Around Cincinnati

Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati opens the regional premiere of Black Pearl Sings by Frank Higgins on March 13, and it’s a powerful musical about being a woman in a man’s world, being black in a white world, and about holding on to your soul when the world treats people as a commodity. Lee Hay finds out more about this production from the two stars, Annie Fitzpatrick and Torie Wiggins.

Local author Shelley Shepard Gray is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author whose newest novel, Daybreak, has now been published. The author joins our Barbara Gray to talk about her writing, the success she’s achieved, and this new novel.

Johnathan Lee Iverson is a historic name you may not recognize. He is the first African-American ringmaster for the world famous Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, and he’s coming to Cincinnati with the circus’ newest production, Dragon. Frank Johnson has the ringmaster on the phone for a preview of the circus, which opens March 13 at US Bank Arena.

One of the truly great events the Cincinnati area hosts every year is the Western & Southern Open at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason. This year’s event will happen August 10 -18, and the real backbone of this successful tournament is the army of volunteers who help visitors, players and sponsors enjoy being at a world-class tennis tournament. Mary O’Connor, the volunteer coordinator for the Open, joins Robyn Carey-Allgeyer with all the information about how to volunteer, positions available, and the perks that come with the job.

Iconic local music legend Bobby Mackey is in the studio with Brian O’Donnell in advance of his March 9 appearance at the main branch of the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County. During that talk, he’ll share stories of his music career and of his haunted nightclub in Wilder.