[New Albany, Ohio] May 1, 2024 – The New Albany Community Foundation kicks off its third season of programming at the Charleen & Charles Hinson Amphitheater this summer, building on the success of past performances, and continuing to offer national entertainers, the best of local talent and a Free Family Flick Night movie series for all ages. Programming begins in June and runs through September at New Albany’s iconic open-air arts venue. Support from donors and sponsors make it possible for the Foundation to host the following events:
Performance Series
Joshua Henry with the Columbus Symphony Orchestra – June 25
Dancing in the Street: The Music of Motown
with the New Albany Symphony Orchestra – August 27
Justin Roberts and the Not Ready for Naptime Players – September 29
Free Family Flick Nights
Cars – June 13
Toy Story – July 30
Secret Life of Pets – August 13
Amp Up the Arts: A Benefit for the Charleen & Charles Hinson Amphitheater
July 14
Additional information on each program can be found at newalbanyfoundation.org. Performance Series lawn seats, individual table seats and tables will go on sale May 2nd at cbusarts.com.
“We’ve had such a great response to the diversity of programming at the Charleen & Charles Hinson Amphitheater over the past two seasons, and we’re excited about our lineup this year,” said Craig Mohre, President of The New Albany Community Foundation. “We’re pleased to offer something for everyone – amazing musical artists for adults and children as well as celebrated movies for the whole family. Guests have truly brought the venue to life in their own way – just like we hoped they would – bringing family and friends with picnic baskets, blankets and chairs to be entertained in a first-class outdoor venue. Their feedback has helped us shape our performance offerings and there’s high anticipation for the 2024 season.”
Additionally, the fourth annual Amp Up the Arts benefit that raises funds to support amphitheater programming will be held on July 14th and feature a GRAMMY Award-winning American singer-songwriter and guitarist who will be announced closer to the event. Previous Amp Up the Arts benefits have featured the powerhouse indie pop duo of Colbie Caillat and Gavin DeGraw, and stars of Broadway Leslie Odom, Jr. and Renee Elise Goldsberry, known through their respective roles as Aaron Burr and Angelica Schuyler in the international musical sensation, HAMILTON.
Amp Up the Arts tickets will go on sale on May 2nd. See newalbanyfoundation.org for details on how to purchase tables, individual table seats and lawn seats. The evening includes wine and a special picnic dinner created by Cameron Mitchell Premier Events.
The Hinson Amphitheater was dedicated in fall 2021 and is a performance venue and community gathering space located in the heart of New Albany, providing an intimate audience experience under the stars. Since opening, the venue has hosted hundreds of events ranging from national to local musical entertainment, theater performances, dance performances and community gatherings.
The Hinson Amphitheater was made possible through collaborative public and private partnerships led by the Foundation, much like the Charlotte P. Kessler New Albany Branch Library and the Jeanne B. McCoy Community Center for the Arts. Located at 170 E. Dublin Granville Road, the amphitheater is situated along the Rose Run Park Corridor and is contiguous to the New Albany School campus.
The Charleen & Charles Hinson Amphitheater Performance Series
Bob Boyd Lincoln of Columbus and CK Construction are the Season Sponsors for the Performance Series and Hinson Family Trust is the Performance Sponsor. Axium, Hilton Columbus at Easton, Nationwide Children’s Hospital and The Redgrave Family are Supporting Sponsors.
Joshua Henry with the Columbus Symphony
June 25, 2024
7:00 p.m. gates open; 8:00 p.m. performance
General admission tickets: $75
Tickets and tables available at newalbanyfoundation.org. Pack a picnic or purchase food from local food truck favorites. Wine and beer offered by BrewDog New Albany also available for purchase.
Joshua Henry is a GRAMMY Award-winning performer and recording artist best known for his Tony-nominated leading roles in Carousel, The Scottsboro Boys, and Violet, as well as for his show-stopping performance as Aaron Burr in the cultural phenomenon, “Hamilton.” In December 2022, Joshua gave a critically acclaimed performance as Gaston in Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration” live on ABC. Joshua’s albums “GROW” and “Burning Up” are available worldwide on all streaming platforms. He is a BMG recording artist and recently opened for Diana Ross at The Hollywood Bowl.
On screen he starred as Roger Bart in the Academy Award- nominated film “tick, tick…BOOM!” directed by Lin-Manuel Miranda. He also starred as Jerlamarel opposite Jason Momoa in two seasons of Apple TV+’s show “SEE.” Most recently, Joshua starred in the Broadway revival of “Into the Woods,” for which he won a GRAMMY Award for his performance as a principal vocalist on the 2022 Broadway revival. His other Broadway credits include “In the Heights,” “Waitress,” “Shuffle Along,” “American Idiot,” “Porgy and Bess,” “Bring It On: The Musical.” Off-Broadway: “In the Heights,” “The Wrong Man.”
Joshua Henry will be accompanied by the Columbus Symphony in its first ever performance at the Hinson Amphitheater.
Dancing in the Street: Music of Motown with the New Albany Symphony Orchestra
August 27, 2024
7:00 p.m. gates open, 8:00 p.m. performance
General Admission Tickets: $75
Tickets and tables available at newalbanyfoundation.org. Pack a picnic or purchase food from local food truck favorites. Wine and beer also available for purchase.
A Schirmer Theatrical / Greenberg Artists Co-production
TAKE TWO! After a rousing show in 2023 that ended early due to inclement weather we are bringing back the magic of MOTOWN! This program features smash hits made famous by artists like Marvin Gaye, The Four Tops, Martha Reeves, Diana Ross, The Temptations and the one and only Stevie Wonder. Songs include “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” “Reach Out I’ll Be There,” “Dancing in The Street,” “My Girl,” “Superstition” and more. Audiences will be transformed by the powerful music of Motown and the return of incredible vocal talents of Broadway stars
Shayna Steele and Chester Gregory, plus Terron Brooks, who played Eddie Kendricks in the Emmy Award-winning NBC mini-series “The Temptations.” The trio will be accompanied by the New Albany Symphony Orchestra. This show has been touring throughout the country to much acclaim.
Shayna Steele is one of the most in-demand singers in the industry today. Steele appeared in RENT, Jesus Christ Superstar, and her original role in the Tony Award winning musical, Hairspray! In 2023, Shayna debuted her solo symphony show, American Diva, featuring orchestral arrangements of her original music and favorite covers. She has performed as the guest soloist with over 40 North American symphony orchestras. Chester Gregory is an award-winning singer and actor who was last seen starring in Motown The Musical as the iconic Berry Gordy. Broadway credits also include Hairspray, Tarzan, Cry-Baby and Sister Act. Gregory has toured nationally with shows including his one-man show The Eve of Jackie Wilson. Terron Brooks is a singer-songwriter, recording artist, actor, motivational speaker, author and producer who has credits from the Broadway stage, Simba in Disney’s The Lion King and Seaweed in Hairspray as well as multiple television credits. He is the co-creator and star of The Soul of Broadway, reimagining classic Broadway favorites and has produced, written and recorded his own records available digitally.
Justin Roberts and the Not Ready for Naptime Players
September 29, 2024
2:00 p.m. gates open; 3:00 p.m. performance
General Admission Tickets: $20 per adult, children free with adult ticket purchase
Tickets available at newalbanyfoundation.org. Pack a picnic or purchase food from local food truck favorites.
Named by the New York Times as “the Judy Blume of kiddie rock,” five-time GRAMMY nominee Justin Roberts is one of the founders of the modern family music scene. For 25 years, Roberts has been creating the soundtrack to families’ lives, helping kids navigate the joys and sorrows of growing up, while inspiring parents to remember their own childhoods. His songs are the kind of get-stuck-in-your-head pop nuggets that draw comparisons to Elvis Costello, Fountains of Wayne and Paul Simon rather than simple nursery rhymes, prompting USA Today to call him “hands-down the best songwriter in the genre.” Along with this band, The Not Ready for Naptime Players, Justin has travelled the globe, from Hong Kong to New York and Miami to Seattle. In addition to his recordings, Roberts is also the author of several acclaimed picture books.
Free Family Flick Nights
Digital Screen Sponsors: Mershad Digital Experience Powered by Google and Axium
Movie Sponsors: Elliot’s, Kroger, Nationwide Children’s Hospital and Sheetz
June 13, July 30, August 13
6:30 p.m. gates open, 7:30 p.m. movie
Admission is free and there are no tickets required. Food trucks with summer treats will be on hand for guests to enjoy. Alcohol is prohibited on Family Flick Nights.
This summer, the Foundation will screen three FREE family movies on The Mershad Digital Experience. This state-of-the-art, 20’x 36’ LED video wall – a gift from longtime New Albany residents Sara and Rick Mershad with support from Google and Axium – provides audiences with next-level technology in a super-sized format.
Amp Up the Arts:
A Benefit for the Charleen & Charles Hinson Amphitheater
Presenting Sponsor: Axium
Performance Sponsor: Abercrombie & Fitch Co.
Champion for the Arts: The Olivia Claire Obrokta Foundation
July 14, 2024
7:00 p.m. gates open and dinner, 8:00 p.m. performance
Table, sponsorship and lawn seat information is at newalbanyfoundation.org.
This benefit evening will include dinner and libations under the stars culminating in a live performance. Continuing the tradition established in 2021 when Leslie Odom, Jr. headlined the first Amp Up the Arts Benefit followed by the 2022 performance by Renee Elise Goldsberry, and 2023’s vocalists Colbie Caillat & Gavin DeGraw, the Foundation has secured a GRAMMY Award winning singer/songwriter and guitarist. Contact craigmohre@newalbanyfoundation.org for more information on the benefit.