FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: January 9, 2004
Contact: Christa Skiles
Public Relations Director
513-345-2242, ext. 232

ROSENTHAL NEXT GENERATION THEATRE SERIES
CURES THE WINTER BLUES WITH POEMS, MUSIC AND STORIES

(CINCINNATI) – The 2003-2004 Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park Rosenthal Next Generation Theatre Series continues its season with an exciting poetry performance, an operatic tale and a visit from a favorite storyteller. Showing at the Playhouse in February are Speak!, Rapunzel and Journeying — Hand in Hand.

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.

Glenis Redmond appears on February 7 with Speak!, a poetry experience. Her performance brings poems that delight, poems that tickle the funny bone and poems that ignite the smiles and imaginations of young people. With her richly textured voice that is earthy and passionate, she creates poems that dance with words and evoke vivid images.

Ms. Redmond has traveled the United States and Europe inspiring audiences young and old. The Orlando Sentinel has said she “doesn’t read her poems so much as she declares it in full body motion.” Speak! is certain to excite audiences about poetry, about identity and about life. The show is recommended for those ages six and up.

On February 21, the Cincinnati Opera Outreach Company will perform a modern retelling of the classic fairy tale Rapunzel. Audiences can let their hair down and laugh out loud as these gifted young opera singers bring the timeless tale to life. Rapunzel has all the ingredients of a great opera — good overcoming evil, a dashing prince and a damsel in distress (with some seriously long locks and the ability to hit notes as high as her tower). Rapunzel is recommended for those ages six and up.

Storyteller LuAnn Adams, a Playhouse favorite, will return on February 28 with Journeying — Hand in Hand. History is full of stories about ordinary people reaching out to other ordinary people in times of need. Journeying — Hand in Hand is a collection of international folktales about helping others, including a humorous South American Brer Rabbit story, a poignant tale from Nazi-occupied France and a Native American coyote legend. These fables celebrate those who have reached out their hands (and paws!) with compassion and courage.

A New York storyteller, Ms. Adams is the recipient of the 2000 Parent’s Choice Silver Honors Award and a NAPPA Gold Award for her recordings. Journeying — Hand in Hand is recommended for those ages four and up.

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 2:00 p.m. performances are signed for the hearing impaired courtesy of Cincinnati State. Tickets are $4 for theatergoers ages four to 18 and $5 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 to and from Cincinnati on 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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