Historic Tax Credits
$7.57 Million
Federal HTCs
New Markets Tax Credits
$8 Million
Total Project Cost
$52.1 Million
Project Partner
The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati
Impact
Arts Education, Support, & Access
History
Returning Home
This project is facilitating the long-awaited reunion of the iconic Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati with its original home, the Emery Theater. Historic Emery Theater was constructed in 1911 in Cincinnati’s “Over-the-Rhine” neighborhood. Commissioned by Mary Emery and built by the famous architecture firm Samuel Hannaford & Sons, the large theater was designed to hold thousands of patrons while astonishing each of them with an unobstructed view and exceptional acoustics. It was built using the principle of the “isacoustic curve,” meaning the room sloped upward from front to back, an ideal configuration for sending sound effortlessly throughout. It also featured two large balconies, both of which seemed to float above the main floor, in a method of theater construction that was new in the early 19th century. Originally part of the Ohio Mechanics Institute trade school, the Emery Theater soon hosted world-renowned artists like George Gershwin and John Philip Sousa, as well as influential dignitaries like Eleanor Roosevelt and Martin Luther King, Jr.
The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati (TCT), founded in 1919, is the oldest professional children’s theatre in the nation, spending more than a century entertaining youth and inspiring them in the art of theatre. Originally owned and operated by Cincinnati’s Junior League, TCT launched as an independent nonprofit in 1949 with a mission to educate, entertain, and engage audiences of all ages through 
professional theatrical productions and arts education programming. TCT called the historic Emery Theater home from their incorporation as an independent nonprofit until 1969, when they relocated to downtown Cincinnati’s Taft Theatre.
In the years after losing the patronage of The Children’s Theatre and The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, the Emery fell deeper into disrepair, lying dormant for many years while TCT was forced to limit their performance days to only 40 a year at their new location in the Taft Theatre. The decision was made by TCT to return home to the historic Emery Theater and they launched a campaign to undertake a major renovation in a way that pays homage to the past while reimagining it for the future.
Revitalization Efforts
Emery's Second Act
Once completed, the historic Emery Theater will be transformed into a premier 1,500-seat theater that will feature performances for children of all ages and backgrounds. The scope of the project includes the complete revitalization of the historic space to serve as the new MainStage home of TCT.
These programs have changed and expanded over the decades, and with the rehabilitation of the Emery, TCT’s purpose will continue to grow in the very place it got its start. This historic theater was built to be unlike anything else, and thanks to restoration efforts, its legacy will flourish for years to come.
Community Impact
Culture & Community
The revitalization of this long-vacant theater for the continued use of TCT will allow them to more than double the number of annual performances to nearly 150, serving almost 170,000 patrons each year. With an active partnership between TCT and Cincinnati public schools, the number of students provided with access to performing arts will also increase by 63%, giving more than 97,000 youth the opportunity to visit the theater annually.
Performances will come with study guides that allow art education to continue in the classroom. Operationally, it costs TCT an average of $30 to put a child in a seat, however, no school ever pays more than $10 per ticket with even deeper discounts for Title 1 schools. Last season, TCT provided over $900,000 in ticket subsidies to schools, which will increase exponentially at the Emery.
Educational Partnerships
Student access to increase by 63%
Affordable Arts
Reduced-cost tickets for students and schools
Education
Study guides for performances
Increased Performances
For about 170,000 patrons annually
School Ticket Subsidies
Will increase from previous $900,000
NTCIC & Progress
Project Financing
The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati led a phenomenal capital campaign that raised over $33.2 million, which is a testament to the extensive support the organization has from the community it serves. The remaining portion of the $52.1 million revitalization was supported by NTCIC through an equity investment of $7.5 million in federal Historic Tax Credits. NTCIC also provided $8 million in
New Markets Tax Credit allocation, which helped lower the capital campaign burden, covered additional financing gaps, and ensured expanded access to shows and programming for low-income youth. In addition to the tax credit financing provided by NTCIC, the project was also supported by $1.65 million in funding from city and state partners.
Connect with Us
Curious About How Historic Tax Credit Investments Drive Real Impact?
Kandi Jackson leads tax credit investment activities with deep expertise in project finance, equity structuring, and compliance. When you speak with Kandi, expect clarity, honesty, and a clear roadmap for how your next investment can work in your portfolio.
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