Get to Know Kyle Fugate, Our Marketing & Development Coordinator!

Join us as we shine a spotlight on Kyle Fugate, Marketing & Development Coordinator for the Cincinnati Memorial Hall Society (CMHS) and Longworth-Anderson Series (LAS). A proud Cincinnati native and University of Cincinnati alumnus with a degree in Marketing and International Business, Kyle is deeply committed to contributing to the cultural vibrancy of his hometown. From his passion for the unique intimacy of Memorial Hall to his creative approach to marketing and love for music and adventure, let's learn more about what makes Kyle an invaluable part of our team.

1. What do you love about Memorial Hall?

Memorial Hall is not only architecturally stunning, but it also offers an unparalleled, intimate performance experience. I still remember the first time I saw Pink Martini perform there—it truly felt as though they were playing just for me. The venue has a rare ability to create a personal connection between artists and audience, which makes it very special.

2. How did you get into marketing?

I've always been drawn to creative expression, building relationships, and storytelling. Marketing felt like a natural extension of those passions. I knew early on that I wanted a career that allowed me to think creatively while also making a meaningful impact. I find it incredibly rewarding to blend creativity with purpose.

3. What are you most proud of accomplishing so far?

Several of my current videos have been incredibly rewarding to produce from start to finish, but I am especially proud of the poster I produced to promote LAS! I was able to hand-draw Memorial Hall in my own creative way and the result is something I am truly proud of. Take a peek at your favorite local shops and see it for yourself! 

4. What do you see as our biggest marketing opportunities?

Personally, I see amazing potential and growth in the future. After some detailed analysis of customer trends, I see the opportunity to expand our efforts in all 52 neighborhoods. Despite the quality and uniqueness of our events, many people simply don’t know we exist. Increasing visibility—both within the city and beyond—is essential. By leveraging digital platforms, community partnerships, and targeted campaigns, we can amplify our message and ensure that more people have the chance to experience what makes Memorial Hall and our series so special.

5. Do you have any favorite Longworth-Anderson Series concerts?

So far, Pink Martini takes the cake for me! As my first concert at Memorial Hall, it holds a very special place in my heart. With some exciting potential performances in the pipeline, it will be interesting to see if this statement changes by the end of the season!

6. You're a musician yourself!  What kind of music do you enjoy playing and listening to?

Personally, I have been playing guitar for as long as I can remember! Over the years, I have focused mainly on fingerstyle guitar. Currently, some of my favorite songs to play are songs like “What Once Was” by Hers, or any and all indie and classic rock! 

7. Fun facts, or anything else we should know?

I’m definitely an adrenaline junkie at heart! Over the past few years, I’ve trained and competed in downhill longboarding races across the country! Additionally, I was fortunate to study abroad during college, spending time in both Santiago, Chile, and Barcelona, Spain. I can’t wait for my next adventure!

A Legacy of Passion and Purpose: Cheryl Coy Stamm's Journey with Memorial Hall

Before Cheryl had even seen a concert at Memorial Hall, before she had taken a seat in its historic theater, she felt something resonate deeply within her. “I was running a business incubator—Bad Girl Ventures—that hosted events in Memorial Hall,” she recalls. “I thought, ‘Oh my gosh, I could be a part of that.’ Although, it wasn’t even about the music at first. It was the building. The energy. The potential.”

That sense of potential quickly transformed into action.

FINDING A PLACE—AND A PURPOSE

Cheryl’s involvement with Memorial Hall began with a phone call out of the blue. “Bill Baumann reached out,” she says. “We kind of knew each other from the [Cincinnati] Art Museum. He was looking for new board members to step in for those retiring in 2012.”

At the time, she hadn’t even attended a concert at the venue. That changed with Rosanne Cash. “The acoustics were amazing. It was unbelievable.”

Still, her early focus remained squarely on the business side. “We brought in a strategic planner and honed in on our mission. It had to be formalized to succeed. That planning process helped deepen our relationship with 3CDC and led us to identify how to put the right people in the right roles.”

FALLING IN LOVE WITH THE HALL

When asked what made her fall in love with Memorial Hall, Cheryl lights up. “The intimacy of the theater was so beautiful. Even before it was remodeled, I remember going up the stairs and thinking—there really isn’t a bad seat in the house. That feeling never left.”

That emotional connection, coupled with her business acumen, fueled her years of dedicated service. But she’s quick to admit the programming didn’t always match her personal tastes.

“I’m a rocker,” she laughs. “I love heavy rock. American roots music? Not really my jam. I was honest about that from the start. I wasn’t going to attend all seven or eight concerts a year. But I could still promote Memorial Hall and its preservation. That was where I felt I could contribute most.”

PIVOTAL MOMENTS AND FORWARD MOMENTUM

Among the most impactful decisions during her tenure was the introduction of a strategic plan. “You have to formalize things to be successful,” she says. “That clarity helped us work better with 3CDC, align the board, and plan for the long-term health of the building and organization.”

Cheryl outlines a bold vision for Memorial Hall’s future, centered on three major phases:

1. Roof Restoration – Securing the physical structure of the building.

2. New CRM System – Investing in tools that support deeper engagement and data-driven growth.

3. Sustainable Endowment Planning – Building a fund for perpetuity that supports ongoing growth and artistic excellence.

And of course, more concerts. As the relationship grows with 3CDC, the vision to host more concerts, and in turn, reach a larger audience, will be the future.

ADVICE AND A CONTINUED LEGACY

“To this day, I’m still shocked when people say they’ve never heard of Memorial Hall or have never been inside. We need to keep getting the word out.”

Though she’s now officially a trustee emeritus, Cheryl remains deeply connected. “I look forward to mentoring. I still care about what’s going on at the Hall. I love the venue.”

She’s also continuing her work in the community—as President of the Board for the Cancer Vaccine Coalition and through her involvement with the Art Museum. “It’s time to give back,” she says simply. Thank you, Cheryl, and congratulations on being named Trustee Emeritus!

—Kyle Fugate

Receptions Set the Tone for a Wonderful Longworth-Anderson Series Evening

That $40 Longworth-Anderson Series (LAS) concert ticket you just bought gets you a lot more than seeing a fantastic artist at one of Cincinnati’s most intimate concert halls.

That’s because LAS pre-concert receptions at Memorial Hall include regional performers and enough food for a delicious dinner provided by Ollie’s Trolley and N.Y.P.D. Pizza! Want to taste some craft beer? Yes, that’s included too, courtesy of HighGrain Brewing Co.

Eating out in Over-the-Rhine for less than $25 per person is practically impossible, so the notion of terrific entertainment and a meal built into your ticket price is especially appealing.

“We try to match the food to the type of music that night,” says Ollie’s Trolley owner and chef Marvin Smith. “I like being creative; I don’t like cooking the same thing every day.”

The receptions set the tone for a wonderful evening, an “amuse-bouche” for the ears and taste buds before the main event. "The LAS receptions make the concerts feel like an intimate shared experience and really differentiate Memorial Hall from other venues,” said one concert-goer. "I very much appreciated the pre-concert reception. It gave me an opportunity to meet some of the area’s proprietors and sample some delicious considerations.”

Another patron said, “I truly was blown away with everything start to finish. The staff were helpful and warm. The venue was beautiful. The reception was the icing on the cake. I will definitely be back."

Building community, showcasing local vendors and artists, enjoying a small party with your friends, and having the opportunity to meet new friends to share the same experience—all for one low price.

—Scott Seward

Cincinnati’s Memorial Hall—A Building with a Story

In 1908, The Grand Army of the Republic constructed Hamilton County Memorial Hall as a monument to veterans of the Spanish-American War and Civil War.

Designed by Samuel Hannaford & Sons (who had an extensive resume of designs in Cincinnati, including Music Hall, City Hall, several churches, and other prominent buildings), the hall features marble staircases embellished with intricate wrought iron that lead to the 556-seat proscenium theater. This theater was originally conceived for speeches, but evolved into one of most intimate and acoustically superior venues in the region.

A local sculptor named Clement Barnhorn carved six figures above the exterior doors, each wearing a military uniform representing soldiers from the Revolutionary War to the Spanish-American War.

Memorial Hall also houses a special collection of artwork and artifacts of local civic and military history. More than 40 pieces are on display throughout the building, including the wreath that is said to have adorned Abraham Lincoln's casket when it passed through Columbus, OH. Beautiful murals and Tiffany chandeliers complement the historic theater, along with stenciled murals by Francis Pedretti.

After World War I, Disabled American Veterans was created at Memorial Hall during the organization’s first national caucus. The charity grew to encompass more than a million members with chapters all over the country.

Today, Memorial Hall is located in the heart of a revitalized arts district in Over-the-Rhine. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978, the venue overlooks Washington Park, and is neighbor to Music Hall, The Transept, the School for Creative and Performing Arts, and Cincinnati Shakespeare Company.

In 2016, a $11.2 million renovation was completed, a collaboration of the Cincinnati Memorial Hall Society (CMHS), the Cincinnati Center City Development Corporation (3CDC), and Hamilton County. The renovation allowed for the preservation of the building’s historic character. Additionally, extensive improvements were made to increase audience and performer comfort, modernize amenities, and enhance concerts. The renovations included new, larger restroom facilities, a new HVAC system to accommodate year-round events, new seating, the addition of a contemporary catering kitchen, and backstage crossover space for performers. Memorial Hall is now managed by 3CDC, hosting more than 250 events annually.

When the theater reopened, it was named the Annie W. and Elizabeth M. Anderson Theater, in recognition of the prominence of the Anderson and Longworth families in Cincinnati’s history, and the Anderson sisters’ generous contribution to the renovation. Annie and Elizabeth Anderson were sixth-generation Cincinnatians, great-granddaughters of Nicholas Longworth (1783-1863) and Lt. Colonel Richard Clough Anderson (1750-1826).

Brevet Major General Nicholas Longworth Anderson (1838-1892) was Anne and Elizabeth’s great-uncle, and an honored Civil War veteran memorialized by a bronze plaque placed in Memorial Hall following the building’s construction.

With the completion of the renovation, the Longworth-Anderson Series was launched in early 2017 by CMHS. The series features Grammy Award-winning and other nationally recognized performers and bands, showcasing a variety of contemporary music genres including alternative, Americana, bluegrass, blues, country, folk, gospel, hip hop, jazz, pop, R&B, reggae, rock, soul, and world music. Events that are part of the series provide an entire evening of entertainment including pre-concert receptions with live local music, light bites, and beer & wine tastings from popular regional restaurants, craft beer brewers, and wine distributors.

—Scott Seward

Memorial Hall and the Longworth-Anderson Series—Creating Connection

The essence of live music performance is the potent connection between the musicians and their audience.

Cincinnati’s Memorial Hall is one of the most intimate venues in the region to foster this connection. But don’t just take our word—listen to what Longworth-Anderson Series (LAS) concert attendees have to say:

• “Memorial Hall is the best venue in Cincinnati! I think it inspires musicians to play their best.”

• “The LAS concerts are the most fun I’ve ever had at a concert. The reception is great because you get to talk with many other fans before the show. The concert venue is so intimate - it’s almost like the show is happening in your living room!”

• “It is a showplace of exquisite beauty. A venue from older times when a theater was built with acoustics in mind, but also grandeur, a theatrical space that takes your breath away when you first walk through those doors. It makes one stop dead in his tracks to just absorb the beauty and history that permeates throughout the entire building. You can almost feel the remnants of wonderful past performances.”

• “The intimacy of Memorial Hall draws me in close to the artists.”

• “I’m a Cincinnati native, but this was my first time at Memorial Hall, and it was the most stunning venue. Loved the intimate feel of the concert.”

• “The venue was just AMAZING. I've seen a lot of shows, in a lot of venues, but I felt immediately that this place was special.”

The word “intimate” is dominant in most reviews of the Memorial Hall experience—which might not have been a surprise to Samuel Hannaford & Sons, who designed the building in 1908 as a memorial to veterans of the Civil War and Spanish-American War. The Hall was originally a meeting place for veterans in the early 20th Century, and a welcome location for community events. The Cincinnati Preservation Association led the first renovation of the Hall in 1990-1992 with a more comprehensive renovation completed in 2016 by the Cincinnati Memorial Hall Society (CMHS), 3CDC, and Hamilton County.

That latter restoration placed Memorial Hall as one of the catalysts of the revitalized arts district surrounding Washington Park. The next year saw CMHS’s inception of the LAS, which presents Grammy Award-winning and other nationally recognized performers in a variety of contemporary music genres.

Perhaps Samuel Hannaford & Sons didn’t set out to create the most personal and welcoming concert hall in the Tri-State area, but nearly 120 years later, Cincinnati music lovers are grateful.

—Scott Seward

Rumi Nights: Poetry, Song & Friendship Silent Auction

Join our friends at Woodward Theater on Thursday, July 14, from 6:30-9 p.m. for this signature event with Haleh Liza Gafori and guests for a night of Rumi, music, and friendship to benefit The Well and Mindful Poetry Moments. Features light bites, cash bar, and a robust arts & wellness auction, including complimentary tickets to any upcoming Longworth-Anderson Series concert.

Gafori is a translator, vocalist, poet, and educator born in New York City of Persian descent. Her recent book, GOLD, published by New York Review Books/NYRB Classics, features her translations of poems by Rumi, the 13th century sage and mystic.

Join the Friends of Memorial Hall!

Built in 1908 by the Grand Army of the Republic, the Hamilton County Memorial Hall building proudly stands in the heart of the revitalized arts district of Over-the-Rhine.  Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978, recent renovations to the building, which were completed in 2015-16, have allowed for the preservation of its historic character and renewed utilization with more than 250 performances, concerts, lectures, meetings, weddings, and other events held there annually.

Although renovations were completed in 2016, preservation of the Hall is ongoing so it does not fall into disuse as it did in the second half of the last century. Thanks to our partners and donors, we are able to keep the doors open and lights on in this ”perfect gem” of a theater.

Today, with the support of the Cincinnati Memorial Hall Society and 3CDC, Memorial Hall is proud to present the “Friends of Memorial Hall” support group. It is through this initiative that we will continue our mission of preserving and celebrating the lasting history made within the walls of the Hall.

Become a Friend today at the $50+ level and 100% of your contribution will support historic preservation efforts at Memorial Hall. Through the support of our Friends, together we will protect this place of arts, culture, and community for years to come.

Memorial Hall is a collaboration of the Cincinnati Memorial Hall Society, 3CDC, and Hamilton County.

Urban Axes Movember

Help our friends at Urban Axes raise money for Movember! Purchase a Movember Supporter Package add-on by Sunday, November 22, to get a free drink and have a chance to win awesome prizes, including a pair of complimentary lower balcony tickets to any 2021 Longworth-Anderson Series concert!

Book now and add the Movember Support Package to your group event.

Memorial Hall Voted "Favorite Event Venue" in the 2019 Movers & Makers Awards!

Big thanks to Movers & Makers readers for voting historic Memorial Hall, home of the Longworth-Anderson Series, your “Favorite Event Venue” of 2019!

Vote for LAS in the 2019 Movers & Makers Awards!

Thanks to Movers & Makers for nominating two Longworth-Anderson Series concerts in the category “Favorite Chamber Music Concert: Instrumental (less than 10 performers)” in their 2019 Movers & Makers Awards: Béla Fleck & Abigail Washburn and Pat Metheny Side-Eye.

If you enjoyed these shows as much as we did, please take a couple minutes to vote! And don’t forget to write in your “Favorite Jazz Venue” and “Favorite Event Venue,” beautiful Memorial Hall.