Frequently Asked Questions

Birthday Parties are currently on hold. Please refer to our Rentals & Birthday Party page for more information.

We do! For information on prop rentals, please email Roderick Justice.

For information on set and costume rentals, please email Maddie Burgoon Jones.

Each season, The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati will make a limited number of donations to charitable events of one TCT Academy Class, or performance tickets for the 21-22 season. Donation requests are only accepted during the month of August.  An online form is available here.

For Audition information, click here.

The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati holds auditions for our MainStage productions featuring professional child and adult actors twice a year, usually in May and August. To sign up for more information click here.

4015 Red Bank Road, Cincinnati, OH 45227

Located right across the street from AAA, Walmart and Wendy’s.

Typically for MainStage shows, our first public Saturday performances at 2:00 PM will be signed for the hearing-impaired.

Please confirm on a show-by-show basis by checking the production’s web page or calling the Box Office at 513.569.8080 x10.

The Taft Theatre sells simple snacks and beverages in the side lobbies before the show that you may bring into the theater.

The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati will also have other merchandise available to purchase in the lobby.  Proceeds of that merchandise supports the programs of The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati.

In addition, a variety of delicious baked goods from the Bonbonerie will be available before and after the performances.

Shows typically last less than 70 minutes.

For our school performances, children under the age of three are only permitted at our designated Home School performances on Mondays at 1 PM.

For our public performances, we have age suggestions for each production listed on each show’s page, but we usually look to parents and guardians to make their own choices. If your child can attend a children’s movie in a movie theater, they should be just fine seeing one of our shows. Our shows are actually shorter than the typical children’s film. If your child gets antsy during a production, you’re always welcome to join us in the lobby area.

No, all of our shows run without an intermission.

We know sometimes lateness is unavoidable. We will do our best to seat you regardless of how late you are; however, please know that this can be distracting to the actors and other patrons. In order to minimize distraction, we can’t guarantee that we will be able to seat latecomers in their reserved seat, but we will seat you in the best available seats at an appropriate moment in the performance.

In the event that hazardous weather or other inclement conditions dictate a decision to cancel a performance, this decision will be made at least two hours prior to show time. Closure information will be posted on the front page of our website, on our Facebook and Instagram pages, as well as provided to the media.

While the content of many of our shows is appropriate for a broad age range, we know that many children under the age of four will become restless or talkative during a performance.

If you plan to bring children under the age of four, please consider purchasing tickets closer to the back of the auditorium and near the aisle. This will make it easier for you and your child to move to the lobby if your child grows restless during the production. It will also ensure that you, your child, and those around you are able to enjoy the experience of the performance.

Casual or formal attire is always welcome. Sometimes children even dress as their favorite character from the show. It’s all up to you!

All MainStage performances are held at the Taft Theatre at 5th and Sycamore in Downtown Cincinnati.

Visit Downtown Cincinnati for more information on all eateries located downtown.

Click here to see the Taft Theatre seating chart.

The Taft Theatre sells simple snacks and beverages in the side lobbies before the show that you may bring into the theater.

The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati will also have other merchandise available to purchase in the lobby.  Proceeds of that merchandise supports the programs of The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati.

In addition, a variety of delicious baked goods from the Bonbonerie will be available before and after the performances.

The Taft Theatre holds 2200 seats.

Yes, although The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati is not responsible for rentals. Please contact the Taft Theatre directly for more information and have a great show.

Unless otherwise specified, all Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati performances take place at The Taft Theatre, which is conveniently located at the corner of 5th & Sycamore Streets in downtown Cincinnati.

• From the North: Take I-71 South to the Reading Road/Gilbert Avenue exit. Follow Reading Road to Sycamore Street and turn left. Follow Sycamore Street south to 5th Street.- or -Take I-75 South to the 5th Street exit. Go east on 5th Street to Sycamore.
• From the South: Take I-75 North to the 5th Street exit. Go east on 5th Street to Sycamore.
• Via Public Transportation: Get route and schedule information online from Metro or TANK.

There is so much to do — especially during the holidays!  For information about other attractions and experiences downtown, visit www.downtowncincinnati.com and www.cincinnatisua.com.

317 E. 5th Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202

Conveniently located at the corner of 5th & Sycamore Streets in downtown Cincinnati.

Find the Taft Theatre’s COVID-19 policies on their website here.

During Cincinnati Reds and Cincinnati Bengals home games as well as US Bank Arena events, parking is traditionally more difficult. Please leave yourself additional time before the show begins to secure a parking spot.

Downtown Parking Garages Map and Info

Seats may be added to your order at any time prior to two weeks before a production opens, subject to availability. Please note that your current seats may be moved if you require all of the seats to be together or in close proximity.

Are you a MainStage Subscriber? Then YES! Subscribers receive one free exchange per production.

Tickets may only be exchanged for a different performance day and time for the same production. Exchanging tickets for a different production within the season is not permitted. No exceptions.

In order to accommodate your busy schedule, we ask that your exchange be dated by the Friday prior to Opening Night.  Please note: You will not receive the same seats as your regular season tickets. The best available seats within your price level, or if not available, seats of a lesser value will be assigned to your account.  Refunds will not be given if there is a difference in price.

All ticket exchanges are subject to availability at the time of the exchange.

Once the date on your tickets has passed, the tickets are invalid and cannot be exchanged.

You will not receive the same seats as your regular season tickets.

If you are a subscriber, to exchange your tickets please email tickets@tctcincinnati.com and please include the following information:

• Your name
• Phone number
• New date and time of your exchange request
• Delivery method for your new tickets: Snail Mail or Will Call

* Please note that we stop snail mailing tickets 10 days prior to the first performance of a production

Alternatively, please consider donating your tickets to at-risk kids at www.mostvaluablekids.org and receive a tax donation while supporting local youth.

Yes, for Group Sales of 14 or more, please call our Box Office at 513.569.8080 x10 or email.

We know this is an unusual time. Typically, in-person performance tickets to The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati are non-refundable, but this season, we can provide you with a ticket refund if you or members of your family are unable attend a show. You can also donate the cost of the returned tickets to TCT — they are considered a fully tax deductible gift. Email tickets@tctcincinnati.com for more information.

We also encourage you to donate your tickets to Most Valuable Kids of Greater Cincinnati, Inc. MVK overcomes the financial obstacles associated with live events by distributing unused tickets to kids who would enjoy the opportunity to go to an event, but would otherwise not be able to because of the high costs associated with tickets. These tickets are distributed to boys and girls, 18 and under, through local tax-exempt organizations that focus on children in low-income and underserved households. They require 24 hours in advance or by noon on Friday for a Saturday or Sunday performance.  For details visit: Most Valuable Kids.

If TCT must cancel a performance, we will make every effort to exchange tickets to another performance day/time. If we unable to do so we will then issue a refund.

Every person, regardless of age, will need a ticket.  Children ages 12 months-old or younger who do not need a seat and will sit on your lap will be required to have an Infant Lap Pass for each show in every seating location throughout the theater.  Infant Lap Passes are $8 and are available before the show at the Taft Theatre

Please remember there is no elevator in the Taft Theatre. For wheelchair/special needs seating for our public performances, please call 513.569.8080 x10 or email.

The Ralph and Patricia Corbett Showtime Stage does have limited wheelchair/special needs seating available. Please call 513-569-8080 x10 or email.

Currently, we do not offer gift certificates for our productions, but we may be adding them later this season.

Email your exchange request to tickets@tctcincinnati.com.  Please include your name, phone number, date and time of the performance that you would rather attend, and a photo of your tickets, torn in half. If you don’t have access to the internet, please call 513.569.8080 x 10 for further instructions.

All ticket exchanges are subject to availability at the time of the exchange.

MainStage public show tickets may only be exchanged by Season Ticket Holders.

Single tickets for the 21-22 MainStage season will go on sale later this Fall.

At that time you can purchase single tickets:

• On our website
• In person at The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati Ticket Office, located at 4015 Red Bank Road, Cincinnati, OH 45227.

Ticket vouchers can be presented in person at the Taft Theatre one hour before show time only. Only two ticket vouchers per family is permitted.

We suggest ordering tickets well in advance, so you will not be surprised by a sold-out show. The earlier you order your tickets, the better selection of seats you will have.

The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati Ticket Office, located at 4015 Red Bank Road, Cincinnati, OH 45227, is open during the following hours:

Monday – Friday 9 AM to 5 PM

You can reach the Ticket Office staff by emailing or calling 513.569.8080 x10.

Tickets for missed performances are not exchangeable or refundable.

A perk of being a TCT Subscriber is the ability to exchange tickets for other performance dates; however, tickets must be exchanged before your current performance date has occurred.

Our Ticketing Office can be reached at 513.569.8080 x10 for public and homeschool performances or email.

For ticketing questions regarding school performances, call Pam Young at 513.569.8080 x13 or email.

Infants and children age 3 and younger are only permitted at our designated home school performances on Mondays at 1 PM.

Please advise parent chaperones to make alternate arrangements for their younger children.

Seats can be added to your school order at any time (subject to availability), however, Pam Young must know prior to your arrival at the Taft Theatre.

We will never cancel or alter the total reserved seats on your order without receiving a change in writing.

Decreases to existing orders MUST be submitted in writing at least 30 days prior to a production and a written confirmation forwarded to you or by our office to confirm the change was received. If you do not receive a written confirmation from us before your scheduled performance, please contact Pam Young at 513.569.8080 x13 or email.

Reservation cancellations must be submitted 60 days prior to your scheduled performance date.

Refunds are not possible for absences or unused seats. You will be responsible for your final number of reserved seats.

Thanks for asking!

• Always accompany children to the restroom.
• Keep students in a single file line.
• Fill all seats in your row.
• If you need to rearrange your seats, please do so after your entire group has been seated.

School performances on Mondays are 1 PM are signed for hearing-impaired students. If your group cannot attend this performance and requires an interpreter, then your school may provide one for you. Please notify us in advance so that we may arrange appropriate seating for your group and the interpreter. For more information contact Pam Young at 513.569.8080 x13 or email Pam Young.

No paper tickets will be issued for school performances. Upon arrival, our staff of volunteer ushers will show your group to their seats predetermined by our seating chart.

NEW IN 21-22:  Tickets are issued for Homeschool performances and seating is assigned.

Performances on Mondays at 1 PM are signed for hearing-impaired students. If your group cannot attend this performance and requires an interpreter, then your school may provide one for you. Please notify us in advance so that we may arrange appropriate seating for your group and the interpreter.

Call Pam Young at 513.569.8080 x13 or email.

Yes! We have been focusing on improving our Study Guides and making them better resources for you and your students and to enhance the theatrical experience.

Visit each show’s production page to download our available resources.

Seating selection for school groups is based on the date orders are received.

We recommend a minimum of one adult for every 15 students.

Adult/Teacher ticket prices are the same as student ticket prices at our school matinees.

Schools will receive one free adult admission for every 15 students.

Please indicate the number of wheelchair and/or special needs accessible seats you need on the order form. Accessible seating is limited and cannot be guaranteed unless reserved in writing.

Questions? Call Pam Young at 513.569.8080 x13 or email.

We will always assign students and adult patrons with special needs seating on the orchestra floor allowing for a care-giver or other student to be seated with them if they are age appropriate. For groups including more than one patron with multiple disabilities, they will be seated on the floor but may be separated into various accessible seating.

Special needs seating is distributed throughout the theater and not located in just one section. For our school performances, please indicate the number of wheelchair and/or special needs accessible seats you need on your school order form.

Accessible seating is limited and cannot be guaranteed unless reserved in writing. For questions, please call Pam Young at 513.569.8080 x13 or email.

*Requiring special needs seating for select students does not guarantee orchestra floor seating for your entire school group.

We make every effort to seat school groups including autistic patrons near exits for easy access to the surrounding hallways and the lobby if an individual become restless. Feel free to use the nearest exit to wait in one of the hallways or the lobby of the theatre until the show has concluded.

We are pleased to present two sensory-friendly performances this season at at the Taft Theatre as well.

In the event that hazardous weather or other inclement conditions dictate closure, the decision to cancel our performance will be made at least two hours prior to show time.

TCT closure information will be posted on the front page of our website, on our Facebook and Twitter pages, as well as provided to the media.

All MainStage performances take place at the Taft Theatre at 5th and Sycamore Streets in Downtown Cincinnati.

317 E. 5th Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202 is the official address.

TCT is the nation’s oldest children’s theatre and is a professional theatre company. All roles are paid positions.  We feature adult actors in adult roles, and child actors in children’s roles. We are primarily theatre FOR children, not BY children. 

 TCT is passionate about creating an inclusive workplace and committed to diverse casting. All roles are open to all ethnicities and backgrounds. Auditions are held each season for both young artists ages 9-18 and adults 18+. View current auditions here.

If your child is interested in performing on the MainStage, we encourage them to participate in TCT Academy classes to grow their talent and widen their scope of experience. 

We have plenty of options for children that are brand new to theatre and want to explore. Our Musical Theatre Medley and Drama Club classes are some of the best choices for students who already have a firm foundation of performing arts knowledge. Our TCT Academy LIVE! classes, which combines instruction with the opportunity to perform in fully-staged musicals, are also a good place for the more advanced student. 

YES. All TCT Academy students and campers must wear a face mask that completely covers nose and mouth for the duration of the time they are in the building.

Please view our COVID-19 guidelines for 2021 Fall Academy classes here.

We encourage children that are interested in our summertime STAR Programs to take classes in all disciplines to help perfect their talent. Auditions for STAR are typically held each January. Sign up for more information when it becomes available. 

You can register right on our website’s Academy class registration pages.

TCT offers private voice lessons and students may enroll starting at 9 years–old. 

We receive this request quite often. Students are divided into appropriate age ranges based on both emotional and cognitive development, and we stick to those parameters. 

TCT’s STAR Programs help students ages 9-18 become well-rounded performers in all areas of musical theatre. Some alumni have gone on to national tours, Broadway and even be a finalist on American Idol! These competitive programs are audition-based, and students accepted will spend the summer working with leading professionals in the theatre business to help them improve in all areas and their work will culminate in a final showcase and one-act festival. 

Sign up for more information when it becomes available. 

• No flash photography during the performance.
• Use of recording devices and/or videotaping is not permissible, without clearing it with the TCT On Tour office.
• In any and all promotional materials please list us as TCT On Tour: A Division of The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati. The use of our logo is encouraged whenever possible.
• Our actors will make a general statement at the top and at the close of the show thanking TCT On Tour’s season and presenting sponsors.
• Full payment is required on or before the day of the performance and may be mailed to our office or given to the Tour Manager.
• It is the actors’ responsibility to ensure our set, equipment, etc., is reloaded into the van securely, but again, if you have crew members to assist, we appreciate the help!

Check out our Current season page and filter for TCT On Tour performances!

• TCT On Tour travels with its own sound system, including wireless microphones.
• An electrical outlet near the performance space is required.
• If you would like us to patch into your sound system, please have a technician available.
• Warm lighting wash on the stage or day lighting.

Minimum size of stage: 20 feet deep, 20 feet wide, 12 foot ceiling height (Call 513-569-8080 x20 concerning spaces with smaller dimensions).

• Our actors are trained to adapt to each performance space, be it a theater, recreation center, multi-purpose room, etc., and you may work with them to decide where the audience will sit.
• Please allow enough time to seat the audience so that the actors may begin the performance at the agreed upon time.