Margot Grom-Mansencal as Snow White with Producing Artistic Director, Roderick Justice. Photo by Phil Groshong.
The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati is proud to present a special preview of the world-premiere production, SNOW WHITE AND THE DANCING DWARFS, for the families of Most Valuable Kids of Greater Cincinnati, Inc. (MVK) on Thursday, February 11 at 5:15 PM at the Taft Theatre.
MVK was co-founded by Sherri Jaffe Friedman while she was serving on the Board of Directors of The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati (TCT). She has been the CEO of MVK since its inception in October 2005 and has been responsible for the growth of the organization, which has distributed over 100,000 tickets/experiences to deserving kids. The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati has worked with MVK since the beginning.
Live entertainment provides a source of positive inspiration for kids. MVK brings this inspiration, at no cost, to underserved kids in our community and does this by offering charitable children’s organizations access to sports and cultural events through an online ticket donation system. MVK directly impacts more than 90 non-profit agencies in Greater Cincinnati that benefit at-risk kids in our community. MVK’s donated tickets and experiences are used as a reward for academic achievements, enhance social development and encourage kids to dream.
The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati’s SNOW WHITE AND THE DANCING DWARFS performance at the Taft Theatre is unique because families will be seeing the final dress rehearsal before the show opens on February 12. TCT will have a staff member stationed on a microphone to explain the significance of any stops and starts during the rehearsal and share an exclusive look at what the cast and crew do to make a show come to life on stage. This affords these children the exciting opportunity to see unique “behind the scenes” elements of theater, creating a truly educational as well as entertaining evening for these children who, due to financial circumstance, would not have been able to see this performance at all without the TCT/MVK collaboration.
About The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati:
The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati (TCT) is the nation’s oldest theater for young audiences. Its mission is to educate, entertain and engage our young audiences through professional theatrical productions and arts education programming, which is accomplished through three primary programs each season:
MainStage at the Taft Theatre – More than 81,000 children, teachers, and family members, including students from approximately 250 schools across the Tri-State, attend one of four family-friendly and professional musical theater productions annually at the historic Taft Theatre in Downtown Cincinnati.
TCT On Tour – Each year, more than 65,000 children and their families enjoy TCT On Tour productions at one of 280 touring performances or during an arts-integration workshop or residency.
TCT Academy – More than 600 children will receive fine arts instruction annually, including those who participate in the four-week intensive STAR Intensive NKU and STAR Camp Red Bank where professional musical theatre training is provided to some of the region’s most talented youth, as well as those that participate in musical theatre classes offered throughout the year and during Summer Camp.
In December, The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati moved into its brand new facility on Red Bank Road in Hyde Park, opening the doors to a new destination for theater education and expanding its reach into the community. (Important to note: The Children’s Theatre’s four professional, Broadway-style MainStage productions will continue to be performed in the historic Taft Theatre in downtown Cincinnati.)
About MVK:
The MVK mission is to help combat juvenile delinquency, promote an appreciation of athletics and culture and, most importantly, foster academic and social achievement by creating a merit system whereby participating recipient agencies can reward children for social and academic progress and accomplishment. This reward system of being able to attend professional and collegiate sporting events and cultural performances promotes self-esteem and illustrates to children the merits of philanthropy, personal discipline, determination, and perseverance. MVK provides an avenue for building strong character among our local youth, creating unforgettable memories at the same time. And MVK provides an avenue for season ticket holders of professional sports and entertainment events to distribute unused tickets to children in need, in turn receiving a tax deduction for their donation. MVK offers its ticket donors an easy opportunity to give back to the community and add a smile to a child’s face. MVK helps to fill the seats that go unused year after year, as well as greatly expand the interest for teams and events around the area.
MVK overcomes the financial obstacles associated with live events by distributing these opportunities to pre-screened, non-profit agencies that benefit kids in low-income and underserved households, and works collaboratively with more than 90 non-profit partner agencies who use the donated tickets and experiences as rewards and incentives for the deserving kids in their programs.
About SNOW WHITE AND THE DANCING DWARFS:
Did you know that Snow White’s Dwarfs are dancers? Come see for yourselves as the classic Brothers Grimm fairy tale of Snow White, her evil stepmother, the all-knowing mirror and the handsome (but not-too-brainy) prince, step their way back into your hearts and imagination. This is a world-premiere production you don’t want to miss!
Story and book by Ken Jones, music by Jamey Strawn and lyrics by Christine Jones. The trio previously wrote TCT’s 2013 holiday production of “The Day Before Christmas” as well as other successful shows including: “Burgertown,” “CHURCH GIRLS, Umatilla USA,” and “LINCOLN: A Pioneer Tale.” The show will be directed by Producing Artistic Director Roderick Justice.
SNOW WHITE AND THE DANCING DWARFS presented by The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati, February 12-21, 2016. Public Performances: Friday February 12 at 7:30 PM; Saturday February 13 at 2 PM; Sunday, February 14 at 2 PM; Saturday, February 20 at 2 PM and 5 PM; and Sunday February 21 at 2 PM. At the Taft Theatre, 5th and Sycamore Streets in Downtown Cincinnati. Tickets $7-$25. 1-800-745-3000 and www.ticketmaster.com. Tickets are selling fast!
The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati’s production of SNOW WHITE AND THE DANCING DWARFS is made possible by the generous support of Chemed, and the generosity of community contributions to the ArtsWave Campaign. Season Sponsors are the Charles H. Dater Foundation and the Marge and Charles J. Schott Foundation. The Ohio Arts Council helped fund this program with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans. Media sponsors are Cincinnati Enquirer, LOCAL 12 and Q102. The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati Kids Club is presented by Time Timer.
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Behind the Curtain Cincinnati 