TCT Welcomes Ken Jones And The Theatre Training Institute

The Children's Theatre of Cincinnati (TCT) is proud to roll out the red carpet and welcome Ken Jones and the brand-new Theatre Training Institute to TCT's Red Bank Road location.

The Theatre Training Institute (TTI) serves as a bridge between performing arts, university or conservatory-level training and the professional theatre and film industry.

Rooted in developing a performer's craft, individual process and confidence as well as personal and business management, TTI will offer a unique and professional environment with classes taught by Master's level teachers and working professionals, providing intense preparation for a life in this highly-competitive field.

"Today's professional theatre field is extremely competitive, saturated with many different options and extreme challenges. Recent graduates from performing arts, university, or conservatory programs interested in a professional career in stage or screen, often do not know how to move beyond the limits of their hometown to the competitive markets of the larger cities which tend to be the centers of the dramatic arts," says Ken Jones, Director of the Theatre Training Institute. "Our vision is to be a game-changer, helping those enrolled to focus the process, build confidence and understand how to manage the business."

"We are excited to create and host the Theatre Training Institute at our facility on Red Bank Road," said Kim Kern, Managing Director and CEO of The Children's Theatre of Cincinnati. "The addition is a natural next step for our TCT Academy that currently provides performing arts instruction for children ages 2-18 and shares a common goal of helping our next generation of artists reach their full potential. Where can a young person go to find answers and help in preparing for the next step? Where can a person learn how to apply their arts training into real-world application? Where can an emerging artist learn the business of the 'show business'? Where can a person gain the confidence needed to win the audition before they move to New York or Los Angeles? With TTI, now they have that place."

There are a very limited number of programs that provide such specialized training in the nation, and most are located on the coast. Not only will TCT's Theatre Training Institute give Acting Fellows a solid foundation, but also provide them with a bridge to either a professional career or further education, meeting a geographic need for such programming in the Midwest.

Although the primary focus of the Theatre Training Institute is theatre training, the skills acquired in the program could lead to many allied areas of the industry. In addition to theatre and film, graduates could find work in television, cinema, video production, the cruise ship industry, advertising, retail design and fashion companies. In addition, TTI graduates would be exposed to the opportunity of continuing their education at a university level either in pursuit of a BFA or MFA degree.

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

The Theatre Training Institute features multi-faceted programs, including: Comprehensive, Summer Intensive and Performing Arts Audition and Application Seminar.

TTI Comprehensive Program:

The Comprehensive Program is designed solely for high school and college graduates. The Theatre Training Institute student must audition for the 28-week program, and should have a high level of theatre experience and skills. This two-semester program is intended for those who are employed and require a flexible schedule and includes 28 Saturday programs each 4-hours (112 hours total). Once accepted into the program, students (known as "Fellows") will meet on weekends to allow the opportunity to maintain jobs and financially prepare for an eventual move to the theatre/film business in a larger city. The Comprehensive Program counts toward a certificate at program completion and an audition experience in New York City.

The TTI Comprehensive Program begins in September 2018. Jones and staff are currently scouting talent to enroll 12-16 students in this exclusive program.

TTI Summer Intensive:
The TTI Summer Intensive is designed for the person who has just graduated from a performing arts school/ art academy or high school and plans to attend a university or conservatory program in the fall and hopes to gain more audition experience and knowledge of the intensity of collegiate arts programs. This three-week course begins in July 2019, and will run four days a week, five hours a day, for a total of 75 hours of class time. The Summer Intensive Program counts toward a certificate at program completion.

TTI Performing Arts Audition and Application Seminar:
The two-week Performing Arts Audition and Application Seminar is intended for the high school junior and their family to prepare and better understand the application and audition process for entry into a university, college, conservatory or internship in a performing arts program. The Seminar will run three days a week for a two-week period (typically from 7:30 PM to 9:30 PM) for a total of 12 hours of class time. The Seminar will be held multiple times each year starting in May 2019.

ABOUT Ken Jones

Ken Jones is currently the Rosenthal Distinguished Professor at Northern Kentucky University. He earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Acting/Directing from the University of Florida, a Master of Fine Arts degree in Playwriting from the University of Virginia and continued on to graduate in Playwriting from the Institute for Advanced Theatre Training at Harvard University. Jones has had 27 plays produced with 10 published, nine musicals, four CDs of original soundtrack scores and listings in several anthologies and monologue books.

Jones began his playwriting career with the Off-Broadway production of his play, A RED EAGLE FALLING, produced at the Writer's Theatre in New York City by the Project III Ensemble. His play, DARKSIDE, was chosen as TIME Magazine's Critic Choice and was also recognized as one of the Best Plays of the 1980s.

Jones was a member of the prestigious Warner Bros. Television Writer's Workshop and went on to serve as the Head of Development for Lightpoint Entertainment at Disney/MGM Studios for the development and creation of content for animation, television and film.

As a performer, Jones performed in the workshop productions of the Broadway musicals FINDING NEVERLAND and STEEL. He has appeared in productions at regional theatres including The American Repertory Theatre, Heritage Theatre, Commonwealth Theatre Company and The Children's Theatre of Cincinnati, and he has voiced many characters for animated national television series.

He has received a Telly Award, a Communicator's Award, the Post-Corbett award for Best Literary Artist, a Delauney Playwriting Award, the Kentucky Playwright's Award, the Trailblazer Educator's Award, seven Acclaim Awards, two Emmy nominations and six international awards for screenwriting and filmmaking.

Ken Jones is an active member of the Dramatist Guild of America, the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, and a member of National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. Ken is the Rosenthal Distinguished Professor of Theatre and a Regent's Professor at Northern Kentucky University, where he served as the Chair of the Department of Theatre and Dance for 11 years and was the Founding Director of the Northern Kentucky University School of the Arts.

Faculty and Guest Artists

Through his experience and industry network, Ken Jones has already secured commitments from the following individuals to serve as faculty and guest artists for TTI (list subject to change):

JAMEY STRAWN, (Musical Theatre) University of Pennsylvania, College Conservatory of Music- UC- Pianist for National Broadway Shows, Composer with nine musicals and over 50 productions.

Christine Jones, (Acting) Florida State University, University of Virginia. National Stage, film and television. Lyricist with nine musicals and over 50 productions.

STEPHANIE BRUMMER (Dance) Northern Kentucky University, St. Mary's College of California. Professional dancer and choreographer.

Dee Anne Bryll (Musical Theatre/Dance) Baldwin-Wallace College, Kent State University. Nationally-recognized Arts Educator. Director and Choreographer.

CORRIE DANIELEY (Alexander Technique) Hannibal-Lagrange College, Illinois State university. Certified Master Teacher for Alexander Technique. Actress in Motion Pictures.

Guest Artists:

Allan Knee - Broadway Playwright, Shows Written - Little Women, Syncopation and Finding Neverland

Aaron LaVigne - Broadway Actor, Shows - Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark, Rent, Civil Wars

Dale Brown - Broadway Casting Director, Shows Cast - Phantom of the Opera, Billy Elliot, A Little Night Music, Guys and Dolls, Jesus Christ Superstar

Suzanne Fitzpatrick - Screenwriter/Supervising Producer - Shows- 7th Heaven, The Nanny, Heavens to Betsy, For the People

Maggie Murphy - Television/Movie Director, Shows & Movies - The Deuce, Smash, The Bourne Legacy, Enchanted, Mad Men, Zoolander, Runaway Bride

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