(CINCINNATI) – Incoming Artistic Director Blake Robison today announced his first season at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, which includes a variety of thrilling dramas, hilarious comedies and a mesmerizing musical to move, inspire, challenge and entertain Cincinnati audiences.
Some of the highlights of the 2012-2013 season include:
- A swashbuckling adventure and a seafaring expedition — journeys for the entire family in THE THREE MUSEKEETERS and SHIPWRECKED!
- The world premieres of ABIGAIL/1702 and LEVELING UP by two exciting up-and-coming voices, Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and Deborah Zoe Laufer.
- Two classics from American masters Neil Simon and Horton Foote: BRIGHTON BEACH MEMOIRS and THE TRIP TO BOUNTIFUL.
- The music of legendary country artist Hank Williams in HANK WILLIAMS: LOST HIGHWAY.
- Dayton native Daniel Beaty’s THROUGH THE NIGHT receives its regional premiere after a triumphant off-Broadway debut.
According to Playhouse incoming Artistic Director Blake Robison, “It is an honor and a privilege to take the reins as the Playhouse’s new artistic director. To me, there is so much to celebrate here at the Playhouse — from the tremendous legacy of Ed Stern to the unlimited possibilities before us. What excites me most about joining the Playhouse family is the vibrant role that this theatre plays within the region. The doors to the Playhouse are wide open, and we aim to invite as many people as possible inside.
The Robert S. Marx Theatre Season
(sponsored by The Otto M. Budig Family Foundation)
The Marx Theatre season opens with an action-packed update of one of the greatest adventure stories of all time, THE THREE MUSKETEERS, by Ken Ludwig and adapted from the novel by Alexandre Dumas (September 1 – September 29, 2012; opening night: September 6). It’s all for one and one for all in this rousing story of heroism, treachery and honor. Young Frenchman D’Artagnan and his plucky sister Sabine aspire to join the famed Musketeers. But they get more than they bargained for when they stumble into the center of a bitter rivalry between King Louis and the evil Cardinal Richelieu. Incoming Artistic Director Blake Robison will helm the production. Playwright Ken Ludwig said, “I simply couldn’t be happier that Blake has chosen my play to open his tenure at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park. I know from first-hand experience that he is one of the genuinely great theatre artists in America, and I’m honored that he’ll be directing THE THREE MUSKETEERS. I’ve admired the Playhouse for years and years, and with Blake at the helm of this remarkable theatre, I know that I’m in the best of hands.”
The season continues with BRIGHTON BEACH MEMOIRS (October 13 – November 10, 2012, opening night: October 18) by Neil Simon, one of comedy’s all-time masters. It’s 1937, and 15-year-old Eugene Morris Jerome lives in close quarters with his extended family in this delightful coming-of-age story. While the daily dramas of his parents, brother, cousins and aunt swirl around him, Eugene spends his days dreaming of playing for his beloved Yankees … when he’s not thinking about girls or setting the table for dinner. Neil Simon’s semi-autobiographical play is a heartfelt love letter to his own Jewish childhood and proof that family harmonies and disharmonies transcend time and place. Time called BRIGHTON BEACH MEMOIRS “Humorous and poignant … something to celebrate.” Artistic Director Steven Woolf from The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis will direct.
For the holidays, the Playhouse will celebrate the 22nd anniversary of its favorite seasonal tradition with Charles Dickens’ A CHRISTMAS CAROL, presented by U.S. Bank (November 29 – December 30, 2012; opening night: November 30). The Playhouse’s production, starring Cincinnati favorite Bruce Cromer as Ebenezer Scrooge, features a lovingly faithful adaptation by Howard Dallin, complete with a cast of nearly 30 actors and elaborate costumes and special effects.
A CHRISTMAS CAROL is not part of any subscription package, although subscribers do receive discounts and early buying opportunities. Associate Artistic Director Michael Evan Haney directs for his 20th year.
Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, one of the hottest up-and-coming playwrights in the United States, has written ABIGAIL/1702 (January 19 – February 17, 2013; opening night: January 24), a thrilling and imaginative world premiere for Cincinnati audiences. What really happened to The Crucible’s Abigail Williams after she stole through Salem’s forest one dark night in search of a new life and new beginning? Ten years have passed since the infamous witch trials, but Abigail still struggles to atone for her sins, the ones history remembers — and darker ones that live in her heart. As she cares for a young sailor on the brink of death, a mysterious stranger from Abigail’s past catches up with her, sending her on one final, suspense-filled quest for redemption. Blake Robison directs.
Horton Foote’s gentle Southern humor in THE TRIP TO BOUNTIFUL (March 9 – April 7, 2013; opening night: March 14) shines anew as an African-American cast offers a subtle new perspective on the universal themes of this life-affirming play. Trapped in a cramped Houston apartment with her son and his self-indulgent wife, Carrie Watts fantasizes about realizing her greatest ambition: returning to the Gulf Coast town of Bountiful and seeing her beloved childhood home one last time. Armed with her latest pension check, a wily stubbornness and limitless determination, Carrie embarks on the inspirational journey of a lifetime. The Plain Dealer calls THE TRIP TO BOUNTIFUL “American theater at its most engaging.” Timothy Douglas will direct.
Finally, the Marx Season concludes with a sultry, sexy and spellbinding noir thriller of love and murder. DOUBLE INDEMNITY (April 20 – May 18, 2013; opening night: April 25) by James M. Cain and adapted for the stage by David Pichette and R. Hamilton Wright, tells the story of a beguiling seductress and morally bankrupt insurance agent who plot to kill the unsuspecting husband who stands in the way of their budding romance. But will they get away with their perfect crime? DOUBLE INDEMNITY is a scintillating new stage version of the novel that inspired one of the most popular noir films of all time. Michael Evan Haney will direct.
The Thompson Shelterhouse Season
(sponsored by Heidelberg Distributing Co.)
The Thompson Shelterhouse season begins with a tour-de-force performance by Dayton, Ohio, native Daniel Beaty in THROUGH THE NIGHT (September 22 – October 21, 2012; opening night: September 27). This hard-hitting and inspirational story embodies the stories of six African-American men, ranging in age from 10 to 60, whose lives are intertwined in beautiful and unexpected ways during one life-changing evening. Daniel Beaty’s signature style displays a dazzling blend of humor, poetry, music and drama that earned him Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle award nominations. The New York Times called THROUGH THE NIGHT “A thing of beauty … with lines that cut deep and evoke tears of unexpected hope.” THROUGH THE NIGHT is presented by special arrangement with Daryl Roth.
Rolling Stone describes HANK WILLIAMS: LOST HIGHWAY (November 3, 2012 – December 30, 2012; opening night: November 8) as “Exhilarating! Serves up classic country with the edges raw and the energy hot.” Written by Randal Myler and Mark Harelik, LOST HIGHWAY goes beyond the legend to the roots of Hank Williams’ music. The journey starts in the backwoods of Alabama and winds up at center stage of the Grand Ole Opry. Featuring more than 20 of the singer’s most popular songs, including “Your Cheatin’ Heart,” “Hey, Good Lookin’” and “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry,” LOST HIGHWAY is an honest and mesmerizing portrait of the drifting cowboy who became one of the most influential country artists of all time. Hank Williams recorded some of his greatest hits right here in Cincinnati. Co-creator Randal Myler will direct.
The fuzzy line between reality and virtual reality is explored in the exciting world premiere of LEVELING UP (February 9 – March 10, 2013; opening night: February 14) by Deborah Zoe Laufer. Four 20-somethings struggle to transition from college to a “real” life that is rarely spent outside the glare of the video game monitors in their Las Vegas basement. What they find is a world of grown-up relationships that require levels of intimacy far beyond the social shield of technology. When one member of the circle is recruited by the NSA to pilot remote missiles, he’s ill equipped to handle the moral ambiguities raised in this thought-provoking and often humorous play.
The development of LEVELING UP was supported by the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center during a residency at the National Playwrights Conference of 2011. Wendy C. Goldberg will direct.
THE BOOK CLUB PLAY (March 23 – April 28, 2013; opening night: March 28) by Karen Zacarías is a comedy about books and the people who love them. When the members of a devoted book club become the subjects of a documentary filmmaker, their intimate discussions of life and literature take on new meaning with the camera rolling. Add in the unexpected arrival of a provocative new member and the sudden inclusion of some questionable titles, and long-standing group dynamics take a hilarious turn. Blake Robison will direct this engaging play that is sprinkled with wit, joy and novels galore.
The Shelterhouse season closes with a charming, family-friendly frolic in SHIPWRECKED! AN ENTERAINMENT – THE AMAZING ADVENTURES OF LOUIS DE ROUGEMONT (AS TOLD BY HIMSELF) (May 11 – June 16, 2013; opening night: May 16) by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Donald Margulies. Celebrate the magic of theatre and imagination by hearing the amazing story of Louis de Rougemont, a would-be explorer who embarks from Victorian England on a daring expedition only to find himself marooned on a remote desert island. That’s when the real adventure begins for Louis and his faithful dog Bruno: Typhoon! Killer octopus! Flying wombats! Cannibals! As Louis’ breathless tale grows larger and larger, the boundary between truth and fiction blurs.
Subscriptions to the 2012-13 Playhouse season are available now in a variety of packages. Subscribe by April 30 for the lowest prices of the season. Prices range from $135 for the popular preview performances to $345 for the five-show Robert S. Marx Season, $135 to $353 for the five Thompson Shelterhouse shows and $270 to $628 for the full 10-show combination series package. The popular Build Your Own subscription package allows patrons to create their own season of four to nine shows in either theatre, with prices ranging from $118 to $576 depending on the performance and number of shows selected. Subscription prices increase May 1.
The Playhouse is continuing to offer three-, six- and nine-month payment options for subscribers. Some restrictions apply.
A student Build Your Own package allows full-time students to pick as few as four shows and as many as 10 from either theatre for as little as $22 per show. The Baby Sitter Rebate Series allows a couple purchasing two full subscriptions in the Marx Theatre to attend any performance and receive $100 at the end of the season to help cover the cost of baby sitters.
A Christmas Carol is on sale now to 2012-13 subscribers only. Subscribers save $5 on the very best seats to any performance of the Playhouse’s popular holiday production. Subscribers may also purchase tickets for children and teens to The Three Musketeers and Shipwrecked! at a special discounted rate.
The Playhouse is supported, in part, by the generosity of the tens of thousands of individuals and businesses that give to ArtsWave.
The Ohio Arts Council helps fund the Playhouse with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans.
The Playhouse also receives funding from the Shubert Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts.
Behind the Curtain Cincinnati 