Costume rendering by TCT’s Resident Costume Designer, Jeff Shearer.
Cincinnati – Mondays aren’t everyone’s favorite, but at The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati (TCT), there’s one cool cat that dislikes Mondays the most – Garfield. He’ll be center stage, featured in his own show, GARFIELD, THE MUSICAL WITH CATTITUDE as part of the company’s 101st season. The show can be seen in-person, via socially distanced, LIVE performances on TCT’s Ralph and Patricia Corbett Showtime Stage on Red Bank Road starting on January 21, 2021. The show will also be streaming to watch at home or at school through the online service, Broadway On Demand, beginning January 28.
In this musical adaptation of everyone’s favorite sarcastic tubby tabby, Garfield awakens to find his birthday – the most important day of the year – has fallen on a Monday. The horror! To make matters worse, all his friends – Jon, Odie, Arlene, and even his nemesis, Nermal – have completely forgotten it’s his big day. Only his beloved teddy bear, Pookie, understands his disappointment. Feeling rejected, Garfield leaves the comforts of home but soon realizes in the outside there’s no T.V., the food is garbage (literally), and animal control is always just around the corner. In the end, Garfield learns little things like, you know, the value of friendship and that “home is where the heart – and the food – is.”
Costume rendering by TCT’s Resident Costume Designer, Jeff Shearer.
The show’s director, Eric Byrd, who also serves as TCT’s Associate Artistic Director and Company Manager said, “My guess is Garfield would’ve thrived in quarantine. He’d be able to sleep through Mondays, gorge on lasagna, and watch TV morning, noon, and night. But in this story, our unlikely hero embarks on an epic journey outside the comfort of his own home and to a world unknown and unexplored and discovers that ‘perspective is everything.’ The year 2020 challenged all of us and put many things into perspective.”
Mr. Byrd adds, “Sometimes the little things in life, the things we aren’t always able to make time for, like the friends and family we celebrate with, mean the most to us. Garfield’s dream of the perfect birthday celebration surrounded by the people in his life, is a dream we all share right about now.”
In-person seating will be limited to 30% (or just 44 seats) per performance.
The TCT Team has continued to work diligently to create and debut new safety protocols to protect the audience, staff, and the actors on stage.
As with TCT’s most recent production, THE VELVETEEN RABBIT, special nose and mouth coverings will again be integrated into the costumes by Resident Costume Designer, Jeff Shearer, and pre-recorded vocal amplification will be used to reduce the amount of respiration created by actors in the theater during a performance.
“The health and well-being of our audience, students, and staff have been and always will be our top priority, said Kim Kern, TCT’s Managing Director and CEO. “In April, we assembled a committee of advisors, health professionals, and community leaders to guide our safety protocols. Through their constant guidance, we continue to receive the most up-to-date information, implement strategies early, and continue to go above and beyond CDC, state, and local guidelines to keep everyone safe, happy, healthy, and creative.”
At all in-person shows, mandatory masks for the audience, as well as social distancing, will be required. For complete health and safely protocols, visit https://thechildrenstheatre.com/2020/08/safety-protocols/.
Live performances on TCT’s Ralph and Patricia Corbett’s Showtime Stage on Red Bank Road will take place Thursdays and Fridays at 7pm, Saturdays at 11am, 2pm, and 5pm, and Sundays at 2pm and 5pm, January 21 through February 14, 2021.
Tickets and digital passes are on sale now. For details visit www.thechildrenstheatre.com. Ticket prices for live performances are $25 per ticket.
Digital performances begin January 28 on Broadway on Demand. The presale price for a digital pass is $15.95. This presale price is only available until the production debuts online. After that time, digital passes are $18.95. Digital passes provide unlimited viewing over three days, which begin after the first view.
GARFIELD, A MUSICAL WITH CATTITUDE is based on the Comic Strip GARFIELD by Jim Davis. Book by Michael J. Bobbitt and Jim Davis. Music and Lyrics by John L. Cornelius II ©Paws, Jim Davis Michael J. Bobbitt, and John L. Cornelius II. Originally produced by Adventure Theatre MTC, Glen Echo MD, Michael J. Bobbitt, Producing Artistic Director. Directed by Nick Olcott.
TCT’s production is being directed by Eric Byrd and can be enjoyed by all ages.
An upcoming episode of TCT’s free podcast, Audio Footlights, will feature a behind the scenes look at GARFIELD, THE MUSICAL WITH CATTITUDE and will be available on SoundCloud and iTunes.
TCT strives to eliminate barriers to attendance for all audiences, including people who are hard of hearing or deaf. For theatregoers who are deaf and use American Sign Language as their primary means of communication, we provide an experienced theatre interpreter who stands to the audience left side of the stage and translates what the actors are saying or singing into American Sign Language (ASL).
The show’s ASL performance will be Saturday, January 23 at 11 AM.
The Cast includes:
- Odie…………………………….EVAN BLUST†
- Jon / Animal Control ……..A. JAMES JONES
- Nermal ………………………..MADDIE BURGOON JONES
- Arlene …………………………BRANDI LANGFORD-SHERRILL
- Garfield………………………..DEONDRA KAMAU MEANS
UNDERSTUDIES
- For Odie & Jon — ETHAN KUCHTA†
- For Nermal & Arlene — KAYLA VOGEL
- For Garfield — CJ ZIMMER†
† Denotes TCT’s Young Artists Company
GARFIELD, THE MUSICAL WITH CATTITUDE is made possible by the generosity of Production Sponsors Edyth B. Lindner and TriHealth, as well as Season Sponsors, ArtsWave, Ohio Arts Council, The Patricia A. Corbett Trust, The Charles H. Dater Foundation, and The H.B., E.W. and F.R. Luther Foundation. The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati is supported by ArtsWave and the generosity of tens of thousands of contributors to the ArtsWave Community Campaign. The Ohio Arts Council helped fund this program with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans.
Set renderings by TCT’s Resident Scenic Designer, Jennifer Rhodus.
Costume renderings by TCT’s Resident Costume Designer, Jeff Shearer.
** Live productions are subject to capacity restrictions and safety protocol through the CDC and the State of Ohio and may be converted to a digital ticket if the performance must be canceled for any reason due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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THE VELVETEEN RABBIT
The Change Fund to 
Behind the Curtain Cincinnati 