Monthly Archives: January 2026

(Cincinnati, OH) A secret shared. A community tested. Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati (ETC) kicks off the new year with the regional premiere drama Where We Stand by Donnetta Lavinia Grays. Rich in humor, music, and heart, this lyrical solo-theater piece explores the story of an individual driven to the brink, challenging our understanding of forgiveness, mercy, and who is truly worthy of either. Directed by Candice Handy, Where We Stand takes the stage January 31–February 22, 2026.

What does community mean? And what do we owe to one another? In a town running low on compassion, a mysterious outsider stands before their community to confess a life-altering choice made at the crossroads of desperation and desire. A gripping blend of fable and modern-day storytelling, this stirring, poetic solo piece invites the audience to become part of the story, weighing mercy against consequence in real time.

When I first read Where We Stand, it blew me away and I knew immediately we had to do it,” says ETC’s Producing Artistic Director D. Lynn Meyers. “It’s about judgment, condemnation, and being right or wrong—themes that resonate so clearly with our society now. I think our country has gotten to a place where we’ve forgotten about compassion, redemption, or the potential for salvation that every individual might find within themselves. The show has gorgeous music as part of the plot and brings to life multiple characters played by just one person. It’s a craft that some actors have, to do a one-person show and Torie certainly has it.”

About the Cast
Torie Wiggins (Man) has performed many solo shows at various venues across the country, including Your Negro Tour Guide and His Eye is on the Sparrow at Ensemble Theatre. Some of her film work includes A Christmas Melody, starring and directed by Mariah Carey and The Old Man and the Gun with Robert Redford and Danny Glover. She has performed with and directed at many local theatres, appearing on the stages at Know Theatre of Cincinnati,
Human Race Theatre Company, Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, and Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park. She has also worked with WAM Theatre in The Berkshires and The Resident Acting Company in New York City.

Production team: Brian c. Mehring (Resident Scenic & Lighting Designer), Jason Alexander Holmes (Music Director), Dr. Daryl L. Harris (Costume Designer), Robert Carlton Stimmel (Sound Designer), Shannon Rae Lutz (Properties Curator & Design Assistant), and Jacob Dowell (Technical Director). Production Stage Manager is Lexi Muller. Assistant Stage Manager is Maddi O’Connell.

Performance Information
Performances Tuesday-Saturday at 7:30 pm; Saturday and Sunday at 2:00 pm. A complete calendar of performances is available at www.ensemblecincinnati.org.

Ticket Prices
Tickets start at $22 for adults; student tickets are $29; and children are $27. Half-Price Rush Tickets: All remaining tickets for the current day’s performance(s) are available two hours prior to each show time for half-price (discount only applies to adult tickets) when purchasing by phone or in person.

###

2025–2026 Season Presenting Sponsor is the LKC Foundation.

Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati is supported, in part, by the generosity of community contributions to the ArtsWave Campaign.

The Ohio Arts Council helps fund Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans. Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati also receives funding from the Shubert Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati is a professional theatre dedicated to producing world and regional premieres of works that often explore compelling social issues. We fulfill our mission through our stage productions and educational outreach programs that enlighten, enliven, enrich, and inspire our audiences