The Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati is celebrating the holidays with the world premiere of the musical Robin Hood, running through Dec. 29.

The musical follows the classic tale of rebel Robin Hood, the faithful servant of King Richard the Lion-Heart, who tramps through Sherwood Forest robbing the rich, giving to the poor, defending the weak and preventing the Sheriff of Nottingham from usurping the throne of England -- or Maid Marian.

Former ETC creative team David Richmond and Drew Fracher, who collaborated on ETC's Zorro, wrote the script, which Jackie Demaline of the Cincinnati Enquirer referred to as "bright," "scrappy" and "dandy, and what's fun is that it lets the characters be smart."

The musical score is composed by David Kisor, who composes music for all of ETC's popular pantos, and most recently wrote last season's Cars, Dogs, Money and the Moon. Demaline wrote that the "equally smart score melds traditional balladeering with a modern mind-set for some of his {Kisor's] best efforts for the Ensemble."

Composer Kisor also portrays Allan-a-Dale, Robin Hood is played by Scott New and Marian by Berni Weber. The show is directed by ETC artistic director D. Lynn Meyers, who said that "Robin Hood has been a hero of mine as far back as I can remember." To purchase tickets or for more information, please refer to the regional listing for theEnsemble Theatre of Cincinnati .

--By Blair Glaser