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Cincinnati had a local tie to Sunday’s Tony Awards.

The Children's Theatre of Cincinnati (TCT) Artistic Director Roderick Justice received an honorable mention for Excellence in Theatre Education from the Tonys and Carnegie Mellon University.

TCT, the only professional theater in the region that devotes its entire MainStage season to children, is a beacon of arts education and entertainment. This recognition further solidifies TCT's position as a leader in the field.

“I would like to say a huge congratulations to the Excellence in Theatre Education Award winner, CJay Philip, who is doing amazing work in Baltimore,” Justice says. “It was a wonderful surprise to become an honorable mention for this award, along with the 17 other arts educators who received the honor and who are doing tremendous work around the country.”

The winner and honorable mentions for the Excellence in Theatre Education Award are selected through a rigorous process. A panel of judges, including the American Theatre Wing, The Broadway League, Carnegie Mellon University, and other leaders from the theater industry, carefully review the candidates submitted by members of the public. These are teachers who play a crucial role in shaping the next generation of theater artists. They identify talented students, nurture them, inspire them, and set them off on a lifelong journey as theater supporters and professionals.

Philip, a Baltimore-based actor, educator, choreographer, and Broadway veteran, has created arts opportunities for everyone from kindergartners to senior citizens. The founder and artistic director of the multidisciplinary ensemble Dance & Bmore received the 2024 Excellence in Theatre Education Award on June 16 at the Tony Awards in New York City, which was telecast on CBS.

Children's Theatre of Cincinnati

Celebrating 105 years this season, TCT is the oldest children's theatre in the country, Its mission is to educate, entertain, and engage audiences of all ages through professional theatrical productions and arts education programming. Its vision is to awaken a lifelong love of theater in children and the young at heart. Today, the Children's Theatre brings art to life for audiences through three key programs:  

For more information, visit www.thechildrenstheatre.com.

This year, Roderick celebrates 19 seasons with The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati. Since assuming the role of artistic eirector in 2015, he's launched over 20 world-premiere original works and adaptations of theatre for young audiences (TYA). Roderick’s work is a testament to his unwavering dedication and passion for storytelling, childhood development through arts, and the transformative power of live theatre in fostering empathy and making our world a better place.

“This recognition is a celebration of all the arts educators who have taught me and who continue to teach and inspire me to share the power of the arts,” says Justice. “From my elementary school choir teacher who turned music notes into heartbeats, to the education eirector at TCT who has taken our Academy to new heights; from my high school teachers who ignited a passion for arts, to my college professors and my mentor who showed me how to make a career within that passion; from the students I teach, to the students I’ve taught who now work alongside me, specifically my associate artistic director… I must say ‘thank you’ for making arts education a priority. Thank you for believing the magic it encompasses to transform all of us.”