cincinnati music theatre

 
 
 
 
Board of Trustees Election Results
 
Cincinnati Music Theatre extends its heartfelt thanks to outgoing Board members Chad DeMatteis and Kaitrin McCoy. Chad and Kaitrin have each been invaluable to CMT’s success during their terms of service and will remain cherished members of the CMT family. We look forward to seeing you both back at the theater soon.
 
Thanks also to Nominating Chair Chad DeMatteis and his committee for their hard work in pulling off this year’s election and to all who voted and attended our Annual Meeting.
 
The 2020-2021 CMT Board of Trustees includes:
 
President, Peter Merten*
VP Creative, Kendra Struthers*
VP Production, Sarah Mizelle Miller
Secretary, Marypat Carletti
Treasurer, Brian Anderson^
Equipment Chair, Eric Bardes
Personnel Chair, Aubrey Wilson*
Development Chair, Jacqlyn Schott
Publicity Chair, Chelsey Ross
Marketing Chair, Adrianna Boris^
Social Chair, Megan Williams
Historian, Mark D. Motz*
Member-at-Large, Kathy Beiting
Member-at-Large, Mark Culp^
 
*returning incumbent
^newly-elected to the Board or new position

CMT cancels remaining 2020-21 performances

Dearest CMT Family,
 
It is with great regret that we announce the cancellation of the remainder of our 2020/2021 Main Stage and Studio Series seasons. This was a difficult decision, one we made in conjunction with our partners at The Cincinnati Arts Association and the Aronoff Center. I speak for myself and the CMT Board of Directors when I say the arts are a vital and important part of our society and culture. Time spent in the Aronoff Center, our rehearsal spaces and building and painting our sets is time spent in community with one another and we all miss it dearly.
 
We are not sitting idle during these trying times. In response to a rising tide of racism, hate and violence, CMT formed a Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee chaired by current Board Member Jacqlyn Schott. This committee will be a lens on how to maintain openness and foster a more diverse, equitable and inclusive community theater community. Our VP/Creative, Kendra Struthers, has formed a Creative Committee, and they are beginning the work to choose directors and shows for our 2021/2022 season. We also are working on producing a show with our fellow Aronoff resident company, Revolution Dance Theater. CMT Board Members Adrianna Boris (Marketing Chair) and Jacqlyn Schott (Development and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Chair) are working with Revolution Dance Theatre’s Founding Artistic Director, David Choate, on a performance featuring a diverse cast and addressing our current times.
 
Brighter days are ahead and we will come through these dark times. Keep your hearts open and, above all else, show care and love to each other.
 
Warmest Regards and Holiday Wishes,
Peter B. Merten
President, Cincinnati Music Theater Board of Directors

CMT doubles scholarships

Cincinnati Music Theatre recently awarded four $1,000 scholarships to graduating high school seniors who plan to study the theatrical arts in college.

CMT has offered single scholarships in both performance and technical theater for years, but the CMT board decided to approve two scholarships in each category this year.

In performance, the winners included Jonah Sorscher from Indian Hill High School and Micah Day from Turpin High School.

Sorscher will attend the Harvard-Berklee Dual Degree Program, majoring in a joint concentration of BA in Theater, Dance and Media at Harvard while simultaneously pursing a Master of Music in Musical Theatre Writing at Berklee. Day matriculates to Elon University, majoring in Musical Theatre.

In technical theater, the winners were Eva Schramm and Jordain Addis, both from the School for the Creative and Performing Arts.

Both technical winners plan to major in stage management, Schramm at the University of North Carolina School for the Arts, Addis at DePaul University.

CMT Scholarship Program Chair Kathy Kramer contacted more than 60 Tri-State high schools with information about the scholarship and application process and received about 20 applicants. Because of the COVID-19 crisis – rather than the traditional in-person auditions and interviews – performance applicants made video submissions and technical applicants submitted portfolios.

Performance judges included Judges: Arlene Balczo, Marie Kramer Arntsen and Sean Hurley, while technical judges were Julie Beelman and Mike Meuche.

Cabaret banner

ACT showers Cabaret with Orchids

Cincinnati Music Theatre received a huge bouquet of Orchids for its fall 2019 production of Cabaret during the June 20 virtual ACT-Cincinnati awards ceremony.

Winners included: 

Les Rupp for Sound Design 

Eric Bardes for Lighting Design 

Elaine Michael for Costume Design 

Mike Fielder for Photography 

Kendra Struthers, Mike Fielder and Geri Shields for Program Art 

Kendra Struthers for Program 

Taylor Winkleski for Dialect Coach 

Kit Kat Boys for Excellence in Ensemble 

Skip Fenker and Cast for Excellence in Ensemble 

Mike Fielder for Excellence in Choreography 

Mike Fielder and Cast for Excellence in Dance Execution 

Mike Spresser for Excellence in Music Direction 

Mike Spresser and Orchestra for Excellence in Orchestral Performance 

Skip Fenker for Excellence in Direction 

Elly Morris for Excellence in Musical Performance as Sally Bowles 

Kendra Struthers for Excellence in Musical Performance as Fraulein Schneider 

John Simpson for Excellence in Musical Performance as Herr Schultz 

Stephen Welch for Excellence in Musical Performance as Master of Ceremonies 

Also receiving nominations were: 

Stage manager, Jill Rothmeeler 

Producer, Kathy Beiting 

The Kit Kat Gals 

Mary Vossberg as Fraulein Kost 

Tom Morris as Ernst Ludwig 

Master carpenters, John Beiting and Kim Perry 

Light board op, John Beiting 

Sound execution, Les Rupp 

Vocal direction, Mike Spresser 

Special effects, Skip Fenker, Eric Bardes and Stephen Welch 

Makeup, hair and wigs, Christina Siciliano 

Costume execution, the costume crew 

Lobby display, Skip Fenker 

The company for Overall technical quality 

The company for Overall performance quality. 

We are most proud to have performed in the JARSON KAPLAN THEATRE since the opening of the Aronoff in 1995.

We look forward to seeing you here!