Tag Archives: Cincinnati Arts Association

Cincinnati, OH – The Cincinnati Arts Association is pleased to announce that its Aronoff Center Director of Operations, Todd Duesing, has been nominated for Venues Today magazine’s prestigious Generation Next Award.

Venues Today is honoring young professionals (35 and under) who make a difference in sports, music, conventions, family shows, and festivals with its Next Generation Awards. These young leaders will be profiled in the June issue of the magazine.

Venues Today subscribers may vote for their favorite nominee by visiting www.venuestoday.com or by email at vote@venuestoday.com.

Anyone may vote on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/#!/venuestoday?fref=ts by simply becoming a fan of Venues Today’s facebook page.

The deadline for all methods of voting is Friday, March 15. One individual will be awarded the 2013 Generation Next Readers’ Choice award out of these finalists. Five winners, including the Readers’ Choice award recipient, will be honored this year.

“The entire Cincinnati Arts Association family is very proud of Todd’s many accomplishments,” said Steve Loftin, President and Executive Director, Cincinnati Arts Association. “His leadership as the Aronoff Center’s Director of Operations has been vital in the continued success of this venue. His nomination by Venues Today is richly deserved.”

Venues Today Inc. is the leading source of original reporting for live entertainment and events, serving management, owners and suppliers to music, sports and meetings venues internationally. Founded in 2002 to provide leaders in this high profile business with the information behind the headlines – the who, what, where and how-it-really-happened news you need to run a successful business – Venues Today has continued to grow in sources and services. It was and is aimed at providing useful information for managers, owners, operators and bookers of arenas, amphitheaters, stadiums, performing arts centers, convention centers, fairgrounds and equestrian centers.

Todd Duesing began his career in the Marketing/ Promotions division of Riverbend Music Center. While working for the Nederlander Company, he transitioned into the role of Operations Manager and later Director of Operations for Riverbend and the Taft Theater. He continued in management roles at both venues under the direction of SFX Entertainment and Clear Channel Entertainment; and later at Riverbend for Music and Event Management Inc., a subsidiary of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. In both 2003 and 2006, he was the Director of Operations and Production for the five-day Tall Stacks Music, Arts & Heritage Festival, which welcomed more than one million guests each year. In 2007, he assumed the role of Director of Operations for the Aronoff Center for the Arts, under the management of the Cincinnati Arts Association. In 2008, Todd worked closely with the Cincinnati USA Convention and Visitors Bureau to create and lead the bid that ultimately won the 2012 World Choir Games for Cincinnati.

Todd is a member of the International Entertainment Buyers Association, the International Association of Venue Managers, and the United States Institute for Theatre Technology. He currently serves on the board of the Northern Kentucky University Alumni Association and is an executive officer for the board of the non-profit organization Covington Partners.

In 2008, Todd was named NKU Young Alumnus of the Year, and in 2012, he was honored as one of Cincinnati Business Courier’s Forty Under Forty and was bestowed the title of Honorable Colonel by Kentucky Governor Steven Beshear.

TOMORROW’S STARS
FINALS COMPETITION and AWARDS CEREMONY

The Cincinnati Arts Association (CAA) is proud to present the 2013 Overture Awards Scholarship Competition – the largest locally-run arts scholarship competition in the country. The Overture Awards annually provides a $3,000 scholarship to six area high school students for education and training expenses, with 18 finalists each winning a $500 scholarship.

The Overture Awards Finals Competition and Awards Ceremony will be held on Saturday, March 2, 2013 at 1:00 PM at the Aronoff Center’s Jarson-Kaplan Theater. Winners will be announced immediately following the competition.

This year, 426 students were nominated by their schools to compete in one of six artistic disciplines: Creative Writing, Dance, Instrumental Music, Theater, Visual Art, and Vocal Music. The Overture Awards was developed to recognize, encourage, and reward excellence in the arts among Tri-state students in grades 9-12. It also provides students an opportunity to share their talents and interests among their peers in a supportive environment outside of their individual schools. There are three levels of competition: Regionals, Semi-Finals, and Finals.

The Overture Awards Regional Competitions were held on January 12 at the Aronoff Center for the Arts, Immanuel United Methodist Church (Lakeside Park, KY), Saint Ursula Academy, University of Cincinnati – Blue Ash College, and Xavier University. The top 20 percent of competitors in each discipline advanced to the Semi-Finals, which were held at the Aronoff Center on January 18 and 19. Twenty-four finalists (four in each discipline) will compete in the Finals Competition at the Aronoff Center’s Jarson-Kaplan Theater on March 2.

Now in its 17th 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.

Overture Awards Program Sponsors: Carey Digital; Citi; The Eleanora C.U. Alms Trust, Fifth Third Bank, Trustee. Scholarship Sponsors: Doreen Beatrice; Bonita Brockert; Cincinnati Ballroom; Dare to Dance; Pebble Creek Group; The Otto M. Budig Family Foundation; Step n Out Studio; Stock Yards Bank & Trust; Summerfair Cincinnati; Western & Southern Financial; The William O. Purdy, Jr. Foundation. Competition Sponsors: Buddy Roger’s Music, Immanuel United Methodist Church (Lakeside Park, KY), St. Ursula Academy, University of Cincinnati – Blue Ash College, Xavier University.

The 2013 Overture Awards Finalists

CREATIVE WRITING

• Sarah Maria Joan Dorger – Indian Hill High School, grade12
• Jordan Lenchitz – Indian Hill High School, grade 11
• Olivia Linn – Wyoming High School, grade 11
• Deborah Rocheleau – Rocheleau Home School, grade 12

 DANCE

•  Jordan Betscher – Just Off Broadway / Home school, grade 9
• Ally Garcia – McGing Irish Dancers / Campbell County High School, grade 11
• Megan Kernan – Just Off Broadway / Turpin High School, grade10
• Angela Vettikkal – Cultural Centre of India / William Mason High School, grade 11 

INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC

• Isabella Geis – Walnut Hills High School, grade 9
• Vivian Tong – Walnut Hills High School, grade 11
• Jacqueline Tso – Sycamore High School, grade 11
• Joseph Vaz – Practice to Prosper Piano Studio / Sycamore High School, grade 10
•  

THEATER

• Elliot Handkins – Sycamore High School, grade 12
• Reginald Hemphill – Walter Pool Studio / School for Creative and Performing Arts, grade 12
• Jo Ellen Pellman – Walnut Hills High School, grade 11
• Megan T. Urz – Calvary Christian School, grade 12 

VISUAL ART

• Kevin Butler – Kings High School, grade 12
• Abigail Koch – Lakota West High School, grade 12
• Sandra Mattingly – School for Creative and Performing Arts, grade 12
• Whitney Ransdell – St. Henry District High School, grade 12 

VOCAL MUSIC

• Abigail Hellmann – Ursuline Academy, grade 12
• Gabriel Montefiore – McCready Voice Studio / Walnut Hills High School, grade 12
• Matthew Pearce – Walter Pool Studio / Larry A. Ryle High School, grade 12
• Elisabeth Yates – Ross High School, grade 12 

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 1.2 million students.

CAA is proud to be a member of Association of Performing Arts Presenters, Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber, Greater Cincinnati Convention & Visitors Bureau, Greater Cincinnati Chinese Chamber of Commerce, Greater Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky African American Chamber of Commerce, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Over-the-Rhine Chamber of Commerce, and Performing Arts Center Consortium.

CALENDAR INFORMATION

WHAT: 2013 Overture Awards – Finals Competition and Awards Ceremony

WHERE: Aronoff Center – Jarson-Kaplan Theater

WHEN: Saturday, March 2, 2013 – 1:00 PM

TICKETS: $15

INFO: The 2013 Overture Awards Scholarship Competition – the largest locally-run arts scholarship competition in the country – provides a $3,000 scholarship to six area high school students for education and training expenses with 18 finalists each winning a $500 scholarship. Students compete in one of six artistic disciplines: Creative Writing, Dance, Instrumental Music, Theater, Visual Art or Vocal Music. The Overture Awards was developed to recognize, encourage, and reward excellence in the arts among Tri-state students in grades 9-12.

TICKET INFORMATION – on sale February 1, 2013

• www.CincinnatiArts.org
• (513) 621-ARTS [2787]
• Aronoff Center Ticket Office

ELVIS LIVES
“THE ULTIMATE ELVIS TRIBUTE ARTIST EVENT”
Aronoff Center • February 9, 2013

ELVIS LIVES: “The Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Event”
Saturday, February 9, 2013 – 8:00 PM
Aronoff Center – Procter & Gamble Hall
$75 • $55 • $45 • $35 (prices/fees subject to change)

ELVIS LIVES is an unforgettable multi-media and live musical journey across Elvis’ life. His iconic style, embraced by many of today’s artists, continues to intrigue audiences of all generations. Featuring finalists from Elvis Presley Enterprises’ worldwide Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest, as well as a tribute to Ann-Margret, audiences “Can’t Help Falling In Love”® with this phenomenal theatrical concert experience.

TICKET INFORMATION – on sale now

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

CINCINNATI, OH – The national hit, ELVIS LIVES, featuring four award-winning Elvis tribute artists, will make its Cincinnati premiere on Saturday, February 9, 2013 at 8:00 PM at the Aronoff Center’s Procter & Gamble Hall. Presented by the Cincinnati Arts Association as part of its 2012-13 Season, this much-anticipated, family-friendly musical event is produced by On Stage Touring, LLC, in association with Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc. (EPE).

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

ELVIS LIVES keeps on capturing the imaginations and interests of fans of all types, including Broadway, concert, and Elvis aficionados. The show is an unforgettable multi-media and live musical journey across Elvis’ life, featuring four finalists from Elvis Presley Enterprises’ annual worldwide Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest, each representing Elvis during different stages in his career – the 1950s, the “Movie Era” of the early 1960s, the 1968 Comeback era, and the 1970s concert years. The Elvis tribute artists will be joined by a live band, back-up singers and dancers, and an Ann-Margret tribute artist, plus iconic imagery made available from the Graceland archives, including a new exhibit of life-size images of Elvis’ stage-wear that will be on display in the Aronoff Center lobby.

The high energy show features Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest winner Bill Cherry, along with Ultimate top-five finalists Kevin Mills, Leo Days, and Ben Klein, as the principle cast for the winter/spring production of ELVIS LIVES, and the multi-talented Lorri Russo as Ann-Margret.

“We are very pleased that ELVIS LIVES continues to delight audiences all over the nation and that Elvis fans in Cincinnati will be given the opportunity to see these talented entertainers. We hope to see finalists from the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest starring in ELVIS LIVES for years to come,” said Kevin Kern, Director of Public Relations for EPE.

“We are excited to be working with some of the most exceptional tribute artists in the world. These talented performers really capture the spirit of the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll, while evoking the sensation of being there with Elvis as he journeys through his musical career,” stated Barbara Cooley, Executive Producer for On Stage Touring. “Elvis Lives is truly a dynamic and family-friendly production.”

Cincinnati Arts Association
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 1.2 million students.

On Stage Touring, LLC
On Stage Entertainment, Inc. owns and operates On Stage Touring, producers of ELVIS LIVES and Legends in Concert. Celebrating its 29th year, Legends in Concert is a live musical celebration featuring the world’s greatest celebrity tribute artists. Widely recognized in the entertainment industry as the original celebrity tribute show, Legends in Concert has been performed throughout the United States, and has traveled to 18 countries on five continents, including Japan, Canada, Austria, Germany, Sweden, Australia, China, Brazil, Spain, and England, entertaining more than 25 million fans. On Stage Entertainment operates numerous fixed-based, touring, limited-term and private engagements of Legends in Concert throughout the world. In addition to Las Vegas, Legends is presented year-round in numerous cities including Myrtle Beach, SC; Branson, MO; Atlantic City NJ; Waikiki Beach, HI; on the high seas aboard Norwegian EPIC; and seasonally at such locations as Foxwoods Resort Casino (Mashantucket), CN. The show has been featured on the most popular television networks in the world.

For more information on Legends in Concert or On Stage Entertainment, visit www.legendsinconcert.com.

Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc.
Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc. (EPE), a division of CORE Media Group, Inc., is based in Memphis, with additional offices in Los Angeles. In addition to Graceland and its related attractions in Memphis, including the Heartbreak Hotel, EPE is aggressively involved in a worldwide licensing program, merchandising, music publishing, and television, film, video and Internet projects. For more information on EPE and Graceland, visit www.elvis.com.

About Columbia Artists Theatricals
Columbia Artists Theatricals (CAT) specializes in the booking and tour management of live performances on a worldwide basis. Founded in 1956, as a subsidiary of Columbia Artists Management (CAMI), the company developed and expanded The Broadway Theatre League, which presented Broadway subscription series in over 125 cities in the United States. Today, working in conjunction with artists, producers, production companies, and management agencies, CAT brings performances to over 450 cities around the world.

Currently, CAT’s roster includes: A Chorus Line, Blue Man Group, Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story, CATS, Chicago, Twyla Tharp’s and Frank Sinatra’s Come Fly Away, ELLA: The Ella Fitzgerald Musical, the World Tour of FELA!, Hooray for Hollywood, the pre-Broadway tour of Frank Wildhorn’s Jekyll and Hyde, Stomp, Tap Dogs, and Voca People.

Domestically, CAT has represented numerous productions from a distinguished list of producers and production companies including: NAMCO, Nederlander Productions, NETworks, The Really Useful Company, The Shubert Organization, Columbia Artists Management, and Troika Entertainment. CAT has also toured the productions of the Abbey Theatre, The Market Theatre of Johannesburg, The Royal National Theatre, and The Royal Shakespeare Company. For more information, visit www.columbiaartiststheatricals.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)

ELVIS LIVES Performance Sponsors: Ultimate Air Shuttle, Wells Fargo Insurance Services USA, Inc.

“CAA PRESENTS” SPONSORS: Arthur Murray Dance Studio – Cincinnati, Heidelberg Distributing, Coldwell Banker West Shell, Macy’s

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

ELVIS LIVES MEDIA PARTNER: WGRR-FM