Tickets now on sale for performances Sept. 26 – Oct. 25, 2026
CINCINNATI (Sep. 22, 2026) – The world premiere of TALK, a new play by renowned playwright and Cincinnati native Theresa Rebeck, comes to Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park. Presented by Digi and Mike Schueler, the show begins performances in the Rosenthal Shelterhouse Theatre on Saturday, Sept. 26 and runs through Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. Opening night is Oct. 1.
TALK is a razor-sharp and funny world premiere that shines a satirical spotlight on the current media environment and will no doubt get people talking. Hoping for a ratings boost, the host of a news commentary talk show decides to do a live broadcast. When an unplanned guest is added to the mix of standard talking heads, the conversation goes off the rails, and the show descends into chaos. All political points of view are represented, and all are skewered in this biting satire of news and dialogue in today’s fast-moving media world.
“I watch way too much news. I’m one of those people who became addicted to watching the news over and over again. And at some point, I thought, I wonder if there’s something I can do with this. It seemed like it’s a moment in American history, in American culture that the theatre should be responding to,” Rebeck said. “The culture of talk television can be very vicious, very dark, but there’s also something funny and truthful and very American about it. It asks a lot of questions about who we are, and I wanted to let the theatre engage in those questions.”
Rebeck is the most Broadway-produced female playwright of our time (I Need That, Bernhardt/Hamlet, Dead Accounts, Seminar, Mauritius). TALK is directed by Mêlisa Annis, who recently directed Academy Award and Golden Globe winner Christine Lahti in Lahti’s play The Smile of Her at the Marylebone Theatre in London.
Individual and season tickets are now on sale for Talk at cincyplay.com.
ARTISTS
Cast (in speaking order)
- Brenda Andrea Syglowski*
- Serge Kieran Cronin*
- Malcolm Victor Williams*
- Simone Maxine Linehan*
- Johnathan Luigi Sottile*
- Mike Viviana Valeria*
Creative Team
- Playwright Theresa Rebeck
- Director Mêlisa Annis
- Co-Set Designer Christopher Swader
- Co-Set Designer Justin Swader
- Costume Designer Fabin Fidel Aguilar
- Lighting Designer Mary Ellen Stebbins
- Sound Designer/Composer Fitz Patton
- Dramaturg Tatiana Godfrey
- Casting Director Stephanie Klapper, CSA
- Stage Manager Shelby Scaffidi*
- Assistant Stage Manager Madison Stone*
*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 Sept. 26, 29 and 30 at 7:30 p.m. Prices vary depending on performance. Opening performance is Oct. 1 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, Oct. 14 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., Sept. 26 at 7:30 p.m.
- Tue., Sept. 29 at 7:30 p.m.
- Wed., Sept. 30 at 7:30 p.m.
Made in Cincy: New Works Festival: This exciting annual event illuminates new play development by inviting audiences to witness and participate in the process.
- Fri., Oct. 2 and Sat., Oct. 3.
Art Talks: Stay after select performances for a behind-the-scenes discussion with members of the artistic team.
- Sun., Oct. 4 at 2 p.m.
- Wed., Oct. 14 at 7:30 p.m.
- Thu., Oct. 22 at 7:30 p.m.
Art Talk – Special Edition: The State of Journalism Panel Discussion
- Sun., Oct. 11 at 3:30 p.m.
Are you passionate about freedom of the press? Are you concerned about the erosion of the First Amendment? Do you wonder how real journalists navigate the current media environment? Join us following the 2 p.m. performance of Talk on Sunday, Oct. 11 for a dynamic discussion about the state of journalism today with a panel of esteemed Cincinnati journalists:
- Beryl Love, Executive Editor, The Cincinnati Enquirer
- Megan Mitchell, Anchor/Reporter, WLWT-TV
- Maryanne Zeleznik, Vice President of News and Morning Edition Host, WVXU
The event is FREE and open to all, whether you attend that day’s performance or not. Reservations are not necessary.
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., Oct. 20 at 7:30 p.m. Buy Tickets
ADVISORY
TALK is recommended for older teenage and adult audiences. The show reflects today’s political and media climate, where NOTHING is off limits. This biting satire uses some language and frequently references mature subjects to discuss topics including immigration, racism, classism, minimum wage, the government… and more. We warned you.
SPONSORS
TALK is presented by Digi and Mike Schueler. Production Sponsor is The Roy Cockrum Foundation. Artist Sponsors are Geiler, Diane and Carl Iseman, and Dr. Susan R. Strick. The 2026-27 Season is presented by The Vontz Family. The Season Sponsors of New Work are Mark and Nancy Dawes.
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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MADE IN CINCINNATI NEW WORKS FESTIVAL
