Tag Archives: Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park

A CHRISTMAS CAROL Comes to Life November 21 – December 29

(CINCINNATI) — The Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park’s joyous, time-honored celebration of the true meaning of the holidays returns for its 28th season as First Financial Bank presents Charles Dickens’ A CHRISTMAS CAROL. The beloved, iconic story will be performed Nov. 21 through Dec. 29 in the Playhouse’s Robert S. Marx Theatre. (Opening night is Nov. 23.)

More than 600,000 people have enjoyed the timeless classic at the Playhouse over the past 27 years. An immediate hit when Dickens wrote it in 1843, A CHRISTMAS CAROL is often credited for revitalizing the celebration of Christmas as we know it today.

“Thousands of families return each year to the Playhouse to make A CHRISTMAS CAROL a part of their holiday traditions,” explains Blake Robison, artistic director. “The enduring message of A CHRISTMAS CAROL helps to make it one of the Playhouse’s most popular productions each season and a perfect way to introduce children to the joys of theatre.”

Adapted by Howard Dallin, Dickens’ narrative comes to vivid life with spectacular effects and hundreds of costumes that illuminate Ebenezer Scrooge’s time-traversing pilgrimage with the spirits one magical Christmas Eve. From his kind-hearted sister Fan and first love Belle to his generous employer Fezziwig and humble clerk Bob Cratchit, Scrooge is repeatedly shown the saving grace of love and concern for humanity.

Bruce Comer returns to fill Ebenezer Scrooge’s miserly shoes for the 14th time this season, the longest run among the four actors who have played the role, and new for 2018, his son, Charlie, will portray Scrooge as a young adult. Michael Evan Haney is the director of the production.

All show times for A CHRISTMAS CAROL are at 2 p.m. for matinees and 7 p.m. for evening performances to accommodate families with children. Please note the earlier curtain time. There will be no performances on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and selected weeknights in early December.

TICKETS
Prices for A CHRISTMAS CAROL start at $35 for the Nov. 21 preview performance and at $40 for all other performances depending on seat location. Tickets for children and teens are $45 or $30 depending on seat location. Prices subject to change. Student tickets are just $15 on the day of the show. In addition to calling the Box Office, tickets can also be purchased by visiting the Playhouse website at www.cincyplay.com.

A CHRISTMAS CAROL is suitable for all general audiences, including children ages 5 and older. Due to the full-length nature of the show, children younger than 5 cannot be admitted.

A CHRISTMAS CAROL will be audio described for those with visual impairments at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1, and signed for persons with hearing impairments at 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 2. The Playhouse is fully accessible. Audio enhancement receivers, large print programs and complete wheelchair access are available.

CAST
Bruce Cromer (Ebenezer Scrooge); David Armando (Constable at Fezziwig’s/Man with Pipe/Caroler/Streets); Damien Boykin (Dick Wilkins/Caroler/Streets); Charlie Cromer (Young & Mature Scrooge/Ghost of Christmas Future); Annie Fitzpatrick (Mrs. Fezziwig/Patience/Streets); Ryan Wesley Gilreath (Bob Cratchit/Schoolmaster Oxlip); Mia Goodlett (Want/Guest at Fezziwig’s/Streets); Ashlynn Isabel Hezlep (Belinda Cratchit/Guest at Fezziwig’s/Streets); Maya Jeyam (Rose/Guest at Fezziwig’s/Caroler/Streets); Ari Elizabeth Johnson (Fan/Guest at Fezziwig’s/Streets); Ronin King-Dennis (Tiny Tim); Gabrielle Kogut (Poulteress/Guest at Fezziwig’s/Streets); Julie Locker (Mary (Scrubwoman at Fezziwig’s)/Caroler/Streets); Taha Mandviwala (Mr. Sosser/Topper/Man with Shoe Shine/Guest at Fezziwig’s); Sara Masterson (Belle/Catherine Margaret); Kelly Mengelkoch (Mrs. Cratchit/Laundress/Streets); Daniel Petzold (Fred); Greg Procaccino (Jacob Marley/Old Joe); Douglas Rees (Mr. Fezziwig/Ghost of Christmas Present); Madison Rengli (Mrs. Dilber/Guest at Fezziwig’s/Streets); Parker Roland (Peter Cratchit/Gregory/Apprentice at Fezziwig’s/ Streets); Nick Rose (Mr. Cupp/Percy/Rich Man at Fezziwig’s); Britney Nicole Simpson (Ghost of Christmas Past/Mrs. Peake); James Stringer (Undertaker/Guest at Fezziwig’s/Streets); Livvy Stubenrauch (Martha Cratchit/Guest at Fezziwig’s/Streets); Sabian Swan (George/Charles/Rich Son at Fezziwig’s/Streets); Teancom Thacker (Boy Scrooge/Boy at Fezziwig’s/Bootblack/Streets); Charlie Wise (Ignorance/Matthew/Apprentice at Fezziwig’s/Streets);

PRODUCTION
Michael Evan Haney (Director); James Leonard Joy (Set Designer); David Murin(Costume Designer); Kirk Bookman (Lighting Designer); David Smith (Sound Designer/Composer); Steve O’Shea (Lighting Contractor); Rebecca N. Childs (Music Director); Dee Anne Bryll (Choreographer); Stephanie Klapper (Casting Director); Andrea L. Shell (Stage Manager); Jenifer Morrow (Second Stage Manager); Brooke Redler (Second Stage Manager)

SPONSORS
A CHRISTMAS CAROL is presented by First Financial Bank. The design sponsor and artist sponsor/Ghosts is Ohio National Financial Services. Artist sponsor/Ebenezer Scrooge is AAA/Provident Travel. Artist sponsor/Tiny Tim is Bahl & Gaynor.  Additional support is provided by The Stona Fitch Family.

The Robert S. Marx Theatre Season is presented by Schueler Group. Season Sponsor of New Work is The Rosenthal Foundation. Marx Theatre Season Design Sponsor is Macy’s.

The Playhouse is supported by the generosity of more than 40,000 contributors to the ArtsWave Community Campaign. The Ohio Arts Council helps fund the Playhouse with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans. The Playhouse also receives funding from the Shubert Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts.

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EVENTS

HOXWORTH BLOOD DRIVE
Saturday, Nov. 17, 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Join the Playhouse and Hoxworth Blood Center for our 23rd annual blood drive on Saturday, Nov. 17, from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Rosenthal Plaza. Donors will receive half-price tickets good for select performances of A CHRISTMAS CAROL and IN THE HEIGHTS. You’ll also leave knowing that you provided life-giving support to those in need, saving up to three lives with your single donation. For an appointment, visit www.hoxworth.org/groups/playhouse. Appointment times are limited, so you are strongly encouraged to reserve your spot in advance.

CRATCHIT FAMILY FOOD DRIVE
Help a neighbor in need by participating in the Playhouse’s annual Cratchit Family Food Drive to support the Freestore Foodbank. To donate, simply bring a nonperishable food or personal care item to the Playhouse when you come for a performance in November or December and place it in one of the barrels located near the Box Office. Food items that are always in demand include canned meat products; canned vegetables; fruits and soups; peanut butter; and macaroni and cheese. Personal care items include soap, shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste, feminine hygiene products and disposable diapers. Please, no glass items.

CINCINNATI–Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park Capital Campaign Co-Chairmen Woody Taft and Rob Reifsnyder announced today that the Rosenthal Family Foundation has made a significant pledge to the Playhouse’s capital campaign, a gift that includes naming rights to Shelterhouse Theatre.

The newly christened Rosenthal Shelterhouse Theatre will be unveiled at the beginning of the 2019-2020 season, after interior seating improvements are made as the first piece to be completed in the Playhouse’s capital project.

“The Rosenthal Family’s long history of supporting new work has been key to the Playhouse’s ability to produce world premieres every season,” said Blake Robison, artistic director. “The majority of those plays are staged in the Shelterhouse, which is what makes naming it for the Rosenthals such a perfect match. Lois Rosenthal, Dick Rosenthal’s late wife, an emeritus board member of the Playhouse, was an enthusiastic advocate for original, edgy theater. And, she and Dick loved the process of helping to present new works.”

“I’ve always enjoyed seeing the performances that resulted from our sponsorships of new, compelling work found and produced by the talented artistic producing directors of the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park,” said Mr. Rosenthal. “And, we look forward to seeing them for many more years.”

The Rosenthal Family has supported 28 world premiere plays at the Playhouse since 1988, when they founded the New Play Prize, which continued through the 2002-2003 season. They serve as Season Sponsor of New Work, which they began supporting in 2013.

In February 2017, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park announced a major capital campaign to build a new, state-of-the art Mainstage Theatre Complex. The construction timetable and building project design are not final, but the current projected opening date will fall in late 2021. The new mainstage theatre complex will cost $39.5 million. During the summer of 2019, all the seats in the Shelterhouse will be replaced and leg room will be added for the start of the 2019-2020 season in the Rosenthal Shelterhouse Theatre.

“The Rosenthal Family Foundation’s generous gift continues the fantastic momentum we’re experiencing with the capital campaign,” said Woody Taft, campaign co-chairman. “To date, we’ve raised $18 million, which includes $14.4 million toward the cost of the new building and an additional $3.6 million for endowment.”

Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park began performances in 1960 after a park shelterhouse was converted into a theatre. The Shelterhouse has been named for Jay Thompson since 1979. Mr. Thompson made the name available to the Playhouse for its capital campaign prior to passing away last year.

The Playhouse is supported by the generosity of almost 40,000 contributors to the ArtsWave Community campaign. The Ohio Arts Council helps fund the Playhouse with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans. The Playhouse also received funding from the Shubert Foundation.

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World premiere musical showcases the groundbreaking rise of King Records

CINCINNATI – Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park will celebrate the local voices, stories and talents that cemented Cincinnati in music history in CINCINNATI KING, a new world premiere musical that begins Nov. 3 (Opening night is Nov. 8.)  It runs through Dec. 23 and is staged with support from The Rosenthal Family Foundation, Season Sponsor of New Work.

“Blues, jazz, country and rock ‘n’ roll wouldn’t be what it is without Cincinnati,” states Playhouse Associate Artist KJ Sanchez. The script is based on years of research and interviews by Sanchez, who is writer/director, and by other community members and Playhouse staff and board members. CINCINNATI KING is produced in conjunction with American Records, a theatre company that chronicles American history founded by Sanchez.

CINCINNATI KING tells the story of King Records founder Syd Nathan, his groundbreaking rise, the music he created and artists he produced, including singer Little Willie John and session drummer Philip Paul.

“You go around the country and everybody knows about Cleveland, they know about Detroit, but people don’t know about Cincinnati,” states Philip Paul’s character in the play. “Before Johnny Cash and Elvis, before James Brown, before Carl Perkins, before Sam Phillips and Sun, before Verve…Before all that? There was King Records.”

Philip Paul, Syd Nathan and Little Willie John are the three main characters in CINCINNATI KING, which begins with Philip Paul ending a set and coming downstage to talk to the audience as if they are interviewing him. The ghost of Syd Nathan then comes onstage and decides that he needs to be interviewed, too, so he can set the record straight.

The play is part documentary, with dialogue from actual interviews with Paul, along with imagined lines from Nathan based on information from research and other interviews about him.

“I don’t in any way want people to think this is the definitive ‘King Records Story,’” Sanchez explains. “I decided to go deeper with fewer people, to focus on the drama and the personal, emotional stories. I hope this play inspires more movies and plays about all the incredible King Records artists.”

Cincinnati is celebrating the 75th anniversary of King Records Studio’s opening this year. Local organizations like King Studios Foundation, Music Heritage Foundation, Bootsy Collins Foundation and the City of Cincinnati are celebrating the milestone through cultural and artistic events. CINCINNATI KING is the culmination of the anniversary celebrations.

CAST
Neal Benari (Syd Nathan); Richard Crandle (Little Willie John); Stanley Wayne Mathis (Philip Paul); Tracy Schoster (Roberta Paul); Cullen R. Titmas (Man); Anita Welch (Woman); Ralph Huntley (Pianist); Richard Livingston Huntley (Drummer); Seth L. Johnson (Guitarist); Terrell Montgomery (Bassist)

PRODUCTION
KJ Sanchez (Writer/Director); Richard Livingston Huntley (Music Director); Misha Kachman (Set Designer); Rachel Healy (Costume Designer); Brian J. Lilienthal (Lighting Designer); Lindsay Jones (Sound Designer); Stephanie Klapper, CSA (Casting Director); Jenifer Morrow (Production Stage Manager)

TICKETS
To purchase tickets or for more information, call the Playhouse Box Office at 513-421-3888 (toll-free in Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana at 800-582-3208) or visit www.cincyplay.com. Call 513-345-2248 for Telecommunications Device for the Deaf accessibility.

Performances will begin at 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays, at 8 p.m. Fridays, 4 and 8 p.m. Saturdays and 2 and 7 p.m. Sundays. Individual tickets start at just $35. Tickets to all 7 p.m. Sunday performances are priced at just $10 for college students with a valid school ID. Student tickets are just $15 on the day of the show for all other performances. Discounted ticket prices for and teens are $30.

EVENTS

PLAYHOUSE PERSPECTIVES: TELLING THE KING RECORDS STORY
Wednesday, Oct. 17, from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Location: Herzog Studios, 811 Race Street
Cost: Free. Registration required.

Through a variety of creative media, many artists and scholars have been capturing the rich history of Syd Nathan and King Records. The record label’s legacy lives on through documentary film, written biographies and now live theatre. Join us for a special panel event in which filmmaker Yemi Oyediran, author Randy McNutt, Herzog Studio’s Elliot Ruther and theatre artist KJ Sanchez provide unique insight into their creative work that shines a spotlight on King Records. This event will be hosted by local music historian and librarian Brian Powers.

This event is free and open to the public, but registration is required by calling the Box Office at 513-421-3888. The Playhouse Perspectives series is supported by a generous grant from Roderick and Barbara Barr.

ADULT WORKSHOP: RHYTHM & PERCUSSION
Saturday, Nov. 17, 10 a.m. to noon at the Playhouse
Cost: $50. Registration required.

Do you love percussion and idolize legendary musicians like King Records session drummer Philip Paul? Have you always wanted to learn how to play but never pursued lessons? Are you excited about the music in our world premiere production of Cincinnati King? In this adult enrichment workshop, learn the fundamentals of drumming from rudiments to tuning to reading tabs.

PLAYHOUSE PERSPECTIVES: KING RECORDS LEGACY ARTISTS
Monday, Nov. 26, at 7 p.m. at the Playhouse
Cost: Free but registration required.

Hear first-hand accounts of the rise of King Records from artists who were there and are currently working to preserve its legacy. This special event will feature King Records session drummer Philip Paul. This event is free and open to the public, but registration is required by calling the Box Office at 513-421-3888. The Playhouse Perspectives series is supported by a generous grant from Roderick and Barbara Barr.

DOCUMENTARY SCREENING: King Records: Birthplace of Rock & Roll
Thursday, Nov. 29, at 7 p.m. at the Esquire Theatre
Sunday, Dec. 2, at 2 p.m. at the Kenwood Theatre
Cost: $12 per person

Join us for a screening of the first installment of a docu-series about King Records’ impact on the birth of rock ‘n’ roll, featuring live concert performances and interviews.

SPONSORS
Production Sponsor is The Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile, Jr. /U.S. Bank Foundation. Additional support provided by Stable Two Financial, Linda and Gary Greenberg, and The Wohlgemuth Herschede Foundation. Season Sponsor is Heidelberg Distributing Company and Season Design Sponsors are Allan Berliant and Jennie Rosenthal Family Fund. Season Sponsor of New Work is the Rosenthal Family Foundation.

The Playhouse is supported by the generosity of almost 40,000 contributors to the ArtsWave Community campaign. The Ohio Arts Council helps fund the Playhouse with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans. The Playhouse also receives funding from the Shubert Foundation.

ACCESS
The Playhouse is fully accessible. Audio enhancement receivers, large print programs, and complete wheelchair access are available.

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