Tag Archives: Cincinnati Shakespeare Company

Jay Wade. Photo by Mikki Schaffner.

Tickets are already selling fast for this thrilling version of the classic story just in time for Halloween 

Cincinnati, Oct. 9, 2023 – Cincinnati Shakespeare Company bring a gothic classic monster to life in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein by David Catlin playing October 11^th – November 2^nd. This adaptation is directed by CSC’s Producing Artistic Director and CEO, Brian Isaac Phillips and features an ensemble of five actors comprised of Jasimine Bouldin. Alexis Bronkovic, Billy Chace, John Patrick Hayden, and Jay Wade. This production’s design is generously sponsored by Rance and Marilyn Duke.

On a dark and stormy night, a group of friends challenge each other to tell a frightful tale and thus Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is born. Cast away by his creator, Victor Frankenstein’s rejected creature is thrust into a world that recoils in terror, disgusted by his inhumanity. A new spin on the gothic tale from the mother of science fiction promises to be a spine-tingling encounter with one of literature’s most iconic monsters. Ideal for the Halloween season, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein will ask the question: who is the real monster, creature or creator?

This version of Frankenstein was adapted by David Catlin in 2019 and originally produced by the Lookingglass Theatre Company in Chicago, IL. Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein takes place on the night Mary Shelley conceived the story of Frankenstein. Actors portray the historical figures present at the story’s creation, including Percy Bysshe Shelley, Lord Byron, and Mary Shelley herself, as they gather to tell each other grim tales of the macabre. They begin to recount the story of Frankenstein, using props and costumes from the set to embody the characters of the gothic tale, bringing the story to life! Director Brian Isaac Phillips remarks, “It’s full of thrills and chills, but it also has this really fantastic heart to it… specifically with Mary Shelley’s journey and who she is and how she creates the story.” Cincinnati Shakespeare Company is thrilled to bring this over 200 year old classic to life this Halloween season!

This production of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein will have a life following this run in Cincinnati.  Produced in partnership with Merrimack Repertory Theatre in Lowell, Massachusetts, the production will travel and perform at the partner organization from November 8^th– 24^th. Designers from Cincinnati Shakespeare Company and Merrimack Repertory Theatre will work together to bring Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein to life at both cities.  Producing productions in partnership like this is cost-effective, helping theaters streamline operations, maximize budgets, and deliver high-quality performances to a wider audience.

The set, designed by Samantha Reno, is inspired by the villa in Geneva where the story of Frankenstein was created. Costume designs by Rainy Edwards use various accessories, coats, and even fur rugs to transform the small ensemble of actors into a variety of roles. Robert Carlton Simmel’s projection designs use water color and sketch book styles to transport audiences from Dr. Frankenstein’s eerie lab to the desolate frozen arctic. Massachusetts-based designer Jeff Adelberg will make his Cincinnati debut with his lighting design, and Zack Bennett has designed a soundscape that will give audiences the chills.

Cincinnati Shakespeare Company has added two special event showings to the run of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein: Blinkenstein and Frankenstein’s Monster Bash:

See Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein before a night of BLINK at BLINKenstein Oct.19^th at 6:30 PM. This performance features themed cocktails, dazzling surprises, and glowing goodie bags for audiences. This early showing gives audiences plenty of time to park, enjoy the show, and then dive into BLINK festivities.

Audiences can join Cincy Shakes Halloween night at “Frankenstein’s Monster Bash.” Audiences are invited to see Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein while dressed in their spookiest duds and costumes. Featured cocktails, thrilling performances, and monstrous surprises await ticket holders October 31^st at 7:30 PM.

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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 our Box Office at 513.381.2273. Ticket prices range from $12- $76; don’t pay more!

Tickets are on sale now and going fast, with some performances already SOLD OUT! Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein runs from October 11th – November 2nd, 2024, with performances on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 7:30 PM, plus two Saturday matinees on October 19th and November 2nd, and two Sunday matinees on October 20th and 27th at 2:00 PM. Additional shows include Wednesday, October 16 at 7:30 PM and Saturday, October 19 at 6:30 PM to accommodate BLINK. CSC offers accessible performances: Live Audio Descriptions and Sign Language Interpretation are available at the November 2nd matinee.

Preview Performances on Wednesday, October 9, and Thursday, October 10, for half-price tickets. Young Professionals can enjoy YP Preview Night on October 9 with $25 tickets, a free drink, and a post-show talkback. At all performances discounts are available for students, seniors, educators, military, local residents, and community partners, as well as $14 “Access” tickets in the Upper Gallery for each performance, available for advance purchase online or by calling the Box Office. Also, starting 1 hour before each show, unreserved tickets may be available as $12 Rush Tickets for anyone (not just students), in various seating locations, based on availability. Rush Tickets must be purchased in person at the Box Office within an hour of showtime.

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. Valet parking is available for $25 and self-parking for $15 is available in the adjacent lot. Make advance reservation online the website or contact the Box Office.  For more details, visit cincyshakes.com/your-visit/parking.

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About Merrimack Repertory Theatre:

Merrimack Repertory Theatre’s mission is to “create remarkable new and contemporary plays that bring joy to our art form while engaging, entertaining and enriching our community.” The non-profit company guarantees that shows are accessible to audiences of all incomes; partners with businesses and other non-profits to fully engage the community; and contributes to the economic vitality of Lowell by attracting diverse audiences from throughout the region.

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!

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.

PROJECT HAMLET continues at Cincinnati Shakespeare Company with this Pulitzer Prize winning comedy by James Ijames.

Je’Shaun Jackson as Juicy. Photo by Mikki Schaffner.

CINCINNATI, OH (September 5, 2024) – Cincinnati Shakespeare Company (CSC) is thrilled to bring a cutting-edge production of Fat Ham by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright James Ijames to the stage from September 6-22, 2024. This innovative and hilarious reimagining of Shakespeare’s Hamlet has taken the theater world by storm with its contemporary setting, fresh perspective, and powerful themes of identity, revenge, and personal freedom. After an acclaimed Broadway run and five Tony Award nominations, including Best Play, Fat Ham makes its Cincinnati debut, offering audiences a bold new look at one of the most iconic stories in literature.  Fat Ham at Cincinnati Shakespeare Company is generously sponsored by Fifth Third Bank and Mount St. Joseph University President H. James Williams and First Lady Carole Campbell Williams.

From September 6-22, 2024, CSC will stage Fat Ham by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright James Ijames. This daring reimagining of Hamlet swaps the Danish court for a Southern backyard barbecue, transforming the classic tale of revenge, power, and family dynamics with a modern twist. Centered on Juicy, a queer Black man grappling with the murder of his father and the demand for vengeance, Fat Ham delivers a hilarious yet poignant examination of identity, legacy, and personal freedom.

Fat Ham premiered in 2021 as a filmed production at The Wilma Theater in Philadelphia, where Ijames is a resident artist. Its powerful and inventive take on Hamlet quickly garnered national attention, and in 2022, it won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. The play then made its way to The Public Theater in New York, where it continued to receive critical acclaim for its humor, depth, and fresh take on the Shakespearean narrative.

In 2023, Fat Ham made its Broadway debut at the American Airlines Theatre, where it was celebrated as a bold and contemporary interpretation of a classic, earning five Tony Award nominations, including Best Play. Described by critics as “a hilarious yet profound tragedy smothered in comedy,” the play has cemented itself as a modern theatrical sensation, offering an insightful exploration of race, identity, queerness, and family ties.

Directed by Darnell Pierre Benjamin, a frequent collaborator with CSC, Fat Ham brings this award-winning and groundbreaking production to Cincinnati for the first time. Benjamin, who also directed CSC’s acclaimed 2021 production of Romeo and Juliet, is excited to helm this vibrant interpretation of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, blending comedy, tragedy, and modern-day relevance in one unforgettable performance.

CSC Producing Artistic Director, Brian Isaac Phillips, remarks, “We’re thrilled to bring Fat Ham to our stage. It’s an extraordinary piece that adds a vibrant and thought-provoking layer to the Hamlet narrative, showing the incredible versatility of Shakespeare’s work in speaking to modern audiences.”

In addition to Fat Ham, PROJECT HAMLET is a season-long celebration of Shakespeare’s timeless masterpiece, offering audiences three distinct versions of the story. The project began with a FREE Shakespeare in the Park performance of Hamlet during the summer of 2024, making the Bard’s work accessible to all in Cincinnati. Then, audiences can experience Ijames’ inventive take in Fat Ham, followed by the world premiere of Lauren Gunderson’s A Room in the Castle in January 2025, which tells the story of Hamlet from the perspectives of the women of Hamlet.  Phillips continues, “Each of these productions brings something new to the Hamlet story, whether it’s a shift in perspective or setting. PROJECT HAMLET invites our audiences to rediscover the depth, humanity, and complexity of this tragedy in unexpected and thrilling ways.”

For tickets and more information on Fat Ham and PROJECT HAMLET, visit www.cincyshakes.com or call the CSC Box Office at (513) 381-BARD (2273).

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CSC offers discounts for students, seniors, and local residents, with a limited number of $14 “Access” tickets available for each performance, purchasable in advance. One hour before each performance, any unreserved tickets become available as $12 Rush Tickets, which must be purchased in person. For tickets or more information, call 513.381.BARD (2273) or visit cincyshakes.com.

Cincinnati Shakespeare Company is located at 1195 Elm Street, adjacent to Washington Park. Valet parking is available for $25 and self-parking for $15 is available in the adjacent lot. Make advance reservation online the website or contact 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 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.