Tag Archives: Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park

January 8, 2018 · 2:54 pm

Introduce Your Children to the Arts with Cincinnati Playhouse Summer Camps and Performance Academy

PIP_Kids4

Photo by Mikki Schaffner.

CINCINNATI—Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park’s season of one-week Summer Camps and three-week Performance Academy programs are now on sale at cincyplay.com for 2018. The one-week camps introduce children grades 1 to 10 to the world of art using unique, book-based themes. The three-week Performance Academy enables children in grades 3 to 12 to experience the production of a play from beginning to end. No acting experience is required.

“Your children don’t need to be actors to learn and have fun at our summer camps and performance academy,” says Daunielle Rasmussen, director of education and community engagement. “Each camp introduces or furthers your child’s appreciation of the arts. They also build confidence and encourage creativity.”

The programs focus on developing individual and collective skills in a fun, supportive, process-based environment. The children are grouped by age, with a 10:1 student-to-teacher ratio to provide quality appropriate instruction. The courses are taught by local professional artists and educators.

Each week of summer camp is based on the works of famous authors including J.K. Rowling, Dr. Seuss, Stan Lee and C.S. Lewis. At the end of the camp, children will participate in a 10-minute performance piece for friends and family.

Theme camps available are:

TIME TRAVEL WITH MADELEINE L’ENGLE on June 4-8, 2018
Believing takes practice! Be transported through time and space as we explore the classic tale of Madeleine L’Engle’s A Wrinkle in Time. Performers will travel to new and distant lands, pitting good against evil as they write their own scenes and create worlds through theatre crafts. Your children will learn Playwriting, Theatre Crafts, Improvisation and Acting. Showcase Performance on Friday, June 8, at 4 p.m. Deadline for registration on Wednesday, May 30, 2018. Tuition: $295

THE WIZARDING WORLD OF J.K. ROWLING on June 11–15, 2018
Accio imagination! Enter the extraordinary world of J.K Rowling where wizards duel and magical creatures roam. Performers will be sorted into houses, learn the dueling arts, create potions and design their own wizarding school attire. Your children will learn Acting, Theatre Crafts, Stage Combat and Improvisation. Showcase Performance on Friday, June 15, at 4 p.m. Deadline for registration on June 6, 2018. Tuition: $295

THE TOPSY TURVY WORLD OF DR. SEUSS on June 18-22, 2018
Oh, the things you can think! How many thoughts can you think at drama camp? Enter the zany world of Dr. Seuss in this exciting week of puppet-making and physical comedy during which performers will invent characters and enact beloved stories from Dr. Seuss. Your children will learn Physical Comedy, Puppetry, Improvisation and Acting. Showcase Performance on Friday, June 22, at 4 p.m. Deadline for registration on June 6, 2018. Tuition: $295

THE MAGICAL MUSICAL THEATRE OF ROALD DAHL on June 25-29, 2018
What you imagine can sometimes come true! The exciting stories of Roald Dahl have been turned into some of the most beloved and popular musicals on Broadway. In addition to learning introductory dance, singing and acting, groups will learn selections from Matilda, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory and James and the Giant Peach! Your children will learn Singing, Dancing and Acting. Showcase Performance on Friday, June 29, at 4 p.m. Deadline for registration on June 13, 2018. Tuition: $295

THE FANTASTICAL KINGDOMS OF C.S. LEWIS on July 9-13, 2018
Have you dreamed of magic such as this? Travel to the fantastical realms of C.S. Lewis in this week-long adventure where performers develop magical creatures who join in on the valiant battle to protect the kingdom. Your children will learn Stage Combat, Character Creation, Improvisation and Acting. Showcase Performance on Friday, July 13, at 4 p.m. Deadline for registration on June 27, 2018. Tuition: $295

THE MARVELOUS ADVENTURES OF STAN LEE on July 16-20, 2018
Avengers assemble! We are calling all superheroes, villains and masterminds to bring to life the marvelous world of comic book genius Stan Lee. Performers will create a theme song and sound effects to accompany epic fights between the superheroes and villains. Your children will learnSound Design, Stage Combat, Improvisation and Acting. Showcase Performance on Friday, July 20, at 4 p.m. Deadline for registration on July 11, 2018. Tuition: $295

THE TRAGIC TALES OF LEMONY SNICKET on July 23-27, 2018
What might seem to be a series of unfortunate events may, in fact, be the first steps of a journey. Join us as we discover, design and create the mysterious world of Lemony Snicket. Performers will develop exciting characters that will entice the imagination. Your children will learn Design Bootcamp, Character Creation, Improvisation and Acting. Showcase Performance on Friday, July 27, at 4 p.m. Deadline for registration on July 11, 2018. Tuition: $295

Performance Academy is for incoming 3rd to 12th graders who want to experience the production of a play from beginning to end. Participants, organized by age, will take technique and special skills classes as well as rehearse a play that will be performed for friends and family before the camp ends.

Performance Academy courses available are:

PETER PAN on June 11-29, 2018
Incoming 3rd to 12th grade
Think happy thoughts and let your imagination take flight! This three-week Performance Academy camp will help you gain a deeper understanding of blocking and rehearsal practices while putting together a non-musical production of Peter Pan! Your children will learn Acting, Improvisation, Stage Combat, Physical Comedy and Puppetry. Performance on June 30, at 6 p.m. Deadline for registration on June 6, 2018. Tuition: $995

MYTHS & MONSTERS on July 9-27, 2018
Incoming 7th to 12th grade
Delve into the world of heroes, mystical beings and magical creatures! Tap into the stuff of legends to write, devise and perform a play from scratch in this three-week Performance Academy camp! Your children will learn Devised Acting, Ensemble-based Movement, Playwriting, Sound Effects Design, Stage Combat, Design Bootcamp, Character Creation and Improvisation. Performance on July 27, at 5:30 p.m. Deadline for registration on June 27, 2018. Tuition: $995

“The Playhouse believes everyone has a voice,” says Blake Robison, artistic director. “The camps and Performance Academy are designed to build confidence, strengthen communication skills and develop a sense of ensemble and community.”

All Summer Camp and Performance Academy programs will be offered at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, 962 Mt. Adams Circle, Cincinnati, OH 45202. To register, visit cincyplay.com, or call 513-421-3888. If participants register before Feb. 28, they receive an early registration discount of $50 off each camp program.

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.

# # #

Leave a comment

Filed under Casting Call, Summer Programs for Youth

Tagged as

January 3, 2018 · 10:02 am

PINOCCHIO Will Bring Imaginations to Life in City-Wide Tour

PIP_Pinocchio-2017

Photo by Tony Arrasmith/Arrasmith & Associates.

Cincinnati Playhouse’s latest Off the Hill Production runs Jan. 20-Feb. 18

CINCINNATI—The Playhouse in the Park’s popular Off the Hill series starts the new year with PINOCCHIO beginning Jan. 20. The story, adapted by Toby Hulse from the original stories written by Carlo Collodi, runs through February 18 at community centers across the region.

A well-loved story, PINOCCHIO is about a wooden puppet of the same name full of childlike whimsy that was brought to life by the lonely toymaker Gepetto. The play is packed with playful antics, magical creatures, madcap comedy and dollops of fun for the whole family from age 6 and up.

“I think Pinocchio is an irresistible character,” says Playhouse Senior Directing Fellow Cait Robinson, who directs the show. “I want children to be able to fall in love with and identify with him — his love of singing and dancing, his silly sense of humor and the way he grows wiser and kinder over the course of the play.”

Robinson invites the audience to expand their imaginations every step of the way. Three performers take on the script’s two-dozen characters of humans, animals and magical creatures, while donning original wardrobe pieces created by Playhouse artisans. Painted panels and curtains transform the world of the story from the comfort of Geppetto’s toyshop to the wild of the woods to the depths of the ocean.

“PINOCCHIO is a classic tale that is still relevant and exciting for kids as well as parents,” says Director of Education and Community Engagement Daunielle Rasmussen. “It is an intergenerational gem that is a joyful experience for the whole family from the youngest to the oldest member.”

PINOCCHIO tours the Greater Cincinnati area from Jan. 20 to Feb. 18. Recommended for ages 6 and up.

For information on locations and tickets, click here.

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.

Leave a comment

Filed under Events, Family-Friendly, On Stage

Tagged as

December 22, 2017 · 9:26 am

MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET Runs Jan. 20-Feb. 18

PIP_Million Dollar Quartet logoMILLION DOLLAR QUARTET
Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park
Jan. 20-Feb. 18
Marx Theater [Eden Park]

Directed by Hunter Foster

The electrifying Tony Award-winning musical Million Dollar Quartet brings you inside the recording studio to relive the evening of December 4, 1956. In an extraordinary twist of fate, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Elvis Presley find themselves together at Sun Records in Memphis for what would be one of the greatest jam sessions in history. Step back in time to experience an irresistible tale of broken promises, secrets and celebrations. Million Dollar Quartet boasts powerhouse performances with an incredible score of rock ‘n’ roll, R&B and country hits, including “Blue Suede Shoes,” “Fever,” “Walk the Line,” “Great Balls of Fire,” “Folsom Prison Blues,” “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On,” “Hound Dog” and more.
Advisory: MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET is appropriate for adults and teenage audiences. Elvis’s sultry dance moves on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1956 wouldn’t exactly shock audiences today, and neither will the mild adult language and content in this exhilarating musical.

  • In preview, Sat, Jan 20 at 8pm & Sun, Jan. 21 at 2pm
  • In preview, Tue-Wed, Jan. 23-24 at 7:30pm
  • Thu, Jan. 25 at 7:30pm
  • Fri, Jan. 26 at 8pm
  • Sat, Jan. 27 at 4pm & 8pm
  • Sun, Jan. 28 at 2pm & 7pm
  • Tue-Thu, Jan. 30-Feb. 1 at 7:30pm
  • Fri, Feb. 2 at 8pm
  • Sat, Feb. 3 at 4pm & 8pm
  • Sun, Feb. 4 at 2pm
  • Tue-Thu, Feb. 6-8 at 7:30pm
  • Fri, Feb. 9 at 8pm
  • Sat, Feb. 10 at 4pm & 8pm
  • Sun, Feb. 11 at 2pm & 7pm
  • Tue, Feb. 13 at 7:30pm
  • Wed, Feb. 14 at 1pm & 7:30pm
  • Thu, Feb. 15 at 7:30pm
  • Fri, Feb. 16 at 8pm
  • Sat, Feb. 17 at 4pm & 8pm
  • Sun, Feb. 18 at 2pm

Official page |

Leave a comment

Filed under On Stage

Tagged as

December 19, 2017 · 2:07 pm

Legends Will Rock Cincinnati Playhouse in MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET

PIP_Million Dollar Quartet logoTony Award-winning Broadway musical revives the music of Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins in electrifying production Jan. 20-Feb. 18

CINCINNATI — The Tony Award-winning MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET will take Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park audiences on an exciting step back in time beginning Jan. 20, 2018, where they can relive the impromptu jam sessions of Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Elvis Presley. The electrifying musical will run through Feb. 18 in the Playhouse’s Marx Theatre.

For fans of music, the show brings to life some of the 20th century’s most beloved musicians and includes performances of “Blue Suede Shoes,” “Walk the Line, “Great Balls of Fire” and “Hound Dog.” For newcomers, the powerhouse production will introduce audiences to some of the best music in modern history that likely inspired their favorites as well.

MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET not only relives a historical evening of music but also provides a snapshot of the profound moment in time that rock ‘n’ roll became a cultural force to be reckoned with,” explained Blake Robison, artistic director of the Playhouse. “Most of the audience members know what icons these musicians would become, but their characters don’t. It’s fun to imagine them at the beginning of it all and to examine their relationships with each other.

The musical, which Chicago Sun-Times called “a breakneck hour and 45 minutes of rock ‘n’ roll heaven,” earned three Tony Award nominations, including one for best musical, during its Broadway run.  It’s based on the true events that occurred on Dec. 4, 1956, when the artists discovered by Sam Phillips, known as the “grandfather of rock and roll,” spent a serendipitous evening together in the recording studio of Sun Records.

On that fateful night, Carl Perkins was scheduled for a recording session, an attempt to follow up his blockbuster single “Blue Suede Shoes,” which that spring had become Sun Records’ first national hit and certified million-seller. Accompanying Perkins on the piano was a relative unknown named Jerry Lee Lewis, whose own tune “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On” would be released just a few weeks later. Johnny Cash was good friends with Carl Perkins, so he stopped by to lend support to the session. Earlier that year, he leapt into the national spotlight with “I Walk the Line,” his first crossover success after country hits such as “Folsom Prison Blues.”

The last to arrive that day was the biggest star in the group, Elvis Presley, back in Memphis after a brief stint in Vegas. For Presley, 1956 was the year he, too, became a household name, thanks to three number one songs, no less than 11 national television appearances and the release of his debut feature film, Love Me Tender.

“When Sam Phillips discovered these artists and then when he was doing all these recordings, it’s sort of like the beginning of rock ‘n’ roll,” said Hunter Foster, the show’s director, in an interview with Hollywood Soapbox. “Carl Perkins influenced the Beatles, and Jerry Lee Lewis influenced Elton John. And Elvis obviously influenced a host of artists all the way to Michael Jackson. … You really see the origin, almost like ground zero, of the music that we know today. There really wasn’t that much of that kind of stuff before it, and Sam really created something. They call him the father of rock ‘n’ roll, and it’s really true.”

Hunter Foster, who created the role of music producer and Sun Records owner Sam Phillips in the original Broadway run, will direct the Playhouse’s production.  Foster launched to theatre stardom as an actor in Urinetown The Musical. He also has appeared on Broadway in The Bridges of Madison County, Hands on a Hardbody, The Producers, Footloose and Little Shop of Horrors,for which he earned a Tony Award nomination. As a writer, he penned a stage adaptation of the movie Clue, as well as the books for two off-Broadway musicals: Jasper in Deadland and Summer of ’42.

Beyond the music, MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET examines the relationships between the performers and the players behind the scenes. Industry politics prompt everyone to evaluate their friendships, loyalty and ambition.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Tasting Series: Three-Course Bourbon Experience
Part of our on-going tasting series, a three-course bourbon tasting will be offered before each Friday evening performance of MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET and is priced at $35 per person, and does not include a ticket to the show.

Playhouse Perspectives: Hunter Foster
Saturday, Jan. 21, 6 p.m. – 7 p.m., at the Playhouse
A conversation with the director of MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET, Tony Award-nominated Broadway star Hunter Foster. With years of experience with MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET on his resume, Foster will provide an in-depth perspective of the production. Learn how he keeps the show fresh, why he continues to return to this musical and more about his seasoned career in theatre. All Playhouse Perspective Events are free and open to the public, but registration is required. Please call the Box Office at 513-421-3888 to reserve your spot.

Lyric Writing Workshop
Saturday, Jan. 27, 10 a.m. – noon, at the Playhouse
Channel your inner Carl Perkins, the first poet of rock ‘n’ roll. Discover how to tell your story through song by focusing on the words themselves. Registration is $50, and can be completed at cincyplay.com/learn or by calling the Box Office at 513-421-3888.

TICKETS
Prices for MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET start at $35 depending on seat selection and performance day. Tickets for children and teens are $30 or $45 based on seating location. Prices subject to change. Student tickets are just $15 on the day of the show. Plus, Sunday is College Night, with tickets to all 7 p.m. performances just $10. In addition to calling the Box Office at 513-421-3888, tickets can also be purchased by visiting the Playhouse website at www.cincyplay.com.

ACCESS
The Playhouse is fully accessible. Large print programs and hearing enhancement receivers are available upon request.

BOX OFFICE
Call 513-421-3888 or 800-582-3208 toll-free in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana; or 513-345-2248 – TDD access (Telecommunications Device for the Deaf).

SPONSORS
The Robert S. Marx Theatre Season is presented by Schueler Group. Season Design Sponsor is Macy’s. Honorary Co-Producer is Linda and Gary Greenberg. Design Sponsor is John and Jennifer Stein. Artist Sponsor is Janney Montgomery Scott.

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.

# # #

Leave a comment

Filed under Press Releases

Tagged as

December 6, 2017 · 3:42 pm

Cincinnati Playhouse to Offer Winter Acting Classes for Children

PIP_logoCINCINNATI—Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park is offering a winter session of acting classes and workshops offered to young persons ages 3-14. Designed to build confidence, strengthen communication skills and develop a sense of ensemble and community, the programs focus on individual and collective skill development in a fun and supportive environment.

“At the Playhouse, we believe everyone has a voice,” says DaunielleRasmussen, director of education and community engagement. “No acting experience is required or expected.”

Like the fall session, Cincinnati Playhouse provides options in Mason and Mt. Adams. Details for each class, including fees, dates and locations, are below. All registrations include a $25 non-refundable deposit. Register at cincyplay.com or call 513-421-3888.

WINTER CLASS SCHEDULE 

MAGICAL TRAVELS
Pre-kindergarten | Tuition: $95*
Saturdays, Jan. 13 – March 3, 10-10:30 a.m. at the Playhouse
Mystical worlds await! Each week, we’ll open our magical travel chest to discover clues that take us on a new adventure. Learn about voice,movementand collaboration while working with fellow travelers to create exciting characters.

MAGICAL TRAVELS
Pre-kindergarten and Kindergarten | Tuition: $95*
Wednesdays, Jan. 10 – Feb. 28, 4-4:30 p.m. at Children’s Academy of Mason
Mystical worlds await! Each week, we’ll open our magical travel chest to discover clues that take us on a new adventure. Learn about voice, movementand collaboration while working with fellow travelers to create exciting characters.
Children’s Academy of Mason is located at 6965 Cintas Blvd., Mason, OH 45040.

DRAGON QUEST
Kindergarten through second grade | Tuition: $140*
Saturdays, Jan. 13 – March 3, 10:40-11:25 a.m. at the Playhouse
Oh no! Dragons are invading our castle! Soar to great heights, jump through fire and work together to protect our royal kingdom in this movement-based class. Use your imagination, body and voice to make new friends and train dragons.

DRAGON QUEST
First through fourth grades | Tuition: $140*
Wednesdays, Jan. 10 – Feb. 28, 4:45-5:30 p.m. at Children’s Academy of Mason
Oh no! Dragons are invading our castle! Soar to great heights, jump through fire and work together to protect our royal kingdom in this movement-based class. Use your imagination, body, and voice to make new friends and train dragons.
Children’s Academy of Mason is located at 6965 Cintas Blvd., Mason, OH 45040.

HEROES OF OLYMPUS
Third through fifth grades | Tuition: $155*
Saturdays, Jan. 13 – March 3, 11:35 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at the Playhouse
Discover your inner god or goddess as we explore ancient myths! Realize your own, unique powers — like controlling water or throwing lightning bolts — in this voice and movement-based class. Through acting technique and movement, unleash new worlds and bring to life epic stories.

HEROES OF OLYMPUS
Sixth through eighth grades | Tuition: $155*
Saturdays, Jan. 13 – March 3, 9-9:50 a.m. at the Playhouse
Discover your inner god or goddess as we explore ancient myths! Realize your own, unique powers — like controlling water or throwing lightning bolts — in this voice and movement-based class. Through acting technique and movement, unleash new worlds and bring to life epic stories.

MYTHICAL MUSICALS
Fifth through eighth grades | Tuition: $245*
Mondays, Jan. 8 – March 5, 4-5:30 p.m. at the Playhouse
Step into worlds unknown through musical theatre! In this performance-based class, we’ll learn about mythology while bringing to life scenes from shows like Hercules. Enhance your acting technique, voice and movement skills in this exciting musical class.

For info or to register, visit cincyplay.com or call or call 513-421-3888.

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.

# # #

Leave a comment

Filed under Training

Tagged as