, and co-wrote the film Roger Waters The Wall, which was shot during “The Wall Live” tour. The film had its world debut at the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival. Roger Waters The Wall was Waters’s feature film directorial debut and premiered in cinemas worldwide on September 29, 2015, with CD/DVD release of the movie and soundtrack album later that year. In May 2017, Waters will release his first new album in 25 years and opens his “Us + Them” tour of North America and Canada in Kansas City on May 26.

Julien Bilodeau
Julien Bilodeau was born in Québec City in 1974. He graduated from the Conservatoire de musique de Montréal, then spent five years in France and Germany before returning to Montréal to pursue his career as a composer. Known for his rich, varied, and open aesthetics, his preference for the symphonic repertoire has enabled him to work with the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, Orchestre Métropolitain, Philharmonic Orchestra of the Americas, Orchestre de la Francophonie, Nouvel Ensemble Moderne, Ensemble Itinéraire (Paris), I Musici, and the Ensemble Modern (Frankfurt). He is currently credited with over 30 works.

Dominic Champagne
Writer, stage director, scriptwriter, actor, and Co-founder and Artistic Director of Théâtre Il Va Sans Dire, Dominic Champagne has created over a hundred shows, both staged (L’Odyssée, Don Quichotte, Cabaret Neiges Noires, and La Cité Interdite) and televised (the series Les grands procès and Le Plaisir croît avec l’usage). He also directed the Cirque du Soleil shows LOVE, Varekai, and Zumanity. He has earned many awards and distinctions for his work, and has taught and lectured at the National Theatre School, Conservatoire d’art dramatique de Montréal, Concordia University, Princeton University, and others.

Founded in 1920 and the second oldest opera company in the nation, Cincinnati Opera presents a thrilling season of grand opera every June and July. The company’s repertoire includes beloved classics and contemporary masterworks brought to life by some of the world’s most dynamic performers and creative teams.

Cincinnati Opera’s 2017 Summer Festival runs June 15 through July 23, featuring Giacomo Puccini’s La Bohème, Robert Xavier Rodríguez’s Frida, and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s
The Magic Flute. The season will open with Opera in the Park, a free community concert in Washington Park, on June 11. Cincinnati Opera will also present Missy Mazzoli’s
Song from the Uproar in collaboration with concert:nova. Cincinnati Opera’s 2017 Season Presenting Sponsor is PNC. The 2017 season is also made possible with support from ArtsWave, Ohio Arts Council, Macy’s, The Louise Dieterle Nippert Musical Arts Fund, and many generous individuals, corporations, and foundations.

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