Children growing up in Cincinnati have access to some of the best museums, parks, and theatres in the country. Our zoo is highly rated, we have multiple professional sports teams, and the list goes on and on. I love experiencing my favorite city with my kids, but I also like to balance it with down time, so I’m purposeful when choosing those activities and places that should be a priority. One opportunity that we always enjoy and make time for is The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati. You may not realize that this beloved theatre is the oldest of its kind in the United States, and it will celebrate its 100th season in the fall.
Their last performance of the 2018-2019 season is happening now and is incredibly charming and engaging. TCT’s Sleeping Beauty is a must-see — and tickets are still available for upcoming shows.
The minute I found out that Sleeping Beauty was going to be a part of this season of The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati, I knew we had to go. My 4-year-old daughter is a princess expert and spends more time in a tiara and fancy dress than any other items of clothing. We grabbed our two princess-loving friends and planned an afternoon of fun at the Taft Theatre downtown. As with other Children’s Theatre shows, this version of Sleeping Beauty is filled with twists and is not exactly the same as the Disney version. Since my daughter knows that movie inside and out, I did show her a few photos of the musical beforehand, so she knew what to expect. You can always get a behind-the-scenes look at what’s happening with The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati on their Facebook page here.
This world premier of Sleeping Beauty was filled with the talented singers and actors, colorful costumes, and intricate set design that we’ve come to love and expect from The Children’s Theatre. If you’ve never been to one of their performances, you will absolutely be impressed. Many of the well-known princesses can be found on stage during the show, as well as their princes (who may or may not have once been frogs). Without giving too much of the story away, there are plenty of references to the original tale we all know and love, but it’s the clever changes that make this musical so charming. You’ll begin the show with a smile on your face and your toes tapping, and you won’t stop until the curtain drops.
Parent to parent, my absolute favorite thing about the Children’s Theatre performances is the lessons that are taught during the show. I loved that my princess-obsessed daughter, who also has a fierce soccer kick and jumps at the chance to get muddy, got to see a different side to her favorite characters. She saw that Aurora (or Rory, as she likes to be called) followed her own path, had confidence, and rewrote her script with her passionate heart. This is a lesson all kids can benefit from, and even I, as an adult, found myself nodding my head in agreement as they sang “wake up” and embrace the beauty in each day.
It’s these lessons, as well as the variety of characters, musical numbers, and innovative story line that make this version of Sleeping Beauty a must-see for all Cincinnati families.
