The Children's Theatre of Cincinnati

The mission of The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati (TCT) is to educate, entertain, and engage audiences of all ages through professional theatrical productions and arts education programming. Our vision is to awaken a lifelong love of learning in children and the young at heart. 

Founded in 1919, TCT is the oldest professional theatre for young audiences in the U.S., bringing art to life through three divisions: TCT MainStage, TCT on Tour, and TCT Academy. 

TCT MainStage is our largest artistic program, serving nearly 100,000 children and families annually. It offers weekday performances for schools and weekend performances for the public, featuring four one-hour, family-friendly productions each season.

TCT on Tour brings live theatre directly to schools and community venues, eliminating transportation barriers and serving over 50,000 students nationwide each year. These productions are designed for grades PK-8 and selected with state and national learning standards in mind, often exploring historical events and cultural heritage.

TCT Academy offers arts training through 10-week class sessions, themed summer camps, and audition-based intensive programs, teaching all aspects of live theatre to its over 1,100 students each year.

TCT is considered one of the nation's top children's theatres, and colleagues often look to us for best practices. Our newly renovated and reimagined Emery Theater is the country’s most technologically advanced proscenium-style theater. 

We invite UC students to learn by working as interns and ushers for the MainStage productions at The Emery Theater, the most technologically advanced theater in the country.