Category Archives: Press Releases

November 13, 2012 · 3:06 pm

JIM BRICKMAN: ON A WINTER’S NIGHT | Sun., Dec. 30, 2pm | Aronoff Center

CINCINNATI, OH – Jim Brickman continues to wow audience members year after year with his intimate and beloved holiday tour. Performing live in one spectacular concert, JIM BRICKMAN: ON A WINTER’S NIGHT plays the Aronoff Center’s Procter & Gamble Hall on Sunday, December 30 at 2:00 PM.

Tickets are on sale now at www.CincinnatiArts.org, (513) 621-ARTS [2787], and the Aronoff Center Ticket Office.

The best-selling piano artist and his special guests will delight audiences with classic and contemporary holiday music, fan favorites, and songs from Jim Brickman’s latest CD, Believe. Dazzling solo piano, vibrant vocals, warmth, and humor make this an ideal winter season celebration.

JIM BRICKMAN
Jim Brickman has revolutionized solo piano with his pop-style instrumentals and star-studded vocal collaborations. With over seven million records sold, Jim’s signature songwriting style, original music, and unique performances have also brought him six Gold and Platinum selling albums, 30 charted adult radio hits, Grammy® nominations in 2003 & 2009, two SESAC “Songwriter of the Year” awards, a Canadian Country Music Award, and a Gospel Music Association Dove Award.

His best-known compositions include the chart-toppers “Valentine,” “The Gift,” “Love of My Life,” “Simple Things,” and “Peace.” In January 2012, Jim commanded the top three spots on the Top 10 of Billboard’s New Age chart for his albums Love, Romanza and All is Calm. His albums feature collaborations with such noted vocalists as Martina McBride, Gerald Levert, Lady Antebellum, Matt Giraud, Michael W. Smith, Kenny Loggins, Carly Simon, Herb Alpert, Collin Raye, Michael Bolton, Sara Evans, Donny Osmond, and Olivia Newton-John.

A native of Cleveland, Jim began playing piano at the age of five and studied music at the prestigious Cleveland Institute of Music. He founded his own advertising music company in 1980, writing commercial jingles for such advertisers as McDonald’s, Pontiac, and Kellogg’s.

Brickman has been a strong supporter of PBS, starring in four TV concert specials: Beautiful World (2009), Jim Brickman Live from Disney’s Magic Kingdom (2005), My Romance—An Evening with Jim Brickman (2000), and Love Songs and Lullabies (2002).

Other artistic endeavors include a popular weekly radio show, Your Weekend with Jim Brickman; two best-selling books, Simple Things and Love Notes; debuts at Carnegie Hall and the White House; and international touring from Spain to Thailand. His Jim Brickman Cruises have become an annual hot-ticket event.

Jim lends a hand to many charitable foundations for children, including Autism Speaks and UNICEF. A scholarship was recently established in his name at the Cleveland Institute of Music.

For more information about Jim Brickman and the On A Winter’s Night Tour, visit www.JimBrickman.com.

ANNE COCHRAN
Anne Cochran has had the good fortune to perform at Carnegie Hall and Madison Square Garden, and her now-classic single “After All These Years” was a Top 5 hit. She has been known to deliver a stirring “Star-Spangled Banner” at the NCAA Women’s Championship Basketball Final, perform at Hollywood’s CAMIE Awards, and co-host a breast cancer research gala benefit with comedian Bob Newhart. Anne has happily shared the stage with Jim Brickman, Collin Raye, Donny Osmond, Dave Koz, Tracy Silverman, Jeff Timmons, Kristy Starling, Wayne Brady, Michael Bolton, and Linda Eder. To savor Anne’s magic on CD, sample just-out Two of Hearts, a collection of beautifully-styled love song duets, performed with tenor Benjamin Utecht. For more information, visit www.annecochran.com.

LUKE MCMASTER
Luke McMaster has come full circle in the world of the music business. Formerly half of the acclaimed duo McMaster & James, Luke has experienced touring the world with acts like Chantal Kreviazuk, Justin Timberlake, and Christina Aguilera. Aside from touring, Luke’s natural gift for songwriting led him to Toronto, New York, and L.A. to work with a wide variety of international talent including Rihanna and Nick Lachey. In 2011, Luke relaunched his performance career and quickly began touring again. This fall, Luke will release his new CD, All Roads, a collection of brand new, original music featuring “Good Morning Beautiful.” For more information, visit www.lukemcmaster.com.

TRACY SILVERMAN
Tracy Silverman has redefined the violin with his instantly-recognizable trademark sound. Lauded by the BBC as “the greatest living exponent of the electric violin,” the Juilliard graduate’s groundbreaking work with the six-string electric violin has forever transformed violin playing, much as Hendrix did with the electric guitar. Tracy appears on many of Jim Brickman’s CD’s and DVD’s and has orchestrated Jim’s music for full symphony. Tracy has appeared on numerous national TV and radio programs such as NPR’s Performance Today and CBS News Sunday Morning with Charles Osgood, and is a faculty member at Belmont University and at Vanderbilt University’s Blair School of Music in Nashville, where he lives with his wife and 4 children. For more information, visit www.tracysilverman.com.

CAA APPLAUDS ITS GENEROUS Sponsors

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

“CAA PRESENTS” SPONSORS: Arthur Murray Dance Studio – Cincinnati, Heidelberg Distributing, Coldwell Banker West Shell, Macy’s, Wells Fargo Insurance Services USA, Inc., Ultimate Air Shuttle

SEASON PRESENTING SPONSORS: CityBeat, Cincinnati Herald, Millennium Hotel Cincinnati, Furniture Fair

Jim Brickman: On A Winter’s Night Media Partner: WARM98-FM

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CALENDAR INFORMATION

  • WHAT: Jim Brickman: On A Winter’s Night with special guests Anne Cochran, Luke McMaster, and Tracy Silverman
  • WHEN: Sunday, December 30, 2012 – 2:00 PM
  • WHERE: Aronoff Center – Procter & Gamble Hall
  • PRICES: $75.00 • $45.00 • $42.50 • $38.50 (additional ticketing fees may apply; prices subject to change)
  • INFO: Jim Brickman is not only the best-selling solo pianist of our time, but he has become a staple during the holiday season for over a decade! The two-time Grammy®-nominated, platinum-selling pianist and songwriter will wow audiences from coast to coast with his On A Winter’s Night tour as he weaves together holiday favorites of new and old, plus all his hits in one spectacular concert! Joined by vocalists Anne Cochran and Luke McMaster, and electric violinist Tracy Silverman, Jim brings a night of dazzling solo piano with the warmth and humor of the season for one of the country’s favorite annual concert events.

TICKET INFORMATION – on sale now

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

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November 13, 2012 · 2:05 pm

TCT’s SANTA’S TOY FACTORY Features Local Celebrities for the Holidays

The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati’s SANTA’S TOY FACTORY Features Local Celebrities for the Holidays

The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati and Santa will bring local audiences a lot to smile about this holiday season! TCTC’s production of SANTA’S TOY FACTORYwill feature not only LOCAL 12’s morning team of anchor Bob Herzog and meteorologist John Gumm as the Miser Brothers (Heat and Snow, respectively — you might remember them from the 1970s TV special, ” The Year Without a Santa Claus”), but also, 16 year-old Eben Franckewitz fresh off “American Idol” starring as the show’s leading character, Wendell the Elf. Eben made history last season when he was the youngest “American Idol” hopeful to ever make it into the top 24.

SANTA’S TOY FACTORY is a new holiday musical filled with fun for the whole family. The show was written and compiled by Ken Jones, is being produced by special arrangements with IO Productions, and is being directed by Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati’s Artistic Director, Angela Powell Walker.

“We are so excited to have Eben, Bob and John join us for this show,” said Powell Walker. “What a wonderful time of year for them to spend with us and to bring so much joy to the Cincinnati community — it’s a thrill! Bob and John are going to be hilarious as the Miser Brothers, it was a natural fit for them. And you will not want to miss seeing Eben on the stage of the Taft Theatre singing, acting and dancing this wonderful holiday show!”

Bob Herzog is no stranger to The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati stage. Past roles include Captain Hook (Disney’s Peter Pan JR. in the 2010-2011 season), Gaston (Disney’s Beauty and the Beast JR. in the 2009-2010 season) and Genie (Disney’s Aladdin JR in the 2006-2007 season.)

SYNOPSIS:
SANTA’S TOY FACTORY takes us on a trip to the North Pole to visit all the hard working elves readying Santa’s Sleigh for his Christmas Eve journey. Poindexter, the head elf, is busy keeping everyone on task to create all the new high tech toys he thinks the children of the world want. All seems to be going well with the exception of the Holiday Spirit Meter dipping very low. Everyone must have Christmas Spirit in order for Santa’s sleigh to take off. Wendell, a kind and gentle elf, is having a very hard time finding his Christmas Spirit because he doesn’t want to make high-tech toys, just simple, old-fashioned ones like teddy bears. As soon as Santa hears about Wendell’s dilemma, he takes him on a fantastic journey to find his Christmas Spirit. We travel with Santa and Wendell as they visit Rudolph, Blitzen, Dasher and all the other reindeer, the North Pole Penguins, the Heat and Snow Miser Brothers with all their minions and the magical Frosty the Snowman! Wendell, with Santa and everyone’s help, discovers that the real Spirit of Christmas is the joy of a happy heart and the magic of a holiday wish.

Single tickets and subscriptions for the entire season are available now by calling 513-569-8080 ext. 10. Visit www.thechildrenstheatre.com for more information.

SANTA’S TOY FACTORY, The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati, through December 15. 7:30 p.m. Friday December 7, 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. Saturday December 8 & 15, 2 p.m. Sunday December 9. Taft Theatre, 317 East 5th Street in Downtown Cincinnati. Tickets $7-$25. 513-569-8080 ext. 10 and www.ticketmaster.com.

Q102 and The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati are proud to collect items for St. Joseph Orphanage at all performances of SANTA’S TOY FACTORY. Children and adults are encouraged to bring any new or unwrapped item and we’ll collect them in the Taft Theatre lobby. Visit http://www.stjosephorphanage.org/ for a list of holiday requests. SANTA’S TOY FACTORY is made possible by the generous support of Macy’s. The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati is supported by the generosity of community contributions to the ArtsWave Campaign. The Children’s Theatre’s Season Sponsors are the Charles H. Dater Foundation and the Marge and Charles J. Schott Foundation. Media sponsors are The Cincinnati Enquirer, LOCAL 12 and Time Warner Cable. The Ohio Arts Council helped fund this program with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans.

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November 12, 2012 · 3:15 pm

Thompson House Presents J STRING Debut

NEWPORT (KY.) – Thompson House Newport – Greater Cincinnati’s live music and creative hub – announces the world premiere live performance of internet sensation J String at 9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 30, in the Tommygun Theater at Thompson House, 24 E. 3rd Street, Newport, Kentucky.

J String is the duo of Broadway veteran Jessica Hendy and classical cellist Jacob Yates. The two met during the award-winning Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati production of the Pulitzer- and Tony-winning “Next to Normal.” Hendy starred as Diana; Yates played cello and second keyboard.

They became fast friends after discovering a mutual love of music and covers of well-known songs. Their different musical backgrounds led to surprising and exciting collaborations on covers of popular songs. Their first video (“Edge of Glory”) became an instant YouTube success and was featured on websites such as BroadwayWorld.com.

Tickets for the J String show are $20 each and available at www.ticketweb.com.

“This is going to be an amazing night,” said Cathy Creason, Thompson House artistic director. “The way these two artists combine their talents and passions to interpret pop music is electric. It’s sure to be an unforgettable show.”

Jessica Hendy’s Broadway credits include “Cats”(Grizabella), “Aida” (Amneris) and “Amour.” She has toured nationally and in Canada with “Cats” and “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.” In New York, she received rave reviews for her one-woman cabaret, “A Life To Call Your Own,” and a Bistro Award for the review “Get Your Tickets Now.” Hendy has performed with Pittsburg Civic Light Opera, North Shore Music Theatre and Helen Hayes Performing Arts Center. In addition to N2N, Hendy won an Acclaim Award for her performance in Ensemble’s “The Great American Trailer Park Musical” and another for the world premiere of “Don’t Make Me Pull This Show Over, Dispatches at the Front Lines of Parenting” in the Cincinnati Fringe Festival. Her concert work includes performances with the Cincinnati Pops, Modesto Symphony, Long Beach Symphony, Ft. Worth Symphony, Grand Rapids Symphony and the Kentucky Symphony Orchestra. She has traveled the country with the concert “Broadway Today,” and “Cinema Toast.”

Jacob Yates is a classically trained cellist who loves bringing out the diversity of the cello. He began playing at the age of nine in the public school system of Lexington, Kentucky, his hometown. He continued his studies with established local musicians Clyde Beavers and Yoonie Choi. In high school he discovered the many voices a cello can have and decided to explore them with the help of fellow cello pioneer Ben Sollee. He attends the University of Cincinnati-College Conservatory of Music under the teaching of Yehuda Hanani and Ilya Finkelshteyn. Yates was twice principal cellist in the Honors Orchestra of America and has performed in master classes for Avery Fisher Grant recipient Priscilla Lee, Paul York and Mark Rudolph. Outside the classical realm, he has performed alongside fiddle legend Mark O’Connor and the high-octane fiddling group, Barrage. Yates is also an accomplished pianist and music director. Most recently he served as musical director for the Broadway Dreams Summer Intensives where he worked alongside Jason Robert Brown, Tituss Burgess, Nikki Snelson and others.

For more information on Thompson House Newport and its many events and programs, please visit www.thompsonhousenewport.com.

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November 12, 2012 · 1:45 pm

Cincinnati Playhouse’s HANK WILLIAMS Earns Four LCT Nominations

The cast. Photo by Sandy Underwood.

Panelists for the League of Cincinnati Theatres (LCT) have recognized Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park’s HANK WILLIAMS: LOST HIGHWAY with 4 LCT nominations for Outstanding Production (Musical), lead actor (Peter Oyloe), Featured Actor (Brian Gunter) and Ensemble Acting in a Musical, as well as distinguishing it as a recommended production.

HANK WILLIAMS: LOST HIGHWAY is a journey through the life and music of Hank Williams, which starts in the backwoods of Alabama and winds up at center stage of the Grand Ole Opry. Featuring more than 20 of the singer’s most popular songs, including “Your Cheatin’ Heart,” “Hey, Good Lookin’” and “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry,” LOST HIGHWAY is an honest and mesmerizing portrait of the drifting cowboy who became one of the most influential country artists of all time.

Panelists praised Peter Oyloe’s portrayal of Hank Williams as “flawless in his performance…watching him made you feel as if Hank was truly there on the stage in front of your very eyes.” Brian Gunter was “superb” as Jimmy and acted as a “nice foil for Hank Williams.” The ensemble was “impressively convincing both musically and in the rendition of their roles. A stand-out cast!” The production as a whole was “spirited and heartbreaking…The audience found themself laughing, crying, clapping and most of the time singing along as they were drawn into the story.” “This was an absolutely wonderful evening of theater even if you don’t care about country and western music in the least.”

HANK WILLIAMS: LOST HIGHWAY continues through December 23rd. Tickets can be purchased at www.cincyplay.com.

Final LCT awards will be determined at the end of the season and announced at the LCT gala in the spring.

The League of Cincinnati Theatres was founded in 1999 to strengthen, nurture and promote Cincinnati’s theatre community. LCT provides its member companies and individual members with education, resources and services to enhance the quality and exposure of the theatre community in Cincinnati and increase community awareness, attendance and involvement. More information about the League can be found at www.leagueofcincytheatres.com.

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November 7, 2012 · 9:28 am

THE ULTIMATE DOO-WOP SHOW | Fri., November 16 | Aronoff Center

CINCINNATI, OH – The record-breaking PBS-TV music specials, 50 Years of Doo-Wop, were so well received that they created a new showcase and new audiences for veteran Doo-Wop artists. Now these original artists, whose combined sales number over 200 million records, are back on the road performing live, and will dance into the Aronoff Center’s Procter & Gamble Hall with The Ultimate Doo-Wop Show on Friday, November 16, 2012 at 8:00 PM. The family-friendly show will treat concertgoers to the songs they danced to at sock hops, while allowing younger audiences to discover that Doo-Wop is feel-good music no matter what your age.

Tickets are on sale now at www.CincinnatiArts.org, (513) 621-ARTS [2787], or the Aronoff Center Ticket Office. Group discounts are available by calling (513) 977-4157.

The impressive list of those original artists who will be part of the Cincinnati Ultimate Doo-Wop Show are: Jimmy Beaumont & The Skyliners (Since I Don’t Have You, Pennies from Heaven, This I Swear, It Happened Today), The Marcels (Blue Moon, Heartaches, Summertime),The Edsels (Rama Lama Ding Dong, Love is True, Diamonds & Pearls), The Volumes (I Love You, Gotta Give Her Love), Stormy Weather (Street Corner Serenade), The Blue Suede Orchestra (Buzz, Buzz, Buzz), and very special guests, The Motown Experience, a world class group assembled from members of The Contours, The Miracles and former members of The Temptations (Do You Love Me?, Oo Baby Baby, My Girl).

The name Doo-Wop is given to a style of vocal-based rhythm and blues music that developed in African American communities in the 1940s and achieved mainstream popularity in the 1950s and early 1960s. It emerged from New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Baltimore, Newark, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, and areas of greater Los Angeles, including El Monte and Compton. Built upon vocal harmony, Doo-Wop was one of the most mainstream, pop-oriented R&B styles of the time.

As a musical genre, Doo-Wop is a type of vocal group harmony with the musical qualities of many vocal parts, nonsense syllables, a simple beat, little or no instrumentation, and simple music and lyrics. It is ensemble singing with single artists appearing with a backing group. Solo billing usually implies that the individual is more prominent in the musical arrangement.

African-American vocal groups such as The Ink Spots and The Mills Brothers, both from Cincinnati, had record hits during the years of World War II that set important precedents for the genre. The Ink Spots had a string of record successes in 1939-40, both in the USA and in Britain, with “My Prayer,” “Bless You,” and “Whispering Grass,” and The Mills Brothers followed suit in 1943-44 with “Paper Doll,” “You Always Hurt The One You Love,” and “Till Then.”

These were generally slow songs in swing time with simple instrumentation and close four-part harmony reminiscent of the barbershop quartet – which The Mills Brothers once had been. The subject of the lyrics was generally love and relationships.

The term “doo-wop” is first known to have appeared in print in 1961 in the Chicago Defender, when fans of the music coined the term during the height of a vocal harmony resurgence. The phrase has been attributed to the radio disc jockey Gus Gossert, but Gossert himself said that “doo-wop was already being used [before me] to categorize the music in California.”

CAA APPLAUDS ITS GENEROUS Sponsors

Season Sponsors: Ameritas (Founding Season Sponsor), The P&G FUND of The Greater Cincinnati Foundation, CADILLAC, LOCAL12 WKRC, FIFTH THIRD BANK (Lifetime Endowment Partner)

“CAA PRESENTS” SPONSORS: Arthur Murray Dance Studio – Cincinnati, Heidelberg Distributing, Coldwell Banker West Shell, Macy’s, Wells Fargo Insurance Services USA, Inc., Ultimate Air Shuttle

SEASON PRESENTING SPONSORS: CityBeat, Cincinnati Herald, Millennium Hotel Cincinnati, Furniture Fair

The Ultimate Doo-Wop Show Media Partner: WDJO-FM

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CALENDAR INFORMATION
WHAT: The Ultimate Doo-Wop Show
WHEN: Friday, November 16, 2012 • 8:00 PM
WHERE: Aronoff Center for the Arts – Procter & Gamble Hall
PRICES: $67.50 • $56 • $45 • $35
INFO: The record-breaking PBS-TV music specials, 50 Years of Doo-Wop, were so well received that they created a new showcase and new audiences for veteran Doo-Wop artists. The original artists who will be part of the Cincinnati Ultimate Doo-Wop Show are: Jimmy Beaumont & The Skyliners, The Marcels, The Edsels, The Volumes, Stormy Weather, The Blue Suede Orchestra, and very special guests, The Motown Experience, a world-class group assembled from members of The Contours, The Miracles, and former members of The Temptations.

TICKET INFORMATION – on sale now

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

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