February is Black History Month, an annual celebration of achievements and recognizing the central role of African Americans in U.S. history. One of the most famous African American leaders was Martin Luther King Jr., a Baptist minister and social activist who played a key role in the American civil rights movement in the 1950’s and 60’s. New generations must learn about these courageous leaders and their messages; and last week, my daughter and her friends experienced the exclusive one-hour performance of MARTIN’S DREAM by The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati (TCT) On Tour.
This one-man show was created and performed by the talented Deondra Kamau Means (his singing voice alone will lift your spirits on high). MARTIN’S DREAM was an inspirational performance with audience participation; and examined the real life Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s faith, education, family and his dreams. Mr. Means brought Dr. King to life with stories, speeches and songs. My daughter and her friends became completely entranced in the story through the energy of the sing-a-longs and Mr. Mean’s portrayal of Dr. King (he was MLK). And he delivered Dr. King’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech with such passion our entire party had tears streaming down our faces. Ending with tons of applause, Mr. Means began a question and answer session; and the children were so curious for more information. Some questions were so good, Mr. Means plans to incorporate those answers into the upcoming shows.
Performing at the Red Bank Road facility on Friday, February 24th at 12:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. is HARRIET TUBMAN. “Travel back in time to 1849; and learn about Harriet Tubman journeys back into slave country to rescue her family and many others. Traveling by the cover of night and cloaked in extreme secrecy, Harriet never lost a passenger during her trips on the Underground Railroad. The story of this amazing woman known as “Moses,” whose image will soon grace the redesigned $20 bill, comes to life in this exhilarating musical drama.”
TCT On Tour is bringing the production of MARTIN’S DREAM and HARRIET TUBMAN to schools and venues around the Tri-State and throughout the region this winter. If interested in booking, please contact Violet Webster at 513-569-8080 x20 or by emailing [email protected]. I recommend these performances for 3-12 graders.
And mark your calendars for the Ugly Duckling on Friday, April 21st at 12:30 p.m. “Based on Hans Christian Andersen’s classic tale, we tell the story of a down-trodden duckling who believes he is ugly and worthless because of his distinct appearance. Through his family and friends, he realizes his self-worth as he transforms into a beautiful swan. This timeless story offers a wonderful lesson in overcoming adversity and accepting our differences.”
TCT On Tour performances are educational and entertaining experiences for the entire family. Don’t miss out! Tickets are just $7 and you’ll definitely want to catch a performance on the brand-new Ralph and Patricia Corbett Showtime Stage, 4015 Red Bank Road, Cincinnati, OH 45227. Only 152 seats and a limited number of lap passes are available for each performance. To order tickets, visit http://tinyurl.com/tctontour1617.
About Ainslie:
Ainslie Gordon is a St. Louis, Missouri native and graduate of the University of Missouri’s Journalism School. Her career has focused on advertising, public relations and event planning. In 2011, Ainslie and her family moved to Cincinnati; and she became a stay-at-mom and founder of the blog, Modhousewife.
Additionally, she was a fashion/trends contributor on Fox 19 and Fox 2. Currently, Ainslie is the Marketing Director for Game On! Fitness. She is also a Girl Scout leader and enjoys volunteering throughout the community.
She lives with her husband and daughter in West Chester and loves all things Disney. You can find Ainslie on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.