(Cincinnati, OH) Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati (ETC) kicks off the new year with the regional premiere drama August Wilson’s How I Learned What I Learned, co-conceived by Todd Kreidler. Following his rise from a young poet to the literary giant we honor today, this timeless and heartfelt memoir charts one man’s journey of self-discovery and what it means to be a Black artist in America. Playing February 17 – March 10, 2024. Directed by Torie Wiggins. Sponsored by The Grant & Ross Family in honor of Fred & Sondra Ross.
From Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright August Wilson comes a one-man show that chronicles his life as a Black artist in Pittsburgh’s Hill District. From stories about his first jobs to his first loves and his experiences with racism, Wilson recounts his life from his roots to the completion of The American Century Cycle. How I Learned What I Learned gives an inside look into one of the most celebrated playwriting voices of the twentieth century. Actor “ranney” delivers a nonstop, spellbinding performance of the literary giant we honor today.
“August Wilson is such a heroic figure and brought to light human emotions with such a poignant and powerful vision,” explains ETC Producing Artistic Director D. Lynn Meyers. “I can’t imagine a more extraordinary moment than to sit in an audience and listen about his own life in his own words. How I Learned What I Learned gives us a deeper appreciation for the life of a playwright and the inspiration that sculpts their voice, and it reminds us that who you are is indelibly shaped by where you are. I just find it too shatteringly interesting of a story for us not to present it.”
About the Cast & Director
“ranney” (Actor) was last seen at Ensemble Theatre as Brucie in Sweat. He has five decades in the performing arts as a multi-disciplinarian. His acting credits include The Piano Lesson, A Public Fit Theatre Company; Fences, Hymn, and Art, Shakespeare & Company; Amen Corner, Hamlet, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, and Fences, Cincinnati Shakespeare Company; Two Trains Running and Radio Golf, American Stage Company; Seven Guitars and Water by the Spoonful, Nevada Conservatory Theatre; The Piano Lesson, Center Theatre Co.; and The Bomb-itty of Errors, American Stage, Chicago Shakespeare, The Helix, and The Ambassadors Theatre. As a comedian, he has headlined internationally and shared billing with Martin Lawrence, Chris Rock, and Paul Mooney. He has nine one-man show credits, which include And the Horse You Rode in On, Projects Arts Centre; Whatever, People’s Improv Theater; Incendiary, The Straz Center; and Cufflinks and Jolly Ranchers for Dummies, Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
ETC Artistic Associate Torie Wiggins (Director) has been a storyteller all her life. She has co-adapted and performed a one woman show, Your Negro Tour Guide, at various venues across the country, with a grand finale at Ensemble Theatre as part of a double bill with I Shall Not be Moved by Isaiah Reaves. She has performed with many local theaters including Know Theatre of Cincinnati, Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati, The Human Race Theatre Company, Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, and Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park. She has also worked with WAM Theatre in The Berkshires and The Resident Acting Company in New York City. Her directing credits include We Are Proud to Present. . . and Good Kids at Miami University Department of Theatre, Dreamgirls and Proof at The Carnegie Theater, I Shall Not Be Moved at Ensemble Theatre, and Blues for an Alabama Sky at Falcon Theatre. After being commissioned for smaller projects, her first play, See Me, was selected to be a part of ETC’s justice-themed 10 Minute Connections. Her play Who All Over There? received its world premiere as part of Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati’s 2022-2023 mainstage season.
Production team: Brian c. Mehring (Resident Scenic & Lighting Designer), Daryl L. Harris (Costume Designer), Matt Callahan (Sound Designer), Becca Schall (Projection Designer), Shannon Rae Lutz (Properties Curator & Design Assistant), Jacob Dowell (Technical Director), and Chris Lipstreu (Associate Production Manager). Production Stage Manager is Lexi Muller. Assistant Stage Manager is ErinMarie Suscheck.
Performance Information
Performances Tuesday-Saturday at 7:30 pm; Saturday & Sunday at 2:00 pm. Performances vary. A complete calendar of performances is available at http://www.ensemblecincinnati.org.
Ticket Prices
Tickets for adults start at $35 with ETC’s 30 for $35 discount; student tickets are $28; and children are $24. Half-Price Rush Tickets: All remaining tickets for the current day’s performance(s) are available two hours prior to each show time for half-price (discount only applies to adult tickets) when purchasing by phone or in person. 30 for $35: For every mainstage performance, thirty tickets will be available for $35 each with the promo code 30F35. These are first come, first serve, and the promo code will not apply the discount if all tickets have already been claimed. $15 Student Rush Tickets: Students may purchase up to two $15 student rush tickets two hours prior to show time with valid student I.D. Available in person only.
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2023-2024 Season Presenting Sponsor is the LKC Foundation.
Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati is supported, in part, by the generosity of community contributions to the ArtsWave Campaign.
The Ohio Arts Council helps fund Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans. Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati also receives funding from the Shubert Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts.
Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati is a professional theatre dedicated to producing world and regional premieres of works that often explore compelling social issues. We fulfill our mission through our stage productions and educational outreach programs that enlighten, enliven, enrich, and inspire our audiences.
The Mason Community Players is the oldest continually operating community theater organization in Warren County, OH. The group operates and performs at the Mason Community Playhouse, located at 5529 Mason Rd. in Mason, OH. Since its creation in 1973, the Mason Community Players has brought more than 120 productions and 30 original musical reviews to audiences in Mason, Ohio. More importantly, the group has become a family for the community, involving people of all ages on stage, backstage, and as spectators. 
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