Tag Archives: Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park

February 3, 2026 · 4:44 pm

Poetic Romantic Drama MARY’S WEDDING Brings a Timeless Tale of Love, Loss and Resilience to Rosenthal Shelterhouse Beginning Feb. 7

Britian Seibert (Mary/Flowers) and Aaron Schilling (Charlie) in rehearsal for MARY’S WEDDING at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park.

CINCINNATI (Feb. 3, 2026) – MARY’S WEDDING, a poetic story of love, loss and the human spirit, begins in previews Feb. 7 in the Rosenthal Shelterhouse Theatre. The period drama, set during World War I and told through a series of interwoven dreams, runs through March 9. Opening night is Feb. 12.

The romance begins on the eve of the First World War. Mary and her mother have recently moved to Canada from England. Mary meets Charlie, a Canadian farm boy, and they fall in love. Soon after, Charlie is shipped off to battle in the trenches of France while Mary waits in anticipation of their wedding day. As the play unfolds, audiences experience an unforgettable story of love, loss, and the resilience of the human spirit.

MARY’S WEDDING is written by award-winning Canadian playwright Stephen Massicotte. It received the 2002 Betty Mitchell Award for Best New Play and the 2003 Alberta Book Award for Drama after it was first produced in Calgary in 2002, and it’s been widely produced across North America ever since.

The Calgary Herald noted, “Mary’s Wedding … proves Massicotte is a gifted storyteller with an ear for detail and imagery… It was Massicotte’s descriptive writing that allowed the audience to really lose themselves in the moment. There was nary a dry eye in the house by the time the actors took their final bows.”

“I believe there is great value in telling period stories set in a specific time and social context, with characters that are a product of their era,” states Osborn Producing Artistic Director Blake Robison, who directs the production. “Young people in love at a time of political turmoil and world tumult has something to do with what happens and continues to happen in the world today. The time period of World War I offered moral clarity that we don’t often get in contemporary times.”

ARTISTS

  • Aaron Schilling                                      Charlie
  • Britian Seibert*                                      Flowers/Mary
  • Stephen Massicotte                              Playwright
  • Blake Robison                                      Director
  • Lex Liang                                              Set/Costume Designer
  • Michelle Habeck                                   Lighting Designer
  • Matthew M. Nielson                              Sound Designer/Composer
  • Brandon T. Holmes*                              Stage Manager
  • Maggie Ballard                                      Production Assistant
  • D’Arcy Smith                                         Dialect Coach
  • Erin Carr                                               Intimacy Coordinator

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

TICKETS
Tickets begin at $35.00. Prices vary depending on performance. Preview performances take place Feb. 7, 10 and 11 at 7:30 p.m. Opening night is Feb. 12 at 7:30 p.m. Regular performances will take place on Tuesday-Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 2 and 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. A matinee performance will take place at 1 p.m. on Feb. 25. 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

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

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

Opening Night
Share the excitement of Thursday opening night.

  • Thu., Feb. 12 at 7:30 p.m.

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

  • Sun., Feb. 15 at 2 p.m.
  • Sun., Feb. 22 at 2 p.m.
  • Wed., Feb. 25 at 7:30 p.m.
  • Thu., Mar. 5 at 7:30 pm

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., Mar. 3 at 7:30 p.m.

ADVISORY
MARY’S WEDDINGis recommended for ages 13 and up. Two characters fall in love against the backdrop of World War I, navigating their feelings across space and time. Using very mild adult language, their story depicts war, with some sound effects and descriptions of violence and death.

SPONSORS
Production Sponsors are Dick and Sandy Manteuffel. Honorary Producer is the Lemmerman Family. Artists Sponsors are Betsy and Jerry Shroat and Diane and Carl Iseman. This production is made possible by a generous gift from the Greater Cincinnati Foundation. Media Sponsor is 91.7 WVXU.FM. The 2025-26 Rosenthal Shelterhouse Season is presented by the Vontz 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.

###

 

 

Leave a comment

Filed under Press Releases

Tagged as

February 2, 2026 · 4:54 pm

MRS. CHRISTIE Runs Feb. 28-March 29

MRS. CHRISTIE
Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park
Feb. 28-March 29
Rouse Theatre [Eden Park]

A mystery about Agatha Christie! The curious, real-life disappearance of Agatha Christie sets the stage for this charming and heartfelt comedy that celebrates writers and the stories that shape our lives. In 1926, after the recent death of her mother and with her marriage on the rocks, 37-year-old Agatha Christie vanished for 11 days, then reappeared without explanation. The reasons behind her disappearance remain unknown. A century later, devoted superfan Lucy, who is going through her own life crisis, attends an Agatha Christie Festival. There, she follows the clues left by Agatha and might finally crack the case. As we follow their parallel timelines and journeys of self-discovery, we experience the thrill of good old-fashioned mystery. Note: MRS. CHRISTIE is recommended for ages 13 and up. Using minimal adult language, the mysterious disappearance of Agatha Christie leads to depictions of attempted murder as well as references to violence, infidelity and death. Two characters discuss having suicidal thoughts.

  • In preview Sat, Feb. 28 at 7:30pm
  • In preview Tue-Wed, March 3-4 at 7:30pm
  • Thu-Fri, March 5-6 at 7:30pm
  • Sat, March 7 at 2pm & 7:30pm
  • Sun, March 8 at 2pm
  • Tue-Fri, March 10-13 at 7:30pm
  • Sat, March 14 at 2pm & 7:30pm
  • Sun, March 15 at 2pm
  • Tue, March 17 at 7:30pm
  • Wed, March 18 at 1pm
  • Thu-Fri, March 17-20 at 7:30pm
  • Sat, March 21 at 2pm & 7:30pm
  • Sun, March 22 at 2pm
  • Tue-Fri, March 24-27 at 7:30pm
  • Sat, March 28 at 2pm & 7:30pm
  • Sun, March 29 at 2pm

Official page |

Leave a comment

Filed under On Stage

Tagged as

January 27, 2026 · 5:14 pm

LITTLE WOMEN Review

By Katrina “Kat” Reynold

LITTLE WOMEN presented by Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park through Feb. 15. I attended the Opening Night performance. 

In a co-production with Portland Center Stage, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park brings audiences Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women, a stage adaptation by Lauren M. Gunderson. This particular take on the classic novel takes us behind-the-scenes, so to speak, as Ms. Alcott pens her famous tale of family and resilience. But rest assured: you still get to see the lives of the March sisters play out before your very eyes.

Director Joanie Schultz (who serves as Playhouse’s Associate Artistic Director) makes excellent use of the playing space provided by Moe and Jack’s Place – The Rouse Theatre. The actors are mobile throughout – and still when warranted – which can also be partially credited to Movement Director Vanessa Severo. Complementing the physicality displayed is Set Design by Chelsea M. Warren, with the glaring exception of the split steps center stage. These felt awkward and inhibited natural movement from one stage level to the next. However, the coordination of set pieces being moved on and off stage offers its own choreography and creates beautiful stage pictures. Kudos also to Lighting Designer Sarah Hughey for their contribution to the mixed media set; the highs and lows of the character arcs are mirrored by the illumination levels.

The Cast (and Set) of Louisa May Alcott’s LITTLE WOMEN presented by Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park. Photo by Mikki Schaffner Photography.

 

In one of their best performances to date, Beasley is a force of nature as Louise May Alcott/Jo March. Seamlessly toeing the line between falling into expected Civil War-time female etiquette and loudly questioning it, they make Louisa/Jo plucky and lovable. Kieran Cronin, who plays love interests of two of the March sisters, masters the ideal balance of strong characterizations while knowing this story should not be focused on the men. I defy audiences not to fall in love with him – twice! Finally, Brianna Woods gives us a stunning performance as Beth March. Ms. Woods’ portrayal embodies all the words used to describe the fated sister: angelic, tranquil, and perfect.

For those who know, I am rather hot and cold about Ms. Gunderson as a playwright and felt both ways within the confines of this script. I wished she had pushed the envelope: adaptations can be mediocre copies of another (hu)man’s genius if they do not offer fresh, new perspectives. In addition, the “asides” as spoken by the actors initially felt both unnatural and overused; but when used more sparingly in Act II, I found them endearing and impactful. Fortunately, luck is on Ms. Gunderson’s side: Ms. Alcott’s tale is timeless and just about any re-telling of it should prove to be engaging. Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park’s production of Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women is no exception and is rife with talent, sentiment, and will leave you feeling a wee bit warmer this cold winter.

Click here for more information about the production.

Leave a comment

Filed under Reviews

Tagged as

January 19, 2026 · 7:00 pm

MARY’S WEDDING Runs Feb. 7-March 8

MARY’S WEDDING
Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park
Feb. 7-March 8
Rosenthal Shelterhouse Theatre [Eden Park]

Directed by Blake Robison

Cast: Aaron Schilling as Charlie & Britian Seibert as Mary/Flowers

In this poetic romantic drama, Mary and Charlie discover the thrill of first love. But the year is 1914, and the world is collapsing into a brutal war. On the night before her wedding, Mary reminisces about meeting Charlie, a farm boy in rural Canada, during a thunderstorm. Their story is told with dream-like interweaving of scenes from their budding relationship, Charlie’s time in the trenches of France and Mary’s present anticipation of her big day. Both tender and suspenseful, Mary’s Wedding is a stunning and unforgettable story of love, loss, and the resilience of the human spirit. Ages 13 and up.

  • In preview Sat, Feb. 7 at 7:30pm
  • In preview Tue-Wed, Feb. 10-11 at 7:30pm
  • Thu-Fri, Feb. 12-13 at 7:30pm
  • Sat, Feb. 14 at 2pm & 7:30pm
  • Sun, Feb. 15 at 2pm
  • Tue-Fri, Feb. 17-20 at 7:30pm
  • Sat, Feb. 21 at 2pm & 7:30pm
  • Sun, Feb. 22 at 2pm
  • Tue, Feb. 24 at 7:30pm
  • Wed, Feb. 25 at 1pm & 7:30pm
  • Thu-Fri, Feb. 26-27 at 7:30pm
  • Sat, Feb. 28 at 2pm & 7:30pm
  • Sun, March 1 at 2pm
  • Tue-Fri, March 3-6 at 7:30pm
  • Sat, March 7 1 at 2pm & 7:30pm
  • Sun, March 8 at 2pm

Official page |

1 Comment

Filed under On Stage

Tagged as

January 8, 2026 · 5:49 pm

ANGELS GUIDE YOUR STEPS On Jan. 18

ANGELS GUIDE YOUR STEPS
Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park
Jan. 18
[Eden Park]

Written by Maggie Lou Rader

Featuring: Burgess Byrd, Abigail Dirr, Ariana Hooberman-Pineiro, Tess Talbot, Homer Shadowheart, Justin McCombs & Caitlin McWethy

In 1872, Sisters in life and the cloth, Blandina and Justina Segale are separated for the first time in their lives as Blandina leaves her home of Cincinnati to teach students of all ages and backgrounds in the wild western frontier. Though she ventures out with the goal of serving the community, she learns more about herself, the world, and her faith than she could have ever predicted. ANGELS GUIDE YOUR STEPS is a story of adventure, faith, family, and divine lessons in humanity.

  • Sun, Jan. 18 at 7pm

Official page |

Leave a comment

Filed under On Stage, Staged Reading

Tagged as