REVIEW: “Bright Star” Shines at Covedale

September 10, 2023 / Featured
Review by Doug Iden Based on the folktale of the Iron Mountain Baby, Bright Star spins a tale of love, longing, misplaced morality, and redemption now showing at the Covedale Theater. Plot and Characters Set in 1945 with flashbacks to 1923, the story examines life in rural North Carolina. ...

REVIEW: “Gaslight” at Cincy Shakes Does Not Dim

September 9, 2023 / Featured
Gaslight remains timeless for two very different reasons: in many ways, its message was very much ahead of its time and, unfortunately, psychological abuse still exists. Fortunately, Mr. Dietz’s script has enough light in this dark tale to pull us out of the shadows rather adeptly as we are...

REVIEW: Incline’s “Man of La Mancha”

August 17, 2023 / Featured
This is an excellent production of my most favorite musical.  This team successfully melds bitter satire, social commentary, pathos, idealism, and whimsy with an inspired cast punctuated with a wonderful score....

REVIEW: CSC’s “The Importance of Being Earnest”

August 6, 2023 / Featured
Highly recommended for anyone who has not ever seen a production of The Importance of Being Earnest or has not seen one in quite some time to be sure to attend. There are many things about Mr. Wilde’s writing that are timeless - and laughter is no small part...

REVIEW: Carnegie’s “Guys and Dolls”

July 30, 2023 / Featured
You will love Guys & Dolls more than just a bushel and a peck. The Carnegie’s production of the golden age classic is amazing. Truly a must-see. Everything from the singing, the dancing, the music, and the humor delights your senses. ...

Incline’s “Spelling Bee” Has Audiences Buzzing 

July 7, 2023 / Featured
Step into the world of a group of pre-teens vying for the title of Spelling Bee champion in the Putnam County Bee. With an exceptional cast showcasing some of Cincinnati's finest, the performers flawlessly embody their characters' idiosyncrasies and enduring spirit throughout the production. ...

You’ll Get a Kick Out Carnegie’s “Kinky Boots”

July 1, 2023 / Featured
Review by Doug Iden Kinky Boots currently stomps on the Carnegie Theater stage.  (How many musicals can you name whose star is a shoe?–And a really big shoe.) RUN don’t walk to get your tickets. The Story and Players Based initially on a BBC documentary which was remade as a movie,...

Cincy Fringe 2023: Kat’s Reviews

June 16, 2023 / Featured
Filled with raunchy and relatable giggles, the audience is taken on a wild ride through the formative experiences of Bennett’s life from his early years to his “big break”. Just in time for Father’s Day, it is a raucous treat reminding us that “ordinary people can live extraordinary lives.” REMAINING...

Cincy Fringe 2023: Remaining Reviews

June 16, 2023 / Featured
This is a strong show, well structured. It is made even better by the incredible talents of Dylan Shelton and Ellyn Broderick.  They know timing, they know levels, they understand physical humor.  Both are professional, and know how to do just enough with a look or a shrug to...

Cincy Fringe 2023: Ariel’s Reviews #2 

June 13, 2023 / Featured
Reviews by Ariel Mary Ann Read multiple reviews: SchMILF Life, Modern Beings in Search of the Sole, Made in America, plosive, Who’s Afraid of Winnie the Pooh, To Spite One’s Face, Todalv, Anatomica, and UDFCC. ShMILF Life Penny Sterling SchMILF Life is a one-woman comedy that centers around dating...

Cincy Fringe 2023: Alan’s Reviews #2 of 2

June 12, 2023 / Featured
The Cincinnati Fringe is establishing a higher bar for its productions. Under the leadership of Katie Hartman, Cincinnati Fringe has really stepped up its game by producing shows which are solid and engaging....

Cincy Fringe 2023: Christy’s Reviews #2

June 12, 2023 / Featured
Cincy Fringe 2023 Reviews by Christy Carson With a few days off for OCTAFest rehearsals, I saw some solid mid-week shows on June 7 and 9. In one way or another, each show I saw had a similar message about empathy and caring for one another. Sometimes all it...

“Indigo” at Human Race is a Must See

June 11, 2023 / Featured
This is a must see theatrical experience. You will fall in love with some, if not all, of the characters, laugh a lot, and maybe even cry…just a little (no, it wasn’t me sniffling in the back…). ...

Cincy Fringe Reviews 2023: Liz #3

June 10, 2023 / Featured
One of my top shows so far is "Who's Afraid of Winnie the Pooh"--a brilliant and clever mashup of the silly old bear and Piglet with Albee's cutting and perverse game playing George and Martha. ...

Cincy Fringe: 2023 Ariel’s Reviews

June 9, 2023 / Featured
Cincy Fringe Festival is ultimately a celebration of new and exciting theatrical works where you’ll experience a roller coaster of cathartic emotions. The artists and their artistry should be celebrated. Happy Fringing! ...

Cincy Fringe 2023: Liz Eichler’s Reviews #2

June 7, 2023 / Featured
You will like all four shows! "Heart Ripped Out..." is my favorite Fringe show so far. My husband and son want to get to "Dad (Hates) Jokes," because they laughed so hard with Jon Bennett last year. I might bring a tween friend (or my mother-in-law) to...

Cincy Fringe Festival 2023: Alan’s Reviews

June 6, 2023 / Featured
Toonkel's performance is polished and has touches of the personal; as an audience member, you can feel her care of animals and that makes for a unique angle to take for a magic show. I can't reveal too much more of the show without giving away any spoilers. However,...

Ready to Cut Loose? See “Footloose” at Incline

June 5, 2023 / Featured
This play will lift your spirits.  While this reviewer enjoys small intimate theatres..., it is always nice to see theatre in larger spaces with larger budgets..."Footloose" is a more elaborate production with the stage space for 26 talented singers and dancers!  It makes one wonder why anyone would need...

Great Performances in “Glass Menagerie” at ALT

June 3, 2023 / Featured
Annie Davis brings a humanity to Amanda that I missed earlier times I have read or viewed this play.  Amanda is clueless to the needs of her children but Davis’ interpretation of her makes Amanda human.  Davis’ slight  sways of her hips when reminiscing of her own life filled with beaus...

Cincy Fringe LCT Preview 2023

June 2, 2023 / Featured
Preview of Cincinnati Fringe Festival 2023 by Liz Eichler Cincinnati Fringe’s 20th season opens this weekend and WOW are we really looking forward to them all! Cincinnati’s two-week festival of creativity and storytelling connects Cincinnati arts communities and introduces artists from around the country and the world. It is...

Get “Footloose” at Incline

June 2, 2023 / Featured
This live musical seems to have more substance than the movie of the same name. There are some significant themes (which echo eerily in today’s world) such as book banning, fundamentalist religion, urban vs. rural sensibilities, spousal abandonment, male superiority, and the ubiquitous teenage angst. At the same time, the musical...

Strong “Flyin’ West” at Falcon

May 19, 2023 / Featured
Review by Bryna Chandler As the final production of their 22-23 “Fill the Space” season, Falcon Theatre does not disappoint. Flyin’ West, fills the intimate theatre with this poignant drama which focuses around freedom and survival.  The Story of Flyin’ West Set in 1898, Flyin’ West is the story...

Fly to See “Flyin West” at Falcon

May 14, 2023 / Featured
Burgess Byrd who plays Miss Leah brings such deep sadness but also rich humor into this drama. Her stories of her children who were sold off during slavery and those who died breaks one’s heart.  However, her vexing of Sophie and her handling of the abusive husband reminds us...

Cincy Shakes Gives Us “Trouble In Mind” – But Not In Heart

May 14, 2023 / Featured
While some things may unfortunately “still stay the same,” this CSC production is a whole lot of different. One would be hard-pressed to choose a better season closer for this illustrious company. Alice Childress was ahead of her time…but would she be disappointed in how we are still living...

“Clue: The Musical” A Different Classic Board Game

April 24, 2023 / Featured
Be warned: this isn’t anything like the classic film starring Tim Curry (spoiler alert: there is no Wadsworth at all). However, if you are in the mood for a bit of nostalgia and want the bragging rights of winning the game that has been loved for so long (another...

“Bankers” Premieres New Post-Apocalyptic Picture at Know

April 22, 2023 / Featured
Know Theatre‘s world premiere of Bankers by local playwright Brant Russell offers a new humorous take on the post-apocalyptic world. Forget zombies, this story is all about preservation vs. progress as we’re introduced to a small sliver of the world where a forest thrives, but is threatened by hungry...

Incline’s “Clue” Different Every Night

April 21, 2023 / Featured
In the end, much like the board game, the show is all in good fun. If you are looking for classic musical theater, this may not be the performance for you. But if you are seeking a fun, interactive, dinner-theater-style show Clue, The Musical offers just that. ...

Underground with “Hadestown”

April 19, 2023 / Featured
“It’s a Sad Song… but We Sing it Anyway” Review by Ariel Mary Ann I am pleased to have witnessed the opening night of the national tour of Hadestown. Those in “Gen Z” would describe this production as a “cultural reset”. With any art form, there’s always a piece that...

Go “Way Down” To Hadestown At The Aronoff

April 19, 2023 / Featured
"Hadestown" is a show I would recommend for a shower of people. If you are a fan of Greek myths, go. If you love the feel of gritty New Orleans and it’s bluesy Jazz, go now. If you enjoy a love story with poignant vocals and emotional expression,...

New Comedy “Barbecue” Resonates at Human Race

April 17, 2023 / Featured
Robert O’Hara’s "Barbecue," currently receiving a stunningly directed and acted production at the Human Race Theatre, is the kind of American play destined to be a classic – a remnant of this particular time in American culture that will resonate for years to come. ...

TCT’s “Moana JR” is SOOO Good!

April 16, 2023 / Featured
One 6 year old discriminating viewer replied, when asked about what he liked about the musical, “Everything, I liked everything!” Another 4 year old responder said that, “I really liked TE FITI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” ...

Plenty to Like in “As You Like It” at CSC

April 8, 2023 / Featured
It wouldn’t be a Shakespearean comedy without gendered disguises, and Rosalind becomes “Ganymede,” who is able to help Orlando woo his new crush, Rosalind herself. Hijinks ensue, and we end up with four weddings performed by the god, Hymen. Deus ex machina, indeed. ...

CSC’s “As You Like It” with Teen Angst

April 8, 2023 / Featured
Contrasting rules and rebellion,  "As You Like It" mashes together the bard’s classic comedy with a 90’s rock musical. If you remember your Sony Discman and your pleather CD binders, you are the target audience. However, because it is Shakespeare, there is something for everyone....

Huzzah for “All’s Faire” at the Carnegie

April 1, 2023 / Featured
The "daring dreamer character" is evident within the entire cast, especially in the show’s creators. They dared to be different, take a risk, and explore an unconventional side of the theater and it certainly pays off....

“All’s Faire” a Fun Pun Fest

April 1, 2023 / Featured
Review by Adam Schwartz If you have never been to a Renaissance Festival, then let me paint the picture for you. The food is hot and greasy, the beer is foamy and cold, the people are dressed to the nines in everything from jeans and Game of Thrones and...

“The Princess Plays” Refreshes Favorite Fairytales

March 25, 2023 / Featured
The Princess Plays presents two full musicals in one night at the NKU Corbett Theatre. Each actor plays a role in both “Snow White and the Dancing Dwarfs” and “Sleeping Beauty: Rise and Shine.” Both shows offer new twists on familiar favorites for kids and nostalgic adults....

“Kiss Me Kate” is Rollicking Fun

March 20, 2023 / Featured
Review by Katrina Reynolds I’m not partial to musicals – however, the exceptions to this rule are strong and steady. Fortunately for this reviewer, one of those exceptions is currently playing at Covedale Center for the Performing Arts. After having seen Taming of the Shrew at Cincinnati Shakespeare Company...

Earnest Shines in “Every Brilliant Thing” 

March 18, 2023 / Featured
Eileen Earnest takes us along a rollercoaster of joyful levity and solemn empathy in Falcon Theatre’s immersive Every Brilliant Thing. While we work through heavy issues of mental illness and suicide together, these topics are handled with care, and we’re left with a meaningful message of hope. Review by...

“Every Brilliant Thing” is Simply Brilliant

March 18, 2023 / Featured
Every Brilliant Thing is running March 17 through April 1 at the Falcon Theatre in Newport.  This is one that you must see.  There is something so heartbreaking about this spirit who struggles with not only her mother’s depression but her father’s inability to reach out to his daughter...

“Kiss Me Kate” is ‘Wunderbar!’

March 17, 2023 / Featured
This show has blended a classic, tongue-in-cheek Broadway spoof with an excellent cast of singers, dancers and actors. The show is a lot of fun featuring Cole Porter’s best score. ...

Go All-In for “All-One!”

March 13, 2023 / Featured
This play is about soap, but so much more.  It is about what we do to make ourselves clean and how far we can go to try to save the world through our beliefs. There are some big issues behind the light frolicsome nature of the play that can...

Storytelling Pops in “All-One!” at Know

March 12, 2023 / Featured
Know’s “All-One” is a brief Fringe-y entertainment, perfect for anyone looking for a light diversion after dinner in Over-The-Rhine or before a nightcap.  “All-One!” runs through March 26....

“Tootsie” is Smart and Funny

March 8, 2023 / Featured
"Tootsie" is a musical that I would recommend to audiences.  Michael Dorsey proves that being a woman is no job for a man—with hilarious results. ...

Who Shall Be Tamed at Cincy Shakes?

March 5, 2023 / Featured
Any praise you shall hear about Sara Mackie’s interpretation of Katherina will only be a fraction of the truth: rest assured she is even better than best. Her facial expressions, her vocal inflections, and her choices in physicality with every step she takes all add up to a flawless performance....

Charming New R & H “Cinderella” at CCM

March 4, 2023 / Featured
Review by Liz Eichler Run to Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Cinderella” like it is chiming midnight. This charming new version of the beloved R & H musical is playing March 2-5 only at UC’s College Conservatory of Music. It has a surprising twist–modernizing and fleshing out the relationships, but keeping...

Delightful “Twelfth Night” at NKU

February 23, 2023 / Featured
Review by Bryna Chandler Guy meets girl; girl falls in love with boy; boy is a girl who falls in love with her boss. William Shakespeare’s timeless classic Twelfth Night is an Elizabethan comedy of mistaken identities and miscommunications. Considered one of Shakespeare’s essential comedies, it covers heavy topics...

“Princess & Frog”: TCT’s Royal Treat

February 20, 2023 / Featured
Take your special someone (especially if they are between Kindergarten and 8th grade) out for a special treat to see Princess and Frog now playing at the Taft Theatre. The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati never fails to delight. ...

“Twelfth Night” at NKU: LOL Funny

February 17, 2023 / Featured
NKU's production of Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night” is a joy to behold. I laughed out loud several times...As I left the theatre,...I thought to myself, “Wow. Those actors are students. BFA students who have a bright, bright future ahead of them.” ...

Norm Lewis Leads Stellar ‘A Soldier’s Play’ Tour in Dayton

February 16, 2023 / Featured
Review by David Brush The National Tour of A Soldier’s Play lands in Dayton this week (its only Ohio stop) directed by the prolific Kenny Leon (American Son, The Wiz Live!, A Raisin In The Sun) and led on stage by Broadway legend Norm Lewis (Les Miserables, NBC’s Jesus...

“A Soldier’s Play” Commands Attention

February 16, 2023 / Featured
If you’re looking for art that explores themes from Black history or just looking for great theatre that will make two hours fly by, don't miss A Soldier’s Play. And since this will be the tour’s only Ohio appearance, make sure you get tickets now! ...

I Think You’re Gonna Like “Annie”

February 8, 2023 / Featured
Pulsifer beautifully captures the heart and soul of Annie.  She is equal parts spunk, determination, and crafty charm with a satisfying singing voice belting out wonderful renditions of iconic songs "Maybe" and "Tomorrow." ...

The Sun Has Come Out at the Aronoff Center

February 8, 2023 / Featured
This production is a fun watch. It’s evident that the kids on stage are having the time of their lives dancing and singing. Ellie Pulsifer (Annie) does a great job as the titular character. Her belt at the end of “Tomorrow” in act one is clear, vibrant, and full...

Earnestly “Frank” World Premiere at CSC

February 1, 2023 / Featured
Finally, Oscar Wilde’s classic farce "The Importance of Being Earnest" has a sequel entitled "The Rewards of Being Frank" with a world premiere at the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company....

Plane Truth Flying at Covedale Theatre

February 1, 2023 / Featured
Each of the women have different personalities and are played effectively by each actress.  Each has a distinctive accent based upon their nationality which works well. This is a “modern” play from the 1960’s but carries the hallmarks of classic French Bedroom Farce including absurd circumstances, machine gun fire dialogue,...

“Boeing, Boeing” Takes off at Covedale

January 31, 2023 / Featured
Review by Molly Alderson Ladies and Gentlemen, please fasten your seatbelts and put your tray tables in the upright and locked position. The Covedale Center for the Performing Arts production of “Boeing, Boeing,” written by Marc Camoletti, is about to take off! “Boeing, Boeing” is a classic farce, showcasing...

“Frank” is a Rewarding Wildean Ride at CSC

January 31, 2023 / Featured
That is one of the themes of “The Rewards of Being Frank” a sequel to the Oscar Wilde classic comedy of manners, “The Importance of Being Earnest.” Written by new playwright Alice Scovell, this witty and sophisticated show premiered this week at Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, before it moves onto...

Sumptuous “Anastasia” Delights Cincinnati

January 4, 2023 / Featured
Review by Liz Eichler Waltzing into Cincinnati these two weeks is the National Tour of Anastasia, a delight for the eyes and soul.  Anastasia is the story of a young Russian woman with amnesia, who may or may not be the only surviving daughter of Tsar Nicholaus II and...

Journeying to the Past: “Anastasia” National Tour

January 4, 2023 / Featured
Leading the show as Anastasia is recent Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music graduate, Veronica Stern. Stern explores each note and melody with a softness to her voice--a great choice for a character who’s searching for her truth. ...

2022 and 2023: Incredible Musicals and Great Plays

January 2, 2023 / Featured
David Brush says "for 2023 it is hard to pin down just a few highly anticipated shows, but I would say the Norm Lewis-led national tour of A Soldier's Play is near the top of that list." A Soldier's Play will be in Dayton in February. ...

Cincy Theatre Highlights 2022 and into 2023

January 1, 2023 / Featured
LCT Reviewer Doug Iden is looking forward to several shows at different theaters including:  "Anastasia" (with music by CCM grad Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens) and "Hadestown" in the Broadway series....

The Great Return: 2022 Reflections and Highlights

December 31, 2022 / Featured
By Ariel Mary Ann One could define this past year as the great return of theatre. During 2020 and going into 2021, artists watched theaters shut down across the country due to the Covid-19 pandemic. From community theatre to Broadway – This left many of us wondering, will the...

“Who’s Holiday” is Who-larious at Human Race

December 12, 2022 / Featured
"Who’s Holiday!" at the Loft Theatre is filled with rap, rhyme, and radiant holiday lights making it a "who-larious" evening of entertainment perfect for an adults-only night out on the town. Just like the holidays themselves, time flies by in this one-act 70-minute production. ...

TCT’s “Rudolph” Glows

December 11, 2022 / Featured
"Rudolph" amazingly fun and delightful play that transports the audience to another world for an hour.  The children and adult actors alike make it a thoroughly entertaining time and a lovely way to ring in the holidays....

Catch “Peter and the Starcatcher” at NKU!

December 4, 2022 / Featured
This is the perfect holiday production that will appeal to all family members. There is something for everyone here. I highly recommend this production. It is great fun and will bring out your inner child who wants to fly off with Peter Pan in search of adventure....

“Betrayal” Is The Word At Falcon Theatre

November 21, 2022 / Featured
Without a doubt, Aaron Whitehead as Robert is the highlight of this production. His dialect is spot on, his emotional range is solid, and scenes with him are automatically filled with more energy. Mr. Whitehead is obviously an astute actor and very watchable. ...

Comic Lore and Indie Rock Score: “Lizard Boy” at Know Theatre

November 20, 2022 / Featured
wonderful things to a beautiful blend of harmonies performed by the entire cast.  While you don't have to be a comic book fan to appreciate this musical, it certainly doesn’t hurt. However, if you’re a fan of good "theydies" and bad "gentlethems" and man-sels in distress, Lizard Boy is fun,...

“Deadline” Entertains at Human Race Theatre

November 8, 2022 / Featured
"Deadline" is definitely a good time with its mystery, farcical humor, and stage action. There are twists and turns as well as the expected bits. This play does exactly what it should: it entertains. ...

Life Can Be “A Dream” at CCM’s Cohen Family Studio Theater

November 5, 2022 / Featured
“A Dream Play“ has a strong, talented cast of performers who clearly work hard to be a true ensemble. This is a wordy and surprisingly physical show with a steady pace and seamless transitions. While is it obvious many moving parts go into creating this ambience, the execution appears...

“Sister Act” Shakes it at Covedale

October 22, 2022 / Featured
Sister Act is 2 hours and 15 minutes long with a 15 minute intermission.  The first half goes by so fast, you are surprised that it is already intermission.  You'll be drawn in....

CCM’s “Something Rotten” is Hilarious to the Core

October 21, 2022 / Featured
Director and choreographer Diane Lala milks every ounce of humor out of the zesty book and score, leaning into the over-the-topness the show requires. The dance numbers are raucous and joyful, with several memorable tap dancing numbers throughout the show. ...

Sisters “Act Up” at Covedale Theatre

October 21, 2022 / Featured
This is a tale of life changing experiences fashioned by the friendship, love and the redemption of everyone...This show is fun, exuberant and entertaining with excellent singing dancing and acting. ...

“She Loves Me” Sings at CCM

October 8, 2022 / Featured
By Alan Jozwiak  Great singing dominates “She Loves Me,” the latest offering of University of Cincinnati’s College Conservatory of Music’s Musical Theater program, which is a 1960’s musical adaptation of the Miklos Laszlo play about love in a Hungarian parfumerie.  “She Loves Me” sings the story of Amalia Balash...

CCM Brings Greek Comedy and Tragedy Alive

October 1, 2022 / Featured
Students’ production skills are highlighted during intermission, as the audience is invited to watch the transition from the bright and colorful Lysistrata set to war-torn destruction. A thunderous crack breaks the floor allowing the release of smoke and fog, adding to the feel of the smoldering and immediate Fall...

‘Lysistrata’ and ‘The Trojan Women’ at CCM: Two views of war

September 30, 2022 / Featured
By Kathleen Lamorelle, LCT Lysistrata and The Trojan Women, adapted by Ellen Mclaughlin and directed by Brant Russell is now playing at University of Cincinnati’s College Conservatory of Music. The evening melds a satirical comedic with a contemplative tragedy under an umbrella of common themes: sex and gender, war...

Miami’s “These Shining Lives” Glows

September 29, 2022 / Featured
Review by Liz Eichler Audiences may be surprised by a number of things in These Shining Lives by Melanie Marnich, playing now through October 2 at Miami University Theatre.  For the college students, it may be the language of the late 1920’s and 30’s and the slang sprinkled throughout...

It’s a long but meaningful “journey” at Know

September 26, 2022 / Featured
Review by Liz Eichler Do you have people you can trust? I mean, trust trust. How about a group who you can share your deepest insecurities?  “It’s not a trip it’s a journey” is about four people who share and deepen friendships, though each has a rather major flaw...

No Shrinking “Violet” at NKU

September 25, 2022 / Featured
This passion-filled musical is a testament to overcoming our fears–whether imposed by society or ourselves, and that we will truly be able to live our best lives when we let go of the past. ...

Review of “My Way: A Tribute to the Music of Frank Sinatra”

September 19, 2022 / Featured
Review by Kathleen Lamorelle What a trip down Memory Lane! Cincinnati Landmark Productions’ presentation of My Way: A Tribute to the Music of Frank Sinatra, created by David Grapes and Todd Olson and arranged by Vince di Mura, is a chance to revisit the life and music of the...

Cincy Shakes Opens Season with Compelling “King Lear”

September 10, 2022 / Featured
Jim Hopkins as Lear commands the stage.  He is physically a big man with a shock of white hair but it is his bluster, ranting, raving, and railing that dominates the space. Hopkins, essentially, plays multiple characters ranging from the narcissistic egomaniac at the start to the doddering fool...

Maggie Lou Rader Soars in Human Race’s “Grounded”

September 10, 2022 / Featured
This story, told by a masterful actress, is definitely worth seeing by military personnel or civilians alike,  if you have or have never thought about who flies a drone to deliver the Hellfire missiles, or if it is something that haunts you. ...

HAMILTON at Aronoff Provides Extra Bits of Magic

September 8, 2022 / Featured
HAMILTON is undoubtedly a masterpiece. The fast paced score sweeps you away and the energy is undeniable. If you have seen it live, if you have seen it on TV, or even if you’ve never heard of it, you need to get into the room where it happens....

HAMILTON Storms the Stage at the Aronoff

September 8, 2022 / Featured
This is Burr’s show this time. Understudy Bryson Bruce delivers powerfully from the first moment to the end. His electric current is transmitted into the audience and by “Rise Up” you know you’re seeing a star. ...

You’re Invited to the LCT Annual Meeting!

August 27, 2022 / Featured
Mark your calendars for the LCT Annual Meeting on Monday September 12 from 6 to 7 pm, open to current organizational representatives and (for the first time) those interested in individual membership. The LCT Annual Meeting is for organizational representatives, individual artists, and Cincinnati theatre supporters. “We will be...

Revue: Jerry Herman’s Music at the Incline

July 7, 2022 / Featured
Review by Doug Iden Featuring “hummable” tunes and witty, conversational lyrics, the music of Broadway composer/lyricist Jerry Herman is highlighted in Jerry’s Girls playing now at the Incline Theater.  The Golden Age of Broadway melded veterans such as Richard Rodgers, Cole Porter and Irving Berlin with a crop of...

Kate’s Fringe ’22 Reviews: Silver Hammer, Wuthering, and Texas Annie

June 13, 2022 / Featured
By Kate Mock Elliot, Guest Reviewer – Silver Hammer a SPECIAL EVENT SHOW by Nick Ryan This is a debut solo performance from Nick Ryan, who many audiences may know from past Cincinnati Fringe appearances as part of The Coldhearts. Silver Hammer continues the Coldheart tradition of dark, eerie stories as...

FRINGE 2022 – DAY 4

June 9, 2022 / Featured
By Liz Eichler – “Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these Fringers from the completion of their appointed rounds.” Fringe is rain or shine, Cincinnati! The Outdoor Stage moved indoors last night, but the rain did not detract from the shenanigans of loyal Fringers.  ...

FRINGE ‘22 DAY 2: 

June 6, 2022 / Featured
By Liz Eichler – Saturday was a great day to Fringe and Sunday also proved exciting.  The weekend featured great performances, super creativity, and live connections with theatre makers and supporters. There is such love and respect in these audiences, y’all. Cincinnati Fringe Festival runs through June 18 and...

FRINGE ’22 DAY 1: June 4

June 5, 2022 / Featured
By Liz Eichler – Woohoo! Fringe is back! This two-week Festival of creativity, storytelling and connection of various Cincinnati arts communities has returned–LIVE! The one thing you can guarantee at the Fringe, is that you will be moved in some way.  Moved by witnessing creativity, by witnessing risk taking,...

LCT is Changing to Serve You Better!

June 4, 2022 / Featured
As Cincinnati grows, the arts community is growing! LCT is evolving to include individual artists, creators, and supporters (as well as our beloved theatre institutions).  But the question is–what does the community want? More classes? A directory? Fellowship? Please take this SURVEY to tell us about yourself and what...

Proud and Defiant: Incline’s “Newsies” Soars

June 4, 2022 / Featured
Review by David Brush – Disney’s 1992 film Newsies was not an initial hit. Who knows why? Legions of fans felt its true life was always on the stage. Twenty years later, after some re-working with a truly remarkable new book by Harvey Fierstein, Disney’s Newsies found its life...

A.J. Baldwin’s “The Twunny Fo'” is a Must See at Know

April 16, 2022 / Featured
Baldwin writes a powerful and deeply moving script challenging the consciousness of America. By juxtaposing Tyra’s goals of wanting more out of life with Rissa wanting to stay in their neighborhood, Baldwin expertly explores themes of classism, internalized anti-Blackness, gentrification, and the struggle of being a Black woman in...

CSC’s  “Comedy of Errors” Hits the Jackpot 

April 10, 2022 / Featured
Review by Liz Eichler Cincinnati Shakespeare Company’s Comedy of Errors is a non-stop flight to classic Vegas where you’ll enjoy almost non-stop belly laughs as this hilarious mashup hits the jackpot.  Comedy of Errors is a story about two sets of twins, masters and their servants, separated as infants,...

A Fabulous “On the Town” now at Covedale Theatre

March 18, 2022 / Featured
Review by Doug Iden Cincinnati’s Covedale Theater is challenging itself in its final season production with a riotous, dance-filled homage to New York City.  Based upon the ballet Fancy Free originally choreographed by Jerome Robbins of West Side Story fame, On the Town follows three sailors on a 24-hour...

Rising Out of the Ashes–CCM Transmigration 2022

March 15, 2022 / Featured
Each year, the entire CCM Acting community would break up into six teams with each team creating a new thirty-minute play based on any topic of their choosing. The result marries the make-shift mentality of Fringe Festivals to the aesthetic of a mad theatre scientist experimenting with primal forces.  ...

A roasting and a rousing good time at The Thanksgiving Play

March 14, 2022 / Featured
High school theatre teacher Logan wins a grant to create the annual Thanksgiving play. She and her boyfriend and fellow actor Jaxton struggle to devise a politically correct Thanksgiving play for the school’s juvenile audience. They’re joined by history teacher, Caden, who dreams of being a playwright, and LA-based...

Cincinnati Shakespeare: Hamlet With a Twist

February 28, 2022 / Featured
Review by Sherri Wellington Cincinnati Shakespeare Company’s newest rendition of William Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” makes the viewer look at the play in a new and different way. Hamlet is a woman. Thus, all of Hamlet’s relationships are immediately under scrutiny.  How does Hamlet, as a woman, change the story?  Brian...

Madcap Puppet Theatre will Engage Young Kids (and You!)

January 17, 2022 / Featured
Upon listening to the squeals, comments, giggles and gasps, clearly Dylan Shelton consistently reaches his audience in a simply poignant manner.  The audience is there to be entertained and he is doing so with a wide array of puppets, voices and stories.  By the looks on the adults' faces...

Covedale’s “Elf the Musical:” Fast, Festive, and Family-Friendly

December 7, 2021 / Featured
One of the true heroes of the show is choreographer Cassidy Steele, whose dance numbers add so much life to an already waggish score. One of my favorite moments of the show was the hilarious act two number “Nobody Cares About Santa,” the Fosse’esque  choreography reminding of “Sweet Charity”...

“Glassheart” at Know is Magical

November 22, 2021 / Featured
Glassheart, at Know Theatre of Cincinnati, reexamines what it means to find true love, the sacrifices we make for those who we care about the most and the longing to feel human. Directed by Tamara Winters, this deeply moving comedy is set within the walls of a small Chicago...

“The End of the World” is a Short, Rich Drama: Miami U. Fringe

November 20, 2021 / Featured
By Shawn Maus I love live theatre. I’m torn with this new world we’re in that produces theatre on YouTube or other streaming services. I know that the movie megaplexes are showing Metropolitan Opera shows and other Broadway shows on the big screens. I applaud the theatre world for...

NKU’s “Edwin Drood” Engaging and Energetic

November 15, 2021 / Featured
Director Jason Danieley...has created a humorous, fanciful dessert of good songs, good singing and dancing and a different audience experience. This is not your grandmother’s musical but you will be glad you saw it....

“Once” Strikes a Chord at CCM

November 7, 2021 / Featured
While the vocals are gorgeous, one of the most unique features of the show is the lack of a large pit offstage. Instead, the actors accompany themselves on instruments including guitar, cello, piano, ukulele, melodica, and percussion. When not part of the primary scene, the actors float along the...

A.L.T.’s “Higher” has a Legacy

November 1, 2021 / Featured
"Higher" is an original rock musical centered around the opioid crisis and one man’s...journey to recovery. It’s at times humorous,...dramatic, grim, and uplifting. But mostly it is a show unlike any you’ve ever seen. It’s ambitious, compelling, and thought-provoking....

Xanadu Glides Onto CCM Stage

October 23, 2021 / Featured
The musical is, frankly, a lot:  a lot of look, a lot of synth, a lot of  meta jokes about artists, gentrification, and 40-year-old gays who attend children’s theater. The show never takes itself seriously and for 90 intermission-less minutes, the audience is transported to a world where physics,...

An “Our Town” for Our Time

October 5, 2021 / Featured
"Eli Lucas as George Gibbs and Julianna Weis-Palacios as Emily Webb are strong...Their version of a balcony scene (played with facing ladders) is touching and their "date" at the ice-cream parlor is both well-acted and just fun to watch."...

Covedale’s “Odd Couple” is worth it

September 18, 2021 / Featured
Director Greg Procaccino creates a sense of urgency throughout the opening scene, where Oscar and his poker buddies are a delight with their banter and specific personality quirks. ...