Tag Archives: The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati

Bob Herzog stars as The Cat.

Featuring the Cincinnati Circus Company

Cincinnati – The third show in The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati 24-25 Farewell MainStage Season at the Taft Theatre is Dr. Seuss’s The Cat in the Hat February 15-24, 2025. Tickets are on sale now at www.thechildrenstheatre.com. This is the company’s last season at the Taft Theatre before opening the reimagined Emery Theater in October 2025.

From the moment his tall, red-and-white-striped hat appears around the door, Sally and her brother know that The Cat in the Hat (Local 12’s Bob Herzog) is the funniest, most mischievous cat that they have ever met. With the trickiest of tricks and the craziest of ideas, he is certainly loads of fun. He turns a rainy afternoon into an amazing adventure… but what will mom find when she gets home…?

TCT’s production will be directed by A. James Jones and will feature the Cincinnati Circus Company, along with a whole lot of audience participation in the pre-show experience. Don’t be late for this show!

Ideal for ages 4+. This production runs approximately an hour without intermission.

Public Showtimes include:

• Saturday, February 15 at 2 PM (ASL interpretation)
• Saturday, February 15 at 5 PM
• Sunday, February 16 at 2 PM
• Tuesday, February 18 at 10 AM (Sensory-Friendly/Accessible performance)
• Friday, February 21 at 7 PM
• Saturday, February 22 at 11 AM
• Saturday, February 22 at 2 PM
• Sunday, February 23 at 2 PM

At The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati, we believe theatre is for everyone. That’s why we are so excited to present our eighth season of MainStage Sensory-Friendly performances, with the Sensory-Friendly/Accessible performance on Tuesday, February 18 at 10 AM.

This performance is a great outing for people of all ages with sensory needs, perfect for School Field Trips as well as families. It is intended for individuals with developmental and physical disabilities, including those on the autism spectrum who may benefit, and their classmates and families, not for the general public.

Only 500 $10 tickets will be sold in The Taft Theatre (which seats 2,200) giving patrons plenty of room to spread out and enjoy the show comfortably.

Performed in a Judgment-Free Zone, come as you are—everyone is welcome! Featuring softer lights and gentler sounds, making it a cozy experience. Special effects like fog and strobes in the audience? Not this time! Patrons who need a break can chill out in our Quiet Area in the lobby, staffed with a friendly expert. Additional resources for the performance, such as a Character Guide, a Guide to Attending the Show at Home, and a downloadable Social Narrative (in Word format) are available a week before the performance.

A committee of experts in the field was created to aid TCT with these performances, including staff members from Theatre Development Fund’s Autism Theatre Initiative, Cincinnati Children’s Starting Our Adventure Right (SOAR) program, CCHMC/ Cincinnati Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) program, Cincinnati Occupational Therapy Institute, Cincinnati State’s Occupational Therapy Assistant Technology Program, Autism Connections – Cincinnati, Down Syndrome Association of Greater Cincinnati, The Point Arc of Northern Kentucky, Best Point Education & Behavioral Health, Stepping Stones, Inc., Jenn Jordan of Q102.

Additionally, The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati presents eight additional performances of Dr. Seuss’s The Cat in the Hat for school students, including an exclusive homeschool performance. Tickets are $10 per student, with one free adult admission for every 15 students. Call Pam Young at 513-569-8080 ext. 13 for details. Free proficiency test-focused Study Guides are available online at www.thechildrenstheatre.com.

Dani Lobello, Director of Production and Sound Designer. Samantha Reno, Scenic Designer. Yelena Babinskaya, Lighting Designer. Jeff Shearer, Original Costume Designer. Roderick Justice, Additional Costume Design. Maggie Foley & Andrew Nunley, Technical Direction. Jason Romney, Additional Sound Design. Adam Borchers, Properties Supervisor. Jadi Davis, Production Stage Manager.

Dr. Seuss’s The Cat in the Hat is made possible by Dress Run Sponsor TriHealth, Production Sponsor The Summit Hotel, and Season Sponsor The Charles H. Dater Foundation. PNC Foundation provides additional funding for MainStage Ticket Subsidies. Additional Sponsors include The Sutphin Family Foundation, Ohio Arts Council, National Endowment for the Arts, and The Shubert Foundation Inc.

The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati is supported by the tens of thousands who generously give to the annual ArtsWave Campaign, the region’s primary source for arts funding. The Ohio Arts Council helped fund this program with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence, and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans.

The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati’s Broadway-style MainStage productions, including Dr. Seuss’s The Cat in the Hat, are performed in the historic Taft Theatre, 5th and Sycamore Streets in Downtown Cincinnati. Tickets start at $12.

To purchase tickets, visit thechildrenstheatre.com or call the TCT Box Office at 513.569.8080 x10, Monday – Friday from 9 AM to 5 PM.

CAST

• Christopher Baker………………..JUGGLING PERFORMER/KITTEN
• Ella Cooper ………………………..THING 2
• *Brinley Culver ……………………SALLY
• Stella Dionysiou…………………..AERIALIST/KITTEN
• Bob Herzog………………………..THE CAT
• Ethan Kuchta………………………ENSEMBLE
• *Elli Maddock……………………..THING 1
• Aaron Marshall…………………..THE CIRCUS MCGURKUS, NARRATOR/FOLEY ARTIST
• Gina Mauro ……………………….AERIALIST
• Bobby Montaniz …………………FISH
• Oriana Noelle………………….ROLLING GLOBE PERFORMER/KITTEN
• Malyssa Quinn……………………ENSEMBLE
• Olaf H. Rask……………………….UNICYCLIST/KITTEN
• *Colton Slade ……………………..ENSEMBLE
• Lauren Ashley Whitfield………..AERIALIST
• *Kavan Vadivelu ………………….CONRAD

*Denotes TCT’s Young Artists Company

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Cincinnati – The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati (TCT) is thrilled to announce a second, transformative gift of $500,000 from the Farmer Family Foundation to benefit TCT’s campaign to revitalize Cincinnati’s historic Emery Theater and make it the company’s permanent MainStage home. This contribution from the Farmer Family Foundation brings TCT significantly closer to fully funding this ambitious $51.5 million dollar project, A Crown for the Queen City, which aims to provide a world-class, family-focused performing arts space for generations to come, and ensure the company’s future as a premiere arts organization. The remaining amount to raise is $3,250,000. 

TCT President & CEO Kim Kern expressed gratitude for the Foundation’s continued commitment: “The Farmer Family Foundation’s generous support is instrumental in bringing our vision for TCT at the Emery to life. Their belief in this project reflects a shared dedication to enhancing our community’s cultural fabric, and we are immensely grateful for their enduring partnership in building a venue that will create lifelong memories for young audiences and families.”

TCT’s renovation of the storied Emery Theater includes modern upgrades to create a state-of-the-art performance space while preserving the historic charm of the venue. Campaign Co-Chair Allison Kropp emphasized the impact of the Farmer Family Foundation’s latest contribution: “With this gift, we are within reach of a landmark cultural center designed with families in mind. We hope this inspires others to join us in realizing this dream for Cincinnati’s youth and families.”

The Farmer Family Foundation, known for its deep-rooted commitment to enriching the lives of local families, has a long-standing history of supporting impactful community projects in Cincinnati. Their focus on education, health, and youth aligns seamlessly with TCT’s vision to create accessible arts programming for all.

As the oldest professional children’s theatre in the United States, The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati has inspired, entertained, and educated young audiences for over 100 years. With the renovation of the Emery Theater, TCT seeks to elevate its programming and expand its reach, offering a vibrant gathering place where young people can experience the transformative power of the arts.

What TCT imagines is not simply a restoration but a reinvention of the theater into a modern and memorable venue equipped with the latest technology that both inspires and teaches. TCT’s plans to incorporate the most modern technology, a turntable stage lift, an automated fly system, a 40’x 60’video wall, and projection mapping will provide an immersive audience experience and overcome backstage and wing space limitations.

With The Emery as its home, TCT will unlock its potential to inspire diverse audiences with original works and even more innovative programming. TCT will also expand programming for younger children (theatre for the very young) and teenagers, with work considered a revenue risk in its current rented space.

After the completion of fundraising and construction, The Children’s Theatre will open the Emery in Fall 2025, as planned, with its 2025-2026 MainStage season.

History of The Emery Theater:
Imagined by philanthropist Mary Emery and designed by the famed architectural firm of Samuel Hannaford & Sons, the Emery Auditorium opened in January 1912 with an inaugural concert by the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. The acoustically exceptional 2,200-seat theater in Over-the-Rhine was once considered one of the top concert halls in the country. Sergei Rachmaninoff, John Philip Sousa, George Gershwin, Eleanor Roosevelt, Bette Davis, and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. all stood on the Emery stage at various points in its history. The Emery was also the performance home of TCT until 1969, when the University of Cincinnati took ownership of the property and ran it as the College of Applied Sciences until 1989. The theater was used for films, lectures, and meetings for the next decade. While the building’s upper floors were developed as apartments in 2001, the theater has fallen into disrepair since that time. TCT is the Emery Theater’s best hope to be restored to its former glory and to regain its place as a memorable and iconic arts venue.

About The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati:

Celebrating 105 years this season, The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati (TCT) is the oldest professional theatre for young audiences in the country, creating lifelong memories and lasting impact for children and families for more than a century. TCT brings art to life through three divisions: TCT MainStage productions, TCT on Tour/WorkShops, and TCT Academy. TCT draws more than 100,000 youth and adults to its MainStage productions, over 50,000 K-8 students to TCT on Tour Shows, and 1,200 students participate in TCT Academy. Each season, 60,000 students attend TCT MainStage productions with their schools. Delivering much more than entertainment, TCT offers an inclusive space and innovative programming for children and adults to learn confidence, patience, and imagination. TCT’s partnerships with regional schools allow thousands of students each year to reap the lifelong benefits of a quality arts education that they might otherwise not experience.

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