Category Archives: Press Releases

August 3, 2026 · 5:23 pm

Know Theatre of Cincinnati Presents the Regional Premiere of MAKE BELIEVE

Four siblings grapple with childhood ghosts in this mystery by Pulitzer Prize-Winning playwright, Bess Wohl, September 10-26

Cincinnati, OH – Know Theatre of Cincinnati kicks off their 29th season with Bess Wohl’s haunting Make Believe, a sprawling family epic about four abandoned siblings in the far flung 1980s and, three decades later, their shell shocked adult counterparts, still recovering from a latchkey childhood. Written by the playwright of Know Theatre’s 2024 production Camp Siegfried and directed by Know Theatre Producing Artistic Director, Bridget Leak, Make Believe invites the audience into a nostalgia-cramped attic where the things that haunt us are never truly packed away, just resting under layers of dust, waiting for us to pick them up again.

The four Conlee kids arrive home from grade school, hungry and tired, but Mom is nowhere to be found and Dad is away on a business trip. From their attic playroom, the kids scrounge for snacks, play dress up, and try on the roles of “Mom” and “Dad,” all the while the phone downstairs won’t stop ringing. Thirty years later, the adult siblings – each at a crossroads in their lives – are reunited by tragedy, discovering details of their childhood that give new context, forcing them to question whether their past will continue to define their future.

“We just have to get through this.” 
 – MAKE BELIEVE

“This play is so important,” says director Bridget Leak, “because it’s asking if we have a choice in who we become, especially when we have a difficult origin story. In Make Believe we witness a moment in these characters’ collective past where their lives change irreparably, and the present where these lost adults are desperately trying to create a world that is in alignment with the inner child they’re each trying to nurture. They’re choosing to break a painful family cycle, and I think there’s a lot of hope in that.” Running September 10 – 26, 2026, on the Know Theatre MainStage.

Rating: PG-13
CW: Depiction of abandonment, discussion of addiction and sexual abuse
Run time: 80 minutes with no intermission

About the Cast

  • Ryker Sohmer (Chris)
  • Layla Rowley (Kate)
  • Giselle Aagard (Addie)
  • Bennet Kreit (Carl)
  • Lillian Murphy (Emily & Kate/Addie Understudy)
  • James Murphy (Chris/Carl Understudy)
  • Leo Jenkins (Adult Chris) 
  • Merritt Beischel (Adult Kate) 
  • Tess Talbot (Adult Addie)
  • Nathan Tubbs (Adult Carl)

Production Team: Bridget Leak (Director), Sam Reno (Scenic Designer), Marly Wooster (Lighting Designer), Noelle Wedig-Johnston (Costume Designer), Trey Tatum (Sound Designer), Rebecca Armstrong (Properties Designer), Ri Moodie (Fight Choreographer), Adler Tomeo (Assistant Director), Jayley Sams (Youth Actor Coordinator), and Drew Homan (Technical Director.) Production Stage Manager is Rebecca Armstrong.

Performance Information

MAKE BELIEVE runs September 10–26, 2026 
Know Theatre of Cincinnati, 1120 Jackson Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202

All evening performances are at 7:30pm, matinee performances are at 2pm.

Welcome Thursdays ($15 online tickets, Pay-What-You-Wish tickets one hour prior to curtain): September 17 & 24 at 7:30pm

Arts & Service Industry Night: Monday, September 21st at 7:30pm

ASL-interpretation on Friday, September 25th at 7:30pm

Ticket Information

Tickets may be purchased by phone at (513) 300-5669 or purchased online at https://www.knowtheatre.com/make-believe/ 

  • Single Tickets: $40 ($38 plus $2 processing fee)
  • Mainstage Subscription : $275 
    • Reserved Seating and Complimentary Concierge Service
    • One ticket for each MainStage production (4 shows)
    • Entry to all five Serials performances 
    • Two complimentary guest tickets to any MainStage Production throughout the season
    • Two complimentary tickets to Cabaret Stage Programming (octKNOWber, Serials, etc)
    • Discounted drink prices
    • Discounted $30 tickets for additional guests
    • First Access to Exclusive Know Theatre-produced Performances
  • Flex Pass : $190
    • Six MainStage tickets for the price of five ($228 value)
  • Arts & Service Industry Mondays: $20 tickets for Arts and Service Industry Workers for MainStage productions
  • Welcome Thursdays: Each Thursday during a MainStage production we offer $15 advance reservation tickets and Pay-What-You-Wish Walk-Up tickets an hour before the show.

Know Theatre of Cincinnati exists to build belonging through bold theatre.

Know Theatre is supported by the generosity of tens of thousands of contributors to the annual ArtsWave Campaign, the region’s primary source for arts funding.

The Ohio Arts Council helps fund Know Theatre with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence, and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans.

Know Theatre is also supported by the Greater Cincinnati Foundation, which provides a simple, powerful, and highly personal approach to giving.

Know Theatre is a member of the League of Cincinnati Theatres and Theatre Communications Group.

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July 29, 2026 · 5:54 pm

Jane Austen Gets the Abridged Treatment at Cincinnati Shakespeare Company

Hannah Gregory, Patrick Earl Phillips & Jasimine Bouldin. Photo by Melanie Malicote.

Three actors hilariously attempt to bring all six of Jane Austen’s beloved novels to life in “The Complete Works of Jane Austen (Abridged),” a fast-paced, 100-minute theatrical romp filled with romance, wit, and nonstop laughter

Cincinnati, July 29, 2026 – Cincinnati Shakespeare Company is proud to present the Regional Premiere of The Complete Works of Jane Austen (Abridged) by Jessica Bedford, Kathryn MacMillan, Charlotte Northeast, and Meghan Winch.  This production is produced in partnership with Merrimack Repertory Theatre and is directed by their Interim Executive Artistic Director, Jenny Lavery. Following this run in Cincinnati, the production will travel to Lowell, MA for a run at Merrimack Rep.  The design of this production is generously sponsored by President H. James Williams and First Lady Carole Campbell Willams, Mount St. Joseph University Theatre Arts.

Pride, prejudice, persuasion, and plenty of proposals collide in a theatrical tour of Austen’s greatest moments, served up with satire and silliness all before the tea has gone cold. With punchlines flying faster than a change of heart at a country ball, this affectionate parody condenses courtships, catastrophes, and carefully composed letters into a single, sparkling spectacle. Devoted fans will catch every clever nod, while newcomers can enjoy the romance, rivalry, and Regency ridiculousness without the multi-volume commitment.

Bringing this fast-paced Regency romp to the stage is a cast of three Cincy Shakes favorites. Hannah Gregory and Jasmine Bouldin play devoted Jane Austen fans who are ready to perform when their third cast member unexpectedly bails on them. Patrick Earl Phillips steps in to save the show, despite knowing very little about Jane Austen and learning about her works as the performance unfolds.  Rather than presenting faithful adaptations, The Complete Works of Jane Austen (Abridged) uses sketch comedy, improvisation, audience participation, pop culture references, and lightning-fast costume changes to race through Austen’s six beloved novels (and more of her writings) while celebrating their enduring themes of romance, family, class, and social expectations. Austen enthusiasts will delight in the countless literary references and inside jokes, while newcomers will find an accessible, laugh-out-loud comedy that requires no prior knowledge of her works.

Developed by playwrights Jessica Bedford, Kathryn MacMillan, Charlotte Northeast, and Meghan Winch, this play grew out of an ambitious question: Could all six of Austen’s novels be distilled into one hilarious theatrical event? After more than a year of collaborative writing and workshops, the play premiered in Philadelphia in 2019 to sold-out audiences. Cincy Shakes’s production of The Complete Works of Jane Austen (Abridged) is directed by Jenny Lavery the Interim Executive Artistic Director of Merrimack Repertory Theatre. Gabby Trice returns as Scenic Designer after last season’s production of Emma. Rainy Edwards costumes the actors in the classic Regency style with plenty of hats and accessories. S. Elliott’s lighting design and Zack Bennett’s sound design seamlessly transport audiences through the many worlds of Austen’s novels, while Properties Designer Traci Listo equips the cast with a delightful assortment of props to play with. The Complete Works of Jane Austen (Abridged) is stage managed by Jenna Worden with Assistant Stage Manager Cassidy Stone.

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The Complete Works of Jane Austen (Abridged) runs July 31 through August 23, 2026. Performances are Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 7:30pm. Saturday matinees take place on August 8, 15, and 22, with Sunday matinees on August 9, 16, and 23 all at 2:00pm.

Cincinnati Shakespeare Company also offers these performances with accessibility resources: Live Audio Description will be available on Friday July 31, and an American Sign Language-interpreted performance will take place on August 23 at 2:00pm.

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Tickets are on sale now. Discounts are available for students, seniors, local residents, and community partners. Each performance also includes a limited number of $14 “Access” tickets, available in advance online or by calling the Box Office. Beginning one hour before each performance, any remaining unreserved seats may become available as $12 Rush Tickets for anyone, not just students. Rush Tickets may be located anywhere in the theater depending on that evening’s availability, cannot be reserved in advance, and must be purchased in person at the Box Office.

All major credit cards are accepted. Ticketing fees apply. To purchase tickets or learn more, contact the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company Box Office at 513.381.BARD (2273) ext. 1 or visit the website online at cincyshakes.com.

Cincinnati Shakespeare Company is located at The Otto M. Budig Theater at 1195 Elm Street in OTR, adjacent to Washington Park.  Many parking spaces are available on the street and in nearby lots and garages- for more information, visit online here.

CSC has coordinated a prepaid self-parking option right next door to the theater for a hassle‐free, guaranteed spot. A limited number of reserved spaces are available starting 1.5 hours before performances and lasting through the end of the show. The 3CDC parking attendant will have your name on the list with advance purchase, guaranteeing your spot and price. Visit www.cincyshakes.com/parking to reserve self-parking.

This is the second production in Cincinnati Shakespeare Company’s 2026-2027 Season which is generously presented by our Operating Support Partners: The Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile, Jr. Foundation; The Linnemann Family Foundation; The Ohio Arts Council; The Robert and Adele Schiff Family Foundation; The National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest; The Shubert Foundation; Maureen and John Bridgeland, Cindy Bridgeland Crilley, and Debby and Jim Mason in honor of Jim Bridgeland; Lightborne, and the tens of thousands of people who give generously to the ArtsWave Community Campaign.

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About Cincinnati Shakespeare Company:
Cincinnati Shakespeare Company is a professional theatre company dedicated to bringing Shakespeare and the classics to life for all.  In the summer of 2017, the theater relocated to the Otto M. Budig Theater, a brand new facility in the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood of Cincinnati. CSC’s repertoire is composed of the works of William Shakespeare, literary adaptations, world premieres, and contemporary classics. CSC performs on a Small Professional Theatre contract with the Actors’ Equity Association. Cincinnati Shakespeare is a member of Theater Communications Group and Shakespeare Theatre Association. Each year, Cincinnati Shakespeare Company’s Education and Outreach Programs reach more than 50,000 young people and community members by meeting audiences where they are. This includes sharing programming in schools, parks, community centers and hosting educational matinees of mainstage productions. In 2015, CSC was proud to become one of the first five theaters in the United States to “Complete the Canon” by producing all 38 plays by William Shakespeare. CSC is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and all donations are tax-deductible.  Cincinnati Shakespeare Company is proud to be Cincinnati’s stage for the Classics! 

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July 29, 2026 · 5:52 pm

Ride with an Artist Day Returns to TANK Buses on August 20th

Pones, TANK, and ArtsWave Partnership Transforms Public Transit into a Moving Stage for Creativity and Community

Northern Kentucky – On Thursday, August 20th from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., commuters across Northern Kentucky are invited to experience their daily ride in an entirely new way during Ride with an Artist Day, presented by Pones in partnership with TANK (Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky) and made possible through funding from the ArtsWave NKY Placemaking Grant. This one-day creative placemaking event transforms public transit into a space for joy, connection, and belonging through free performances and artistic encounters on buses, at transit hubs, and along neighborhood routes.

A decade after their original collaboration, Pones and TANK are partnering again to bring multidisciplinary arts directly to the community. As a dance company dedicated to bringing people together through movement, Pones transforms everyday public spaces into places for creativity and human connection.

Past Ride with an Artist Day performances demonstrated the impact of bringing the arts directly to riders. One participant said, “I don’t care if I miss my stop, I’m going to stay on the whole time you all are on.” A TANK driver recalled, “I looked in the rearview mirror and people were smiling and nodding their heads to the beat.” These moments highlight public transit’s potential as a cultural gathering space.

The expanded program brings artists to multiple TANK routes across Northern Kentucky, with performances and installations inspired by the communities they serve, including dance, live music, and visual art. “We’re excited to once again welcome local artists aboard TANK buses, bringing creativity, energy, and unexpected moments of joy to our riders,” said Jenny Kammes, Marketing Manager for TANK. “These performances transform the everyday commute into a unique community experience while celebrating the incredible talent found throughout our region.” Pones dancer Alexandra Leurck added, “I’m all about immersive public art that lifts the spirits of everyone involved. Activating space with art builds support and appreciation for one another.”

The initiative also removes barriers to arts participation. Many TANK riders – including older adults, young adults, people from low-income households, and communities of color – face obstacles to attending traditional arts venues because of cost, transportation, or unfamiliarity. By bringing performances directly onto buses, the project makes the arts part of everyday life. This project intends to spread the Pones vision of art for EVERY body. For one afternoon, riders won’t just travel from one place to another, they will become part of a moving celebration of Northern Kentucky’s creativity.

Featured Performances

Throughout the day, riders may encounter artists across several TANK routes, including:

  • Route 2X (Amazon Air/Airport) – Pones dancers, 11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
  • Route 25 (interlined with Route 1) – Pones dancers, 1:00–2:00 p.m.
  • Route 1 (Dixie Highway Corridor: Cincinnati–Florence) – Live music featuring Preston Bell Charles III and Nick Rose, 2:00–3:00 p.m.
  • Route 7 (Madison Avenue/Latonia, Covington) – Live music featuring Siri Imani and Jess Lamb, 4:00–5:00 p.m.
  • Three buses (routes TBD) will feature installation artwork by visual artists Lindsey Whittle and Radha Lakshmi, Devan Horton and Ethan Machell, and Emily Moores.

    About Pones – Pones uses dance as a movement for social justice, community-building, and healing. They’re reimagining where dance happens, who it’s for, and how it can move us all.

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July 29, 2026 · 5:51 pm

Bluey’s Big Play The Stage Show | Jan. 2-3, 2027 | Aronoff Center

Wackadoo!  Bluey, Bingo, Chilli, Bandit, and friends are returning to Cincinnati!

BLUEY’S BIG PLAY The Stage Show is making its way across Australia and will be at the Aronoff Center’s Procter & Gamble Hall from January 2-3, 2027

 “Bluey’s Big Play may be her first theatrical experiment, but I doubt it will be the last.” – The Australian Review

“There’s no better show to inspire a lifelong love of the stage in your littlies.” – The Courier Mail, Brisbane

“A Glorious Celebration of everything you love about the show.” ★★★★★ – The Guardian

Tickets on sale Friday, July 31 at 10:00 AM

[Cincinnati, OH] – Grab the sticky geckos, break out the duck cakes, and alert the grannies! It’s time to meet the much-loved Heeler family, who are returning to Cincinnati by popular demand with the Bluey live show, Bluey’s Big Play The Stage Show! The Emmy® Award-winning animated preschool series, which airs on Disney Junior, Disney Channel, and Disney+, will be “taking the show on the road” to the Aronoff Center’s Procter & Gamble Hall on Saturday, January 2 and Sunday, January 3, 2027 (see full performance schedule below). The show is part of the Cincinnati Arts Association’s 2026-27 Season.

Tickets go on sale Friday, July 31 at 10:00 AM at www.CincinnatiArts.org, (513) 621-2787 [ARTS], and the Aronoff Center Ticket Office. For group sales (10 or more), call (513) 977-4155. Prices include all applicable fees and taxes and are subject to change.

VIP Packages are available. Each package includes one orchestra seat in the first six rows, an exclusive post-show meet-and-greet session with Bluey costume characters, an exclusive Bluey VIP lanyard, exclusive Bluey VIP gift, and an exclusive photo opportunity per group. All VIP attendees must have their own VIP ticket. All children must be accompanied by an adult. 

Get ready for giggles, games, and a whole lot of Heeler fun! Bluey’s Big Play The Stage Show brings Australia’s favorite family to life in a playful 45‑minute performance packed with music, imagination, and big heart. With beautifully crafted puppets and all the charm of the Emmy® Award‑winning TV series, it’s a theatrical adventure the whole family can enjoy together.

Live on stage, audiences will see Bluey, Bingo, Mum (Chilli), and Dad (Bandit) as they embark on a fun live adventure. When Dad is hoping for a quiet afternoon on the bean bag, Bluey and Bingo have other ideas. Using all the games, imagination, and ingenuity at their disposal, they set out to get him up and playing along! 

This smash‑hit live show has travelled the globe, playing to over two million fans across the UK, Ireland, Canada, the US, Europe, Singapore, South Africa, and the UAE.  Written by Bluey creator Joe Brumm, with original music by composer Joff Bush, the show also features the iconic voices of Melanie Zanetti (Mum) and David McCormack (Dad).

Enjoy a heart‑warming, laugh‑out‑loud experience that brings families together through play, imagination, and joy.  Whether it’s your child’s first theatre show or a special family outing, Bluey’s Big Play The Stage Show is guaranteed to create memories that last long after the curtain comes down.

This is Bluey, For Real Life.

Bluey’s Big Play The Stage Show Performance Schedule 

  • Saturday, January 2, 2027 – 11:00 AM & 3:00 PM
  • Sunday, January 3, 2027 – 11:00 AM

For more information, visit blueylive.com.  Facebook / Instagram: @OfficialBlueyTV / #BlueysBigPlay

Cincinnati Arts Association SPONSORS

The Cincinnati Arts Association is supported [in part] by an investment of public funds from the Ohio Arts Council (OAC). The OAC is a state agency that funds and supports quality arts experiences to strengthen Ohio communities culturally, educationally, and economically.

Season Sponsors:  AMERITAS (Founding Season Sponsor), MIAMI UNIVERSITY, ARTSWAVE, LOCAL 12 WKRC-TV, The P&G FUND of The Greater Cincinnati Foundation, TRIHEALTH 

SEASON PRESENTING SPONSORS:  21C Museum Hotel, altafiber, Bahl & Gaynor, CityBeat, Harlan Graphics, Heidelberg Distributing, Kinley Cincinnati, The Party Source, Pepsi, Summerfair Cincinnati

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CALENDAR INFORMATION

WHAT:                Bluey’s Big Play The Stage Show

WHEN:                Saturday, January 2, 2027 – 11:00 AM & 3:00 PM

                             Sunday, January 3, 2027 – 11:00 AM

WHERE:              Aronoff Center – Procter & Gamble Hall

PRICES:               Start at $55.00, inclusive of all fees. VIP packages available.

INFO:                   Get ready for giggles, games, and a whole lot of Heeler fun! Bluey’s Big Play The Stage Show brings Australia’s favorite family to life in a playful 45‑minute performance packed with music, imagination, and big heart. With beautifully crafted puppets and all the charm of the Emmy® Award‑winning TV series, it’s a theatrical adventure the whole family can enjoy together.

TICKET INFORMATION – on sale Friday, July 31 at 10:00 AM

  • www.CincinnatiArts.org 
  • (513) 621-ARTS [2787]
  • Aronoff Center Ticket Office
  • For group sales (10 or more), call (513) 977-4155

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July 23, 2026 · 12:02 pm

Know Theatre Presents THE ROAD TO OZ July 31-Aug. 2

Know Theatre of Cincinnati & InBocca Performance present THE ROAD TO OZ

19 Gen Alpha Summer Campers Take to the Stage in this Imaginative and Contemporary Adaptation of L. Frank Baum’s ‘The World of Oz’

Cincinnati, OH – Know Theatre of Cincinnati and InBocca Performance are pleased to announce the premiere of The Road to Oz, a devised theatre production created by the Know Theatre/InBocca Performance Summer Theatre Youth Education Program. Inspired by the work of L. Frank Baum, this modern adaptation is made possible by the generous support of H.B., E.W. & F.R. Luther Charitable Foundation, the Charles H. Dater Foundation, Priscilla O’Donnell and West Shore Home.

Dorothy has returned to Oz, but nothing is quite the way she left it – Glinda now rules Oz with an iron fist and has forbidden the use of magic by anyone but her! With Oz seemingly falling to ruin and her beloved companions vanished, Dorothy and a set of newfound friends embark on a mission to defeat Glinda and return magic for everyone. Can they bring Oz back to life?

Join us and find out!

Researched, written and choreographed by the team of campers and counselors, this new, socially-conscious, movement-based piece of theatre is being created over the month of July and asks the questions: ‘What is community?’ ‘How are we stronger together?’ and ‘What kind of world do we want to live in?’ The production, under the direction of Caroline Stine, stars the 19 children of the camp in collaboration with local performers and teaching artists: Erica Kruse (scenic/graphic design), Perry Hensley (movement/direction), Rachael Hawkins (playwrighting), Krista Noll (choreography and costume design), and Daniela Nenova (scenic/art design).

Performance Information
Know Theatre of Cincinnati, 1120 Jackson Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202

Evening performances on Friday, July 31st and Saturday, August 1st are at 7:00pm, the Sunday matinee performance on August 2nd is at 2pm.

Ticket Information
Tickets may be purchased by phone at (513) 300-5669 or purchased online at https://www.knowtheatre.com/summer-camp-2026/ 

  • Single Tickets: $17 ($15 plus $2 processing fee)

Know Theatre of Cincinnati exists to build belonging through bold theatre.

The Know Theatre Summer Education Program is made possible by the H.B., E.W. & F .R. Luther Charitable Foundation, the Charles H. Dater Foundation, Priscilla O’Donnell, and West Shore Home.

Know Theatre is supported by the generosity of tens of thousands of contributors to the annual ArtsWave Campaign, the region’s primary source for arts funding.

The Ohio Arts Council helps fund Know Theatre with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence, and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans.

Know Theatre is also supported by the Greater Cincinnati Foundation, which provides a simple, powerful, and highly personal approach to giving.

Know Theatre is a member of the League of Cincinnati Theatres and Theatre Communications Group.

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