CINCINNATI, OH – Over a lifetime in music, Johnny Cash scored 13 GRAMMY Awards, earned three hall of fame enshrinements, contributed to 242 records, hosted his own television show, and was the subject of a posthumous, Oscar-nominated biopic. And in a historic venue that has recently hosted performances by his daughter and two former sons-in-law and bandmates, 31 songs of “The Man In Black” take center stage this August.
Memorial Hall proudly presents RING OF FIRE, the Johnny Cash musical, playing August 16, 17, 23 & 24 in the beautifully restored Anderson Theater. Broadway veteran Leslie Goddard directs and choreographs the concert staging. An all-star lineup of actors and musicians perform Cash hits including “I Walk The Line,” “Folsom Prison Blues,” “A Boy Named Sue,” and the eponymous “Ring of Fire,” while video design illuminates the odyssey of Cash’s life and times. Tickets are $28 – $42 and are available at MemorialHallOTR.com, or by calling the Memorial Hall Box Office at 513.977.8838 (Tu – Fr, 1pm – 6pm).
“RING OF FIRE” is presented through special arrangement with and all authorized performance materials are supplied by Theatrical Rights Worldwide, 1180 Avenue of the Americas, Suite 640, New York, NY 10036. www.theatricalrights.com
A Cash Family Affair
Following the completion of an $11 million renovation in late 2016, perhaps no event better symbolized the return of Memorial Hall to Cincinnati’s cultural forefront than a performance by multi-GRAMMY award winner Rosanne Cash. The stirring performance by Cash and husband, John Leventhal, was the first of a trio of Memorial Hall shows that scaled the branches of the Cash family tree. Rosanne Cash’s previous husband, and father to her three children, is fellow GRAMMY winner Rodney Crowell, who himself offered an acclaimed performance at Memorial Hall in 2018. Earlier that same year, the venue presented Americana legend Marty Stuart, who while a Johnny Cash sideman the early 80s would marry his boss’ third daughter, Cindy.
“Johnny Cash’s voice–you know, if Mt. Rushmore could open its mouth–any one of the sculptures on Mt. Rushmore could open their mouths and sing, that’s what it would sound like,” said Crowell of Cash in a 2000 interview for NPR. With so many roads in country and Americana music leading back to The Man In Black, it’s no wonder that a celebration of this monumental artist was in store for patrons of Memorial Hall.
RING OF FIRE Who’s Who
Building upon a performing career that has included Broadway’s HAIRSPRAY and the Las Vegas staging of JERSEY BOYS, director / choreographer Leslie Goddard returns to Memorial Hall following her celebrated summer 2018 staging of The Who’s TOMMY. Goddard gets an assist from Cincinnati native Zack Steele, who taps experience from performing in three separate RING OF FIRE productions to both assistant direct and act in the show, while also accompanying himself on guitar.
Indeed, all of the actors in RING OF FIRE play their own instruments, drawing from a shallow pool of multi-talented actor musicians. Likewise pulling double duty is Steve Goers (keyboard), who both performs in and music directs the show. A faculty member at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM), Goers is frequent presence at theatres including Playhouse in the Park, Ensemble Theatre and the Aronoff Center. Though infrequently called upon to act and sing, Goers has flexed his thespian muscles before, including with RING OF FIRE lead guitarist and actor Brad Myers in The Carnegie’s 2012 production of PUMP BOYS & DINETTES. Known as one of Cincinnati’s preeminent guitarists, Myers has plied his talents with notable Cincinnati bands Ray’s Music Exchange, Aja and The Midwestern Swing, while his own projects have earned national acclaim, including a “four-star” rating from Downbeat Magazine for his debut album, Prime Numbers. Myers and Goers team with lauded bassist Aaron Jacobs, drummer Adam Wheeler and multi-instrumentalist Jennie Malone as the backbone of a formidable musical ensemble.
Similarly keeping one foot in both the theatrical and musical worlds is a. Beth Harris, playing the roles of Mrs. Cash and June Carter. A longtime fixture at Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati (HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH, VIOLET) and Know Theatre (GRUESOME PLAYGROUND INJURIES, ADDING MACHINE), Harris has more recently devoted her time to local bands The Hiders and The Perfect Children, as well as national tours with Erika Wennerstrom of Heartless Bastards. The cast is rounded out by Northern Kentucky University alum Hunter Henrickson, who returns to the area following a stint in a national tour of THE WIZARD OF OZ.
A complete cast, band and production team list can be found following this release.
Ticketing
Tickets to RING OF FIRE are available online beginning May 17. Tickets are available by phone via the Memorial Hall Box Office at 513.977.8838 (Tu – Fr, 1pm – 6pm). Ticket scaling is as follows:
- Boxes – $42
- Orchestra – $35
- Center Balcony – $32
- Side and Rear Balcony – $28
- Students, Groups of 8 or More – $24 (call the box office for reservations)
RING OF FIRE Cast, Band and Production Team
Cast:
- Steve Goers (keys)
- a. Beth Harris* (acoustic guitar)
- Hunter Henrickson (acoustic guitar)
- Brad Myers (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, mandolin)
- Zack Steele* (acoustic guitar)
*Actor appears courtesy of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.
Band:
- Aaron Jacobs (bass)
- Jennie Malone (accordion, banjo, guitar, ukulele, autoharp, fiddle)
- Adam Wheeler (drums)
Production Team:
- Producer – Joshua Steele
- Director / Choreographer – Leslie Goddard
- Assistant Director – Zack Steele
- Music Director – Steve Goers
- Lighting Designer, Production Manager – Andi Schultes
- Costumer – Liz Galbraith
- Hair & Makeup Designer – Katherine Jackson
- Sound Designer – Brian Lloyd
- Dialect Coach – Katelyn Reid
- Stage Manager – Kayla Loree
- Assistant Stage Manager, Wardrobe – Jeffery Bunch
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About Memorial Hall
Memorial Hall, managed and programmed by 3CDC, is conveniently located in the heart of the revitalized arts district of Over-the-Rhine. This exquisite venue overlooks Washington Park, and is adjacent to Music Hall in addition to being down the street from both the School for Creative and Performing Arts and soon-to-be completed new home of the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company. Designed by Samuel Hannaford, the hall features marble staircases adorned with intricate wrought iron that lead to the 550-seat proscenium theater, dubbed the Annie W. and Elizabeth M. Anderson Theater. Exceptional acoustics, decorative murals and Tiffany chandeliers enhance this historic theater. Memorial Hall offers an elegant setting for performances and unique spaces for social and business events.
About 3CDC
3CDC is a private, non-profit, real estate development and finance organization focused on revitalizing Cincinnati’s urban core in partnership with the City of Cincinnati and the Cincinnati corporate community. 3CDC’s work is specifically focused on the Central Business District and in the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood. 3CDC also manages The Cincinnati Equity Fund (CEF) and the Cincinnati New Markets Fund (CNMF). These investment funds play an important role by providing needed financial capital to 3CDC’s development projects. For more information, visit
http://www.3cdc.org.
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