Campers of week one were super excited to start learning dances, songs, and blocking the scenes. The kids loved the acting games and crafting props for the show.

The students were introduced to something new; the oriental feel of the show’s original music, and very much enjoyed it.

Sunday’s shows are open to general public. Get your tickets early – click at Box Office Tab.

We are excited to be a part of this exciting and creative event at Taft Museum.

Come and join the party!

This Sunday at 2 pm
At Taft Museum

Details at: http://www.taftmuseum.org/pages/madhatter.php

The cast of the second session of Jungle Book Performance Workshop performed on Saturday, March 13 to a sold out house.  We are so proud all the kids who brought the Jungle to life in our little theatre.  Great job everyone!

Jungle Book will be playing in our regular Children’s Repertory Sundays at 2 pm series.  Hope you can come and see it!

Photos by Lisa Britton: Last Sunday’s Jungle Book (Session 1 Cast with Shakur Washburn, from Session 2 as Shere Khan)

The amazing Peter Pan cast had a very special treat when, after the curtain call Mr. Bob Siegfried demonstrated playing the player piano he donated to the theatre.  The young actors and many in the audience sang together the favorites: “Following the Leader, Never Smile at a Crocodile, You Can Fly! I Won’t Grow Up”  It was truly a magical moment.

Here is what some of the audience members said:
“Awesome! Amazing! I would come here every weekend if you had a show”, Karen Guilford, homemaker
“I was very impressed with the cast, everyone seemed to fit really well into their parts”, Joe Kemphaus, college student
“We thought it was GREAT. Costumes were great and we loved the piano” Felicia

This weekend marked the official launch of the Clifton Performance Theatre, Clifton’s first neighborhood theatre for children and adults.

The Theatre’s first season opened with four sold out performances of Alice in Wonderland, with two casts of nearly 35 kids ages 5-13. The young performers come from across the Tri-State, some as far as Fort Kent, KY and Guilford, IN.

“This was better than the movie,” an excited six-year-old girl said following the show.  Many parents were glad to have found Clifton Performance Theatre where children perform for children.

A Clifton resident, and a father of one of the children in the cast is excited about seeing live theatre in the Ludlow Business District. “It’s an exciting time and I’m thrilled that the Clifton community now has its very own theatre,” he said.

Two husband and wife teams from Clifton, Craig & Carol Brammer and Matthew & Tatiana Cameron, took four short weeks in August to transform the commercial space at 404 Ludlow Ave (some will remember it as the Cove, or old Sitwells). The space was originally a ballet studio when the building was built in the early 1920s.

Together, the two couples designed a black box theatre that reminds one of New York City’s pocket theatres. The cozy space has an elegant and artistic aesthetic that is both welcoming and inspirational.

Founded on the personal talents and resources of the founders, Clifton Performance Theatre has already received tremendous support and donations from neighbors and friends. Some of these early supporters include Mr. Bob Siegfried, a Clifton piano restorer, who donated a beautiful player upright grand piano. Folding chairs were donated by Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Springfield, Ohio, and interior design consultation was provided by Martha Brammer.

For its initial offering, the Clifton Performance Theatre performed an adaptation of Alice in Wonderland by Kathryn Schultz Miller, Cincinnati-based children’s playwright. The musical was first produced by the Clifton group during their 2009 Summer Camp series with more than 45 children participating.

Ben Walker and Blair Godshall choreographed all dance numbers, Carol Brammer and Tatiana Cameron co-directed the show.  Matthew Cameron designed the simple but professional stage lighting.  Elizabeth Guilford, an art student at Xavier University spent many hours as an office assistant, wardrobe designer, and make-up artist and stage manager.

“We founded the Clifton Performance Theatre when we recognized the need for a theatre environment where our children could hang out and  be exposed to live performance arts,” said Tatiana Cameron, who is a mother of three boys Dante (9), Evan (7) & Blais (4). Ms. Cameron is a professional performing artist, performing more than 80 concert events across the U.S. each year (more at idobelieve.com) She moved to Cincinnati from Los Angeles less than five years ago: “The process of making a theatre has already been a tremendous experience: it revealed to us a generous and supportive Cincinnati theatre scene I didn’t know existed. It’s very encouraging and inspiring to meet the individuals who keep the independent theatre alive.”

Co-Owner Carol Brammer, who attended the prestigious Youth Performing Arts School in Louisville, KY and toured the US and Europe in the American Music Review, says, “We hope to grow the Theatre into a neighborhood theatre offering workshops and shows for children and adults.  We’re developing Clifton Players as well as partnering with other theatre groups in Cincinnati to offer adult audiences a new theatre destination here in the heart of the beautiful Clifton Gaslight District.”

How exciting for all of us was the Wednesday evening rehearsal!  We brought back kids from both Summer Camps – two full casts of Alice in Wonderland! Some 35 kids sang, danced and were excited to get togeher again, eager to exchange their summer memories with each other.

We are looking forward to the performances this coming weekend!

Friday, Sep 18th at 7 pm
Saturday, Sep 19th at 2 pm and 7 pm
Sunday, Sep 20th at 2 pm

Thanks to all the parents for makng this experience possible for their children and for all those who will come to be inspired by the shows.

There are till tickets available.  Please buy them on line – let’s pack the house for these cool kids!  Space is limited, so please get your ticket in advance.

Photos curtesy of Ben (Mr. Ben) Walker II

What an amazing experience this was – the children of both camps worked hard and delivered impressive performances. Here is what two of our parents wrote:

“My son just participated in the Clifton Performance Theatre’s production of Alice in Wonderland.

I can’t even begin to tell you how much he enjoyed himself and what an
absolutely WONDERFUL learning experience it was for him… Both my husband and I thought the whole production was done in such a professional way (from the head shots to the programs) to give the kids a true feeling of what its like to
be in a real theatre performance.  [He] is hooked on the experience and wants to do it again and again – its the first time he has tried this and I am grateful that it was with such great teachers.”

“[My daughter] tremendously enjoyed last week’s camp.  She’s still playing the ‘Alice in Wonderland’ CD and singing and dancing with it.  She enlists her younger brother to act out the parts with her.  Thanks to you and Carol and all the other people involved for making it a great experience.”

New Drama/ Dance Exploration Class

To imagine you are in a magically place or that you can be anything or anyone is a gift given to each of us when we are young. Fairy tale forest class combines this natural gift with the task of creating a story and developing characters. Each session we will dance, speak and use costume to tell a classic story. The curriculum is designed to meet each childs needs wether they are comfortable in front of others or a bit shy. This is a great class for all young actors!

Starts Session IV – April 20 – June 6th
Saturdays at 10 am
Instructor: Carol Brammer
Cost: $60 per Session or $12 Drop-in.

The Clifton Performance Theatre was honored to have a role in the recent fun-filled Fine Arts Sampler at Music Hall. Tatiana (Tajci) Cameron kicked it off with an a capella rendition of “A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes” (lyrically adapted to introduce the importance of theatre in a young child’s life.) The crowd of several hundred gathered as Carol Brammer then took the stage, joined by children from across Greater Cincinnati.

Together, these wonderful kids performed in Baby Box style for a fully-engaged audience of friends and family. The crowd loved it, the kids had great fun and everyone benefited from experiencing the arts through the joy of young, energetic children.

Baby Box is getting great reviews from participating kids, their parents and theatre professionals. They all recognize it as a fresh and effective way to prepare toddlers for the dramatic arts.

We’re grateful to Ruth from the Clifton Cultural Arts Center (CCAC) for asking our team to perform at the Sampler, and to serve as ambassadors for the CCAC and all the tremendous opportunities it brings to our community.

Please do your part to support the Arts in your neighborhood, in our city and across the globe!