Tag Archives: Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park

March 4, 2024 · 6:35 pm

Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park Announces 2024-2025 Season Including World Premiere of Musical RUTKA on Its Journey to Broadway

PIP_Word Cloud 2024-25 Playhouse Season Show (1080x1080)CINCINNATI –Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park will stage the world premiere of RUTKA, a powerful indie rock musical on its journey to Broadway as part of its 2024-2025 season announced today. Other season highlights include regional premieres of recent Broadway and off-Broadway hits, comedy favorites and a fresh adaptation of DIAL M FOR MURDER.

“We’re thrilled to produce every one of the plays in the new season for Cincinnati audiences,” stated Blake Robison, Osborn Family Producing Artistic Director. “In particular, I want to highlight RUTKA, which uniquely fulfills a promise to our community. The production will take maximum advantage of the new capabilities in Moe and Jack’s Place – The Rouse Theatre, enabling the work we create to gain national attention on the industry’s largest stages.”

The 2024-2025 Season includes:

  • The world premiere of RUTKA, a powerful indie-rock musical that will start its journey to Broadway in Cincinnati as it tells a story about hope, resilience and resistance based on a real diary that a 14-year-old girl hid in the war-torn Jewish Ghetto in 1943 Poland.
  • Regional premieres of recent Broadway and off-Broadway hits, including the achingly beautiful PRIMARY TRUST, the Pulitzer Prize-winning ENGLISH and the charming BIRTHDAY CANDLES 
  • A fresh adaptation of the plot-twisting, iconic thriller DIAL M FOR MURDER, which features a clever, fast-paced new treatment that will keep you on the edge of your seat until its final moments
  • A humorous and heartfelt solo performance about a struggling actor-turned-urban public school teacher, MR. PARENT
  • The return of two comedy favorites: THE SECOND CITY returns to celebrate its 65th Anniversary with a lineup of the troupe’s most hilarious sketches and THE BOOK CLUB PLAY, a comedy by Karen Zacarías that’s become a sold-out hit at theatres across the country since its much-loved Playhouse run in 2013

2024-25 ROUSE THEATRE SEASON
Presented by Schueler Group 

DIAL M for MURDER
By Frederick Knott
Adapted by Jeffrey Hatcher
Directed by Tatiana Pandiani
Co-Production with Alley Theatre in Houston, Texas
Aug. 17 – Sept. 15, 2024
Sponsored by U.S. Bank

Short description:
Murder and malice take center stage! It’s midcentury London, and Margot has ended her affair with Maxine and returned to life with her husband, Tony — or so she thinks. Tony, in fact, knows everything, and he spins a web of deception that sets into motion a series of deadly twists. This iconic thriller receives a clever and fast-paced new treatment for the stage.

One-liner:
The iconic, plot-twisting thriller about suspicion, deception and murder receives a clever new treatment for the stage.  

Będzin - Spacer śladami Rutki Laskier. Fot. Rafał Opalski

MC and Tom Brennan and The Lemmerman Family present
RUTKA: A NEW MUSICAL
Based on the diary of Rutka Laskier, as published in Rutka’s Notebook: A Voice from the Holocaust
Music and Lyrics by Jocelyn Mackenzie and Jeremy Lloyd-Styles
Book by Neena Beber
Directed by Wendy C. Goldberg
Season Sponsor of New Work: Mark and Nancy Dawes
Oct. 13 – Nov. 10, 2024

Full description:
You’ll never forget her name. A powerful indie-rock musical makes its world premiere in Cincinnati to launch its path to Broadway. Rutka’s world is consumed by the usual teen concerns, like friendships, gossip, a new haircut and the flickers of first love — all of which she documents in her diary. But the world at large is far from usual. It’s 1943 in war-torn Poland, as Rutka and her friends are trying to live life as normally as possible while confined in the Jewish Ghetto. With their futures and fates uncertain, they reach for hope, resilience and resistance. This all-new musical is a compelling drama based on Rutka’s Notebook — a publication of the real diary left behind by 14-year-old Rutka Laskier, and a shining example of how even one small voice can make a difference in the world. Rutka is brought to life by an extraordinary ensemble of young performers and with a raw and emotional sound, promising an unforgettable musical experience.

Brief description:
A powerful new indie-rock musical about teens finding hope, resilience and resistance, while grappling with life in war-torn Poland, 1943. Rutka makes its world premiere in Cincinnati, launching this unforgettable true story on its path to Broadway.

First Financial Bank presents
A CHRISTMAS CAROL
By Charles Dickens
Directed by Bridget Leak
Adapted and Originally Directed by Blake Robison
Nov. 22 – Dec. 29, 2024

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 combines with dazzling set, costume and lighting designs for a magical holiday experience!

One Liner:
The holiday story you love unfolds in spectacular fashion with dazzling set, costume and lighting designs for a magical holiday experience!

Moe and Jack Rouse and Randolph Wadsworth present
PRIMARY TRUST
By Eboni Booth
Directed by Timothy Douglas
Feb. 1 – 23, 2025

Short description:
Written with profound affection, this off-Broadway hit is an achingly beautiful tale that will restore your faith in others. Meet Kenneth, a shy, Black 38-year-old man who sells books by day and drinks mai tais with his best friend Bert by night. But when Kenneth is suddenly laid off, the walls of his life start to crumble until he finds kindness and friendship in unlikely places.

One-liner:
Written with profound affection, this recent off-Broadway hit is an achingly beautiful tale that will restore your faith in others.  

PIP_The Book Club Play

Photo of the cast from the 2013 production at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park by Sandy Underwood.

Leading Ladies presents
THE BOOK CLUB PLAY
By Karen Zacarías
Directed by Blake Robison
March 22 – April 20, 2025
Sponsored by Johnson Investment Counsel and Clark Schaefer Hackett

Short Description:
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 and accept a provocative new member, their long-standing group dynamics take a hilarious turn. A sold-out hit at theatres across the country! Sprinkled with joy and novels galore.

One-liner:
A comedy about books and the people who love them. When a book club accepts a provocative new member, long-standing relationships take a hilarious turn.  

2023-24 ROSENTHAL SHELTERHOUSE THEATRE SEASON
Presented by The Vontz Family

PIP_Mr. Parent

Maurice Emmanuel Parent in the Boston Playwright’s Theatre production of MR. PARENT. Photo by Scornavacca Photography

MR. PARENT
By Melinda Lopez with Maurice Emmanuel Parent
Conceived with and directed by Megan Sandberg-Zakian
Sept. 7 – Oct. 6, 2024
Sponsored by Digi and Mike Schueler

Short description:
You’re never too old to learn a thing or two. A struggling actor turns to teaching in an urban public school, thinking “how hard could it be?” Based on personal stories, writer-performer Maurice Emmanuel Parent takes the stage in a deeply felt, hilarious solo performance about crushingly inequitable systems, the brilliance of every kid and how we might all find the space to be ourselves.

One-liner:
A writer-performer tells real-life, personal stories about being a struggling actor-turned-urban public school teacher in a deeply felt, hilarious solo performance.

THE BEST OF THE SECOND CITY
Oct. 24 – Dec. 22, 2024

Short description:
Having sold out with every outing at the Playhouse, The Second City returns! The 65th Anniversary Tour features some of the best sketch comedy and songs from the comedy vaults, updated for the modern era. Experience some of The Second City’s newest classics, along with their trademark improvisation, performed by the next generation of comedy superstars.

One-liner:
The Second City returns to celebrate its 65th Anniversary with more laughs, more sketches and more improv performed by the next generation of comedy superstars.

ENGLISH
By Sanaz Toossi
Directed by Kimberly Senior
March 1 – 30, 2025

Short description:
The 2023 winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Drama takes the Playhouse stage! Four Iranian adults gather to learn English. As they navigate the mechanics of the language through humor, word games and cultural touchstones like Shakira and Coca-Cola, questions about identity seep into their minds and hearts. Both touching and funny, ENGLISH offers a revelatory glimpse into the human desire to belong.

One-liner:
The 2023 Pulitzer Prize-winning play about the human desire to belong as four Iranian adults navigate the mechanics of language with humor and vulnerability.

BIRTHDAY CANDLES
By Noah Haidle
Directed by Joanie Schultz
April 19 – May 18, 2025

Short description:
The ingredients are simple — but look closer and you’ll see the essence of life itself. Every year, Ernestine bakes a cake and celebrates with her family on her birthday — a delicious ritual that unfolds onstage through glimpses of her life across 90 birthdays. BIRTHDAY CANDLES will warm the soul as it tenderly explores motherhood, family, love, loss and finding your place in the universe.

One-liner:
BIRTHDAY CANDLES will warm the soul as it tenderly explores motherhood, family, love, loss and finding your place in the universe.

2024-2025 SEASON TICKET INFORMATION

Current subscribers must renew by April 12 to save their seats or to make a request to change them. Season ticket holders enjoy exclusive benefits like the best prices, payment installments, discounted parking, and first access to A CHRISTMAS CAROL, specially designed to make the most of our enhanced theatrical capabilities in the Rouse Theatre! Purchase A CHRISTMAS CAROL with your season tickets to add the cost to your payment plan. Season ticket packages range from $105 to $625.50, depending on the seat location and the productions included. A student season ticket package is available for $15 per production.

Purchase by visiting the Playhouse website at http://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.

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February 21, 2024 · 9:02 pm

Pulitzer Finalist STEW Draws Unforgettable Portrait of Three Generations of Black Women Beginning March 2

PIP_Stew

Photo by Tony Arrasmith/Arrasmith & Associates.

CINCINNATI (Feb. 20) – Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park brings one of American theatre’s most significant new voices to the stage beginning March 2. Playwright Zora Howard’s STEW, a Pulitzer Prize finalist, portrays three generations of Black women in this contemporary drama running through April 4 in the Rosenthal Shelterhouse Theatre. Opening night is March 7. STEW is presented by Johnson Investment Counsel and Clark Schaefer Hackett.

The four Tucker women who keep STEW brewing each lead remarkably different lives, presenting a mosaic of personalities and stories onstage. As they take turns preparing a stew in Mama’s kitchen, closely held details of their lives rise slowly to the surface through a warm, conversational, often funny script. As the 90 minutes unfold, a complex drama about mothers and daughters rises to the surface.

“The women of the Tucker family are beautiful reflections of each other,” explains Director Stori Ayers, who previously appeared as an actor in August Wilson’s Jitney at the Playhouse in 2016. “Zora Howard has taken what feels like a multi-generational story and flipped it on its head. The everyday sorrows, disappointments and hopes of three generations of women are explored as we ask ourselves what is passed down, what is repeated, what will never change and could I have done anything differently.”

STEW was a finalist for the 2021 Pulitzer Prize. Its accolades include praise from The New York Times and The New Yorker, which said it “… feels familiar without being cliché, delivering a captivating story that’s intimate, funny, and heartbreaking in equal measure.”

“Each audience member will experience this story from their particular place in life and hopefully walk away with something that challenges them, ignites them, inspires them or simply moves them in a way that their life, way of thinking or decision-making is forever impacted,” Ayer says.

CAST

  • Sydnie Brown (Lil’ Mama)
  • Maliyah Gramata-Jones (Nelly)
  • Michele Shay (Mama)
  • Shayna Small (Lillian) 

PRODUCTION

  • Zora Howard, Playwright
  • Stori Ayers, Director
  • Richard H. Morris, Jr., Set Designer
  • Raphael Regan, Costume Designer
  • Amber Whatley, Lighting Designer
  • Jeff Gardner, Sound Designer
  • Stephanie Klapper, CSA, Casting Director
  • Brandon T. Holmes, Stage Manager

TICKETS 

Tickets begin at $35.00. Preview performances take place March 2, 5 and 6 at 7:30 p.m. Opening night is March 7 at 7:30 p.m. Regular performances take place on Tuesday-Fridays at 7 p.m., Saturdays at 2 and 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. A weekday matinee will be offered on March. 20 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 www.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

Opening Night:

  • March 7 at 7 p.m.
    Share the excitement of Thursday opening nights with a lively post-show cast party. (SOLD OUT) 

Preview Performances:

  • March. 2 at 7:30 p.m.
  • March 5 at 7:30 p.m.
  • March 6 at 7:30 p.m. 

Be among the first to see the show before opening night with a preview performance. 

Art Talks:

  • March 10 at 2 p.m.
  • March. 17 at 2 p.m.
  • March 20 at 7:30 p.m.
  • March 28 at 7:30 p.m.

(Formerly Meet the Artists), stay after select performances for a behind-the-scenes discussion with members of the artistic team. 

Playhouse Perspectives

  • She Stands: An Ode to Black Women
    March 18 at 7 p.m. – 9 p.m.

Join us for an evening of spoken word hosted by Kimberly “DuWaup” Bolden, founder and executive producer of DuWaup’s Cincinnati Poetry Slam. The evening will feature 10 local spoken word artists whose work celebrates Black womanhood.

7 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Mix and mingle with a cash bar

7:30 p.m. Program begins.

FREE. Reservations are recommended but not required. RSVP online or call 513-421-3888.

Playhouse Perspectives is made possible thanks to a generous gift from Barbara and Roderick Barr. 

Hues Community Night at Stew

  • March 26 at 7:30 p.m. 

Join Black influencers, leaders and community members to celebrate theatre, excellence and cultural richness. Hues Community Night includes drink specials, 20% off selected tickets to the evening performance and an Art Talk with members of the artistic team after the show. The evening recognizes Queens Village for their service to the community. Use promo code STEWQUEENS when purchasing tickets. 

ADVISORY 

STEW is recommended for teenage and adult audiences. As three generations of women gather in Mama’s kitchen, the secrets simmer in the air. Ingredients include some strong adult language and very frank discussions about adult relationships and sexual activity.

SPONSORS

Presented by Johnson Investment Council and Clark Schaefer Hackett. Design Sponsor is Geiler. The Rouse Theatre Season is sponsored by The Vonz Family.

The Playhouse is supported by the generosity of almost 40,000 contributors to the ArtsWave Community campaign. 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.

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February 9, 2024 · 12:16 pm

DRACULA Review

By Katrina “Kat” Reynolds

DRACULA presented by Cincinnati Playhouse in the park through March 3. I attended the Opening Night performance. 

PIP_Dracula01

The cast of DRACULA. Photo by Mikki Schaffner.

It’s no secret: I love the fable of Dracula. I have seen many iterations of the original novel on both screen and stage and am always open to new and exciting interpretations of the age-old text. Therefore, I was thrilled to be in attendance to see the World Premiere of Dracula on the stage of Moe and Jack’s Place (The Rouse Theatre) at Playhouse in the Park.

Penned and directed by Vanessa Severo along with Playhouse’s Associate Artistic Director Joanie Schultz, this isn’t Legosi’s Dracula. Right off the bat (no pun intended), I was intrigued by the creative alterations which challenged gender norms of the early 20th century. It is easy to wonder, however, if having someone uninvolved in the writing process might have given a different pulse to the action on stage. While the pacing is steady and watchable, the energy is very one-note.

The creative team behind this production deserves every possible word of praise one can muster. Set Designer Yu Shibagaki gives us a beautifully crafted set with moving pieces and incredible attention to detail. Each adaptation of the set can be easily navigated by the actors and tells its own story. Not to be outdone, costume designs by Kathleen Galdard are some of the most stunning works of art you will see on the human body. (Spoiler alert: if I owned the gown Mrs. Westenra dons in the latter portion of the show, I’d not ever take it off.) Complementing the aesthetic of the set and costumes is lighting design by Pablo Santiago and magic/illusion designs by Nate Dendy. No spoilers here, but their contributions create some impressive and memorable moments.

Dracula boasts a strong and mighty ensemble of performing artists. It is an embarrassment of riches to find it difficult to choose only one or two to mention by name, but that is an excellent problem for a reviewer to have. While we do not see nearly enough of what he can offer, Adam Poss is disarmingly charming as the titular Count. He commands the stage effortlessly and could easily cause the most stoic audience member to blush. (It’s me – I’m that audience member.)

It is disappointing Mr. Poss does not get to share any scenes with his devoted familiar Renfield, portrayed by Hamon dot aut. Renfield is a character of whom I’m nearly as fond as I am of Dracula and there have been many impressive portrayals of the attorney-turned-bloodservant. Mx. dot aut’s performance is right up with one of the most innovative and intoxicating.

While I hesitate to critique new works as I fear it might dissuade our community from trying to present them, it must be mentioned that the script certainly needs some work. In fact, I would even suggest a change in the title to Van Helsing as this is far more a tale about the vampire “hunter” than anyone else. The spin put on the character of Van Helsing is a genius move and it deserves to be the center of the piece – but that isn’t what your audience will be expecting when they arrive to see a show named Dracula. Further, I believe many key elements of suspense and dread were glossed over because the playwrights relied too heavily on the fact that everyone already knows the story of Dracula, so why discuss important background? While we definitely saw the charm and hypnotic appeal of the titular character, we saw very little to no reason to fear him and that is a huge loss.

As mentioned before, this is not Legosi’s Dracula: the non-male characters outnumber the male characters in a series of creative twists (although one or two too many variations are introduced and it feels a bit agenda-driven). I believe with some slight reworking and zhuzhing, the obvious intention of female empowerment can be fleshed out and Dracula (or Van Helsing) will have the bite it is currently lacking.

Click here for more information on the production.

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February 6, 2024 · 7:14 pm

Playhouse Summer Camps & Performance Academies Now on Sale

PIP_logo2024 program features more performance opportunities and multiple locations

CINCINNATI — Enrollment is now open for Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park’s summer camps, eight weeks of theatrical fun and creativity this summer, including more performance options than previous years. Students can choose from new programs and beloved camper favorites, with themes running from “Mean Girls JR.” to “Encanto” to zombies to urban legends.

Camps will be held at the Playhouse in Mt. Adams, the Mason Community Center and at a location near Erlanger, KY (to be announced soon). Camps are open to incoming 1st- through 12th-graders, including camps designed specifically for older campers. Programs also include an accessibility Launch Pad program for children with developmental disabilities, sensory challenges and neurodivergences (details below). No experience or audition is required for any camp.

“Our mission is to encourage creativity through awesome stories in an inclusive, artistic environment,” said Playhouse Education Director Ariana Moses. “We invite students to unleash their imagination, get moving, make new connections and become part of a community—all while having a blast!”

Through the course of each session, campers work together to tell stories while learning both theatre skills and life skills. In addition to studying musical theatre, stage combat, acting, writing and more, campers will discover more about their individuality as they make connections with audiences, with each other and with themselves.

One-Week Camps teach the fundamentals of creating theatre. Each week has a different theme that focuses on special skills — like stage combat or singing and dancing or writing — in addition to rehearsal and performance. Campers will share what they have learned with family and friends at the end of the week in an informal Shareformance. Programs this year include:

  • Clash of the Movie Monsters
  • ¡Hola Casita! Songs from Disney’s Encanto
  • The Kraken, Mothman and Ogopogo: Writing Urban Legends

Two-week Performance Academies offer the chance to experience the production of a play from start to finish. These camps have become popular for young theatre enthusiasts who enjoy working as an ensemble to rehearse and perform a play — but any student who is interested in learning theatre is welcome to register. Each session concludes with a performance for family and friends, complete with sets, props and costumes. Performance Academies include:

  • Annie KIDS
  • Disney’s Finding Nemo KIDS
  • Mean Girls JR.
  • She Kills Monsters: Young Adventurers Edition

New programming this summer includes one-week Performance Showcases and Intensives that focus more deeply on honing performance and storytelling techniques. Thematic content varies from week to week, but each camp explores these techniques through the lens of a specific story, musical or performance style. Campers will have extended rehearsal time in the lead-up to a showcase at the end of the week where they’ll share selections of what they have focused on with family and friends.

Programs include:

  • Musical Theatre Intensive: Spotlight on Disney’s Descendants: The Musical
  • It’s Showtime! Beetlejuice the Musical Showcase
  • Little Monsters Pop Music Explosion Showcase
  • Playwriting Inside the Upside Down Showcase
  • How to Make it Through a Zombie Apocalypse: Combat Showcase

“Theatre can be created by any person at any age, and our camp staff loves helping our campers play a part in that process during summer programs,” says Moses. “We always see students gain both confidence and performance skills. By the end of the summer, they’ve made new friends and are brimming with the joy that is live performance. It’s a pretty magical time.”

The Launch Pad Accessibility Program continues this summer, offering opportunities for campers who have developmental disabilities, neurodivergences and sensory challenges to participate in camps and have their unique needs met. Camp staff are trained to meet specific needs and accommodations, and a family coordinator works with parents and caregivers to ensure a comfortable experience for their camper.

Enrollment is now open with early bird pricing until Feb. 29. Financial scholarships are available for campers who demonstrate need, and Before Care and After Care options are available at all locations.

For more information or to connect with us about questions, click here or call 513-421-3888.

The Playhouse is supported by the generosity of almost 40,000 contributors to the ArtsWave Community campaign. 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.

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February 1, 2024 · 7:13 pm

STEW Runs March 2-April 7

PIP_Stew

Photo by Tony Arrasmith/Arrasmith & Associates.

STEW
Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park
March 2-April 7
Shelterhouse Theatre [Eden Park]

Directed by Stori Ayers

Three generations of Black women gather in Mama’s kitchen to cook an important meal — and things are about to boil over. As they take turns preparing a stew, closely held details of their lives rise slowly to the surface. But time is running short to prepare the meal, and the truths they try to keep from one another threaten to reveal themselves. A heady combination of secrets, knowingness and even violence hangs thick in the air before the day reaches an unforgettable climax. A 2021 Pulitzer Prize finalist, Zora Howard’s Stew tells a captivating, funny and intimate story about the relationship between mothers, daughters and the realities that bind them together. Stew is recommended for teenage and adult audiences. As three generations of women gather in Mama’s kitchen, the secrets simmer in the air. Ingredients include some strong adult language and very frank discussions about adult relationships and sexual activity.

  • In preview Sat, March 2 at 7:30pm
  • In preview Tue-Wed, March 5-6 at 7:30pm
  • Thu-Fri, March 7-8 at 7:30pm
  • Sat, March 9 at 2pm & 7:30pm
  • Sun, March 10 at 2pm
  • Tue-Fri, March 12-15 at 7:30pm
  • Sat. March 16 at 2pm & 7:30pm
  • Sun, March 17 at 2pm
  • Tue, March 19 at 7:30pm
  • Wed, March 20 at 1pm & 7:30pm
  • Thu-Fri, March 21-22 at 7:30pm
  • Sat, March 23 at 2pm & 7:30pm
  • Sun, March 24 at 2pm
  • Tue-Fri, March 26-29 at 7:30pm
  • Sat. March 30 at 2pm & 7:30pm
  • Sun, March 31 at 2pm
  • Tue-Fri, April 2-5 at 7:30pm
  • Sat. April 6 at 2pm & 7:30pm
  • Sun, April 7 at 2pm

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