FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: February 7, 2005
Contact: Christa Skiles
Public Relations Director
513-345-2242, ext. 232

MARCH IS MERRY WITH MUSIC, MAGIC AND MORE
AS THE ROSENTHAL NEXT GENERATION THEATRE SERIES CONTINUES
AT THE CINCINNATI PLAYHOUSE IN THE PARK

(CINCINNATI) — The Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park’s Rosenthal Next Generation Theatre Series continues in March with a juggling and comedy extravaganza, a very theatrical cello concert, a multicultural opera just for kids and a world premiere story about a frog who longs to fly. The month’s schedule of performances includes David Kaplan on March 5, CelloMan on March 12, How Nanita Learned to Make Flan on March 19 and Thaddeus & 'Tila: A Crane and Frog Story on March 26.

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.

David Kaplan— a virtuoso juggler, magician, inventor, musician and deadpan physical comedian — brings his extravagant sense of humor to the Playhouse on March 5. Whether he’s juggling bean bag chairs, playing a melody on the “concert balloon” or accidentally levitating a bowling ball, Kaplan’s preposterous blend of dazzling skills and shameless gimmickry is sure to amaze and amuse. Mr. Kaplan’s wonderfully strange vision of the world has been seen by audiences of ABC-TV's The View, and he has opened shows for performers including Steven Wright, Dennis Miller, David Spade and The Smothers Brothers. The show is appropriate for ages four and up.

On March 12, the Playhouse will welcome Eugene Friesen in CelloMan. CelloMan is not only a performance of great music, but also of great theatrics. From Bach to rock, Mr. Friesen has crafted a concert that uses masked characters, stories, improvisation and comedy to make music accessible to children of all ages. A Grammy Award-winning musician and composer, Mr. Friesen has performed with the Paul Winter Consort in many of the great concert halls and cathedrals around the world. Acclaimed musician 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 is appropriate for ages five and up.

The Rosenthal Next Generation Theatre Series plays host to a musical fiesta on March 19 for How Nanita Learned to Make Flan. This brand new opera by Enrique Gonzalez-Medina, based on the popular children’s book of the same name by Campbell Geeslin, tells the tale of Nanita and her adventures making flan. The feisty Nanita and her pair of magic shoes stumble on the home of the greedy Ranchero and his housekeeper, who make her work day after day cleaning and preparing her tasty flan. A friendly parrot helps her find her way back to the loving arms of her father, and the entire village erupts in a fiesta where Nanita’s delicate, delicious flan is a special treat. With an ensemble of fine young opera singers from the Cincinnati Opera Outreach Company, this performance is guaranteed to put a salsa in your step! The show is appropriate for ages five and up.

Finally March comes to a close with the world premiere of a new play by José Cruz González, Thaddeus & 'Tila: A Crane and Frog Story on March 26. Winner of the Lazarus-Macy’s New Play Prize for Young Audiences and featuring the Skilken/Brown Touring Company of the Cincinnati Playhouse, the show is appropriate for ages four to 10. Thaddeus is a frog who dreams of flying. ‘Tila is a beautiful crane who yearns to swim. One day, ‘Tila crashes into the marsh where Thaddeus makes his home, and he saves her from drowning. Of course, it’s love at first sight. Sadly, the other marsh creatures don’t approve of their budding relationship. Distraught and rejected, ‘Tila and Thaddeus are forced to leave their home. But their journey shows them that life on the outside is far from peaceful. Bulldozers are headed toward the marsh to make way for a new human subdivision, and the two have to muster all of their resources to save the other creatures before the bulldozers arrive. Thaddeus & 'Tila is made possible through a grant from the Lazarus-Macy’s Fund of the Federated Department Stores Foundation.

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 the Cincinnati State Interpreter Training Program. Tickets are $4.50 for theatergoers ages four to 18 and $5.50 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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