Tag Archives: Cincinnati Shakespeare Company

Leslie Brott as Prospera. Photo by Mikki Schaffner.

Cincy Shakes creates theatre magic with an eco-friendly twist; the set is made entirely out of recycled or reused materials

Cincinnati, April 9, 2025 – Cincinnati Shakespeare Company presents Shakespeare’s The Tempest directed by CSC’s Associate Artistic Director, Candice Handy. This eco-friendly production will be on stage April 11 – May 4, 2025 with ensemble cast of 12 actors and performed in-the-round. The Tempest is generously sponsored by Design Sponsor KeyBank. The Community Partner Sponsors are Richard and Debbie Westheimer, and the Education Partners are the National Endowment for the Arts and Arts Midwest. This project is part of Shakespeare in American Communities, a program of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest.

Marooned on an enchanting, yet ecologically fragile island, the exiled sorcerer Prospera waits, consumed by thoughts of revenge. So when fate places all her old enemies within reach, tempests (both literal and metaphorical) stir. As the climate shifts, so do allegiances, while young love takes root in this unpredictable environment. This romantic tale, replete with magic and monsters, love and liquor, and retribution and redemption is a voyage not to be missed.

Favorite faces return to the Cincy Shakes Stage including Leslie Brott as Prospera and Joneal Joplin as Gonzalo. Jason Coffenberry and Dani Grace Nissen return playing Ferdinand and Miranda after their debut in this season’s Macbeth. Hannah Gregory takes the stage as the spirit Ariel and Sylvester Little Jr. plays Caliban brining magic and monsters to the show. Cary Davenport and Sara Mackie play the hilarious duo of Stephano and Trinculo. and Jasimine Bouldin, Jeremy Dubin, and Jim Hopkins round off the cast as the members of the king’s court, playing Sebastian, Antonio, and King Alonzo respectively. After an amazing collaboration on last season’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, the Q-Kidz are back as Island Spirits guided by Aiden Sims who plays Boatswain/Island Spirit.

Cincinnati Shakespeare Company is delighted to collaborate once again with the Q-Kidz Dance Team on The Tempest after last season’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream featured them as well. These talented young dancers take the stage as the island spirits, infusing the play with their boundless energy and captivating choreography. Founded by Marquicia Jones-Woods in 1982, Q-Kidz Dance Team plays a vital role in encouraging and inspiring the creative expression for Cincinnati’s youth through dance and education. For four decades, Marquicia, and her daughters, Chariah and Mariah, have been champions for the Cincinnati community, serving over 100 youths annually through Q-Kidz. This collaboration blends artistic excellence with community enrichment, highlighting the way creativity and collaboration transforms lives. The Q-Kidz dancers, with their dedication and talent, add an enchanting dimension to this production. The Q-Kidz performers are Davian Brooks, Zakari Clark, Laurion Cook, De’Unniey Crawford, Queen Hadden, Shalin Harmon, and Taylor Tolliver (Understudy).

This production of The Tempest was designed with an eco-conscious objective: all costumes, props, and the entire set have been created with recycled and reused materials. The set, designed by Samantha Reno, will be recycled after the show, making The Tempest almost completely sustainable. Ms. Reno said “Cincy Shakes collaborated with the Cincinnati Recycle and Reuse Hub and members of the community, like our own patrons, to supply our team with the needed materials to bring magic to the stage!”

The production team of The Tempest has worked hard to bring Shakespeare’s enchanted island to life. Samantha Reno’s sustainable scenic design sets the play on an island strewn with discarded objects and lost treasures. Rainy Edwards’ costume design, assisted by Kayla Cieslinski, transforms remnant and collected fabric into beautiful island spirits. Lighting designer Andrew Hungerford, sound designer Christopher Guthrie, and projections designer Robert Carlton Stimmel work together to bring Prospera and the spirits’ magic to life. Aleah Vassell acts as composer and music director creating the music that the Q-Kidz will dance to, choreographed by Darnell Pierre Benjamin. Beasley served as Dramaturg on this production and Gina Cerimele-Mechley returns as fight and intimacy director.  The Tempest is stage managed by Cole Sweasy with assistant stage manager Rowan Rozzi.

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The Tempest runs from April 11 – May 4, 2025. Performances of The Tempest are on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 7:30 PM, with 3 Sunday matinees on April 20, 27, and May 4 at 2:00 PM. CSC offers performances with accessibility resources. Live Audio Descriptions are available on April 11, and there is a Sign Language Interpreted performance on May 4.

Tickets are on sale now. Preview performances are on Wednesday, April 9, and Thursday, April 10, with tickets at $45. Young Professionals are invited to YP Preview Night on Wednesday, April 9, with discounted tickets at $25, including a free drink and post-show talkback.

For the best ticketing experience and to avoid resale sites or scams, please be sure to only purchase tickets directly through Cincinnati Shakespeare Company online at cincyshakes.com or by calling the Box Office at 513.381.2273. Ticket prices range from $12-$82; don’t pay more!
Discounts are available for students, seniors, educators, military personnel, local residents, and community partners at all performances.

For those seeking last-minute options or additional ways to save, $12 Rush Tickets are available to anyone (not just students) starting one hour before each performance. These tickets, offered in various seating locations, are subject to availability and must be purchased in person at the Box Office within an hour of show time. Additionally, $14 “Access” tickets are offered in the Upper Gallery for each performance and can be purchased in advance online or by calling the Box Office.

At The Tempest: Sit On-Stage for Just $14! Extra access seats are also available for The Tempest! This magical production is performed in-the-round, so audiences can experience it from a whole new perspective: on-stage and for only $14. Seats are available by clicking the Buy Tickets button and selecting available orange colored Access seats in the “Stage Gallery” section. No code or offer needed, only 32 available per night! Learn more about the seating online here. Please note: On-stage seating requires stairs. For wheelchair-accessible or stair-free $14 seats, contact our Box Office.

To purchase tickets or for more information, call the CSC Box Office at 513.381.BARD (2273) ext. 1, or visit cincyshakes.com. Visa, Discover, MasterCard, and American Express are accepted, and ticketing fees apply.

Cincinnati Shakespeare Company is located at 1195 Elm Street, adjacent to Washington Park. In addition to abundant public parking options in the immediate vicinity, CSC offers parking services, including valet parking for $25 (managed by Star Parking) and self-parking for $15 (managed by 3CDC) in the adjacent lot. Reservations can be made in advance online or by contacting the Box Office. For more details, visit cincyshakes.com/your-visit/parking.

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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 the 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!

Cincinnati Shakespeare Company’s 2024-2025 Season is generously presented by our Operating Support Partners: The Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile, Jr. 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.

Hayley Guthrie as Lady Macbeth and Darnell Pierre Benjamin as Macbeth. Photo by Mikki Schaffner.

Cincinnati Shakespeare Company’s highly anticipated production, set in the early days of the Cold War, begins with a sold-out opening weekend

Cincinnati, February 27, 2025 – Cincinnati Shakespeare Company is thrilled to present Shakespeare’s Macbeth, a chilling and electrifying adaptation that blurs the boundaries between free will and control, playing February 28 – March 23, 2025. This production is directed by one of CSC’s Artistic Associates, Christopher V. Edwards and features an ensemble cast of 16 actors. Macbeth is generously sponsored by Monteverdi Tuscany, Blank Rome, and Messer.

Set during the early days of the Cold War, this reimagining of Macbeth delves into ambition, mind control, and psychological manipulation. When enigmatic witches unveil a prophecy of power, Macbeth and his calculating wife spiral into a ruthless pursuit of dominance. As paranoia mounts and reality fractures, their descent into madness becomes a chilling exploration of how far the human mind can be pushed—and who is truly pulling the strings. This electrifying adaptation blurs the boundaries between free will and control, immersing audiences in a world where the edge of insanity is closer than it appears.

Christopher V. Edwards is returning to the CSC stage to direct Macbeth. In addition to his role as a CSC Artistic Associate, his previous directing credits at Cincy Shakes include: A Raisin in the Sun, Othello, and Fences. Edwards is also the current Artistic Director at the Actors’ Shakespeare Project in Boston. “In the corridors of power, a covert operation codenamed “MK-Beth” unfolds, blending Shakespearean tragedy with Cold War paranoia. This is all used as a jumping off point for the production.” Says director Christopher V. Edwards. Inspired by Mk-Ultra and similar Cold War conspiracies, Edwards has created a mind-bending Macbeth that investigates the dangers of ambition and power grounded in history. “In my experience with Macbeth productions and analyses, I’ve noticed a tendency to emphasize the play’s supernatural elements. While these dark, seemingly omnipotent forces do create a palpable sense of fear and loss of control over our lives and destinies, I believe their impact is less significant than the realities of human capacity for evil.”

The cast includes many familiar faces. Darnell Pierre Benjamin plays Macbeth with Hayley Guthrie as Lady Macbeth. Sara Mackie, Elizabeth Chinn Molloy, and Aiden Sims play the three witches and Kelly Mengelkoch plays Hecate as well as the Porter and Seyton. Jasimine Bouldin, Billy Chace, Jim Hopkins, Patrick Earl Phillips, Sylvester Little Jr., and Brent Vimtrup return to the CSC stage, filling out the ensemble. Jason Coffenberry and Dani Grace Nissen make their first appearance in a main-stage production after both performing in previous educational and park tours. Adah Mosher and Ceridwyn Guthrie will both be making their CSC debuts as Fleance and Little Duff respectively.

The creative team features many returning and guest designers. Robert Carlton Stimmel returns as Projections Designer with Rainy Edwards acting as Associate Projections Designer. Jon Savage sets the stage with his eerie scenic design, creating the setting of MK-Beth. Nia Safarr Banks’ costume design establishes the early 60’s time period. Lighting Designer Watson and Sound Designer Zack Bennett help further establish the sinister feelings associated with the Scottish play. Gina Cerimele-Mechley returns as intimacy and fight director, guiding the cast through the many murders of Macbeth. Macbeth will be stage managed by Cole Sweasy with Assistant Stage Manager Rowan Rozzi.

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Macbeth runs from February 28 – March 23. Performances are on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 7:30 PM, with 3 Sunday matinees on March 9, 16, and 23 at 2:00 PM. CSC offers performances with accessibility resources. Live Audio Descriptions are available on February 28, and there is a Sign Language Interpreted performance on March 23.

For the best ticketing experience and to avoid resale sites or scams, please be sure to only purchase tickets directly through Cincinnati Shakespeare Company online at cincyshakes.com or by calling the Box Office at 513.381.2273. Ticket prices range from $12-$82; don’t pay more!

Discounts are available for students, seniors, educators, military personnel, local residents, and community partners at all performances.

For those seeking last-minute options or additional ways to save, $12 Rush Tickets are available to anyone (not just students) starting one hour before each performance. These tickets, offered in various seating locations, are subject to availability and must be purchased in person at the Box Office within an hour of show time. Additionally, $14 “Access” tickets are offered in the Upper Gallery for each performance and can be purchased in advance online or by calling the Box Office.

To purchase tickets or for more information, call the CSC Box Office at 513.381.BARD (2273) ext. 1, or visit cincyshakes.com. Visa, Discover, MasterCard, and American Express are accepted, and ticketing fees apply.

Cincinnati Shakespeare Company is located at 1195 Elm Street, adjacent to Washington Park. In addition to abundant public parking options in the immediate vicinity, CSC offers parking services, including valet parking for $25 (managed by Star Parking) and self-parking for $15 (managed by 3CDC) in the adjacent lot. Reservations can be made in advance online or by contacting the Box Office. For more details, visit cincyshakes.com/your-visit/parking.

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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 the 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!

Cincinnati Shakespeare Company’s 2024-2025 Season is generously presented by our Operating Support Partners: The Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile, Jr. 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.

Burgess Byrd as Anna, Sabrina Lynne Sawyer as Ophelia, and Oneika Phillips as Gertrude. Photography by Mikki Schaffner.

This world-premiere reimagining of Shakespeare’s tragedy, written by America’s most produced playwright, Lauren M. Gunderson, will travel to Washington D.C. following its Cincinnati run

Cincinnati, January 22, 2025 – Cincinnati Shakespeare Company and co-producer Folger Theatre are shedding light on a different side of a classic Shakespeare tragedy in A Room in the Castle by Lauren M. Gunderson, playing January 24th – February 9th in Cincinnati, OH. This world-premiere reimagining of Hamlet from the perspectives of Ophelia and Gertrude explores untold stories and envisions an intriguing new ending for these iconic women. Directed by Kaja Dunn and co-produced with Folger Theatre in Washington, D.C., A Room in the Castle features an ensemble of three actors: Oneika Phillips and Sabrina Lynne Sawyer, making their CSC debuts, alongside Burgess Byrd, a familiar face at CSC. This production is generously sponsored by Judge Mark and Sue Ann Painter and the McElroy Family.

In this parallel retelling of Hamlet from Ophelia and Gertrude’s perspectives, the focus shifts to their emotional journey amidst the chaos of the Danish court. Ophelia’s narrative begins with the blossoming of a secret romance with Hamlet, filled with promise and youthful passion. As the intrigue in the court deepens, Ophelia and Gertrude find themselves ensnared in a web of political machinations and familial expectations, struggling to maintain power and agency. Will their ending confirm Shakespeare’s original or offer a new liberation? Audiences will find out in the world-premiere of Lauren Gunderson’s A Room in the Castle.

Originally commissioned by Cincinnati Shakespeare Company in 2020, A Room in the Castle is a world-premiere work by acclaimed playwright Lauren M. Gunderson, who has been the most produced playwright in America since 2015, topping the list three times. She is a two-time winner of the Steinberg/ATCA New Play Award for I and You and The Book of Will, the recipient of the Lanford Wilson Award, and a finalist for the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize. Gunderson shares, “I’m terrifically excited to finally bring A Room in the Castle to Cincy Shakes. Since they boldly commissioned the idea years ago, I’ve been filled with gratitude and eagerness to tell this untold part of the most iconic Shakespearean play and bring the women of Hamlet out from the shadows and into their own truths. What a gift to be trusted, commissioned, and—now—produced at Cincinnati Shakespeare!”

Cincinnati Shakespeare Company is proud to collaborate with Folger Theatre, located in Washington D.C., to bring A Room in the Castle to the stage. The award-winning Folger Theatre is part of the Folger Shakespeare Library, a cultural center that is home to the world’s largest collection of Shakespeare’s works. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Karen Ann Daniels, Folger Theatre continues its legacy through exciting interpretations and adaptations of Shakespeare while expanding the classical canon by cultivating today’s artists and commissioning new works in dialogue with current issues. After its Cincinnati run, A Room in the Castle will travel to Washington D.C., where it will be performed from March 4th – April 6th, 2025. Learn more at folger.edu.

A collaborative effort between designers from Folger Theatre and Cincinnati Shakespeare Company brings this world-premiere to the stage! Kaja Dunn, Folger Theatre’s Resident Intimacy Director, makes her CSC directorial debut. Her design team includes Samantha Reno, whose scenic design reimagines the Dutch castle in Hamlet from Ophelia’s perspective. Nicky Smith (Costume Design), Max Doolittle (Lighting Design), and Sarah O’Halloran (Sound Design) join forces with Cincinnati Shakespeare Company to bring the castle halls to life for audiences. Robert Carlton Stimmel (Projections Design) and Rainy Edwards (Associate Projections Design) complete the design team. The casting director for this production was Daryl Eisenberg, with stage management by Hope Villanueva (Stage Manager) and Rowan Rozzi (Assistant Stage Manager). Shana Laski serves as Assistant Director and Dramaturg.

A Room in the Castle marks the conclusion of PROJECT Hamlet, a trio of productions this season by Cincinnati Shakespeare Company exploring the timeless tragedy of Hamlet. The series began with a FREE production of Hamlet in parks across the tri-state area, followed by the Cincinnati premiere of James Ijames’ Pulitzer Prize-winning play Fat Ham, which reimagined the story of Hamlet as a backyard BBQ in the South. The series concludes with this world-premiere of Lauren Gunderson’s A Room in the Castle, based on the women of Hamlet.

A Room in the Castle runs from January 24th – February 9th at Cincinnati Shakespeare Company. Performances are on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 7:30 PM, with a Saturday matinee on February 8th and two Sunday matinees on February 2nd and 9th at 2:00 PM. CSC offers performances with accessibility resources, including live audio descriptions on January 24th and a sign language-interpreted performance on February 8th at 2:00 PM. There are two half-price preview performances on Wednesday, January 22nd, and Thursday, January 23rd.

For the best ticketing experience and to avoid resale sites or scams, please be sure to only purchase tickets directly through Cincinnati Shakespeare Company online at cincyshakes.com or by calling the Box Office at 513.381.2273. Ticket prices range from $12-$82; don’t pay more!
Discounts are available for students, seniors, educators, military personnel, local residents, and community partners at all performances. Additionally, $14 “Access” tickets are offered in the Upper Gallery for each performance and can be purchased in advance online or by calling the Box Office.

For those seeking last-minute options with additional ways to save, $12 Rush Tickets are available to anyone (not just students) starting one hour before each performance. These tickets, offered in various seating locations, are subject to availability and must be purchased in person at the Box Office within an hour of show time.

To purchase tickets or for more information, call the CSC Box Office at 513.381.BARD (2273) ext. 1, or visit cincyshakes.com. Visa, Discover, MasterCard, and American Express are accepted, and ticketing fees apply.

Cincinnati Shakespeare Company is located at 1195 Elm Street, adjacent to Washington Park. In addition to abundant public parking options in the immediate vicinity, CSC offers parking services, including valet parking for $25 (managed by Star Parking) and self-parking for $15 (managed by 3CDC) in the adjacent lot. Reservations can be made in advance online or by contacting the Box Office. For more details, visit cincyshakes.com/your-visit/parking.

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 the 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!

Cincinnati Shakespeare Company’s 2024-2025 Season is generously presented by our Operating Support Partners: The Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile, Jr. 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.