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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CINCINNATI PLAYHOUSE IN THE PARK’S ROSENTHAL NEXT GENERATION THEATRE SERIES CONCLUDES IN MARCH WITH FAMILY CONCERTS, GIANT PUPPETS AND STORIES FROM AROUND THE WORLD (CINCINNATI) — The Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park’s Rosenthal Next Generation Theatre Series concludes its 2006-2007 season in March with family concerts, giant puppets and stories from around the world. The series will feature Bill Harley: Songs and Stories for Everybody on March 3, Stories of Color from Around the World on March 10, Irish Tales for Children on March 17, Anansi the Spider on March 24 and Long Lost Stories on March 31. 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. On March 3, musician Bill Harley will return to the Playhouse with Songs and Stories for Everybody. A smash hit performer who had audiences roaring with laughter at last year’s series, Bill Harley is known for his ability to delight families with a 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, funny and meaningful portrait of American life. Mr. Harley has released more than 25 award-winning recordings and has received two Grammy Award nominations and a number of Parents’ Choice Foundation Gold Awards. This year’s show features all new music and is appropriate for ages 4 and up. Using a mix of stories, humor and movement, Len Cabral transports audiences from the Gulf to the Ivory Coast, from an African village to the Irish countryside and from the islands of Cape Verde to his own Rhode Island neighborhood in his March 10 show Stories of Color from Around the World. Len Cabral has performed internationally for more than 30 years. He captivates young people who think they might be too cool for storytelling and has a reputation for inspiring them to explore their personal journeys. This show is for ages 4 and up. In celebration of St. Patrick’s Day, acclaimed storyteller and musician Odds Bodkin returns to the Playhouse on March 17 with the special collection Irish Tales for Children. His character voice and music-filled storytelling style have mesmerized listeners for 24 years. The New York Times dubbed him "a consummate storyteller.” His most recent recording won the Parents’ Choice Gold Award, The Dove Family Foundation Award and the Storytelling World Award, while his four children’s picture books have won The Pick of the Lists, Booklist Editors’ Choice, The Storytelling World Award and the New York Public Library’s 100 Best Titles for Reading and Sharing Award. Irish Tales for Children is for ages 4 and up. On March 24, the Lexington Children’s Theatre returns to the Playhouse with Anansi the Spider. Across the ocean in an exotic forest, one creature reigns supreme … or at least he thinks he does. He is Anansi the Spider, better known as Anansi the Trickster. In this original comedy based on popular African folklore, Anansi will make youngsters chuckle at his silly antics. He’s out to prove he’s the best, the smartest and the trickiest of anyone in the forest, but someone else will make sure he gets his comeuppance in this show for ages 4 and up. The season concludes on March 31 with Madcap Productions Puppet Theatre’s Long Lost Stories. In the corner of a large and dusty attic sits a long-forgotten trunk filled with mysteries and magical stories lost to the world for many years. Two young explorers, curious about the forbidden attic, discover the trunk and immediately are captivated by the secrets inside. Imaginations soar in this exciting treasure of tales from Italy, New Zealand and Denmark. This Madcap show for ages 4 and up features the company’s trademark originality and giant puppets. Made possible by the Lois and Richard Rosenthal Foundation, the Rosenthal Next Generation Theatre Series involves youngsters in the excitement of theatre. To ensure the enjoyment of all in attendance, parents are asked not to bring children younger than the ages recommended for each production. All afternoon performances are signed for the hearing impaired courtesy of the Cincinnati State Interpreter Training Program. Tickets are $5 for theatregoers 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 Playhouse’s official airline. 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. # # #
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