Special to 1812Blockhouse
The year 2023 marks 95 years of the historic Renaissance Theatre calling Mansfield, Ohio its home, and there’s never been a better time to celebrate. On May 19 at 7:30 PM, the Renaissance team invites the community to join us for a night of celebration showcasing our beautiful theatre and what the Ren does best – putting on a show!
This special night will feature performances showcasing the wide variety of entertainment offered within the Renaissance walls performed by Renaissance Broadway performers, members of the Mansfield Symphony and Artistic Jazz Orchestra, education program participants, and guest dancers from the Richland Academy. Each number will revisit a selection of productions from recent years featuring favorites like Les Misérables, Hairspray, Newsies, and many more. We will also be highlighting sneak peek numbers that will take place in the upcoming season which will be announced in the lead-up to the 95th Celebration.
The 95th Anniversary will be a time to honor some very special members of the Ren family, thank the community and key players for being a part of our journey, and toast to the next 95 years together. The show is expected to last around 90 minutes and will be followed by a dessert reception. The evening is presented by Kleshinski, Morrison, & Morris and MG Energy, and sponsored by Roby Foster Miller Earick Insurance and Modern Woodmen of America.
Attendees will have the opportunity to visit the new “Ghostlight Lounge”, a speakeasy in the theatre’s lower lobby making its debut that night thanks to generous funding from the Ann Hartman Schettler and the Brian Arthur Adair Donor-Advised Funds of the Richland County Foundation. The Ghostlight Lounge is just one more historical treasure within the Renaissance that patrons will be able to enjoy at future shows with its nod to the prohibition era in which the theatre doors first opened.
“The Renaissance has been a jewel in our community for 95 years,” said Chelsie Thompson, President and CEO of the Renaissance Performing Arts. “Post-pandemic, the time is ripe to bring everyone together to celebrate the thriving arts and culture environment that we have here in Mansfield, and it feels fitting that we’re doing that with a sort of variety show similar to those that took place in our historic ‘Ohio Theatre’ in its earliest days.”
“We’re thrilled to welcome a really diverse audience of attendees from across Ohio who have all been part of the Ren family in one way or another.”
The evening will feature performances by staples of past Renaissance productions including Condrea Cannada, Leah Gesouras, Dee Jones, Tiara Wightman, Najee Rawls, Joe Trolian, Patrick Clinage, Mindy Tishue, Samantha Woodill, Robert Hardin-Leeth, Lori Turner, Nykera Gardner, Lilly Casey, Maddie and Colton Penwell, Jacque Workman, Tonne Webber, Zakari Ramos, Kathryn Moir, Taylor Beasley, Payne Schwartz, Alyssa Racer, Madison Kearney, Stephanie Hayslip, Cassandra Kurek and the Richland Academy of the Arts Dancers under the musical direction of Kelly Knowlton.
You do not want to miss this fabulous night of celebrating the past and looking forward to all the future has in store as we come together on Friday, May 19 at 7:30 PM in the Rand Smith Auditorium of the historic Renaissance Theatre at 138 Park Avenue West, Mansfield, OH. Tickets can be purchased in person at the Renaissance box office, by phone at 419-522-2726, or by visiting the Ren website: rentickets.org.
More information about the historic Ohio Theatre can be found here:
