Tag Archives: Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati

A fresh remix on a celebrated favorite.
Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati presents World premiere Dramedy
Who All Over There?, April 11 – 30, 2023

(Cincinnati, OH) Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati (ETC) is excited to present the commissioned world premiere dramedy Who All Over There? by Torie Wiggins. Things aren’t always black and white—especially when it comes to relationships. Penned by the one of Cincinnati’s favorite multi-hyphenate artists, this new play is inspired by the classic Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner and shines a light on what happens when cultures clash in the name of love. April 11–30, 2023. Directed by Stori Ayers. Premiere Sponsor is Fifth Third Bank.

When Dean, a young professional, and Danya, an aspiring singer, go on a refreshingly candid first date, they keep it real about the dynamics of a potential interracial relationship. As they grow comfortable nestled in the cocoon of their budding love, the real world brings a whirlwind of inflammatory race relations, opinionated family and friends, and troublesome pasts. Can love truly be colorblind?

“The idea came a long time ago to commission an idea from Torie Wiggins,” says Producing Artistic Director D. Lynn Meyers. “We bought her play on faith and without a draft, really. That’s what you have to do to give somebody a chance. What’s essential about theatre is the opportunity to have different perspectives and points of view that we could never have in our own experience, and Torie has given us an opportunity with this piece to be a fly on the wall in someone else’s world.”

About the Cast

Kenneth Early (John Martin) last performed at Ensemble Theatre as Aldrin in The Dancing Princesses, and some of his other credits there include Pipeline, Red Velvet, The Whipping Man, Grey Gardens, Alice in Wonderland, Snow White, and Around the World in 80 Days. He has also been seen in productions at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, The Human Race Theatre Company, and Actors Theatre of Louisville.

Jay Wade (Sebastian “Truck” Martin) was last seen at Ensemble Theatre in Sweat and Pipeline. He also appeared as Omari in Alabama Shakespeare Festival’s production of Pipeline. He is from St. Louis, MO, and earned his BFA in Acting from Southeast Missouri State University.

Maliyah Gramata-Jones (Danya Martin) returns to Ensemble Theatre, where she was last seen in The Wolves. Some of her other Cincinnati credits include Puffs and Red Bike at Know Theatre of Cincinnati, Titus Andronicus at Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, and many beautifully “weird” projects through the Cincinnati Fringe Festival.  

Spencer Lackey (Dean Willis) returns to Ensemble Theatre, where he was last seen in the virtual production of Side Man. He is an actor and composer based in Brooklyn, NY. His regional theatre credits include Barefoot in the Park, Queens Theatre; Shakespeare in Love!, Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey; and The Other Rhine, Know Theatre of Cincinnati. His film and TV credits include Notzilla, Healing River, and Dead of Winter on Discovery ID. Spencer has a BFA in Acting from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. 

Blake Gehring (Scot Lancaster) makes his Ensemble Theatre debut with this production. He received his BFA from Northern Kentucky University, where he studied Radio/TV/Film and Theatre. He most recently attended the Theatre Training Institute under the direction of Ken Jones. Following graduation, Blake spent several years in Los Angeles pursuing acting and stand-up comedy. A few of his favorite theatre credits include The Brighton Beach Memoirs, Young Frankenstein, The Shape of Things, The Full Monty, and Dearly Departed.

Kyndra Dyanne Jefferies (Petunia “Aunt Toonie” Thompson) makes her Ensemble Theatre debut with this production. She is a native of Cincinnati and an alum of the School for Creative and Performing Arts. Kyndra has performed in various productions in the area including Disney’s Descendants, The Wiz Jr., Annie Jr., Superman, and Mary Poppins Jr., The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati; Bourbon at the Border, Falcon Theatre; Memphis, Loveland Stage Company; and Disney’s Newsies, Warsaw Federal Incline Theater. Her film credits include Dark Waters and The Old Man and the Gun.

Keisha L. Kemper (Deirdre Martin) is a native of Cincinnati and makes her Ensemble Theatre debut with this production. She graduated from the University of Cincinnati-College Conservatory of Music with her BFA in Dramatic Performance. Her regional credits include Weezy in Alabaster and Harry in Harry and the Thief, Know Theatre of Cincinnati; Chorus/Nurse in Prokofiev: Suite from Romeo and Juliet, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra; (Story)Teller in The Bradbury Tattoos: An Experimental Rock Opera, Concert:Nova; Maria, Captain, and First Officer in Twelfth Night, Cincinnati Shakespeare Company’s Shakespeare in the Park; and Amanda Wingfield in The Glass Menagerie, New Edgecliff Theatre.

Production team: Brian c. Mehring (Resident Scenic & Lighting Designer), Aharon Simone (Costume Designer), Matt Callahan (Sound Designer), Nigel C. Mask (Wig Designer), Shannon Rae Lutz (Properties Curator & Design Assistant), and Jack Murphy (Technical Director). Production Stage Manager is Margot Whitney. Assistant Stage Manager is Lexi Muller.

Performance Information
Performances Tuesday-Thursday at 7:30 pm; Friday & Saturday at 8:00 pm; Saturday & Sunday at 2:00 pm. Performances vary. A complete calendar of performances is available at www.ensemblecincinnati.org.

Ticket Prices
Tickets start at $35 for adults and student tickets are $28. Half-Price Rush Tickets: All remaining tickets for the current day’s performance(s) are available two hours prior to each show time for half-price (discount only applies to adult tickets) when purchasing by phone or in person. $15 Student Rush Tickets: Students may purchase up to two $15 student rush tickets two hours prior to show time with valid student I.D. Available in person only.

Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati is supported, in part, by the generosity of community contributions to the ArtsWave Campaign.

The Ohio Arts Council helps fund Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans. Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati also receives funding from the Shubert Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati is a professional theatre dedicated to producing world and regional premieres of works that often explore compelling social issues. We fulfill our mission through our stage productions and educational outreach programs that enlighten, enliven, enrich, and inspire our audiences.

Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati Presents Regional Premiere Drama
Morning Sun, February 25 – March 19, 2023

(Cincinnati, OH) Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati (ETC) is thrilled to present the regional premiere drama Morning Sun. Deeply felt and gorgeously imagined by Tony winner Simon Stephens (The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time), experience the first regional premiere production of this new play following its successful New York debut. This gutsy portrait of unsung woman plays February 25–March 19, 2023. Directed by D. Lynn Meyers.

In a brief flash, Charley’s life is sketched out before her, from the moment she was born through now, fifty years later. Her family, her friends, people she only met once, every moment she’s ever remembered crash through in full vibrancy. In this bold story transcending time and space, three generations of women embark on a journey to embrace life before it’s too late.

“I was looking for something that celebrated the uniqueness of one life,” says Producing Artistic Director D. Lynn Meyers. “Simon Stephens’s script absolutely caught me. It’s like being invited inside someone’s mind, soul, and heart. I couldn’t walk away from this play because it insisted to be done. I want audiences to realize they are essential to this world, that the person next to you has a story.”

About the Cast
Christine Dye (Claudette McBride and others) last performed at Ensemble Theatre in A Doll’s House, Part 2, as well as The Humans and When We Were Young and Unafraid. She has also appeared onstage in Much Ado About Nothing, Notre Dame Shakespeare Festival; August: Osage County, Riverside, and Sarge, Clifton Performance Theatre; Dracula, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park; House of Yes, Untethered Theatre; Jeffery, Parallel Lives, and Valhalla, Ovation Theatre; Power Failure, Night of the Iguana, and Bus Stop, New Edgecliff Theatre; and Vagina Monologues, Miss Reardon Drinks a Little, and Shirley Valentine, Middletown Lyric Theatre. Some of her film credits include Carol, Old Man and the Gun, Donnybrook, A Case of Murder, Mom and Dad, Aftermath, and First Kill.

Annie Fitzpatrick (Charley McBride) last appeared at Ensemble Theatre in The Wolves, and some of her favorite credits include Luna Gale, Hands on a Hardbody, Next Fall, Rabbit Hole, and String of Pearls. Other regional credits include Steal Magnolias, Alias Grace, Owen Meany, To Kill a Mockingbird, Pride and Prejudice, A Christmas Carol, and Hank Williams: Lost Highway, Playhouse in the Park; Richard III, Death of a Salesman, Little Women, A Man for All Seasons, and Blithe Spirit, Cincinnati Shakespeare Company; and Silent Sky, Pluto, and Collapse, Know Theatre. She has worked with various regional theatres including American Stage, Indiana Repertory Theater, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Geva Theatre, Florida Stage, and Florida Studio. Her TV and film credits include Chicago P.D., Those Who Kill, Army Wives, White Noise, Dark Waters, The Old Man and the Gun, Fun Size, and Milk Money.

Becca Howell (Tessa McBride and others) returns to the Ensemble Theatre stage, where she was last seen in
The Wolves, as well as Red Velvet, The Humans, and Bloomsday. After receiving her BFA from Northern Kentucky University, she completed ETC’s Professional Acting Internship Program. She has also performed locally in Macbeth with Cincinnati Shakespeare Company and Poor Behavior, Yankee Tavern, and Prelude to a Kiss with Falcon Theatre.

Production team: Brian c. Mehring (Resident Scenic & Lighting Designer), Brooke Arthur (Costume Designer), Matt Callahan (Sound Designer), Shannon Rae Lutz (Properties Curator & Design Assistant), and Jack Murphy (Technical Director). Production Stage Manager is Margot Whitney. Assistant Stage Manager is Lexi Muller.

Performance Information
Performances Tuesday-Thursday at 7:30 pm; Friday & Saturday at 8:00 pm; Saturday & Sunday at 2:00 pm. Performances vary. A complete calendar of performances is available at www.ensemblecincinnati.org.

Ticket Prices
Tickets start at $35 for adults and student tickets are $28. Half-Price Rush Tickets: All remaining tickets for the current day’s performance(s) are available two hours prior to each show time for half-price (discount only applies to adult tickets) when purchasing by phone or in person. $15 Student Rush Tickets: Students may purchase up to two $15 student rush tickets two hours prior to show time with valid student I.D. Available in person only.

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Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati is supported, in part, by the generosity of community contributions to the ArtsWave Campaign.

The Ohio Arts Council helps fund Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans. Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati also receives funding from the Shubert Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati is a professional theatre dedicated to producing world and regional premieres of works that often explore compelling social issues. We fulfill our mission through our stage productions and educational outreach programs that enlighten, enliven, enrich, and inspire our audiences.