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Maddi Kilgore stars as Ariel in the Children’s Theatre of Mason’s performance of “The Little Mermaid” May 10-12, 2013. Provided

The Children’s Theatre of Mason will celebrate its 10th anniversary with a production of “The Little Mermaid” this weekend.

The nonprofit organization’s 23rd full-scale production features 72 youth ages 6 to 18 in the Disney classic.

The Little Mermaid Jr.” is the timeless tale of the beautiful young mermaid Ariel, who longs to leave her ocean home to live in the world above. But first, she’ll have to defy her father King Triton, make a deal with the evil sea witch Ursula, and convince Prince Eric that she’s the girl with the enchanting voice.

The group celebrated its milestone anniversary by distributing 500 tickets to needy students and their families within the Mason, Kings, Lakota, Lebanon and Milford school districts.

Performances are at 7 p.m. Friday; 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. Sunday. All performances are at Mason High School, 6100 Mason-Montgomery Road.

Tickets are $10 available online at www.childrenstheatreofmason.com or at the door.

Posted in: Events |

Tags: Tags: arts, children's theatre of mason, drama, maddie kilgore, performance, the little mermaid, theater

The Cincinnati Christian Community Theatre will perform “Some Enchanted Evening” this weekend at Grace Chapel in Mason.

Selections include numbers from Broadway hits and film and will include solos, small group and large production numbers with dancing. The troupe is a ministry of Grace Chapel.

Tickets are $10. Proceeds benefit the church’s Back2Back Ministry, which helps local and international charitable causes.

Showtimes are 8 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday at the church, 406 4th Ave., Mason. Purchase tickets online at www.seatyourself.com or call 513-755-2338.

Posted in: Community, Events |

Tags: Tags: back2back ministry, cincinnati christian community theatre, concert, grace chapel, performance, some enchanted evening

It was a return to her old stomping grounds for one member of The Ohio State University’s women’s glee club.

Jamie Williams, a 2008 Mason High School graduate, helped organize a concert Friday at the high school.  She’s now a zoology major at OSU.

“As a science major, I felt a little starved to flex my creative and artistic side my freshman year at OSU. I was so inspired by Mrs. (Elaine) Santos [MHS choir director] that I knew I needed to explore opportunities to perform. I found the OSU Women’s Glee Club my sophomore year, and it has been a  wonderful outlet for me ever since.”

The glee club, led by conductor Richard Schnipke, performed several sacred and secular songs, ending with rousing traditional OSU numbers like “Carmen” and “May the Road Rise to Meet You.”  They were joined by the Mason High School Honors Concert Choir.

The performance was made especially memorable for senior Rachel Monnin, who had just been accepted to OSU the day before.

“This was an awesome experience,” she said.  “I am definitely going to audition for the OSU Glee Club when I start school in the fall, and I’m so excited to have this opportunity to meet the OSU Glee Club members – especially since I know I’m now going to be a Buckeye, too.”

Posted in: Schools |

Tags: Tags: concert, jamie williams, mason high school, mason high school honors concert choir, ohio state university, performance, women's glee club

The story of orphan Anne Shirley will be told in the musical Anne of Green Gables, presented by Mars Hill Academy. The play opens March 23 for six performances that will be held at Mason Middle School, 6370 Mason-Montgomery Road. Shows are 7 p.m., March 23-24 and 29-30; with 2 p.m. matinees on March 24 and 31. pictured: Cast in Mars Hill Academy's production of Anne of Green Gables are: kneeling, from left: Megan Peterson, Cincinnati, cast as Jane Andrews and Jenna Jacques, of West Chester Township, as Ruby Gillis; top row, from left: Kathleen Brinkerhoff, Mason, playing Mrs. Spencer; Taylor Tinnin, Lebanon, as Diana Barry; Maddie DeBra, Loveland, as Anne Shirley; and Lexi Kilgore, Mason, as Marilla Cuthbert. Provided photo

The story of orphan Anne Shirley will be told in the musical Anne of Green Gables, presented by Mars Hill Academy.

The play opens March 23 for six performances that will be held at Mason Middle School, 6370 Mason-Montgomery Road. Shows are 7 p.m., March 23-24 and 29-30; with 2 p.m. matinees on March 24 and 31.

Students from Mars Hill Academy, a classical Christian school in Mason, have been double cast in the musical created by Cincinnati composers and playwrights Janes Yates Vogt and Mark Friedman, based on Lucy Maude Montgomery’s book.

The play tells the story of talkative Anne – played by Maddi DeBra and Amanda White – who comes to live with unmarried siblings Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert.

Although they had asked for a boy from the orphanage, Anne is allowed to stay with the Cuthbert’s in the farming community. There she and Matthew – a shy man – become friends.

Marilla – an austere woman who tries to subdue Anne’s imagination – has a hidden soft side brought out by her love of Anne.

Lexi Kilgore and Mary Waldy take on the role of Marilla Cuthbert while Wesley Braden and David Peters share the role of Matthew Cuthbert.

Anne’s friend Diana Barry is portrayed by Esther Cunningham and Taylor Tinnin. Anne’s classmate Gilbert Blythe is played by Luke Ahern and Tyler McQuinn while Talia Colvin and Katie Braden share the role of Rachel Lynde, a neighbor.

Other cast members and their roles are: Betsy Thistleton, Mrs. Barry; Kathleen Brinkerhoff, Mrs. Spencer; Leah Smith, Mrs. Blewitt; Brian Hall and Eric Camerer, Mr. Phillips

Taylor Robinette, doctor; Aedan Colvin and Josiah Kenniv, minister; Adam Camerer, station master; Megan ePterson and Faith Liebing, Jane Andrews; Anna Becker, Josie Pye

Jenna Jacques, Ruby Gillis; Anna Jones, Minnie Mae; Joe Thistleton, Moody Spurgeon; Evan Boone, Charlie Sloane; Evan Reese, Tommy Sloan; Nathan Williams, Ned Wright; Yukari Becker and Mariel Teigen, shop girl; and Lauren Williams and Anna Dudley, young Anne Shirley

Members of the adult ensemble are: Julianne Wonser, Jordan Bryant, Michelle Chu, Rebecca Cotterman, Dinda O’Brien, Abby Liebing, Tristan Admiraal, and Alex Johnson.

The student ensemble members are: Gillian Bryant, Grace Hall, Gracie Tamanko, Emma Grubb, Grace Waldy, Lauren Barnett, Claire Smith, Anna Edwards, Salome Palmer, Hudson Kubasek, John Thistleton and Will Braden.

Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at Mars Hill Academy, 4210 Aero Dr., at the door, or online at www.marshill.edu.

Information: 513-770-3223

Posted in: Arts & Entertainment, Events, Events, School events, Schools |

Tags: Tags: anne of green gables, christian, david peters, drama, esther cunningham, katie braden, lexi kilgore, lucy maude montgomery, luke ahern, maddi debra, mars hill academy, mary waldy, mason, performance, play, talia colvin, tyler mcquinn, wesley braden

Cincinnati’s multiplatinum Christian hit-maker Nicole C. Mullen will perform at Christ’s Church at Mason at 7 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 21.

Mullen’s neo-gospel style — an eclectic blend of soul, R&B, hip-hop and funk — has turned her into a multiplatinum Christian success.

She’s the first African-American to be named Songwriter of the Year — and the first female in years.  The seven-time Dove Award winner has been Female Vocalist of the Year, and her album Talk About It was nominated for a Grammy.

Mullen broke into the business first as a backup singer and choreographer for Christian music stars Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith, the Newsboys and David Mullen, a multiplatinum singer-songwriter, who had a record contract with Warner Brothers.  David eventually became her husband.

Ticket cost is $15 in advance and $20 on concert day.  Purchase tickets online at www.cincypathways.com/home/concert.

The concert  is presented by Pathways Christian Church.  Christ’s Church at Mason is at 5165 Western Row Road.

Posted in: Community, Events, Religion |

Tags: Tags: christ's church at mason, christian, concert, gospel, multiplatinum, neo-gospel, nicole c. mullen, performance, religion

Mason Schools was among Southwest Ohio schools that either improved or maintained their Ohio Report Card ratings last year, despite fears that changes in the way the state calculates its Ohio Report Card ratings would hurt them.

Mason, one of the state’s premiere academic performers, reported it had returned to the state’s top academic ranking of “Excellent With Distinction.”

The previous school year saw the 11,000-student district, which consistently ranks among the top 10 of Ohio’s 614 districts, fall one rating to “Excellent” for the first time since Ohio began the annual district rankings in 2000.

The Enquirer obtained the Report Card data Wednesday from the Ohio Department of Education through a public records request. The ratings reflect academic performance in the 2010 -11 school year. The state had planned to release the results for all 614 Ohio districts next week.

The state changed the way it calculates “Value Added” this year – a measure of how much students improved on state tests over the course of the year. The changes make it more difficult for districts to maintain or elevate their rating.

Overall among Southwest Ohio’s 49 school districts, 13 local districts went up one or two Report Card categories, 25 stayed the same and 11 dropped one to two ratings.

Read the complete report at cincinnati.com.

Posted in: Schools |

Tags: Tags: academics, education, excellent with distinction, mason city schools, mason school district, mason schools, ohio, performance, ranking, state

The Kokorodza Marimba Ensemble performed for children at Endeavor Learning Center in Mason this week.

The ensemble is made of up students at Kings Junior High School.  Teacher Matt Jenkins leads the group.

The Enquirer’s Leigh Taylor was on-hand to get these great shots.

Posted in: Schools |

Tags: Tags: children, endeavor learning center, kings junior high school, kokorodza marimba ensemble, mason, performance, students

Christian Thespians from throughout Southwest Ohio are coming together through the Cincinnati Christian Community Theatre to present Broadway Showstoppers the first two weekends in August.

The original musical includes a medley of songs from five Broadway shows: Les Miserable, West Side Story, Wicked, Phantom of the Opera and Thoroughly Modern Millie. The two-hour performance includes a 15-minute intermission.

• View photos of ‘Broadway Showstoppers’

Among the songs are Defying Gravity, from Wicket; America, from West Side Story; and Masquerade, from Phantom of the Opera.

The cast includes 48 teenagers and young adults, ages 14-21. They will be accompanied by the Ohio Metropolitan Theater Orchestra. They will be performing tap and swing dances along with original choreography by director Grace Hart.

Mason cast members include:  Kathryn Albers, Mimi Castanias, Alyssa Cousineau, Gavin Docherty, Alexis Kilgore, Lauren Magness, Samantha Maldonado, Sarah Rumping, Kailey Schneider, Lea Smith and Veronica Turner.

Performances are set for 7 p.m., Aug. 5-6 and 11-13 at Parrish Auditorium, on Miami University’s Hamilton Campus, 1601 Peck Blvd. Matinees are set for 1 p.m., Aug. 6 and 2:30 p.m., Aug. 7, at Parrish Auditorium.

Tickets are $10 in advance or $12 at the door. Tickets are available by calling 513-755-2338, from cast members, or at www.triplect.com.

Posted in: Arts & Entertainment, Events, Religion |

Tags: Tags: broadway showstoppers, christian, cincinnati, cincinnati christian community theatre, drama, miami university, performance, religion, southwest ohio, stage, teenagers, thespians

The Mason Community Players will perform “Seussical the Musical” July 28-31 at Mason Middle School.

The production pays homage to the fantastical works of Dr. Seuss and features a cast of local talent.

The community theater group will also be accepting donations of children’s books and financial donations for Reach Out and Read, a nonprofit initiative that provides books to doctors to give to pediatric patients.

Donations collected will be given to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center.

Performance times are at 8 p.m. July 28-30, with a matinee performance at 2 p.m. July 30 and 3 p.m. July 31.

Ticket cost is $15; $12 for senior citizens and $10 for students.  Purchase tickets online at www.masonplayers.org or call 513-398-7804.

Posted in: Arts & Entertainment, Community, Events |

Tags: Tags: art, drama, Mason Community Players, mason middle school, performance, Seussical the Musical

Acting Up, a youth community theater, will hold auditions for its production of “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” June 1 and 6 at Mason Intermediate School, 6307 Mason-Montgomery Road.

Audition hours are open to children ages 6 to 18 and will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, June 1 and from 6 to 9 p.m. Monday, June 6.

Auditioners are asked to prepare a monologue and a song of no more than two minutes in length, bring a completed audition form and recent photograph and be prepared to dance.

The play will be staged Sept. 23-25 at Mason High School.

For more information, call 513-494-6062 or go to www.actingup.com.

Posted in: Arts & Entertainment, Community, Events |

Tags: Tags: acting up, drama, mason, performance, play, the adventures of tom sawyer, youth community theater