Category Archives: Events

June 26, 2020 · 11:00 am

CINCINNATI OPERA AT 100, A Televised Celebration of Cincinnati Opera’s First Century to Premiere on CET July 3

co_logoFeaturing performances from home by:

Nicole Cabell, soprano and
Craig Terry, piano

Jacqueline Echols, soprano,
Matthew White, tenor, and
Kevin Miller, piano

Stephen Costello, tenor and
Anthony Manoli, piano

Morris Robinson, bass and
Matthew Umphreys, piano

Members of the Cincinnati Opera Chorus and the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra

And performances at iconic Cincinnati locations by:

Jennifer Cherest, soprano
and Henri Venanzi, piano

Joseph Lattanzi, baritone and
Marie-France Lefebvre, piano

CSO musicians Stefani Matsuo, concertmaster and
Michael Chertock, piano

Maria Miller, mezzo-soprano,
Cincinnati Ballet dancer Samantha Riester
with choreography by Oğulcan Borova,
and Carol Walker, piano

Victoria Okafor, soprano and
Henri Venanzi, piano

Rodion Pogossov, baritone and
Elena Kholodova, piano

Michael Preacely, baritone and
Marcellene Winfrey, piano

CINCINNATI, OH—June 25, 2020—Cincinnati Opera and CET have announced plans for Cincinnati Opera at 100, an hour-long televised program commemorating Cincinnati Opera’s centennial. Featuring insights from local and national opera experts and performances by artists from across the country, Cincinnati Opera at 100 will premiere on CET 48.1 on Friday, July 3 at 9 p.m. EST. Additional airings will follow on CET Arts 48.3 through Tuesday, July 7.

The nation’s second-oldest opera company, Cincinnati Opera presented its first performance on June 27, 1920, at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, and its annual Summer Festival has become a beloved Cincinnati arts-going tradition. Though the company’s 100th Anniversary Season was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic, Cincinnati Opera at 100 transports the opera-going experience into viewers’ homes, including performances by much-loved singers from recent Cincinnati Opera productions and historical highlights from opera experts. Performances take place from the artists’ homes as well as iconic locations throughout the city, including the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, Cincinnati Music Hall, and other surprise venues.

“In this extraordinary year, we’re honored to partner with CET to tell the story of this ‘opera company that could,’” said Christopher Milligan, The Harry Fath General Director & CEO of Cincinnati Opera. “Our first 100 years are rich with memorable moments, remarkable people and partnerships, and a deeply devoted audience whose enthusiasm is truly inspiring. Cincinnati Opera at 100 is a love letter to all who have made this company what it is today.”

Major support for Cincinnati Opera at 100 has been provided by Monteverdi Tuscany, a luxury boutique hotel centrally located between Rome and Florence, founded by Cincinnati Opera board member Michael L. Cioffi. The celebration of the arts and humanities is central to the Monteverdi Tuscany experience, and the hotel regularly presents performances by some of opera’s most distinguished artists.

“A founding philosophy of Monteverdi Tuscany is that beauty, art and music are fundamental to our nature as human beings, and remain now, as much as ever, integral to us all,” said Cioffi. “We are thrilled to be a part of such an extraordinary moment of Cincinnati Opera’s distinguished history.”

“Michael is a visionary and a great fan of opera and Italian culture,” continued Milligan. “When we shared with him our idea of a televised centennial celebration with singers across Cincinnati and from their homes across the country, he was immediately inspired. It is his support and the sponsorship from Monteverdi Tuscany that has made this program possible.”

For complete program details for Cincinnati Opera at 100, visit cincinnatiopera.org.

CINCINNATI OPERA AT 100
Broadcast Schedule (all times are EST):

CET 48.1

  • Friday, July 3, 2020 | 9 p.m.

CET Arts 48.3

  • Sunday, July 5, 2020 | 9 p.m.
  • Monday, July 6, 2020 | 9 a.m., 2 p.m. & 6 p.m.
  • Tuesday, July 7, 2020 | 11 a.m., 4 p.m. & 11 p.m.

Description:
Cincinnati Opera at 100 is an hour-long televised program commemorating Cincinnati Opera’s centennial featuring insights from local and national opera experts and performances by artists from across the country.

With commentary by:

  • Anne Arenstein, arts writer and critic
  • Cori Ellison, dramaturg and faculty, The Juilliard School
  • Janelle Gelfand, arts writer and critic
  • Dan Hurley, historian
  • Louis Langrée, Music Director, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra
  • Thane Maynard, Director, Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
  • Evans Mirageas, The Harry T. Wilks Artistic Director, Cincinnati Opera
  • Angela Powell Walker, Artistic Director, School for Creative & Performing Arts, Cincinnati

And performances by:

  • Nicole Cabell, soprano and Craig Terry, piano
  • Jennifer Cherest, soprano and Henri Venanzi, piano
  • Stephen Costello, tenor and Anthony Manoli, piano
  • Jacqueline Echols, soprano, Matthew White, tenor, and Kevin Miller, piano
  • Joseph Lattanzi, baritone and Marie-France Lefebvre, piano
  • Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra musicians Stefani Matsuo, concertmaster and Michael Chertock,
    piano
  • Maria Miller, mezzo-soprano, Cincinnati Ballet dancer Samantha Riester with choreography by Oğulcan Borova, and Carol Walker, piano
  • Victoria Okafor, soprano and Henri Venanzi, piano
  • Rodion Pogossov, baritone and Elena Kholodova, piano
  • Michael Preacely, baritone and Marcellene Winfrey, piano
  • Morris Robinson, bass and Matthew Umphreys, piano
  • Members of the Cincinnati Opera Chorus and Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra

Major support for Cincinnati Opera at 100 has been provided by Monteverdi Tuscany, A Rare Boutique Hotel.

For complete program details, visit cincinnatiopera.org.

ABOUT CINCINNATI OPERA
Founded in 1920 and the second-oldest opera company in the nation, Cincinnati Opera presents a thrilling season of grand opera every summer. The company’s repertoire includes beloved classics and contemporary masterworks brought to life by some of the world’s most dynamic performers and creative artists.

Critical support for Cincinnati Opera is provided by ArtsWave, Huntington, The Louise Dieterle Nippert Musical Arts Fund of the Greenacres Foundation, Ohio Arts Council, Patricia A. Corbett Estate and Trust, and Harry T. Wilks Family Foundation, along with many other generous individuals, corporations, and foundations.

Cincinnati Opera’s mission is to enrich and connect our community through diverse opera experiences. cincinnatiopera.org

ABOUT PUBLIC MEDIA CONNECT
Public Media Connect is Southwest Ohio’s leading provider of education and enrichment in both living rooms and classrooms, serving more than 3 million people in the Greater Cincinnati and Dayton communities. Through PBS and local programming, innovative multimedia curriculum projects, parent workshops and professional development for teachers, Public Media Connect—CET and ThinkTV—positively impacts our community with rich and diverse resources. Public Media Connect’s mission is to strengthen the communities and region we serve by providing content and services that engage, inspire
and inform, educate and entertain, fostering culture and citizenship, the joy of learning and the power of diverse perspectives.

ABOUT MONTEVERDI TUSCANY
Monteverdi Tuscany is a luxury boutique hotel centrally located between Rome and Florence, offering stunning panoramic views of the Val d’Orcia region of Tuscany, a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned worldwide for its scenic splendor.

This unique, luxury hotel is not confined within a single building but instead is infused throughout an idyllic, medieval village, with rooms and suites tucked in among authentic and fastidiously maintained properties. The hotel now comprises eighteen individual rooms and suites plus three elegantly appointed villas, all perfect for individuals, couples, families and groups of traveling friends.

In addition, Monteverdi Tuscany currently boasts an award-winning zero kilometer restaurant, a Culinary Academy, a piano lounge and terrace bar, a separate Enoteca and Library Bar, outdoor swimming pool and indoor heated spa pool, an award-winning holistic spa, yoga studio, a modern gym, an art gallery, and a beautifully restored 700-year-old Romanesque church that serves as Monteverdi’s performing arts venue.

The next year will be a time of growth, expansion, and change at the luxury boutique hotel, always with beauty, authenticity, and guests’ wellbeing at the forefront. Owner Michael Cioffi will once again team with renowned Rome-based designer, Ilaria Miani, to expand upon and enhance the village of Castiglioncello del Trinoro.

Monteverdi’s walls and roots date back to the 12th century, yet its distinctive aesthetic and first-class amenities perfectly fuse past and present to create a truly timeless setting.

For more information or to book a stay at Monteverdi Tuscany after July 1, 2021, please visit www.MonteverdiTuscany.com.

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June 22, 2020 · 12:01 pm

Cincinnati Opera and 90.9 WGUC Present Summer Series of Opera Radio Broadcasts

CO_Opera and Public Radio logosThrough June and July, Cincinnati’s classical public radio station celebrates Cincinnati Opera’s 100th anniversary with a special series of encore performances

CINCINNATI, OH—Though Cincinnati Opera performances have been cancelled this summer, a special partnership with 90.9 WGUC will bring opera to fans all season long.

The nation’s second-oldest opera company, Cincinnati Opera presented its first performance on June 27, 1920, and its annual Summer Festival has become a beloved Cincinnati arts-going tradition. On the occasion of the Opera’s 100th birthday, 90.9 WGUC will launch a series of encore presentations of some of the company’s most memorable productions from summers past. This special series will be broadcast both on-air and online each Saturday at 1 p.m. EST beginning June 27, 2020 and will continue through July 25, 2020.

The June 27 kickoff opens with an hourlong program titled “Cincinnati Opera’s Beginnings,” hosted by Evans Mirageas, The Harry T. Wilks Artistic Director of Cincinnati Opera. Mirageas will interweave history and musical excerpts to chronicle the creation of the company.

“When we realized our stages would be dark this summer, we knew we couldn’t let our big birthday go by without some sort of celebration,” said Mirageas. “The operas featured in this series represent some of our most extraordinary productions from recent seasons. We’re so grateful to our partners at 90.9 WGUC for keeping the music going!”

Continued Mirageas, “These encore performances are also being presented with the kind cooperation of Local 1, the Cincinnati chapter of the American Federation of Musicians, and the American Guild of Musical Artists.”

“We value our relationship with Cincinnati Opera and regret that their 100th Anniversary season had to be cancelled. I’m happy that WGUC can ensure summertime opera to Greater Cincinnati fans and music lovers with these encore broadcasts. We’re looking forward to experiencing these classic performances with everyone on Saturday afternoons,” said Richard Eiswerth, President and CEO of Cincinnati Public Radio, home of 90.9 WGUC.

For additional details, please visit wguc.org.

CINCINNATI OPERA SUMMER BROADCASTS ON WGUC 90.9
Event Schedule (all times are EST):

Saturday, June 27

  • 1 pm: “Cincinnati Opera’s Beginnings” featuring Evans Mirageas
    • Cincinnati has had a love affair with opera since the early 1800s, not long after the city was founded. Mirageas will chronicle the rich—and sometimes hilarious—history of opera in the Queen City and the events that led to the creation of Cincinnati Opera in 1920.
  • 2 pm: Encore broadcast of Elektra
    • Originally performed in 2002 at Cincinnati Music Hall

      Music by Richard Strauss; libretto by Hugo von Hofmannsthal
      Sebastian Weigle, conductor; Nicholas Muni, stage director
      Featuring Anja Silja, Deborah Polaski, Inga Nielsen, Robert Hale, Kenneth Garrison

      Description:
      Based on the tragedy by Sophocles, Strauss’s Elektra traces the emotional struggles of its title character, a young woman whose father has been killed by her mother and her mother’s paramour. Elektra obsessively plots to avenge her father’s death, but upon its achievement is herself destroyed. The 2002 presentation marked the company’s first-ever production of the work and featured a star-studded cast.

Saturday, July 4

  • 1 p.m. Encore broadcast of La Bohème
  • Originally performed in 2017 at the Aronoff Center for the Arts

    Music by Giacomo Puccini; libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa
    Louis Langrée, conductor; Natascha Metherell, stage director
    Featuring Nicole Cabell, Jessica Rivera, Sean Pannikar, Rodion Pogossov, Nathan Stark, Edward Nelson

    Description:
    For more than a century, Puccini’s most celebrated opera, La Bohème, has moved audiences to tears with its sweeping score of gorgeous melodies and timeless tale of young lovers in Paris. Cincinnati Opera presented this co-production with English National Opera. Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra Music Director Louis Langrée conducted, becoming only the third sitting CSO music director to conduct his orchestra for Cincinnati Opera.

Saturday, July 11

  • 1 p.m. Encore broadcast of The Tales of Hoffmann
  • Originally performed in 2006 at Cincinnati Music Hall

    Music by Jacques Offenbach; libretto by Michel Carre and Jules Barbier
    Emmanuel Plasson, conductor; Mark Streshinsky, stage director
    Featuring Vinson Cole, Philippe Rouillon, Nathalie Paulin, Sarah Coburn, Milena Kitic, Ruxandra Donose

    Description:
    Offenbach’s one true opera, first performed in 1881, vaulted him into the realms of great operatic composers. A fantastic tale about a poet and the fates of his three true loves, The Tales of Hoffmann is, in many ways, a dark comedy, though it is flavored with an abundance of gorgeous musical moments.

Saturday, July 18

  • 1 p.m. Encore broadcast of Fellow Travelers
  • Originally performed in 2016 at the Aronoff Center for the Arts

    Music by Gregory Spears; libretto by Greg Pierce
    Mark Gibson, conductor; Kevin Newbury, stage director
    Featuring Aaron Blake, Joseph Lattanzi, Devon Guthrie, Alexandra Schoeny, Marcus DeLoach

    Description:
    Cincinnati Opera presented the world premiere of Fellow Travelers during its 2016 Summer Festival. Based on the 2007 novel by Thomas Mallon, Fellow Travelers takes place in 1950s Washington, D.C., and follows Timothy Laughlin, a recent college graduate and devout Catholic eager to join the crusade against Communism. A chance encounter with a handsome State Department official, Hawkins Fuller, leads to Tim’s first job in D.C. and—after Fuller’s advances—his first love affair. As McCarthy makes a desperate bid for power and investigations focus on “sexual subversives,” Tim struggles to reconcile his political convictions, his love for God, and his love for Fuller—an entanglement that will end in a stunning act of betrayal.

Saturday, July 25

  • 1 p.m. Encore broadcast of Aida
  • Originally performed in 2013 at Cincinnati Music Hall

    Music by Giuseppe Verdi; libretto by Antonio Ghislanzoni
    Carlo Rizzi, conductor; Bliss Hebert, stage director
    Featuring Latonia Moore, Michelle DeYoung, Antonello Palombi, Gordon Hawkins, Morris Robinson

    Description:
    Rebellion is brewing at Egypt’s borders. Aida, an Ethiopian princess and prisoner of war, finds herself in love with her captor, and he with her. When he is commissioned to lead a battle against her people, Aida is torn between her love for him and for her country. The grandest of all operatic masterpieces, Verdi’s beloved Aida is infused with gorgeous melodies, bringing ancient Egypt to life through music such as the iconic “Triumphal March.”

For additional schedule and performance information, visit wguc.org.

ABOUT 90.9 WGUC
90.9 WGUC, Cincinnati’s classical public radio station, part of Cincinnati Public Radio, has been home to classical music and the arts in the Greater Cincinnati community for 60 years. Presenting the finest from the classical music canon 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with special features like Classics for Kids, Your Classical Choice, and New at Noon, WGUC also records and broadcasts performances by the Cincinnati Opera, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, May Festival, and other local performing groups.

ABOUT CINCINNATI OPERA
Founded in 1920 and the second-oldest opera company in the nation, Cincinnati Opera presents a thrilling season of grand opera every summer. The company’s repertoire includes beloved classics and contemporary masterworks brought to life by some of the world’s most dynamic performers and creative teams.

The company expresses deep gratitude to these funders who provide critical support: ArtsWave, Ohio Arts Council, The Louise Dieterle Nippert Musical Arts Fund, Huntington, Patricia A. Corbett Estate and Trust, and the Harry T. Wilks Family Foundation, along with many other generous individuals, corporations, and foundations.

Cincinnati Opera’s mission is to enrich and connect our community through diverse opera experiences.

For more information, visit cincinnatiopera.org.

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June 16, 2020 · 11:25 am

MOVE Announced by Pones

PONES_logoPones dancers use our bodies to speak our minds. Right now, people are gathering in Cincinnati and around the world to protest for justice and change. But there’s more than one way to put your body on the front lines. We believe dance can be a powerful tool to amplify and explore this collective outcry — therefore, we are creating a platform for Performances & Collaborations, titled MOVE. This program will harness Pones’ 12-year history of creating art for social justice to facilitate and fund the work that independent artists need to share, now.

Experience MOVE
The first installment of MOVE is centered around BIPOC (black, Indigenous and people of color) communities and artists. It will consist of 6 dance-infused works by BIPOC actors, spoken word artists, musicians and dancers, including current and former students of SCPA School of Creative & Performing Arts. The pieces will be performed live, in public between June 17 and July 31, with a focus on including residents and areas that are directly affected by the current protests. Performances are free and open to the public. It is important to us that these works be experienced live, due to the visceral responses that live performances elicit, and the connections that are possible when we share space as a community. Because of this, we recommend bringing a protective mask to experience these performances during COVID-19. More information about the performances in this installment will be released when available at pones.org. Confirmed lineup includes:

“Say Their Names”
Wednesday, June 17th
6:30pm: Washington Park
7:00pm: Fountain Square
7:30pm: Freedom Center / The Banks
(The piece is approx. 10 minutes long)
Featuring: Burgess Byrd, Darnell Pierre Benjamin, Montez Uma, Ashley Olivia Danger Morton, Nyjul Byrd, and Ernaisja Curry

In 2016, Pones collaborated with Michael Burnham on a dance/spoken word piece performed beneath the mural that memorializes the death of our planet’s last living carrier pigeon. Now it’s 2020 and here we are, again, mourning the loss of precious lives, knowing for sure we can’t dance away our pain, hoping our pain will guide us to a better future. We refuse to forget. We vow to move forward.

“Of Nina”
Date/Time/Location TBA
A new work by spoken word artist/mover Teisha Murray featuring Pones dancers, Chantee Jordan, Carroll Wallace, and Apria Celine. The piece is an Homage to Nina Simone, and is a commentary on the dangers of celebrating oneself, when that self is not celebrated by society at large. To boldly take center stage while also navigating the parts of you that have been imitated or fetishised by that very same society. And to do so without apology.

A Call for Creatives
This will not be the only installment of the MOVE program — it will become an ongoing forum for artists to be paid to create work surrounding social justice issues. Proposals for future creations are accepted on an ongoing basis — submit your proposal here: https://forms.gle/i3eGPd1eeMBdZdN59

How You Can Help
Sponsors for this program are being sought — if you are able to help Pones amplify voices, donate here or contact Kim Popa at kim@ponesinc.com.

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June 16, 2020 · 9:20 am

Schedule Announced for FUTUREFEST 2020 at Dayton Playhouse on July 17-Aug. 6

DPH_logoDayton Playhouse’s alternative programming for FutureFest 2020 will follow the schedule listed below:

Streamed Readings

A Ghost of a Chance, by Kimberly Shimer will be available from July 17 through July 23
A talk-back with the the Author is planned for Sunday July 19 at 2 PM
Directed by Annie Pesch

Cast: Jackie Pfeifer as Evelyn Schaffer, Andrew Ian Adams as Sidney, Dave Nickel as Harry Schaffer, Carly Laurette Risenhoover-Peterson as Jenny Cuthbert, Richard Young as Dave Roseberry, Fran Pesch as Ann Jameson, Brad Bishop as WARL Announcer & Becky Milligan as Female TV Announcer/Stage Directions

The afterlife story of Evelyn, a nitpicky, obsessive, know-it-all whom, after dying, finds she can’t make it to her final resting place until she reconciles with her husband Harry. Unfortunately, because she made Harry miserable for most of their 30+ years of marriage, he’s not particularly inclined to make nice with her ghost when she pays him a visit.

The Good Deli, by Kevin Cirone will be available from July 24 through July 30
A talk-back with the author is planned for Sunday July 26 at 2 PM
Directed by Debra Kent

Cast: JULIA (JULES): Kayla Graham as Julia (Jules), Saul Caplan as Wilford, Cheryl Mellen as Dana, Jeff Sams as Max, Jared Mola as Peter, Kelli Locker as Leila & Cassandra Engber as Narrator

After visiting her estranged and ailing father in the hospital during serious health complications, a Boston comedian decides to take a road trip with her family to find the Italian deli of her father’s youth.

Before Lesbians, by Elana Gartner will be available from July 31 through August 6
A talk-back with the author is planned for Sunday August 2 at 2 PM.
Directed by Kim Warrick:

Cast: Aaron Gouge as James, Adee McFarland as Charlotte, Adonis Lemke as Henry & Shanna Camacho as Vivian

When Charlotte and Vivian meet at the courthouse in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, they are about to marry their fiancés who are leaving to fight for President Lincoln. After their husbands leave for war, Charlotte and Vivian develop a friendship through letters and visits and suddenly find themselves struggling with their growing romantic and confusing feelings for one another. In an era where women were not recognized as sexual beings and when words did not exist for women falling in love, this play represents the many women who changed history when they found love in each other during the Civil War.

Tickets for the streaming presentations will be available starting June 22. Individual productions will cost $10, and a package of all three will cost $25. Ticket buyers will receive an access link via-email in advance of each week.

The Playhouse will also be making a series of three Playwright Dialogues available on the Dayton Playhouse YouTube Channel beginning June 23. Each Playwright Dialogue features two of the FutureFest finalists in conversation about their plays, inspirations, and themes in their work. The author pairings are:

  • William Cameron and Barbara Blumenthal-Ehrlich
  • Shanti Reinhardt and Elana Gartner
  • Kimberly Shimer and Kevin Cirone

Each session is hosted by Dayton Playhouse Board Chair Matt Lindsay and is about 30 minutes long. These will be available to view for free.

Don’t miss out on the FutureFest 2020 commemorative t-shirt, on sale until July 5 through our web site. Shipping to your home included in the $19 price.

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June 9, 2020 · 10:24 am

ETC Announces Finalists of Second Annual PLAY/WRITE: The Jackie Demaline Regional Collegiate Playwriting Competition

ETC_new_logo_bannerClick here to watch the full reading of the winner TO SAINTS AND STARS by Jordan Ramirez Puckett. Available for 24 hours only.

(Cincinnati, OH) Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati is excited to announce the three finalists of the second annual PLAY/write: The Jackie Demaline Regional Collegiate Playwriting Competition, held in memory of writer, critic, and arts advocate, Jackie Demaline. The three finalists include To Saints and Stars by Jordan Ramirez Puckett, The Black Boy in Pink by Isaiah Mikel-Reaves, and M’s Republic by Peyton Wright. A brief virtual excerpt of the finalists’ submissions will be showcased online June 16-18, 2020. The winner of the competition will be announced on June 22, 2020, followed by a full reading of their script to be showcased online for only 24 hours.

A reading of the winning submission was originally scheduled to be performed as a part of ETC’s Studio Series the first week of May to coincide with Jackie Demaline’s birthday. However, with COVID restrictions enacted shortly after the submission deadline, ETC was forced to delay these performances until arrangements could be made to adapt this presentation to a digital format and to include excerpts of the finalists’ pieces. ETC is honored to share these emerging young voices as they begin their professional and/or post-academic careers.

About the Plays

M’s Republic
By Peyton Wright
Through the lessons of Plato’s Republic, M’s Republic explores the life of high school student Mia, her boyfriend and classmates, and her teacher, and how the diversion of good intentions leads to their downfall.
Click here to watch the excerpt.

To Saints and Stars
By Jordan Ramirez Puckett
To Saints and Stars explores the intersection between science and faith. It follows lifelong best friends Sofía, a NASA astronaut, and Zoe, the wife of a Greek Orthodox priest. Their lives are changed forever when Zoe becomes pregnant with her first child and Sofía is chosen for the first manned mission to Mars.
Click here to watch the excerpt.

The Black Boy in Pink
By Isaiah Mikel-Reaves
The Black Boy in Pink tells the story of Wyatt, a Black, gay male sex-worker who hustles against the backdrop of 1959 Cincinnati, Ohio. As his life becomes entangled with the legacy of a wealthy, white family, will Wyatt be able to love himself in a world that doesn’t love him?
Click here to watch the excerpt.

About the Playwrights
Peyton Wright (Playwright) is a rising junior at Xavier University where she is a candidate for a BA in Theatre, as well as pursuing a minor in Deaf Studies. Her recent performance history on the Xavier Theatre stage consists of Urinetown: The Musical, Company, and Chicago. She has also fulfilled many roles backstage and is an employee of Xavier’s scene shop. At her alma mater, Presentation Academy in Louisville, Kentucky, she had opportunities to explore theatre through performance, writing, and directing. 

Jordan Ramirez Puckett (Playwright) is a Chicana playwright and lighting designer based in the San Francisco Bay Area. She often writes about being caught between two identities and our intrinsic desire for human connection, no matter how brief. She most recently participated in the 2018-2019 Playwrights Realm Scratchpad Series. Her work has also been produced and/or developed by 2Cents Theatre, Abingdon Theatre Company, Custom Made Theatre Company, Goodman Theatre, Harold Clurman Laboratory Theatre Company, Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival, National Winter Playwrights Retreat, Playwrights Center of San Francisco, and San Francisco Playhouse, among others. Her plays include To Saints and Stars, A Driving Beat, Las Pajaritas, Restore, and Inevitable. She is a graduate of Northwestern University and the former Associate Artistic Director at San Francisco Playhouse.  She recently graduated with her MFA in playwriting from Ohio University.

Isaiah Mikel-Reaves (Playwright) is an emerging young playwright whose work explores a spectrum of Black and Queer experiences. A native of Cincinnati, Isaiah graduated Cum Laude from Northern Kentucky University in 2020. His plays have been staged and read by The Classical Theatre of Harlem at Lincoln Center, Vintage Soul Productions of Connecticut, and many others. Isaiah has been awarded the Iowa Arts Fellowship and a Cincinnati CityBeat Critics Pick. He will continue his education in pursuit of an MFA at the esteemed University of Iowa Playwrights Workshop in the fall.

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2019-2020 Season Presenting Sponsor is the Otto M. Budig Family Foundation. Additional support provided PNC.

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 of 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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