Jill Siekman has loved theatre ever since she saw a regional production of Fiddler on the Roof at the age of nine. Working in a public library by day, she supplements her free time with reading, music, and seeing as many shows as possible. Jill enjoys living in the Cincinnati area, a place with enough great theatre that it almost makes up for not living in New York City.
 BWW Reviews: WAR HORSE Mesmerizes Cincinnati
April 1, 2013
When Michael Morpurgo heard Broadway producers were turning his children's book War Horse into a staged play, he said "They must be mad." It was an ambitious concept indeed, but one that has resulted in a beautiful, compelling piece of theater.
 Photo Flash: First Look at The Human Race Theatre's David Mamet's RACE
March 25, 2013
Mamet's legal drama pushes limits as it challenges cultural perceptions, April 4 - 21, 2013
 Photo Flash: First Look at The Carnegie's PARADE
March 25, 2013
Despite Tony Award wins for its soaring score and riveting script in 1999, the theatrical telling of the Leo Frank story is one rarely produced, requiring a large and talented cast and recounting a real American tragedy many would rather forget. That will change this April.
 BWW Reviews: BLUE MAN GROUP Amazes Cincinnati
October 22, 2012
If you've never had the chance to experience a Blue Man Group show, you have until Sunday, October 28th to do so before the Blue Men pack up their drums, PVC pipes, and marshmallows to head to the next town.
 BWW Reviews: ETC's NEXT TO NORMAL Cast Shines in the Second Round
June 18, 2012
The critically acclaimed rock musical Next to Normal is hitting the stage at Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati for a second run now through July 1st. And what's even better than a second run? That would be a second run with almost the same cast as the last run at ETC.
 Summer Stages: BWW's Top Summer Theatre Picks - Cincinnati!
June 7, 2012
Take a break from the heat this summer and check out one of Cincinnati's summer theater options.
 BWW Reviews: BLOODY BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON at the Know Theatre
April 14, 2012
Andrew Jackson is currently presiding over the Know Theatre in a raucous, rocking musical now through May 12th. Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson tells the story of Jackson's life, starting with his young life and continues through his bid for presidency and his subsequent controversial term. Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson examines the attraction and terrors of American populism through the story of the man who invented the Democratic Party, doubled the size of our nation, and signed the Indian Removal Act that started the Trail of Tears.
 BWW Reviews: COLLAPSE at the Know Theatre
February 10, 2012
What happens when the world feels like it's collapsing around you and you have no control? The characters in the new play, Collapse by Allison Moore, attempt to make some sense out of their serious issues, yet with a uniquely comedic twist.
 2011 BWW Cincinnati Awards Voting Is Now Open!
November 9, 2011
The nominations are in and voting is open for the 2011 BWW: Cincinnati awards! Help us celebrate Cincinnati's amazing year by casting your vote for your favorite actor, show, theater and more!
Voting closes December 31st and the winners will be announced after the new year. Good luck to all of the nominees!
 BWW Reviews: WICKED Flies Into Cincinnati - Fantabulous!
November 7, 2011
'Wicked' has made its much-anticipated return to Cincinnati and it's as 'Ozmopolitan' as it was the last time it came to town. Recently named the 'best musical of the decade' by Entertainment Weekly, 'Wicked' tells the pre-story to the Wizard of Oz, before Dorothy 'dropped in.'
 BWW Reviews: GRUESOME PLAYGROUND INJURIES - Altogether Intriguing
October 18, 2011
What happens when two people can't deal with their messed up lives? Gruesome Playground Injures. And things were gruesome for them, indeed.
 DISNEY'S BEAUTY AND THE BEAST Enchants in Cincinnati
October 8, 2011
The Aronoff Center for the Arts is currently enchanted with Disney's Beauty and the Beast, playing now through October 9th.
 Nominations Open for 2011 BWW: Cincinnati Awards
October 7, 2011
Following the success of our inaugural awards in other regions last year, nominations for the 2011 BWW: Cincinnati Awards are now open!
 Nominations Open for 2011 BWW: Columbus Awards
October 6, 2011
Following the success of our inaugural awards in other regions last year, nominations for the 2011 BWW: Columbus Awards are now open!
BWW Reviews: DISNEY'S BEAUTY AND THE BEAST Enchants in Cincinnati
October 3, 2011
The Aronoff Center for the Arts is currently enchanted with Disney's Beauty and the Beast, playing now through October 9th.
 STAGE TUBE: Idina Menzel Invites You to Cincinnati Show!
June 18, 2011
A three-show series as the Cincinnati Pops 2010 season opener at Music Hall doesn't seem to be enough for Cincinnatians. Idina Menzel is returning Saturday, June 25th to open another Cincinnati Pops season, only this time it's the summer concert season at the Riverbend Music Center.
 BWW Reviews: SHREK THE MUSICAL in Cincinnati
April 21, 2011
Now through April 24th, Shrek the Musical is playing at the Aronoff Center in Cincinnati and it's an ogre-filled show fun for the whole family.
 BWW Reviews: Know Theatre of Cincinnati's THE DRAGON
April 10, 2011
Now through May 7th, there's a big, scary dragon occupying the Know Theatre and he's quite the dictator.
Know Theatre is once again pushing the boundaries and going further 'left of off Broadway' as their tag line states with their current production of The Dragon, a 1943 play by Russian playwright Eugene Schwartz. A modern day political fairytale, The Dragon tells the story of a small village oppressed by the beast in a way that they do not question the strict rules even though they're unhappy. Lancelot rides into town just in time to save the Dragon's young bride, Elsa from her marriage and impending death. But what happens after the dragon is slain? The same thing that happens after any dictator is gone: you have to continue to slay more dragons, only in different forms.
BWW Reviews: FIDDLER ON THE ROOF in Cincinnati
February 21, 2011
Now through February 27th, the Aronoff Center is paying homage to tradition with the national tour of Fiddler on the Roof.
 BWW Reviews: BURN THE FLOOR in Cincinnati
January 25, 2011
Now through January 30th, the sensational Burn the Floor is heating up the Aronoff Center in Cincinnati. With a talented cast of 23, including both dancers and two vocalists, the show is a non-stop dance spectacular that leaves everyone breathless.
 BWW Reviews: Know Theatre of Cincinnati's A WRINKLE IN TIME
December 2, 2010
Know Theatre of Cincinnati's current production is an adaptation by John Glore of Madeleine L'Engle's popular 1962 book, A Wrinkle in Time. A collaboration with the Minneapolis-based Four Humors Theater, Jason Ballweber returns to Cincinnati to direct this family-friendly play.
 BWW Reviews: YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN in Cincinnati
November 22, 2010
Now playing at the Aronoff Center for the Arts: Mel Brooks' Young Frankenstein.
While the orchestra (which sounded phenomenal) played the overture, an image with the castle and the words 'Young Frankenstein,' in a font reminiscent of a type you'd see on an old movie, was projected on a screen. The image set the tone for the musical, based on Brooks' classic vaudevillian comedy, and it plays out much like the movie.
 BWW Reviews: ROCK OF AGES Rocks Cincinnati
October 31, 2010
The popular Broadway musical Rock of Ages is currently rocking out at the Proctor and Gamble Hall at the Aronoff Center now through November 7th.
 BWW Reviews: Know Theatre of Cincinnati's SKIN TIGHT
October 12, 2010
Know Theatre of Cincinnati opened a new season with Gary Henderson's Skin Tight this past Saturday night and while the play is only one act, it's one act you won't forget anytime soon.
 BWW Reviews: Idina Menzel Wows Cincinnati
September 27, 2010
In 1998, Idina Menzel made her Cincinnati debut performing with the Lilith Fair tour and promoting her first solo album, 'Still I Can't Be Still.' This past weekend, she returned to Cincinnati for another debut. This time, she opened the new season of the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra. And she started the season off with an unforgettable bang.
 BWW Reviews: SOUTH PACIFIC Debuts in Cincinnati
September 24, 2010
Rodgers & Hammerstein's South Pacific is currently making its Cincinnati debut and it is a great revival of a classical musical.
 BWW INTERVIEWS: Idina Menzel
September 17, 2010
Tony Award-winning actress Idina Menzel opens the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra season with three performances September 24th through September 26th. Ms. Menzel will perform a diverse repertoire of classic pop, musical theater favorites (including hits from Wicked and Rent) as well as songs from her album, I Stand.
 BWW Interviews: Murney Gets WICKED with Block in Columbus
June 22, 2010
This Saturday June 26th, two previous Elphabas from the widely popular Broadway musical Wicked will take the stage in Columbus. Julia Murney and Stephanie J. Block will sing in a special "Wicked Divas" concert with the Columbus Symphony Orchestra as part of the Nationwide Insurance Picnic with the Pops series. The orchestra is scheduled to perform selections from George Bizet's Carmen. Murney and Block will sing selections from Wicked, as well as Ragtime, Chicago, Funny Girl, and much more.
 BWW Reviews: DREAMGIRLS Dazzles in Cincinnati
June 10, 2010
While it's not quite the famed Apollo Theater in New York City, 'The Dreams' are playing at Proctor & Gamble Hall at the Aronoff Center now through June 20th and they give an amazing performance.
'The Dreams' are the girl group from the 1960's who struggle to make it big and then struggle with what happens when they do make it in the Broadway musical Dreamgirls. Effie White (Moya Angela) is the powerhouse of the trio, always taking the lead. That is, until they start to gain some notoriety as backup singers for Jimmy 'Thunder' Early (Chester Gregory) and their manager, Curtis (Chaz Lamar Shepherd) decides to place a more camera and press-friendly Deena (Syesha Mercado) front and center instead. Rounding out the trio is Lorrell (Adrienne Warren), who is often the peacemaker of the group. In between songs, the story eventually winds around several interconnected relationships between the characters and some interesting clash of personalities as well.
 BWW Reviews: LEGALLY BLONDE in Cincinnati
May 15, 2010
LEGALLY BLONDE THE MUSICAL is holding court now through May 23rd at the Aronoff Center in Cincinnati and it's a bubbly good time.
 BWW Reviews: Know Theatre's ANGELS IN AMERICA: PERESTROIKA
April 28, 2010
The Know Theatre delivers part two of the epic Angels in America as well as they delivered part one. The first half, Millennium Approaches (which will be playing concurrently through the run of the second part) focuses on the lead up of the arrival of a mysterious angel. The second part, Perestroika, becomes more subject-heavy and intense as the story unfolds once the angel has arrived.
 BWW Reviews: MARY POPPINS PLAYS Cincinnati
April 13, 2010
Everyone's favorite nanny Mary Poppins is in town for a limited three week engagement. Produced by Cameron MackIntosh and Disney Theatrical Productions and part of the Broadway Across America series, Mary Poppins is in Cincinnati now through April 25th and it's sure to be a fun-filled family theater event.
 BWW Reviews: Know Theatre's ANGELS IN AMERICA: MILLENIUM APPROACHES
April 7, 2010
Angels in America is now playing at the Know Theatre and it's well worth the small price of $12 ($15 at the door, but reserve in advance to avoid the risk of it being sold out) for the chance to see intriguing, contemporary theatre in Cincinnati.
 The 39 Steps Opens in Cincinnati
March 5, 2010
In the mood to do something "mindless, trivial, and pointless?" Go to the theatre! Or at least that is what the lead character in The 39 Steps suggests. This play, performing now until March 14th at the Aronoff Center, is anything but "mindless, trivial, and pointless." In fact, it is the complete opposite: an engaging, clever, quick-witted comedy with a mysterious Hitchcock plot.
 BWW Reviews: WICKED Plays Dayton
February 22, 2010
The Wicked Witch of the West has arrived in Dayton, but her mayhem is limited to the Mead Theatre of the Schuster Center. The national tour of Wicked plays from now until March 7th and it is definitely a show not to be missed.
 BWW Reviews: CATS Plays Limited Engagement in Cincinnati
February 8, 2010
This past weekend, Cats made a brief stop in Cincinnati and it was a thoroughly enjoyable show.
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