By 1812Blockhouse
On Wednesday, we shared a post about the upcoming production of White Christmas – The Musical at the Renaissance Theatre.
If you would like a taste of what’s to come, the White Christmas troupe will be appearing Saturday at the Main Library of the Mansfield/Richland County Public Library.
From 10 AM to 11:30 AM, meet characters from the musical, enjoy holiday classics played by Trio Alla Breve, and make candy and crafts. Rumor has it that custom buttons will be included.
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Special to 1812Blockhouse
One of the most beloved holiday productions of all time comes to the Renaissance Theatre this November, just in time to make your Christmas dreams come true. Based on the 1954 film, White Christmas tells the story of a successful song-and-dance team who become romantically involved with a sister act and team up to save the failing Vermont inn of their former commanding general.
When composer Irving Berlin wrote the song White Christmas in the late 1930s, it was intended for an upcoming musical revue. But when no one showed much interest in the song, Berlin tucked it away in a trunk and forgot about it. A few years later, when the song was featured in the film Holiday Inn, the publicity department at Twentieth Century Fox placed their bets that the big song hit would be the now forgotten, Be Careful It’s My Heart.
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Special to 1812Blockhouse
When it opens at the Ren’s new black box space, Theatre 166 on October 8, Stephen Sondheim’s controversial musical, Assassins, is likely to shock, disturb or even terrify its audiences.
This unusual piece about the nine assassins or would-be assassins, will certainly live on in one’s memory long after the curtain has come down.
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By 1812Blockhouse
Through our “Literary Mansfield” series, we take occasional looks at the lives and careers of those who have called Mansfield home at some point in their lives, and who have become known locally, regionally, or even nationally as authorst, poets, lyricisits, playwrights, or in other literary fields. Other posts in the series can be found here.
Today’s subject is one of those with a national reputation as well as being a native Mansfielder. And, if you have ever heard and enjoyed songs like “Put On a Happy Face” or “Applause,” you are in his debt.
Lee Adams was born in 1924 and grew up locally, graduating from Mansfield Senior before going on to The Ohio State University and Columbia University. More…
Literary Mansfield, Mansfield Senior High School, Plays and Musicals
By 1812Blockhouse
The Mansfield Playhouse’s September production, Moana, Jr., is a thrilling and heartwarming coming of age story. It also serves as a journey of self-discovery, comadarderie, bravery, and selflessness.
The production is a 60 minute version of the 2016 Disney animated film. It features the popular songs from the movie such as “How Far I’ll Go” and “You’re Welcome.”
Show dates and times are as following:
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Special to 1812Blockhouse
The Mansfield Youth Theatre (“MY Theatre”) will present Disney’s The Little Mermaid on the stage of the Renaissance Theatre September 10, 11, and 12 as a part of the Mechanics Bank Education Series. Performances will take place at 7 PM on Friday and Saturday, and 2:30 PM on Sunday. Dauphne Maloney directs the show with musical direction by Brian K. Nabors. Tickets are $15, general admission, and on sale now at the Renaissance Box Office, via phone, and online at rentickets.org.
A free sensory-friendly performance of Disney’s The Little Mermaid will be offered Saturday, September 11 at 1 PM for families of individuals with special needs. Interested individuals must register for their free tickets by visiting or calling the Renaissance Box Office at (419) 522-2726. A limited number of tickets is available for the sensory-friendly performance and no walk-ups will be accommodated. Looking for sensory-friendly tickets? Visit: https://bit.ly/SFLittleMermaidPR
More…Mansfield Youth Theatre, Plays and Musicals, Renaissance Theatre
Special to 1812Blockhouse
Rehearsals are well underway and live theatre is finally back at the Renaissance Theatre. The hit Broadway musical, Hairspray is set to delight audiences with unforgettable singing, dancing, and hilarious characters, July 31 and August 7 at 8:00 PM and August 1 and 8 at 2:30 PM, on the main stage at the Renaissance Theatre, 138 Park Avenue West in Mansfield.
It’s Baltimore 1962, and plus-sized teen, Tracy Turnblad, is delighted to find herself as the newest dance sensation on the local rock and roll dance program, The Corny Collins Show. But when Tracy discovers that the show is segregated, she finds herself on the front lines of the battle for equality and acceptance.
Leading the cast is Izzi Robles as Tracy Turnblad. A recent graduate of Savannah College of Art and Design in Georgia, Izzi most recently performed at the Ren as Anita in the Mansfield Symphony concert version of West Side Story. More…
Special to 1812Blockhouse
This weekend, the cast of Mamma Mia! The Musical returns to the Renaissance Theatre for an unforgettable reunion. With most of the original leading cast members from the sold out 2019 production, this outdoor concert is going to be a smash-hit!
The concert will feature original cast members such as former Miss Ohio 2018: Matti-Lynn Chrisman, Kristin Kaufman, Katie Harrigan, Maddie Penwell, Leah Gesouras, Ryan Shreve, George Swarn, Drew Owens, Beau Roberts, and Colton Penwell. Joining the original cast are Mansfield native and educator, Scott Smith, as well as Izzi Robles, a performing artist from Georgia.
Robles joins the cast of Mamma Mia!, and will star as Tracy Turnblad in the Renaissance Theatre’s 2021 Summer musical, Hairspray. More…
Last weekend, the Renaissance Theatre opened it’s doors with a live in-person production of Little Shop of Horrors the Musical. While theaters across the world are just starting to open back up, the Renaissance Theatre has been at the forefront for producing live events safely during a global pandemic.
Little Shop of Horrors the musical features a star studded cast of professional actors from all around Ohio, such as Ryan Shreve, Emma Skaggs, Condrea Webber, Leiah Lewis, Antonio Brown, Scott Smith, and Beau Roberts. This production is unlike any version of Little Shop of Horrors you might have seen before. Directed by Ryan Shealy, and musical direction by Kelly Knowlton, this is one hilarious show you don’t want to miss. More…
Special to 1812Blockhouse
We recently shared with our readers information about Heartaches: The Music of Patsy Cline and Loretta Lynn, presented by the Renaissance Theatre and available for viewing starting on April 1.
That story can be accessed by clicking below.
By 1812Blockhouse
The Theatre Department of The Ohio State University at Mansfield is offering just what the doctor ordered for its Spring 2021 production.
It’s going to make you chuckle.
As the notices shared, “After the year we’ve had, we all need a laugh.”
The antidote to the pandemic blues will be short ten minute comedies written directly for a remote audience and featuring both students and community members. More…
Special to 1812Blockhouse
The Renaissance Theatre’s popular production of Always…Patsy Cline, starring Kelly Knowlton, is set to be filmed by the new division of the Renaissance Theatre, Ren Studios, for at-home streaming. The musical will premiere Saturday, March 13th with additional performances on Saturday, March 20th and 27th.
Since its premiere at the Renaissance, Always…Patsy Cline has proven to be a sold-out hit, time after time. It has been revived three times since the original production in 2010. Starring Kelly Knowlton as Patsy, and Miss Ohio 2020, Caroline Grace Williams as her “biggest fan”, Louise Sager, the show contains such Patsy Cline standards as I Fall To Pieces, Sweet Dreams, Walkin After Midnight, You Belong to Me, Back in Baby’s Arms and the immortal, Crazy. More…
Special to 1812Blockhouse
The Renaissance Theatre and Mansfield Symphony announce virtual auditions for the 2021 West Side Story in Concert which will take place live on stage March 20 at the Renaissance Theatre. Auditions are open to performers ages 16 or older. All diversities are encouraged to submit as the Renaissance maintains a policy of ethnically appropriate casting.
Seeking to fill the following roles: More…
Special to 1812Blockhouse
On Monday, The Ohio State University at Mansfield announced its Spring 2021 Theatre plans. Comic Shorts, will provide audiences an opportunity to smile and laugh. These entertaining and fun online performances will feature comedy shorts and will be presented free to the public at 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 25 and Friday, March 26.
Auditions for Comic Shorts will take place on January 25 and 26 from 6 to 8 PM. There are multiple parts available and members of the community are welcome to audition. All rehearsals will take place virtually.
More information on auditions and how audiences can view performances are available at https://mansfield.osu.edu/theatre.
Renaissance Performing Arts is pleased to announce the addition of an at-home streaming option for their production of Cinderella: The Broadway Musical. Cinderella will be performed on the Renaissance stage November 13-14 and 20-21 at 8:00 PM, and November 15 and 22 at 2:30 PM, with at-home streaming available beginning November 16.
Originally written as a televised special in the mid-1950s, it starred Julie Andrews. The version being used by the Renaissance, which opened on Broadway in 2013, has a vastly rewritten script that retains the magic and tradition of the original story while expanding on themes of finding your voice, self-confidence, and the power of love, compassion, and kindness. It’s a story with a strong female character who isn’t just a two-dimensional cardboard princess focused on physical beauty, but rather a self-empowered woman whose empathy and determination are the qualities that endear her to the prince. More…
