CINDERELLA, MADAGASCAR, and More Head Up Children's Theatre of Cincinnati's Upcoming Season

The Children's Theatre of Cincinnati's 93rd season will be one to remember, as TCT brings Tri-state families six fantastical productions they won't soon forget.

At the Taft Theatre, a boy that won't grow up, a princess in glass slippers, a band of animal friends and a magical nanny will all prove that dreams really do come true if you make a wish and believe in yourself.

Plus, at the new TCT facility on Red Bank Road, a large hat-wearing cat and a brave polka-dotted girl will each share two amazing and important adventures with audiences in the debut season of the Showtime Series at Red Bank.

TCT MainStage at the Taft season:

Peter Pan JR. (October 21-22, 27-29, 2017)

Cinderella (December 9-10, 15-17, 2017)

Madagascar: A Musical Adventure (February 10-11, 16-18, 2018)

Mary Poppins (April 7-8, 13-15, 2018)

Showtime Series at Red Bank:

Dr. Seuss's The Cat in the Hat (June 2-July 9, 2017)

Polkadots: The Cool Kids Musical (February 23-March 25, 2018)

"We are 93 years young - and we still haven't grown up!" said Producing Artistic Director, Roderick Justice. "We are proud of our mission: To educate, entertain and engage audiences of all ages through professional theatrical productions and arts education programming; and we feel this season is going to do just that AND help families make lasting memories together."

About the MainStage at the Taft Season:

Peter Pan JR.

October 21-22, 27-29, 2017

A Musical Based on the Play by Sir J.M. Barrie. Lyrics by Carolyn Leigh. Music by Morris (Moose) Charlap. Additional Lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green. Additional Music by Jule Styne. Originally directed, choreographed and adapted by Jerome Robbins.

Peter and his mischievous fairy sidekick, Tinkerbell, visit the nursery of the Darling children late one night and, with a sprinkle of pixie dust, begin a magical journey across the stars that none of them will ever forget. In the adventure of a lifetime, the travelers come face to face with a ticking crocodile, a fierce Indian tribe, a band of bungling pirates and, of course, the villainous Captain Hook. Featuring the iconic songs, "I'm Flying," "I've Gotta Crow," "I Won't Grow Up" and "Never Never Land," and a rousing book full of magic, warmth and adventure, Peter Pan JR. is the perfect show for the child in all of us...

Cinderella

December 9-10, 15-17, 2017

By John Davidson

For the holidays, TCT will treat audiences to a Cinderella Christmas. In this hilarious holiday panto, you'll jeer at the deliciously dysfunctional stepmother and sisters as much as you'll cheer for Cinderella in her quest to attend the magnificent Christmas ball. Get ready for plenty of audience participation, side-splitting humor, and outlandish characters in this classic fairytale set to popular music. Put on your glass slippers and join us this winter as we celebrate a Cinderella Christmas.

Madagascar: A Musical Adventure

February 10-11, 16-18, 2018

Based on the Dreamworks Animation Motion Picture. Book by Kevin Del Aguila. Original Music and Lyrics by George Noriega & Joel Someillan.

Join Alex the Lion, Marty the Zebra, Melman the Giraffe, Gloria the hip hip Hippo and, of course, those hilarious, plotting penguins as they bound onto the Taft Theatre stage in the musical adventure of a lifetime. Based on the smash DreamWorks animated motion picture, Madagascar: A Musical Adventure follows all of your favorite crack-a-lackin' friends as they escape from their home in New York's Central Park Zoo and find themselves on an unexpected journey to the madcap world of King Julien's Madagascar.

Mary Poppins

April 7-8, 13-15, 2018

A Musical based on the stories of P.L. Travers and the Walt Disney Film. Original Music and Lyrics by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman. Book by Julian Fellowes. New Songs and Additional Music and Lyrics by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe. Co-Created by Cameron Mackintosh.

Jack-of-all trades, Bert, introduces us to England in 1910 and the troubled Banks family. Young Jane and Michael have sent many a nanny packing before Mary Poppins arrives on their doorstep. Using a combination of magic and common sense, she must teach the family members how to value each other again. Mary Poppins is an enchanting mixture of irresistible story, unforgettable songs, breathtaking dance numbers and astonishing stagecraft.

New subscriptions to the 2017-2018 Children's Theatre of Cincinnati MainStage season at the Taft Theatre will be available in early June after existing subscription renewals are completed. Subscriptions range from $43 to $103 for all four productions. Single tickets go on sale August 22. For information call 513-569-8080 ext. 10 or visit www.thechildrenstheatre.com.

Important to note: The Children's Theatre's four Broadway-style MainStage productions will continue to be performed in the historic Taft Theatre in downtown Cincinnati. The 2016-2017 MainStage season is poised to break records for the organization with MainStage attendance currently topping 97,000.

About the New Showtime Series at Red Bank:

The Children's Theatre of Cincinnati, the country's oldest professional theater for young audiences, is excited to showcase its new destination for theater education and expand its reach into the community. The Ralph and Patricia Corbett Showtime Stage is a small 152-seat performance space housed in the company's new facility on Red Bank Road.

"This new theatrical facility gives us the opportunity to program for new audiences, including preschoolers as well as middle and high school students," said Kim Deaton, Managing Director and CEO. "Thus, we begin the creation of future arts patrons in Cincinnati at an even earlier age, and extend their engagement through high school. The Showtime Series will allow us to program the new space with more than 64 performances."

Dr. Seuss's The Cat in the Hat

June 2-July 9, 2017

Based on the book by Dr. Seuss. Play originally produced by The National Theatre of Great Britain. Adapted and originally directed by Katie Mitchell. Dr. Seuss text, characters and images TM and © 2009 Dr. Seuss Enterprises, L.P.

Everyone's favorite cat comes to mischievous life in this theatrical adaptation of the Dr. Seuss classic. From the moment his tall, red-and-white-striped hat appears around the door, Sally and her brother know that The Cat in the Hat is the funniest, most mischievous cat that they have ever met. With the trickiest of tricks and the craziest of ideas, he is certainly loads of fun. He turns a rainy afternoon into an amazing adventure... but what will mum find when she gets home...?

Polkadots: The Cool Kids Musical

February 23-March 25, 2018

Book written by Melvin Tunstall III. Co-Composer and Lyricist Douglas Lyons. Co-Composer Greg Borowsky. Based on an Original Concept by Douglas Lyons.

Polkadots follows 8-year-old Lily Polkadot who just moved to the "Squares Only" small town of Rockaway. As the first Polkadot in an all Square school, Lily faces an almost impossible task of gaining acceptance from her peers. From daily bullying, to segregated drinking fountains, Lily's quest seems hopeless until she meets Sky, a shy Square boy whose curiosity for her unique polkadot skin blooms into an unexpected pal-ship. Inspired by Civil Rights pioneers Ruby Bridges and The Little Rock Nine, Polkadots serves as a colorful history lesson for the world, reminding us that our differences make us awesome, not outcasts.

Single tickets to the Showtime Series at Red Bank's Dr. Seuss's The Cat in the Hat are available now at www.ticketmaster.com or by calling 800-745-3000. All seats are $20. Tickets for Polkadots: The Cool Kids Musical will go on sale later this spring, and will also be $20 each.

The Children's Theatre of Cincinnati is supported by the generosity of community contributions to the ArtsWave Campaign. The Ohio Arts Council helped fund this program with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans.

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