CCM Idea Lab

The CCM Idea Lab is a collaborative cross-disciplinary class involving students and faculty from throughout the college.

The CCM Idea Lab explores technical, artistic and philosophical questions through the creation of short performance pieces that showcase the work of students and faculty from CCM Lighting Design and Technology, Sound Design and Technology, Technical Production, Stage Management, Dance, Acting, Voice, Musical Theatre and Media Production.

The CCM Idea Lab launched in 2020-21 with support provided by UC Faculty Forward.

What is Jazz? The Making of the Martini Quintet

Performance Team:

  • The Martini Quintet
    • Michael Martin, vocals
    • Elijah Woodward, saxophone
    • Austin Bengal, bass
    • Brendan Gage, piano
    • Aidan Schram, drums 

Production Team:

  • Sharon Huizinga, Theatre Design and Production Faculty Advisor
  • Scott Belck, Jazz Studies Director and Professor
  • Melissa Godoy, Production Master Class Instructor

  • Producers: Matt Abrams, Blake Freechtle, Michael Martin
  • Camera: Matt Abrams, Blake Freechtle, Emily Kammerer. Karsten Schick
  • Lighting Gaffer: Blake Freechtle, Troy Spitzmiller
  • Location Sound Mixer: Jacob Benington
  • Editor: Matt Abrams
    Additional Editing: Blake Freechtle, Emily Kammerer
  • Assistant Editors: Karolina Clarey, Karsten Schick, Michael Martin

Music Video 

  • Producer/Editor: Blake Freechtle, Michael Martin
  • Camera: Eliot Harned, Annie Thompson
  • Camera/Jib: Taylor Deboo, Troy Spitzmiller
  • Lighting: Miya Chambers, Will Everson
  • Music Recording & Mix: John Curley
  • Assistant Editors: Matt Abrams, Karolina Clarey, Emily Kammerer
  • Music Recorder provided by Simón Sotelo

“Pennies from Heaven” by Arthur Johnston Based on Louis Prima, Keely Smith, Sam Butera and the Witnesses 

“Sandu” by Clifford Brown and Max Roach

“My One and Only Love” by Guy B. Wood and Robert Mellin Based on Ballads by John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman

“Everything Happens to Me” by Matt Dennis Based on Samara Joy’s recording “Autumn Leaves” by Joseph Kosma Based on the album Gone With Golson

My One and Only Love

Performance Team:

  • The Martini Quintet
    • Michael Martin, vocals
    • Elijah Woodward, saxophone
    • Austin Bengal, bass
    • Brendan Gage, piano
    • Aidan Schram, drums 

Production Team:

  • Sharon Huizinga, Theatre Design and Production Faculty Advisor
  • Scott Belck, Jazz Studies Director and Professor
  • Melissa Godoy, Production Master Class Instructor

  • Producer/Editor: Blake Freechtle, Michael Martin
  • Camera: Eliot Harned, Annie Thompson
  • Camera/Jib: Blake Freechtle, Troy Spitzmiller
  • Lighting: Miya Chambers, Will Everson
  • Music Recording & Mix: John Curley
  • Assistant Editors: Karolina Clarey, Emily Kammerer
  • Music Recorder Provided by Simón Sotelo

Autumn Leaves

Performance Team:

  • The Martini Quintet
    • Michael Martin, trombone
    • Elijah Woodward, saxophone
    • Austin Bengal, bass
    • Brendan Gage, piano
    • Aidan Schram, drums 

Production Team:

  • Sharon Huizinga, Theatre Design and Production Faculty Advisor
  • Scott Belck, Jazz Studies Director and Professor
  • Melissa Godoy, Production Master Class Instructor

  • Producer/Editor: Blake Freechtle, Michael Martin
  • Camera: Eliot Harned, Annie Thompson
  • Camera/Jib: Blake Freechtle, Troy Spitzmiller
  • Lighting: Miya Chambers, Will Everson
  • Music Recording & Mix: John Curley
  • Assistant Editors: Matt Abrams, Karolina Clarey, Emily Kammerer
  • Music Recorder Provided by Simón Sotelo

Pennies from Heaven

Performance Team:

  • The Martini Quintet
    • Michael Martin, vocals
    • Elijah Woodward, saxophone
    • Austin Bengal, bass
    • Brendan Gage, piano
    • Aidan Schram, drums 

Production Team:

  • Sharon Huizinga, Theatre Design and Production Faculty Advisor
  • Scott Belck, Jazz Studies Director and Professor
  • Melissa Godoy, Production Master Class Instructor

  • Producer/Editor: Blake Freechtle, Michael Martin
  • Camera: Eliot Harned, Annie Thompson
  • Camera/Jib: Taylor Deboo, Troy Spitzmiller
  • Lighting: Miya Chambers, Will Everson
  • Music Recording & Mix: John Curley
  • Assistant Editors: Matt Abrams, Karolina Clarey, Emily Kammerer
  • Music Recorder Provided by Simón Sotelo

Gold

Performance Team:

  • Vince DeGeorge, Musical Theatre Faculty Advisor
  • Jeffery Cornelius, Musical Theatre student
  • Nate Jones, Musical Theatre student
  • Nick Pattarini, Musical Theatre student
  • Annalise Prentiss, Musical Theatre student
  • Grace Rusnica, Musical Theatre student

Theatre Design and Production Team:

  • Sharon Huizinga, Theatre Design and Production Faculty Advisor
  • Jason Bowden, Lighting Design and Technology student
  • Natalia Carlson, Lighting Design and Technology student
  • Maya Hughes, Lighting Design and Technology student
  • Haruka Iihoshi, Sound Design and Technology student
  • Sedona Isch, Technical Production student
  • Justin Levine, Technical Production student
  • Ian Macintosh, Lighting Design and Technology student
  • Monica Walker, Technical Production student
  • Mallory Bruno, Stage Management student

Media Production Team:

  • Donald Hancock, Media Production Faculty Advisor
  • Clark Comstock, Media Production student
  • Tyler Parker, Media Production student

Gold (360° version)

Performance Team:

  • Vince DeGeorge, Musical Theatre Faculty Advisor
  • Jeffery Cornelius, Musical Theatre student
  • Nate Jones, Musical Theatre student
  • Nick Pattarini, Musical Theatre student
  • Annalise Prentiss, Musical Theatre student
  • Grace Rusnica, Musical Theatre student

Theatre Design and Production Team:

  • Sharon Huizinga, Theatre Design and Production Faculty Advisor
  • Jason Bowden, Lighting Design and Technology student
  • Natalia Carlson, Lighting Design and Technology student
  • Maya Hughes, Lighting Design and Technology student
  • Haruka Iihoshi, Sound Design and Technology student
  • Sedona Isch, Technical Production student
  • Justin Levine, Technical Production student
  • Ian Macintosh, Lighting Design and Technology student
  • Monica Walker, Technical Production student
  • Mallory Bruno, Stage Management student

Media Production Team:

  • Donald Hancock, Media Production Faculty Advisor
  • Clark Comstock, Media Production student
  • Tyler Parker, Media Production student

It's Good to See You Again

Acting and Directing Team:

  • Richard Hess, Acting and Directing Faculty Advisor
  • Lucas Prizant, Acting student
  • Duncan Weinland, Acting student
  • Olivia Buss, Acting student
  • Annie Jacques, Acting student
  • Cameron Nalley, Acting student
  • Jason Pavlovich, Acting student
  • Kayla Temshiv, Acting student

Theatre Design and Production Team:

  • Sharon Huizinga, Theatre Design and Production Faculty Advisor
  • Jason Bowden, Lighting Design and Technology student
  • Ethan Fleek, Lighting Design and Technology student
  • Zach Ivans, Sound Design and Technology student
  • Ian MacIntosh, Lighting Design and Technology student
  • Andrew Stewart, Lighting Design and Technology student
  • Corbin White, Sound Design and Technology student
  • Sedona Isch, Technical Production student
  • Justin Levine, Technical Production student
  • Monica Walker, Technical Production student

Media Production Team:

  • Donald Hancock, Media Production Faculty Advisor
  • Jered Jackson, Media Production student
  • Paul Fierst, Media Production student
  • Clark Comstock, Media Production student
  • Tyler Parker, Media Production student

I Rise

Acting and Directing Team:

  • Richard Hess, Acting and Directing Faculty Advisor
  • Leonard Peterson, Acting student
  • Amanda Nelson, Acting student
  • Frankie Chuter, Acting student
  • Rin Wallace, Acting student
  • Sydney Miles, Acting student
  • Carlee Coulehan, Acting student

Theatre Design and Production Team:

  • Sharon Huizinga, Theatre Design and Production Faculty Advisor
  • Hannah Gruneisen, Lighting Design and Technology student
  • Natalia Carlson, Lighting Design and Technology student
  • Justin Levine, Technical Production student
  • Monica Walker, Technical Production student
  • Sedona Isch, Technical Production student
  • Ethan Fleek, Lighting Design and Technology student
  • Mallory Bruno, Stage Management student
  • Vishal Sharma, Lighting Design and Technology student

Media Production Team:

  • Donald Hancock, Media Production Faculty Advisor
  • Clark Comstock, Media Production student
  • Paul Fierst, Media Production student
  • Eric Richmond, Media Production student
  • Tyler Parker, Media Production student

Mad Scene from "Lucia di Lammermoor"

Performance Team:

  • Amy Johnson, Voice Faculty Advisor
  • Andi Tulipana, student soprano

Theatre Design and Production Team:

  • Sharon Huizinga, Theatre Design and Production Faculty Advisor
  • Natalia Carlson, Lighting Design and Technology student
  • Corbin White, Sound Design and Technology student
  • Zach Ivans, Sound Design and Technolog student
  • Vishal Sharma, Lighting Design and Technology student
  • Ethan Fleek, Lighting Design and Technology student
  • Monica Walker, Technical Production student
  • Sedona Isch, Technical Production student
  • Justin Levine, Technical Production student
  • Mallory Bruno, Stage Management student

Media Production Team:

  • Donald Hancock, Media Production Faculty Advisor
  • Clark Comstock, Media Production student
  • Paul Fierst, Media Production student
  • Eric Richmond, Media Production student

Born Undone

Theatre Design and Production Team:

  • Sharon Huizinga, Theatre Design and Production Faculty Advisor
  • Ian MacIntosh, Lighting Design and Technology student
  • Jason Bowden, Lighting Design and Technology student
  • Sedona Isch, Technical Production student
  • Monica Walker, Technical Production student
  • Justin Levine, Technical Production student
  • Haruka Iihoshi, Sound Design and Technology student

Performance Team:

  • Vince DeGeorge, Musical Theatre Faculty Advisor
  • Carino Florio, Musical Theatre student
  • Sofie Flores, Musical Theatre student

Media Production Team:

  • Donald Hancock, Media Production Faculty Advisor
  • Paul Fierst, Media Production student
  • Tommy Rochester, Media Production student
  • Clark Comstock, Media Production student
  • Sophia Smith, Media Production student

Turning 2

Performance Team:

  • Amanda Kenner, Dance student 

Theatre Design and Production Team: 

  • Sharon Huizinga, Theatre Design and Production Faculty Advisor 
  • Jason Bowden, Lighting Design and Technology student 
  • McKenna Brennan, Technical Production student 
  • Natalia Carlson, Lighting Design and Technology student 
  • Maya Eberhardt, Lighting Design and Technology student 
  • Nick Hunley, Theatre Design and Production student 
  • Haruka Iihoshi, Sound Design and Technology student 
  • Thomas Iodice, Technical Production student 
  • Sedona Isch, Technical Production student 
  • Justin Levine, Technical Production student 
  • Ian MacIntosh, Lighting Design and Technology student 
  • Grace Mayo, Technical Production student 
  • Claire Michels, Lighting Design and Technology student 
  • Kelsey Qualters, Stage Management student 
  • Syndey Riddle, Lighting Design and Technology student 
  • Eli Suarez, Lighting Design and Technology student 
  • Janay Sukkarieh, Theatre Design and Production student 
  • Logan Vanderpool, Theatre Design and Production student 
  • Monica Walker, Technical Production student 

Media Production Team

  • Donald Hancock, Media Production Faculty Advisor 
  • Clark Comstock, Media Production student 
  • Tyler Parker, Media Production student 
  • Tommy Rochester, Media Production student 
  • Sophia Smith, Media Production student
Learn more about the CCM Idea Lab

 

Louise Dieterle Nippert Trust

Scholarship and Resident Artist Supporter

 

The Corbett Endowment at CCM

Dance Department Supporter

All-Steinway School Supporter

 

William L. Gasch Endowment Fund for Dance Excellence

Rachelle Bruno & Stephen Bondurant

Ellen K. Bastron

Dance Department Supporters

 

J. Brett Offenberger, MD and Mr. Douglas E. Duckett

Bacchus Legacy Fund

Hawks Nest Private Wealth Scholarship Fund

Dr. & Mrs. Carl G. Fischer

Ric Sweeney & David Askew

Ken and Toni Kanter

Henry and Sandy Spitz

Greg Mathein

Jim & Linda Miller

Marty & Anne Pinales

Musical Theatre Department Supporters

 

GLP German Light Products

Dick & Chris Russell

Upstaging, Inc.

Theater Design & Production Supporter

 

The Estate of Genevieve Smith

Opera Production Supporter

 

Rafael and Kimberly de Acha

Opera D’Arte Supporter

 

The Friedlander Family

Dr. Randolph L. Wadsworth

Judith Schonbach Landgren and Peter Landgren

Mr. & Mrs. Harry H. Santen

Elizabeth C.B. Sittenfeld

Elizabeth Stone

Mrs. Thomas E. Stegman

Mrs. Theodore W. Striker

Mrs. Harry M. Hoffheimer

Ariel Quartet Supporters

 

The Friedlander Family

Karl Zipser

Chamber Music at CCM

 

Elizabeth Ann Leman Muennich MD, PhD, in memory of John Leman

Jan Rogers

Willard and Jean Mulford Charitable Fund of the Cambridge Charitable Foundation

Choral Studies Supporters

 

Mr. & Mrs. Joseph W. Hirschhorn

Philharmonia Supporters

 

Dorothy Richard Starling Foundation

Starling Pre-Collegiate Supporter

Starling Strings Supporter

 

Holly Brians Ragusa and Damon Ragusa

Dr. Timothy E. and Janet L. Johnson

Thom Miles and Roberta Gary

Strader Fund of the Greater Cincinnati Foundation

Dr. Stephen G. Schaeffer

Organ Department Supporters

 

Keyboard Club of Cincinnati

L. Ried Schott

Carl Rhodes & Lori Luchtman-Jones

Piano Department Supporters

 

Kevin and Nancy Rhein

Wind Studies Supporters

 

Willis Music

LINKS Instrument Donation Supporter

 

Supporters listed as of August 2026

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