The Showboat Crew Celebrates 20 Years on the River; Opens New Season 5/5

When the 2010 Season of the Showboat Majestic opens on May 5th it will make 20 years aboard the floating National Historic Landmark for the staff of Cincinnati Landmark Productions, the producers for this unique, venerable theatre.

Director Tim Perrino, Technical Director Denny Reed and Business Manager Jennifer Perrino all began their administration of "the Boat" in 1990.

Before that, the Majestic lost its last two producers in the previous three years. So the trio had its work cut out for them - creating a season, wooing back patrons, restoring the historic theatre and doing battle with the unpredictable Ohio River.

The first season under this new management team opened with just 599 subscribers and an eight-show season. The last performance run that year - the musical history lesson 1776 - played to sold-out houses for three weeks. That set the floating stage for the next season and beyond. Subscriptions jumped to over 1200. The season was trimmed to six titles. Ensuing years saw the subscriber base grow steadily to nearly 2000.

And quickly, the producing team had to learn the ins-and-outs of creating a show on a showboat:
"My first impression was - ‘It ain't going to be easy loading scenery into this place'" said Technical Director Denny Reed. But each season he approached the technical challenges of "the Boat" with a sense adventure:

"I have learned that working on the Showboat's postage stamp-sized stage is a blessing and not a limitation. You get to be very creative in designing scenery and lighting or directing a show. We created a 6-horse, rotating merry-go-round for a production of Carousel, which transformed into a house onstage and then was completely removed for the second act. "

Over these last two decades, this group has also helped complete a long list of improvements and restorations to the floating landmark. The production staff has collaborated on, gotten donated or directly coordinated well over $1,000,000 in improvements to the city-owned vessel, including:

Re-built Concession Stand
Marquee incorporating historic photos and plaques
Electrical service distribution
Computerized lighting
Computerized Box Office
"New Seats" (Seats donated from Music Hall, 1994)
Carpeting in 1994 and 2008
Interior painting
Installed Heating System (none previous to 1994)
New Air Conditioning
Replaced Roof
Replaced Awnings
Exterior Painting - 1992, 1998, 2003
Remodeled offices, dressing rooms
Metal Hull Refurbished - dry dock, sandblasted, new metal overlay, repainted, coal tar emulsion coating in 1996/97 and 2006/07.
Internal Restructuring and Repairs: re-support of stage, hull, roof, tin ceiling sections replaced, designs per historic landmark guidelines, hull check, repairs and re-coat.
Winches, mooring cables, emergency generator

Until 1994, there wasn't even a furnace on board the vessel:

"We'd rehearse musicals on the Showboat in the off-season," recalls Jennifer Perrino. (Though she now serves as Business Manager, Jennifer was the staff choreographer from1986 through 2003):

"The winds blew and the snow fell on the Public Landing and it was as cold as cold can be. The ‘ol Showboat didn't have any heat! We'd dance and keep warm by wearing layers, hat, gloves, etc., moving around for an entire 4 hour rehearsal period to keep from freezing! The water was shut off during the off season, too. So while we were on board there were no usable restrooms. During breaks, we'd just pile down the ramp of the Majestic into a couple of cars and drive to the nearest gas station to use their facilities!"

But doing battle with the rising river may have been the most adventurous part of the past 20 years.

"I'd say the nautical management aspect gave us the first big kick in the pants," said Director Tim Perrino. He remembers:

"When I first got the job in December 1990, I drove down to the ‘Boat to check out the venue. As I cruised behind the old Riverfront Stadium, I looked to my right to see the Showboat floating above me! Only then did I notice that I was driving through a very large puddle...a puddle that stretched from the stadium to Newport. The mighty Ohio was seven feet over flood stage and my "new" theatre job was precariously clinging to the Cincinnati shore..."

Since then, this team has survived many floods, including the 3rd highest water since World War II, during the flood of 1997. Production Manager Matt Lape has since joined the original staff of three. So for the last ten years, he has managed the Majestic through sixty productions' worth of hell and high water.

Tim, Denny, Jennifer and Matt were once the new kids on the water, but today they are bona fide river rats, running a successful summer stock theatre while sharing it with events like Tall Stacks and Riverfest, windstorms, ghost hauntings, hit shows and summer nights by the shore. But this crew loves the Showboat - the most distinctive theatre in the United States - in a country that invented showboatin' - in a town that came to life by the steam whistle of the riverboat.

Jennifer may say it best:
"20 years have passed quickly (nearly half my life) and what an adventure it has been. I wouldn't trade my experiences on the Showboat for all the fly space in the world! Cincinnati is lucky to have the Showboat Majestic as its own unique theatre, filled with the charm of yesteryear. To me it's like having a tree house on the water that we get to work in every Spring/Summer. And those experiences never get old."

Showboat Majestic 2010 Season Release and Show Descriptions

Come aboard the Showboat Majestic as she celebrates the 88th season in her legendary career! The summer will feature musicals and comedies to please every patron - aboard America's last showboat - a genuine National Historic Landmark!

You Can't Take It With You May 5 - May 23, 2010

When the youngest daughter brings home a decidedly "normal" beau, a crazy family has to hide their decidedly quirky personalities in this great American comedy by George Kaufman and Moss Hart.

Smokey Joe's Cafe June 2 - June 20, 2010

A smart, fun musical revue of the greatest hits of composer team Lieber and Stoller, including Duke of Earl, Poison Ivy, Kansas City and Elvis' Hound Dog.

Cottonpatch Gospel July 7 - July 25, 2010

Harry Chapin (Cat's in the Cradle, Taxi) provided the great songs to this clever and inspiring interpretation of the New Testament, set in the American South of not too long ago...

The Nerd August 4 - August 22, 2010

Larry Shue's laugh out loud tale of a long-lost buddy, who overstays his welcome and creates hysterical havoc for a group of friends, will change the way you play party games forever!

Thoroughly Modern Millie September 8 - September 26, 2010

One of the greatest musical hits on Broadway! Millie Dillmont seeks her career, her fortune and her love in Manhattan circa 1922. With great songs like Gimme Gimme, Not For the Life of Me and the title tune Thoroughly Modern Millie, here's a great wind up to the Showboat's 88th year!
Showboat subscription performances run Wednesday through Saturday at 8:00 p.m., Sundays 2:00 and 7:00 p.m. Each show title runs for three weeks. Subscribers get the best seats at the best prices.

For more information on the Showboat Majestic's 2010 Subscription Season, contact the Box Office at (513) 241 - 6550. Or check us out on the web at www.cincinnatilandmarkproductions.com.