K. P. Powell as Berowne & Jasimine Bouldin as Rosaline.
Inspired by iconic films of the decade, the production at Cincy Shakes reimagines the comedy with a totally tubular and nostalgic design
Cincinnati, November 12, 2025 – Cincinnati Shakespeare Company is proud to present Love’s Labour’s Lost playing November 14 – December 6, 2025 and directed by Guest Artistic Associate Matthew Lewis Johnson. This production is generously sponsored by our Season Shakespeare Sponsor, The Linnemann Family Foundation, and our Design Sponsor Key Bank.
When a group of friends try to swear off love to focus on their schoolwork, their plans go hilariously off the rails as new arrivals and unexpected attractions shake up their studies. Transported to a totally tubular 80s-inspired high school setting, this production blends all the classic laughs, mischief, and romance with vintage fashion, big hair, and rad vibes. “Inspired by the classic, teen-filled films of John Hughes, this production of Love Labour’s Lost takes place in a preppy high school in the 1980’s” says Director Matthew Lewis Johnson; “Like Shakespeare, Hughes’ scripts would fly from absurdist meta-comedy to heart-on-your-sleeve-earnest in the same scene, always underscored by the perfect soundtrack. Our plot is the same as Shakespeare’s, only the trappings surrounding it have changed.”
Love’s Labour’s Lost features an ensemble cast of 16 fantastic actors. King Ferdinand, played by Patrick Earl Phillips, swears off dating for scholarly pursuits. The Lords, Berowne (K.P. Powell), Longaville (Grant Niezgodski), and Dumaine (Jason Coffenberry) decide to join the King’s pact. Their plans come crashing down when the Princess of France, played by Courtney Lucien arrives with her ladies: Rosaline (Jasimine Bouldin), Katherine (Dani Grace Nissen), and Maria (Elizabeth Chinn Molloy). Adding to the delightful chaos are Giles Davies as the eccentric Don Armado, Cary Davenport as his silly friend Moth, Jeremy Dubin as a quick-tongued janitor Costard, Hannah Gregory as Jaquenetta the lunch lady, Jim Hopkins as Mr. Holofernes, Aiden Sims as the nerdy Nathaniel, and Robert Carlton Stimmel in multiple roles as Dull, Forester, and Messenger.
The design team is bringing the ‘80s to Cincy Shakes! Guest Artistic Associate Matthew Lewis Johnson embraces the John Hughes vibe as Director. Samantha Reno’s scenic design, inspired by the bold patterns and colors of Memphis Style, pops under Watson’s vibrant lighting design. Rainy Edwards’ costume design and Kayla Cieslinski’s wig design deck the cast out in iconic ‘80s fashion inspired by John Hughes films and pop stars like Madonna. Robert Carlton Stimmel has crafted a rocking 1980’s soundtrack for Susan Jung’s dance choreography. This production of Love’s Labour’s Lost is stage managed by Danitza Piper, with assistant stage management by Tessa Killen.
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Love’s Labour’s Lost runs from November 14 – December 6, 2025. Performances of Love’s Labour’s Lost are on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 7:30 PM, with three Saturday Matinees on November 22, 29, and December 6 and two Sunday Matinees on November 23 and 30 at 2:00 PM. CSC offers performances with accessibility resources. Live Audio Descriptions are available on November 14, and there is a Sign Language Interpreted performance on December 6 at 2:00 PM. Content Advisory: Contains Shakespearean innuendo and adult themes. Contact the Box Office for more details. Run Time: Approx. 2.5 hours, plus one intermission
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Tickets are on sale now. Preview performances are on Wednesday, November 12, and Thursday, November 13, with half-price tickets. Discounts are available for students and seniors. Each performance night has a limited number of $14 “Access” tickets. These can be purchased in advance by going online or calling the Box Office. And starting 1 hour before each performance, any unreserved tickets may be available as a discounted Rush Ticket to anyone, not just students. These tickets are only $12 and could be located anywhere in the house, depending on that evening’s availability. These cannot be reserved more than 1 hour before a show and must be purchased in person in the Box Office. Visa, Discover, MasterCard, and American Express are accepted. Ticketing fees apply. To purchase tickets or for more information, call the CSC Box Office at 513.381.BARD (2273) ext. 1, or go online at http://www.cincyshakes.com.
Cincinnati Shakespeare Company is located at The Otto M. Budig Theater at 1195 Elm Street in OTR, adjacent to Washington Park. Many parking spaces are available on the street and in nearby lots and garages- for more information, visit http://www.otrchamber.com/pages/WheretoPark.
CSC has coordinated a prepaid self-parking option right next door to the theater for a hassle‐free, guaranteed spot. A limited number of reserved spaces are available starting 1.5 hours before performances and lasting through the end of the show. The parking attendant will have your name on the list with advance purchase, guaranteeing your spot and price. Visit www.cincyshakes.com/parking to reserve self-parking.
Cincinnati Shakespeare Company’s 2025-2026 Season is generously presented by our Operating Support Partners: The Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile, Jr. Foundation; The Linnemann Family Foundation; The Ohio Arts Council; The Robert and Adele Schiff Family Foundation; The National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest; The Shubert Foundation; Maureen and John Bridgeland, Cindy Bridgeland Crilley, and Debby and Jim Mason in honor of Jim Bridgeland; Lightborne, and the tens of thousands of people who give generously to the ArtsWave Community Campaign.
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About Cincinnati Shakespeare Company:
Cincinnati Shakespeare Company is a professional theatre company dedicated to bringing Shakespeare and the classics to life for all. In the summer of 2017, the theater relocated to the Otto M. Budig Theater, a brand new facility in the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood of Cincinnati. CSC’s repertoire is composed of the works of William Shakespeare, literary adaptations, world premieres, and contemporary classics. CSC performs on a Small Professional Theatre contract with the Actors’ Equity Association. Cincinnati Shakespeare is a member of Theater Communications Group and Shakespeare Theatre Association. Each year, Cincinnati Shakespeare Company’s Education and Outreach Programs reach more than 50,000 young people and community members by meeting audiences where they are. This includes sharing programming in schools, parks, community centers and hosting educational matinees of mainstage productions. In 2015, CSC was proud to become one of the first five theaters in the United States to “Complete the Canon” by producing all 38 plays by William Shakespeare. CSC is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and all donations are tax-deductible. Cincinnati Shakespeare Company is proud to be Cincinnati’s stage for the Classics!
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