Past Events & Workshops
Shining a Light Workshop and Lecture Series: Dramaturgy, Intimacy Direction, and Cultural Sensitivity
The Ghostlight Stage Company's third event in our 2025 Shining a Light Workshop and Lecture Series was, "Dramaturgy, Intimacy Direction, and Cultural Sensitivity," an informative lecture led by Torie Wiggins.
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Torie overviewed all three of these concepts and spoke about how they can all work together to create a more safe and respectful theatrical space for everyone.
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This event took place on April 14, 2025 at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, where The Ghostlight is currently in residency as part of their Arts & Culture Incubator for the 24/25 Season.
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This event was completely "pay what you can," to attend and supported by the generosity of community contributions to the annual ArtsWave Campaign, the region’s primary source for arts funding.
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Photo by Mack Mettey Photography.
Cabaret on the Runway
The Ghostlight Stage Company presented our innovative interdisciplinary event, Cabaret on the Runway, on March 24, 2025 at 7pm at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park! This event was wildly popular, completely selling out more than a month in advance.
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Cabaret on the Runway was a one-of-a-kind event that combined the art forms of musical theater and fashion to create something special the community had never experienced before. A fashion show of new collections took the runway (all inspired by a musical of the designer's choosing) while a cabaret performance accompanied with live band and musical theater vocalists (performing original medleys all created specifically for these collections). It was a truly collaborative event and there were more than 40 professional artists involved who made it possible with their collective talents.
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This innovative event featured new collections by designers: Eliana Batsakis, Lusayra Velasquez, Addison Lane, and Mallory Muddiman. It also featured original medley compositions by Linsey Rogers.
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Photo by: Caroline Eyer.
Shining a Light Workshop and Lecture Series: Teaching Transitioning Voices
The Ghostlight Stage Company's second event in our 2025 Shining a Light Workshop and Lecture Series was, "Teaching Transitioning Voices," an interactive workshop led by Danielle Cozart Steele.
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Danielle went over several strategies trans and nonbinary singers could utilize to feel more empowered when performing or in different vocal settings. She also provided resources for vocalists and voice teachers alike, to create more equitable singing spaces.
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This event took place on March 10, 2025 at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, where The Ghostlight is currently in residency as part of their Arts & Culture Incubator for the 24/25 Season.
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This event was completely "pay what you can," to attend and supported by the generosity of community contributions to the annual ArtsWave Campaign, the region’s primary source for arts funding.
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Photo by Mack Mettey Photography.
Shining a Light Workshop and Lecture Series: Taxes for Artists
The Ghostlight Stage Company kicked off our 2025 Shining a Light Workshop and Lecture Series with, "Taxes for Artists," a lecture led by Leanne Greenberg, CPA.
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Leanne went over several ways artists could save money during tax time with tips for keeping track of business expenses, explaining the difference between w2 and 1099 income, and more.
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This event took place on February 10, 2025 at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, where The Ghostlight is currently in residency as part of their Arts & Culture Incubator for the 24/25 Season.
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This event was completely "pay what you can," to attend and supported by the generosity of community contributions to the annual ArtsWave Campaign, the region’s primary source for arts funding.
2024 One Act Double Feature
On October 21, 2024, The Ghostlight hosted our second annual One Act Double Feature! This innovative event gives the audience a look "behind the curtain" and into the process-side of developing 2 new one-act plays. We were thrilled to have a SOLD OUT evening uplifting these new queer stories.
This year we featured Esther Made Me Do It by Nell Adkins and Elizabeth Sacktor, directed by Beasley and Artists & Vandals by Erin K. Considine, directed by Tamara Winters.
Each performance began and ended with brief commentary from the playwrights and directors of each piece, who gave the audience even more insight as to the process of developing the work, their vision for what's to come and their motivation for creating the piece in the first place.
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Photo by Angie Lipscomb Photography.
Outreach Summer Camps
Summer of 2024 we had the pleasure of bringing arts workshops to two different organizations!
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In June we had a partnership with Roberts Academy in Price Hill, where we brought a bunch of fashion-focused workshops to middle school students. Teaching artists included Eliana Batsakis (who taught fashion design), Candra Reeves (who taught styling) and Ayana Ames (who taught the basics of sewing - pictured here).
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We also were happy to be back again as a presenter for Camp MEE with Planned Parenthood Southwest Ohio. For this camp we also brought a fashion design workshop taught by Eliana Batsakis.
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It was a fashionable summer to say the least!💅
Sherwood: The Adventures of Robin Hood by Ken Ludwig
On May 17-19, 2024 The Ghostlight Stage Company presented our very first multi-night event with Sherwood: The Adventures of Robin Hood by Ken Ludwig at Keehner Park Amphitheater in West Chester. This production was directed by our Theatrical Director, Aiden Dalton. In addition to presenting this professional outdoor theater show for FREE for the community to enjoy, we also provided some fun for patrons to take part in ahead of the show with free archery lessons and face painting. This production was funded in part by ArtsWave. The Saturday evening performance featured ASL interpretation by Ghost Light Artistic Interpreting and their services were paid for by a generous donation from JWC of Wyoming.
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Photo by Angie Lipscomb Photography.
Shining a Light Series 2024:
Anti-Racism in the Arts
On May 6, 2024, The Ghostlight Stage Company had the fourth and final event in our Inaugural "Shining a Light Workshop and Lecture Series." This workshop event led by Darnell Pierre Benjamin brought about intentional and transparent discussions that we hope will continue on past that evening in the Greater Cincinnati arts community and beyond. It was a very interactive presentation, where participants were constantly asked their own thoughts & feelings on topics related to anti-racism efforts within the arts and how different organizations in town can improve their programming as we all move forward together. This workshop was available for 1 week following the in-person event to stream online.
Shining a Light Series 2024:
Contemporary Theatre and the Fat Body: Moving through Space as Your Authentic Self
On April 1, 2024, The Ghostlight Stage Company had the third event in our Inaugural "Shining a Light Workshop and Lecture Series." This hybrid workshop & lecture event was led by Caroline Stine of InBocca Performance. First participants were led through a physical movement workshop, exploring how their bodies could find freedom in movement. After that, participants listened to a lecture about fat bodies in the theatrical space throughout history and how fatphobia has evolved in media over time. This event was also available for one week following the in-person event for those who wanted to view the content virtually.
Femininity, Fiber Arts and Fashion: A Women's History Month Workshop Series and Gallery Event
On March 24, 2024, The Ghostlight Stage Company had a huge artistic celebration in honor of Women's History Month! This full day event included three workshops taught by some incredible female artists in Cincinnati and a gallery show. All of the work included in the event was in the fashion and fiber arts mediums and the gallery show included descriptions throughout of how these specific art mediums were very much intertwined with feminism and women's history. It was a great day of learning and uplifting local female artists! This entire event, including workshop participation, was free to enjoy thanks to our collaborations with Arts@ARCO.
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Photo by Angie Lipscomb Photography.
Shining a Light Series 2024:Making the Arts Accessible
On March 4, 2024, The Ghostlight Stage Company had the second event in our Shining a Light Workshop and Lecture Series. This lecture event was led by Samuel Foulkes and Brian Anderson of Clovernook Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired, and Keara Beck Ortt of GhostLight Artistic Interpreting. It was an extremely informative and jam-packed 2 hours of programming all about how arts organizations can make their programming more accessible to folks in the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and Blind and Visually Impaired communities. The lecture was also available for one week following the in-person event for those who wanted to view the content virtually.
Shining a Light Series 2024: Financial Literacy for Artists
On February 5, 2024 we kicked off our Shining a Light Workshop and Lecture Series (funded in part by ArtsWave) with our Financial Literacy for Artists Workshop! This workshop was led by Julie Locker, a local finance expert and artist in Cincinnati. Participants were guided through topics like budgeting, funding artistic projects, saving for retirement and more!
This workshop was recorded for virtual viewing afterwards for those that could not attend in person.
A Holiday Cabaret
On December 22, 2023, we presented our very first Holiday Cabaret to a SOLD OUT audience, as we brought our first fiscal year to a close. It was a great celebration recognizing all we had achieved since we got started earlier in the year, with a little Holiday cheer!
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Photos by Angie Lipscomb Photography.
Stage Intimacy Workshop
w/ Torie Wiggins
On November 6, 2023, we hosted a workshop all about Intimacy Coordination. This workshop was taught by professional theater artist, Torie Wiggins, and was targeted at Young Professionals.
During the workshop Torie gave a brief presentation on Intimacy Coordination and then led the group different exercises all based on the 5 Pillars of Intimacy.
2024 One Act Double Feature
On October 14, 2023, The Ghostlight hosted our very first theatrical event in the form of a mini-festival of new works in staged reading format! This marked the first of what we plan to be a recurring annual event that gives the audience a look "behind the curtain" and into the process-side of developing 2 new one-act plays. This first One Act Double Feature included The Locked Door by Dedrick Weathersby, directed by A.J. Baldwin and Synapse by Mary Beringer, directed by our Theatrical Director, Aiden Dalton. Leading up to the event, casts and creative teams were given 3 rehearsals to further develop and rehearse the plays and in just one short week the plays were performed in front of an audience! In addition to having these plays in staged-reading format with light staging and some props/minimal costuming, audiences could take a look into the visions for how the pieces could be if they were to go on and be fully developed in the future. We did this by having design presentations from professional set and costume designers available in the lobby for audiences to ask questions about and view. Each performance began and ended with brief commentary from the playwrights and directors of each piece, who gave the audience even more insight as to the process of developing the work, their vision for what's to come and their motivation for creating the piece in the first place.
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Overall, the event was a huge success with great turnout and we are excited to continue this One Act Double Feature event for many years to come!
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Photo by Angie Lipscomb Photography.
Sustainable Singing Workshop
with Anna Mosoriak
On September 18, 2023, we hosted a workshop all about how to keep your voice sustainable, for a long career of singing ahead. This workshop was taught by professional vocalist and voice teacher, Anna Mosoriak, and was targeted at Young Professionals. During the workshop Anna gave a brief presentation on vocal health, different styles of singing and how to maintain them, and answered questions from the group. Additionally, some volunteers came up to sing and Anna gave them coaching on their pieces. This workshop was another partnership with Arts@ARCO, allowing us to make it FREE to attend. We had our largest turn out to date with workshop attendance and the event was a success.
Stylized Clothing Swap
On August 26, 2023, The Ghostlight partnered with The Boys & Girls Club of West Chester to put on our very first Stylized Clothing Swap!
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We had all the things you love about a traditional clothing swap, but with an artistic twist! The Ghostlight solicited donations from local boutiques and the community to come up with multiple racks of free clothing for this event. During the Stylized Clothing Swap, professional Cincinnati-based stylists, Rebecca S Armstrong, Naimah Quinae and Eliana Batsakis, were available to help guests find their own unique style. Partnering with the Boys & Girls club, this swap had career readiness in mind with a focus on professional business attire and interview-ready clothing. In addition, there were free refreshments, music, and raffles available for the community to enjoy! Entry was given with a clothing donation, or pay what you could. Guests could leave with as many clothing items as they wanted, similarly to a clothing drive (but much more fashion forward)!
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The event was a huge success and we will be hosting another Stylized Clothing Swap next year - stay tuned!
Outreach
The Ghostlight has had a super busy start to our summer in 2023. Even as a new organization and this being our first summer, we were asked to bring arts programming to three different Greater Cincinnati summer camps for youth ages 5-13 in the month of June. Our teaching artists provided high quality workshops to students in acting, dance, painting, arts&crafts, sketching, fashion, and more!
Musical Theater Audition Workshop
with Alyssa Batsakis & Andrea Davies
On June 17, 2023 students joined us for an intensive 3 hour workshop experience, focused on the audition process for musical theater. Students were guided through the entire audition process from start to finish, as Alyssa and Andrea took them through how to find auditions, how to properly prepare for an audition, how to convey their music to the pianist at an audition, and more! Students were introduced to some advanced vocal and acting techniques to incorporate into their next audition or performance. In addition, students were given the opportunity to participate in a "mock audition" where they got to perform their audition piece live with professional pianist, Janet Langhorst. It was a fun and educational day for The Ghostlight!
Storytelling through Garment with Eliana Batsakis
On Mother's Day (May 14) we had students join us for our very first educational workshop, in partnership with Arts@ARCO. This 3 hour workshop was free of charge to students. The workshop included a presentation given by Eliana Batsakis about iconic fashion and historic costume moments. The students were then guided through creating their own design concept and left with original sketches. It was a fun day and a super successful first event for The Ghostlight!