OUR HISTORY


Founded in 1994, Bart’s Bards has offered wholesome entertainment to St. Bartholomew Church and the community ​at large. By 1995, the Bards adopted the motto: “To promote Christian fellowship through the performing arts.”


To promote Christian fellowship through the performing arts


They immediately embarked on an ambitious career of shows, expanding to three performances a year: a straight ​comedy in the Spring, a musical in the Summer, and a spiritual children’s performance in the Fall. On record as early as ​2004, the Bards have sustained an Outreach Ministry, a volunteer choir and variety show that brings the performing ​arts to neighbors living in retirement and assisted living communities.


Demands on the use of the Krumpe Activity Center curtailed the initial rigorous performance schedule. During this ​time, the Board of Directors added a Production Committee and evolved into the Bart’s Bards Commission. In August ​of 2009, a reformed Board of Directors took on several new members.


With the assistance of East Side Players, the Bards began to take on more ambitious Broadway productions. These ​larger presentations required drastically increasing the size and scope of the available stage. After many ​configurations, the result was the “Ray Sowell Commemorative Stage” that is still used for all Bards’ productions ​today.


In 2015, a vision statement—”Love God. Serve others. Share our gifts”—was added as a testament to what is most ​important to our theatrical family.


Love God. Serve others. Share our gifts.


In 2019, the Bards held the first annual CaBARTret, a one-night-only variety show. Around the same time, an annual ​collaboration with John Paul II Catholic School began. Since it’s inception, the collaboration has offered students the ​ability to participate in theatre writing workshops, junior musicals and plays, and multi-week theatre camps, learning ​from Cincinnati-area theatre amateurs and professionals.

Bart’s Bards by-Laws


In 2022, the Bards adopted these By-Laws to govern the organization. All members are held to these By-Laws.



BOARD OF DIRECTORS


The Bards are governed by a volunteer Board of Directors who serve four year renewable terms To serve on the ​Board, Bards members must be at least 18 years of age, exhibit dedication by a minimum involvement of two years ​within the last five, demonstrate Christian behavior, and receive a nomination by a current Board member.




Maddy Weinkam

President


Maddy’s time with Bart’s ​Bards began with the ​1999 production of Annie. ​Today, Maddy is highly ​involved in community ​theatre, acting, ​choreographing, and ​directing shows across ​the city. She hopes all ​who participate in the ​Bards feel the love and ​acceptance she feels ​from the Bards!





Ursula Biron

Vice President


Ursula’s first production ​with Bart’s Bards was ​Fiddler on the Roof (2017). ​She often serves as ​propmaster and has ​produced several Bards’ ​shows, in addition to ​acting on stage with the ​Bards and other ​community theaters in ​Cincinnati.





Barry Reynolds

Treasurer


Barry first helped the ​Bards behind-the-scenes ​for The Sound of Music ​(2005), making his Bards’ ​stage debut in The Wizard ​of Oz (2011). He previously ​served as the Board Vice ​President. He finds the ​Bards to be unique, ​providing high-quality ​theatrical experience ​within a strong Catholic ​Christian community.





Bill Fessler

Secretary


Bill has been with the ​Bards since its inception, ​joining to allow one of the ​founding members to ​take on another Parish ​project. He’s enjoyed ​numerous roles while ​sharing the stage with his ​three daughters. Bill is ​constantly amazed at the ​quality shows by Bart’s ​Bards but more so by the ​sense of family created ​within the group.





Danielle Meineke

Outreach Ministry Coordinator


Danielle first joined the ​Bards in the orchestra for ​Joseph…Dreamcoat ​(2014), making her stage ​debut the next year. She ​has since music directed ​several shows and ​persuaded her husband ​to appear onstage! She adm​ires how the Bards ​consistently maintain ​a supportive atmo​sphere while up​holding high performanc​e​ ​s​tandards.





Carolyn Tonnis

Inventory Manager


Carolyn joined the Bards ​in 2016 for the production ​of Disney’s The Little ​Mermaid. She has served ​as producer and manages ​the organization’s ​collection of costumes ​and props. Carolyn loves ​that the Bards puts the ​Catholic faith first in all ​things and allows its ​members to share the ​gifts given by God with ​the community.





Cheryl Coleman

Member-at-Large


Cheryl serves on the ​Board as a member-at-​large. She cherishes the ​years she participated in ​the Bards productions ​with her daughter and ​three of her grand-​children.





Kayla Haas

Member-at-Large


Kayla joined the Bards as ​Ethel Toffelmier in The ​Music Man (2022). She is ​a seasoned performer at ​community theatres ​across Cincinnati, lending ​her dance skills as ​choreographer for many ​productions. Kayla is the ​newest member of the ​Board, joining in 2023.





Joy Niehaus

Member-at-Large


Joy’s first show with the ​Bards was Oklahoma! ​(2009). She has had the ​privilege to make many ​close friends, and served ​as the Board President for ​a time. She especially ​connects with the Bards’ ​vision: “Love God, Serve ​others, Share our gifts.”





Elle Rothan

Member-at-Large


Elle has acted in Bards ​productions on-and-off ​for years. She returned to ​the Bards’ stage after a ​brief hiatus with The ​Sound of Music (2023) ​and especially enjoys ​performing with the Bards ​Outreach Ministry.





Andy Schwartz

M​ember-at-Large


Andy began working with ​the Bards as a stage crew ​member in Annie (1999). ​Since, he has acted on ​stage, produced several ​shows, and run lighting. ​Andy met his wife through ​Bards’ production of ​Oklahoma! (2009). He ​feels that the Bards is ​truly a unique group that ​always makes you feel ​welcomed.




emeritus status


Founding members of the organization can claim Emeritus status on the Board. These members are granted ​full voting power at Board meetings but are not held to the same volunteer requirements or membership dues.




Sandy Reed

Emeritus Member


Sandy is a founding ​member of Bart’s Bards ​and has been a St. ​Bartholomew parishioner ​since 1978. Her children ​and grandchildren have ​been active thespians on ​stage, while she primarily ​enjoys co-chairing ticket ​sales and serving on ​committees.





Margery Sowell

Emeritus Member


Margie is a founding ​member of Bart’s Bards. ​She has served as ​President and Treasurer ​and produced many ​shows. Her husband, Ray, ​envisioned the current ​stage-build process. She ​is very glad for the ​opportunity to continue ​to serve on the Board.




9375 Winton Road

Cincinnati, OH 45231

BartsBards@gmail.com

513-401-5737

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