Tag Archives: The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati

Four Local Arts Organizations Unite for the Holidays with the Character Crews

CINCINNATI BALLET, CINCINNATI PLAYHOUSE IN THE PARK
ENSEMBLE THEATRE CINCINNATI AND THE CHILDREN’S THEATRE OF CINCINNATI
UNITE FOR THE HOLIDAYS WITH THE CHARACTER CREW

CB_logo(CINCINNATI) – Cincinnati Ballet, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati and The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati are joining together to spread holiday cheer across the Tristate with a number of special character appearances beginning Nov. 8.

PIP_logoCharacters from Cincinnati Ballet’s annual production of Frisch’s Presents THE NUTCRACKER; Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park’s classic A CHRISTMAS CAROL, presented by U.S. Bank; Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati’s holiday production of AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS, sponsored by Macy’s; and The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati’s production of THE DAY BEFORE CHRISTMAS, also sponsored by Macy’s, will come together at holiday events around the city throughout November.

ETC_new_logo_bannerThe Character Crew will make appearances at the following holiday attractions:

  1. Friday, Nov. 8 (10 a.m. to 12 p.m.): Duke Energy Holiday Train Exhibit Ribbon Cutting, Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal
  2. Friday, Nov. 8 (6 to 8 p.m.): Antique Christmas Celebration Event, Taft Museum of Art
  3. Saturday, Nov. 16 (11 a.m. to 1 p.m.): Greater Cincinnati Holiday Market, Duke Energy Convention Center
  4. Friday, Nov. 22 (6 to 9 p.m.): Festival of Lights Members’ Preview, Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
  5. Saturday, Nov. 23 (4:30 to 5:30 p.m.): Balluminaria, Eden Park’s Mirror Lake
  6. Tuesday, Nov. 26 (6 p.m. to 8 p.m.): Light Up the Levee, Newport on the Levee
  7. Friday, Nov. 29 (11 a.m. to 1 p.m.): Tree Lighting and Santa Arrival, Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal
  8. Saturday, Nov. 30 (5:45 to 7 p.m.): Downtown Dazzle, Fountain Square

TCT_logoAbout Cincinnati Ballet, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati and The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati

Celebrating its 50th anniversary season, Cincinnati Ballet has been the cornerstone professional ballet company of the region, presenting a mix of important classical full-length ballets and an adventurous, vibrant mix of repertory ballets, regularly with live orchestral accompaniment. Cincinnati Ballet’s mission is to inspire hope and joy in our community and beyond through the power and passion of dance. Returning Dec. 20 through Dec. 29, the beloved holiday tradition of Frisch’s Presents The Nutcracker, performed since 1974, continues to delight children and adults alike. For more information, visit www.cballet.org.

The Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park has been offering local audiences the finest in professional theatre for more than 50 years. Winner of two Tony Awards, the Playhouse is nationally known for its commitment to new works and as an artistic home for America’s best actors, directors and designers. Faithful storytelling and spellbinding special effects combine in the Playhouse’s annual production of A Christmas Carol, one of the city’s most popular family plays, which returns Nov. 27 through Dec. 29 for its 23rd year. For more information, visit www.cincyplay.com.

Now in its 28th season, Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati (ETC), located in historic Over-the-Rhine, is a professional theatre dedicated to producing world and regional premieres of works that often explore compelling social issues. This season marks the 16th year ETC has been presenting family-friendly musicals for the holidays. This season, ETC celebrates the long-awaited return of Around the World in 80 Days, one of its first commissioned musicals, Dec. 4 to Jan. 4. For more information, visit www.ensemblecincinnati.org.

The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati (TCTC) brings art to life for children and the young-at-heart through three key programs: MainStage at the Taft, ArtReach and Learning the Craft. Currently in its 89th year, TCTC serves nearly 200,000 children, families and schools each season. From Dec. 6 to 14, The Children’s Theatre presents the holiday musical The Day Before Christmas. For more information, visit www.thechildrenstheatre.com.

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Children’s Theatre’s ANNIE, JR. Ears a 4 Star LCT Rating

LCT panelists recognize the Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati’s ANNIE, JR. with a 4 Star Rating

Allison Edwards as Annie. Photo by Mikki Schaffner.

Allison Edwards as Annie. Photo by Mikki Schaffner.

ANNIE, JR., the children’s version of the popular musical favorite depicting the adventures of the plucky comic-book orphan, was described by panelists as enjoyable and “a quick paced show from the first moment to the last.” They singled out the contributions of David Centers (set design) and Kathie Brookfield (costumes), noting that they “continue to be impressed with the overall production quality of the Children’s Theater.” David Center’s set “beautifully captured the deco style” while Kathie Brookfield’s costumes “ranged from rags on the orphans to servants uniforms to business suits for a very large cast”. They also highly praised the “adorable” Allison Edwards as Annie, who was described as having “every bit of the boundless optimism and confident voice” you would expect of the heroine.

League of Cincinnati Theatre panelists evaluate productions on a 5 star scale and recommend shows at either a 4 star or 5 star level. Nominations for LCT awards will be determined and announced at the end of the season and winners awarded at the annual LCT gala in the spring. www.leagueofcincytheatres.info

Annie, Jr. continues at the Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati through Oct. 26th. Tickets may obtained through their website, www.thechildrenstheatre.com.

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Auditions Announced for ArtReach Touring Production of A CHRISTMAS CAROL

Auditions for the ArtReach Touring Production of
A CHRISTMAS CAROL

TCT_ArtReachDirected by: Mr. Roderick Justice
Rehearsals: Daytime hours, November 16 – 26, 2013; The Children’s Theatre rehearsal room
Run: Daytime and occasional evening performances, December 1-22, 2013 (In-school shows to be booked during this timeframe)

To be considered:Looking for male actors. You must be between the ages of 18 and 45, available for ALL rehearsals and performances. If cast, you would play more than one role and would be expected to help with loading in and out of venues. This is a local tour, so there will be no overnight stays or long trips out of town. Transportation between TCTC and each venue will be provided.

To audition: Please contact Chris at chris.stewart@thechildrenstheatre.com or 513.569.8080 x21 to schedule an appointment and get more information.

“Bah! Humbug!” This timeless holiday classic by Charles Dickens has been adapted into a 5-actor touring children’s show by playwright (and former TCTC actress) Mary Tensing. Audiences encounter the greedy, abrasive Ebenezer Scrooge and his harrowing Christmas Eve adventure: The ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future will teach more than just Ebenezer a timeless lesson. With intriguing, creative staging set against a backdrop of Dickensian London, and a harmonic musical score inspired by some of the best Victorian carols, this unique production lasts 45 minutes and is a bestseller every time it tours. Drawing mostly from the original language, this is truly an example of one of our culture’s finest stories coming to life from the page to the stage.

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TCTC Announces New Managing Director

New Managing Director for The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati

TCT_logo(CINCINNATI) — The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati is pleased to announce the company’s new Managing Director, Ms. Kim Deaton. 

Ms. Deaton is a native Cincinnatian and graduate of the Cincinnati Country Day School (’87). Kim left Cincinnati to attend Vanderbilt University (’91) where she received a Bachelor of Science in Education, and then quickly returned to Cincinnati which she and her family continue to call home. 

Kim assumed the role of Managing Director of the Children’s Theatre in September of 2013. Kim’s expertise spans non-profit management, fund raising, strategic planning, market media development, public relations, special events, grant acquisition and major gift acquisition. 

Prior to joining The Children’s Theatre, Kim worked as the President of the Ohio Valley Chapter of the National MS Society, as the Director of Major Gifts for the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center and prior to that as the Director of Market Development for Local 12 WKRC-TV and Clear Channel Broadcasting. She served as the Executive Director of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and spent time operating her own consulting company, advising both for-profit and not-for-profit organizations in the area of special events, board building, marketing, corporate sponsorship, public relations, fundraising and promotions. 

Kim was raised in the nonprofit world as her mother served as the Executive Director for a local nonprofit for 24 years. Kim resides in Mariemont with her three wonderful children Merrell, Kealy and Bryson and has watched her daughter Kealy flourish as a vocal and drama major at the School for the Creative and Performing Arts. 

The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati’s Board President, Mr. Craig S. Hurwitz, said, “TCTC has been on a transitional journey for the past four years. The hiring of Kim represents the end of that process and is the final piece of the puzzle. Under the leadership of both Artistic Director, Angela Powell Walker, and Kim, our organization is uniquely positioned for success. This is the right leadership team and the right time for us to fulfill our mission of educating, entertaining and engaging children and children at heart through our professional productions and arts education programming.” 

“I am thrilled to be joining an organization as well respected as The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati,” Ms. Deaton said. “As the mother of a child who is very active in performing arts, I have seen firsthand how the experience can positively impact a child’s development. A colleague recently said to me ‘The Arts are an independent verification of self-worth for children,’ and that struck me as a powerful and very true statement. Through exposure to our MainStage Productions and programs such as ArtReach and Learning the Craft, children gain exposure to an imaginative and powerful world.” 

The Board of Trustees of The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati is pleased to announce their selection of this exciting, enthusiastic and resourceful talent, Kim Deaton as its new Managing Director. 

The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati is dedicated to making the world a richer place in ways that truly matter. A moment of joy in the theater, a better understanding of history or literature through the arts, and a song that you cannot stop humming are small examples of how the arts can spur a child’s learning process to new heights, creating a world that is more interesting, more accessible, and utterly fascinating. Helping a child have this experience is the goal that drives us. 

TCTC’s mission is to educate, entertain and engage our young audiences through professional theatrical productions and arts education programming. As we fulfill our mission this season, we will accomplish the following through our three primary programs:

  • MainStage at the Taft Theatre – We will welcome 85,000 children, teachers, and family members, including students from approximately 235 schools across the Tri-State, to one of our four family-friendly and professional musical theater productions at the historic Taft.
  • ArtReach – We will see 90,000 children and their families at one of our 280 touring performances or during an arts-integration workshop or residency.
  • Learning The Craft – Over 300 children will be provided fine arts instruction, including the group that participates in the four-week intensive STAR summer program where we offer professional musical theatre training to some of the region’s most talented youth. 

Each year The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati contributes to the vibrancy and cultural vitality of our region by providing nearly 180,000 children and their families with arts exposure-opportunities through performances, workshops and art-making experiences. For thousands of children, our programs are their first professional “arts encounter.” We seek to plant the seed for an ongoing and deeper artistic engagement that blossoms as they return for another one of our programs or as they become patrons of other arts organizations in our cultural community.

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ANNIE JR. Runs Oct. 18-26

Allison Edwards as Annie. Photo by Mikki Schaffner.

Allison Edwards as Annie. Photo by Mikki Schaffner.

ANNIE JR.
Presented by the Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati
Oct. 18-26
Downtown

Directed and Choreographed by Roderick Justice
Assistant Directed by Angela Powell Walker
Music Direction by Jamey Strawn

Leapin’ Lizards! The popular comic strip heroine takes center stage in one of the world’s best-loved musicals. With equal measures of pluck and positivity, little orphan Annie charms everyone’s hearts, despite a next-to-nothing start in 1930s New York City. She is determined to find her parents, who abandoned her years ago on the doorstep of a New York City Orphanage run by the cruel, embittered Miss Hannigan.With the help of the other girls in the Orphanage, Annie escapes to the wondrous and magical world of NYC. In adventure after fun-filled adventure, Annie foils Miss Hannigan’s evil machinations and befriends President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. She finds a new home and family in billionaire Oliver Warbucks, his personal secretary Grace Farrell, and a lovable mutt named Sandy.

  • Fri, Oct. 18 at 7:30pm
  • Sat, Oct. 19 at 2pm & 5pm
  • Sun, Oct. 20 at 2pm
  • Sat, Oct. 26 at 2pm

Official page |

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