CINCINNATI: The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati (TCT) has announced adjustments to its 2020-21 season, including postponing previously announced productions of Disney’s Descendants, Elf the Musical Jr., Doctor Dolittle Jr., and the world premiere of Princess & Frog until the 2021-22 season. These productions are being replaced by four productions that will be available for in-person, socially distant performances as well as digital experiences for those not ready to return to in-person theatre.
“As a theatre for young people which normally serves over 200,000 each season,” said producing artistic director Roderick Justice in a statement, “we had to make some dramatic changes and start from scratch to curate a new season of titles, which also grants us the license to stream the productions digitally.”
TCT will stream its first three productions, which will take place on the Showtime Stage at TCT’s Red Bank location, through a partnership with Broadway on Demand. Its fourth production, postponed from the 2019-20 season, will take place at the Taft Theatre in downtown Cincinnati.
“Accessibility to our programming is incredibly important right now,” said Kim Kern, TCT’s managing director and CEO, in a statement. “The stories we tell give families hope and joy as we look to the future. Due to the limited capacity of our Showtime Stage, TCT’s first three productions will be available to purchase digitally though our website in partnership with Broadway on Demand.”
The season will open with The Velveteen Rabbit (Nov. 12-Dec. 13), adapted by William S. Kilborne Jr. and Albert T. Viola, with music by Viola and lyrics by Kilborne. This adaptation of Margery Williams’s story about a stuffed rabbit made real will be directed by Justice and available digitally beginning Nov. 19.
Next up will be Garfield: The Musical With Cattitude (Jan. 21-Feb. 14, 2021), based on the comic strip by Jim Davis, with book by Michael J. Bobbitt and Jim Davis and music and lyrics by John L. Cornelius II. Eric Byrd will direct this musical, in which the grumpy title cat deals with the fact that his birthday has fallen on a Monday. The production will be available digitally beginning Feb. 4.
Next up will be Rapunzel’s Hair Fairy Tale (Feb. 25-March 21, 2021), a new adaptation of the classic fairy tale that will feature only two actors. Byrd will direct. The production will be available digitally beginning March 4.
The season will conclude with the postponed production of Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical Jr., with book by Dennis Kelly and music and lyrics by Tim Minchin. Nate Bertone will direct this story of an extraordinary girl with a vivid imagination and mysterious powers. This production will not be available digitally.
Founded in 1919, the Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati aims to educate, entertain, and engage audiences of all ages through professional productions and educational programming.
