Tag Archives: Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park

November 6, 2026 · 7:46 am

Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park Presents TWELVE DATES OF CHRISTMAS

CINCINNATI PLAYHOUSE IN THE PARK PRESENTS HOLIDAY COMEDY THE TWELVE DATES OF CHRISTMAS

Tickets now on sale for performances Nov. 7 – Dec. 27, 2026

CINCINNATI (Nov. 5, 2026 ) – A heartfelt one-woman comedy about dating, THE TWELVE DATES OF CHRISTMAS, comes to Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park beginning Nov. 7. Performances take place in the Rosenthal Shelterhouse Theatre and run through Dec. 27, 2026. Opening night is Nov. 12.

THE TWELVE DATES OF CHRISTMAS follows Mary’s life after she sees her fiancé kissing another woman on the televised Thanksgiving Day Parade. Newly single, she stumbles through the emotional, and often comically absurd, minefield of the dating world over the next year. Each milestone on the calendar brings misadventures: Christmas, New Year’s Eve, and St. Patrick’s Day are marked by awkward dates; wedding season in June delivers its own string of disappointments; and Halloween proves to be an outright horror. Until the following Christmas arrives and an unexpected encounter opens her heart and a new way forward.

“Finding love, especially romantic love, drives so much of our behavior,” said the show’s director Laura Kepley. “And that quest makes for great stories!”

A one-woman show with a fresh, modern spirit, THE TWELVE DATES OF CHRISTMAS provides a quirky, adult comedy offering this holiday season.

Individual and season tickets are now on sale for THE TWELVE DATES OF CHRISTMAS at cincyplay.com.


ARTISTS

Cast

  • Mary/Others Maya Jackson*

Creative Team

  • Playwright          Ginna Hoben
  • Director          Laura Kepley
  • Set Designer Jennifer Rhodus
  • Costume Designer Gordon DeVinney
  • Lighting Designer Michael Boll
  • Sound Designer Jane Shaw
  • Casting Director Stephanie Klapper, CSA
  • Stage Manager          Andrea L. Shell*
  • Assistant Stage Manager Carolyn Fast*

*Member of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.

TICKETS
Tickets from $39, depending on seat location and performance day.

Preview performances take place on Nov. 7, Nov. 10 and Nov. 11 at 7:30 p.m. Prices vary depending on performance. Opening performance is Nov. 12 at 7:30 p.m. Regular performances will take place on Tuesdays-Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 2 and 7:30p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. A matinee performance will take place on Wednesday, Nov. 25 at 1 p.m. To purchase tickets or for more information, call the Playhouse Box Office at 513-421-3888 (toll-free in Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana at 800-582-3208) or visit cincyplay.com. Patrons who are deaf, hard-of-hearing, deaf-blind or speech disabled: dial 711 to connect to the Box Office via Ohio Relay Services.

EVENTS
Preview Performances: Be among the first to see the show before opening night and save! Preview performance tickets are discounted.

  • Sat., Nov. 7 at 7:30 p.m. 
  • Tue., Nov. 10 at 7:30 p.m. 
  • Wed., Nov. 11 at 7:30 p.m.

Art Talks: Stay after select performances for a behind-the-scenes discussion with members of the artistic team.

  • Sun., Nov. 15 at 2 p.m. 
  • Sun., Nov. 22 at 2 p.m. 
  • Wed., Nov. 25 at 7:30 p.m. 
  • Thu., Dec. 3 at 7:30 p.m.

Audio-Described Performance: Trained volunteers describe the visual elements of the production via a hearing enhancement system, allowing patrons to hear dialogue, music and other sound effects. The description is timed to avoid interfering with dialogue. Before the show and during intermission, show and actor information are shared.

  • Tue., Dec. 8 at 7:30 p.m. 

ADVISORY
THE TWELVE DATES OF CHRISTMAS is recommended for older teenage and adult audiences. As a newly single woman navigates her life post breakup, she journeys into the dating world and describes her mishaps with adult relationships using strong language and providing strong laughs.

SPONSORS
THE TWELVE DATES OF CHRISTMAS Production Sponsors are Ron Matson and Daniel Young. Design Sponsors are Joann and Charles Mead. Artist Sponsor In Memory of Dr. Bob and Suzanne Hasl. The 2026-27 Season is presented by The Vontz
Family.

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.

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October 29, 2026 · 6:22 pm

A CHRISTMAS CAROL at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park Runs Nov. 20-Dec. 27

A CHRISTMAS CAROL
Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park
Nov. 20-Dec. 27
Rouse Theatre [Eden Park]

Directed by Bridget Leak

The holiday story you love unfolds in spectacular fashion in Moe and Jack’s Place – The Rouse Theatre! In Charles Dickens’ classic tale, Ebenezer Scrooge is a greedy curmudgeon who finds his heart changing when three spirits and the ghost of a long-lost friend show him the errors of his ways. Across one fateful Christmas Eve night, Scrooge recalls the warmth and generosity of past loved ones, learns the value of kindness through Tiny Tim and the Cratchit family and glimpses a terrifying future should his heart remain the same. Featuring dazzling set, costume and lighting designs, A Christmas Carol promises a magical holiday experience for your family. A Christmas Carol  is suitable for general audiences, including children ages 5 and older. However, some younger children could find a couple of the ghostly appearances a little scary. Due to the full-length nature of the show, children younger than 5 cannot be admitted.

  • In preview Fri-Sat, Nov. 20-21 at 7pm
  • Sun, Nov. 22 at 2pm
  • Wed, Nov. 25 at 7pm
  • Fri, Nov. 27 at 7pm
  • Sat, Nov. 28 at 12pm
  • Sat, Nov. 28 at 7pm
  • Sun, Nov. 29 at 2pm
  • Wed-Fri, Dec. 2-4 at 7pm
  • Sat, Dec. 5 at 2pm & 7pm
  • Sun, Dec. 6 at 2pm
  • Tue-Fri, Dec. 8-11 at 7pm
  • Sat, Dec. 12 at 2pm & 7pm
  • Sun, Dec. 13 at 2pm
  • Tue-Fri, Dec. 15-18 at 7pm
  • Sat, Dec. 19 at 2pm & 7pm
  • Sun, Dec. 20 at 2pm
  • Mon, Dec. 21 at 7pm
  • Tue-Wed, Dec 22-23 at 2pm & 7pm
  • Sat, Dec. 26 at 2pm & 7pm
  • Sun, Dec. 27 at 2pm

Official page |

 

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October 13, 2026 · 6:13 pm

THE TWELVE DATES OF CHRISTMAS at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park Runs Nov. 7-Dec. 27

THE TWELVE DATES OF CHRISTMAS
Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park
Nov. 7-Dec. 27
Rosenthal Shelterhouse Theatre [Eden Park]

Directed by Laura Kepley

Cast: Maya Jackson as Mary/Others

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 the dating world over the next year. Each milestone on the calendar brings misadventures: Christmas, New Year’s Eve, and St. Patrick’s Day are marked by awkward dates; wedding season in June delivers its own string of disappointments; and Halloween proves to be an outright horror. 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. Advisory: The Twelve Dates of Christmas is recommended for older teenage and adult audiences. 

  • In preview, Sat, Nov. 7 at 7:30pm
  • In preview, Tue-Wed, Nov. 10-11 at 7:30pm
  • Thu-Fri, Nov. 12-13 at 7:30pm
  • Sat, Nov. 14 at 2pm & 7:30pm
  • Sun, Nov. 15 at 2pm
  • Tue-Fri, Nov. 17-20 at 7:30pm
  • Sat, Nov. 21 at 2pm & 7:30pm
  • Sun, Nov. 22 at 2pm
  • Tue, Nov. 24 at 7:30pm
  • Wed, Nov. 25 at 1pm & 7:30pm
  • Fri, Nov. 27 at 7:30pm
  • Sat, Nov. 28 at 2pm & 7:30pm
  • Sun, Nov. 29 at 2pm
  • Wed-Fri, Dec. 2-4 at 7:30pm
  • Sat, Dec. 5 at 2pm & 7:30pm
  • Sun, Dec. 6 at 2pm
  • Tue-Fri, Dec. 8-11 at 7:30pm
  • Sat, Dec. 12 at 2pm & 7:30pm
  • Sun, Dec. 13 at 2pm
  • Tue-Fri, Dec. 15-18 at 7:30pm
  • Sat, Dec. 19 at 2pm & 7:30pm
  • Sun, Dec. 20 at 2pm
  • Tue-Wed, Dec. 22-23 at 2pm & 7:30pm
  • Sat, Dec. 26 at 2pm & 7:30pm
  • Sun, Dec. 27 at 2pm

Official page |

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September 29, 2026 · 5:18 pm

MADE IN CINCY NEW WORKS FESTIVAL at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park Runs Oct. 2-3

 

MADE IN CINCINNATI NEW WORKS FESTIVAL
Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park 
Oct. 2-3
[Eden Park]

Made in Cincy: New Works Festival successfully piloted in May with plays by Nathan Alan Davis, Maggie Lou Rader and Isaiah Reaves. All the play readings were sold out with waiting lists, and the audiences engaged in conversations with the playwrights, contributing to this critical stage in development. It was a testament that our community shows up for artists and for new work.

All readings and the panel discussion are free, but advance reservations are required. Parking may be reserved and purchased in advance at a discounted rate.

  • OPHELIA’S GHOST by Amy Berryman
    Staged reading and post-show discussion with the playwright
    Oct. 2 at 5pm
  • THE BEST LITTLE CAT HOUSE IN SCAB HOLLER by Maggie Lou Rader
    Staged reading and post-show discussion with the playwright
    Oct. 3 at 11am
  • FESTIVAL PANEL DISCUSSION 
    With playwrights Amy Berryman, Tony Meneses and Maggie Lou Radar
    Oct. 3 at 2pm
  • THE MYTH OF THE TWO MARCOS by Tony Meneses
    Staged reading and post-show discussion with the playwright
    Oct. 3 at 5pm

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September 22, 2026 · 5:00 pm

HEIST Review

By Katrina “Kat” Reynolds

HEIST presented by Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park through October 11th. I attended the Opening Night performance.

The Cast of HEIST presented by Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park. Photo by Mikki Schaffner.

Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park opens their 2026-2027 season at Moe and Jack’s Place – The Rouse Theatre with HEIST by Arun Lakra. Co-Produced with Milwaukee Repertory Theater and Gulfshore Playhouse, it is described as a “high-tech mystery for the stage” where a heist goes wrong, leading to broken trust and new danger.

Osborn Family Producing Artistic Director Blake Robison leads the brigade on this adventure. His direction of the action and his attention to detail are solid. Pacing could use some help, but this is of no fault of Mr. Robison’s (see my final paragraph). Set Designer Tim Mackabee gives us a sleek and versatile set with is complemented by Lighting Designer Jaymi Lee Smith’s bold and unique choices to fit the moods. Projection Design by Joe Payne is used in the right doses, but I do wonder if we needed so much of it to be AI-generated. Much of it could have been rendered by an animation artist, thus giving an independent artist the work. Food for thought.

Chemistry is key in a caper production and the performing artists satisfy the brief. Brian Vaughn is outstanding as Martin, the leader of the proverbial pack. His character is the narrator in this tale and Mr. Vaughn juxtaposes between breaking the fourth wall and being in the thick of things with seamless expertise. I’d love to have an Old Fashioned with him one of these days. Angel Lin is a stand-out as Fiona and I immediately picked up on the idea that she had to be a voice artist. (I was right, for the record.) Fiona is ridiculously smart to the point of being not-so-smart in less cerebral aspects and Ms. Lin commits to it.

The remaining ensemble members are no slouches, either. Alex Purcell is fundamentally believable as Ryan, Martin’s second-in-command – he has a certain “everyman” quality to him; Jessica Fishenfeld plays Angie with a plausible level of cunning and an exceptional physical prowess; Brian Thomas Abraham is appropriately both menacing and amusing as Kruger; and Kate Goehring’s turn as The Spider is masterful.

While HEIST is not altogether terribly original, I personally love a good bit of action and intrigue. The show is full of energy – which is why I question the motive behind the cadence of the flashbacks. Rather than giving the “behind-the-scenes” or “this is what really happened” point of view in larger increments, there is a constant switch between present and past day with every development. This not only slows the growing momentum, but it treats the audience like they aren’t very bright and feels a bit cheap. But even though some of it is what you might expect, even I was surprised by a thing or two. All in all, HEIST is well-executed, action-packed, and just plain good fun.

P.S. If we see each other out in the wild and you want to know the exact moment when I figured out one of the big mysteries, I’ll be happy to share – but this review, like all my others, will remain spoiler-free.

Click here for more information about the production.

 

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