Heart-felt romance 'Once' continues CCMONSTAGE Musicals Series

UC’s College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) continues its CCMONSTAGE Musical Series with Once, running Nov. 4-7; Nov.12-14, 2021 in Cohen Family Studio Theater. CCM’s sold-out production follows the story of two strangers who are drawn together by their shared love of music.

Winner of an Academy Award, a Grammy Award, an Olivier Award and a Tony Award, Once is based on the critically acclaimed motion picture written and directed by John Carney, which won an Oscar for the hauntingly beautiful song “Falling Slowly.” The musical features a book by Enda Walsh with music and lyrics by Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová.

Once takes place in Dublin, Ireland following two nameless characters — an Irish musician, Guy; and a Czech immigrant, Girl — as they form an unexpected friendship that evolves into a complicated love story as they create music together.

With musical direction by Steve Goers, Once is directed by CCM Acting Professor Richard Hess, who plans to retire in August 2022. It is the 33^rd musical Hess has led at CCM during his 29 years at the college.

“What a journey,” Hess says. “I am so grateful to every student with whom I spent time in class or in rehearsal, who allowed me to learn to be a better teacher with each passing year, who attended classes and rehearsals with passion and open hearts and intense creative curiosity.”

Many of the musical theater students in the production learned how to play instruments for the musical, including guitar, drums, piano, the bodhran and even an accordion. Watch students perform “Gold” from Once. The music video was created during the 2019-20 school year as part of the CCM Idea Lab and won a College Student Production Award from the Ohio Valley Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.

“This cast, and this artistic team, has embraced the impossible with this production,” Hess says. “Many have not been in a show for two years, and for many this is their first on stage production at CCM. They are a fearless group, the perfect group to lead you to Dublin, to introduce you to a broken-hearted Guy who meets an open-hearted Girl.”

The 2021-22 CCMONSTAGE Musical Series presents ONCE on Nov. 4-7; Nov. 12-14, 2021, at Cohen Family Studio Theater. Tickets are sold out for all performances.

Book by Enda Walsh

Music and Lyrics by Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová

Orchestrations by Martin Lowe

Originally Produced on Broadway by Barbara Broccoli, John N. Hart Jr., Patrick Milling Smith, Frederick Zollo, Brian Carmody, Michael G. Wilson, Orin Wolf, The Shubert Organization; Robert Cole, Executive Producer

In association with New York Theatre Workshop

Once was originally produced Off-Broadway at the New York Theatre Workshop in December 2011; Jim Nicola, Artistic Director; William Russo, Managing Director

Once was originally developed at the American Repertory Theater, Cambridge, Massachusetts, in April 2011; Diane Paulus, Artistic Director; Diane Borger, Producer

Based on the motion picture written and directed by John Carney

Originally produced on Broadway by Robert Ahrens, Dan Vickery, Tara Smith/B. Swibel, Sara Murchison/Dale Smith & Cari Smulyan

ONCE is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.mtishows.com

• 7:30 p.m. Thursday, November 4, 2021
• 7:30 p.m. Friday, November 5, 2021**
• 2 p.m. Saturday, November 6, 2021**
• 7:30 p.m. Saturday, November 6, 2021**
• 2 p.m. Sunday, November 7, 2021
• 7:30 p.m. Friday, November 12, 2021
• 2 p.m. Saturday, November 13, 2021
• 7:30 p.m. Saturday, November 13, 2021
• 2 p.m. Sunday, November 14, 2021

Please note that traffic around campus will be heavier than normal due to UC Homecoming festivities on Friday, Nov. 5 and Saturday, Nov. 6. CCM encourages patrons to purchase pre-paid parking passes to UC’s CCM Garage through the Box Office.

Cohen Family Studio Theater, CCM Village 
University of Cincinnati

Tickets are currently sold out for all performances of Once at CCM. Single tickets prices start at $29.50. Tickets can be purchased in person at the CCM Box Office, over the telephone at 513-556-4183 or online now through our e-box office.

Learn about additional ticket options for current CCM students.

CCM is located on the campus of the University of Cincinnati. Please visit ccm.uc.edu/directions for detailed driving directions to CCM Village.

Please note that traffic around campus will be heavier than normal due to UC Homecoming festivities on Friday, Nov. 5 and Saturday, Nov. 6. CCM encourages patrons to purchase pre-paid parking passes to UC’s CCM Garage through the Box Office.

The Corry Boulevard entrance to UC’s campus will be converted into a one way exit only on Saturday afternoon as the UC Homecoming football game comes to an end. To enter UC’s campus, you will need to turn right from Calhoun Street onto Dennis Street and then take a left onto Corry Boulevard. This will allow you to bypass the “one way” portion of Corry.

Parking is available in UC’s CCM Garage (located at the base of Corry Boulevard off Jefferson Avenue) and additional garages throughout the UC campus. Please visit uc.edu/parking for more information on parking rates.

For detailed maps and directions, please visit uc.edu/visitors.

Louise Dieterle Nippert Trust 
Scholarship and Resident Artist Sponsor

The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation 
CSO/CCM Diversity Fellowship Sponsor

The Corbett Endowment at CCM 
Dance Department Sponsor 
All-Steinway School Sponsor

Louise H. & David S. Ingalls Foundation, Inc. 
Community Partners

The Joseph and Frances Jones Poetker Fund of the Cambridge Charitable Foundation, Ritter & Randolph, LLC, Corporate Counsel 
Visiting Artists & Thinking About Music Sponsor

ArtsWave: Funding Arts, Fueling Community 
CCMpower: Friends and Alumni Fueling the Future of the Arts  
The Strader Fund at the Greater Cincinnati Foundation
CCMONSTAGE ONLINE Broadcast Sponsors

Dr. & Mrs. Carl G. Fischer 
Musical Theatre Department Sponsor

Genevieve Smith 
Opera Production Sponsor

Rafael and Kimberly de Acha 
Opera D’Arte Sponsor

An Anonymous Donor 
Estate of Mr. William A. Friedlander 
Mrs. William A. Friedlander 
Dr. Randolph L. Wadsworth 
Judith Schonbach Landgren and Peter Landgren  
Mr. & Mrs. Harry H. Santen 
Elizabeth C.B. & Paul G. Sittenfeld+ 
Mr. & Mrs. Thomas E. Stegman 
Dr. & Mrs. Theodore W. Striker 
Mrs. Harry M. Hoffheimer 
Ariel Quartet Sponsors

Jan Rogers 
Willard and Jean Mulford Charitable Fund of the Cambridge Charitable Foundation 
Choral Studies Sponsors

Mr. & Mrs. Joseph W. Hirschhorn 
Orchestral Sponsor

Dorothy Richard Starling Foundation 
Starling Pre-Collegiate Sponsor 
Starling Strings Sponsor

Dr. Timothy E. and Janet L. Johnson 
Thom Miles and Roberta Gary 
Organ Department Sponsors

Louis and Susan Meisel 
Piano Department Sponsor

Richard E. Thornburgh 
Edward Donovan and Cheryl Carter 
Jeff Thomas Catering 
The Castleberry Family 
KMK Law 
Sandra & Stephen Joffe 
Paula Boggs Muething & Brian Muething 
Patti Myers & Alan Flaherty
Trish & Rick Bryan 
Prestige AV & Creative Services 
Graeter’s Ice Cream 
CCMpower 
The CCM Harmony Fund: Challenging Hate & Prejudice through the Performing Arts 
Event Sponsors

Buddy Rogers Music 
LINKS Sponsor

Sponsors listed as of August 30, 2021

Feature image at the top: Promotional graphic for CCM's production of Once. Graphic design by Mikki Graff.