5+ Questions with LAS Advisory Committee Member Jennifer Marco

The Longworth-Anderson Series (LAS) has always been shaped by people who bring both a love of music and a genuine investment in community, creativity, and connection. Jennifer Marco is a wonderful example of that spirit. Since becoming involved with LAS, she has been a thoughtful presence behind the scenes—bringing fresh ideas, enthusiasm, and a willingness to support the series however she can.

Jennifer’s background spans both the technical and creative worlds. Professionally, she works in digital health and technology, while her earlier experiences in live music production at Riverbend Music Center gave her a firsthand appreciation for the work that goes into creating memorable concert experiences. Beyond her professional life, she has also dedicated time to fundraising, volunteer coordination, and community-focused events throughout Cincinnati.

In this week’s Q&A, Jennifer shares more about her experiences, her connection to live music, and what excites her most about being part of the LAS community.

What first drew you to get involved with Memorial Hall and LAS?

It was really a combination of community, music, and wanting to give back locally in a meaningful way. I have always felt enthusiastic about supporting and staying connected to the local arts scene. The more I learned about the organization and its mission, the more it genuinely felt like the perfect fit for me personally. As an avid supporter of music, I felt I could bring a unique perspective and fresh lens to the LAS committee.

I am currently a healthcare IT professional, but I also had a background working at Riverbend Music Center in production support many years ago, and that experience deepened my appreciation for live music and the impact it can have on people and communities. I value the opportunity to serve and contribute to Cincinnati’s cultural landscape while helping to create an experience that brings people together.

What LAS concert(s) have you attended? Which did you enjoy most and why?

I’ve attended Christian McBride, esperanza spalding, and, most recently, Madison Cunningham. I enjoyed esperanza’s show the most because it felt healing and immersive. I resonate with how she blends jazz, storytelling, and experimentation in a way that evokes deeper feelings. She took me on an unforgettable sonic journey!

What makes the Memorial Hall experience different from other venues in the city?

Memorial Hall offers a unique experience: an intimate concert with exceptional acoustics set within an architecturally and culturally rich historic gem that exudes its own charm.

As someone with a strong marketing lens, what do you think more people should know about LAS?

The series offers a trifecta experience: a beautifully curated evening showcasing Grammy-nominated and winning performers and bands, spotlighting local musicians at our pre-concert reception, and the opportunity to support the local restaurant community.

What album would you take to a desert island?

Thievery Corporation - “The Temple of I&I”

What song makes you want to dance?

Idris Muhammad - “Could Heaven Ever Be Like This (Chris Lorenzo, Walker & Royce Remix)”

Who is the most underrated musician, in your opinion?

Hiatus Kaiyote—their artistic vision deserves a much brighter spotlight than it currently receives.

Lighting Up Memorial Hall

In 2012, the Cincinnati Memorial Hall Society (CMHS) led the revitalization of Memorial Hall, resulting in its comprehensive renovation completed in 2016 by the Cincinnati Center City Development Corporation (3CDC), CMHS, and Hamilton County. 

Extensive improvements were made to increase audience and performer comfort, modernize amenities, and enhance performances. The renovation included new, larger restroom facilities, a new HVAC system, new and more comfortable seating, the addition of a contemporary catering kitchen, and backstage crossover space for performers.

But there’s always more to be done to preserve this gem of a theater! Although $11.2 million was spent on the renovation, it was not enough to address every aspect of the building. When a structure is more than 110 years old, maintenance must be an ongoing process.

You may have noticed that the light bulbs on the proscenium arch above the stage and the beautiful Tiffany glass chandeliers have been increasingly going dark. Changing these bulbs is not as easy as it may look.

This is a complicated issue with many dimensions:

• Theatrical Tech and Bulbs – Because the theater uses sophisticated technology to dim all of the lights in the theater, it requires a special kind of bulb. Unfortunately, the bulbs that were specified when the renovation was completed have been discontinued. The company Memorial Hall uses for theatrical technology, ETC, has recommended a new combination of lighting dimming system and bulb to maintain high standards.

• Plaster and Sockets – The sockets and wiring inside the proscenium arches are largely the same wiring from 1908. Moreover, the shape of light bulbs was different when they were first installed. The socket depth and plaster rosettes (decorative rings) around each bulb were suited to an elongated bulb. Put simply, modern bulbs can’t reach the recessed obsolete sockets.

• Access to Chandeliers – When the building opened in 1908, a pulley system was used to lower the four Tiffany glass chandeliers to the floor for the light bulbs to be changed. That system disintegrated over time. When the building was renovated, floor-to-ceiling scaffolding was installed to give access to the chandeliers. Without the scaffold, no bulb-changing extension or lift is able to reach these bulbs.

In order to fully light up Memorial Hall:

1) The theater must replace the dimming system for the proscenium and house lighting.
2) Memorial Hall must buy new bulbs that will perform effectively with that system.
3) Scaffolding must be built to access the proscenium.
4) A plasterer must remove the rosettes to allow access to electrical components.
5) An electrician will then install contemporary wiring and light sockets with appropriate depth.
6) The plasterer will reinstall the rosettes.
7) A painter will touch up the areas around the rosettes.
8) A rigger will install a new pulley system to lower the front two chandeliers to the ground to allow them to be changed. An electrician will install a long “tail” of cable to allow the chandeliers to travel.

It is projected that this two-week project will cost approximately $60,000 with the following budget:

Proscenium Arches
New Dimming System: $10,000
New Bulbs: $4,500
Scaffolding: $6,800
Plaster Work: $13,500
Electrical Work: $20,000
Painter: $2,000

Chandeliers
Pulley System: $2,500
Electrical Work: $500

TOTAL: $59,800

Please consider a donation to help keep the proscenium Lights On at Memorial Hall! Even a small gift will go a long way toward ensuring that our treasured venue looks as fantastic as the day it opened nearly 120 years ago.

Donations to nonprofit Memorial Hall are also fully tax-deductible.

Click here to donate online, call the Memorial Hall box office at (513) 977-8838 (Tuesday – Friday, 1-6 p.m.), or mail a check payable to “Cincinnati Memorial Hall Society” to 1225 Elm Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202.