Category Archives: Press Releases

March 17, 2026 · 4:51 pm

Xavier University Theatre Presents SPRING AWAKENING, April 10-18


(CINCINNATI, March 16, 2026) – Xavier University Theatre celebrates its 100th program production and final show of the 2025-2026 season with SPRING AWAKENING, running April 10-18.

SPRING AWAKENING is an exhilarating rock musical about the challenges and discoveries of growing up. The winner of eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical, it follows a group of students navigating the transition from adolescence to adulthood through a powerful story of youth, rebellion, and self‑discovery. A landmark work, SPRING AWAKENING energizes audiences with its fusion of morality, exploration, and rock‑and‑roll.

Stephen Skiles, Chair of the Music & Theatre Department and director of this year’s production, shares his excitement for this important achievement: “Over the decades, hundreds of students, faculty, staff, and guest artists have participated in theatre at Xavier. Our 2025–26 season is a celebration of the people who have dedicated countless hours and endless passion, both on and off the stage. First produced at Xavier Theatre in 2015, SPRING AWAKENING will mark the 100th production since the start of the new Theatre degree in 2013, and we can think of no better way to celebrate than by revisiting some of our most memorable productions from those first years, including SPRING AWAKENING.”

Senior Leo Jenkins (he/him), who plays Moritz, reflects on the significance of the show and the honor of it being the program’s 100th production: “For me, SPRING AWAKENING is a story about young people who are not listened to; who are not seen as mature enough to learn about the things that truly matter as they grow up. With Moritz, you see someone trying his best but is continually let down by the adults in his life and pushed to his limits. That story alone is incredibly powerful. The fact that we are presenting this musical again for our 100th production only reinforces how relevant the message still is today.”

Regan Utrup (she/her), an alum and one of the production’s assistant directors, describes the impact of returning to the Xavier Theatre community: “Assistant directing SPRING AWAKENING at Xavier has been an impactful continuation of my theatre education and a meaningful return to the place where I learned my craft. Working on this piece has reminded me that even in a world where information is instantly available at the touch of a screen, it remains vital to understand the dangers of misinformation and ignorance, especially for the younger generations shaping our future. I strongly encourage people to experience this story, its message, and of course, Duncan Sheik’s rockin’ score.”

Senior Sean Moss (he/him), who plays Melchior, reflects on his final year with Xavier Theatre: “Being part of Xavier Theatre’s 100th production since the major began is an honor. I can’t imagine a better show to be part of during my senior year. SPRING AWAKENING, though set in late‑19th‑century Germany, carries tremendous weight today, and it’s a story I’m thrilled to help tell. It also means the world to me that my last show here at Xavier is directed by Stephen Skiles. There is no one I would rather work with as my time here comes to a close.”

The cast also includes seniors Brookelyn Duncan (Adult Female) and Ben Hunt (Otto/Ulbrecht); juniors Luke Heetderks (Ernst/Reinhold), Gracie Phlipot (Thea), Cohen Rice (Adult Male), Brianna Starkey (Ensemble), Jamie Swisshelm (Ilse), and Bri Willingham (Martha); sophomores Olivia Burklow (Ensemble), Molly Ciuci (Ensemble), Tylen Gordon (Hanschen/Rupert), Taylor Mattingly (Wendla), and Anya Sperber (Martha); and first‑years Enzo Battaglia (Georg/Dieter) and Sophie Mullins (Ensemble).

The production is directed and produced by Stephen Skiles, with music direction by Scot Buzza. The design team includes Joe Beumer (Lighting & Set Designer), Jessica Pitcairn (Costume Designer), Jason Sebastian (Sound Designer), and Joe Leonard (Technical Director). Additional technical and design team members include Xavier Theatre alum Kelsey Schwarber (Assistant Director); Jaime Israel (Assistant Costume Designer); Hannah Barbee and Devyn Wallace (Costume Crew); Anna Meister and Nita Rajagopalan (Sound Team); alum Alec Schneider (Master Electrician); Nicole Grace (Light Board Operator); and Josi Pietrzyk and Loften Cooper (Spotlight Operators). The show is choreographed by Xavier alum Jenna Treinen. The stage manager is Anna Hittepole, with assistant stage managers Ellie McKenna and Annaliese Monahan.

Performances take place at 7:30 p.m. on April 10, 11, 17, and 18, with matinee performances at 2:00 p.m. on April 12 and 18. Tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for Xavier students, faculty, and staff. Seating is limited. To purchase tickets, visit: https://xaviertheatre.ludus.com/index.php?show_id=200515469

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March 16, 2026 · 4:49 pm

The Human Race Theatre Company Announces Camp DNA (Developing New Artists) Summer Program

A Three-Week Immersive Theatre Experience for Rising High School Students

Dayton, OH — The Human Race Theatre Company is excited to announce Camp DNA (Developing New Artists), a dynamic three-week, full-day summer theatre experience designed to inspire, educate, and empower high school students passionate about theatre arts. This immersive program will take place July 6–24, 2026, at The Human Race Theatre Company, 126 N. Main Street, 3rd Floor, Dayton, Ohio.

Open to rising 9th–12th grade scholars, Camp DNA offers participants a hands-on opportunity to train alongside professional resident artists and theatre staff, develop real artistic skills, and build creative confidence in a collaborative summer environment.

“We believe in creating an environment where young artists don’t just learn about theatre — they live it,” said Tiffany Countryman, Engagement & Learning Manager for The Human Race Theatre Company. “Camp DNA empowers participants to grow in creativity and confidence while strengthening team-building abilities and critical problem-solving skills through immersive artistic experiences.”

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

Camp DNA participants will:

  • Train with professional theatre artists and educators

  • Choose a specialty track, including:

    • Acting

    • Playwriting & Directing

    • Stage Management & Producing

    • Technical Theatre (lighting, sound, backstage fundamentals)

  • Develop practical skills in performance, production, and storytelling

  • Collaborate with peers in an inclusive and creative environment

  • Present a student-led showcase production at the end of the session

The program runs Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM–4:00 PM, offering a full-day arts-education experience rooted in professional practice and creative expression.

REGISTRATION & SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION

  • Program Dates: July 6–24, 2026

  • Open To: Rising 9th–12th grade students

  • Location: The Human Race Theatre Company, Dayton, OH

  • Cost: $525 total (equates to $175 per week)

Multi-student discounts are available for families registering more than one participant. In addition, payment plans and a limited number of camp scholarships are offered to help make Camp DNA accessible to every interested student. Scholarship applications are available via an online form, and applicants are encouraged to apply early.

To register or learn more about Camp DNA, visit the official event page:
https://secure.qgiv.com/for/campdna/event/campdna/

ABOUT THE HUMAN RACE THEATRE COMPANY
The Human Race Theatre Company is a nationally recognized professional theatre organization based in Dayton, Ohio, committed to artistic excellence, creative education, and expanding access to the performing arts. Through programs like Camp DNA, community engagement initiatives, and mainstage productions, the company cultivates meaningful experiences that empower artists and audiences alike.

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March 11, 2026 · 5:29 pm

Mutual Dance Theatre’s MODERN MIX ‘26 Features 4 Premieres, including First-Time Cross-Over with Cincinnati Ballet Through Sirui Liu

CINCINNATI, OH, MARCH 11, 2026 — Mutual Dance Theatre (Cincinnati’s resident Modern Dance company) will premiere four new, invigorating works at Modern Mix ’26, May 1-2, 2026 at the Aronoff Center for the Arts. The closing performance of Embrace: A Season of Connection will explore human connection through choreography by four innovative artists, each choreographing on MDT for their first time: Joshua Ishmon (Chicago), Shane Ohmer (Philadelphia), Nat Wilson (New York), and Sirui Liu (Cincinnati), whose involvement marks MDT’s first-ever artistic collaboration with the Cincinnati Ballet.

From works by a Broadway-touring dance captain with television credits to an artist in the thick of New York’s edgiest Contemporary Dance, Modern Mix ’26 promises a wide variety. The enchanting mix  is the end to Mutual Dance Theatre’s 25–26 season, which also featured the first regional presentations of guest companies Deeply Rooted Dance Theater (October) and Yue Yin Dance Company (February).

CINCINNATI BALLET’S SIRUI LIU JOINS MODERN MIX ’26 CHOREOGRAPHY COHORT

The first true artistic cross-over between the Cincinnati Ballet (est. 1958) and Mutual Dance Theatre (est. 1972 as Contemporary Dance Theater) was forged by Mutual Dance Theatre’s Artistic Director Jeanne Mam-Luft and Cincinnati Ballet’s new Artistic Director Cervilio Amador.

“I’m always eager to provide opportunities for our dancers to enhance their careers,” says Amador. “I’ve recommended Sirui as a choreographer for this program because it presents a fantastic platform for her to express herself and showcase her artistic voice as a creator.”

“This year, Modern Mix, like the rest of our season, is driven by connection first and foremost,” says Mam-Luft. “This lineup represents such a high caliber of national talent: it’s truly a privilege to support both the choreographers and the performers. Through Sirui’s collaboration, it also establishes a new relationship between Cincinnati’s two largest dance organizations — we couldn’t be more ecstatic for our first leap together of hopefully many.”

“It’s an honor to have the opportunity to create new work for Mutual Arts Dance Theatre,” says Liu who is remarkably in her 15th year with Cincinnati Ballet. “I’m thrilled to work with Mutual’s talented and passionate dancers and eager to discover what we can create together!”

ABOUT THE MODERN MIX ’26 CHOREOGRAPHERS

Sirui Liu brings a world-renowned career in ballet and contemporary performance. Liu joined the Cincinnati Ballet in 2011 and rose to Principal Dancer in 2017. Her accolades include gold medals at the Taolibei National Dance Competition (2009) and Beijing International Ballet Competition (2010), and recognition as one of Dance Magazine’s “Top 25 to Watch” (2017). Her global performance career includes appearances with Hong Kong Ballet, Los Angeles Ballet, international galas in Mongolia and China, and a 2025 tour of Lady White Snake at the Lincoln Center. She has worked with leading choreographers including William Forsythe, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, Justin Peck, Ohad Naharin, Alexander Ekman, Trey McIntyre, and many others. Cincinnati audiences most recently saw Liu as Odile and Odette in Swan Lake.

FUN FACT ABOUT SIRUI LIU: In kindergarten, Liu evaded a drawing class to attend dance, instead.

Joshua L. Ishmon was a performer and former rehearsal director with Deeply Rooted Dance Theater for many years. The Chicago-based artist brings a powerful lineage of modern, classical, and African-American traditions to the cohort. Ishmon founded Deeply Rooted’s Emerging Choreographer’s Showcase and has danced with companies across the U.S., including Winifred R. Harris’ Between Lines, Seamless Dance Theater, Ballet Chicago, and Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, where he performed in the Bessie Award-winning cast of Donald McKayle’s Rainbow Round My Shoulder. Ishmon, who was voted Chicago’s “Best Choreography” (Chicago Reader, 2017) and listed as a Breakout Contemporary Dance Artist by Newcity, is also a Chicago Dancemakers Forum Lab Artist, a 3Arts Make a Wave artist, and founder of Production: COLORS.

FUN FACT ABOUT JOSHUA ISHMON: Ishmon is a fan of manga and used to produce a podcast on Japanese graphic novels.

Shane Ohmer, a Cincinnati original now living near Philadelphia, has performed on world stages from Chicago to Montréal and holds numerous television credits. His extensive dance credits include River North Dance Chicago, Pacific Northwest Ballet, and Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montréal, alongside touring musicals such as Flashdance, Phantom of the Opera, and Rock the Ballet. Ohmer has worked for New York Fashion Week, Armani Exchange, and GQ, and has appeared in global media coverage across Europe.

FUN FACT ABOUT SHANE OHMER: Ohmer has made television appearances on Law & Order: SVU, The David Letterman Show, and ads for Dos Equis and Warby Parker.

Nat Wilson, originally from Dexter, Michigan and now based in Brooklyn, has built an international career that includes Kibbutz Contemporary Dance Company, ZviDance, Visceral Dance, Ballez, LEVELdance, Cocodaco, Volta Collective, and numerous independent creators. Wilson currently performs with Yue Yin Dance Company, where they are one of only two artists certified to teach Yue Yin’s FoCo technique. Their early training included time with the Joffrey Ballet Studio Company. Wilson’s new work on Mutual Dance Theatre is a blend of Wilson’s FoCo/Yue Yin influence and original contemporary movement.

FUN FACT ABOUT NAT WILSON: Wilson adopted their cat, Pau, whilst dancing in Israel and was able to bring him to the States.

Mutual Dance Theatre and Arts Centers is supported this year by: the Robert & Adele Schiff Family Foundation; the generosity of tens of thousands of contributors to the annual ArtsWave Campaign, the region’s primary source for arts funding; the H.B., E.W. & F.R. Luther Charitable Foundation, Fifth Third Bank, N.A., Trustee; an investment of public funds from the Ohio Arts Council (OAC), a state agency that funds and supports quality arts experiences to strengthen Ohio communities culturally, educationally, and economically; the Crosset Family Fund of Greater Cincinnati Foundation; and gifts, both large and small, from individuals like season sponsor, Karen Zaugg.

EVENT DETAILS

What: Mutual Dance Theatre’s Modern Mix ’26

When: Friday & Saturday, May 1–2, 2026, 7:30pm (plus, Friday post-show Q&A with artists and Saturday pre-show 7pm interview)

Where: Aronoff Center for the Arts

Cost: starts at $29 (early bird discount available for purchases by April 2, 2026)

Tickets: 513-621-ARTS or cincinnatiarts.org/events/detail/mutual-dance-theatre-in-modern-mix-26 

More information: mutualdance.org/modernmix26 

YOUR CHANCE TO DANCE

One of Mutual Dance Theatre’s passions is to bring audiences and artists closer together. Each of its concerts features an additional opportunity for the public to dance. For Modern Mix, the organization will host a class open to everyone, regardless of experience or dance background, to learn basics of Modern Dance and a snippet of choreography from the show: Saturday, May 2, 2026 12–1:30pm at Mutual  Arts Hartwell (8222 Monon Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45216). $16-21, pre-register at mutualdance.org/modernmix26/#movewithmutual, led by company member Evelyn Lackney.

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About Mutual Dance Theatre and Arts Centers

Mutual Dance Theatre is the city’s longest-running Modern Dance organization and the area’s only consistent presenter of Modern and Contemporary Dance. MDT was formerly known as Contemporary Dance Theater (est. 1972 by Jefferson James) and MamLuft&Co. Dance (est. 2007 by Jeanne Mam-Luft) until their merger in 2021. Both organizations began as performing troupes, but in the early ‘90s, CDT dissolved its company and subsequently focused on presenting guest artists. The two organizations joined to create the aptly-named Mutual Dance Theatre and Arts Centers, taking enumeration from its elder half and thus celebrating its 54th season in 25-26. Mutual has honored and combined the priorities of both founding organizations: investing in a virtuosic local company with the aim of becoming a significant presence both locally and nationally, as well as the continued presentation of Modern and Contemporary Dance from across the States (and sometimes, beyond). Mutual also reaches thousands of children each year through education and its academy, as well as charity-supported outreach. Learn more at mutualdance.org.

 

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March 11, 2026 · 9:20 am

Know Theatre of Cincinnati Announces the 2026–2027 Season


Season 29 Illuminates Themes of Redemption & Hope
with Work by Local and Nationally-Known Contemporary American Playwrights

Cincinnati, OH – The Know Theatre, Cincinnati’s premiere black box professional theatre, is excited to announce its highly anticipated 2026-2027 season under the leadership of Producing Artistic Director Bridget Leak and Managing Director Ri Moodie. Known for its intimate performance space in the heart of the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood and for showcasing local writers and artists, the Know Theatre continues to build belonging through bold theatre.

“It always starts with great storytelling and this season’s playwrights are unraveling form to find deeper truth,” says Producing Artistic Director, Bridget Leak. “We meet all of our characters as adults who are reaching back into the past: siblings finding what they left in the attic, a father who still wants to play at being cowboy, half-brothers fumbling to reach across a chasm, and childhood soulmates who will never get it right. There is an undercurrent of trauma and regret in this season, but even when our past feels dark and shameful, shining through is a glimmer of hope.”

The 2026-2027 season begins with the Regional Premiere of Make Believe by Bess Wohl, running September 10–26, 2026. Set in the attic playroom of their childhood home, four siblings grapple with the ghosts of their childhood in this mystery, directed by Bridget Leak.

octKNOWber Nights returns to Know Theatre for a full month of spooky programming from local artists in October, culminating in the one-night only variety show spectacular, The Kinda-Weird Spooky Cabaret, produced by local theatremaker Erika MacDonald. A call for submissions will open in July 2026.

Die Hard is a Christmas Movie, the Know Theatre’s second best-selling show ever – returns! Penned by local writers A.J. Baldwin and Alexx Rouse and directed by Tatiana Godfrey, this goofy and outrageous MainStage comedy is the perfect holiday offering for the whole family. Running December 3–20, 2026.

SERIALS returns for its 17th season featuring the work of local writers. Over the course of five nights, actors perform five brand new plays on the Know Theatre’s Underground Cabaret Stage. Produced by Alexx Rouse & Zach Robinson of A to Z Productions, SERIALS Season 17 will run January 25, February 8 and 22, and March 8 and 22, 2027. A call for submissions will open in early October and close in early December 2026.

In February, the Know will stage the Regional Premiere of Grangeville by Samuel D. Hunter. When two estranged half-brothers reconnect to discuss their ailing mother’s estate, they’re forced to question whether it’s possible to move on with their lives without finding forgiveness. Running February 11–27, 2027.

In the spring, the Know Theatre MainStage welcomes a World Premiere two-act musical by Cincinnati theatremaker Hannah Gregory. Originally developed as a one-act musical for the 2022 Cincinnati Fringe Festival, Wuthering: A Musical on the Moors follows Emily Brontë’s tragic characters Cathy and Heathcliff in a journey from adolescence to adulthood in a world that’s set against them. Directed by Caitlin McWethy. Running April 2–18, 2027.

Season 29 Auditions will be held at the Know Theatre on May 3 & 4, 2026.

June 4–19, 2027, the Cincinnati Fringe Festival kicks off its 24th year of bringing local, national and international theatre artists to pop-up venues in OTR. With over 40 distinct hour-long shows and 170+ performances, there’s a reason that artists from around the world know the Cincy Fringe as Cincinnati’s Summer Theatre Party. Produced by Katie Hartman, this jury-curated festival opens applications in early October 2026. For more information go to www.cincyfringe.com.

A collaboration with local theatre company InBocca Performance, the Know Theatre Education Program offers youth grades 3-12 the opportunity to create an original production as an ensemble. Led by local theatre-maker Caroline Stine, whose popular summer youth theatre camps have thrilled local audiences for their fierce imagination and creative storytelling, the 2027 Summer Camp will occur weekdays in July and culminate in performances during the first week of August.

The Know Theatre is committed to creating an atmosphere of radical hospitality where all are welcome to come as their favorite selves. Season 29 MainStage productions will have ASL-interpreted performances on the final Friday of each run, $20 tickets for Arts & Service Industry Workers on select Monday night performances, and $15 advanced reservations and pay-what-you-wish tickets available at the door for every Welcome Thursday MainStage performance.

Subscriptions for the 2026-2027 season are now on sale for $275 and may be purchased online at www.knowtheatre.com or by phone at (513) 300–5669.

Know Theatre Season 29

MAKE BELIEVE
by Bess Wohl
Regional Premiere
MainStage
Directed by Bridget Leak
September 10–26, 2026
The four Conlee kids have arrived home from grade school, hungry and tired, but their parents are nowhere to be found and the downstairs phone keeps ringing. Thirty years later, the four siblings return to grapple with the childhood ghosts that still haunt their lives. From the writer of Camp Siegfried comes a mystery about the lingering impact of childhood trauma.
Rated: PG-13

octKNOWber Nights
Various Artists
Cabaret Stage
October 2026
A month of original live performances by local artists that dares you to close your eyes, hold your breath, and venture into the shadows.

DIE HARD IS A CHRISTMAS MOVIE
by A.J. Baldwin & Alexx Rouse
Back by Popular Demand!
MainStage
Directed by Tatiana Godfrey
December 3–20, 2026

Picture this: the movie Die Hard actually happened and the blockbuster action classic is a dramatization of the hero’s memoir. Years after that daring rescue, fame has taken its toll on the family and the parents’ relationship is on the rocks. The teenage kids know what to do: hire actors to kidnap Mom, Dad springs into action, saves her, and boom! marriage saved. When the plan goes off the rails and the family finds itself in real peril, they’ve got to work together to make it to Christmas morning together… or die hard trying.
Rated: PG-13

SERIALS! Season 17
Cabaret Stage
January 25, February 8 & 22, March 8 & 22, 2027
15-minute episodes of five new and different plays by local playwrights, every two weeks, for a total of five installments. At the season finale, the audience votes on which production they wish to see get a three-night run in its entirety. Miss an episode? No problem! Each episode starts with a “previously on…” recap at the top of each show to catch the audience up to speed.

GRANGEVILLE
by Samuel D. Hunter
Regional Premiere
MainStage
February 11–27, 2027
Two estranged half-brothers – one in Amsterdam, one in Grangeville – reconnect while dealing with the business of their ailing mother. From the writer of A Case for the Existence of God comes a defiantly optimistic meditation on masculinity, memory, and forgiveness. Rated: PG-13

WUTHERING: A Musical on the Moors
by Hannah Gregory
World Premiere
MainStage
Directed by Caitlin McWethy
April 2–18, 2027
1787, Yorkshire, England. After her father’s death, the once bright and wild Cathy Earnshaw marries the wealthy Edgar Linton, in order to provide financial security for herself and her true love, Heathcliff. Devastated by her betrayal, Heathcliff disappears for three years, only to return as a wealthy man intent upon seeking his revenge. An original folk musical inspired by Emily Brontë’s classic novel about the socioeconomic anxieties of love, class, and race in Victorian England.
Rated: PG-13

The 24th Annual Cincinnati Fringe Festival
Various Venues
June 4–19, 2027
A 14-day celebration of curated new work and uncensored live performance from local, national, and international indie theatre artists, the Cincinnati Fringe Festival is the region’s largest and longest-running performing arts festival. Featuring more than 40 unique, hour-long productions and hundreds of live performances, KidsFringe programming on weekend afternoons, and free Late Night events starting at 10pm every night at Know Theatre.

Know Theatre Education 
Summer Camp 2027 
MainStage
July 5–August 1, 2027

The only program in Cincinnati where children learn to write, direct, and perform their own original 90-minute show, culminating in multiple performance opportunities on the MainStage. Grades 3 through 12.

Ticket Prices

    • 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)

    • Single tickets : $38

    • 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 Theatre Communications Group.

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March 10, 2026 · 5:13 pm

Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park Announces 2026-27 Season, Including World Premiere by Theresa Rebeck & Inaugural MADE IN CINCINNATI: New Works Festival

Season also features two new thrillers for the stage, Pulitzer Prize-winners and the return of CINCINNATI KING

CINCINNATI – Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park today announced its 2026-27 season, including the world premiere of Theresa Rebeck’s commissioned media satire TALK, the centerpiece of its inaugural Made in Cincy: New Works Festival. Other season highlights: two new thrillers for the stage, the regional premiere of the Pulitzer and Tony Award-winning PURPOSE and the return of the hit musical about King Records, CINCINNATI KING.

“Our goal for the Made in Cincy: New Works Festival is to create a platform where local and national artists can be seen, supported and celebrated,” said Blake Robsion, Osborn Family Producing Artistic Director. “The festival will develop and premiere plays and musicals that become part of the American canon — works by some of the country’s most compelling artists —while simultaneously highlighting the artistic excellence of our local community for audiences across the nation. Who is better to help us launch this annual endeavor than Theresa Rebeck? Not only is she a prolific, nationally-recognized playwright, but she grew up right here in Cincinnati.”

Made in Cincy: New Works Festival will pilot this spring during the week of May 4, with public readings and events on May 8 and 9, 2026. The May events will feature local writers and Resident Artists Isaiah Reaves and Maggie Lou Rader, as well as nationally recognized playwright Nathan Alan Davis, who will workshop a brand-new commissioned play. Davis’s play Origin Story was produced by the Playhouse in 2023.

The official launch of Made in Cincy: New Works Festival will take place this fall. Development work with artists will occur during the week of September 28, culminating in a schedule of events on October 3 and 4, 2026. TALK runs September 26 to October 25, with official opening night on October 1.

Rebeck is an award-winning and widely produced playwright, television and film writer and novelist, whose work can be seen and read throughout the United States and abroad. She is the most Broadway-produced female playwright of our time. Her Broadway plays include Dead Accounts, which had its world premiere at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park.

Other 2026-27 season titles include Arun Lakra’s high-tech thriller HEIST; Brandon Jacob-Jenkin’s Pulitzer and Tony Award-winning PURPOSE; the return of the hit musical about King Records, CINCINNATI KING by KJ Sanchez; Jeffrey Hatcher’s new adaptation of the psychological thriller ROPE; and the regional premiere of Douglas Lyons witty rom-com, TABLE 17.

“From Pulitzer Prize winners and edge of your seat suspense to romantic comedy and musical celebrations, our new season offers the variety that Playhouse audiences have come to know and love,” said Robison. “We’ve put together an exciting and bold mix of storytelling, including some fun genres you might usually associate with film – thrillers, crime capers and rom-com – that will have uniquely theatrical stagings to entertain live audiences.”

The 2026-27 Season features:

  • Edge of your seat suspense in HEIST, a high-tech crime caper, and ROPE, a psychological thriller known for the Hitchcock film of the same name.
  • A celebration of Cincinnati’s rich music history with the return of the King Records musical CINCINNATI KING.
  • The witty romantic comedy TABLE 17 and a heartfelt, humorous look at dating in THE TWELVE DATES OF CHRISTMAS.
  • Pulitzer Prize winners PURPOSE, the celebrated Broadway play and winner of the Tony Award, and I AM MY OWN WIFE, based on a fascinating true story.
  • TALK, a world premiere and razor-sharp satire by award-winning Broadway playwright and Cincinnati native Theresa Rebeck and centerpiece of the inaugural Made in Cincy: New Works Festival.
  • GET HAPPY: ANGELA INGERSOLL SINGS JUDY GARLAND, a special concert event featuring an Emmy-nominated performance seen on PBS.
  • SEASON EXTRAS: The annual holiday favorite, A CHRISTMAS CAROL, and a special limited engagement, MIND READER with acclaimed mentalist Vinny DePonto.

2026-27 MOE AND JACK’S PLACE – THE ROUSE THEATRE SEASON

Presented by Schueler Group

 

MC and Tom Brennan present
HEIST
By Arun Lakra
Directed by Blake Robison
Co-Produced with Milwaukee Repertory Theater and Gulfshore Playhouse
September 12 – October 11, 2026

Production Sponsor: Johnson Investment Counsel
Honorary Producer: Barbara Weyand

Short Description:
Inspired by movies like Ocean’s Eleven, Now You See Me and The Sting – this theatrical caper is a high-tech mystery for the stage. When a team of professional thieves assembles to pull off one last job, the heist goes sideways into a web of danger, betrayal and double crosses. Blending quick-witted banter and heart-pounding suspense with a high-octane production, Heist  takes you on a fun and thrilling ride.

One Liner:
Inspired by movies like Ocean’s Eleven, this high-tech mystery takes you on a fun and heart-pounding thrill ride.

Ellen and Ray van der Horst present
GET HAPPY: ANGELA INGERSOLL SINGS JUDY GARLAND
An Artists Lounge Live Production
October 17 – November 7, 2026

Production Sponsor: Elizabeth Hendy, in loving memory of David G. Hendy

Short Description:
In a vibrant, Emmy-nominated performance seen on PBS, award-winning actress Angela Ingersoll sings the works of Judy Garland in this special concert event. Backed by a dynamite band, Ingersoll delivers virtuosic vocals, passionate storytelling, humor and heart. Classic songs include “Get Happy,” “The Trolley Song,” “The Man That Got Away,” “That’s Entertainment!” and, of course, “Over the Rainbow.” Don’t miss this entertaining and unforgettable tribute to an American icon.

One-Liner:
In a vibrant, Emmy-nominated performance seen on PBS, award-winning actress Angela Ingersoll sings the works of Judy Garland in this special concert event.

First Financial Bank presents
A CHRISTMAS CAROL
By Charles Dickens
Adapted and Originally Directed by Blake Robison
Directed by Bridget Leak
November 20 – December 27, 2026

SEASON EXTRA: Not part of season ticket packages.

Short Description:
The holiday story you love unfolds in spectacular fashion in Moe and Jack’s Place – The Rouse Theatre! Charles Dickens’ classic tale of the curmudgeon Ebenezer Scrooge, who finds his heart changing one fateful Christmas Eve, combines with dazzling set, costume and lighting designs to create a magical experience for your family!

One Liner: 
The holiday story you love unfolds with dazzling set, costume and lighting designs to create a magical experience for your family!

Fifth Third Bank presents
CINCINNATI KING
Written and Directed by KJ Sanchez
January 30 – February 28, 2027

Production Sponsors: The Greenberg Family, in loving memory of Linda Greenberg, and The Markley Family

SHORT DESCRIPTION:
Celebrate Cincinnati’s King Records in the return of the hit musical that traces the groundbreaking rise of music pioneer Syd Nathan and the artists he produced. Based on interviews, the show chronicles behind-the-scenes tales of King Records hits including “The Twist,” “Blues Stay Away From Me,” “Fever” and “Need Your Love So Bad.” Cincinnati King shines the spotlight on the Queen City’s music roots.

ONE-LINER:
Celebrate Cincinnati’s rich music history with the return of the hit musical about King Records.

Moe & Jack Rouse and Randolph Wadsworth present
PURPOSE
By Branden Jacobs-Jenkins
Directed by Tyrone Phillips
March 13 – April 4, 2027

SHORT DESCRIPTION:
Winner of the Tony Award for Best Play and the Pulitzer Prize, this riveting and hilarious new drama lays bare the influential Jasper family, led by a renowned Civil Rights leader and his formidable wife. When their adult sons return home for a celebration, the evening unravels and ignites long-simmering tensions. Accusations fly and secrets are laid bare as the Jaspers must reckon with their faith, their legacy and their purpose.

ONE-LINER:
Winner of the Tony Award and the Pulitzer Prize, this riveting and hilarious drama lays bare the long-simmering tensions and secrets of one influential family.

Leading Ladies presents
ROPE
Adapted by Jeffrey Hatcher
Based on the play “Rope’s End” by Patrick Hamilton
Directed by Blake Robison
April 24 – May 23, 2027

Honorary Producer: The Lemmerman Family

SHORT DESCRIPTION:
The gripping psychological thriller that inspired the Alfred Hitchcock and Jimmy Stewart film of the same name gets a tantalizing new adaptation. Two young men commit “the perfect murder,” then host a dinner party in the very room where the body is hidden. As the evening progresses, tension builds from one moment to the next as one of the killers grows bolder and the other gets increasingly nervous. Will they get away with murder? Rope will captivate fans of suspense-filled thrillers and leave you breathless.

ONE-LINER:
The gripping psychological thriller that inspired the Alfred Hitchcock film of the same name gets a tantalizing new adaptation.

ROSENTHAL SHELTERHOUSE THEATRE

Season presented by The Vontz Family

Digi and Mike Schueler present
TALK
World Premiere
By Theresa Rebeck
Directed by Melisa Annis
September 26 – October 25, 2026

Production Sponsor: The Roy Cockrum Foundation
Season Sponsor of New Work: Nancy and Mark Dawes

SHORT DESCRIPTION:
This world premiere delivers biting satire of the current media environment and will no doubt get people talking. When an unplanned guest is added to the mix of standard talking heads during a live news talk show, the conversation goes off the rails, and the show descends into chaos. All political points of view are represented, and all are skewered as this razor-sharp and funny play shines a satirical spotlight on news and dialogue in today’s fast-moving media world. A centerpiece of the inaugural Made in Cincy: New Works Festival, Talk was commissioned by the Playhouse from the award-winning Broadway and Hollywood writer and Cincinnati native Theresa Rebeck.

ONE-LINER:
A razor-sharp and funny world premiere that shines a satirical spotlight on the current media environment.

THE TWELVE DATES OF CHRISTMAS
By Ginna Hoben
Directed by Laura Kepley
November 7 – December 27, 2026

SHORT DESCRIPTION:
After seeing her fiancé kissing another woman on the televised Thanksgiving Day Parade, Mary’s life falls apart – just in time for the holidays. Newly single, she stumbles through the emotional, and often comically absurd, minefield of dating over the next year with each milestone on the calendar bringing dating misadventures. Until the following Christmas arrives and an unexpected encounter opens her heart and a new way forward. This heartfelt one-woman comedy brings humor and a fresh, modern spirit to the holiday season.

ONE-LINER:
This heartfelt one-woman comedy about dating misadventures brings a fresh, modern spirit to the holiday season.

SPECIAL LIMITED ENGAGEMENT – TWO WEEKS ONLY
SEASON EXTRA: Not part of season ticket packages.

MIND READER
Created and performed by Vinny DePonto
January 26 – February 7, 2027

Join acclaimed theatre-maker and mentalist Vinny DePonto for an evening of mind reading, psychic experiments and unexplained phenomena.

I AM MY OWN WIFE
By Doug Wright
Directed by Joanie Schultz
February 20 – March 21, 2027

Honorary Producer: Marty C. Tomb

SHORT DESCRIPTION:
Based on a true story and inspired by interviews conducted by the playwright, I Am My Own Wife is the fascinating tale of Charlotte von Mahlsdorf, an elegant and eccentric German trans woman who, against all odds managed to survive the Nazis during World War II and the repressive Communist regime that followed. Winner of the Pulitzer Prize, one actor gives a tour-de-force performance of over 30 roles in this profound story of survival.

ONE-LINER:
This Pulitzer Prize-winning play recounts the fascinating and true tale of an eccentric German trans woman who survived World War II and its aftermath.

TABLE 17
By Douglas Lyons
April 3 – May 16, 2027

SHORT DESCRIPTION:
Romance, regrets and second chances play out in this entertaining rom-com for the stage. Once engaged, Jada and Dallas meet for dinner to untangle their complicated past. Despite the intrusion of a cheeky waiter and their best efforts to keep it casual, an undeniable spark still lingers. A hit off-Broadway and in Los Angeles, Table 17 is a witty new comedy about love found, lost and possibly reignited. If you love a rom-com, this play is for you!

ONE-LINER:
Romance, regrets and second chances play out in this witty rom-com.

2026-27 SEASON TICKET INFORMATION:

Current season ticket holders must renew by April 24 to save their seats or to make a request to change them. Season tickets include exclusive benefits like the best prices, payment installments, discounted parking, and first access to A CHRISTMAS CAROL and MIND READER. Purchase those productions with season tickets to add the cost to a payment plan. Season ticket packages start with as few as three shows and range from $114 to $734.50, depending on the seat location and the productions included. A student season ticket package is available for $18 per production.

Purchase by visiting the Playhouse website at www.cincyplay.com or by calling the Box Office at 513-421-3888 or 800-582-3208 toll-free in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. For TDD (Telecommunications Device for the Deaf) access, call 513-345-2248. The Playhouse is fully accessible.

The Playhouse 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 the Playhouse with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans.

All 2026-27 season illustrations, except MIND READER, by Kenton Brett.

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