Category Archives: Press Releases

October 10, 2016 · 7:02 am

Cincinnati Music Theatre Stages BILLY ELLIOT The Musical, Nov. 4-12

cmt_billy-elliot-logoCINCINNATI, OH – Downtown’s community theatre, Cincinnati Music Theatre (CMT), invites you to join them as they proudly present BILLY ELLIOT THE MUSICAL, November 4th-12th at the Aronoff Center for the Arts’ intimate Jarson-Kaplan Theater (see full performance schedule below).

Set in a northern mining town during the miners’ strike of 1984-85, BILLY ELLIOT is the inspirational story of a young boy’s fight to make his dream come true. Follow Billy’s journey from boxing ring to ballet class where he discovers a passion for dance that unites his family, inspires his community and changes his life forever.

Featuring iconic music by Elton John, phenomenal dance and a powerful story, experience this uplifting and spectacular theatrical event that has won the hearts of millions since it opened in London and has gone on to captivate audiences around the world.

The cast features Peanut Edmonson as Billy Elliot, a boy who stumbles upon a ballet class and develops a passion for dance; Jen Drake as Mrs. Wilkinson, a hardened and mouthy dance teacher who recognizes Billy’s exceptional potential; Bryan Greaves as Billy’s dad Jacky, a widowed miner struggling with maintaining a household in the face of a work strike; Luka Ashley Carter as Billy’s brother, Tony, a hotheaded and scrappy miner; Marcie Brooks as Billy’s eccentric and forgetful Grandma; Jackson Higgason as Michael, Billy’s best friend who believes in creatively expressing himself; Sara Reynolds as Debbie Wilkinson, an argumentative ballet student with a crush on Billy; Sarah Flerlage as Billy’s late Mum; Mark Culp as Mr. Braithwaite, a large, lumbering pianist, who is also a surprisingly good dancer; and Bill Geraghty and Thomas Cavano as George and Big Davey, a pair of local Union leaders. The cast also includes an ensemble featuring Chelsea Carnder, Emma Dalton, Chloe Esmeier, Olivia Loeffler, Rebecca Mactaggart, Natalie Meyer, Eve Roth, Eva Sias, Audrey Stith, Max Ackermann, Brian Anderson, Karl Bolinger, Zoe Brooks-Jeffiers, Rob Bucher, Martin Collins, Laurel Ellis, Sarah Hack, Deborah Hunter, Liz Koch, Ken Macke, Jacob Miller, Isaac Owens, Laura Petracco, Andrea Rachelle, Richelle Roth, Matt Santeler, Kristen Schisler, Justin Stallkamp, Andrew Weidner, Logan Weinfurtner, Adria Whitfill, Aubrey Wilson and Mimi Witsken.

BILLY ELLIOT THE MUSICAL is directed by Skip Fenker, who has previously guided a dozen CMT productions including “Chicago” “Drowsy Chaperone” “Peter Pan” and “Sunset Boulevard.” It is produced by Kathy Beiting, the award-winning producer of over twenty CMT musicals and Julie DeMatteis. The extensive choreography that encompasses jazz, ballet and tap is being created by a team of distinguished choreographers – Kevin Bell, Elaine Eckstein, Karen Galliers, and Brian Anderson. Musical director Todd Florin and vocal director Kendra Struthers are in charge of bringing Elton John’s electrifying score to life. BILLY ELLIOT THE MUSICAL is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI).

Tickets are $24.00 for adults and $20.00 for students, seniors, and military, and groups of 15 or more, and may be purchased online at www.Cincinnatimusictheatre.org or www.CincinnatiArts.org, the Aronoff Center Ticket Office, or (513) 621-ARTS [2787].

For more information about Cincinnati Music Theatre, visit www.cincinnatimusictheatre.org,
LIKE us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/cincinnatimusictheatre,
and follow us on Twitter @CinMusicTheatre.

BILLY ELLIOT Performance Schedule
Friday, November 4th, 2016 – 7:30pm
Saturday, November 5th, 2016 – 7:30pm
Sunday, November 6th, 2016 – 2:00pm
Wednesday, November 9th, 2016 – 7:30pm
Thursday, November 10th, 2016 – 7:30pm
Friday, November 11th, 2016 – 7:30pm
Saturday, November 12th, 2016 – 7:30pm
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October 5, 2016 · 6:50 am

Exhale Dance Tribe Resurrects DEAD CAN DANCE Using Aerial Silks in Collaboration with Physical Productions

edt_dead-can-dance(CINCINNATI) =DEAD CAN DANCE, Exhale Dance Tribe’s popular annual Halloween-themed show, returns to haunt the 2016-17 season with brand-new choreography by Founding Artistic Directors Missy Lay Zimmer and Andrew Hubbard. Performances will take place at the Aronoff Center for the Arts’ Jarson-Kaplan Theater on Saturday, Oct. 29, at 3:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Zimmer and Hubbard (who are joined this season by resident choreographers Katie Farry and Jennifer Porteous-Rutherford) deliver eclectic, exciting choreography, melding elements of contemporary dance with their own idiosyncratic style. Aerial silks acrobatics performed while suspended from fabric hanging from the ceiling will play a role in the production, as aerialist Holly Price performs alongside the all-female Tribe to take DEAD CAN DANCE up to the rafters.

Conjuring the spirit of longing, the show begins with Price falling from the land of the living into land of the dead, a purgatory populated by mesmerizing ghosts who dance through their days. We follow her as she experiences the movement of the underworld, a place forever trapped in the stages of grief.

“DEAD CAN DANCE trails a lonely soul, an anchor for the audience to follow throughout the production,” says Co-Founding Artistic Director Andrew Hubbard. “She descends through the five stages of grief as she mourns her old life and discovers the complexities of her afterlife. The ghosts she encounters in this purgatory are perpetually searching for acceptance and eternal rest. Hanging from the thread of life and unable to release the red that once flowed through her veins, this lonely soul battles her innate longing to be born again and again and again.”

Discover this mesmerizing new version of a Cincinnati favorite this Halloween. Tickets are $32.25 and can be purchased now at www.cincinnatiarts.org/events/detail/dead-can-dance. Feel free to come in costume!

This production is supported in part by a grant from the Greater CincinnatiFoundation Aronoff Center Rental Subsidy Fund.

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October 5, 2016 · 6:31 am

Vivid and Rythmic: Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati Presents the Regional Premiere of BROWNSVILLE SONG (B-SIDE FOR TRAY) by Kimber Lee, October 11-30,2016

etc_brownsville-song-logo(Cincinnati, OH) Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati shines a light on the reality of violence and the beauty of forgiveness with the regional premiere of brownsville song (b-side for tray), a powerful new drama by Kimber Lee. This lyrical play tells a tale of resilience in the face of tragedy when a young man’s life is taken and his family is left without answers. Lee’s brownsville song (b-side for tray) delivers a message of hope that will challenge and move audiences. Playing October 11-30, 2016. Directed by D. Lynn Meyers.

Eighteen-year-old Tray is working on his college essay, boxing at the gym, and holding down a part-time job. When he happens to be at the wrong place at the wrong time, a senseless act ends his life, leaving his family to grapple in the wake of his absence. Pivoting seamlessly between past and present, this shatteringly poetic and compelling drama reveals a family at a powerful crossroads and shines a light on the complex life of a victim lost too young, balancing humor, light, tragedy, and hope with equal weight.

“I felt an obligation and a responsibility as a human being to tell Tray’s story,” explains Producing Artistic Director D. Lynn Meyers. “Kimber Lee’s play takes us between the past and the present, so that we get a chance to know Tray, to meet Tray, to know that he’s not just another statistic of another killing. Think of the generations of people that will not exist because these young men and women are dying. This show challenges audiences to empathize and understand.”

About the Cast

Deborah Brock-Blanks (Lena) has appeared in several ETC productions, including Intimate Apparel, Praying for Rain, A Lesson Before Dying, and The Exonerated. Ms. Brock-Blanks has an extensive background as a dancer, choreographer, actress and writer and has directed several regional productions. Her credits include film, stage, and television. She is an early member of Free Theatre, the oldest incorporated black theatre company in Cincinnati. She is a Youth Work Methods Specialist and a Wellness Consultant.

Kameron Richardson (Tray) is a recent graduate of CCM with a BFA in Musical Theatre and makes his Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati debut as Tray in brownsville song (b-side for tray). Regional credits include: Aida and Seussical,  St. Louis Muny; Legally Blonde and Singin’ in the Rain, Pittsburgh CLO; and BlackTop Sky, Know Theatre of Cincinnati. His CCM credits include: Les Misérables, Peter Pan, Legally Blonde, Singin’ in the Rain, and Parade.
Mr. Richardson continues his training at Michael Howard Studios’ One-Year Acting Conservatory in New York. 

Lissa Urriquia Gapultos (Merrell) is making her debut on ETC’s stage with brownsville song (b-side for tray). Ms. Urriquia Gapultos is a past board president of Know Theatre of Cincinnati and a Stage Insights contributor for the League of Cincinnati Theatres. She has also worked onstage with several local theatres. Some of her favorite productions: Pacific Overtures, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park; Prelude to a Kiss, The Eight: Reindeer Monologues, and The Afghan Women’s Writing Project, Know Theatre; and A Piece of My Heart, Drama Workshop. She works as the Senior Manager for Institutional Giving at Cincinnati Opera. 

Ari Elizabeth Johnson (Devine) is a third grader from Mason, Ohio making her ETC debut. Two years ago, at the age of six, she signed with Wings Model Management of Cincinnati, where manager Jake Lang asked her to attend a talent expo in Dallas. At that expo was a Vice President from one of the top childrens talent agencies in Los Angeles, the Osbrink Agency. Osbrink signed both Ari and her brother that summer. Since then, the family splits their time between LA and Cincinnati. After performing in A Christmas Carol with Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park last year, she realized her heart is in theatre. 

Chauncey Ragland (Junior/Brooklyn College Student) makes his theatre debut on ETC’s stage with brownsville song (b-side for tray). Mr. Ragland is a sophomore at the University of Cincinnati and is currently undecided, but wants to be an engineer. Mr. Ragland got his first hint of theatre during his junior year of high school when he met Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati’s Director of Education and Outreach, Ben Raanan, through the theatre’s Prelude Program. Ever since, he has been itching to get on stage again. 

Production team includes Torie Wiggins (Assistant Director), Brian c. Mehring (Resident Scenic & Lighting Designer), Jack Murphy (Technical Director), Matthew Hollstegge (Production Manager & Master Electrician), Shannon Rae Lutz (Properties Master & Design Assistant), Matt Callahan (Sound Designer), Sam Womelsdorf (Video Designer), Darnell Pierre Benjamin (Choreographer), and Reba Senske (Costume Designer). Production Stage Manager is Brandon T. Holmes. Assistant Stage Manager is Elizabeth Freyman. 

Performance Information
Performances run Tuesday through Sunday. Tuesday-Thursday, 7:30 pm; Friday and Saturday, 8:00 pm; Saturday and Sunday, 2:00 pm; and Sunday, 7:00 pm. A complete calendar of performances is available online at www.ensemblecincinnati.org. 

Ticket Prices
Ticket prices range from $28 to $44 for adults; student tickets are $25; and children are $18. For the 2016-2017 Season, ETC continues its popular $15 student and half-price rush tickets for all performances, which are available two hours prior to show time and may be purchased by phone or in person at the box office.

Available Discounts
Military, Educator, ArtsWave FunCard, AAA, and Enjoy the Arts discounts available; tickets and seating are subject to availability.

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Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati is supported, in part, by the generosity of community contributions to the ArtsWave Campaign.

The Ohio Arts Council helps fund Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans. Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati also receives funding from the Shubert Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts.

2016-2017 Season Presenting Sponsor is the Otto M. Budig Family Foundation. Additional support provided by Garfield Suites Hotel, the Shubert Foundation, and PNC. 

Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati is a professional theatre dedicated to producing world and regional premieres of works that often explore compelling social issues. We fulfill our mission through our stage productions and educational outreach programs that enlighten, enliven, enrich and inspire our audiences.

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September 30, 2016 · 6:41 am

25th Anniversary Production of THE SECRET GARDEN Headlines the Fitton Playhouse Inaugural Season

fph_the-secret-garden-logoHamilton, OH, September 28, 2016—With its inaugural production, the Fitton Playhouse presents THE SECRET GARDEN, a musical now celebrating its 25th anniversary of its Broadway debut. This enchanting classic of children’s literature is reimagined in brilliant musical style by composer Lucy Simon and Marsha Norman, a Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright.

THE SECRET GARDEN is produced and directed by Ryan Heinrich–with choreography by Emily Brinkman and instrumental direction by Betsy Horton.

This production has brought together professional actors from throughout the region. Alyssa Hart of Milford leads the cast as Mary Lennox. Hamilton-born and a graduate of Indiana University’s Jacob School of Music, Olivia Yokers returns to her hometown stage as Lily. Wright State theatre graduate Matt Neal is Mary’s reclusive Uncle Archibald. Recent transplant from New York City and theatre teacher at Butler Tech School of the Arts, professional actor Cy Wood will play Dr. Craven. Following a recent stint in Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park’s production of The Secret Garden, Talia Noelle Zoll plays Mary’s mother, Rose. Professional actress, Allison Edwards from the School for Creative and Performing Arts plays Martha.

Rounding out the highly talented cast are David Manegold (Albert), Colin Shimrock (Dickon), Mark Reuter (Ben), Lyndall Murray (Mrs. Medlock), Sam Harper (Colin), Sami Shaaban (Fakir), Jeff Sams (Major Holmes), Bridget Lorenz (Claire), Scott Christian (Lt. Wright) and Kathryn Zajac-Albertson (Alice).

Performances will be held at the Fitton Center’s Fitton Family Theatre (101 S. Monument Ave, Hamilton, Ohio 45011) October 14-15 at 7:30pm and October 15-16 at 2pm.

Tickets are available online at www.fittoncenter.org and by phone at 513-863-8873, $20 for members, $25 for non-members.

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September 29, 2016 · 6:55 am

Cincinnati Arts Association Announces Four New Shows as Part of its 2016-17 Season

caa_logoCINCINNATI, OH – The Cincinnati Arts Association (CAA) is pleased to announce four exciting shows as part of its 2016-17 Season. The shows go on sale Friday, October 7 at 10:00 AM at www.CincinnatiArts.org, (513) 621-ARTS [2787], and the Aronoff Center Ticket Office.

From a theatrical exploration of the war experience told through the memoirs of a 19-year-old GI to the world’s most respected taiko drummers from Japan to the live version of a very popular PBS KIDS® TV show, these exciting events are certain to continue CAA’s long-standing mission of presenting an eclectic mix of alternative entertainment choices to Cincinnati’s diverse audiences.  Additional events may be announced throughout the season.

CAA 2016-17 SEASON

PrintGHOSTS OF WAR: THE TRUE STORY OF A 19 YEAR-OLD GI
By Ryan Smithson;  adapted for the stage by William Massolia
Friday, December 9, 2016 – 8:00 PM
Aronoff Center – Jarson-Kaplan Theater     

Chicago’s acclaimed Griffin Theater Company returns to the Aronoff Center for a second year with a show about the impact of war. Ryan Smithson was a typical 16-year-old high-school student until 9/11. “I’d thought about joining the military the moment I saw the towers fall,” he relates in this profoundly moving theatrical production. Smithson enlisted in the Army Reserve the following year and, a year into the Iraq war, was deployed to an Army engineer unit as a heavy-equipment operator. His poignant, often harrowing account, especially vivid in sensory details, chronicles his experiences in basic training and his tour of duty in Iraq. To enhance the theatrical experience of the play, the performance is followed by a post-play discussion.  www.griffintheatre.com/ghosts-of-war

caa_neighborhood-live-promo1Daniel Tiger’s NEIGHBORHOOD LIVE!
Saturday, February 18, 2017 – 3:00 PM & 6:30 PM
Aronoff Center for the Arts – Procter & Gamble Hall            

Won’t you be our neighbor? The legacy of the beloved “Mister Rogers” lives on with the hit television series, Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, from The Fred Rogers Company and airing daily on PBS KIDS. Now, Daniel and all of his friends are hopping aboard Trolley to delight live audiences with Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood LIVE! Donning his iconic red sweater, Daniel takes the audience on an interactive musical adventure as he and his friends explore the vibrant world of their much-loved Neighborhood of Make-Believe, sharing stories of friendship, helping others, and celebrating new experiences. This live theatrical production filled with singing, dancing, laughter, and “grr-ific” surprises will warm the hearts of multiple generations.  www.danieltigerlive.com

caa_dadan-promo1KODO: 35th Anniversary DADAN 2017 North American Tour
Sunday, February 19, 2017 – 7:00 PM
Aronoff Center for the Arts – Procter & Gamble Hall                   

Exploring the limitless possibilities of the traditional Japanese drum, the taiko, Kodo is forging new directions for a vibrant living art form. The vibrations created by the drummers not only reach the ears of the audience, they move listeners on a visceral level. In Japanese, the word “Kodo” holds a double meaning: “heartbeat,” the primal source of all rhythm; or, in a different context, “children of the drum,” which reflects the group’s desire to play the drums with the simple heart of a child.  Simultaneously raw and refined, the performance piece DADAN – which translates to “drumming men” in Japanese – features only Kodo’s young male performers. This powerful performance tests the limits of its player’s physical, technical, psychological, and spiritual abilities, all at the same time.  www.kodo.or.jp

Rain - A Tribute to the Beatles

RAIN – A Tribute to the Beatles is a LIVE multi-media spectacular that takes you through the life and times of the world’s most celebrated band. Featuring high-definition screens and imagery – this stunning concert event delivers a note-for-note theatrical event that is the next best thing to The Beatles.

RAIN: A Tribute to the Beatles
Monday, April 17, 2017 – 7:30 PM
Aronoff Center for the Arts – Procter & Gamble Hall             

RAIN: A Tribute to The Beatles returns for a record seventh engagement with a live multi-media spectacular that takes you on a musical journey through the life and times of the world’s most celebrated band. Featuring new songs and  high-definition imagery, this expanded RAIN adds even more hits that you know and love from the vast anthology of Beatles classics, such as “I Want To Hold Your Hand,” “Hard Day’s Night,” “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band,” “Let It Be,” “Come Together,” and “Hey Jude.”  This stunning concert event takes you back in time with the legendary foursome delivering a note-for-note theatrical event that is the next best thing to The Beatles.  www.raintribute.com 

TICKETS & INFORMATION

  • www.CincinnatiArts.org
  • (513) 621-ARTS [2787]
  • Aronoff Center Ticket Office
  • Group Discount Tickets (10 or more):  (513) 977-4157

                *Additional ticketing fees may apply.  Ticket prices and fees subject to change. 

Aronoff Center Ticket Office Hours        

  • Monday-Friday:  9:00 AM – 5:30 PM
  • Saturday:  10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
  • Through intermission of the last show on performance days

CAA APPLAUDS ITS GENEROUS SPONSORS

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

SEASON PRESENTING SPONSORS:  Cincinnati Herald, CityBeat, Heidelberg Distributing, Hyatt Regency Cincinnati, Macy’s, Pepsi, Skyline Chili, Ultimate Air Shuttle, Wells Fargo Insurance Services USA, Inc.

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