Tag Archives: The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati

Matt Krieg as Alex the Lion & A. James Jones as Marty the Zebra. Photo by Mikki Schaffner.

The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati presents MADAGASCAR: A MUSICAL ADVENTURE February 10-19, 2018 at the Taft Theatre. Join Alex the Lion, Marty the Zebra, Melman the Giraffe, Gloria the hip, hip Hippo and, of course, those hilarious, plotting penguins as they bound onto the Taft Theatre stage in the musical adventure of a lifetime.

Based on the smash DreamWorks animated motion picture, MADAGASCAR: A MUSICAL ADVENTURE follows all of your favorite crack-a-lackin’ friends as they escape from their home in New York’s Central Park Zoo and find themselves on an unexpected journey to the madcap world of King Julien’s Madagascar.   With ten new songs added, including the film’s pop favorite “I Like to Move It, Move It,” MADAGASCAR, A MUSICAL ADVENTURE is brought vividly to life on stage in a high-energy production under the direction of Aubrey Berg. Producing Artistic Director, Roderick Justice, calls this show a creative celebration of friendship that will be fun for the whole family!

Book by Kevin Del Aguila. Original Music and Lyrics by George Noriega & Joel Someillan.  Directed by Aubrey Berg.  Choreographed by Eric Byrd.

MADAGASCAR: A MUSICAL ADVENTURE presented by The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati, February 10-19, 2018.  Saturday, February 10 at 2 PM* (this performance is signed for the hearing impaired), Sunday, February 11 at 2 PM, Sunday, February 11 at 5 PM, Friday, February 16 at 7:30 PM, Saturday, February 17 at 2 PM, Saturday, February 17 at 5 PM, Sunday, February 18 at 2 PM at the Taft Theatre, 5th and Sycamore Streets in Downtown Cincinnati. Tickets start at $10.  1-800-745-3000 and  www.ticketmaster.com.

School performances of MADAGASCAR: A MUSICAL ADVENTURE will be held February 13-16 & 19 during the daytime hours. TCT’s Sensory Friendly performance will be held on Monday, February 19 at 9:45 AM. This performance is intended for individuals on the autism spectrum, as well as children (and adults) with other special needs who may benefit. To create a sensory-friendly performance, the show is performed in a welcoming, supportive environment for those with sensory challenges.  Slight adjustments to lighting and sound are made and effects such as fog, strobes, and lights that extend into the audience are minimalized.  A downloadable Social Narrative (in Word format) is made available on the TCT website one week before the performance.  At the theater, TCT provides an area staffed by specialists in the field where patrons can take a break from the performance if necessary, and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center has trained staff on hand.  For details about how to purchase tickets to TCT’s school or Sensory-Friendly performances, visit www.thechildrenstheatre.com.

The cast (in alphabetical order):

• Skipper/Larz/Ensemble KYLE ANGEL
• Kowalski/Ensemble ANDREW BLAKE
• Rico/Lynn/Ensemble MADELEINE BURGOON
• King Julien/Ensemble CHRIS LOGAN CARTER
• Candy/Maurice/Ensemble LISA DeROBERTS
• Private/Ensemble EILEEN EARNEST
• Zeke/Ensemble CALEB FARLEY
• Alex A. JAMES JONES
• Zelda/Mort/Old Lady/Ensemble KRISTI ROSE MILLS
• Female Swing MADDI O’CONNELL
• Ensemble/Dance Captain RACHEL PERIN
• Gloria JOY ROLLAND-OBA
• Melman SPENSER SMITH
• Marty KELCEY STEELE
• Mason/Ensemble KYLE TAYLOR

Understudies:

• Marty, Alex CHRIS LOGAN CARTER
• Zelda EILEEN EARNEST
• Melman, Mason CALEB FARLEY
• Gloria KRISTI ROSE MILLS
• Candy, Maurice RACHEL PERIN
• Julien, Penguins KYLE TAYLOR

The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati’s production of MADAGASCAR: A MUSICAL ADVENTURE is made possible by the generosity of almost 40,000 contributors to the ArtsWave Community Campaign.  Season Sponsors are the Charles H. Dater Foundation, the H.B., E.W. and F.R. Luther Foundation, and the Marge and Charles J. Schott Foundation.  This program is made possible in part by state tax dollars allocated by the Ohio Legislature to the Ohio Arts Council (OAC). The OAC is a state agency that funds and supports quality arts experiences to strengthen Ohio communities culturally, educationally, and economically.  TriHealth sponsors this production’s Dress Run.  Media sponsors are LOCAL 12 and Q102.

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Tackling how our differences make us awesome not outcasts

Cincinnati – This winter, The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati (TCT), the country’s oldest professional theater for young audiences, invites schools and families to be a part of an important regional premiere on the Ralph and Patricia Corbett Showtime Stage:  POLKADOTS: THE COOL KIDS MUSICAL.

Running February 21 – March 25, 2018, POLKADOTS: THE COOL KIDS MUSICAL will treat audiences to 49 up-close-and-personal performances in the small 152-seat performance space housed in the company’s facility on Red Bank Road.

POLKADOTS: THE COOL KIDS MUSICAL follows 8-year-old Lily Polkadot who just moved to the “Squares Only” small town of Rockaway. As the first Polkadot in an all Square school, Lily faces an almost impossible task of gaining acceptance from her peers. From daily bullying, to segregated drinking fountains, Lily’s quest seems hopeless until she meets Sky, a shy Square boy whose curiosity for her unique polkadot skin blooms into an unexpected pal-ship. Inspired by Civil Rights Pioneers Ruby Bridges and The Little Rock Nine, POLKADOTS serves as a colorful history lesson for the world, reminding us that our differences make us awesome, not outcasts.

Book written by Melvin Tunstall III.  Co-composer and lyricist Douglas Lyons.  Co-composer Greg Borowsky.  Based on an original concept by Douglas Lyons.  Directed by Nate Bertone.

Public show times include:

• Wednesdays at 10 AM and 12 PM
• Thursdays at 10 AM and 12 PM
• Fridays at 10 AM and 12 PM and 7 PM
• Saturdays at 12 PM and 5 PM
• Sundays at 2 PM and 5 PM

Public performance tickets are $20 each.  To order, visit http://www.ticketmaster.com or call 800-745-3000.

On Saturday, March 24, we are proud to welcome Ms. Carlotta Walls LaNier to TCT for a very special Q&A and talkback after the 5 PM performance of POLKADOTS: THE COOL KIDS MUSICAL.  In 1957, at age 14, Ms. Walls LaNier was the youngest Little Rock Nine member to integrate Central High School.  This act of courage and defiance became the catalyst for change in the American educational system.  By ushering in a new order, she and her fellow warriors became ‘foot soldiers’ for freedom.  Tickets for this special event will be $30 and are on sale now.

The 4-person cast includes:

• Sarah Huff as Lily Polkadot
• Rocky Paterra as Sky Square
• Zoe Jensen as Penelope Square
• Shani Hadjian as Mrs. Square/Mama Square

In addition, school performances of POLKADOTS: THE COOL KIDS MUSICAL will be held February 21 – March 16 during the daytime hours. School performance tickets are just $10 per student. For school tickets, visit thechildrenstheatre.com or call 513-569-8080 x22.

TCT’s Sensory Friendly performance of POLKADOTS: THE COOL KIDS MUSICAL will be held on Friday, March 2 at 7 PM. This performance is intended for individuals on the autism spectrum, as well as children (and adults) with other special needs who may benefit. To create a sensory-friendly performance, the show is performed in a welcoming, supportive environment for those with sensory challenges.  Slight adjustments to lighting and sound are made and effects such as fog, strobes, and lights that extend into the audience are minimalized.  A downloadable Social Narrative (in Word format) is made available on the TCT website one week before the performance.  At the theater, TCT provides an area staffed by specialists in the field where patrons can take a break from the performance if necessary, and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center has trained staff on hand. 

For details about how to purchase tickets to Sensory-Friendly performances, visit www.thechildrenstheatre.com.

The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati’s Ralph and Patricia Corbett’s Showtime Stage is conveniently located in The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati’s building at 4015 Red Bank Road, Cincinnati, OH  45227.  Just off I-71, close to US-50/Columbia Parkway, as well as the Norwood Lateral.

The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati’s production of POLKADOTS: THE COOL KIDS MUSICAL is made possible by PNC.  Production Sponsors include Fifth Third Bank, Lasik Plus, William S. Rowe Foundation, and Superior Automotive.  The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati is supported by the generosity of almost 40,000 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.

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Deondra Kamau Means portrays Dr. Martin Luther King JR. in TCT On Tour’s production of MARTIN’S DREAM. Photo by Phil Groshong.

During two Fridays in January, TCT On Tour brings the stories of two important African-Americans to life:  Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Dr. Maya Angelou.

On Friday, January 12, don’t miss MARTIN’S DREAM.  Created, directed and performed by the talented and charismatic Deondra Kamau Means, this one-man show explores the real person behind the pictures: a funny, intelligent, passionate man whose faith, family and education made him one of the most revered people in our nation’s history. Watch the story of his life unfold — from his childhood in the Deep South all the way to the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, where he delivered his famous “I Have a Dream” speech.

MARTIN’S DREAM is most enjoyed by those in grades 2-12 and will be presented on Friday, January 12, 2018 at 10 AM and 7:30 PM on the Ralph and Patricia Corbett Showtime Stage, 4015 Red Bank Road, Cincinnati, OH  45227.

Then, on Friday, January 26 join us for an exclusive 45-minute world-premiere of MAYA ANGELOU: A WRITER’S LEGACY.  Maya Angelou experienced a life that most of us could hardly imagine and her impact on society was immeasurable. The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati is proud to present this biographical sketch of the iconic Maya Angelou. Her talents as an actress, dancer, songwriter and poet entertained and challenged us. While her life, filled with heartache, political activism and humanitarian service taught us to value each other as beautiful, intelligent, works of art. This production was adapted by Deondra Kamau Means.  Christopher Stewart is directing the production.

MAYA ANGELOU: A WRITER’S LEGACY is most enjoyed by those in grades 5-12 and will be presented on Friday, January 26 at 10 AM and 7:30 PM on the Ralph and Patricia Corbett Showtime Stage, 4015 Red Bank Road, Cincinnati, OH  45227.

Tickets for each production are just $10 ($15 on the day of the show) and are available through Ticketmaster by calling 1-800-745-3000 and www.ticketmaster.com. Only 152 seats and a limited number of lap passes are available for each performance.

TCT On Tour is bringing both productions to schools and venues around the Tri-State and throughout the region.  If you’re interested in booking, please contact Violet Webster at 513-569-8080 x20 or by emailingviolet.webster@tctcincinnati.com.

TCT On Tour is sponsored by Macy’s, The Patricia A. Corbett Trust, and Mercy Health Foundation.  The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati is supported by the Ohio Arts Council and the generosity of more than 40,000 contributors to the ArtsWave Community Campaign.

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