Acting Up announces our Summer Camps:
- “Disney’s Finding Nemo Kids”- July 6-10, for incoming 5th-8th graders
- Sign Up
- SideKicks Take Over- July 13-17 for incoming 1st-4th graders
- Sign Up
Week-long camps with a performance at the end. Singing, Dancing, crafts, fun!! These camps will take place in Mason. For more information, see ActingUp.com
Monthly Archives: February 2026
Acting Up Summer Camps for Incoming 1st-8th Graders
Filed under Summer Programs for Youth
DANCE LIKE A MAN Runs March 6-7
DANCE LIKE A MAN
Rangmanch Cincy & Nrityarpana School of the Performing Arts
March 6-7
Anderson Center [Anderson Township]
Directed by Srinivas Mirle
A celebrated drama in English by Mahesh Dattani, Sahitya Akademi Awarded India’s highest award for literature (https://sahitya-akademi.gov.in/). The production includes a diverse group of actors and classical dancers presenting new musical compositions by esteemed virtuosos led by Vidwans G. Gurumurthy.
- Fri, March 6 at 7pm
- Sat, March 7 at 11am & 5pm
Official page | Facebook event |
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Filed under On Stage
WHERE WE STAND Review
By Katrina “Kat” Reynold
WHERE WE STAND presented by Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati through February 22nd. I attended the Opening Thursday performance.
Torie Wiggins as Man on the beautiful set of WHERE WE STAND presented by Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati. Photo by Ryan Kurtz.
This February, Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati is celebrating artists of colour as part of Black History Month with its production of Where We Stand by Donnetta Lavinia Grays. This one-person show is described in short as “a secret shared, a community tested” and takes the audience on a storytelling journey of moral considerations. As a flailing town deteriorates before its inhabitants’ very eyes, a deal is offered as a quick fix to their troubles – but at what cost?
In a town starved for compassion, a mysterious outsider steps forward to confess a life-altering choice made at the crossroads of desperation and desire. What unfolds is not just a story but a profound reckoning. Where We Stand is a gripping, poetic solo performance that masterfully blends fable and contemporary storytelling, drawing audiences into a crucial moral dilemma. As one person is pushed to the edge, the audience is asked to consider the balance between consequence and empathy, challenging us to think about the true cost of mercy and who is worthy of it. This spellbinding, modern parable looks at forgiveness and justice, raising the question of what it means to be a community . . . and who gets to belong.
Candice Handy excels in her direction of her performing artist as blocking is rife with movement and forward momentum. Scenic Design by Brian c. Mehring is once again without comparison: the playing levels are subtle, yet effective and you truly feel like your are outside in a decaying, concrete-ridden world. Mr. Mehring, who also serves as the Lighting Designer, provides a suitably emotional backdrop with lighting highs and lows to complement his creative set.
A one-person show is a very tall order; fortunately, ETC has the inimitable Torie Wiggins (recently named as one of its People to Watch in 2026 by The Voice of Black Cincinnati). It should come as no surprise that Ms. Wiggins can play a myriad of characters against herself without lapsing into caricatures or cheapness. I personally do not believe she knows the meaning of the term “phoning it in”. Her voice is one of her strongest instruments as the audience is treated to just about every octave she has mastered. In a story where our hero is flawed, Ms. Wiggins is able to elicit sympathy and a desire for them to win in spite of it all.
Tapping into the relatability of being down on one’s luck, Where We Stand tests our moral compass in creative ways: through song, storytelling, and audience participation. Would you be able to refuse a seemingly easily fix when you are at your lowest – and, if you were unable to resist temptation, would you expect to be forgiven? In our quests to be acknowledged, it is easy to get lost; this tale reminds us to stay grounded.
Click here for more information about the production.
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Filed under On Stage
Pones Presents: EUNOIA – Celebrating Joy and Creativity in Cincinnati’s Dance Community
Casey Miller Photography.
An Evening-Length Performance and Fundraiser at the CAC Black Box Theatre
Pones returns with the highly anticipated second year of Eunoia, an evening-length mixed bill performance designed to foster community, celebrate artistic innovation, and support our ongoing mission. Following the Pones tradition of dynamic, socially conscious productions, Eunoia puts the focus on joy as a powerful form of advocacy – as an act of protest – demonstrating that social justice can take the shape of resilience and celebration amid adversity.
We are thrilled to be partnering with the Contemporary Arts Center (CAC) for this project. Performances will take place in CAC’s Black Box Lab, a space dedicated to making the arts accessible and inviting everyone to engage and grow together. Thanks to the support of The Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile, Jr. Foundation, CAC’s Black Box Theatre provides the perfect stage for community-driven performances and creative collaborations. Join us for an unforgettable experience where dance sparks connection and empowerment— as we believe at Pones, movement is a vehicle for social change and collective celebration.
Eunoia will feature 14 brand-new works from 16 choreographers, spanning genres from contemporary to pole, and color guard to acro yoga. This vibrant showcase gathers the Pones collective alongside local partners, highlighting how creativity flourishes when diverse voices come together to uplift and inspire one another.
In addition to the performances, attendees will enjoy live music by Siri Imani, a photo booth hosted by Casey Miller Photography, a selection of auction items, snacks from Smidge of the South, and a full bar with drinks available for purchase. The evening is not only a celebration of creativity, but also a fundraiser supporting the Pones mission to expand access to the arts, nurture emerging talent, and create lasting partnerships that strengthen the cultural fabric of our region.
Community attendance and participation helps ensure that dance continues to serve as a platform for dialogue, inclusion, and meaningful community engagement well beyond this event.
Event Details
Dates & Times:
- Saturday, March 7 at 7:00 PM
- Sunday, March 8 at 2:00 PM
Location: CAC Black Box Theatre, 44 E 6th St, Cincinnati, OH 45202
Tickets: Community Support & Access pricing, from $0 to $50+ https://Eunoia2026.eventbrite.com
Pones encourages all attendees to consider making an additional donation at the event to further support their work in the community. For more information or to request images and quotes, please contact Pones or visit https://pones.org/. Mark your calendars, join the movement, and experience the transformative power of Eunoia.
About Pones
Pones provides artistic opportunities for community growth by creating engaging new ways for audiences to experience dance. Founded in 2008, Pones has collaborated with over 400 artists, 180 service and arts organizations, and 170 education partners. The collective’s accessible and participatory performances have been seen in over 90 Greater Cincinnati locations, as well as Indianapolis and Chicago. Ongoing programs are available year round for artists and art groups, schools, and businesses.
Pones performers use their bodies to speak their minds. The collective uses its signature pedestrian-inspired movement to spark collaboration, connection, and community.
Pones believes that art creates powerful change.
Learn more at https://pones.org/
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Filed under Events, Press Releases
Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati Hosts Eighth Annual PLAY/WRITE: The Jackie Demaline Regional Collegiate Playwriting Competition
SUBMISSION DEADLINE OF MAY 31, 2026
(Cincinnati, OH) Tristate-area playwrights, it’s your time to shine! Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati hosts the eighth annual PLAY/write: The Jackie Demaline Regional Collegiate Playwriting Competition, held in memory of writer,
critic, and arts advocate, Jackie Demaline. Students currently enrolled full- or part-time at a university or college in the Greater Cincinnati region are encouraged to submit their plays to the competition. Dependent upon submissions, up to three winners may be chosen. Winners will receive $2,500 from the Jackie Demaline Fund and a professional reading of their script.
Demaline’s love of the arts started at a young age. Throughout her life, she continued to be a passionate believer in the arts as an entertainment writer and editor for multiple newspapers and publications. After moving to Cincinnati in 1994, she covered theatre and the arts for The Cincinnati Enquirerfor 20 years and worked as an important catalyst for change and growth during a time when new theatres and companies were popping up all over Cincinnati, helping to secure their place in the community.
After a four-year battle with cancer, Demaline passed away on June 17, 2018. As her final gift to the community, she arranged for her estate to fund the PLAY/write competition. Through this, her legacy lives on—providing new voice development, kick-starting arts careers, and caring for the community through thoughtful programming.
Submission guidelines:
WHO:
- Early-career playwrights under the age of 30 currently enrolled at a university or college within a 75-mile radius of the Greater Cincinnati region. Playwrights cannot have had a professional or Equity production of any of their work.
WHEN:
- Submission deadline: 11:59 pm EST, May 31, 2026.
WHAT:
- Original, unpublished full-length plays (minimum of 50 pages) written in English. Translations, musicals, adaptations, and children’s plays not accepted.
- Plays must be typed and page-numbered in either a PDF or Microsoft Word format. Plays must appear in a professional script format, examples of which can be found on the Dramatists Guild of America website.
- Subject matter is open; however, the play should address some of the characteristics Jackie considered when critiquing theatre:
- Does it tell me something I didn’t know about myself or the world in which I live?
- Does it hold up a mirror at an angle I’ve never tried so that the things I know now suddenly possess new meaning?
- Does it move me? Excite me? Provoke me?
- Does it make me laugh or cry? Make me uncomfortable? Make me think?
HOW:
- Submit your script electronically at http://www.ensemblecincinnati.org/playwriting-competition
- If you have questions about the competition or submission process, please email Jared D. Doren, Programming & Events Manager, at jdoren@ensemblecincinnati.org
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.
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Filed under Casting Call
Behind the Curtain Cincinnati 