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The Social Cycle brings a sword fight to a winery, laser tag with aliens to a mall and more

CINCINNATI– Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park announced today its 2019-2020 Off the Grid series of interactive theatrical experiences. Called The Social Cycle, the new season combines social events at popular venues around Greater Cincinnati with classic literary stories reimagined for modern day. The immersive theatre experiences include the opportunity for optional audience participation. The first event takes place Oct. 17, with alien fighting and more at THE WAR OF THE MALLS at Tri-County Mall, followed by BEAUTY AND THE BOURBON TASTING on Friday, Nov. 8 at the New Riff Distillery.

“With The Social Cycle, we want to meet people where they like to hang out and spend their time with friends,” explains Daunielle Rasmussen, director of education and community engagement, who created the concept of Off the Grid and The Social Cycle. “By staging a sword fight in a winery, fighting aliens at laser tag or taking a yoga class with Mr. Darcy, our audiences will experience familiar stories in unexpected ways in fun environments.”

Later in the season, The Social Cycle presents:

• THE COUNT OF MONTE PESTO, Feb. 25-27, 2020, at Kate’s Catering and Personal Chef Services 
• PRIDE, PREJUDICE AND YOGA, March 14-22, 2020, at Oakley Crunch Fitness
• NANCY BREW AND THE KILLER BAR CRAWL, April 16, 2020, Mt. Adams Pavilion and other bars
• THE BRIE MUSKETEERS, May 16, 2020, Vinoklet Winery & Restaurant

“The Social Cycle takes the interactive and immersive experiences we’ve developed over the past three seasons of Off the Grid to the next level,” Rasmussen continued. “Each experience will be unique to the venue and story that is being told. Our audiences can be a part of it as much or as little as they feel comfortable participating.”

Off the Grid is supported by the generosity of the thousands of young professional contributors to the ArtsWave Campaign.

For more information and tickets, visit cincyplay.com. Admission prices vary based on the venue and the activities included. The full schedule with details is below.

THE WAR OF THE MALLS
Thursday, Oct. 17 | One-hour time slots between 6 and 11:15 p.m. at Tri-County Mall | Cost: $20

The Martians have landed at the Tri-County Mall! On a mission to destroy the earth, they’re leaving no person in their path alive. In this interactive escape room/laser tag adventure, teams of brave humans will undertake the task of tracking down the Martians and eliminating the threat before they destroy every living thing on the planet!

Participants will be grouped into teams up to 12. There is no seating, and participants will be on their feet during the hour-long experience. This event is accessible for wheelchairs. Participants should wear shoes that are easy to stand and move in. One-hour time slots start between 6 and 10:15 p.m.

Tri-County Mall is located at 11700 Princeton Pike, Cincinnati, OH, 45246. The event takes place in the former Ethan Allen store located next to BJ’s.

BEAUTY AND THE BOURBON TASTING
Friday, Nov. 8 | 7:30 to 10 p.m. at New Riff Distillery | Cost: $40

Bailey Sinclair is a quirky, independent photographer who prefers to keep to herself. But when her ailing father’s medical bills become too expensive, she takes a second job at New Riff Distillery to help cover costs — despite her aversion to bourbon and the distillery owner’s reputation for being rather beastly. Determined to help her father, she does her best to deal with the pressures of her new job, beastly boss and all. Join Bailey on this interactive bourbon tasting as she finds that there may be more to the bourbon and the beast than meets the eye.

Ticket includes one cocktail during registration from 7:30 to 8 p.m., three tastings of bourbon and whiskey, and a free after-party featuring live music and a cash bar starting at 10 p.m.

Audience members should wear shoes that are comfortable to walk around in, as they will be on their feet, taking stairs and standing during throughout the performance. There is some accessibility for wheelchairs, though access to some scenes may be limited.

New Riff Distillery is located at 24 Distillery Way, Newport, KY, 41073.

THE COUNT OF MONTE PESTO
Tuesday, Feb. 25; Wednesday, Feb. 26; and Thursday, Feb. 27 | 7 to 9 p.m. at Kate’s Catering and Personal Chef Services | Cost: $60

Celebrity chef Dante Cristo lives with a secret he’s harbored for 15 years — a secret that ripped him away from his family and Mercedes, the girl he loved, when he was betrayed by his best friend. With his identity hidden from those who once knew him, Dante uses his celebrity status and wealth to enact a plot of revenge. The time comes to put the plan in motion when Mercedes hosts a charity fundraiser and Dante agrees to teach an exclusive cooking class in support of it. As Dante leads participants through this interactive, theatrical cooking class, he’ll bring secrets to bear and delicious food to eat, along with a reckoning of the past. After all, revenge is best served with a tasty plate of pasta.

Ticket includes lite bite cheese and crudité platters, up to two drinks per person, and two tastings of Italian-based entrees that audience members will help make during the class.

Audience members will be on their feet for the duration of the class. Accommodations can be made for persons who have physical disabilities. The facility is wheelchair-accessible. Space is limited to 20 participants in each performance.

Kate’s Catering & Personal Chef Services is located at 702 6th Ave., Dayton, KY 41074

PRIDE, PREJUDICE AND YOGA
Saturdays, March 14 and 21, at 4 and 8 p.m. | Sundays, March 15 and 22, at 4 p.m. | Oakley Crunch Fitness | Cost: $15

The proud Will Darcy really resents his therapist for suggesting that he take up yoga for stress management. He finds everything about the exercise irritating, including the googly eyes his friend Charlie can’t stop making at the pretty yogi in the front row. But most especially, he finds his attraction to the beguiling and frustrating Liz Bennet the opposite of stress-reducing. Join us for an immersive theatre gym workout and yoga class experience where Liz and Darcy just might find the inner balance that they didn’t know they were missing.

Ticket includes a complimentary one-month membership to Oakley Crunch Fitness and must be redeemed through the gym.

This event allows audience members to either participate in the workout or observe as the story unfolds. Audience members are encouraged to attend wearing their favorite workout gear and join the performance when the opportunity arises.

Mat seating is available for those who would like to participate in the yoga class portion. Instructions will be provided throughout the class. Mat seating is limited to 15 in each performance. Audience members with chair seating for the yoga class will still have opportunities to be physically active during gym portion of the performance.

Most parts of the gym are wheelchair-accessible, but there may be limited access to some areas where scenes take place.

Oakley Crunch Fitness is located at 3401 Ibsen Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45209

NANCY BREW AND THE KILLER BAR CRAWL
Thursday, April 16 | 7 to 10 p.m. at Mt. Adams Pavilion and other bars | Cost: $10

Unlock clues at each bar during this interactive murder mystery bar crawl! Twentysomething Nancy Brew just wants one night out to let loose in Cincinnati. She’s finally able to have some fun at her friend Bess’s engagement party — until everything that could go wrong begins to go wrong. Nancy has no choice but to do what she does best and solve the mystery before the festivities turn into a total disaster!

Sign up with a group or as an individual, and we’ll introduce you to some new friends to help Nancy solve the mystery of the killer bar crawl. The winning team just might end up with free Playhouse tickets as their prize!

Cash bars available at each bar crawl location. Registration starts at 6:30 p.m. at Mt. Adams Pavilion.

This event is not wheelchair accessible. Wear shoes that are comfortable to walk in.

THE BRIE MUSKETEERS
Saturday, May 16 | 5 to 7 p.m. at Vinoklet Winery & Restaurant | Cost: $50

One for all and all for Brie! The Alpha Beta sorority sisters have maintained their affinity for good wine and cheese since college. When queen bee Constance Richelle hosts an event to help her husband win a promotion, she enlists the help of her sorority sister musketeers to throw the wine and cheese tasting to end all wine and cheese tastings — but poisonous secrets and dastardly plots are afoot. This interactive, theatrical wine and cheese tasting experience puts you in the middle of all the action — you may even spill some of the wine yourself!

Ticket includes three wine-tasting stations, one full glass of wine, cheese and crackers, and free admission to a concert in the park which starts at 7:30 p.m. Concert will have a cash bar and food available to purchase.

Garden party attire is encouraged by not required. Participants should wear shoes that are comfortable to walk in across uneven ground and grass. Some areas in the vineyard may not be easily accessible, but we’re happy to find accommodations as best we can in the environment.

Vinoklet Winery & Restaurant is located at 11069 Colerain Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45252

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