Tag Archives: Cincinnati Arts Association

SATURDAY, JUNE 9TH at 7:30 p.m.
On Sale Friday, May 11, at 10:00 a.m.

Cincinnati, OH – Live Nation welcomes comedian Aziz Ansari to the Aronoff Center’s Procter & Gamble Hall on Saturday, June 9th, 2012 at 8pm.

All Tickets are $39.00 and go on sale May 11 at 10:00 a.m. at CincinnatiArts.org, LiveNation.com, (513) 621-2787, and the Aronoff Center Ticket Office.
All tickets subject to applicable service charges and fees.
Dates and times subject to change without notice.

Ansari has quickly established his presence in the comedy world. He is currently starring in a popular television series, is developing a number of films and will soon debut his second hour-long standup special. The Hollywood Reporter said that he “has become one of the most prolific writers and performers on the comedy scene in recent years” and Rolling Stone recently placed him on the cover of their special comedy issue labeling him “the funniest man under 30.” In addition, Paste Magazine has named him one of the “Top 10 Comedians of the Decade.” Ansari also wrapped a much buzzed about gig as the host of the 2010 MTV Movie Awards.

Ansari co-stars opposite of Amy Poehler in the Emmy nominated NBC series Parks and Recreation, which is currently in its fourth season. The series received its first Emmy nomination in 2011 for “Outstanding Comedy Series.” Ansari’s portrayal of government employee Tom Haverford, has earned him much critical praise including Entertainment Weekly naming him one of their “Breakout TV Stars,” TV Guide naming him a “Scene Stealer” and Yahoo! TV placing him in the number one spot on their list of “TV MVPS: The Most Valuable Performers of the Fall Season.” People Magazine recently named him 2011’s “Funniest Dude in Prime Time.”

Ansari is also keeping busy in the film world and was most recently seen starring in the action comedy 30 Minutes or Less opposite Jesse Eisenberg and Danny McBride. He will next voice a character in Twentieth Century Fox’s Ice Age: Continental Drift. Mandate Pictures also picked up a comedy feature pitch by Ansari and Matt Hubbard, which he will star in alongside Danny McBride. Additionally, Ansari is developing three films for Judd Apatow and Universal with Director Jason Woliner. The collaboration with Apatow began on Universal’s Funny People, where Ansari created the popular character of ‘Raaaaaaaandy,’ who went on to become a viral hit on FunnyOrDie.com. Ansari also appears in Get Him to the Greek alongside Russell Brand, Jonah Hill and Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, as a co-worker of Hill’s character. He has had roles in the hit comedies I Love You, Man and Observe and Report.

In 2010, Ansari released an hour-long standup special on Comedy Central titled Intimate Moments for a Sensual Evening. The special and subsequent DVD/CD were both extremely successful and the album continues to be a mainstay on iTunes’ comedy best-seller list. Ansari has also become a regular on the late night circuit with recent memorable appearances on The Late Show with David Letterman, The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien, and Jimmy Kimmel Live.

Ansari recently wrapped up a major multi-city standup tour called the “Dangerously Delicious Tour” and will soon release this as another hour-long standup special. He began performing standup in 2001 while attending NYU and continues to perform at venues all over the world today. In 2005, Rolling Stone named him their choice for “Hot Standup” on their annual Hot List, and he was also awarded the Jury Award for Best Standup at the U.S. Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen in 2006.

Ansari first came to audience’s attention on MTV’s hit sketch comedy series Human Giant. The series is based around short films starring Ansari, along with Rob Huebel and Paul Scheer. Many of their sketches have become internet sensations and have popularized the trio with young people all across the U.S. Ansari also had a very memorable guest starring role on HBO’s Flight of the Conchords, in which he portrayed a racist fruit vendor and was seen in a multi-episode arc on Scrubs.

About Live Nation Entertainment:
Live Nation Entertainment (NYSE-LYV) is the largest live entertainment company in the world, consisting of five businesses: concert promotion and venue operations, sponsorship, ticketing solutions, e-commerce and artist management. Live Nation seeks to innovate and enhance the live entertainment experience for artists and fans: before, during and after the show. In 2009, Live Nation sold 140 million tickets, promoted 21,000 concerts, partnered with 850 sponsors and averaged 25 million unique monthly users of its e-commerce sites. For additional information, visit www.livenation.com/investors.

Cincinnati Arts Association
presents
STUDENT ART SHOW
Local Students Display “Celebration” Artwork
May 5 – 13, 2012 • Aronoff Center

How do the children of Greater Cincinnati see and interpret the world around them? The Cincinnati Arts Association (CAA) has been exploring this question for ten years through its Student Art Show, which exhibits artwork by local students. This year’s theme is “Celebration.” The exhibition will be on display in the Aronoff Center’s Fifth Third Bank Theater (7th & Main Streets in downtown Cincinnati) from Saturday, May 5 – Sunday, May 13, 2012. Exhibition hours are Friday, 4:00 – 8:00 PM; Saturday, 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM; and Sunday, 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM. The Student Art Show is free and open to the public.

Representing students from grades K – 8, the diverse collection of two-dimensional artwork will include mediums from pencil drawings to textiles to multi-media. Now in its tenth year, the Student Art Show is organized and presented annually by CAA’s Department of Education and Community Relations, with the assistance of the Weston Art Gallery.

“CAA is excited to be presenting the Student Art Show for its tenth year. Every year students create a unique interpretation of the theme, which this year is ‘celebration’ to mark the ten-year milestone,” says Kathleen Riemenschneider, CAA’s Assistant Director of Education & Community Relations. “The program has been a wonderful opportunity for students to creatively express and share their views with their friends, family, and the public.”

The 2012 Student Art Show has 107 entries. Student artwork from the following schools will be on display: College Hill Prep Academy (West End, OH), Fairfield North Elementary (Fairfield, OH), John G. Carlisle (Covington, KY), Mercy Montessori Center (Walnut Hills, OH), Montgomery Elementary (Montgomery, OH), North College Hill Elementary (North College Hill, OH), North College Hill Middle School (North College Hill, OH), Oakdale Elementary School (Bridgetown, OH), Our Lady of Victory School (Delhi, OH), Our Lady of Visitation School (Delhi, OH), Schilling School for the Gifted (Deerfield Twp, OH), Springer School and Center (Hyde Park, OH), St. Boniface School (Northside, OH), St. Cecilia School (Independence, KY), St. Ignatius School (Montfort Heights, OH), Sts. Peter and Paul School (California, KY), and Terrace Park Elementary (Terrace Park, OH).

The student artwork includes such titles as Hot & Cold Celebration!, Happy Fireworks Day, Party on a Wire, Celebration Mask, Chinese New Year Festival, and Lantern Festival.

Regina Carswell Russo Crowned New Champ

CINCINNATI, OH – Regina Carswell Russo (Director of Marketing and Communications, Cincinnati Art Museum) and her dance pro Brian McNamee (Cincinnati Ballroom Company) scored a PERFECT 10 from the four judges on Saturday, April 14 at the Music Hall Ballroom, taking first place at the Cincinnati Arts Association’s sixth-annual Dancing for the Stars. With an audience of 750 guests (a new attendance record), the sold-out event raised $70,000 to benefit CAA’s Overture Awards – the nation’s largest locally-run high school arts scholarship competition.

Dr. Michael Leadbetter, M.D. (Cosmetic Surgeon, Plastic Surgery Group) and his dance pro Doreen Beatrice (Step-n-Out Studio) took second place; and Moe Rouse (Community Volunteer) and her dance pro Brandon Etheridge (Arthur Murray Dance Studio – Cincinnati) placed third.

The remaining five dance pairs included:

• Janeen Coyle (On-Air Personality, WGRR-FM) & Jeremy Mainous (Arthur Murray Dance Studio – Cincinnati)
• Chief James Craig (Police Chief, Cincinnati Police Department) & Bonita Brockert (Step-n-Out Studio)
• Peter Hiltz (Financial Advisor, Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC) & Desiree Mainous (Arthur Murray Dance Studio – Cincinnati)
• Candace Klein (Attorney, Ulmer & Berne, LLP; CEO, Bad Girls Venture) & J. Patrick Clements
• Joe Rigotti (Creative Director, Accent on Cincinnati; Event Planner) & Leigh Bradshaw (Cincinnati Ballroom Company)

Inspired by the hit ABC-TV show Dancing with the Stars, Dancing for the Stars featured eight Cincinnati celebrities paired with some of the area’s finest professional dancers in a competition program, at which the audience vote propelled the winners to victory. The competitive dance for the evening was the Cha Cha, and each dance pair had 90 seconds to woo the crowd and the judges.

Event emcees were Chris O’Brien (“Married With Microphones,” 103.5 WGRR-FM) and Tanya O’Rourke (news anchor, WCPO-TV9), and the four competition judges were Terry Foster (Dancing for the Stars 2010 alum), Sarah Hairston (Cincinnati Ballet), Eleanor Lachman (local ballroom dance pro), and guest celebrity judge, Drew Lachey (winner of ABC-TV’s second season of Dancing with the Stars).

The Dancing for the Stars 2012 committee included: Phil Schworer (chair, Dancing for the Stars 2010, 2011; winner, Dancing for the Stars 2009), Christina Bolden, Terry Foster, Sue Gilkey, Jim Howland, Ginger Loftin, Rosemary Schlachter, and Dr. Tracey Skale, M.D (winner, Dancing for the Stars 2011).

In addition, Dancing for the Stars featured:

• Dinner-by-the-bite provided by Chef’s Choice Catering, eat well celebrations and feasts, T.G.I Friday’s Catering, Funky’s Catering, Jeff Thomas Catering, JP Chocolatier, Kroger, Maggiano’s, MPG Events and Catering, Palomino, Skyline, Tano Bistro & Catering, Tres Belles Cakes, and Vonderhaar’s Catering, Inc.
• Silent auction
• The swinging sounds of Sound Body Jazz Orchestra
• Popular DJ and 103.5 WGRR personality Rockin’ Ron
• Pre-event star meet-and-greet and wine tasting
• Open dancing before and after the competition

Event highlights included:

• A “Perfect 10” from all four judges for the spot-on Cha Cha by the first-place dance team of Regina Carswell Russo and her dance pro Brian McNamee.
• A record-breaking 17 tables sold in support of second-place finisher, Dr. Michael Leadbetter – his fan-base comprised nearly 20% of the audience.
• A revealing wardrobe malfunction by Janeen Coyle’s dance pro Jeremy Mainous.
• An equally-revealing and sexy Cha Cha by a shirtless Peter Hiltz.
• A la Carmen Miranda, Mo Rouse’s colorful costume featured a headdress of various tropical fruits.
• A smooth and stylish Cha Cha by Police Chief Craig, who was decked out in a cool white fedora.
• Humorous and insightful commentary by the Dancing for the Stars judges – especially from Terry Foster (nurse by day; stand-up comic by night) and guest celebrity judge Drew Lachey (Dancing with the Stars season 2 champ).
• The always outrageous event planner extraordinaire, Joe Rigotti, entered wearing a full-length white-ruffled coat and carrying a full-sized mirror ball. After presenting the mirror ball to judge Drew Lachey, Joe removed his coat to reveal a multi-pastel-colored, bell-bottomed jumpsuit reminiscent of Priscilla, Queen of the Dessert.
• A showcase tap dance routine by 2012 Overture Award winner in dance, Danielle Betscher, wowed the audience.
• The sold-out event had an exceptionally responsive, raucous, and energetic audience, which included large cheering sections, holding signs with various messages and making a loud racket with a variety of noise-makers (including air horns, screaming, stamping feet, etc.).
• After the competition, the dance floor at the Music Hall Ballroom filled with the evening’s guests who danced the night away with DJ Rockin’ Ron from 103.5 WGRR.
• Emcees Chris O’Brien and Tanya O’Rourke kept the crowed entertained between the stars’ dance routines.

THE OVERTURE AWARDS / ACADEMY
The Overture Awards Scholarship Competition is the largest locally-run arts scholarship competition in the country. The program annually provides a $2,500 scholarship to six area high school students for education and training, with 18 finalists each winning a $500 scholarship. Each year, more than 500 students are nominated by their schools to compete in one of six artistic disciplines: Creative Writing, Dance, Instrumental Music, Theater, Visual Art or Vocal Music. There are three levels of competition: Regional, Semi-Finals, and Final.

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. Now in its 16th year, The Overture Awards was launched in 1996 by the Cinergy Foundation and Leadership Cincinnati (a Greater Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce program).

CINCINNATI ARTS ASSOCIATION
Founded in 1992, the Cincinnati Arts Association (CAA) is a not-for-profit organization that oversees the programming and management 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 more than 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.