Set foot in the Playhouse’s Rosenthal Plaza on selected Saturday morning and you’ll likely be navigating the sea of purple floor pillows that turn our lobby into Cincinnati’s most avant garde venue for young theatre enthusiasts.

The Rosenthal Next Generation Theatre Series gives youth ages 4 and over the chance to take part in what the city’s only two-time Tony Award-winning theatre has to offer, from drama and dancing to music and marionettes.

Each show is between 30 and 60 minutes in length and is performed twice – once at 10:30 a.m. and again at 1:00 p.m. All 1:00 p.m. performances are signed for the hearing impaired courtesy of Cincinnati State, and performances always take place in the Rosenthal Plaza between our Marx and Shelterhouse theatres.

Tickets are only $5 for youth ages 4 to 18 and $6 for adults, so for less than the price of a movie ticket, families can experience the best-kept secret in Cincinnati.

• All shows are recommended for ages 4 and up. To ensure the enjoyment of all in attendance, children younger than 4 must sit on an accompanying adult’s lap throughout the performance.
• Audience members of all ages should remain in their seats throughout the performance.
• All food, drinks and candy should be consumed before entering the performance area.
• Recording, videotaping and photographing the performance are prohibited.

Any parent who’s ever heard the words “I’m bored” or seen the eye roll of an embarrassed teenager knows that children don’t have to be taught the art of drama. It’s in their blood. At the Playhouse, you’ve found an outlet for your innately dramatic child.