Category Archives: Press Releases

May 29, 2024 · 5:20 pm

THE IMPROVISED SHAKESPEARE COMPANY | Oct. 11-12, 2024 | Aronoff Center – Jarson-Kaplan Theater 

CAA_The Improvised Shakespeare Company“Staggeringly Brilliant” and “Downright Hilarious!” – Time Out Chicago

October 11-12, 2024
Aronoff Center – Jarson-Kaplan Theater

Tickets on sale Friday, May 31

[Cincinnati, OH] – One of the most critically acclaimed improv troupes in the world, The Improvised Shakespeare Company®, will make its Aronoff Center debut on Friday, October 11, 2024 at 8:00 PM and Saturday, October 12, 2024 at 2:00 PM in the intimate Jarson-Kaplan Theater. The show is part of the Cincinnati Arts Association’s 2024-25 Season.

Tickets start at $60.00 and go on sale Friday, May 31 at 10:00 AM at www.CincinnatiArts.org, (513) 621-ARTS [2787], and the Aronoff Center Ticket Office. For groups of ten or more, call (513) 977-4155. Applicable services fees may apply. Prices are subject to change.

Based on one audience suggestion (a title of a show that has never been written), The Improvised Shakespeare Company® creates a fully improvised Shakespearean masterpiece right before your eyes. Prepare for an evening of spontaneous comedy using the language and themes of William Shakespeare. Nothing has been planned out, rehearsed, or written. All of the dialogue is said for the first time, the characters are created as you watch, and if ever you’re wondering where the story is going… so are they! You’ve never seen the Bard like this before!

The Improvised Shakespeare Company® is one of the funniest and most critically acclaimed improv troupes in the world. The ISC was founded in Chicago in 2005 where it ran to sold-out audiences at the iO Theatre for over a decade. Now it performs regularly at Los Angeles’ Largo at the Coronet for audiences that the LA Times calls “Beatlemaniacal.” The ISC has sold out raucous shows at The Kennedy Center, Bonnaroo, San Francisco Sketchfest, the Bumbershoot Music and Arts Festival, The Just For Laughs festival in Montreal, and Outside Lands in San Francisco. It is featured regularly in NYC at 92nd St. Y and Theatre 80 St. Marks where it “plays to packed theaters with an atmosphere more like a rock club than a repertory house” (The New York Times). In 2018, Sir Patrick Stewart presented The ISC at the Soho Theatre in London. In the 2019-2020 season, The ISC was featured in the Broadway Series at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts where it wowed audiences throughout its 178-show residency.

ISC guest performers have included Jason Alexander, Bradley Whitford, and Patrick Stewart. It has been named Chicago’s best improv group by both the Chicago Reader and the Chicago Examiner and has received numerous awards in LA (Best of LA – LA Weekly), New York (New York Nightlife Awards), and Chicago (The Chicago Improv Foundation). It has been called “Indisputably Great” (Centerstage Chicago), “Mad Genius” (LA Times), “Hilarious” (LA Weekly, Seattle Times, Chicago Reader, TimeOut Chicago, Naples Daily News, CBC Manitoba, Winnipeg Free Press), and TimeOut New York simply says, “Don’t Miss Them. Seriously.”

For more information, visit www.improvisedshakespeare.com.

CINCINNATI ARTS ASSOCIATION SPONSORS

The Cincinnati Arts Association is supported [in part] by the Ohio Arts Council, which receives support from the State of Ohio and the National Endowment for the Arts.

SEASON SPONSORS:  AMERITAS (Founding Season Sponsor), ARTSWAVE, FIFTH THIRD BANK (Lifetime Endowment Partner), LOCAL 12 WKRC-TV, The P&G FUND of The Greater Cincinnati Foundation

SEASON PRESENTING SPONSORS:  21C Museum Hotel, Cincinnati Herald, CityBeat, Fairfield Inn & Suites Cincinnati Uptown/University Area, Harlan Graphics, Heidelberg Distributing, Kinley Cincinnati, Pepsi, Skyline Chili, TriHealth

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CALENDAR INFORMATION

WHAT:                The Improvised Shakespeare Company®

WHEN:                Friday, October 11, 2024 @ 8:00 PM

Saturday, October 12, 2024 @ 2:00 PM 

WHERE:              Aronoff Center – Jarson-Kaplan Theater

PRICES:               Start at $60.00. 10%-off groups of ten or more. Additional service fees may apply. Prices subject to change.

INFO:                  Based on one audience suggestion (a title of a show that has never been written), The Improvised Shakespeare Company® creates a fully improvised Shakespearean masterpiece right before your eyes. Prepare for an evening of spontaneous comedy using the language and themes of William Shakespeare. Nothing has been planned out, rehearsed, or written. 

TICKET INFORMATION – on sale Friday, May 31 at 10:00 AM

  • www.CincinnatiArts.org  
  • (513) 621-ARTS [2787]
  • Aronoff Center Ticket Office
  • Group sales (10 or more): (513) 977-4155

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May 29, 2024 · 5:19 pm

Cincinnati Music Theatre Celebrates 60 Years

CMT_On with the ShowCincinnati, Ohio – The City of Cincinnati will recognize Cincinnati Music Theatre’s 60th anniversary with a proclamation by Mayor Aftab Pureval declaring Friday, May 31, CMT Day in Cincinnati.

The recognition coincides with the opening-night performance of On With the Show, CMT’s season-ending Studio Series production in the Fifth Third Bank Theater at the Aronoff Center for the Arts (7th and Main Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202).

“We are proud to be Cincinnati’s downtown community theater and proud to be the first resident company at the Aronoff Center,” said Kathy Beiting, president of the CMT board and co-producer of On With the Show. “We’re grateful to Mayor Pureval and to the city for their ongoing support of the arts in general and CMT in particular.

“This is a wonderful honor, especially since our residency at the Aronoff Center has been just one year shy of half of CMT’s 60 years.”

The formal proclamation will be read in the Fifth Third Bank Theater immediately prior to curtain at 7:30 p.m.

On With the Show distills 60 years of CMT history into a 90-mimute burst of nostalgia, taking audiences on a musical journey from CMT’s first show (The Most Happy Fella) to its most recent mainstage production (Children of Eden) and many points in between. It even offers a glimpse of the future with a musical medley highlighting the upcoming 2024-2025 mainstage season with music from Matilda and Sweet Charity.

Written and directed by CMT board historian Mark D. Motz, On With the Show features the talents of John Beiting, Marypat Carletti, Amelie de la Nuez, Kelly Even, Mike Fielder, Gregory Good Jr., Brett Parr (who also serves as co-producer) and Elizabeth Zerhusen Pille.

“Creating a new work from the ground up and telling the story of CMT with this cast is a singular privilege,” Motz said. “I’m excited for audiences to see these amazing performers and to celebrate this major milestone with us. That the city decided to bestow this honor on CMT makes it all the more special.”

In addition to its inaugural performance, On With the Show also plays at 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, June 1, as well as 7:30 p.m. Friday, June 7, 3 p.m. Saturday, June 8 and closes with a 7:30 p.m. performance June 8.

Tickets to On With the Show are $26 and are available online, by phone at 513-621-ARTS or in person at the Aronoff box office.

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May 28, 2024 · 6:37 pm

HORIZONS OF GOLD Opens on June 6th

BB_Horizons of GoldHORIZONS OF GOLD
Bart’s Bards
June 6-9

Don’t miss your chance to experience this beautiful story of the power of family, second chances, and the strength to find home and healing in the face of unrelenting hardships.

A STORY OF PERSEVERANCE AMIDST SHATTERED DREAMS
Rose is a young Mexican migrant, abandoned and lost in turbulent 1930s California. She clings to Margaret Thomas, a Kansas farm wife displaced by the Dust Bowl. Together, they grieve a lost family and search for home and healing in the midst of unrelenting hardships. Could John Bollen, the generous wheat farmer down the road, be a savior for them both? A powerful journey of the heart unfolds for three people who find their lives intertwined, each desperate to heal the past and embrace a new future.  Lush, full-bodied orchestrations and soaring melodies take us back to the sweeping wheat fields of America’s Great Plains. With its cast of vibrant characters, this thoughtful script is packed with heart-rending drama, laugh-out-loud humor, and gentle romance.

TICKETS AND INFORMATION
Tickets are on sale now.  Tickets can be purchased in advance at the link below or at the door 1 hour prior to each performance.

TICKETING LINK: https://www.showtix4u.com/event-details/80044

VENUE: Krumpe Activity Center – 9375 Winton Rd., Cincinnati, OH, 45231

SHOW DATES AND TIMES

  • Thursday, June 6 at 7:30pm
  • Friday, June 7 at 7:30pm
  • Saturday, June 8 at 2:00pm
  • Saturday, June 8 at 7:30pm
  • Sunday, June 9 at 2:00pm

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May 27, 2024 · 10:33 am

Human Race Theatre Company Hosts Successful Fundraising Night

HRTC_Certified Human NightOn May 17, 2024 the staff and board of The Human Race Theatre Company hosted the inaugural Certified Human Race Fundraiser. After two rounds of trivia provided by Pepper Sprout Productions and a toast to HRTC’s community of supporters, attendees returned to the stage for a rousing auction and mission raise.

The auction was hosted by Resident Artist and professional auctioneer Tim Lile, who purveyed mission-driven packages like observing a rehearsal process on a world premiere, an onstage dinner with a VIP backstage tour, and a staycation in HRTC’s actor housing complimented by downtown delights! Emily N. Wells, Artistic Director, says “Certified Human Night is a revolutionary kind of fundraising evening, where we will plan a different activity each year. Just like our shows spark curiosity and fun, so should our fundraiser!”

To cap off the evening, the final auction item was bidding to become a “Certified Human,” to be named in honor of the bidder or their designated person.  Kevin Moore, previous artistic director, and Scott Stoney walked away with the high bid and opted to designate the first Certified Human in honor of Marsha Hanna, The Human Race Theatre Company’s 2nd and longest artistic director.

This honor includes a lobby commemoration of the bid on a plaque alongside a one-of-a-kind glass sculpture inspired by the DNA double helix and created by Dustin Wagner from Nyminal Glass. “We are so grateful for our overwhelmingly generous supporters who helped make this such a successful fundraiser.  Now, we hope that this becomes an annual tradition where our community comes to have a lot of fun and individuals vie to be our top fan,” notes Executive Director Kappy Kilburn.

Plans are already underway for the next evening, to be held on Friday, June 13, 2025.  Keep an eye out for more details on our Freaky Friday fun!

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May 23, 2024 · 4:39 pm

2024 FRINGE After Hours

CFF_24 logoThe 2024 Cincinnati Fringe Festival
Free, Late-Night, Extra-Fringey Programming
Announcing this year’s Fringe After Hours events 

Know Theatre proudly presents The 21st Annual Cincinnati Fringe Festival – the region’s largest and longest-running annual performing arts festival – May 31 – June 15! A 14-day celebration featuring dozens of live performances from independent artists: the Cincy Fringe is Cincinnati’s Summer Theatre Party.

Fringe is a celebration of community, and any seasoned Fringe fanatic will tell you that the nightly gatherings at the Fringe HQ after that day’s shows are over are as much a part of the Fringe as the scheduled performances.

Unlike the ticketed and tightly-scheduled nature of Fringe shows, Fringe After Hours has a casual, no-ticket-required, come-and-go vibe. Pick up a drink at the bar and socialize with other Fringe-goers and artists, or attend a night of free programming that embodies the experimental and art-driven spirit of the Fringe.

Unless noted otherwise, all Fringe After Hours events begin at 10PM. Here’s what’s on the schedule for a whole festival’s worth of Fringe After Hours at the Papa Fringe HQ, sponsored by Joe “Papa Fringe” Mock of Cutler Real Estate.

60-Second Previews (May 31 at 9 PM and June 1 at 10 PM): Every Primary Lineup production gets exactly 60 seconds onstage to pitch their show to Fringe audiences. (Sponsored by Buddy Goose & Mary Rita Dominic.)

Fringe-a-oke (June 2): It’s not your ordinary karaoke. It’s Fringe-a-oke!

Everyone’s An Artist (June 4): Customize your own Fringe t-shirt (just like our Fringe Guide cover model, Aiden!) and enjoy artist-price discounts at the bar. (Sponsored by Patrick Cusick.)

Game Night (June 5): Just like a casual game night at your friend’s house. Enjoy Fringe-themed social games like Celebrity and Telestrations!

Gay Spelling Bee (June 6): Ben and Justin Present! A fun and raucous game show where contestants spell GAY words while navigating a secret rule that makes everything even more ridiculous.

Puppet Slam (June 7): A curated night of short-form puppet acts intended for adult audiences.

Fringe Dance Party (June 8): Put on your dance shoes and boogie the night away to certified bangers on the Know’s MainStage.

Fringe-Con (June 9): Celebrate Fringe Fandom with creative cosplay and our annual Fringe D&D LIVE – it’s a roleplaying adventure with an audience!

Fringe Olympics (June 11): Team up with your Fringe pals and test your mettle in Feats of Fringe! Revel in the silliness, the glory, and the camaraderie of fellow Fringe-lympians.

Smoke & Queers Burlesque (June 12): A queer-led, co-ed burlesque, drag, and performance art group that encourages all weird & wild expressions of self, gender, identity, and sexuality.

Improv Night with Kevin Bauer (June 13): Late night improv comedy, with a performance by professional improvisors and an open jam so YOU can join the fun!

Flashlight Cabaret (June 14): An evening of unforgettable entertainment, lit entirely by audience flashlight. (Sponsored by Karen “Auntie Fringe” Brinkman, Esq.)

Pick of the Fringe Awards and Closing Night Party (June 15 at 9:30 PM): Party with us one last time as we celebrate the closing of the festival and honor the Picks of the Fringe!

Visit cincyfringe.com for full details of the ticketed lineup events and to purchase tickets or multi-show passes, learn about volunteer opportunities, and plan your path through the festival.

Know Theatre is Cincinnati’s Theatrical Playground. The Know showcases unexpected voices, new works, and plays that embrace the inherent theatricality of the live experience. Know Theatre seeks to be a place where artists and audiences feel welcome to take artistic risks, creating work that is cutting edge and accessible.

The 19th Annual Cincinnati Fringe Festival is made possible by a generous partnership with our neighbors, the Art Academy of Cincinnati and 3CDC.

Know Theatre’s work is made possible, in part, by the generosity of community contributions to the ArtsWave Campaign.

The Ohio Arts Council helps fund Know Theatre with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence, and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans.

Know Theatre is also supported by the Greater Cincinnati Foundation, which provides a simple, powerful, and highly personal approach to giving.

Know Theatre is a member of Theatre Communications Group and an Associate Member of the National New Play Network. 

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