Tag Archives: Mars Hill Academy

Audiences will be swept back in time to 1901, as the Mars Hill Academy Players present Thornton Wilder’s OUR TOWN

Zeke Crocker of Maineville, Ellery Powers of Maineville, Lydia Cunningham of Liberty Twp., Marko Mavridis of Lebanon, Kaiya Knodel of Springboro, and Camdon Hutchinson of Cincinnati.

MASON – Milk is delivered, breakfast is on the stove, and the town of Grover’s Corners, New Hampshire is alive. These everyday moments that shape the human experience will unfold on stage as the Mars Hill Academy Players transport audiences to the turn of the last century in Thornton Wilder’s timeless classic, “Our Town,” Feb. 29-March 2.

In scenes of daily life that capture the poetic beauty of the everyday, this Pulitzer Prize-winning American classic celebrates family, faith and the wonders that happen all around us, if we are just attuned to see them.

Audiences will meet the town gossips, the boys who play baseball, and the choirmaster with a secret sorrow. They’ll witness the unfolding journey of teenagers George Gibbs (played by senior Andrew Leonard of Liberty Twp.) and Emily Webb (played by senior Lydia Cunningham of Liberty Twp.), as they navigate the realms of friendship, love, marriage, and beyond. The drama culminates in Emily’s third act revelation that humans fail to “realize life while they live it…every, every minute.”

Directed by the Headmaster Mike McKenna, the cast brings a fresh and heartfelt perspective to the enduring themes of the play.

“This production is a nostalgic journey that invites audiences to immerse themselves in the simplicity and richness of life in Grover’s Corners. ‘Our Town’ not only captures the essence of a bygone era but also explores the universal aspects of love, gratitude, and the human experience,” he explained.

McKenna said one unique aspect of directing Wilder’s classic is stripping the play of artifice with minimal scenery or props.

“The show contains fewer props and visuals, allowing the audience to focus on the characters and the strong emotions,” he said.

“Our Town” is a show for all ages. McKenna explained, “The themes of ‘Our Town’ are timeless and resonate with audiences of every generation. It invites us to reflect on the simple yet profound aspects of life that connect us all.”

How to go:

• Dates: February 29 to March 2, 7 p.m., Saturday matinee at 2 p.m.
• Location: The Fitton Center for the Arts (101 S. Monument Avenue, Hamilton, OH 45011)
• Tickets: Thursday tickets are $15 for Premium and $12 for General Admission. Friday and Saturday tickets are $18 for Premium and $15 for General Admission.
• More information or to purchase tickets: visit www.marshill.edu/drama

Good grief! Mars Hill Academy is bringing America’s most beloved comic strip to life as they present YOU’RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN March 9-11. Shown are (from left): Camdon Hutchinson of Cincinnati as Linus, Lydia Cunningham of Liberty Twp. as Lucy, Elijiah Mullucey of South Lebanon as Charlie Brown, Ezekiel Forster of Clarksville as Schroeder, Kaiya Knodel of Springboro as Sally, and Zeke Crocker of Maineville as Snoopy.

Happiness is Great Musical Theater 
Mars Hill Academy presents YOU’RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN

Good grief! Mars Hill Academy is bringing America’s most beloved comic strip to life as they present YOU’RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN March 9-11.

“Based on the beloved Charles Schulz comic strip, this delightful musical is a crowd-pleasing classic for all ages,” said Mike McKenna, MHA headmaster and show director. “No one contemplates life’s biggest questions while playing baseball, grappling with homework, and falling for first crushes quite like Charlie Brown. Anyone who’s a Peanuts fan will relive fun memories from the comic strip.”

With charm, wit, and heart YOU’RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN explores the adventures and trials of life through the eyes of Charlie Brown — played by Elijah Mullucey of South Lebanon — and his friends. The series of vignettes and songs features Lucy van Pelt (Lydia Cunningham of Liberty Twp.), her blanket-loving child prodigy brother Linus (Camdon Hutchinson of Cincinnati), the musician Schroeder (Ezekiel Forster of Clarksville), Charlie Brown’s sassy sister Sally (Kaiya Knodel of Springboro), and his beloved dog Snoopy (Zeke Crocker of Maineville).

An ensemble of other Peanuts characters includes Adali Belcher of Maineville, Eli Forster of Clarksville, Emily Frank of Mason, Louisa Graham of Loveland, Joelle Kuechly of West Chester Twp., Marko Mavridis of Lebanon, Emma May of Mason, Ellery Powers of Maineville, Christopher Sheldon of Fairfield, Evan Sheldon of Milford, and Lydia Ware of Loveland.

Musical numbers include “My Blanket and Me,” “The Kite,” “The Baseball Game,” “Little Known Facts,” “Suppertime,” and “Happiness.”

Performances are Thursday-Saturday, March 9-11 at 7 p.m. and a Saturday matinee at 2 p.m. at Mars Hill Academy, 4230 Aero Drive, Mason, Ohio 45040. Tickets are available from www.marshill.edu/CharlieBrown and are $15 for premium seats,  $12 for select, and $10 for general admission.

How to Go:

• What: Mars Hill Academy presents YOU’RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN musical
• Where: Mars Hill Academy, 4230 Aero Drive, Mason, OH 45040
• When: March 9-11 at 7 p.m. and a Saturday matinee at 2 p.m.
• Tickets: $15 for premium,  $12 for select, and $10 for general admission

For more information: www.marshill.edu/CharlieBrown

Lydia Cunningham of Liberty Twp., Peyton Hutchinson of Cincinnati, Anna Tipton of Loveland, and Molly Hicks of Cincinnati.

Two murderous old ladies, a Theodore Roosevelt impersonator, and a Boris Karloff look-alike. The Brewsters are one of the most well-respected families in Brooklyn, but is there more than meets the eye? Find out as a cast of Mars Hill Academy Rhetoric School students bring to life the farcical and macabre tale of “Arsenic and Old Lace” by Joseph Kesserling, April 7-9.

“Full of unexpected twists and turns, witty repartee, and middle-of-the-night mishaps, ‘Arsenic and Old Lace’ is a classic comedy for all ages,” said Headmaster Mike McKenna, who is making his directing debut at MHA.

Kind-hearted Mortimer Brewster has just gotten engaged to the girl next door, Elaine Harper. When he visits his sweet spinster aunts to share the news, Mortimer unwittingly opens the lid on buried family secrets. The two seemingly harmless ladies have been poisoning lonely old men with their special elderberry wine as an act of charity.

Hilarity ensues as one visitor after another stops by, and the Brewsters must try to protect the skeletons in the cellar. Mortimer warns Elaine, “Insanity runs in my family. It practically gallops.”

Performances are Thursday-Saturday, April 7-9 at 7 p.m. and a Saturday matinee at 2 p.m. at Parrish Auditorium, 1601 University Blvd., in Hamilton. Tickets are available from seatyourself.biz/marshill and are $18 for premium seats and $15 for select. All seats are assigned.

Cast members include:
Cara Admiraal of Mason; Case Anderson of Maineville; Lydia Cunningham of Liberty Twp.; Zeke Forster of Clarksville; Molly Hicks of Cincinnati; Jeremiah Hoffman of Mason; Kaiya Knodel of Springboro; Bethany Kuechly of West Chester Twp.; Grace Lewandowski of Pleasant Plain; Sadie Miller of Maineville; Noelle Min of Mason; Elijah Mullucey of Lebanon; Peyton Hutchinson of Cincinnati; Evan Sheldon of Fairfield; Nicholas Sheldon of Fairfield; Rachel Tipton of Loveland; and Janie Wehmeyer of Cincinnati.

How to go:

What: Mars Hill Academy presents “Arsenic and Old Lace”

When: April 7-9, 7 p.m.; Saturday matinee at 2 p.m.

Where: Parrish Auditorium, 1601 University Blvd., Hamilton, OH 45011

Tickets: $18, premium seats; $15, select. Available at seatyourself.biz/marshill or at the box office.