Tag Archives: Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati

September 9, 2021 · 9:57 am

Teach. Out Loud. Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati Presents Regional Premiere Drama PIPELINE

ETC_Pipeline13

Jay Wade as Omari, Sharrell D. Luckett as Nya.

September 21 – October 16, 2021

(Cincinnati, OH) Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati is going back to school with the regional premiere drama, Pipeline by Dominique Morisseau, the acclaimed MacArthur “Genius” Grant playwright. This 2018 Obie Award-winning play powerfully brings an urgent conversation to the forefront, compassionately probing the limits of our education system and a mother’s fight to give her son a future—without turning her back on the community that made him who he is. Having played only a few performances to rave reviews from audiences and critics alike, the show was abruptly suspended the day after it opened in March of 2020 in response to COVID-19. Directed by Ron OJ Parson. Premiere Sponsors are the Otto M. Budig Family Foundation and The Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile, Jr. Foundation.­­

Nya, a public high school teacher, is committed to her students but desperate to give her only son, Omari, opportunities they’ll never have. When an explosive incident at his prestigious private school threatens to get him expelled, will all her efforts be lost? Don’t miss this compelling, must-see portrait of parenthood, education, and the experience of young black men in America.

“There wasn’t a chance we would open the season with anything but Pipeline,” says Producing Artistic Director
D. Lynn Meyers. “There is a crucial need for this show today in our society and it demands to be seen.” Ron OJ Parson, the Director, adds “As audience members or art lovers, if you go to a museum, ten people can look at the same painting and take away ten different things from it, and I think that’s the same with [Dominique Morisseau’s] plays. Every character in Pipeline is going to be watched by audience members, and they’ll latch onto their stories.” 

Mask and Vaccination Requirements
ETC requires all patrons, visitors, and staff to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination or negative test certification and to wear face masks at all times while on the premises. For full health and safety policy information, visit our website at www.ensemblecincinnati.org/health-safety. 

About the Cast

Bryant Bentley (Dun) is a native of Dayton, OH, and was last seen at Ensemble Theatre in Detroit ’67. Other theater credits include The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963, Indiana Repertory Theatre; Between Riverside and Crazy, Pittsburgh Public Theatre; Two Trains Running, The Piano Lesson, and Fences, American Players Theater; Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, A Soldier’s Play, and many more. Film/TV credits include The Killing of a Sacred Deer, the CBS series One Dollar, All or Nothin’, and The Public, written and directed by Emilio Estevez. 

Kenneth Early (Xavier) was last seen at Ensemble Theatre as the Caterpillar/Butterfly in Alice in Wonderland, where his other credits include The Dancing Princesses, Red Velvet, The Whipping Man, Grey Gardens, Snow White, and The Frog Princess. Other regional credits include Once on This Island, Misery, August Wilson’s Jitney, and To Kill a Mockingbird, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park; Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner, Macbeth, Of Mice and Men, and To Kill a Mockingbird, Cincinnati Shakespeare Company; On Golden Pond, The Human Race Theatre; Once on This Island, Actor’s Theater of Louisville; Pluto and Harry and the Thief, Know Theater Cincinnati; and Awaited at the Aronoff Center for the Arts.

Sharrell D. Luckett (Nya) is an award-winning artist and scholar. Off-Broadway credits include YoungGiftedandFat. Acting credits include Fences and Holding Up the Sky. Directing credits include Topdog/Underdog, In the Red and Brown Water, and For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow is Enuf. Book credits include Black Acting Methods, YoungGiftedandFat, Transweight, and African American Arts. Originally from Atlanta, Sharrell holds a Ph.D. in Theatre from the University of Missouri and is a professor of Drama and Performance Studies at the University of Cincinnati. She is also the director of the Helen Weinberger Center for Drama and Playwriting and founding director of the Black Acting Methods Studio. 

Regina Pugh (Laurie) most recently served as the director of A Doll’s House, Part 2 at Ensemble Theatre, where she was seen on stage in Annapurna, The Other Place, Next Fall, My Name is Asher Lev, After the Fall, Buckminster Fuller: In and Out Universe, The Water Engine, and Everything in the Garden and Fragments, both directed by Edward Albee. She appeared at Cincinnati Playhouse in A Christmas Carol (1992-2011) and the world premiere of Invention for Fathers and Sons and has performed locally at Cincinnati Shakespeare Company and The Know Theatre of Cincinnati. Regina teaches acting at Xavier University and is a founding member of Performance Gallery, an alternative theatre collective that specializes in original work and has participated yearly in the Cincinnati Fringe Festival. 

Angelica Santiago (Jasmine) received her BFA in acting from Montclair State University. Her credits include
The Wolves, Actors Theatre of Louisville ; Hype Man, Dracula, The Electric Harvest, A Christmas Carol, and We’ve Come to Believe, 43rd Humana Festival; As You Like It, Henry IV Part I , and King Lear, Kentucky Shakespeare Festival. 

Jay Wade (Omari) makes his Ensemble Theatre debut with this production and his second professional appearance in the role of Omari. He is from St. Louis, MO, and recently earned his BFA in Acting from Southeast Missouri State University.

Production team: Brian c. Mehring (Resident Scenic and Lighting Designer), Dana Rebecca Woods (Costume Designer), Matt Callahan (Sound Designer), Mike Tutaj (Projection Designer), Shannon Rae Lutz (Properties Master & Design Assistant), Matthew Hollstegge (Production Manager), 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 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.

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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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August 27, 2021 · 10:48 am

House Manager Sought at Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati

ETC_logoJob Title: House Manager
Department: Box Office
Reports to: Box Office Manager
Supervises: Volunteer Ushers, Apprentice Assistant House Manager
Part-Time, Hourly (20-30 hours available per production week; schedule varies)
Salary Range: $12–14 per hour

Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati has an immediate need for a dynamic, personable, experienced applicant to work
part-time as House Manager.

Company Description: Founded in 1986 and located in historic Over-the-Rhine, Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati (ETC)
is the region’s second largest professional Equity theatre, and is committed to producing a wide range of dramas,
musicals, and comedies of the highest artistic caliber, as well as to providing education and outreach programs that
focus on providing arts opportunities to economically disadvantaged children and audiences.

Position summary: The House Manager is responsible for ensuring safe and smooth front-of-house operations,
providing a positive patron experience for all guests, and working collaboratively with the production, box office,
security, and facilities staff.

Responsibilities:

  • Responsible for ensuring excellent customer service from front-of-house staff
  • Oversee theater and lobbies before, during, and after performances
  • Coordinate opening and closing the house and late seating with the Stage Manager and Box Office
  • Understand and follow all safety protocols including evacuation procedures
  • Manages printed program distribution and secures programs and other patron materials
  • Maintains the appearance of the lobby and all public areas; communicates with Facilities as necessary
  • Prepare ticket scanners and brief volunteers regarding their roles and show-specific information
  • Maintains ticket-scanning equipment, hearing impaired devices, and walkie-talkies for communicating with
    stage manager
  • Resolve patron and volunteer issues as they arise
  • Coordinates performance timelines with stage management, including preshow chat, curtain speeches,
    and intermission
  • Completes and distributes house report for each performance
  • Provides leadership in emergency situations, including fire alarm and inclement weather warnings
  • Works closely with management to ensure proper staff is in place for all performances
  • Works to ensure all house management needs are met
  • Work with the Director of Inclusion to ensure ETC’s access program
  • Trains, schedules and/or supervises Assistant House Managers and Backup House Managers
  • Uphold ETC’s values of diversity, equity, inclusion and access

Required Skills and Experience

  • High school diploma or equivalent is required
  • Theater experience is preferred
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word and Excel)
  • Exemplary customer service skills
  • Strong problem-solving skills
  • The ability to remain calm during demanding situations
  • Experience, ability, and commitment to working with people who represent an array of gender identities
    and sexual orientations; racial, ethnic, and religious identities; body inclusivity; and differing abilities, ideas,
    and personal expressions
  • The physical demands of the position require walking, stooping, reaching, and manual dexterity

To apply, please send a cover letter and résumé to: aweinstock@ensemblecincinnati.org with “House Manager,
Applicant Last Name” in the subject line. No phone calls, please.

Deadline to apply is September 10, 2021.

Click here to see the official job posting.

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August 26, 2021 · 12:28 pm

THE GUYS Runs Aug. 27-29

ETC_logoTHE GUYS
Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati
Aug. 27-29
Cincinnati Fire Museum [West End]

Directed by D. Lynn Meyers

Cast: Kelly Mengelkoch as Joan & Derek Snow as Nick

Nick, a fire captain, seeks the help of a journalist, Joan, to write eulogies for his “guys” – the eight men his company lost in the World Trade Center attack. As they talk, Joan’s questions elicit portraits of everyday heroes, and through Nick’s stories, she pens tributes celebrating each of these lives lost too soon.

8/26/21 Covid-19 Policy: All guests are required to wear a face covering properly fitted over their nose and mouth at all times while in Cincinnati Fire Museum. 
Note: Always verify the latest policy changes before attendance.

  • Fri-Sat, Aug. 27-28 at 7:30pm
  • Sun, Aug. 29 at 2pm

Official page |

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August 19, 2021 · 11:25 am

PIPELINE Runs Sept. 22-Oct. 16

ETC_Pipeline13

Jay Wade as Omari, Sharrell D. Luckett as Nya.

PIPELINE
Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati
Sept. 22-Oct. 16
[Over-the-Rhine]

Directed by Ron OJ Parson

Cast: Bryant Bentley as Dun, Kenneth Early as Xavier, Sharrell D. Luckett as Nya, Regina Pugh as Laurie, Angelica Santiago as Jasmine & Jay Wade as Omari

Nya, a public high school teacher, is committed to her students but desperate to give her only son, Omari, opportunities they’ll never have. But when an explosive incident at his prestigious private school threatens to get him expelled, will all her efforts be lost? A compelling, must-see portrait of parenthood, education, and the experience of young black men in America, Pipeline brings an urgent conversation powerfully to the forefront. This is the deeply moving story of a mother’s fight to give her son a future—without turning her back on the community that made him who he is. This production contains mature language and content and may not be suitable for all audiences.

9/14/21 Covid-19 Policy: All guests 12 years and older are required to be fully vaccinated. Guests who are 12 years and older will need to be fully vaccinated and must show proof of vaccination matching photo ID for entry. Guests will need to show proof of vaccination each time they attend a performance. For guests who are not vaccinated—including those under the age of 12—they must provide proof of one of the following instead of evidence of vaccination:

  • negative COVID-19 antigen test, taken within 24 hours of the performance start time, OR
  • negative COVID-19 PCR test, taken within 72 hours of the performance start time.
  • COVID tests must be administered by an official testing center, healthcare provider, or pharmacy. Self-administered tests will not be accepted.
    Note: Always verify the latest policy changes before attendance.
  • In preview, Tue, Sept. 21 at 7pm
  • Wed-Thu, Sept. 22-23 at 7:30pm
  • Fri, Sept. 24 at 8pm
  • Sat, Sept. 25 at 2pm & 8pm
  • Sun, Sept. 26 at 2pm
  • Tue-Thu, Sept. 28-30 at 7:30pm
  • Fri, Oct. 1 at 8pm
  • Sat, Oct. 2 at 2pm & 8pm
  • Sun, Oct. 3 at 2pm
  • Tue-Thu, Sept. 28-30* at 7:30pm
  • Fri, Oct. 1 at 8pm
  • Sat, Oct. 2 at 2pm & 8pm
  • Sun, Oct. 3 at 2pm
  • Tue-Thu, Oct. 5-7** at 7:30pm
  • Fri, Oct. 8 at 8pm
  • Sat, Oct. 9 at 2pm & 8pm
  • Sun, Oct. 10 at 2pm
  • Tue-Thu, Oct. 12-14 at 7:30pm
  • Fri, Oct. 15 at 8pm
  • Sat, Oct. 16 at 2pm & 8pm
    *9/30 – Audio described
    **10/6 – ASL interpreted

Official page |

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August 9, 2021 · 3:14 pm

Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati Announces 2021-2022 Otto M. Budig Family Foundation Season

ETC_logo(Cincinnati, OH) Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati (ETC), the region’s premiere theatre, is delighted to reopen its doors for a five-show 2021-2022 Season, reprising its production of the 2018 Obie Award-winning play Pipeline by Dominique Morisseau. Having played a few performances to rave reviews from audiences and critics alike, the show was abruptly suspended the day after it opened in March of 2020 in response to COVID-19. In addition to Pipeline, ETC will present the following productions that embrace the spirit of social consciousness for which the organization is known: Cinderella, Queen, a double bill of I Shall Not Be Moved and Your Negro Tour Guide, and Tiny Beautiful Things. Season sponsor is the Otto M. Budig Family Foundation.

“Diverse, inclusive, and fascinating. That’s how I would describe our 2021-2022 Season,” explains Producing Artistic Director D. Lynn Meyers. “It’s about triumph over trauma, which we are all experiencing in one way or another. I chose stories that really, genuinely matter and celebrate the tenacity we’ve all had to show to reopen. The most import thing for us was to reopen with Pipeline. The integrity of that show and the crucial need for that show today in our society demands itself on stage.”

About the Plays
The work of  the acclaimed MacArthur “Genius” Grant playwright Dominique Morisseau (Detroit ’67, Skeleton Crew) returns to the stage to open Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati’s 2021-2022 Season with the reprising of Pipeline. Nya, an inner-city public high school teacher, is committed to her students but desperate to give her only son, Omari, opportunities they’ll never have. But when an explosive incident at his prestigious private school threatens to get him expelled, will all her efforts be lost? A compelling, must-see portrait of parenthood, education, and the experience of young black men in America, Pipeline, September 22–October 16, 2021, brings an urgent conversation powerfully to the forefront. This is the deeply moving story of a mother’s fight to give her son a future—without turning her back on the community that made him who he is. Sponsored by the Otto M. Budig Family Foundation.

For the holidays, ETC revives one of its most treasured family-friendly holiday musicals, Cinderella, with book by Joseph McDonough and music and lyrics by David Kisor, December 1–30, 2021. What do you get when you combine a nearsighted bookworm heroine, two fabulously self-absorbed stepsisters, one devilishly diva stepmother, along with a self-empowering Well-Wisher? A fun spin on the classic fairy tale that demonstrates being smart is true beauty! When the King pressures his romantically challenged son to choose a bride from hundreds of “applicants,” a cross-country tour of the kingdom ensues to reunite a missing sneaker—yes a sneaker!—with its rightful owner. Cinderella is suitable for all ages. Sponsored by the Schueler Group.

Next, ETC presents the new play that’s created quite a buzz, Queen by award-winning playwright Madhuri Shekar, January 26–February 26, 2022. PhD candidates Sanam and Ariel have spent the better part of the last decade exhaustively researching vanishing bee populations across the globe. Just as these close friends are about to publish a career-defining paper, Sanam stumbles upon an error in their calculations, which could cause catastrophic damage to their reputations, careers, and friendship. Now, Sanam is confronted with an impossible choice: look the other way or stand by her principles and accept the consequences?

ETC is thrilled to present two one-act productions with the newly commissioned world premiere of I Shall Not Be Moved followed by the return of Your Negro Tour Guide, playing back-to-back March 23-April 23, 2022. The riveting play I Shall Not Be Moved is by Cincinnati native and emerging young playwright Isaiah Reaves. This one-woman show thrillingly recounts the story of Reave’s grandmother, nationally recognized Civil Rights pioneer Betty Daniels Rosemond and her beautiful, horrifying, and trailblazing journey through the American South as one of the first Freedom Riders during the 1960s. Audiences far and wide will experience the internal conflicts and joys of a dark-skinned Black woman’s fearless battle for equity and equality.

The one-woman stage adaptation of Your Negro Tour Guide, which has been updated, draws heavily from columns and National Public Radio commentaries collected in Kathy Y. Wilson’s book, Your Negro Tour Guide: Truths in Black & White based on her former CityBeat column. Throwing a glaring light on misguided notions of natural black beauty, black homophobia, intra-racial bigotry, and other cultural stereotypes, this play allows us, once and for all, to laugh at every secret we’ve held against and sideways glance we’ve cast at “The Other,” whoever she happens to be.

Based on the acclaimed book by Cheryl Strayed (author of the best-selling Wild), Tiny Beautiful Things, May 18–June 18, 2022, is a funny and deeply touching exploration of resilience following the then-struggling writer as she took over the unpaid, anonymous position of an advice columnist named Sugar. At first unsure of herself, she finds a way to weave her own life experiences together to help those seeking guidance for obstacles large and small. Brilliantly adapted for the stage by Nia Vardalos, the Academy Award-nominated writer and star of My Big Fat Greek Wedding, this enrapturing and uplifting play surges with emotion and was described by Variety as “a theatrical hug in turbulent times.” Closing ETC’s 36th Season, Tiny Beautiful Things is about reaching out when you’re stuck, recovering when you’re broken, and finding the courage to ask the questions that are hardest to answer.

Subscriptions On Sale Now
Subscriptions to the 2021-2022 Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati season are on sale now. 4-Show Preview subscriptions are $145 (excludes holiday production); Regular and FlexPass subscriptions range from $223 to $245. ETC will continue its deeply discounted subscription options for students, with packages just $85 for Teen Scene subscribers and just $104 for Student subscriptions. 

Single Tickets On Sale August 23, 2021
All single tickets for the 2021-2022 Season go on sale to the general public starting at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, August 23, 2021.

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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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