(Cincinnati, OH) The scariest thing isn’t the haunted house—it’s growing up. Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati (ETC) closes its 40th Anniversary Season with the regional premiere musical The House on Watch Hill by Richard Oberacker and Robert Taylor, the Tony-nominated creators of Bandstand. Pulsing with original ‘80s-inspired music, this thrilling new musical is full of nostalgia, heart, and a touch of the supernatural. Playing May 9–31, 2026 and directed by D. Lynn Meyers and Dee Anne Bryll. Premiere Sponsor is Manuel Hernandez.
Based on true events, The House on Watch Hill follows a group of teen misfits in the summer of 1984 who set out to build the ultimate haunted house in their Cincinnati suburb. Led by 14-year-old horror buff Patrick, their project stirs up fears far more real than any ghost story. Set to an original ’80s-inspired soundtrack and steeped in Cold War anxiety and latchkey freedom, this coming-of-age story is funny, moving, and maybe just a little spooky. A must-see for fans of Stranger Things, The Goonies, and anyone who’s ever felt like an underdog, The House on Watch Hill captures the bittersweet moment between childhood and growing up—when you’re old enough to know the world is scary but brave enough to face it anyway.
“Do you remember a summer when you thought everything was possible?” asks ETC’s Producing Artistic Director D. Lynn Meyers. “This show is about the stripping away all the layers of who we’ve become and going back to a time when we were still growing, still dreaming, and still hoping things come to fruition. It’s based on a true and local story about the life of one of its creators, Richard Oberacker, and the summer that changed his life. What a brave and beautiful opportunity to share his story. The concept of this story would be considered completely outrageous if it wasn’t true. And the music? It’s intoxicating. Once you jump in, the rhythm just keeps going throughout the whole piece. These songs could have been hits of the ‘80s had they been written during that time.”
The cast includes Jason Collins(Adult 1), Julianne Ferreira da Silva (Jennifer), Wesley Akio Geary (Paul), Adrian Graff (Patrick), Jordyn Amani Jones (Joy), Morgan Lindell (Kristin), Sara Mackie (Adult 2), Gavin Poronsky (Tim), and Tommy Sanders (Jason).
Production team: Brian c. Mehring (Resident Scenic & Lighting Designer), Steve Goers (Music Director), Dee Anne Bryll (Choreographer), Cat Schmeal-Swope (Costume Designer), Brian Hsieh (Sound Designer), Shannon Rae Lutz (Properties Curator & Design Associate), Jacob Dowell (Technical Director), Michele A. Kay (Production Stage Manager), and Lexi Muller (Assistant Stage Manager).
Performance Information
Performances Tuesday-Saturday at 7:30 pm; Saturday and Sunday at 2:00 pm. A complete calendar of performances is available at http://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.
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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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