Leading Ladies co-chairs Linda Greenberg and Ronna Willis
Committee members: (front) Digi Schueler, event co-chair Marty Humes and Karlee Hilliard; (back) event co-chair Amelia Crutcher, Patti Myers, Cathy Hogan, program co-chairs Ronna Willis and Linda Greenberg, and Charlin Briggs
The Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park Leading Ladies program, which offers women an opportunity to “step into the spotlight” and enjoy behind-the-scenes access with special events, wrapped up its third season with a record membership of 154. The Leading Ladies raised $96,000 to sponsor the Playhouse’s adaptation of Harper Lee’s novel “To Kill a Mockingbird.”
“The Leading Ladies have established themselves as one of our most steadfast and valuable sponsors,” said Playhouse Artistic Director Blake Robison.
The organization, which debuted in the 2013-14 season, sponsored “Pride and Prejudice” in 2014, raising $61,000 and garnering 90 members. For the Playhouse’s 2014-15 season, 134 members raised $84,500 to sponsor the 2015 production of “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike.”
Leading Ladies “has offered a great opportunity for women who are interested in theater to get behind the scenes at the Playhouse in a participatory way,” said development director M. Patricia Rosely. “We want to energize our members and pull back the curtain through interaction with actors, directors, designers and production staff. By engaging them in the creative playmaking process, they come to truly feel ownership of their sponsored production — and have a great time doing so!”