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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: February 11, 2004
Contact: Christa Skiles
Public Relations Director
513-345-2242, ext. 232

THE ROSENTHAL NEXT GENERATION THEATRE SERIES
WELCOMES SPRING WITH CLASSIC PUPPETS, AN AFRICAN FOLKTALE AND JUGGLING HIJINX

(CINCINNATI) – The 2003-2004 Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park's Rosenthal Next Generation Theatre Series springs into March with traditional marionette theatre, an African folktale and a wacky juggling performance. Playing in March are The Frog Prince and Peter and the Wolf, Why Mosquitoes Buzz and The Merry Anticipation of Disaster.

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 6, The Frisch Marionette Company will bring new life to two classic tales in The Frog Prince and Peter and the Wolf. Performing in the style of 18th century marionette theatre, The Frisch Marionette Company performs the two tales with "large as life" puppets. Both feature lively music and are sure to delight families.

The Frisch Marionette Company is owned locally by Kevin Frisch, who studied nine years with Puppetworks in New York City before returning to Cincinnati to start his own theatre. Frisch and his team of family and friends create beautiful hand crafted and painted marionettes, each of which takes on a life and character all its own. The group performs classic fairy tales and stories from children's literature in dramatic musical presentations. The Frog Prince and Peter and the Wolf is recommended for those ages four and up.

The Lexington Children's Theatre will return to the Playhouse on March 13 with Why Mosquitoes Buzz. Based on the book by Verna Aardema and adapted by Vivian Snipes and Jeremy Kisling, the performance is filled with the pageantry and excitement of African folktales. A pesky mosquito manages to upset an entire forest by telling a lie. Audiences will be amazed at the intertwined lives of the animals of Africa and the ways that one tiny animal's actions can impact an entire jungle.

The Lexington Children's Theatre is one of the oldest, continuously operating theatres for young people in the country, bringing entertaining educational performances to the Lexington area and beyond. Why Mosquitoes Buzz is recommended for those ages five and up.

Appearing on March 20 is the Truly Remarkable Loon with The Merry Anticipation of Disaster. In this juggling variety show, audiences will witness fast-paced technical juggling, amazing balancing feats, non-stop comic patter and lots of audience participation. The Truly Remarkable Loon (truly his real legal name) will juggle anything, including balls, clubs, tomatoes and even the occasional machete.

Based in Madison, Wisconsin, the Truly Remarkable Loon has been touring across the country for more than 20 years. According to the Wisconsin State Journal, "Loon sends crowds into fits and gasps" and "steals the show with his punch lines." His performance 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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