Cincinnati, September 8, 2022 – Cincinnati Shakespeare Company’s 2022-2023 season premieres with Shakespeare’s powerful tragedy King Lear, directed by Producing Artistic Director Brian Isaac Phillips, who is celebrating his 20th anniversary with the company. King Lear features Jim Hopkins as the titular patriarch who divides his kingdom between three daughters played by Candice Handy, Kelly Mengelkoch, and Miranda McGee. Cincinnati Shakespeare Company’s 2022-2023 Season is generously presented by The Otto M. Budig Family Foundation and Rosemary and Mark Schlachter.
CSC’s production of King Lear boasts a modern twist set in contemporary London. Costumes of sleek, tailored suits and a modern architectural set designed by Rainy Edwards and Justen N. Locke, respectively, not only give a subtle nod to HBO’s hit drama “Succession” but emphasizes the timelessness of this Shakespearean tragedy.
Lear claims “nothing will come of nothing,” but Shakespeare’s tragedy reveals madness will come in the face of chaotic plights. In contemporary Europe, a familial dynasty divides when an aging patriarch splits his estate between two wicked daughters and casts out the third – the only one who truly loves him. As Lear and the status quo devolve into madness, the whole family faces the brutal truth of family dynamics, loyalty, and the existence of justice.
Producing Artistic Director, Brian Isaac Phillips, chose for the 2022-2023 Season to open with this Shakespeare play that has not be seen on the stage at Cincinnati Shakespeare Company for almost 15 years! Brian shares, “in Shakespeare’s day when the plague shut down theaters, Shakespeare wrote King Lear. Well, a plague shut down our theater and we are going to come back stronger than ever by staging King Lear!”
The season also marks a special anniversary for CSC as they celebrate Producing Artistic Director, Brian Isaac Phillips in his 20th season of artistic direction, vision, and leadership. Among his many accomplishments as the artistic leader of CSC, Phillips guided the company’s completion of Shakespeare’s 38-play canon, making Cincinnati Shakespeare Company one of the first five theaters to reach this milestone. Former Managing Director Maddie Regan said, “Brian’s commitment to looking at Shakespeare and the Classics in fresh new ways has made CSC a valued part of the lives of thousands of Cincinnatians over the past 20 years. His passion for excellence on the mainstage is only matched by his devotion CSC’s education program. Brian’s largest contribution to the region is adding a gem to the Queen City’s crown through the completion of The Otto M. Budig Theater, a $17MM project in the heart of our City.” Brian’s leadership of CSC has made the company a vibrant addition to the classical corridor of the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood and the overall cultural fabric of Cincinnati.
King Lear runs September 9 – October 1, 2022. Performances of King Lear are on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 7:30 PM, Sundays at 2:00 PM, and Saturday, October 1 at 2:00 PM (Also ASL Interpreted on Saturday, October 1 at 2:00 PM). Tickets are on sale now. Preview performances are on Wednesday, September 7, and Thursday, September 8, with tickets at $45 or $25 for YPs. Discounts are available for students, seniors, local residents, and community partners, as access to all is important to CSC. Each performance night has a limited number of $14 “Access” tickets in the Upper Gallery and Stage Gallery. These can be purchased in advance by going online or calling the Box Office. And starting 1 hour before each performance, any unreserved tickets may be available as a discounted Rush Ticket to anyone, not just students. These tickets are only $12 and could be located anywhere in the house, depending on that evening’s availability. These cannot be reserved more than 1 hour before a show and must be purchased in person in the Box Office. Visa, Discover, MasterCard, and American Express are accepted. Ticketing fees apply. To purchase tickets or for more information, call the CSC Box Office at 513.381.BARD (2273) ext. 1, or go online at www.cincyshakes.com.
Audience members are no longer required to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test to attend performances at Cincinnati Shakespeare Company. The wearing of masks will be encouraged but optional. Please contact the Box Office by email or phone at (513) 381-2273 for assistance.
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 http://www.otrchamber.com/pages/WheretoPark.
CSC also offers Valet Parking for every performance! Make reservations for $25 in advance when purchasing tickets, or visit www.cincyshakes.com/parking. Purchasing in advance guarantees a spot. Valet is available right at the corner of 12th and Elm Street in front of the theater and begins approx. 1.5 hours before a performance. Cars can be picked up for up to one hour following a performance. (After one hour, you will need to arrange pick up with the valet service directly.) After purchasing, the valet will have your name on the list— it’s that easy!
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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!
Cincinnati Shakespeare Company’s 2022-23 Season is generously presented by The Otto M. Budig Family Foundation and Rosemary and Mark Schlachter; along with our Education Season Sponsor, Debby and Jim Mason; and our Operating Support Partners, The Ohio Arts Council, The Robert and Adele Schiff Family Foundation, The National Endowment for the Arts with Arts Midwest, The Shubert Foundation, Lightborne, and the tens of thousands of people who give generously to the ArtsWave Community Campaign.
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