CINCINNATI (July 25, 2023) – Tickets are now on sale for Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park’s 2023-2024 season, including an all-new production of A CHRISTMAS CAROL specially designed for the new mainstage theater complex Moe and Jack’s Place – The Rouse Theatre, which opened in March. To purchase seats, guests can visit cincyplay.com or call 513-421-3888. Box office summer hours are Monday – Friday from noon to 5 p.m.
A CHRISTMAS CAROL is one of Cincinnati’s most beloved holiday traditions. It returns Nov. 24 for its 31st year after a break in 2022 during the construction of the new mainstage theatre. (The 2020 show was also canceled due to the pandemic). This year’s production features a new adaptation by Osborn Family Producing Artistic Director Blake Robison, who also directs, and an all-new set specially designed for the new theatre with dazzling new costume and lighting designs. The show runs through Dec. 30.
Photo of Andrew May as Scrooge by Tony Arrasmith/Arrasmith and Associates. Andrew May will play Ebenezer Scrooge in the 2023 all-new production of A CHRISTMAS CAROL at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park.
With the retirement of Bruce Cromer from the role in 2022, the new Ebenezer Scrooge will be Andrew May, most recently seen at the Playhouse as Hercule Poirot in Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express last fall. The cast of A CHRISTMAS CAROL features both new and familiar faces to Playhouse and Cincinnati audiences, including Michael Anthony Williams (Marley), Maggi Lou Rader (Ghost of Christmas Past), Ken Early (Mr. Fezziwig/Ghost of Christmas Present), Ryan Galbraith (Mr. Cratchit), Kelly Mengelkoch (Mrs. Cratchit), Taha Mandviwala (Fred), Shonita Joshi (Belle), Justin McCombs (various roles), Annie Fitzpatrick (various roles) and others to be announced.
The season also includes the return of RING OF FIRE: THE MUSIC OF JOHNNY CASH, a world premiere adaptation of DRACULA and regional premieres of modern stories from Pulitzer-winning playwrights including Lynn Nottage and Martyna Majok.
“Our 2023-24 season promises to inspire, entertain, celebrate our differences and lift up our shared humanity,” says Robison. “It features stories that feel familiar, that stand the test of time, and that are fresh and contemporary. We’re looking forward to the first full season in our new mainstage theatre complex with a lineup of shows that exemplify the best of American theatre.”
The 2023-24 Season includes:
- The return of the toe-tapping, soul-stirring musical biography RING OF FIRE: THE MUSIC OF JOHNNY CASH.
- Unmissable modern stories from three powerhouse playwrights who have each earned Pulitzer Prize acclaim, including Martyna Majok’s SANCTUARY CITY, Lynn Nottage’s CLYDE’S and Zora Howard’s STEW.
- A world premiere adaptation of the vampiric classic DRACULA, brought back to life with humor and thrills by playwright/performer Vanessa Severo (Frida…A Self Portrait) and Playhouse Associate Artistic Director Joanie Schultz
- Chaim Potok’s timeless story about the human ability to reach out across differences through an exploration of Jewish culture in THE CHOSEN.
- Stories that will capture your heart and make you laugh like the love story in VIETGONE and the interactive Catholic comedy of LATE NIGHT CATECHISM.
2023-24 ROUSE THEATRE SEASON
Presented by Schueler Group
The Markley Family presents
RING OF FIRE: THE MUSIC OF JOHNNY CASH
Created by Richard Maltby, Jr.
Conceived by William Meade
Directed by Marcia Milgrom Dodge
Aug. 26 – Oct. 1, 2023
Sponsored by U.S. Bank
SHORT DESCRIPTION: The hit musical returns! Ring of Fire celebrates the iconic Johnny Cash — the Man in Black. As the story of Cash’s life unfolds, five actor-musicians deliver crowd-pleasing renditions of Cash’s musical catalog, including “I Walk the Line,” “Folsom Prison Blues,” “I’ve Been Everywhere” and, of course, “Ring of Fire.” Revisit this toe-tapping, soul-stirring musical biography like never before in The Rouse Theatre!
ONE-LINER: Celebrate the music of Johnny Cash in this toe-tapping, soul-stirring musical biography.
Moe & Jack Rouse and Randolph Wadsworth present
CLYDE’S
By Lynn Nottage
Directed by Timothy Douglas
Oct. 14 – Nov. 5. 2023
SHORT DESCRIPTION: Every sandwich has a story at Clyde’s, a truck-stop operated by a group of people recently released from prison. Under the no-nonsense authority of Clyde, the small kitchen crew finds purpose through the art of sandwich-making. As they express themselves creatively, the crew attempts to reclaim their lives in this witty and inspiring dramedy from two-time Pulitzer Prize-winner Lynn Nottage.
ONE-LINER: A crew of people recently released from prison find purpose in the art of sandwich making in this witty and inspiring dramedy.
First Financial Bank presents
A CHRISTMAS CAROL
By Charles Dickens
Adapted and Directed by Blake Robison
Nov. 24 – Dec. 30, 2023
SHORT DESCRIPTION: The holiday story you love unfolds in spectacular fashion with a brand-new production specially designed for Moe and Jack’s Place – The Rouse Theatre! Charles Dickens’ classic tale of the curmudgeon Ebenezer Scrooge combines with dazzling new set, costume and lighting designs for a magical holiday experience like never before!
ONE-LINER: The holiday story you love unfolds in spectacular fashion with a brand-new production specially designed for Moe and Jack’s Place – The Rouse Theatre.
Leading Ladies presents
DRACULA
A world premiere
By Vanessa Severo in collaboration with Joanie Schultz
Directed by Joanie Schultz and Vanessa Severo
Feb. 3 – March 3, 2024
SHORT DESCRIPTION: Bram Stoker’s classic vampire tale comes back to life in this evocative world premiere where everyone has a secret…and those secrets are deadly. Tensions rise and temptation lures the characters into double lives as they unmask one man, Count Dracula. Pulsing with humor, humanity and blood-curdling thrills, this bold and highly theatrical re-telling breathes new life and new blood into the most famous vampire story of all time.
ONE LINER: Pulsing with humor, humanity and blood-curdling thrills, this bold and highly theatrical world premiere breathes new life and new blood into the most famous vampire story of all time.
Linda & Gary Greenberg and Andrea & Dr. Edward Herzig present
THE CHOSEN
By Aaron Posner and Chaim Potok
Directed by Aaron Posner
April 13 – May 12, 2024
Sponsored by The Jewish Foundation of Cincinnati
SHORT DESCRIPTION: How can two directly opposing ideas exist together? Chaim Potok’s classic novel intimately explores such complex and thought-provoking questions as it comes to life on stage. It’s 1940s Brooklyn, and two boys from two very different Jewish communities forge a life-changing friendship. This hugely popular adaptation is a heartfelt exploration of Jewish culture and the human ability to reach out across differences.
ONE-LINER: This thought-provoking adaptation of Chaim Potok’s classic novel is a heartfelt exploration of Jewish culture and the human ability to reach out across differences.
2023-24 ROSENTHAL SHELTERHOUSE THEATRE SEASON
Presented by the Vontz Family
SANCTUARY CITY
By Martyna Majok
Directed by Kareem Fahmy
Sept. 16 – Oct. 22, 2023
Sponsored by Digi and Mike Schueler
SHORT DESCRIPTION: In this strikingly intimate play, two young people become one another’s sanctuaries as the children of U.S. immigrants in the wake of 9/11. Through years of late-night conversations, they see each other through adolescence and fight to find their place in the world. Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Martyna Majok has created a searing and unconventional love story that’s as timely as it is unforgettable.
ONE-LINER: This unconventional love story about two children of U.S. immigrants fighting to find their place in the world is as timely as it is unforgettable.
LATE NIGHT CATECHISM
By Vicki Quade and Maripat Donovan
Nov. 3 – Dec. 17, 2023
SHORT DESCRIPTION: One of the longest-running shows in Chicago and U.S. theatre history, this one-nun comedy is part catechism class, part stand-up routine. A playful and compassionate send-up of Catholic culture, the audience becomes Sister’s class in this uproarious piece of interactive theatre. The Hollywood Reporter said it’s “a laugh-filled evening for all cultures, classes and religions.”
ONE-LINER: A playful and compassionate send-up of Catholic culture, the audience becomes Sister’s class in this uproarious piece of interactive theatre.
Johnson Investment Counsel and Clark Schafer Hackett present
STEW
By Zora Howard
Directed by Stori Ayers
March 2 – April 7, 2024
SHORT DESCRIPTION: Three generations of Black women gather in Mama’s kitchen to cook an important meal — and things are about to boil over. As they take turns preparing a stew, closely held details of their lives rise slowly to the surface. STEW tells a captivating, funny and intimate story about the relationship between mothers, daughters and the realities that bind them together.
ONE-LINER Three generations of Black women gather in Mama’s kitchen to cook an important meal, and closely held details of their lives rise slowly to the surface.
VIETGONE
By Qui Nguyen
Directed by Joanie Schultz
April 27 – June 2, 2024
Sponsored by Roto-Rooter
SHORT DESCRIPTION: An all-American love story about two very new Americans. VIETGONE tells a partially true and endlessly entertaining tale of how the playwright’s parents met in a refugee relocation camp in Arkansas during the Vietnam War. With irreverent humor, hip-hop and heightened theatrical storytelling, this original story reinvents the romantic comedy genre and captures your heart.
ONE-LINER: This all-American love story about two very new Americans reinvents the romantic comedy genre and captures your heart.
2023-24 SEASON SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION: Subscribers enjoy exclusive benefits with the best prices, payment installments, discounted parking and more. (Tickets for A CHRISTMAS CAROL are not part of the season subscription offerings.)
Subscriptions can be purchased by visiting the Playhouse website at www.cincyplay.com or by calling the Box Office at 513-421-3888 or 800-582-3208 toll-free in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. For TDD (Telecommunications Device for the Deaf) access, call 513-345-2248. The Playhouse is fully accessible.
The Playhouse is supported by the generosity of almost 40,000 contributors to ArtsWave Community campaign. The Ohio Arts Council helps fund the Playhouse with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans. The Playhouse also receives funding from the Shubert Foundation.
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“The greatest musical of all time” runs July 29–August 18.
We’ve spent much of 2023 so far gradually reopening our UnderGround bar for service before and after our shows, and we’re basically doing cartwheels with glee that we’re ready to spring back into our Play(under)Ground line of free post-show programming.
Behind the Curtain Cincinnati 