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MUSIC AND THEATRICS TAKE CENTER STAGE IN MARCH AT THE CINCINNATI PLAYHOUSE IN THE PARK’S ROSENTHAL NEXT GENERATION THEATRE SERIES (CINCINNATI) — Great opera, cello music, theatrics and family songs fill the lineup at the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park this March for the Rosenthal Next Generation Theatre Series for children. The month’s schedule of performances includes Little Red Riding Hood on March 4, CelloMan on March 11, Stix & Stonz on March 18 and Bill Harley: Songs and Stories for Everybody on March 25. All shows take place at 10:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. in the Playhouse’s Rosenthal Plaza, between the Robert S. Marx and Thompson Shelterhouse theatres. The Playhouse is located in Eden Park on the edge of Mt. Adams. A lively Little Red Riding Hood and a comical wolf join forces to share playful lessons about the importance of personal safety, proper diet and good health in Little Red Riding Hood on March 4. Featuring modern sets and costumes, this is a delightful new adaptation by Seymour Barab of the classic Grimm Brothers fairy tale told with beautiful opera music. The production comes to life thanks to the gifted young singers of the Cincinnati Opera Outreach Company. The show is appropriate for those ages 5 and up. Thanks to a phenomenal audience response last season, CelloMan returns again this year in a performance not only of great music, but also great theatrics. From Bach to rock, Grammy Award-winner Eugene Friesen has crafted a brilliant concert that uses masked characters, stories, improvisation and comedy to make music accessible to children of all ages. From serious classics to serious fun, CelloMan provides a glimpse of exquisite playing and theatrical innovation. Yo-Yo Ma said, “Hooray for CelloMan! I really love the ideas you present, and the creative ways you have stretched the limits of the cello to engage the audience’s imagination.” The show will be performed on March 11 and is appropriate for audience members ages 4 and up. Conceived and written by Nicholas Kryah and featuring the Metro Theater Company, Stix & Stonz finds two men engaged in a witty, often non-verbal dispute over almost everything: who gets the best chair, who chooses the television channel, who has the most space and even who has the last word. The wall between them grows, literally, until they both discover that the grass is definitely NOT greener on the other side … especially if you’re all alone. The Metro Theater Company has toured nationally to 39 states and around the world, serving more than two million people over 30 years with its unique blend of drama, music, movement and design. Stix & Stonz will be performed on March 18 and is appropriate for ages five and up. On March 25, the Rosenthal Next Generation Theatre Series will welcome nationally recognized family entertainer Bill Harley with Songs and Stories for Everybody. Mr. Harley is known for his ability to delight children and adults alike with his unique blend of song and story. He brings insight and humor to his observations about growing up and parenting, and his concerts feature original material that paints a vibrant, humorous and meaningful portrait of American life. Mr. Harley has released more than 25 award-winning recordings, has received two Grammy Award nominations and a number of Parents’ Choice Foundation Gold Awards and is a regular contributor to National Public Radio’s All Things Considered. Entertainment Weekly called him “the Mark Twain of contemporary kid’s music.” The show is appropriate for ages 4 and up. Made possible by the Lois and Richard Rosenthal Foundation, the Rosenthal Next Generation Theatre Series involves youngsters in the excitement of theatre. For the enjoyment of all in attendance, parents are asked not to bring children younger than the ages recommended for each production. All 2:00 p.m. performances are signed for the hearing impaired courtesy of the Cincinnati State Interpreter Training Program. Tickets are $5 for theatergoers ages 4 to 18 and $6 for adults through the Playhouse box office at 513/421-3888 or toll-free in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana, 800/582-3208. Tickets also are available through the Playhouse web site at www.cincyplay.com. Parking is free. Playhouse artists fly Delta Connection Comair, the official airline of the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park. The Playhouse is supported, in part, by the generosity of the tens of thousands of individuals and businesses that give to the Fine Arts Fund. The Ohio Arts Council helps fund the Playhouse with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans. The Playhouse also receives funding from the City of Cincinnati. # # # |