By Clarity Amerin, Community Content Coordinator, Downtown Main Library
World Theatre Day is March 27! The Library is celebrating the occasion—and Cincinnati’s rich theater history—with performances, oral histories, historical artifacts and more.
World Theatre Day began in 1961, initiated by the International Theatre Institute, but Cincinnati’s theater history is as old as the city itself. From the late 1800s to the mid-1900s, Cincinnati was home to dozens of theaters. The city’s performing arts and theater scene was so vibrant that it earned the nickname "the Paris of the West."
Learn about Cincinnati’s exciting past and present through CHPL’s World Theatre Day events and programs, continuing throughout the spring.
Celebrate on Monday, March 24
Join us on Monday, March 24, at the Downtown Main Library to kick off the celebration!
- Start your morning in the children's section on 1 South with a performance by The Children's Theatre: "Jaqueline and the Beanstalk," from 11 a.m.-noon.
- After the performance, head up the Social Stairs to 2 South and visit the Catherine C. and Thomas E. Huenefeld Story Center for the Library's World Theatre Day program, to share your personal stories and experiences of Cincinnati theaters and productions on video from noon-3 p.m.
Cincinnati Theater Oral History Collection
Want to share your experiences of favorite Cincinnati productions and actors? Do you have fond memories of now-demolished theaters? Visit the Catherine C. and Thomas E. Huenefeld Story Center to record your stories on video and become part of the library’s digital collections—and part of history!
No registration is required—just visit the Story Center on 2 South on March 24 between noon and 3 p.m.
While there, you can:
- Interact with our digital theater map on the touchscreens in the gallery
- View historic Cincinnati theater playbills and artifacts
- Visit the third floor for additional theater exhibits
About the Story Center
The Catherine C. and Thomas E. Huenefeld Story Center features curated digital exhibits, oral history videos and much more. Read more about it on CHPL.org/story-center!
The Story Center is open during the Downtown Main Library's open hours. This space features:
- A public gallery
- An oral history recording studio (available by appointment)
- A staff-only digitization lab
The Story Center also includes a dedicated Veterans History display, featuring:
- Full-length videos from the Veterans History Project
- A digital exhibit
- Physical exhibits and displays with military memorabilia
Which event are you looking forward to on World Theatre Day?
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