Tag Archives: Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati

(Cincinnati, OH) Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati (ETC) is pleased to announce the winner of the seventh 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 Dinithi Fernando (University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music) for her play Be Patient, My Little Grasshopper, which will receive a full-length professional reading on Sunday, October 19 at 2:00 pm at Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati.

The panel of judges would also like to recognize Iris Shipley (CCM) as the runner up for her play Last Call.

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
Be Patient, My Little Grasshopper by Dinithi Fernando is a new dramedy that explores first relationships, identity, and how Sri Lankan culture wrestles with trauma. Lakshani has loved her college experience so far: she’s thriving with new friends, balancing family visits, and dreaming of the future. Then she meets him. Charming, funny, irresistible . . . until he isn’t. What starts as flirtation turns dark as his attention becomes dangerous. Lakshani is caught between her family’s expectations, her own fears, and the terrifying reality of a stalker who won’t let go. Can she confide in her parents? Will she find a way to break free? Or will silence put her—and everyone around her—at risk? 

About the Playwright
Dinithi Fernando is currently an acting student at University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music. Her credits include playing M in Peerless at the Human Race Theatre, playing Mamillius in The Winter’s Tale at CCM, and writing and acting in this past year’s Transmigration Festival at CCM. She is working towards creating more representation in the industry, raising awareness about different social issues, and telling stories about her culture. Dinithi hopes Be Patient, My Little Grasshopper can raise awareness about stalking, assault, and how Sri Lankan culture deals with trauma.

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2025–2026 Season Presenting Sponsor is the LKC 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.

(Cincinnati, OH) Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati (ETC) kicks off its 40^th Anniversary Season with the regional musical revival of one of its bestselling shows and fan favorite, Next to Normal, returning to ETC’s stage September 13 – October 5, 2025. This Tony Award– and Pulitzer Prize–winning rock musical, with an extraordinary score by Tom Kitt and poignant book and lyrics by Brian Yorkey, delves into the heart of a family shattered by mental illness but held together by love. Hailed by The New York Times as a “transformative” musical, this modern masterpiece is a must-see theatrical event. Premiere sponsors are Daniel Brown and Mark Haggard. Directed by D. Lynn Meyers.­­

Diana Goodman is a suburban mom struggling with bipolar disorder. Her daughter, Natalie, is a stressed-out overachiever ready to snap. And Dan, her exhausted architect husband, is determined to keep everything “normal.” As Diana’s symptoms worsen and effective treatment remains elusive, the Goodmans must finally connect and learn how to see each other for who they truly are. A cathartic and empathetic triumph of contemporary musical theatre, Next to Normal features soaring rock music, unforgettable characters, and a gripping, emotionally resonant story that echoes long after the final note.

“This isn’t a remount; this is a reinvention, a revival of the magnificent show we produced 14 years ago,” says Producing Artistic Director D. Lynn Meyers. “We were the first theatre in the country to receive the regional rights to do this show in 2011 and after a hugely successful run, it honestly never occurred to me that we could or would do it again. But for our 40^th Anniversary, we wanted to do something from the vault. In a time when there’s so much discord in our world, we needed to stop and focus on what it means to lose, to gain, to make our own choices, and to stay alive. It’s an exceedingly real look at how trauma and grief can change someone and be unapologetic about what it costs to truly love someone.”

About the Cast

Jessica Hendy (Diana) returns to Ensemble Theatre to reprise her role in Next to Normal. She has spent the past twelve years in New York City with her son, Beckett. Recently, her autobiographical one-woman musical, Walking with Bubbles, premiered off-Broadway, earning her a Drama Desk nomination and an Off-Broadway Alliance Award for Best Solo Show. Her credits span four Broadway shows, off-Broadway shows, national tours, regional theatre, and symphony concerts across the country. Her work on Sondheim Unplugged Vol. 3 earned a 2023 Grammy nomination.

Charlie Clark (Dan) was last seen at Ensemble Theatre as Bruce Bechdel in Fun Home, as well as Father in Violet, Don in Rapture, Blister, Burn, Benny in Hands on a Hardbody (2014), Pastor Jay in Luna Gale, Brandon in Next Fall, and Dr. Madden/Dr. Fine in Next to Normal (2011). Other local credits include Church Girls, Take Me Out, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, On Golden Pond, Carousel, Love’s Labour’s Lost, See What I Wanna See, The Full Monty, and Sunday in the Park with George. His Chicago credits include Company (Jeff Award), The Hawkshaws, Into the Woods, Kiss of the Spiderwoman, and Sweeney Todd.  His Twin Cities credits include Crazy for You, Guys and Dolls, Mary Poppins, The Bridges of Madison County, and Merrily We Roll Along. 

Making their ETC debuts in this production are Julianne Ferguson (Natalie), Carter Minor (Henry), Rory Sheridan (Dr. Madden/Dr. Fine), and Jameson Zoller (Gabe). 

Production team: Brian c. Mehring (Resident Scenic & Lighting Designer), Steve Goers (Music Director), Patti James (Choreographer), Hannah Dringenburg (Costume Designer), Jake Tillmann (Sound Designer), Shannon Rae Lutz (Properties Curator and Design Assistant), and Jacob Dowell (Technical Director). Production Stage Manager is Margot Whitney. Assistant Stage Manager is Lexi Muller.

Performance Information
Performances Tuesday-Saturday at 7:30 pm; Saturday and Sunday at 2:00 pm. A complete calendar of show dates and times is available at www.ensemblecincinnati.org.

Ticket Prices
Tickets start at $22 for adults; student tickets are $29; and children are $27. 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.

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2025–2026 Season Presenting Sponsor is the LKC 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.