TAKE A HEARTFELT FATHER-SON JOURNEY IN WHERE THE MOUNTAINS MEET THE SEA NOW OPEN AT CINCINNATI PLAYHOUSE IN THE PARK
CINCINNATI – Playhouse favorite Timothy Douglas has returned to Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park to direct WHERE THE MOUNTAINS MEET THE SEA, now open at the Rosenthal Shelterhouse Theatre. The poignant, beautiful story with lyrical storytelling and live folk music runs through Sept. 28.
Isaiah Tyrelle Boyd (Jonah), Robert Cornelius (Jean), Rob Morrison (Musician) and Rachel Fobbs (Musician) in Where the Mountain Meets the Sea at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park. Photo by Mikki Schaffner.
When Jonah learns of his estranged father’s death, he recreates the cross-country trip that his Haitian immigrant parents took before he was born. As he traces their journey across America and bonds with the music his father adored, time blurs and erases the distance between them as Jonah seeks to understand his father’s life and legacy in an emotional and evocative tale of the everlasting bond of a father and son.
TheaterMania called WHERE THE MOUNTAINS MEET THE SEA, “Heartfelt and deeply resonant. It’s easy to get lost in the music and mystery.”
The Playhouse production will be directed by Timothy Douglas, who staged Primary Trust in Cincinnati last season. He helmed the Washington, DC area premiere of WHERE THE MOUNTAINS MEET THE SEA in 2024 at Signature Theatre, and found the story moved him on a personal level.
Speaking about the father-son relationship in the story, Douglas said, “I think for both of them it’s another classic example, theatrically told, that these two are so much alike and don’t even know it, What appeals to me about both is their willingness to give over to speaking to and defining what remains what’s unknown about the other person.”
Beautifully contemplative indie folk music by The Bengsons accent Augustin’s palpable storytelling. The duo were winners of the Jonathan Larson and Richard Rodgers Awards and are known for their viral hit, “The Keep Going Song,” as well as three singles featured on So You Think You Can Dance.
“The Bengsons are incredible,” said Musician and Music Director Rob Morrison. “Musically, their writing is always surprising. They also know how to tell a story, and they tell it in a very honest way that’s from the heart.”
CAST
- Isaiah Tyrelle Boyd asJonah
- Robert Cornelius as Jean
- Rachel Fobbs as Musician
- Rob Morrison as Music Director/Musician
PRODUCTION
- Jeff Augustin – Playwright
- The Bengsons – Music
- Timothy Douglas – Director
- Dane Figueroa Edidi – Choreographer
- Tony Cisek – Set Designer
- Moyenda Kulemeka – Costume Designer
- Harold F. Burgess II – Lighting Designer
- Stephanie Klapper, CSA – Casting Director
- Shelby Scaffidi – Stage Manager
- Tenley Pitonzo – Assistant Stage Manager
TICKETS
Tickets begin at $35.00. Prices vary based on seating location and performance day. Regular performances will take place on Tuesdays-Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 2 and 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. A weekday matinee will be offered Sept. 17 at 1 p.m.
EVENTS
Pride AFFINITY NIGHT
Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025
Pre-show talk at 6:30 p.m. in the Kaplan Lobby
Performance at 7:30 p.m.
Post-Show Mingling at the upstairs bar area
Dive deeper into the play and connect with your community at our Pride Affinity night. Where the Mountain Meets the Sea follows Jonah, a young gay man searching for a deeper connection — both with his late Haitian immigrant father and the men he meets through his online dating app. Enjoy a pre-show conversation exploring LGBTQIA+ themes in the play, then stick around after the show to mingle at our cash bar. No reservations are needed for the pre- and post-show events.
Opening Night
Share the excitement of Thursday opening nights!
Thu., Sept. 4 at 7:30 p.m.
Art Talks
(Formerly Meet the Artists), stay after select performances for a behind-the-scenes discussion with members of the artistic team.
- Sun., Sept. 7 at 2 p.m.
- Sun., Sept. 14 at 2 p.m.
- Wed., Sept. 17 at 7:30 p.m.
- Thu., Sept. 25 at 7:30 p.m.
PLAYHOUSE PERSPECTIVES
Cultural Duality: Living and Thriving Between Two Worlds
Monday, Sept. 15 at 7 p.m. at the Playhouse
Living and thriving in a country that is not your place of origin can mean existing in a space of cultural duality — embracing the opportunities and challenges of your new country while staying rooted in the traditions, language, and beliefs of your home culture. Cultural duality is about creating an identity that allows for growth, connection and authenticity in both worlds.
Join us for a panel discussion with members of our community who, like the character of Jean, live this dual experience. This event is FREE, but reservations are requested.
Playhouse Perspectives is made possible thanks to a generous grant from Roderick and Barbara Barr.
HUES COMMUNITY NIGHT
Friday, Sept. 19, 2025
Pre-show reception from 6 – 7 p.m. in the Kaplan Lobby
Performance at 7:30 p.m.
Join Black influencers, leaders, and tastemakers for an incredible evening of entertainment that highlights Black voices and stories. The night begins with a pre-show reception where guests can enjoy light snacks, special drink prices and connect with community members. After the performance, stay for an Art Talk with members of the artistic team. This special evening also recognizes African Professionals Network (APNET) for its impactful work in the community.
Masterclass Monday: The Monologues of August Wilson
Monday, September 22 at 7 – 8:30 p.m.
$30
Register
Have you ever wondered how a professional actor works with a playwright’s text? In this masterclass, actor and teaching pro Robert Cornelius (currently featured in Where the Mountain Meets the Sea) will introduce you to the musicality and poetry of playwright, August Wilson. Using monologues from Wilson’s American Century Cycle of plays, each one set in a different decade of the 20th century, you will dive into the text and have a chance to speak the words yourself. Whether you are an audience member interested in a behind-the-scenes look at an actor’s process, or a performer looking to enhance your skills, this masterclass is for you.
Robert Cornelius is an actor and educator based in Chicago. He has taught at every level from high school to working professionals and has performed professionally all over the country.
Audio-Described Performance
Tues., Sept. 23 at 7:30 p.m.
Trained volunteers describe the visual elements of the production via a hearing enhancement system, allowing patrons to hear dialogue, music and other sound effects. The description is timed to avoid interfering with dialogue. Before the show and during intermission, show and actor information are shared.
ADVISORY
Recommended for older teenagers and adults. As a father and son detail their separate cross country journeys, they recall experiences that include descriptions of sexual activity and mature themes involving health complications, grief and sexual identity (with the use of one derogatory slur).
SPONSORS
Production Sponsors are Digi and Mike Scheuler. Design Sponsor is Marty C. Tomb. Artist Sponsors of Timothy Douglas are Terri and John Byczkowski. Artist Sponsors are Kathy Shell and Joetta Prost and the Wohlgemuth Herschede Foundation. The 2025-2026 Rosenthal Shelterhouse season is presented by the Vontz Family.
The Playhouse is supported by the generosity of nearly 40,000 contributors to the ArtsWave Community Campaign. The Ohio Arts Council helps fund the Playhouse with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans. The Playhouse also receives funding from the Shubert Foundation.
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