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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE DIVERSE CULTURES HIGHLIGHTED FOR THE CINCINNATI PLAYHOUSE IN THE PARK’S 2006-2007 ROSENTHAL NEXT GENERATION THEATRE SERIES FOR CHILDREN (CINCINNATI) – The Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park’s 2006-2007 Rosenthal Next Generation Theatre Series for children celebrates the rich diversity and cultures of the world. Japanese dance, Rwandan music and stories from Ireland, Africa, Haiti and across the United States are just a few examples found within this year’s schedule of 16 productions, which begin in October and continue through March. Made possible by the Lois and Richard Rosenthal Foundation, the Next Generation Theatre Series returns for a 13th year of bringing the country’s best children’s performers to Cincinnati audiences to engage and excite young people with the magic of live theatre. Each show is performed twice — 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. Tickets for all shows go on sale beginning August 10. To ensure the enjoyment of all in attendance, parents are asked not to bring children younger than the ages indicated for each production. All 2:00 p.m. performances are signed for the hearing impaired courtesy of the Cincinnati State Interpreter Training Program. The 2006-2007 schedule includes: THE GIZMO GUYS October 14, 2006 — With a mix of original routines, quick-witted verbal hijinks and world class juggling skills, the Gizmo Guys offer a rapid-fire act that exhilarates and inspires sidesplitting laughter in audience members. Touring worldwide since 1987, the Gizmo Guys have appeared before more than a million people in more than 2,500 live performances, as well as millions more on television. In addition to performing extensively in the U.S. and Canada, the Gizmo Guys have strutted their comedic juggling in places as diverse as Saudi Arabia and Japan and have taught at the renowned French and Canadian National Circus Schools. For ages 4 and up. MARK DVORAK: AMERICAN FOLK SINGER October 21, 2006 — Mark Dvorak invites audiences to experience the beauty, innocence and determination of American folk music. With his natural and direct stage presence, this musician entertains and captures the attention of young audiences, drawing them in with participation songs, sing-alongs and action songs taken from the diverse well of American music. Sing Out! Magazine says, “His singing is warm and engaging.” With hundreds of songs in his repertoire, he is an entertainer whose style can make an old song sound new or a new song sound familiar. For ages 4 and up. TOMATO PLANT GIRL October 28, 2006 — Little Girl is used to following the rules of her Bossy Best Friend, including an order not to water her precious tomato plant in the garden they share. But when Bossy Best Friend leaves town, the leaves of the plant begin to wilt and die. In a valiant rescue, Little Girl uproots it — only to discover a mysterious girl-creature springing from the earth! Soon, Little Girl creates new games, and fashions a new kind of friendship, with the Tomato Plant Girl. Eventually, Little Girl learns a valuable lesson about bullying, real friendship and the power of making her own rules. For ages 4 and up. SHIZUMI: JAPANESE DANCE AND MUSIC November 4, 2006 — Shizumi Manale distills more than 2,000 years of Japanese dance, music and literature in this exhilarating performance for children. The program incorporates ancient Noh and Kyogen theatre traditions, Japanese fans, samurai swordsmanship, the art of the kimono and poetry. Audiences can experience the grace, strength and humor of traditional and modern Japanese theatre and explore the cultural connections between Japan and China, Korea and India. For ages 4 and up. LEWIS AND CLARK: WEST FOR AMERICA November 11, 2006 — In Lewis and Clark: West for America, audiences can relive America’s 1804 Lewis and Clark Expedition through song, imagery and story in a vivid exploration that delivers all of the drama, emotion and heroism of a voyage that spanned two years and covered 8,000 miles. Discover the true meaning of courage as the team hauls their keelboat up the Missouri River, traverses the perilous Rocky Mountains and follows the Columbia River to the sea. The musical tales also explore the personal struggles of the journey’s mythic figures, including Meriwether Lewis, William Clark, Sacagawea and York. Lewis and Clark is a show as beautiful and bold as the adventure it recreates. For ages 9 and up. No one under the age of 9 will be admitted. CINDERELLA November 18, 2006 — Featuring a dozen lavishly costumed marionettes, this story unfolds as the pages of a giant book open to reveal beautifully painted settings — the village square, the rustic kitchen, a magnificent ballroom. Audiences can visit favorite fairytale characters, from the gentle Cinderella to the selfish stepsisters and the charming Prince. The familiar story comes to life with a few new surprises: there’s no traditional coach to carry Cinderella to the ball, and, when all hope seems lost, a clever little bluebird saves the day. This classic fairy tale is told with modern wit and style by one of the country’s most renowned marionette theatres. For ages 4 and up. WILEY AND THE HAIRY MAN January 13, 2007 — This classic African-American folk tale recounts the story of an unusually strong bond between a son, Wiley, and his mother, who live with their dog, farm animals and the neighborhood pest — The Hairy Man. Wiley and his mother match wits with this hairy monster, which lives in a nearby swamp. Through cooperation and listening, Wiley works with his mom to drive away the clever and menacing hairy man forever. A sell-out hit in his previous Playhouse appearance, Paul Mesner received the highest honor in puppetry for this show as one of only five U.S. puppeteers to receive the UNIMA/USA Citation of Excellence in Puppetry Award. For ages 4 and up. CELEBRATIN’ CHILDREN January 20, 2007 — Celebratin' Children is a rollicking collection of folktales and true stories about inspiring “can-do” kids. Acclaimed storyteller LuAnn Adams journeys with audiences to Haiti, China, Japan and Africa to meet remarkable children in these hilarious and captivating fables. With honesty, grace, ingenuity and courage, these plucky young people overcome challenges while joyfully discovering what they can do and who they can be. LuAnn Adams’ recordings for families have won NAPPA Gold, Storytelling World and Parents’ Choice awards. This is her 15th year sharing stories at the Playhouse and with the young people of the Tristate. For ages 4 and up. SAMPUTU AND INGELI: DRUM, DANCE AND SONG OF RWANDA February 3, 2007 — Jean Paul Samputu is one of the world’s most prominent African artists, a cultural ambassador for Rwanda who shares that country’s singing, dancing and drumming, along with a message of peace and reconciliation. Mr. Samputu presents a model for those who want to make a difference and sings in six languages, in styles ranging from soukous, rumba and vodou to Rwandan 5/8, Afrobeat, pygmy and gospel. With his dance troupe Ingeli, he has captivated people of all ages in performances at the National Museum of Civil Rights Freedom Awards and the World Culture Open at Lincoln Center. For ages 4 and up. THE ELEPHANT’S CHILD February 17, 2007 — Rudyard Kipling's story gets a superbly rendered and wondrously imaginative interpretation in The Elephant's Child, a quest for knowledge and truth. At the heart of the performance is award-winning singer, percussionist and storyteller Amikaeyla Proudfoot Gaston. Her interactive storytelling, original songs, flute and African drumming work in harmony with the beautiful scenes created by two vibrant dancers who bring all of the story’s characters to life. They take the audience on an incredible journey, incorporating sign language and audience participation. This lively production mixes the wonders of classic literature with the excitement of live theatre. For ages 4 and up. MIME OVER MATTER February 24, 2007 — This lively collection of pantomimes uses traditional as well as contemporary movement, style and music. Broadway performer Bill Bowers brings the universal art of mime to the Playhouse in this entertaining blend of performance, discussion and audience participation. A student of the legendary Marcel Marceau, he has performed on Broadway as Zazu in The Lion King and was a featured mime in the film Two Weeks Notice, with Hugh Grant and Sandra Bullock. The Boston Globe described him as “an amazing mime.” For ages 4 and up. BILL HARLEY: SONGS AND STORIES FOR EVERYBODY March 3, 2007 — 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 nominations and a number of Parents’ Choice Foundation Gold Awards. This year’s show features all new music! For ages 4 and up. STORIES OF COLOR FROM AROUND THE WORLD March 10, 2007 — 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 country side and from the islands of Cape Verde to his own Rhode Island neighborhood. 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 own personal journeys. For ages 4 and up. IRISH TALES FOR CHILDREN March 17, 2007 — In celebration of St. Patrick’s Day, acclaimed storyteller and musician Odds Bodkin returns to the Playhouse with a special collection of Irish tales and music. 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. For ages 4 and up. ANANSI THE SPIDER March 24, 2007 — 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. The Lexington Children’s Theatre is always a popular Next Generation Theatre Series entry and one of the best theatres for young audiences in the region. For ages 4 and up. LONG LOST STORIES March 31, 2007 — 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 features the company’s trademark originality and amazing giant puppets. Madcap engages young audiences with the quality of its original scripts and with the hilarious spontaneity of its audience participation. For ages 4 and up. Each performance in the Rosenthal Next Generation Theatre Series lasts 40 to 60 minutes unless otherwise noted. Ticket prices are $5 for theatergoers 4 to 18 and $6 for adults. For reservations, call the Playhouse box office at 513/421-3888 or toll-free in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana, 800/582-3208. More information is available at www.cincyplay.com. Parking is free. Artists fly to and from Cincinnati on Delta Connection Comair. The Playhouse is supported, in part, by the generosity of the 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. ### |