Tag Archives: Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati

SWEAT Quick Review

SWEAT presented by Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati through Oct. 9. I attended the opening night performance. 

ETC_Sweat1

Burgess C. Byrd as Cynthia, Mierka “Mookie” Girten as Tracey, Ollie Corchado as Oscar, and Allen R. Middleton as Stan. Photo by Ryan Kurtz.

It is not very often I leave a theatre as energized as I did last night’s opening at ETC. SWEAT is simply damn good theatre.

The foundation is the excellent, Pulitzer prize-winning script by Lynn Nottage (Intimate Apparel and Fabulation, or the Re-Education of Undine), giving face and voice to the blue-collar workers impacted by America’s economic decline.

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Burgess C. Byrd as Cynthia and Mierka “Mookie” Girten as Tracey. Photo by Ryan Kurtz

The characters are believable, easily relatable, and played brilliantly by the near-perfect ensemble. While the dialogue is very conversational, the performances and pacing easily draw you into the story. Director Darnell Pierre Benjamin takes full advantage of his cast and set, expertly using both to bring this story to the stage.

The set is amazing and so realistic looking that you believe you in a bar, allowing the audience to effortlessly be transported into the story. Excellent work by Brian c. Mehring (set and lighting designer), Shannon Rae Lutz (properties curator/design assistant), and Rae Kuhn (scenic charge/production assistant). The costumes by Jerrilyn Lanier Duckworth are well-suited to the characters and the time period.

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Charlie Cromer as Jason, Allen R. Middleton as Stan, and Jay Wade as Chris. Photo by Ryan Kurtz

I do want to circle back around and again praise the cast as a whole (Burgess C. Byrd as Cynthia, Ollie Corchado as Oscar, Charlie Cromer as Jason, Denise Dal Vera as Jessie, Mierka Girten as Tracey, Allen R. Middleton as Stan, “ranney” as Brucie, Derek Snow as Evan & Jay Wade as Chris). There are so many little moments by and between the characters that make SWEAT such a rich experience.

Overall, ETC’s production of SWEAT needs to be seen and will easily stand as one of the best productions of the 2022-2023 season.

My rating: 5.0 out of 5.

Click here for more information on the production.

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Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati and Partners to Host NEA BIG READ: GREATER CINCINNATI Sept. 2022-June 2023

ETC_logoFrom September 2022 – JUNE 2023

(Cincinnati, OH) Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati (ETC) and several community partners will host the NEA Big Read: Greater Cincinnati, sponsored in part by grant funding from the National Endowment for the Arts through Arts Midwest. The National Endowment for the Arts Big Read is designed to broaden our understanding of our world, our communities, and ourselves through the joy of sharing a good book. ETC is one of 62 nonprofit organizations to receive a grant to host an NEA Big Read project, which will take place from September 2022 – June 2023.­­

The program will focus on the book Sitting Pretty: The View From My Ordinary Resilient Disabled Body, a memoir-in-essays by Rebekah Taussig. Dr. Taussig is a woman who uses a wheelchair due to paralysis resulting from childhood cancer, but those are only a few facets of her life as a “writer, teacher, advocate, and human lady person,” and she tells stories of her experiences with humor, empathy, and humanity, making them relatable for just about anyone.

ETC and several partner organizations will host programs centered on the themes of Sitting Pretty over the course of 10 months, including a kickoff event at ETC on Sunday, September 18 from 1:00 – 3:00 pm, where visitors can learn about ETC’s accessible programs, view the full schedule of NEA Big Read: Greater Cincinnati programming, and explore several other companion books with similar themes, including selections for all ages.

ABOUT REBEKAH TAUSSIG
“I’m a Kansas City writer who lives in a very small, very old house with my fussy family of tenderhearted snugglers. I’ve spent most of my life immersed in the world of writing and reading – as a student, teacher, and human person – because I believe that words and stories matter. I am interested in the powerful connection between the cultural narratives we tell and the world we live in, from physical spaces and economic opportunities to social roles and interpersonal relationships. I earned a PhD in Creative Nonfiction and Disability Studies from the University of Kansas, and I write personal essays that participate in the stories being told about disability. I also run an Instagram account, @sitting_pretty, where I regularly craft ‘mini-memoirs’ that explore what it means to live in my particular (disabled, female) body.” Learn more about Rebekah Taussig at https://rebekahtaussig.com.

NEA BIG READ: GREATER CINCINNATI – SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

The following schedule is subject to change; visit www.ensemblecincinnati.org for the most current information.

  • Sunday, September 18, 2022 – NEA Big Read: Greater Cincinnati Kickoff
    1:00 – 3:00 pm at Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati | 1127 Vine St, Cincinnati, OH 45202
    Learn more about ETC’s accessible programs and the rest of the event lineup for the NEA Big Read.
  • Friday, September 23, 2022 – Northern Kentucky Forum: Welcoming Workplace
    Exact time and location are still being determined; see the website for more details
    Join representatives from the Kentucky Career Center Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, Easterseals Redwood, Brighton Center, and Innovative Supports for Autistic Workers for a discussion about state and local resources for connecting workers with disabilities to companies and organizations seeking employees.
  • Sunday, October 9, 2022Crip Camp Screening/Discussion & Next Generation Library Presentation
    1:30 pm at Cincinnati Public Library – Deer Park Branch | 4020 E. Galbraith Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45236
    Enjoy a screening of the documentary Crip Cramp about the 1970s experience of teenagers with disabilities who met at Camp Jened and turned their summers of liberation and inclusion into a movement for Disability Rights. Prior to the screening, attendees will learn more about CHPL’s Next Gen Library plans to expand access in libraries across Cincinnati and Hamilton County. Following the film, there will be a discussion on ableism and access in modern cultural institutions.
  • Wednesday, October 12, 2022 – Employment is in Your Future
    4:00 – 5:00 pm online, hosted by Cincinnati Public Library
    Hosted by Cincinnati Public Library, learn about Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities, the state agency on the north side of the river which connects workers and employers, providing both with resources on hiring, employee rights and accommodations, and more.
    Friday, November 4, 2022 – Author Event: Sarah Kurchak
    7:00 – 8:00 pm at Campbell County Library Carrico/Ft. Thomas Branch | 1000 Highland Ave, Ft. Thomas, KY 41075
    Hosted by Campbell County Library, hear from Sarah Kurchack, author of I Overcame my Autism and All I Got Was This Lousy Anxiety Disorder. The memoir examines the steps Kurchak took to become “an autistic success story,” how the process almost ruined her life, and how she is now trying to recover. Register through the CCPL website.
  • Saturday, November 12, 2022 – Book Discussion
    1:30 pm at Cincinnati Public Library Price Hill Branch | 970 Purcell Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45205
    Join others who have read Sitting Pretty for a facilitated conversation about its themes and topics, and see visual displays featuring local (Marisa Conners, fashion designer), historical (Ludwig von Beethoven, composer), and notable (Alice Wong, activist/author of companion title Disability Visibility) people with disabilities.
  • Tuesday, January 24, 2023 – Book Discussion
    6:30 – 8:30 pm at Boone County Library Main Branch | 1786 Burlington Pike, Burlington, KY 41005
    Join others who have read Sitting Pretty for a facilitated conversation about its themes and topics.
  • Monday, March 13, 2023 – Book Discussion
    4:00 pm at Kenton County Library Covington Branch | 502 Scott St, Covington, KY 41011
    Join others who have read Sitting Pretty for a facilitated conversation about its themes and topics.
  • Saturday, April 29, 2023 – Children’s Story Time
    11:00 am at Blue Marble Books | 1356 S. Fort Thomas Ave, Ft Thomas, KY 41075
    Bring the littles in your world for a story time reading of Ali and the Sea Stars by Ali Stroker, an NEA Big Read: Greater Cincinnati companion title, do some shopping, and learn more about Blue Marble’s efforts to become an accessible small business located in a historic building.
  • Tuesday, May 16, 2023 – Book Discussion
    10:00 am at Campbell County Library Cold Spring Branch | 3920 Alexandria Pike, Cold Spring, KY 41076
    Join others who have read Sitting Pretty for a facilitated conversation about its themes and topics.
  • Thursday, May 18, 2023 – Book Discussion
    7:00 pm at Campbell County Library Newport Branch | 901 E. Sixth St, Newport, KY 41071
    Join others who have read Sitting Pretty for a facilitated conversation about its themes and topics.
  • Saturday, June 3, 2023 – TALL Institute Performance Screening
    12:00 pm at Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati | 1127 Vine St, Cincinnati, OH 45202
    See a screening of the filmed creative response to Sitting Pretty developed by our partners at TALL Institute and stay for a brief reception and discussion to follow.
    Friday, June 9, 2023 – NEA Big Read: Greater Cincinnati Culminating Celebration
    6:00 pm at Cincinnati Library Walnut Hills Branch | 961 E McMillan St, Cincinnati, OH 45206
    Celebrate the conclusion of the NEA Big Read programming with an author visit from Rebekah Taussig, a visual art exhibition of creative responses to Sitting Pretty from Visionaries + Voices artists, and V+V Artist Night creative opportunities for kids.

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ETC_NEA Big Read logoNEA Big Read is a program of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest.

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.

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Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati Opens 2022-23 Season with Pulitzer Prize-Winning Play SWEAT

ETC_Sweat logoSeptember 17 – October 9, 2022

(Cincinnati, OH) Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati (ETC) opens its 37th year with the Pulitzer Prize–winning drama Sweat by MacArthur genius and two-time Pulitzer Prize-winner Lynn Nottage. Shining a powerful light on America’s working class, Nottage infuses this searing script with her trademark mix of compassion, humor, and suspense. It’s explosive drama, made in America. Playing September 17–October 9, 2022. Directed by Darnell Pierre Benjamin.­­

This compelling story takes us to the forgotten heart of America, where old friends come together at their favorite bar as they struggle to survive a fraying economy. For decades, they’ve shared secrets and laughs on the factory floor, but now layoffs pit them against one another as inequities of race and class fan the flames. Based on the playwright’s extensive research and interviews with real residents of Reading, Pennsylvania, Sweat is a topical reflection of the present and poignant outcome of America’s economic decline.

“I love this play without exception, and that’s rare,” says Producing Artistic Director D. Lynn Meyers. “I picked up the script without any background simply because I thought it was a great title and because Lynn Nottage’s play Intimate Apparel is a story that lives in my heart. Sweat is such honest writing, and I just fell into it. It’s a play about the realization of what is essential in our lives and that need is indeed a deep and real thing. There’s not a shred of theatricality or dishonestly in this piece.”

About the Cast

  • Burgess Byrd (Cynthia) was last seen at Ensemble Theatre in Skeleton Crew as Faye and the 2019 production of The Frog Princess as the Tsar, as well as the virtual reading of 20th Century Blues as Mac. She also appeared in ETC’s world premiere of Around the World in 80 Days in the 1999-2000 Season, during which time she was an Acting Intern. Additional credits include Gloria: A Life at the Human Race Theatre Company.
  • Mierka Girten (Tracey) makes her Ensemble Theatre debut with this production. For the last 20+ years, she has worked in Chicago as an actress, casting director, and producer. Some of her credits include Sweat, The Goodman Theatre; Into the Woods, Porchlight Theatre; The Walls, Rivendell Theatre Ensemble; her one woman show With or Without Wings, Baum House; and Gloria, McCarter Theatre Center with Mary McDonald. Mierka is a graduate of Wright State University and Cincinnati’s School for Creative and Performing Art.
  • Denise Dal Vera (Jessie) makes her Ensemble Theatre debut with this production. Some of her stage credits include Belinda in Noises Off at the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina and Hallie in Sunrise Coven at Know Theatre of Cincinnati. Her TV and film credits include Dark Waters, CBS’s Tell Me A Story, Who Is Amos Otis, and the upcoming film Just For Show. Denise is a graduate of The American Academy of Dramatic Arts. She served as AFTRA Tri-State President and SAG-AFTRA National board member, and is currently a delegate to The Cincinnati Labor Council AFL-CIO.
  • Jay Wade (Chris) was last seen at Ensemble Theatre in Pipeline. He also appeared as Omari in Alabama Shakespeare Festival’s production of Pipeline. He is from St. Louis, MO, and recently earned his BFA in Acting from Southeast Missouri State University.
  • Charlie Cromer (Jason) makes his Ensemble Theatre debut with this production. Some of his credits includeA Christmas Carol, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park; Of Mice and Men, Cincinnati Shakespeare Company; The Irish Curse, Short North Stage; MilkMilkLemonade at the Impact Theatre Berkeley; The Bomb-itty of Errors and Kitty Kitty Kitty, UGA; and Pesach, 7 Stages Atlanta. He can also be in seen in the TV movie Memphis Belle: Her Final Mission. Charlie received his BA at Kenyon College and his MFA from the University of Georgia.
  • Allen R. Middleton (Stan) makes his Ensemble Theatre debut with this production. His theatre credits include Gross Indecency: The Three of Oscar Wilde, TheatreWorks Hartford; Proof, The Carnegie; The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, Falcon Theatre; Haunted: The Great Lakes Ghost Project, Know Theatre; and My Fair Lady, West Virginia Public Theater. His film and TV credits include Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile; Curvature; FTL Newsfeed; Round and Round; and Just in Time. Allen is a graduate of the Carnegie Mellon University School of Drama.
  • Ollie Corchado (Oscar) makes his Ensemble Theatre debut with this production. His New York credits include King Lear, New York Classical Theatre; A Spider’s Web, Wet Paint New Play Festival; Counting Pedestals, Metropolitan Playhouse; and Not About Nightingales, Empirical Stage. His regional credits include Romeo and Juliet, Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival; Indian Head, Luna Stage; and Peter and the Starcatcher, Milwaukee Rep. & Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park. His TV and film credits include Bull, Blue Bloods, Bound, and Stalked: Someone’s Watching.
  • “ranney” (Brucie) makes his Ensemble Theatre debut with this production. His credits include Art, Shakespeare & Company; Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom and Fences, Cincinnati Shakespeare Company; Two Trains Running and Radio Golf, American Stage Company; Seven Guitars, Nevada Conservatory Theatre; and The Piano Lesson, Center Theatre Company. Some of his one-man show credits include And the Horse You Rode in On at the Projects Arts Centre, Dublin, Ireland, and Cufflinks and Jolly Ranchers for Dummies at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland.
  • Derek J. Snow (Evan) has been an actor, writer, director, and producer in Cincinnati for almost four decades. A graduate of SCPA, Derek continued his education in NYC before returning after graduation to teach. As a playwright, his work has been produced in Atlanta, New Jersey, London, India, and Sydney, Australia. His short play Wind Kill Factor was read for a sold-out audience at Ensemble Theatre in 2019 as part of their Studio Series. Derek founded his nonprofit, Missing Front Plate Productions, in 2020 to address the lack of BIPOC work in theaters nationwide.

Production team: Brian c. Mehring (Resident Scenic and Lighting Designer), Jerrilyn Lanier-Duckworth (Costume Designer), Matt Callahan (Sound Designer), Gina Cerimele-Mechley (Fight Director), 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; student tickets are $28; and children are $24. 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.

Content Advisory:
This production contains strong language and adult content, including themes of racism and racial slurs; descriptions of violence and alcohol/drug use; and sexual references. 

Safety Information:
For full health and safety policy information, visit our website at www.ensemblecincinnati.org/health-safety.

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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.

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SWEAT Runs Sept. 17-Oct. 9

ETC_Sweat logo

9/22 – Thursdays performance of SWEAT has been canceled due to a non-COVID medical emergency.

Ticket holders can expect a phone call from our box office as well as an email and will be able to redeem their tickets for another performance. We apologize to those planning to attend tonight and will work with you to ensure you can still see the production on another date.

SWEAT
Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati
Sept. 17-Oct. 9
[Over-the-Rhine]

Directed by Darnell Pierre Benjamin

Cast: Burgess C. Byrd as Cynthia, Ollie Corchado as Oscar, Charlie Cromer as Jason, Denise Dal Vera as Jessie, Mierka Girten as Tracey, Allen R. Middleton as Stan, “ranney” as Brucie, Derek Snow as Evan & Jay Wade as Chris

This powerful drama takes us to the forgotten heart of America, where old friends come together at their favorite bar as they struggle to survive a fraying economy. For decades, they’ve shared secrets and laughs on the factory floor, but now layoffs pit them against one another as inequities of race and class fan the flames. Based on the playwright’s extensive research and interviews with real residents of Reading, Pennsylvania, Sweat is a topical reflection of the present and poignant outcome of America’s economic decline. MacArthur genius and two-time Pulitzer Prize–winner Lynn Nottage infuses this searing script with her trademark mix of compassion, humor, and suspense. It’s explosive drama, made in America. Content warning: This production contains strong language and adult content, including themes of racism and racial slurs; descriptions of violence and alcohol/drug use; and sexual references.

  • In preview Sat, Sept. 17 at 7pm
  • In preview Tue, Sept. 20 at 7pm
  • Wed-Thu, Sept. 21-22 at 7:30pm
  • Fri, Sept. 23 at 8pm
  • Sat, Sept. 24 at 2pm &  8pm
  • Sun, Sept. 25 at 2pm
  • Tue-Thu, Sept. 27-29 at 7:30pm
  • Fri, Sept. 30 at 8pm
  • Sat, Oct. 1 at 2pm &  8pm
  • Sun, Oct. 2 at 2pm
  • Tue-Thu, Oct. 4-6 at 7:30pm
  • Fri, Oct. 7 at 8pm
  • Sat, Oct. 8 at 2pm &  8pm
  • Sun, Oct. 9 at 2pm

Official page | Facebook event |

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ETC Announces Winner of Fourth Annual PLAY/WRITE Collegiate Playwriting Competition

ETC_logoENSEMBLE THEATRE CINCINNATI ANNOUNCES WINNER OF FOURTH ANNUAL
PLAY/WRITE: THE JACKIE DEMALINE REGIONAL COLLEGIATE PLAYWRITING COMPETITION

(Cincinnati, OH) Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati (ETC) is pleased to announce the winner of the fourth annual PLAY/write: The Jackie Demaline Regional Collegiate Playwriting Competition. The annual collegiate competition nurtures local aspiring dramatists who are helping to shape the future of American theatre and provides a $2,500 juried cash award to support the early work and career of each winner along with staged professional readings of their scripts.

The winner of this year’s prize is Steven Strafford (Ohio University) for his play The Match Game, which will receive a full-length staged professional reading on July 31, 2022, at Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati.

Judges found Strafford’s The Match Game very well constructed, humorous, and highly entertaining all while navigating some heavier topics as a diagnosis of cancer, the loss of trust, and family dysfunction. The panel would also like to recognize the following playwrights with Honorable Mentions in this year’s competition:  Both Hands by Joyce Evelyn Deaton (Northern Kentucky University), The Heat by David Schwartz (University of Cincinnati), and The End of the World by Baxter Whitehead (Miami University).

About the Competition
The competition commemorates the life and work of writer, critic, and theatre enthusiast, Jackie Demaline. A passionate arts advocate, Ms. Demaline served as an important catalyst for change in the theater community and was an entertainment writer and editor for numerous publications. Her legacy lives on through this competition, providing professional development for emerging writers, amplifying new voices and perspectives, and kick-starting arts careers. 

About the Play
The Match Game by Steven Strafford

Steph has cancer, but that’s the least of her problems today. Her estranged father, who may or may not have dementia, has come to live with her. Her suspicious mom, her gay brother and his sweet, young, and somewhat dim-witted boyfriend, her absent father, and her precocious daughter will all be in attendance at an ad-hoc birthday party, complete with the set of a regional production of a Broadway musical. Can Steph navigate her family to get what she wants, or maybe more importantly, what she needs? 

About the Playwright
Steven Strafford is a Brooklyn-born playwright and actor. He is the author of the award-winning solo play, Methtacular!, which he has performed across the country in LORT theaters, universities, and LGBTQ+ spaces and which was recorded at Steppenwolf’s 1700 Theater in 2019. His soon-to-be-published play Small Jokes About Monsters won the New American Voices Contest in 2016, was a semi-finalist for The O’Neill National Playwrights Conference, and won the 2022 Ready-To-Publish Award from SETC and StageRights. Small Jokes About Monsters had productions in Houston at Landing Theatre, (nominated for Outstanding New Play, Houston Theater Awards), Chicago at 16th Street Theater, and in Sioux City at The Lamb Theater. His play Greater Illinois was a semifinalist in the 2021 O’Neill National Playwrights Conference and a finalist for the Jackie Demaline Regional Collegiate Playwriting Competition at Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati. The play also received a workshop with Tantrum East in NYC. His short play Use Your Noodles was produced at Middlesex College, Ohio University, and Colby College. Methtacular! will be included in a forthcoming anthology of solo plays from Opus Books. His essay, “College Dreams,” was published in the book, The Anatomy of Silence.

Performance Information
The reading will take place on Sunday, July 31, 2022, at 2:00 pm at Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati. Registration is required for this free event and can be reserved online at www.ensemblecincinnati.org or by calling (513) 421-3555.

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2021-2022 Season Presenting Sponsor is the Otto M. Budig Family Foundation.

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.

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