The Children's Theatre of Cincinnati - Commemorative Book

TCT Comes Home to the Emery Theater

SUCCESS has a STARTING POINT

We all have a beginning. For The Children’s Theatre, it was the historic Emery Theater. For thousands of art directors, performers, and creators - it was Elder High School. Whether your son dreams of singing on stage, designing sets, animating stories, or directing the show, Elder provides the foundation to grow his talent and his success stories, and we know how important the starting point can be. At Elder, success doesn’t just happen. It starts here.

Congratulations to The Children’s Theatre and the Emery Theater on this historic homecoming. After all these years, the stage is set once again - and there’s no place like home.

Zac Reid ’12 Founder and CEO PianoVision

David Altenau ’83 Founder and Chairman The Pitch Black Company

Steve Bono ’86 Creative Director Kid Lightning Design Studio

Rodger Pille ’91 Executive Director Cincinnati Landmark Productions

Rich Roedersheimer ’97 Performer Broadway National Tours

Tim Perrino ’74 Founder/Artistic Director Cincinnati Landmark Productions

D. Michael Heath ’71 Vocal Instructor/Consultant Voice Studio NYC

Scott Wolfram ’94 Founder/President Working Studio, Inc.

WELCOME TO THE EMERY AND WELCOME HOME

We couldn’t be more thrilled to usher each of you into the long-awaited second act of the historic Emery Theater. But this wasn’t just a renovation … it was a reimagination

Over a century ago, a group of bold visionaries formed The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati. From humble beginnings in 1919, incorporation in 1949 by the Junior League, and a chapter of TCT’s story has been built on passion, persistence, creativity, and a deep belief in the power of theatre to transform lives.

performance home from 1948 through 1969, when unresolved challenges of the venue, its egress, limited access, and parking/location obstacles led the Junior League to shift our operations to the Taft Theatre. Today, those once-daunting challenges have been met with creative vision, determination, 21st-century technology, imagination, and a vibrant community that refused to let this treasured landmark, a crown jewel of Cincinnati, fade away. l

At more than 100 years young, TCT is proud to be the nation’s oldest professional theatre for young audiences. And thanks to the generosity and the tireless work of those who believed in our mission, we are honored to launch a new era inside a venue that matches our ambition. The Emery Theater is currently the most technologically advanced venue of its kind in the country!

our inaugural season at the Emery be a celebration of homecomings, family, and community. What better way to open our season than The Wizard of Oz, a story of selfdiscovery and an epic journey that teaches all of us that there truly is “no place like home.” Elf The Musical takes us l on the hilarious and heartwarming journey of Santa’s tallest

he belongs, spreading plenty of holiday cheer in his wake. Diary of a Wimpy Kid, the Musical explores the hilarity and l in DreamWorks’ How to Train Your Dragon, young Hiccup’s empathy, curiosity, and courage to embrace what is feared and your community.

Each of these stories, in its own way, reminds us that home isn’t just a place. It’s a feeling. A connection. A heartbeat.

The heart of TCT beats strong here at the Emery. And it beats stronger still because of you—our audience, our supporters, our community, and our family

Roderick JusticeKim Kern

Congratulations to our friends at The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati!

There’s No Place Like a New Home

Now that TCT unlocked the Emery Theater’s potential, the renovated space will launch a new future for children’s theater in Cincinnati.

By Kathy Doane

As The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati settles into the with The Wizard of Oz: Youth Edition, the show that

How do I make an immersive experience in an auditorium like this?” says Artistic

The Emery Theater before TCT’s renovation.

CASSINELLI, SHANKER ASSOCIATES

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DR. IAN SEGALL | DR. JEREMY DOCK | DR. ROBIN BAKER | DR. SHIV SHANKER | DR. ALEX CASSINELLI

happening onstage, but we’ll advance the story around them with animation and sound.”

Justice calls them goosebump moments. For instance, if a clock suddenly appears on one of the panels by the stage, the ticking will come from that spot.

The Emery renovation is also an opportunity to provide TCT patrons with a more comfortable experience, starting with the seats. The theater’s original number was misleading by today’s standards, because its gallery seats were benches that held more people. “We ended up with 1,534 seats,” says TCT President and CEO Kim Kern.

In addition to a tech room at the rear of the orchestra level, there is a calming sensory room for big and little ones who need to step out of a performance. They’ll still be able to hear and see performances through a window as well as control the volume and even close curtains if necessary.

of an elevator that allows patrons access to seats on all levels, audio description, and bathrooms to accommodate children and adults with disabilities and sensory issues. “We brought Dr. Jen Smith from Children’s Hospital, who chairs our sensory-friendly committee, to provide input to make sure we were thinking of everything,” Kern says.

Linking the enclosed historic gallery stairwell towers part of the project since the stairwell landings and

As an homage to the Emery’s past, a history wall on the balcony level highlights many of the historical

over the last 114 years.

When Justice and Kern talk about the future, they both get a little giddy. “Having our own home has opened up a whole new reality for what we can do,” he says. That covers a range of possibilities from adding a summer MainStage show to staging productions for

intimate shows,” Kern says. “For children under age 4, for instance, shows will be all about movement. And for middle schoolers we’ll have productions that speak to what they’re dealing with in their lives.”

to schedule rehearsals in the evening, which means attracting more local onstage and backstage talent who often have day jobs. It also allows TCT to host other U.S. children’s theater companies and possibly coproduce shows. “We’ve been told we are now the most technologically advanced theater in the country,” says Justice. For companies like Doodle POP of South Korea, that might make Cincinnati a future tour stop.

There is one thing about TCT, however, that won’t change, according to Justice. “If you bring a 6-yearold to Children’s Theatre, I want the show to be just as entertaining for you as it is for them,” he says.

new Emery Theater and convince young and old alike that they aren’t in Kansas any more. Or even Cincinnati.

Home Sweet Home The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati staff (top) checks on construction progress during the lengthy $51.5-million transformation of the Emery Theater, including new entryways, marquee, lobby, and gathering areas.

A Future Brighter Than Dorothy’s Slippers

Why The Wizard of Oz is the perfect show to open TCT’s glittering new home stage, according to Artistic Director Roderick Justice.

Selecting a show to be the first production in the renovated Emery Theater must have been exciting. What made TCT choose The Wizard of Oz: Youth Edition?

The Wizard of Oz

How is TCT planning to use new technology in future productions?

The Wizard of Oz

Any insights you can give “behind the curtain” of how new technology at the Emery will impact this production of The Wizard of Oz?

Concept projection art for The Wizard of Oz by Lightborne Communications

engage audiences of all abilities. We’re also eager to collaborate with artists and designers who are pushing the boundaries of theatrical innovation. The Emery gives us a creative sandbox to dream bigger and bolder— and we plan to use it to transport audiences to places designed to be “future-proofed.”

It’s going to be such a memorable moment in TCT’s history to open the Emery Theater. What themes stand out that audiences will connect with, and what are you hoping they’ll remember after their first production at the Emery? Opening the Emery Theater is a milestone not just for TCT but for the entire tri-state region. It’s a moment of transformation, of honoring the past while stepping boldly into the future. The Wizard of Oz captures that spirit beautifully, with themes like courage, friendship, wonder, and the search for home resonating deeply with audiences of all ages. Just like Dorothy, we’re all on life’s “road trip” journey—navigating change, discovering our strength, and realizing the value of those who walk beside us.

reawakened our sense of possibility. We’re not just adapting to a new space—we’re reimagining how we tell stories, how we welcome audiences, and how we serve our community. Every inch of the Emery invites us to be more ambitious, more creative, and more inclusive. It’s reminded me that growth is rarely comfortable but always worth it. And if this is what the beginning looks like, the future for TCT is going to be beyond extraordinary.

isn’t just the spectacle or the technology—it’s how they felt. That shared sense of magic, joy, and connection. I want every person to walk out believing in the power of imagination and/or feeling like a kid again. And I want everyone—whether they’re in the audience, on stage, or working behind the scenes—to leave reminded that “there’s no place like home” and that TCT, now at the Emery, will always be a home for creativity, storytelling, wonder, community, and belonging.

Are there any fun surprises the audience can expect from this production or from their overall Emery Theater experience? Without giving too much away—because where’s the fun in that?—I can say that my personal motto for this production and for the Emery overall has been to leave no corner unimagined. From the moment you turn the corner onto Walnut Street to stepping through the doors, we want you to feel like you’ve entered into a world where the imagination is limitless.

Yes, there are plenty of surprises tucked into the production itself—some visual effects and staging we think will send everyone “over the rainbow” with excitement—but the experience extends beyond what happens on stage. We’re rethinking how the entire theater experience feels, and the Emery is more than an avenue—it’s part of the story. And this is just the beginning of the adventures we plan to take our audiences on.

Moving from a space you’re well accustomed to at the Taft Theatre into a new venue presents its own opportunities and challenges. What about this journey has inspired you for TCT’s future? Moving into the Emery has been one of the most inspiring and humbling chapters in my life as well as in TCT’s history. After so many years in a space we knew inside and out, stepping into the unknown came with its share of challenges. But it also came with incredible opportunity.

What’s inspired me most is the way this move has

Fun Facts from Oz

Margaret Hamilton, who played the Wicked Witch of the West in the 1939 movie, was a kindergarten teacher before becoming an actress.

The Wizard of Oz Awards in 1940 for Best Original Score and Best Original Song (“Over the Rainbow”).

Dorothy’s famous ruby slippers are written as being silver in the book by L. Frank Baum.

anniversary, a pair of real ruby slippers were made; they’re reportedly worth around $3 million.

TCT’s history with The Wizard of Oz can be evidence of actors in costumes from the show at the Emery Theater. This show predated

Scenic Design (above) by Tyler Duncan Gabbard. (Below) Amy Baumann & Roderick Justice in 2011 TCT production of The Wizard of Oz.

Guardian Angels School

• Everyday by Being Honest, Accountable, and aLeader to Others

• Earned Distinction as aBlue Ribbon School of Excellence

• All Students Participate inour Halo Bell Program, Providing Enrichment Services for ALL Students

• Opened New Makerspace Lab in 2022

• Mental and Physical HealthServices Provided by a Full-Time School Counselor & Full-Time School Nurse

• Teachers Guide Students to Develop Spiritually,Academically, Emotionally,andPhysically

• TechnologyIntegrated into Every Classroom

• All K-8 Students Participate in Spanish,Art,Music,and Physical EducationWeekly

• Extra-Curricular Activities Include Athletics, Music, Drama, andMore

• EdChoice Program Provider

Get your tickets today for the best seats available in the newly renovated Emery Theater! WWW.THECHILDRENSTHEATRE.COM

OCTOBER 10-26, 2025

DECEMBER 5-21, 2025

FEBRUARY 20 - MARCH 8, 2026

MAKE HISTORY WITH A $500 GIFT! Dedicate a seat in the new Emery Theater to honor a loved one or commemorate a special milestone. One signature and family name will be engraved on a seat at the Emery, creating a lasting tribute for future generations to see.

APRIL 17 - MAY 3, 2026

November 4–7 | 6–9:30 p.m.

Our lavish four-night dinner series returns to celebrate the experience and enjoy a one-of-a-kind meal in a fun and festive atmosphere.

Limited tickets available.

PRESENTING SPONSORS

TCT Through the Years

1919

Helen SchusterMartin coins the name The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati and begins directing productions for young audiences.

1924

The Junior League of Cincinnati formed the Junior League Players, a group of members who performed for 700 children that year under the direction of Helen SchusterMartin.

1949

The Junior League of Cincinnati provided a $12,600 grant to launch a nonprofit organization, and The Children’s Theatre was officially incorporated. After an initial season at Hughes High School, the Emery Auditorium became TCT’s home for the next two decades.

“The Children’s Theatre promises to become a Cincinnati institution to boast about.” (Marjorie Lunken in a letter to Miss Weisgerber, November 13)

1959

Produced Holiday on Ice show using the frozen floor of Cincinnati Gardens.

1982

Began offering one public performance of each show on a Friday evening at 7:30 PM to provide another opportunity for kids to see the performances.

1925 Production of The Wizard of Oz produced by The Junior League Players. Helen Schuster-Martin, Director.

1939

11,000 children reached.

“This year leadership is outstanding… sufficient interest and girl power to carry it.”(Chandler, Field Report from Children’s Theatre staff, October)

1948

A costume sketch from a production of Many Moons.

1969

Moved from the Emery Auditorium (pictured above) to the Taft Theatre. Otto Kvapil of Xavier University became executive director.

1987

Took part in the Greater Cincinnati Bicentennial Celebration with Cincinnati’s Bicentennial Musical: A Cincinnati Story.

The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati celebrates more than 100 years. Take a look back and learn about some of the company’s magical milestones.

1993

The first paid staff at The Children’s Theatre was hired: Jack Louiso, Artistic Director, and Susie Louiso, Executive Director (above).

2000

70,000 children reached

2005

ArtReach merged with TCT, creating what would be later known as TCT On Tour.

2017

2015

Roderick Justice (above) leaps into the role of Producing Artistic Director. Kim Kern (left) adds CEO to her title.

2016

2010

The launch of TCT Academy.

107,000 children and families reached on the MainStage. 83,000 students reached with TCT On Tour. 1,200 enrolled in TCT Academy.

1999

The launch of STAR, an audition-based summer program providing intense musical theatre training to talented children ages 9-18.

TCT Academy enrollment grew 340% after opening the new building on Red Bank Road in 2015.

2003

Presented Tom Sawyer: A River Adventure three times daily during the Tall Stacks celebration. The show returned to the festival in 2006.

2011

Jack and Susie Louiso retire. Opera singer and arts educator Angela Powell Walker (above) takes the reins as Artistic Director and Val Krueckeberg becomes Executive Director.

2018

2023

In a surge of new growth, programming expanded, including: TTI, JumpStart Theatre, and SummerStage. Worked with DC Comics to produce the first TYA version of SUPERMAN™

TCT announces its future home at the Emery Theater, an iconic Cincinnati landmark, aiming to raise $51.5 million for renovations and future programming.

Your gift makes a difference serving the mission to educate, entertain and engage audiences of all ages through professional theatrical productions and arts education programming. The following are experiences we share to thank you for your support.

GIVING LEVELS

GIVING LEVELS & BENEFITS

& BENEFITS

NOBILITY (GIFTS OF $100+) Early registration for TCT Academy Classes and Summer Camps. Recognition in the Royal Supporters list in the TCT MainStage production programs and a special TCT Crown sticker.

COAT OF ARMS (GIFTS OF $250+) In addition to the above, you will receive an invitation to enjoy the VIP Backstage Experience at the TCT MainStage Production of Dreamworks’ How to Train Your Dragon JR. at The Emery Theater. Tours provided 45 minutes prior to the performance.

SCEPTER (GIFTS OF $500+) In addition to the above, you will receive an invitation to enjoy a special meet-and-greet with Buddy the Elf in the autograph line and an exclusive photo on stage with Santa following the TCT MainStage production of Elf the Musical JR.

THRONE (GIFTS OF $1,000+) In addition to the above, you will receive an invitation to “Behind the Scenes” with the TCT Scene Shop, an exclusive view of the scenic elements, tour of the facility and artist demonstrations. See first-hand what goes into the creation of a Broadway-quality set. The event will be held on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, 4:30 – 5:30pm.

TIARA (GIFTS OF $2,500+) In addition to the above, you will receive a copy of the very first in our annual series of collectible coffee table photo books titled: “Memories of the Taft.” Each year, this colorful keepsake will capture the highlights and unforgettable moments of the season, and it also includes a special space for you to add your own photo memory, making it a unique memento to treasure for years to come.

CROWN (GIFTS OF $5,000 AND ABOVE) In addition to the above, you will become an “Honorary Producer” of a TCT MainStage production! This experience includes a meet-and-greet with the artistic team, the opportunity to witness an exclusive dress rehearsal, and experience the show from our Producer's Suite, where you will enjoy a narrated journey of the magic happening in real-time on stage (Limited dates/show times available). You will also receive a commemorative ornament crafted from salvaged wood from the former stage floorboards of the Emery Theater.

JOIN US FOR A FALL ADMISSION EVENT!

Walk & Talk Group Tours

All walking tours are 9-10 a.m.

Pre-k - Kindergarten

Now through Nov. 13

Offered most Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays

Grades 1-5

Tuesday, Oct. 14

Wednesday, Oct. 15

Grades 6-12

Thursday, Oct. 16

Wednesday, Oct. 29

Tuesday, Nov. 18

Questions & Conversations

Virtual events offered at varied times

Pre-k - Grade 5

Wednesday, Oct. 22 9-10 a.m.

Grades 6-12

Wednesday, Oct. 29

7-7:45 p.m.

Thursday, Jan. 22 7-7:45 p.m.

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