Category Archives: On Stage

THE YEAR OF MAGICAL THINKING
Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati Studio Series
May 1-3
[Over-the-Rhine]

Cast: Dale Hodges as Joan Didion

Staged Reading. In this dramatic adaptation of her award-winning, bestselling memoir, which The New York Times called “an indelible portrait of loss and grief… a haunting portrait of a four-decade-long marriage,” Joan Didion transforms the story of the sudden and unexpected loss of her husband and their only daughter into a stunning and powerful one-woman play.

• Thu-Fri, May 1-2 at 7pm
• Sat, May 3 at 3pm

Official page |

JAJA’S AFRICAN HAIR BRAIDING
Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati
May 31-June 22
[Over-the-Rhine]

Welcome to Jaja’s bustling hair braiding salon nestled in the pulsating heart of Harlem, where a lively community of West African immigrant hair braiders weaves together humor and heart. Amidst the laughter and playful shop talk, a diverse group of women share dreams, love stories, and hidden secrets, all while creating stunning braided masterpieces. On a sweltering summer day, the lighthearted banter reveals deeper reflections on the challenges of feeling like outsiders in their own neighborhood, sparking a powerful exploration of identity and belonging, and confronting what it means to be an outsider on the edge of the place they call home. Written by award-winning and Tony-nominated Ghanaian American playwright Jocelyn Bioh (School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play), this laugh-out-loud comedic gem is a riotously funny yet deeply resonant play that celebrates the indomitable spirit and interconnectedness that define us all. Note: Jaja’s stylists and clients are no strangers to gossip and gab, sometimes using mild adult language and sexual references. In these complex female friendships, they feel empowered to discuss racism, divorce, domestic violence, and deportation, all while sharing dreams and braiding masterpieces.

• In preview Sat, May 31 at 7pm
• In preview Tue, June 3 at 7pm
• Wed-Fri, June 4-6 at 7:30pm
• Sat, June 7 at 2pm & 7:30pm
• Sun, June 8 at 2pm
• Tue-Fri, June 10-13 at 7:30pm
• Sat, June 14 at 2pm & 7:30pm
• Sun, June 15 at 2pm
• Tue-Fri, June 17-20 at 7:30pm
• Sat, June 21 at 2pm & 7:30pm
• Sun, June 22 at 2pm & 7:30pm

Official page |