Tag Archives: Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati

April 15, 2026 · 5:19 pm

Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati Presents Regional Premiere Musical THE HOUSE ON WATCH HILL May 9-31

(Cincinnati, OH) The scariest thing isn’t the haunted house—it’s growing up. Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati (ETC) closes its 40th Anniversary Season with the regional premiere musical The House on Watch Hill by Richard Oberacker and Robert Taylor, the Tony-nominated creators of Bandstand. Pulsing with original ‘80s-inspired music, this thrilling new musical is full of nostalgia, heart, and a touch of the supernatural. Playing May 9–31, 2026 and directed by D. Lynn Meyers and Dee Anne Bryll. Premiere Sponsor is Manuel Hernandez.

Based on true events, The House on Watch Hill follows a group of teen misfits in the summer of 1984 who set out to build the ultimate haunted house in their Cincinnati suburb. Led by 14-year-old horror buff Patrick, their project stirs up fears far more real than any ghost story. Set to an original ’80s-inspired soundtrack and steeped in Cold War anxiety and latchkey freedom, this coming-of-age story is funny, moving, and maybe just a little spooky. A must-see for fans of Stranger Things, The Goonies, and anyone who’s ever felt like an underdog, The House on Watch Hill captures the bittersweet moment between childhood and growing up—when you’re old enough to know the world is scary but brave enough to face it anyway.

“Do you remember a summer when you thought everything was possible?” asks ETC’s Producing Artistic Director D. Lynn Meyers. “This show is about the stripping away all the layers of who we’ve become and going back to a time when we were still growing, still dreaming, and still hoping things come to fruition. It’s based on a true and local story about the life of one of its creators, Richard Oberacker, and the summer that changed his life. What a brave and beautiful opportunity to share his story. The concept of this story would be considered completely outrageous if it wasn’t true. And the music? It’s intoxicating. Once you jump in, the rhythm just keeps going throughout the whole piece. These songs could have been hits of the ‘80s had they been written during that time.”

The cast includes Jason Collins(Adult 1), Julianne Ferreira da Silva (Jennifer), Wesley Akio Geary (Paul), Adrian Graff (Patrick), Jordyn Amani Jones (Joy), Morgan Lindell (Kristin), Sara Mackie (Adult 2), Gavin Poronsky (Tim), and Tommy Sanders (Jason).

Production team: Brian c. Mehring (Resident Scenic & Lighting Designer), Steve Goers (Music Director), Dee Anne Bryll (Choreographer), Cat Schmeal-Swope (Costume Designer), Brian Hsieh (Sound Designer), Shannon Rae Lutz (Properties Curator & Design Associate), Jacob Dowell (Technical Director), Michele A. Kay (Production Stage Manager), and Lexi Muller (Assistant Stage Manager).

Performance Information
Performances Tuesday-Saturday at 7:30 pm; Saturday and Sunday at 2:00 pm. A complete calendar of performances is available at http://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

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April 8, 2026 · 6:12 pm

THE HOUSE ON WATCH HILL Runs May 9-31

THE HOUSE ON WATCH HILL
Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati
May 9-31
[Over-the-Rhine]

By Richard Oberacker & Robert Taylor

The House on Watch Hill is a thrilling new musical full of nostalgia, heart, and a touch of the supernatural. Based on true events, it follows a group of teen misfits in the summer of 1984 who set out to build the ultimate haunted house in their Cincinnati suburb. Led by 14-year-old horror buff Patrick, their project stirs up fears far more real than any ghost story. Set to an original ’80s-inspired soundtrack and steeped in Cold War anxiety and latchkey freedom, this coming-of-age story is funny, moving, and maybe just a little spooky. A must-see for fans of Stranger Things, The Goonies, and anyone who’s ever felt like an underdog, The House on Watch Hill captures the bittersweet moment between childhood and growing up—when you’re old enough to know the world is scary but brave enough to face it anyway. Content advisory: THE HOUSE ON WATCH HILL explores the complexities of peer pressure, identity, and the rollercoaster of teenage friendships. Expect some mild to moderate spooky haunted house thrills, a few suspenseful moments, emotionally honest portrayals of adolescent anxiety, and a few mild swear words. Please be advised that this production includes flashing lights, strobe effects, and haze.

  • In preview Sat, May 9 at 7pm
  • In preview Tue, May 12 at 7pm
  • Wed-Fri, May 13-15 at 7:30pm
  • Sat, May 16 at 2pm & 7:30pm
  • Sun, May 17 at 2pm
  • Tue-Fri, May 19-22 at 7:30pm
  • Sat, May 23 at 2pm & 7:30pm
  • Sun, May 24 at 2pm
  • Tue-Fri, May 26-29 at 7:30pm
  • Sat, May 30 at 2pm & 7:30pm
  • Sun, May 31 at 2pm

Official page | Facebook events |

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March 30, 2026 · 5:29 pm

FOURTEEN FUNERALS Review

Review by Katrina “Kat” Reynolds

FOURTEEN FUNERALS presented by Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati through April 12th. I attended the Opening Night performance. 

Shonita Joshi as Sienna & Maggie Lou Rader as Millie. Photo by Ryan Kurtz.

A young woman receives a vague call regarding the deaths of distant relatives in a small town – sounds like the intro to something spooky, right? Dead wrong. This spring, Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati presents FOURTEEN FUNERALS, a dusky comedy by playwright Eric Pfeffinger.

Director Torie Wiggins (who was keen to take on a comedy after a series of less-than-humourous projects) wields her artistic magic adeptly in this two-hander. With the action taking place entirely in a funeral home, Ms. Wiggins skillfully keeps the momentum going and staging animated so the space does not feel claustrophobic. The juxtaposition of this with necessary moments of stillness is superb. Scenic & Lighting Designer Brian c. Mehring offers his usual attention to detail with some amusing little Easter eggs (the boxes of tissue everywhere are a great choice). Special shoutout to Sound Designer Trey Tatum for his homage to fireworks (#IYKYK).

This show calls for two actors who have great chemistry – and ETC delivers with a dynamic duo. Shonita Joshi plays Sienna, a very anti-smalltown human who is forced to face a lot more than for which she bargained when she arrives in Blissfield, IN. Ms. Joshi is a very natural actor and excels at portraying the hardened character whose cracks slowly begin to show. Countering the hard shell of Sienna is Millie, the mortuary’s receptionist who is depicted by Maggie Lou Rader. Ms. Rader is entirely believable as a chatty and optimistic employee who struggles with typical funeral home reserve. Like her co-star, she offers an incredible take on her character’s arc as we discover some of the darker things Millie has witnessed. Dialogue flows easily between the two performing artists and laughter is elicited from their audience with seemingly little effort. Brava to a very talented pair of professionals!

In just two acts, the audience plays witness to a deep study of the human condition. Certainly grief plays a role – we are addressing death, after all; but there is so much more than one might expect. Mr. Pfeffinger has managed to write a piece filled with many emotions that still manages to end with the audience smiling – and it doesn’t take an unrealistically sappy path to get you there. This is a feel-good time at theatre in all the best ways.

Click here for more information about the production.

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March 27, 2026 · 2:23 pm

Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati Announces 2026-2027 Season

(Cincinnati, OH) Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati (ETC), the region’s premiere theatre, is delighted to announce its 2026– 2027 season, which includes the return of a fan-favorite comedy, a world premiere musical unlike any other, a chilling and deeply human award-winning drama, a witty and heartwarming comedy, a powerful and music-filled drama, and the return of a beloved, whimsical musical!

“The shows for our 2026-2027 Season all have a theme of how to become your true self and how you can bring your unique talents to the world,” says Producing Artistic Director D. Lynn Meyers. “We’re going to watch the creative process for six decades of music unfold from a legend of song and stage; we’re bringing back the phenomenal talents of two actors to reprise their roles together in one of our most popular shows; we’re going to discover where true beauty looks like; we’re going to ask questions about what we owe the children of tomorrow and how we live in the moment of today; and we’re going to close our season with a comedy from the award-winning Theresa Rebeck. For our 41st Season, we’re starting a new chapter for Ensemble and looking forward to what’s next.”

About the Plays
Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati will kick off the 2026–2027 Season with Corner of the Sky: The Music of Stephen Schwartz, a world premiere of the first theatrical celebration of the legendary Stephen Schwartz songbook, highlighting six decades of songs from the beloved Grammy– and Academy Award–winning composer of Wicked, Pippin, Godspell, The Prince of Egypt, and other Broadway and Hollywood classics. Conceived and created by Scott Coulter (CCM ’93), this thrilling and moving musical begins with Stephen’s first hit Broadway song, “Corner of the Sky,” and features the myriad musical ways it led to everything that came after, including “Defying Gravity.” Playing September 5–27, 2026.

Next, travel back to 1967 with Jeffrey Hatcher’s charming comedy, Mrs. Mannerly, taking the stage October 13 – November 1, 2026. Set in Steubenville, Ohio, this autobiographical play follows nine-year-old Jeffrey as he tackles the rigorous etiquette class of the formidable Mrs. Mannerly, a teacher with a mysterious past and zero tolerance for rudeness. Through mischief, determination, and surprising friendship, Jeffrey learns that manners are about more than just forks and napkins; they’re lessons in life, respect, and self-discovery. ETC brings back one of its most popular productions in its history, with Raymond McAnally and Dale Hodges reprising their roles from the sold-out run. Packed with sharp wit, heartwarming moments, and nostalgic humor, Mrs. Mannerly is a delightful romp that proves good manners—and laughter—never go out of style.

For the holidays, ETC revives one of its most treasured family-friendly holiday musicals, Cinderella, with book by Joseph McDonough, lyrics by David Kisor, and music by Fitz Patton, December 9–30, 2026. What do you get when you mix a nearsighted bookworm heroine, two fabulously self-absorbed stepsisters, a devilishly diva stepmother, and a self-empowering Well-Wisher? A delightfully modern spin on the classic fairy tale, proving that being smart is the ultimate kind of beautiful! When the King urges his romantically challenged son to choose a bride from hundreds of “applicants,” a hilarious cross-country quest unfolds to reunite a missing sneaker—yes, a sneaker!—with its rightful owner. Full of laughs, charm, and heart, Cinderella is perfect for audiences of all ages.

Then, ETC presents the regional premiere drama The Children by Lucy Kirkwood, from January 30 – February 21, 2027. In a secluded cottage on the British coast, retired nuclear physicists Hazel and Robin live quietly, tending their garden, practicing yoga, and savoring the peace they’ve carved out for themselves. Outside, the world is in utter chaos following a devastating disaster. Their fragile calm is shattered when an old colleague arrives with a shocking and morally urgent request, forcing the three friends to confront their shared culpability in this searing eco-thriller about accountability and guilt, reparation and redemption. Darkly funny, chilling, and deeply human, The Children is an urgent and haunting exploration of environmental responsibility, legacy, and the price of survival.

Next up, ETC presents the regional premiere drama Paradise Blue by Dominique Morisseau, March 20 –April 11, 2027. Welcome to the sultry, jazz-filled Paradise Club. It’s 1949 in Detroit, and Blue, a gifted trumpeter and owner of the once-vibrant nightclub, is ready to leave this town and his family demons behind. But where does that leave his devoted Pumpkin, who has dreams of her own? And what does it mean for the club’s resident band? When a seductive stranger enters the picture with plans of her own, everything is turned upside down, and the club’s makeshift family and their troubled bandleader find themselves fighting for the future of Paradise. From the Tony Award–nominated playwright of Ain’t Too Proud and Detroit ’67, this chapter of Morisseau’s three-play Detroit Project is a powerful noir-inspired, music-filled drama that explores ambition, loyalty, and the meaning of community.

ETC’s 2026–2027 season closes with the regional premiere comedy Bad Dates: End Game, written and directed by Cincinnati native and award-winning playwright Theresa Rebeck, playing May 8 – 30, 2027. Twenty years after Theresa Rebeck broke the mold of Off-Broadway romantic comedies with Bad Dates, she returns with Bad Dates: End Game, following Haley as she navigates the chaos of modern dating with sharp wit, comedic charm, and a few margaritas along the way. From disastrous Tinder encounters to awkward setups, this post-menopausal widow proves that life’s second act can be hilarious, heartfelt, and full of unexpected joy. Critics hailed the original as “hilarious and heartwarming,” and this laugh-out-loud sequel delivers the same relatable humor, resilience, and charm—complete with the iconic heroine audiences have adored for two decades.

Subscriptions On Sale Now
Subscriptions to the 2026-2027 Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati season are on sale now. Packages can be purchased by calling the box office at (513) 421-3555.

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2026–2027 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.

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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March 4, 2026 · 5:32 pm

CARS, DOGS, MONEY, AND THE MOON Runs March 19-22

CARS, DOGS, MONEY, AND THE MOON
Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati Studio Series
March 19-22
[Over-the-Rhine]

By David Kisor
Directed by Jared D. Doren

Cast: Keaton Eckhoff, David Kisor, Jennie Malone & Linsey Rogers

Cars, Dogs, Money, and the Moon is an evening of songs and storytelling set in Huntington, West Virginia. With the spirit of a good old-fashioned hootenanny, the original score moves from foot-stomping tunes to tender, heartfelt ballads. Blending true family history with a few well-spun tall tales, Kisor transports audiences to the mid-1900s, when life felt simpler in some ways and harder in others. Together, the songs and stories unfold like a living photo album, capturing the grit, humor, and heart of urban Appalachia.

Cars, Dogs, Money, and the Moon was first produced at Ensemble Theatre in 1996, directed by D. Lynn Meyers in her first season as Artistic Director. David Kisor recalls, “When I brought the idea to Lynn, it was just a few songs and scene sketches. She skillfully helped sew the pieces together into a patchwork quilt of a show. I was green back then, writing straight from the heart. The honesty of the storytelling produced some of my most memorable songs.”

  • Thu-Fri, March 19-20 at 7pm
  • Sat, March 21 at 4pm
  • Sun, March 22 at 5pm

Official page |

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