Tag Archives: Memorial Hall

Popular Vocal Jazz Ensemble Going (Nearly!) Viral, Offering Restored Memorial Hall’s First All-A Cappella Concert

MISC_No Promises Vocal Band

Back row: Joshua Steele & Adam Wheeler. Middle row: Charlie Harper, Matt Croy & Jeff Grooms. Front row: David Baum, Noah Berry & Ken Holdt. Photo by Leslie Goddard.

CINCINNATI, OH – Within a week of its recent release, NO PROMISES’ a cappella rendition of the Alicia Keys classic “If I Ain’t Got You” had been watched more than 28,000 times. The popular local ensemble hopes for one half of one percent of those music lovers to attend and sell out their next show.

NO PROMISES Vocal Band offers the first all-a cappella concert at restored Memorial Hall (1225 Elm Street, Over-the-Rhine) on Wednesday, September 27 at 7:30pm. Tickets are $15 and are available at MemorialHallOTR.com. Seating is limited, and a capacity crowd is expected.

Performing in the Memorial Hall Green Room, where cabaret-style seating and a full cash bar await patrons, NO PROMISES will offer their signature variety of jazz, Motown and pop selections. Listeners will enjoy unique arrangements of tunes by Stevie Wonder, Alicia Keys, Billy Joel, The Jackson 5, Manhattan Transfer, Huey Lewis, and even Taylor Swift.

About NO PROMISES
NO PROMISES is a professional a cappella ensemble bringing exhilarating vocals and breathtaking harmonizations to popular favorites of jazz, Motown and pop music. Hailing from across Ohio, the men of No Promises are Broadway veterans, theatre producers, touring musicians, hair stylists and dads, with a passion for fine a cappella singing.

With repertoire ranging from classics by Manhattan Transfer and the Gaither Vocal Band to surprising treatments of Alicia Keys and Taylor Swift, No Promises has delighted audiences at concert series throughout the region.

The ensemble’s annual Christmas tours are stocking-stuffed with jazz and pop arrangements of beloved holiday favorites. Ten such tinselly tunes are featured on the group’s 2016 debut album, A NO PROMISES CHRISTMAS, including Vince Guaraldi’s “Skating,” Donny Hathaway’s “This Christmas” and the cherished ballad “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.” The album was mixed by engineer Ed Boyer, who has been responsible for the studio sound of NBC’s “The Sing-Off,” Universal Pictures’ “Pitch Perfect” and groups including Pentatonix and Home Free. A NO PROMISES CHRISTMAS is available on iTunes and other digital distributors.

NO PROMISES is led by tenor and arranger Joshua Steele, who founded the ensemble in 2015 with high school chum David Baum; the pair sang together in a strolling barbershop quartet at Cincinnati’s Kings Island theme park. Baum went on to a sparkling stage and screen career in New York City, including the Broadway productions of A CHORUS LINE and MARY POPPINS, and has since returned to the area as a practicing clinical psychologist. NO PROMISES debuted with a 2015 Christmas tour, drawing 2,000
patrons to venues across Cincinnati and Dayton. Quickly assembling a docket of performances including concert series, festivals, weddings, school performances and clubs, NO PROMISES has developed an indelible sound, a dynamic repertoire, and a unique repartee that ensures an entertaining and memorable experience.

NO PROMISES is:

  • Joshua Steele (tenor), Cincinnati
  • Charlie Harper (tenor / baritone), Cincinnati
  • Adam Wheeler (tenor), Dayton
  • David Baum (baritone), Cincinnati
  • Jeff Grooms (baritone / bass), Cold Spring, KY
  • Matt Croy, (bass), Findlay, OH

with current special guests:

  • Noah Berry, (tenor) Cincinnati
  • Ken Holdt, (baritone) Cincinnati

Full singer bios available at www.nopromisesvocalband.com/lineup.

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ONE-MAN STAR WARS TRILOGY Coming to Memorial Hall

MEMO_One Man Star Wars promo

Charles Ross.

ONE-MAN STAR WARS TRILOGY will take Memorial Hall audience members on a fun, frenetic trip to a galaxy far, far away on Friday, September 8th 2017.  Tickets, on sale now, start at $20 and can be purchased at the Memorial Hall Box Office and memorialhallotr.com. To purchase tickets by phone, please call (513) 977-8838.

Created and brought to life on stage by Canadian actor Charles Ross, ONE-MAN STAR WARS TRILOGY is just what it seems – a live solo performance of the original trilogy of Star Wars movies (A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi)! The multi-talented Ross stuns audiences by singlehandedly playing all the characters, singing the music, flying the ships, fighting the battles and condensing the Star Wars plots into just over 60 minutes of live entertainment.

Convinced that he has the best job in the world, “professional geek,” Ross has delivered his rapid-fire recap more than 4,000 times to audiences in 500 cities across four continents over the past 15 years.

It all began at the age of 6 when Ross saw Star Wars with his father. When he was later able to tape the movie on his family’s VCR, he would wake every morning at 5:30 a.m. to watch it. At the University of Victoria, Ross befriended T.J. Dawe; the duo soon collaborated on the creation and arduous rehearsal of many treatments of what would become ONE-MAN STAR WARS TRILOGY.

With Ross performing and Dawe directing, the show made its Toronto Fringe Festival debut in 2002. It toured to Orlando, Fla., Vancouver, B.C., and Chicago. Then, in 2005, the show hit a high point – a performance at Star Wars Celebration III in Indianapolis for an audience of 35,000 ecstatic fans in Indianapolis.

ONE-MAN STAR WARS TRILOGY is recommended for Star Wars fans of all ages and  is performed with permission of Lucasfilm Ltd. All “Star Wars” elements are property of Lucasfilm Ltd. All rights reserved.

NOTE: Audience members are invited to wear costumes, but no masks or weapons are allowed.

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TONY N’ TINA’S WEDDING Coming to Memorial Hall

memo_tony-and-tinas-wedding-promoDirect from New York, the world’s #1 immersive theater experience, TONY N’ TINA’S WEDDING, is coming to Cincinnati! The show will be at Memorial Hall for 8 performances, March 23rd-April 2nd. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at MemorialHallOTR.com or by phone at 513-977-8838. Tickets are $65 and include dinner, a champagne toast, & wedding cake. Discounts are available for groups of 8 or more at $50 per-person.

TONY N’ TINA’S WEDDING is a festive celebration in which the audience doesn’t just watch a show, but participates directly in the fun. Join Tony and Tina, along with their colorful and madcap ItalianAmerican families, as they tie the knot; then take your seat for the wildest, wackiest wedding reception you’ll ever experience. You can kiss the bride, dance with the groom, and make friends with the family. TONY N’ TINA’S WEDDING is an experience like no other.

The hilarious TONY N’ TINA’S WEDDING is the longest running Off-Broadway comedy in history. Since opening February 14th, 1988 in New York City, this unique theatrical experience has won over the hearts of thousands of people, in over 100 cities worldwide, including Japan, Australia and throughout Europe.

From the first toast to the last slice of cake, critics agree! You’ll want to RSVP today for TONY N’ TINA’S WEDDING.

“It’s a wedding to remember!” – New York Post
“It’s a hit!” – People Magazine
“Get yourself invited!” – WABC-TV
“One of the most successful and imaginative hits in history.” – New York Daily News

To learn more, visit MemorialHallOTR.com.

CALENDAR LISTING:
TONY N’ TINA’S WEDDING
Thursday-Sunday, March 23rd-April 2nd
Memorial Hall (1225 Elm St. Cincinnati, Ohio 45202)

Direct from New York, the world’s #1 immersive theater experience, TONY N’ TINA’S WEDDING, is coming to Cincinnati! Tickets are $65 including dinner and are available at memorialhallotr.com. To purchase tickets by phone, please call (513) 977-8838.

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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 www.3cdc.org.

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TONY N’ TINA’S WEDDING Runs March 23-April 2

memo_tony-and-tinas-wedding-promoTONY N’ TINA’S WEDDING
Memorial Hall
March 23-April 2
Over-the-Rhine

Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding is a one-of-a-kind night of entertainment. It’s an Off-Broadway show staged as a festive celebration. The audience doesn’t just watch, but participates directly, from the first toast to the last slice of cake. As two colorful and madcap Italian-American families come together as one, everyone in attendance joins in the fun as guests of the bride and groom.

  • Thu-Sat, March 23-25 at 7:30pm
  • Sun, March 26 at 2pm
  • Thu-Sat, March 30-April 1 at 7:30pm
  • Sun, April 2 at 2pm

Official page |

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Auditions Announced for TONY N’ TINA’S WEDDING at Memorial Hall

memo_logoMemorial Hall is seeking actors and actresses for major roles in the upcoming Off-Broadway production of TONY N’ TINA’S WEDDING to play from March 23 – April 2, 2017.

TONY N’ TINA’S WEDDING is an interactive Off-Broadway show that spoofs an Italian-American wedding, complete with a pre-show cash bar, a ceremony and reception full of mishaps and mad-cap comedy, plus a buffet dinner with wedding cake, music and dancing.

Auditions are scheduled for Friday, February 24 (6pm – 10pm) and Saturday, February 25 (1pm – 5pm), at Memorial Hall, 1225 Elm Street in Over-the-Rhine. We are seeking men and women ages 18-70. Only actors with outgoing personalities need apply.

Improvisational skills are helpful. Auditions will be interviews; some actors will be asked to read from sides provided, and some actors will be asked to improvise. Please RSVP by Friday, February 17 to Jared Webster at jwebster@3cdc.org with name, email address, phone number, and availability for the audition times. No phone calls, please. Please bring a headshot and resume to the audition, as available.

Rehearsals will take place March 18 – 22. Actors must be available for rehearsals and all performances. There will be some pay involved, and cast members will work alongside professional actors from the New York production.

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