Photo by Mikki Schaffner.
Christopher V. Edwards returns to direct this powerful ensemble piece of drama
Cincinnati, January 28, 2026–Cincinnati Shakespeare Company (CSC) is proud to present the Pulitzer Prize-winning A SOLDIER’S PLAY by Charles Fuller. This gripping murder mystery is directed by CSC Artistic Associate Christopher V. Edwards and features a talented ensemble o f12 actors. A Soldier’s Play is generously sponsored by Rance and Marilyn Duke.
Set on a segregated Army base in 1944, A SOLDIER’S PLAY opens with the shocking murder of a polarizing sergeant, prompting a determined officer to unearth the truth behind this unsettling crime. As suspects emerge and tensions simmer beneath the surface, hidden prejudices, loyalties, and resentments threaten to tear the unit apart. This Pulitzer Prize-winning murder mystery is filled with gripping suspense, unexpected revelations, and unforgettable characters.
Director Christopher V. Edwards describes the production as “an invitation to see these men in full dimension: as soldiers, yes, but also as sons, dreamers, rivals, and brothers trying to survive an impossible position. In telling their story, we honor their service while refusing to look away from the contradictions at the heart of the country they swore to defend.” Mr. Edwards has previously directed at Cincinnati Shakespeare leading productions of Macbeth, A Raisin in the Sun, Othello, and Fences to critical and audience acclaim.
A SOLDIER’S PLAY features a powerful ensemble of 12 actors, including many CSC favorites. Geoffrey Warren Barnes II portrays the formidable and divisive Tech Sgt. Vernon C. Waters, whose murder sets the events of the play in motion. K. P. Powell plays Capt. Richard Davenport, the Army lawyer sent to investigate the crime. The cast also includes “ranney,” Jason Coffenberry, Montez Jenkins Copeland, Cary Davenport, Anthony T. Goss, Sylvester Little Jr., Patrick Earl Phillips, Malik Smith, Brent Vimtrup, and Jay Wade as the soldiers whose lives are drawn into the investigation.
Directed by Christopher V. Edwards, a self-proclaimed “army brat” himself, the production is grounded in a deep commitment to authenticity. Military Consultant Keisha L. Kemper brings her lived experience to the rehearsal room, ensuring accuracy in movement, protocol, and atmosphere. Nia Safarr Bank’s period-accurate costumes and Jon Savage’s barracks-inspired set design immerse audiences in the world of the play, while Jessica Drayton’s lighting design, Derek G. Graham’s sound design, and Moira Seger’s properties design bring the environment vividly to life. Music Director R. M. Lawrence curates a score that serves as both a love letter to the blues and an echo of the military soundscape. Fight direction is by Christopher V. Edwards. A SOLDIER’S PLAY is stage managed by Danitza Piper with Assistant Stage Manager Tessa Killen. A SOLDIER’S PLAY runs from January 30-February 15, 2026, for 13performances. The full schedule is available online at cincyshakes.com/on-stage/a-soldiers-play
CSC is committed to accessibility and inclusion. An Audio Description service will be available for the performance on Friday, January 30, at 7:30 PM, and the Sunday matinee on February 15 at 2:00 PM will feature Sign Language Interpretation. Learn more online at cincyshakes.com/your-visit/accessibility.
A SOLDIER’S PLAY runs from January 30-February 15, 2026. Performances of A SOLDIER’S PLAY are on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 7:30 PM, with one Saturday Matinee on February 7 and two Sunday Matinees on February 8 and 15 at 2:00 PM. CSC offers performances with accessibility resources. Live Audio Descriptions are available on January 30, and there is a Sign Language Interpreted performance on February 15 at 2:00 PM.
Tickets are on sale now. Preview performances are on Wednesday, January 28, and Thursday January 29 with half-price tickets. Discounts are available for students, seniors, local residents, and community partners. Each performance night has a limited number of $14 “Access” tickets. These can be purchased in advance by going online or calling the Box Office. And starting 1 hour before each performance, any unreserved tickets may be available as a discounted Rush Ticket to anyone, not just students. These tickets are only $12 and could be located anywhere in the house, depending on that evening’s availability. These cannot be reserved more than 1 hour before a show and must be purchased in person in the Box Office. Visa, Discover, Master Card, and American Express are accepted. Ticketing fees apply. Topurchase tickets or for more information, call the CSC Box Office at 513.381.BARD (2273) ext. 1, or go online at www.cincyshakes.com.
Cincinnati Shakespeare Company is located at The Otto M. Budig Theater at 1195 Elm Street in OTR, adjacent to Washington Park. Many parking spaces are available on the street and in nearby lots and garages-for more information, visit http://www.otrchamber.com/pages/WheretoPark.
CSC has coordinated a prepaid self-parking option right next door to the theater for a hassle‐free, guaranteed spot. A limited number of reserved spaces are available starting 1.5hours before performances and lasting through the end of the show. The parking attendant will have your name on the list with advance purchase, guaranteeing your spot and price. Visit www.cincyshakes.com/parking to reserve self-parking.
Cincinnati Shakespeare Company’s 2025-2026 Season is generously presented by our Operating Support Partners: The Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile, Jr. Foundation; The Linnemann Family Foundation; The Ohio Arts Council; The Robert and Adele Schiff Family Foundation; The National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest; The Shubert Foundation; Maureen and John Bridgeland, Cindy Bridgeland Crilley, and Debby and Jim Mason in honor of Jim Bridgeland; Lightborne, and the tens of thousands of people who give generously to the ArtsWave Community Campaign.
About Cincinnati Shakespeare Company:
Cincinnati Shakespeare Company is a professional theatre company dedicated to bringing Shakespeare and the classics to life for all. In the summer of 2017, the theater relocated to theOtto M. Budig Theater, a brand-new facility in the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood of Cincinnati. CSC’s repertoire is composed of the works of William Shakespeare, literary adaptations, world premieres, and contemporary classics. CSC performs on a Small Professional Theatre contract with the Actors’ Equity Association. Cincinnati Shakespeare is a member of Theater Communications Group and Shakespeare Theatre Association. Each year, Cincinnati Shakespeare Company’s Education and Outreach Programs reach more than 50,000 young people and community members by meeting audiences where they are. This includes sharing programming in schools, parks, community centers and hosting educational matinees of mainstage productions. In 2015, CSC was proud to become one of the first five theaters in the United States to “Complete the Canon” by producing all 38 plays by William Shakespeare. CSC is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and all donations are tax-deductible. Cincinnati Shakespeare Company is proud to be Cincinnati’s stage for the Classics
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