Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park 2025 - Primary Trust/English by Cincinnati Magazine

2024 – 25 SEASON

PRIMARY TRUST

By EBONI BOOTH

By SANAZ TOOSSI

Season presented by SCHUELER GROUP and THE VONTZ FAMILY

Moe and Jack’s Place – The Rouse Theatre

Rosenthal Shelterhouse Theatre

MOE AND JACK ROUSE and RANDOLPH WADSWORTH present

ELLEN AND RAY van der HORST present

ILLUSTRATIONS ON THE COVER AND ABOVE BY KENTON BRETT. PHOTO OF BLAKE ROBISON ON PAGE 4 BY TONY ARRASMITH/ARRASMITH AND ASSOCIATES.

WEBSITE: cincyplay.com @cincinnatiplayhouse @cincyplay

BOX OFFICE: 513-421-3888

BOX OFFICE: 513-421-3888 OH, KY, IN TOLL-FREE: 800-582-3208

OH, KY, IN TOLL-FREE: 800-582-3208

PATRONS WHO ARE DEAF, HARD-OF-HEARING, DEAF BLIND OR SPEECH DISABLED: Dial 711 to connect to the Box Ofﬁce via Ohio Relay Services

STEW MARKETING VISUAL (ABOVE AND ON THE COVER) AND PHOTO OF BLAKE ROBISON (PAGE 4) BY TONY ARRASMITH/ ARRASMITH AND ASSOCIATES.

PATRONS WHO ARE DEAF, HARD-OF-HEARING, DEAF BLIND OR SPEECH DISABLED: dial 711 to connect to the Box Ofﬁce via Ohio Relay Services

STAY CONNECTED!

WEBSITE: cincyplay.com @cincinnatiplayhouse @cincyplay

over the

artsstronger for strongera region

together

Since 1927, ArtsWave has been the primary way to fund Cincy’s arts. Gifts from ArtsWave Members are invested in nearly every neighborhood and town across the Cincinnati region, supporting arts organizations like Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park that create a vibrant economy and a connected community.

nger for a g ger on g

Become a member today and discover what we can do, together.

A NOTE FROM BLAKE

WE KICK OFF 2025 WITH A PAIR OF PULITZER PRIZE-WINNING PLAYS THAT delve into their characters’ hopes, challenges and triumphs. Of all the new plays I’ve seen over the past year or so, Primary Trust and English stand out. It’s an honor to produce these exceptional new works for you here in Cincinnati.

Primary Trust is a thought-provoking, character-driven play by Eboni Booth that centers on a young man, Kenneth, trying to ﬁnd himself in a lonely and challenging world. At its heart is the idea of trust — not only in others, but also in oneself. Booth’s dialogue and intimate character portrayals draw the audience into Kenneth’s world. As we cheer him on, we come to reﬂect on our own experiences with friendship, family and those around us. It’s such a pleasure to see a new play with a positive and inspirational message — just what we need in the world these days.

English is a poignant and witty play by Sanaz Toossi that explores themes of language, identity and the pursuit of belonging. Set in a language class in a small Iranian town, the play focuses on a diverse group of adult students learning English. Each character has their own very personal reason for being there. As they struggle with the language, they reveal their personal lives, desires, and the social constraints they face in contemporary Iran. Ultimately, Toossi’s play explores profound questions of belonging, freedom, and the universal need for understanding in an increasingly globalized world.

If you’re a fan of new work, I encourage you to take a look at the Playhouse’s new Arts & Culture Incubator too. This innovative program supports a cohort of local artists and cultural organizations by giving them access to our beautiful new space to elevate their own work throughout the year. Many events are open to the public, and all proceeds support these local artists directly. You can ﬁnd information and event listings on the Playhouse’s website.

Thank you for your support of new stories in the live theatre!

Cheers!

Blake Robison Osborn Family Producing Artistic Director

Honoring all the dogs

who lled our lives with joy over the years –Sancho the First, Jessie, Sadie, Belle, Buck, Sancho the Younger, Fannie, Ali and Sancho the Third.

We also want to honor Cincinnati Animal CARE, which operates Hamilton County’s animal shelter. CAC works tirelessly every day to save and better the lives of so many less fortunate dogs, cats and sundry other homeless animals throughout our community.

That’s why we’re proud to support CAC in those efforts, and hope you’ll join us in lending your support as well. Please scan the QR code below to make a donation.

Presenting Co-Sponsors, “Primary Trust”

CINCINNATI PLAYHOUSE IN THE PARK

OSBORN FAMILY PRODUCING ARTISTIC DIRECTOR Blake Robison

MANAGING DIRECTOR Abby Marcus

MOE AND JACK ROUSE AND RANDOLPH WADSWORTH PRESENT

PRIMARY TRUST

BY EBONI BOOTH

DIRECTOR Timothy Douglas

SET DESIGNER Tony Cisek

COSTUME DESIGNER Trevor Bowen

LIGHTING DESIGNER Peter Maradudin

SOUND DESIGNER Melanie Chen Cole

DRAMATURG Tatiana Godfrey

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR Martavius Parrish

CASTING DIRECTOR Stephanie Klapper, CSA

FEB. 1 — 23, 2025

MOE AND JACK’S PLACE — THE ROUSE THEATRE

CO-PRODUCED WITH McCarter Theatre Center

Sarah Rasmussen, Artistic Director; Martin Miller, Executive Director

Honorary Producer

Julie and Steven J. Shifman

Design Sponsor

John and Jennifer Stein

Artist Sponsor of Timothy Douglas Marty C. Tomb

Rouse Season Design Sponsor Season presented by

PRIMARY TRUST was developed at the 2021 Ojai Playwrights Conference: Robert Egan, Artistic Director/Producer

Developed by Victory Gardens Theater, Chicago, Illinois

Ken-Matt Martin, Artistic Director

Roxanna Conner, Acting Managing Director, as part of IGNITE CHICAGO Festival of New Plays 2021

Originally produced in New York City by Roundabout Theatre Company at the Harold and Miriam Steinberg Center for Theatre / Laura Pels Theatre on May 4, 2023.

The Drama League Irene Grady Directing Fellowship.

PRIMARY TRUST

CAST

(In speaking order)

Kenneth DeShawn Harold Mitchell*

Bert Shane Taylor*

Wally’s Waiter/Bank Customers Lilian Oben*

Clay/Sam/Le Pousselet Bartender Peter Bisgaier*

Stage Manager Brandon T. Holmes*

Assistant Stage Managers

Andrea L. Shell*, Madison Stone*

Time: Before smart phones.

Location: Cranberry, New York, a medium-sized suburb of Rochester.

PRIMARY TRUST WILL BE PERFORMED WITHOUT AN INTERMISSION.

This production is made possible in part by a generous gift from the Greater Cincinnati Foundation.

*Member of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.

This theatre operates under an agreement between the League of Resident Theatres and Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States, and with the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees-Local No. 5.

The scenic, costume, lighting and sound designers in LORT Theatres are represented by United Scenic Artists, Local USA-829 of the IATSE.

MEDIA SPONSOR

Primary Trust

Your situation is unique and your personalized plan should reﬂect that. We learn your goals so that we can build solutions customized to you and your family. Whether you’re a business owner, a working professional, or building generational wealth our team will work with you to help you accomplish your ﬁnancial goals.

FROM ACTOR TO AUTHOR: EBONI BOOTH’S

PLAYWRITING JOURNEY

BY TATIANA GODFREY

Eboni Booth began her theatre career as an actor, spending many years auditioning and “hustling.” While she achieved some success with off-Broadway roles, her involvement in new play development and workshops signiﬁcantly shifted her perspective on how plays are made.

By observing how writers crafted their work, she became increasingly interested in the broader aspects of playwriting, such as world-building and the overall story arcs of characters. She reﬂected that in being a part of the new play process, “You see how stories and plays get put together, and I was paying attention to how writers went about creating their own work. A lot of the questions I found myself asking had to do with larger things in the play — not just my character anymore.” This interest led Booth to pursue playwriting as a natural combination of her acting experience and her growing fascination with the creative process.

After being accepted as a playwriting fellow at Julliard, her ﬁrst professional play, Paris, was produced in 2020 at the Atlantic Theatre Company. Set during the 1995 Christmas season at a large retail store in the ﬁctional town Paris, Vermont, the play centers on Emmie, one of the few Black residents in the community. Forced to take a clerk position after dropping out of college, Emmie grapples with the monotony of her job while navigating racial and class tensions within the small-town environment.

The concept of loneliness in small towns ensnared Booth, who grew up in New York City but studied at the University of Vermont and drew inspiration from her time in the state

when writing Paris

“I’ve spent a lot of time in the northeast, in towns and small cities in New England and upstate New York, and there’s something about the region that is very evocative to me. The landscape is beautiful and sad — the green of spring and summer, the changing leaves of fall, the bareness of winter. The towns and cities that were once prosperous are now struggling.”

Booth’s latest play, Pulitzer Prize-winning Primary Trust, is also about working class people in a small Northeastern town. It premiered in 2023 at the Roundabout Theatre Company off-Broadway. At the heart of the play is Kenneth, a shy and introverted 38-year-old Black man living in a small town in upstate New York. After working at a local bookstore for 20 years, his life takes an unexpected turn when the owner decides to close the store. While Kenneth drinks his usual mai tai at the

local tiki bar, Wally’s, a waitress suggests he looks for work at a new bank that’s opening, the titular Primary Trust. As Kenneth navigates working at a new job, he forms unlikely friendships and discovers the power of human connection.

Booth said of her work, “I have used books, plays and movies as a way to feel less lonely in the world, and there are things that I’ve experienced that are really hard to metabolize, and culture has helped me do that. And part of me wanted to be able to do that.” Inspired by her observations within the new play development process and through centering the potential for human connection, Eboni Booth transitioned from a successful acting career to an acclaimed playwrighting career and has emerged as a signiﬁcant voice in contemporary American theatre, captivating audiences with her insightful and deeply resonant plays.

Eboni Booth quotes from:

TDF Stages. (2020, Jan. 22). Allison Considine. Atlantic Theater launched her acting career. Now, she returns as a playwright.

All Arts. (2023, June 23). Nahal Amouzadeh. Primary Trust: William Jackson Harper & Eboni Booth. American Theatre. (2024, April 17). Brandon Jacob Jenkins. Eboni Booth on Primary Trust: Only Connect. Roundabout Theatre Company. Leah Reddy. Interview with playwright Eboni Booth.

V Magazine. (2023, May 25). Anna Montagner. Culture Shock: Playwright Eboni Booth invites you to look at the world with fresh eyes with Primary Trust

LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Ohio, whose name originates from the Iroquoian word ohi-yo, meaning good rivers, is a testament to the deep connection between the land and the Indigenous peoples who have inhabited it for centuries. The Cincinnati region is ancestral land of many Nations, and Indigenous people are still here today. As a step toward honoring the truth and achieving healing and reconciliation with Indigenous peoples, we recognize and honor the enduring connection these Nations have to this territory. May we reﬂect on our commitment to understanding, preserving, and celebrating the rich culture of Native Indigenous communities who have shaped and continue to contribute to these lands.

WHAT IS A LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT?

It is the recognition of the Native Americans/First Nations/Indigenous Peoples who cared for these lands prior to removal. Our statement was created with guidance from our partners at the Urban Native Collective. For more information, visit urbannativecollective.org.

PRIMARY TRUST

PETER BISGAIER (HE/HIM) - SAM/CLAY/LE POUSSELET BARTENDER

CINCINNATI PLAYHOUSE IN THE PARK: Debut. OFF-BROADWAY: Reservoir Dogs and Roberto Zucco (Empire Theatre Company) and Patience (Boomerang Theatre Company). REGIONAL THEATRE: Arden Theater Company, InterACT Theatre Company, Act II Playhouse, Quintessence Theatre, Bristol Riverside Theatre, Delaware Theatre Company, Montgomery Theater, Pegasus Theatre Company, Fulton Theatre, Passage Theatre, Horse Cave Theater, The Phoenix Theatre Company, Stella Adler Theatre and the Lincoln Amphitheater. FILM: Sparkle: A Unicorn Tale IMPROV: Peter & Matt and The Alexanders. INSTAGRAM: @peterbisgaier.

DeSHAWN HAROLD MITCHELL (HE/HIM) - KENNETH

CINCINNATI PLAYHOUSE IN THE PARK: Debut. BROADWAY: All My Sons as George (Roundabout Theatre). REGIONAL THEATRE: Stick Fly as Flip (Repertory Theatre of St. Louis), Nicole Clark is Having a Baby as Robert (Actors Theatre of Louisville), and Merchant of Venice as Bassanio (New Swan Shakespeare Festival). FILM: High and Low as Double Dope (A Spike Lee Joint), The Preppie Connection and Air Jordan TELEVISION: The Godfather of Harlem, Mike, WeCrashed, FBI: Most Wanted, Orange Is the New Black, Run the World, That Damn Michael Che and Blindspot. IMDB: DeShawn Harold Mitchell. INSTAGRAM: @Soulﬁsticatedfunk.

LILIAN OBEN - WALLY’S WAITER/BANK CUSTOMERS

CINCINNATI PLAYHOUSE IN THE PARK: Debut. REGIONAL THEATRE: Mud Row (Gulfshore Playhouse); Nine Night (Round House Theatre); Blues for an Alabama Sky (McCarter Theatre, Understudy); Murder on the Orient Express (Everyman Theatre); Intimate Apparel (Orlando Shakespeare Theater); The Crucible (Olney Theatre); The Second Shepherds’ Play (Folger Theatre); Antigonick (Taffety Punk Theatre Company); Melancholy Play: A Contemporary Farce, The Skin of Our Teeth and The Arabian Nights (Constellation Theatre Company). FILM: The Noel Diaries. WRITING: The New York Times’ Modern Love (podcast and print editions); Now Casting and Aether (Keegan Theatre’s Womxn on Fire Festivals); Semi-Finalist for the Red Bull Theater 2023 Short Play Festival. EDUCATION: MS from Boston University, BA from Middlesex University (UK), Studio Theatre Acting Conservatory and The Barrow School. AWARDS: 2023 Helen Hayes Award Nominee for Outstanding Lead Performer in a Play. WEBSITE: www.lilianoben.com.

SHANE TAYLOR (HE/HIM) - BERT

CINCINNATI PLAYHOUSE IN THE PARK: Jitney and Safe House. OFF-BROADWAY: Knives in Hens (The Shop Theater/59E59), 50th Anniversary production of In White America (New Federal/Castillo Theatre) and Romeo and Juliet (Lincoln Center Institute). REGIONAL THEATRE: The Billie Holiday Theatre, NY Fringe Festival, Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival, Orlando Shakespeare Theatre, Luna Stage, Premiere Stages, Round House Theatre, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Berkshire Theatre Festival, Milwaukee Rep, Indiana Repertory Theatre, Williamstown Theatre Festival, Berkeley Repertory Theatre and Florida Studio Theatre. FILM/TELEVISION: God’s Forgotten House , Sarbane’s Oxley and King of the Bingo Game. EDUCATION: MFA from Rutgers University, Mason Gross School of the Arts. AWARDS/AFFILIATIONS: Best International Actor, 2007 Barbados International Film Festival. INSTAGRAM: @iamshanetaylor.

PRIMARY TRUST

EBONI BOOTH - PLAYWRIGHT

Eboni is a writer and actor from New York City. Her play Paris had its premiere at the Atlantic Theater Company. Eboni is a resident playwright at New Dramatists and a recipient of a Steinberg Playwright Award, a Helen Merrill Award for Playwriting, and a John Gassner award. She is a graduate of Juilliard’s playwriting program and the University of Vermont.

TIMOTHY DOUGLAS - DIRECTOR

CINCINNATI PLAYHOUSE IN THE PARK: Clyde’s, The Trip to Bountiful, the premiere of Keith Josef Adkins’ Safe House, Clybourne Park, Jitney, Two Trains Running, The North Pool, Buzzer, The Last Fireﬂy and Mothers and Sons. INTERNATIONAL: Downstage (New Zealand). REGIONAL THEATRE: The Color Purple (Signature Theatre and Helen Hayes Award for Best Musical), Blue (New Orleans Opera), the U.S. premiere of Natasha Gordon’s Nine Night (Round House Theatre), Terence Blanchard’s Champion (Boston Lyric Opera), the premiere of Something Happened in Our Town (Children’s Theatre Company), the U.S. premiere of Tristan Bernay’s adaptation of Frankenstein (Classic Stage Company), the Great Theatre of China’s production and tour of Disgraced, and the premiere of August Wilson’s Radio Golf (Yale Rep). Also, Arena Stage, Cleveland Play House, Denver Center for the Performing Arts, Folger Theatre, Guthrie Theater, The Juilliard School, Kennedy Center, Mark Taper Forum, Milwaukee Rep, Off-Broadway, Portland Center Stage, Red Bull Theater and Steppenwolf Theatre among many others. UPCOMING: the premieres of She Who Dared (Chicago Opera Theater) and Good Trouble: The Boy from Troy (Cincinnati Opera). WEBSITE: timothydouglas.org. INSTAGRAM: @timdirects.

TONY CISEK - SET DESIGNER

CINCINNATI PLAYHOUSE IN THE PARK (with Timothy Douglas): Two Trains Running, Jitney, Clybourne Park, Safe House and The Trip to Bountiful. OFF-BROADWAY: Beyond Glory (Roundabout Theatre) and columbinus (New York Theatre Workshop). REGIONAL THEATRE (with Timothy Douglas): Hospice/Pointing at the Moon (Alliance Theatre); Disgraced and King Hedley II (Arena Stage); Hot Wing King (Denver Center Theatre Company); Much Ado About Nothing (Folger Theatre); In the Blood (Guthrie Theater); A Raisin in the Sun and Intimate Apparel (Indiana Repertory Theatre); Long Way Down (Kennedy Center); Two Trains Running (Milwaukee Rep), Fences (Pioneer Theatre); The Color Purple (Portland Center Stage); Gem of the Ocean, Father Comes Home From the Wars and Permanent Collection (Round House Theatre); Where the Mountain Meets the Sea (Signature Theatre); A Feminine Ending (South Coast Repertory); The Crucible and Blues For an Alabama Sky (Syracuse Stage); Dontrell, Who Kissed the Sea and Insurrection: Holding History (Theatre Alliance); The Last Orbit of Billy Mars (Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company). EDUCATION: MFA in Design from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. AFFILIATIONS/AWARDS: Member of USA829. Recipient of four Helen Hayes Awards, ﬁve Drammy Awards, two Barrymore Award nominations, and the 2024 Anderson Hopkins Award for Excellence in the Theatre Arts. WEBSITE: www.tonycisek.com.

PRIMARY TRUST

TREVOR BOWEN - COSTUME DESIGNER

CINCINNATI PLAYHOUSE IN THE PARK: Clyde’s and Shane . OFF-BROADWAY: All is Calm (The Sheen Center) and Moliere’s 400th (L’Alliance New York). REGIONAL THEATRE: The Histories, Hamlet, We Are Proud to Present and Choir Boy (Guthrie Theater ) ; The Color Purple (Denver Center for the Performing Arts); The Watsons Go to Birmingham–1963, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane and Black Beauty (Seattle Children’s Theatre); The Day You Begin (The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts); Ride the Cyclone (Arena Stage); BLKS and True West (Steppenwolf Theatre); Ragtime and Sweat (Asolo Repertory Theatre); Drawing Lessons, An American Tail, Corduroy, Something Happened in Our Town and Last Stop on Market Street (Children’s Theatre Company). OPERA: La Boheme, Albert Herring and Duchess in Daughter of the Regiment (Minnesota Opera); Fellow Travelers, Bluebeard’s Castle, Champion and La Cenerentola (Boston Lyric Opera); and The Knock (Glimmerglass Opera Festival). AFFILIATIONS: 2021 McKnight Theater Artist Fellow and proud member of USA 829. WEBSITE: www.trevorbowendesign.com.

PETER MARADUDIN - LIGHTING DESIGNER

CINCINNATI PLAYHOUSE IN THE PARK: Buzzer and Ken Ludwig’s Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery. BROADWAY: Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom and The Kentucky Cycle. OFF-BROADWAY: Threesome, Hurrah at Last and Ballad of Yachiyo. REGIONAL THEATRE (over 350 productions): Guthrie Theater, American Conservatory Theater, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Mark Taper Forum, La Jolla Playhouse, The Old Globe, South Coast Repertory, Seattle Rep and Portland Center Stage, among many others. ARCHITECTURE: Guided over 200 architectural lighting projects to completion. EDUCATION: Stanford University and the Yale School of Drama. AUTHOR: The mystery novels The Masked Avenger and The Queen of Spades under his nom de plume, Peter Alexei.

MELANIE CHEN COLE (SHE/HER) - SOUND DESIGNER

CINCINNATI PLAYHOUSE IN THE PARK: Steel Magnolias. REGIONAL THEATRE: Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Alley Theatre, Alliance Theatre, Cleveland Play House, Dallas Theater Center, Denver Center for the Performing Arts, Geffen Playhouse, Goodman Theatre, Huntington Theatre Company, Indiana Repertory Theatre, La Jolla Playhouse, Milwaukee Rep, Northern Stage, The Old Globe, PlayMakers Repertory Company, South Coast Repertory, Studio Theatre and the Utah Shakespeare Festival. EDUCATION: MFA from University of California San Diego. WEBSITE: melaniesound.com. INSTAGRAM: @melaniechencole.

TATIANA GODFREY (SHE/HER) - DRAMATURG

CINCINNATI PLAYHOUSE IN THE PARK: Origin Story, Dracula and School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play. OFF-BROADWAY: No Dogs Allowed (The Atlantic Theater Company). CINCINNATI: Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (Cincinnati Shakespeare Company). EDUCATION: MFA from University of Massachusetts and a BFA from New York University. AFFILIATIONS/AWARDS: Founding member of Pipeline Theatre Company and Fabrefaction Theatre Company. WEBSITE: tatianagodfrey.com INSTAGRAM: @tatianagodfrey.

MARTAVIUS PARRISH (HE/HIM) - ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR

CINCINNATI PLAYHOUSE IN THE PARK: Debut. BROADWAY: Once Upon a Mattress and Into the Woods. OFF-BROADWAY: Ragtime, Once Upon a Mattress, Oliver! and the Tony-nominated production of Into the Woods (New York City Center); and the AUDELCO-nominated production Fabulation or, the Re-Education of Undine (The Billie Holiday Theatre). EDUCATION: Master of Music Degree in Vocal Performance from New York University and Bachelor of Science Degree in Neuroscience from Duke University.

AFFILIATIONS/AWARDS: 2024 Drama League Fellow, 2024 New York University Tisch Department of Design for Stage and Film Directors Fellowship, and Assistant to the Artistic Director for Lincoln Center (Lear deBessonet). WEBSITE: martaviusparrish.com.

STEPHANIE KLAPPER (SHE/HER) - CASTING DIRECTOR

CINCINNATI PLAYHOUSE IN THE PARK (13 seasons): Shows include Vietgone, Stew, Clyde’s and Shane. BROADWAY: A Christmas Story, The Musical and Dividing the Estate. OFF-BROADWAY (recent): Distant Thunder (Amas Musical Theatre); Sump’n Like Wings and Partnership (Mint Theater); Dig (Primary Stages); The Night of the Iguana (off-Broadway); and Henry IV (New York Classical Theatre).

REGIONAL THEATRE: Ahrens and Flaherty’s Knoxville (Clarence Brown Theatre); The Cape Playhouse season; Beautiful (Capital Repertory Theatre); and Shane (world premiere co-production with Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park and Guthrie Theater). AUDIO FILM: Elf Quest. FILM: The Nature of the Crime; Ranked, the musical and HBO documentary; and many more. AFFILIATIONS/AWARDS: Casting Society Cares member; Casting Society member; four-time recipient of the Artios Awards for Excellence in Casting; New York University Tisch School of the Arts Women’s Mentorship; Adjunct professor at NYU New Studio on Broadway; teacher and guest lecturer at numerous colleges and universities. WEBSITE: www.klappercasting.com.

BRANDON T. HOLMES - STAGE MANAGER

CINCINNATI PLAYHOUSE IN THE PARK: Stew , Clyde’s , Shane , The Chinese Lady , The Lion , Steel Magnolias and The West End . REGIONAL THEATRE: Jersey Boys, Fiddler On The Roof, Memphis, The Sound of Music, Chicago, Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Legally Blonde, West Side Story, Newsies (The Lexington Theatre Company); Fun Home, The Mountaintop, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, An Iliad, Grounded, Violet, Pipeline, The Humans, Skeleton Crew and Hands on a Hardbody (Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati); Hello, Dolly!, The Drowsy Chaperone and Side By Side by Sondheim (LOOK Musical Theatre); Golden: MTWichita at 50, Sunset Boulevard, Xanadu, Miss Saigon , Gypsy , The Producers , Big River and Les Misérables (Music Theatre Wichita). WORKSHOPS: LET. HER. RIP. and Night of the Living Dead (Cincinnati Shakespeare Company); Teddy Bear Mountain and When We Vote (Cleveland Play House). AFFILIATIONS: Proud member of the Actors’ Equity Association.

ANDREA L. SHELL - ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER

CINCINNATI PLAYHOUSE IN THE PARK: More than 100 productions, including 24 world premieres. FAVORITES: A Christmas Carol (2006-2021); Rutka: A New Musical; Dracula; A Chorus Line; Murder on the Orient Express; School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play; Rooted; Alias Grace; The Last Wide Open; Treasure Island; Mr. Joy; Jane Eyre; Bad Dates; The Revolutionists; I Loved, I Lost, I Made Spaghetti; Merrily We Roll Along; As You Like It; Behind the Eye; The Understudy; Blackbird;

PRIMARY TRUST

Durango; Around the World in 80 Days; Altar Boyz; Smoke on the Mountain Homecoming; Reckless; Ace; The Clean House; A Picasso; One; Abracadabra; The Bible … (abridged); and Dark Paradise. CINCINNATI: Ensemble Theatre and Cincinnati Ballet. REGIONAL THEATRE: The Old Globe, Dallas Theater Center, Alliance Theatre, The Second City, and Ingenuity Festival of Cleveland. AFFILIATIONS: Adjunct faculty for Xavier University’s Theatre Program, contributor for Dramatics.org, and a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association.

MADISON STONE (SHE/HER) - ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER

CINCINNATI PLAYHOUSE IN THE PARK: A Chorus Line, Seven Guitars, Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash, A Christmas Carol, Stew and Rutka: A New Musical

CINCINNATI: The Coronation of Poppea, Fierce, Castor and Patience, Barber of Seville, La Traviata, Back to the Zoo Concert and Opera in the Park (Cincinnati Opera).

EDUCATION: BFA in Theatre Design and Production (Stage Management) from University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. AFFILIATIONS: Proud member of the American Guild of Musical Artists and the Actors’ Equity Association.

McCARTER THEATRE CENTER - CO-PRODUCER

McCarter is one of the country’s flagship theatres and a vibrant center for community and the performing arts. Located on the campus of Princeton University, the company is an independent nonprofit, serving as a nationally renowned, multi-disciplinary creative hub for arts and ideas, offering theatre, music, dance, spoken word and educational programs for all ages. A two-time Tony Award winner, McCarter’s legacy of artistic excellence dates back to the theatre’s first performances in 1930. Thornton Wilder’s Our Town, Kaufmann & Hart’s You Can’t Take It with You, and William Inge’s Bus Stop all had their premieres at McCarter, paving the way for a long history of collaborations with playwrights to launch remarkable works that have gone on to tens of thousands of performances, reaching millions of audience members around the world. McCarter leads with values of “justice and joy, and beauty in belonging,” creating stories and experiences that enliven minds, expand imaginations, and engage communities.

ADDITIONAL PRODUCTION STAFF

Casting Assistants Emma Balk, Joe Piserchio

Assistant to Stephanie Klapper Gracie Guichard

Assistant Set Designer

Mrinali Thanwani

Assistant Lighting Designer Ashton Karp

Primary Trust is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com.

PATRON INFORMATION

Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park

ADDRESS: 962 Mt. Adams Circle, Cincinnati, OH 45202

ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES: 513-345-2242

WEBSITE: cincyplay.com

BOX OFFICE: 513-421-3888

OH, KY, IN TOLL-FREE: 800-582-3208

PATRONS WHO ARE DEAF, HARD-OF-HEARING, DEAF BLIND OR SPEECH

DISABLED: Dial 711 to connect to the Box Ofﬁce via Ohio Relay Services

ACCESSIBILITY WITH DIGNITY PROGRAM

The Playhouse is pleased to offer a variety of services to patrons with special needs.

Audio Described and Signed Performances

Live audio description for patrons who are sight-impaired is offered in both theatres and signed performances for those with hearing impairments are offered in Moe and Jack’s Place – The Rouse Theatre. These services are for designated performances only. ASL Interpreters are Dawn Caudill and Montez Greer. Audio Describers are Mark DeWitt, Bekka Eaton, Shayne Kennedy and Joe Sackenheim

Hearing Enhancement

Moe and Jack’s Place – The Rouse Theatre and the Rosenthal Shelterhouse Theatre both have a hearing loop system which works with existing T-Coil or Telecoil enabled hearing aids or cochlear implants. For assistance, please see a member of our house staff.

Large Print Program

Large print programs for those with visual impairments are available upon request at every performance.

CAMERAS AND RECORDING DEVICES

Actors’ Equity Association strictly prohibits the use of cameras or recording devices in the theatre during the performance.

CHILDREN

Children under the age of 6 will not be admitted to Playhouse productions unless otherwise advertised. Parents with disruptive children will be asked to leave the theatre.

CONCESSIONS

Al’s Bar serves drinks in two locations – one bar on the main level in the Schueler Lobby and one bar on the upper ﬂoor. Casual dining fare and snacks from The Delish Dish are available for purchase on the upper ﬂoor. Drinks are allowed in the theatres, however food is not.

FACILITY ACCESSIBILITY

Patrons who are mobility-impaired may be dropped off outside the Playhouse’s main entrance. The walk from the top level of the parking garage to the entrance into the Schueler Lobby to the main level of the Rouse Theatre can be made without having to take any stairs. An elevator is available for access to the balcony level and ﬁrst rows of the Rouse Theatre and the Rosenthal Shelterhouse Theatre. Accessible seating for wheelchairs is subject to availability and should be requested at the time of ticket reservation.

GIFT CERTIFICATES

Need the perfect gift? The Playhouse offers gift certiﬁcates redeemable for single tickets or subscription packages. Call the Box Ofﬁce or stop by at intermission for more information.

PATRON INFORMATION

GROUP DISCOUNTS

Bring your group of eight or more to the Playhouse and receive great beneﬁts and discounts, including special rates for students and seniors. Our popular corporate web discount program allows your employees to book tickets online at a discount whenever they want. Contact the Box Ofﬁce for more details.

LATECOMERS AND READMITTANCE

Latecomers are seated at the discretion of the house manager, which may be as late as intermission. Latecomers may be denied admission depending on the demands or structure of a particular production. Please allow yourself adequate time to arrive, park and be seated. Should you need to leave the theatre during a performance, readmittance and seating will be at the discretion of the house manager so as not to disturb the audience and actors.

PARKING

The Park Board reminds you that Eden Park ofﬁcially closes at 10 p.m. As a grace period to the Playhouse, the police will not ticket vehicles until one half hour following the end of a performance. The Playhouse assumes no responsibility for anyone receiving a ticket for illegal parking. Convenient parking is available in the Playhouse garage. Purchase parking in advance to secure a space. Parking can also be purchased from our parking attendant immediately before the performance if available.

Accessible parking for those with disabilities is located in the Playhouse parking garage. Parking for persons with disabilities is limited and must be reserved and paid for in advance. All vehicles using these spaces must display a valid disability placard.

PROHIBITION OF WEAPONS

The Ohio Revised Code (R.C. 2923.126) has established the privilege of carrying a concealed handgun to Ohio citizens who have obtained the proper license. The same law explicitly grants private employers in the state the right to prohibit their employees and visitors from possessing ﬁrearms on the employer’s premises. With this notiﬁcation the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park is informing

you that it prohibits weapons of any kind on its premises, and reserves the right to search persons, parcels and vehicles on the same. This policy applies to all employees, patrons and visitors to the facility.

RESTROOMS

There are four types of restrooms: women’s, men’s, all-gender and family. One of each type is available on each level. Restrooms are all wheelchair-accessible.

SMOKING/VAPING

Smoking/vaping is prohibited in the entire theatre complex.

Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park acknowledges the following partner companies, foundations and their employees who generously participate in the annual ArtsWave Campaign at the $100,000+ level. altaﬁber

Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center

Cincinnati Open

The Cincinnati Insurance Companies

Cincinnati Reds

Dinsmore & Shohl LLP

Duke Energy

The E.W. Scripps Company and Scripps Howard Foundation

The Enquirer | Cincinnati.com

Fifth Third Bank and Fifth Third Foundation

GE Aerospace

Great American Insurance Group

Greater Cincinnati Foundation

The H.B., E.W. and F.R. Luther Charitable Foundation, Fifth Third Bank, N.A., Trustee

The Kroger Co.

Messer Construction Co.

National Endowment for the Arts

P&G

Western & Southern Financial Group

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

OFFICERS TRUSTEES

James C. Leonard President

Ronald T. Bates

MC Brennan

Julie A. Broadwell

Nirvani Head Vice President

Lucy Lane Broderick

Ron Bunt

Maurice E. Coffey, II

James P. Conway, Jr.

Virginia Copley

Deborah Davis

Mark Dawes

Scott X. Deters

Timothy Douglas

Judy Ellis

Margo K. Ross

Secretary

Vitaly Goldfeder

Ken Goldhoff

Chandra Gravely

Linda Greenberg

Nirvani Head

Bernita McCann Hightower

Diane S. Jordan

Bet Koeninger

Terry Lemmerman

James C. Leonard

James P. Conway, Jr.

Treasurer

Stephen Lett

Jacqueline M. Mack

Kevin N. McMurray

Danute Miskinis

Roy A. Mitchell

Samuel Moore, Jr.

Dean A. Moulas

Patti Myers

Audra Rance

Robert Reifsnyder

Digi France Schueler

Chair

KJ Sanchez

Digi France Schueler

Jerry T. Shroat

Jovoni Trollinger

Julia Wesselkamper

Barbara M. Weyand

Susan Whitman

Ronna K. Willis

Susan B. Zaunbrecher

Debbie White Richardson

Margo K. Ross

Victoria Buyniski Gluckman

Thomas M. Keckeis

EMERITUS LEGACY TRUSTEES

Otto M. Budig, Jr.

Chuck Carothers

David Herriman

Andrew MacAoidh Jergens

Jennifer Dorsey Powell

Jack Rouse

Morse Johnson

Lois Rosenthal

Jack Rouse

Howard Tomb

Ellen G. van der Horst

Larry Vignola

Albert Vontz, III

Albert Vontz, Jr.

Albert Vontz, III

THE MORSE JOHNSON SOCIETY

Thanks to your vision and commitment, we can set a bold course to secure the future of the Playhouse for generations to come. We are grateful to you for including the Playhouse in your estate plans. This list recognizes members of the Morse Johnson Society as of December 16, 2024.

Anonymous

Romola N. Allen

Henrietta Barlag

Roderick and Barbara Barr

Peggy Barrett

Martha L. Bell

David and Elaine Billmire

Thomas J. Breed

Charlin Briggs

Rosemarie Brown

John and Peg Bruggeman

Susan and Burton Closson

Carol C. Cole

Richard and Teddie Curry

Kelly M. Dehan and Richard J. Staudigel

Jan Denton

Marilyn Derfus

Jackie Dieckman and Mike Camery

Mrs. James M. Edwards

Barbara Fitch

In memory of Phyllis A. Followell, my heart

Allison Gerrety

Victoria Buyniski Gluckman

Madeleine H. (Mady)

Gordon

J. Frederick and Cynthia Gossman

Linda and Gary Greenberg

Carol Green

Jan and Herman Groshoff

Cheryl Harden Love

Mrs. Robert J. Hasl

Robert and Judith Heaton

Dave and Betsy Hendy

Andrea and Dr. Edward Herzig

Karlee L. Hilliard

Susan M. Ingmire

Andrew MacAoidh

Jergens

Judith E. Johnson

M. J. Johnson

Jan and Jay Kalagayan

Winifred B. Kessler

David and Janice Klocke

Mike and Marilyn Kremzar

Randolph and Patricia Krumm

Ms. Abby E. Langdon

Donald W. Leedy

Terry Lemmerman

James C. Leonard

Mary V. Lierl

Barbara Lyons

Jacqueline M. Mack

James A. Markley, Jr.

David L. Martin

David Mason

Ron Matson and Daniel Young

Barbara and Kim McCracken

Charles and Joann Mead

Becky Miars

Lauren and James Miller

David and Diane Moccia

William J. and Mary G. Moran

Patti Myers and Alan Flaherty

Ronald and Debi Nash

Charlotte and Robert Otto

Carolyn Parker

Charles and Tara Pease

Jenny and David Powell

Betty L. Prince

Pamela Reising

Ellen Rieveschl

Richard Rosenthal

Jack and Moe Rouse

Robert and Dell Ann Sathe

Mark and Rosemary Schlachter

Carol J. Schroeder

Digi France Schueler

John L. Shields

Jerry and Betsy Shroat

Ann M. Simsic

Mrs. Paul G. Sittenfeld

Adrienne Angst Smith

Francis and Susan Stanton

Nancy M. Steman

Sidney Thomas

Diane D. Todd

Marty C. Tomb

Ellen and Ray van der Horst

Margaret and Albert Vontz III

Daniel G. Walker

JoAnn and Paul Ward

Dr. and Mrs. Nelson B. Watts

Jim and Jo Ann Weber

Irwin and Barbara Weinberg

Barbara M. Weyand

Ronna and Dr. James B. Willis

Susan and Don Zaunbrecher

POSTHUMOUSLY REMEMBERED

Anonymous

Helen and Charles Abramovitz

Mrs. Thomas Adler

Robert H. Allen

Karen H. Bell

Mr. Neil Billman

Frank and Rosemary Bloom

Peter Briggs

Jack G. Brown

Leland M. Cole

Eva Jane Romaine Coombe

John V. Crable

John F. Curley

Guy and Cathy DeDiemar

Anne Elkins Didrichsen

Mrs. Elizabeth Easley

James M. Edwards

Felix and Weta Mae Elkins

Margaret M. Embshoff

Jerome A. Fey and Robert J. Schlaﬂe

Stona Fitch

Have you included Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park in your estate plans? We would love to hear from you. Please reach out to Major Gifts Ofﬁcer Lynn Smith at Lynn.Smith@cincyplay.com or (513) 977-2067 so we can properly recognize you for your gift and welcome you into the Morse Johnson Society.

William A. and Susan S. Friedlander

Oliver M. Gale

Charles and Caroline Goering

Peter and Mary Hainline

Carlyn G. Hamilton

Dr. Robert J. Hasl

Mrs. Morse Johnson

Stanley M. Kaplan, M.D.

Minor and Dan LeBlond

Keith Lemmerman

Ron Lyons

Manuel D. and Rhoda Mayerson

Mr. and Mrs. Arnold Morelli

Richard and Julia Okenfuss

Jack and Marilyn Osborn

Maurice E. Oshry

George Rieveschl

Launcey Roder

Lois Rosenthal

Gene F. Santoro

Mr. and Mrs. Robert C. Schiff, Sr.

Karl and Roberta Schlachter

Mary Louise Schroth

Marsha Shields

Paul G. Sittenfeld

Louise W. Spiegel

Rick Steiner

Jane K. Steinﬁrst

Thurza R. Sternberg

Charles and Sue Straus

Charles L. and Joan Thomas, Jr.

Lynda A. Thomas

Dr. Thomas Todd

Howard Tomb

Albert Vontz, Jr.

Mr. and Mrs. Dick Waite

Stuart and Gladys C. Warshauer

Monte Witte

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR’S CIRCLE

Anonymous

Ron Bates and Randy Lasley

Mark and Lindsay Bibler

David and Elaine Billmire

Ruth and Tom Bobenread

Neil Bortz

MC and Tom Brennan

Susan Brenner and Steven Mombach

Mrs. L.L. Browning, Jr.

Terri and John Byczkowski

Wayne and Fran Carlisle

Mr. Maurice and Lela Coffey, II

James P. Conway, Jr. and Richard D. Robertson, Jr.

Jack and Virginia Copley

Richard and Teddie Curry

Nancy and Mark Dawes

Richard and Lisa Ernst

Sarah and Tommy Evans

Elizabeth George

Ms. Victoria Buyniski Gluckman

Vitaly and Samantha Goldfeder

The Goldhoff Family

Linda and Gary Greenberg*

Jeb and Nirvani Head

Fred and Patti Heldman*

Mrs. Andrea and Dr. Edward Herzig

Karen and David Hoguet

Susan Ingmire and Lynn Hailey

Diane and Carl Iseman

Bill and Mary Jane James

Don and Frani Jones

Patti and Tom Keckeis*

Marilyn Kinne

The Artistic Director’s Circle (ADC) members provide inspirational annual support for productions, artists, and community programming. In recognition of their contributions, members receive access to exclusive private events hosted by Blake Robison, Osborn Family Producing Artistic Director, featuring artists and behindthe-scenes topics from the art of theatre making. We extend our sincere gratitude to the ADC members for their generosity!

Bet and Dave Koeninger

Mark and Karen Kremzar

Mr. and Mrs. Michael H. Kremzar

Asher and Kelsey Lanier

Terry Lemmerman

Jamie and Jenny Leonard

Jacqueline M. Mack and Dr. Edward B. Silberstein

Craig and Anne Maier

Dick and Sandy Manteuffel

The Markley Family

Ron Matson and Daniel Young

Donna and Neal Mayerson

Barbara and Kim McCracken

Kevin and Frances McMurray

Charles and Joann Mead

Leon and Barb Meyer

Becky Miars

Lauren and James Miller

Ms. Danute M. Miskinis

Diane and Dave Moccia

Samuel Moore, Jr.

David and Judith Morgan

Arthur C. Morrissey and Janet M. Hayes

Dean and Catherine Moulas

Patti Myers and Alan Flaherty

Karen and Bill Neyer*

The Marilyn J. and Jack D. Osborn Fund

Jenny and David Powell

Rob and Gretchen Reifsnyder

Danielle and Kenneth Revelson

Mrs. Deborah White Richardson

Amy and John Rosenberg

The Rosenthal Family Foundation

Jennie Rosenthal

Richard Rosenthal and Kitty Strauss Rosenthal

Margo and Sam Ross

Moe and Jack Rouse

Susan and Jeffrey Routh

Austin Schiff

Dr. and Mrs. Robert C. Schiff, Jr.

Mark and Rosemary Schlachter

Digi and Mike Schueler

Rhonda and Larry Sheakley

Eddie and Pat Sheppard

Betsy and Jerry Shroat

Nancy and Tim Sparks

John and Jennifer Stein

Steve and Sarah Steinman

Jennifer and Woody Taft

Marty C. Tomb

Edward Trach

Barbara and Daman Turner

Ellen and Ray van der Horst

Lawrence and Maureen Vignola

The Vista Foundation

Margaret and Albert Vontz III*

Randolph Wadsworth

Barbara and Irwin Weinberg Fund*

Barbara M. Weyand

Mr. William J. Weyand

Ronna and Dr. James B. Willis

Susan and Don Zaunbrecher

*Denotes a fund of the Greater Cincinnati Foundation

List as of December 16, 2024

We are grateful to the following friends who have chosen to honor a loved one through a donation to the Playhouse. The following recognition gifts have been received from November 15, 2023, through December 15, 2024.

IN HONOR OF SARA AND DAVE BUTLER

Germaine Mae Jarvis

IN HONOR OF LINDA GREENBERG

Donald and Franchelle Jones

IN HONOR OF DIANE MCCLAIN

Joseph and Vickie Beer

IN HONOR OF DR. AMY MURDOCH

Anonymous

IN HONOR OF BLAKE ROBISON

Ms. Madeleine H. Gordon

IN HONOR OF NANCY RUST

Anonymous

IN HONOR OF SHELBY SCAFFIDI

Jennifer Hall

IN HONOR OF DIGI SCHUELER

Minda Matthews-Smith

IN HONOR OF MAUREEN VIGNOLA

Anonymous

We are grateful to the following friends who have chosen to remember a loved one through a memorial gift to the Playhouse. The following memorial gifts have been received from November 15, 2023, through December 15, 2024.

IN MEMORY OF DONALD AND KATHERINE BEER

David and Diane McClain

IN MEMORY OF KAREN BELL

Edward Lanzit

IN MEMORY OF FRANK BLOOM

Ralph Bloom

IN MEMORY OF JEANNE CLARK

Leslie Clark

IN MEMORY OF BRUCE E. COYLE

Rebecca J. Graham

IN MEMORY OF CHRISTOPHER DURANG

Richard LeComte

IN MEMORY OF GAIL AND SAMUEL HUTTENBAUER, JR.

Larry Weber

IN MEMORY OF SAMUEL HUTTENBAUER, JR.

Fred H. Abel

Gordon Bogdan and June Taylor

The Calonge Family

Joyce Elkus

Albert E. Heekin III

Mr. and Mrs. Bliss Y. Hicky

Margo Itkoff

Joan M. Kaup

Ruth and Dan Kelly

Maryanne and Don Macdonald

Braden Martini

Ethan and Doreen Stanley

Ron and Pam Taegtmeyer

Bill and Mary Ann Taylor

Wendy and Norm Wasserman

Frank and Rosemary Welsh

Erin and Stacey Yeatman

IN MEMORY OF JANET M. JEFFERS

Larry Jeffers

IN MEMORY OF HONEY ANGELL LEE

David and Phyllis Herzig

IN MEMORY OF LEON A. MEYER

Anonymous

Dr. and Mrs. Hutson

Kandy Attinger Maifeld and Lisa Marcus

Rob O’Brien, Merrill Lynch

Mike Schroth, Visiting Angels

Sue and Ken Sherman

The Wright Family

IN MEMORY OF JACK OSBORN

J. Dwight and Deanna G. Thompson

IN MEMORY OF LOU SCHRODER

Anonymous

IN MEMORY OF REBEKKA SEIGEL

Joseph and Vickie Beer

IN MEMORY OF ED SHEPPARD

Mr. and Mrs. Don Gilb

David Mentzel and Kate Burroughs

Mt. Adams Business Guild

Cathy and Stan Silverman

IN MEMORY OF ELLEN PEASE SOLE

V. Clark Sole, Jr.

IN MEMORY OF HOWARD TOMB

Burton and Susan Closson

IN MEMORY OF DOROTHY “DOLLY” VARLAND

Carolyn and Terry Fox

THE BOOK CLUB PLAY

By KAREN ZACARÍAS

Directed By BLAKE ROBISON

MOE AND JACK’S PLACE – THE ROUSE THEATRE

MARCH 22 – APRIL 20, 2025

A comedy about books and the people who love them. When the members of a devoted book club become the subjects of a documentary ﬁlmmaker and accept a provocative new member, their long-standing group dynamics take a hilarious turn. A sold-out hit at theatres across the country! Sprinkled with wit, joy and novels galore.

Sponsored by Johnson Investment Counsel and Clark Schaefer Hackett present with Executive Producer

THE MARKLEY FAMILY presents

BIRTHDAY CANDLES

By NOAH HAIDLE

Directed By JOANIE SCHULTZ

ROSENTHAL SHELTERHOUSE THEATRE

APRIL 19 – MAY 18, 2025

The ingredients are simple — but look closer and you’ll see the essence of life itself. Every year, Ernestine bakes a cake and celebrates with her family on her birthday — a delicious ritual that unfolds onstage through glimpses of her life across 90 birthdays. Birthday Candles will warm the soul as it tenderly explores motherhood, family, love, loss and ﬁnding your place in the universe.

Sponsored by Ron Matson and Daniel Young

CINCINNATI PLAYHOUSE IN THE PARK

OSBORN FAMILY PRODUCING ARTISTIC DIRECTOR Blake Robison

MANAGING DIRECTOR Abby Marcus

ELLEN AND RAY van der HORST PRESENT

ENGLISH

BY SANAZ TOOSSI

DIRECTOR Kimberly Senior

SET DESIGNER Afsaneh Aayani

COSTUME DESIGNER Shahrzad Mazaheri

LIGHTING DESIGNER Anshuman Bhatia

SOUND DESIGNER Christopher Darbassie

DIALECT COACH Sade Namei

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR Sharifa Yazmeen

CASTING DIRECTOR Stephanie Klapper, CSA

MARCH 1 — 30, 2025

ROSENTHAL SHELTERHOUSE THEATRE

Honorary Producer Artist Sponsor Wohlgemuth Herschede Foundation

Design Sponsor Terri and John Byczkowski Season presented by The Vontz Family

World Premiere presented by Atlantic Theater Company and Roundabout Theatre Company, New York City, 2022.

In 2020, ENGLISH received the L. Arnold Weissberger Award for Playwrighting, jointly administered by the Anna L. Weissberger Foundations and Williamstown Theatre Festival.

CAST

(In speaking order)

Goli Aryana Aseﬁrad*

Marjan Neagheen Homaifar*

Roya Leyla Modirzadeh*

Elham Sanam Laila Hashemi

Omid Fady Demian*

Stage Manager

Brooke Redler*

Second Stage Manager Shelby Scafﬁdi*

Production Assistant Maggie Ballard

Time: 2008

Location: Karaj, Iran.

ENGLISH WILL BE PERFORMED WITHOUT AN INTERMISSION.

This production is made possible in part by a generous gift from the Greater Cincinnati Foundation.

*Member of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.

The scenic, costume, lighting and sound designers in LORT Theatres are represented by United Scenic Artists, Local USA-829 of the IATSE.

DESIGNER NOTES

SET DESIGNER AFSANEH AAYANI

English, for me, is not just a play — it’s deeply personal. Being from Iran and now living in the U.S., I have gone through the journey of being hopeful like Goli, proud like Elham and eventually worn down like Marjan. Every immigrant regardless of nationality understands this struggle of identity, dreams and reality that shapes who we become as people. English reﬂects this story speciﬁc to my culture in a language and form that an English-speaking audience can understand.

Given how old the culture is in Iran, it’s common for buildings that look old on the outside to be nicely renovated and modern on the inside. This is one of the elements you’ll see expressed in this design — the yard that has textured cement tiles and clay pots, while the inside of the classroom has modern white walls and is relatively empty. The classroom looks a lot like what I saw when I attended similar classes in Tehran. Teachers rotate between rooms so there are no personal effects or fun posters hanging on the walls. Many times, there’s just a clock and a whiteboard and that’s

all that is there with you, the teacher and the other students.

Bringing this set to the stage in a way that is true both to the story and to my culture has been critically important. I’m grateful for this opportunity to design this set for one of my favorite plays at the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park.

DESIGNER NOTES

COSTUME DESIGNER

SHAHRZAD MAZAHERI

English has played a profound role in shaping my artistic journey. It mirrors many aspects of my own lived experience — both as a former English teacher and as a former student in Iran — allowing me to embody the perspectives of these roles. When creating each character, I immerse myself deeply in their world, considering how the outside world inﬂuences this intimate space. I reﬂect on what they do when they’re not in class, how they interact with the world, and how they wish to be perceived by others.

This process leads me to explore the complexities of being Iranian, particularly the tension between contrasting ideas and the duality of navigating the “underground” and the “outside world.” This internal struggle is beautifully captured in the artwork below by my artist friend, Peyman Shaﬁeezadeh. It is such a privilege to be able to tell these stories, our stories, to the world.

Untitled (from baudrrduab series) Courtesy of the Artist, Peyman Shaﬁeezadeh Pencil on cardboard, Collage 2011

Provided by Shahrzad Mazaheri

MAMAN BOZORG AND ME

YOU DON’T HAVE TO SPEAK THE SAME LANGUAGE TO UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER

PERSONAL ESSAY BY LEYLA SHOKOOHE

Maman bozorg, or grandmother in Farsi, translates literally to “big mom.” The mother of my father. It makes sense to me, although I don’t speak ﬂuent Farsi (also called Persian). Most of what I’ve learned has come from reading, hazy osmosis at Persian parties, and my beloved grandmother.

My brother and I weren’t taught Farsi by our dad. He came to America from Iran in 1974 to go to college. He took the TOEFL, too — as a foreign student seeking an I-20 college admission form to study here, he had to. Not teaching us ﬂuent Farsi wasn’t intentional. It just didn’t happen. (There’s a reason they call native language the “mother tongue” — and our mom is from New York.)

In 1994, Maman Bozorg moved from Iran to live with us in Cincinnati. She walked us to school, cooked us Persian meals, and tried to teach us some basic Farsi.

Seeb. Merci. Houb. Apple. Thank you. Good. Doostet daram. Khoshgalem. Azizam. I love you. My beautiful. My dear.

“I love you, Grandma. I am good. Yes, I’ll eat the apple. Thank you. I love you.”

Maman Bozorg never learned much more than elementary English. It’s really hard to learn a new language as an adult. She picked up a few words: school, work, friends — pronounced eh-skool. Vork. Feh-rend.

“How is eh-skool, Leyla, azizam? I love you. Is vork good, khoshgelam? Your friends are good? I love you. I’m proud of you. I love you.”

When you’re stuck behind the barrier of a

foreign language, reaching out to the ones you love looks like repetition. Maman Bozorg told us she loved us, was proud of us, constantly. She couldn’t say it in ﬂuent English, but certain things transcend words. The grandmother in this play is determined to learn English to connect with her granddaughter. I hope she knows it doesn’t really matter. Love is the same in any language.

A few years before Maman Bozorg passed away in 2023, I tried to learn more Farsi. I listened to a learn-Persian podcast, followed Persian-English Instagram accounts. I’ve mostly just added some new phrases to my repertoire. I sprinkle them in conversations with my dad. My ﬁancé tries to learn Farsi, too: doostet daram, he says.

I know Maman Bozorg is proud of me in any language.

Leyla Shokoohe is an award-winning freelance journalist based in Cincinnati who has written for the Cincinnati Enquirer, Cincinnati Magazine and Realm Magazine, among others. She is the proud daughter of a Persian immigrant father, and grateful for her maternal immigrant ancestors, too.

That’s why we’re so proud to support Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park. Thank you for bringing exceptional performances to our community!

ARYANA ASEFIRAD (SHE/HER) - GOLI

CINCINNATI PLAYHOUSE IN THE PARK: Debut. REGIONAL THEATRE: Gloucester Stage Company and LES Shakespeare Co. FILM/TELEVISION (upcoming): The Savant and Bad at Love. EDUCATION: University of California, Irvine and Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre. WEBSITE: aryanaaseﬁrad.com. INSTAGRAM: @aryana.aseﬁrad

FADY DEMIAN (HE/HIM) - OMID

CINCINNATI PLAYHOUSE IN THE PARK: Debut. NEW YORK: Observant (Chain Theatre) and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) (Gene Frankel Theatre). REGIONAL THEATRE: The Band’s Visit and Prayer for the French Republic (The Huntington Theatre); Wild Goose Dreams (SpeakEasy Stage); Emma and As You Like It (Actors’ Shakespeare Project); Lorena: A Tabloid Epic and Incels and Other Myths (Boston Playwrights’ Theatre); Romeo and Juliet: What’s in a Name (American Shakespeare Center and Prague Shakespeare Company); and Hamlet (Oxford Shakespeare Company). FILM/TELEVISION: The Terminal List: Dark Wolf (Amazon Prime, directed by Fred Toye); The New Tenant (directed by Youssef Hesham); Roses and Red Noses (directed by Zac Vujnov); and Shadow of the Sun (directed by Emilio Guido). EDUCATION: BFA in Acting with a Musical Theatre Concentration from Boston University and Certiﬁcate of Classical Acting from London Academy of Musical and Dramatic Arts (LAMDA). AFFILIATIONS/AWARDS: AEA and SAG-AFTRA member; recipient of the 2024 SpeakEasy Stage’s Thomas Derrah Emerging Artist Award. WEBSITE: www.fadydemian.com. INSTAGRAM: @fadyd5.

SANAM LAILA HASHEMI (SHE/HER) - ELHAM

CINCINNATI PLAYHOUSE IN THE PARK: Debut. REGIONAL THEATRE: The Who & The What (TheaterWorks Hartford), Pilgrims Musa and Sheri in the New World (Mosaic Theater Company), Tiny Beautiful Things (Theatre SilCo), Dance Nation (TheatreLAB), The Christians (Virginia Repertory Theatre and Cadence Theatre Company), and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (Virginia Repertory Theatre). FILM/TELEVISION: Succession (HBO), Dear Edward (AppleTV+), and Full Circle (HBO). EDUCATION: BA from Virginia Tech. AFFILIATIONS/AWARDS: Inaugural Pipeline New Works Fellowship playwright and Producer at Working Theater. WEBSITE: sanamlailahashemi.com. INSTAGRAM: @sanam_laila_hashemi.

NEAGHEEN HOMAIFAR (SHE/HER) - MARJAN

CINCINNATI PLAYHOUSE IN THE PARK: Debut. REGIONAL THEATRE: Selling Kabul (Signature Theatre) and Scorched (ExPats Theatre). FILM/TELEVISION: Me (AppleTV+), Killing It (Peacock), The Resident (FOX), Before Dawn, Kabul Time (Hillman Grad) EDUCATION: Harvard University. WEBSITE: www.neagheen.com. INSTAGRAM: @neagheen.

LEYLA MODIRZADEH (SHE/HER)- ROYA

CINCINNATI PLAYHOUSE IN THE PARK: Debut. OFF-BROADWAY: Gordafarid and The Palace at 4AM (New York Theatre Workshop) and Secret Histories (Clarke Theatre and Lincoln Center). OFF-OFF BROADWAY: La Mama Experimental Theatre Club, Dixon Place and HERE Arts Center. REGIONAL THEATRE: The Kennedy Center, Wisdom Bridge Theatre, SpeakEasy Stage, A Contemporary Theatre, Group Theatre, Bridge Street Theatre, Golden Thread Productions, Laughing Horse and Shakespeare Performing Arts Regional Company. EDUCATION: MFA in Acting from University of Washington and an MFA in Visual Arts from Pratt Institute. WEBSITE: www.leylamodirzadeh.com.

SANAZ TOOSSI - PLAYWRIGHT

Sanaz is an Iranian-American playwright from Orange County, California. Her plays include the critically acclaimed, Pulitzer Prize-winning English (co-production, Atlantic Theater Company/Roundabout Theatre Company) and Wish You Were Here (Playwrights Horizons; Williamstown/Audible, released 2020). She is currently under commission at Atlantic Theater Company (Launch commission; Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation grant), Roundabout Theatre Company, Williamstown Theatre Festival, Manhattan Theatre Club, South Coast Repertory and Oregon Shakespeare Festival (American Revolutions Cycle). In television, Sanaz recently staffed on Invitation to a Bonﬁre (AMC), A League of Their Own (Amazon), and Five Women (Marielle Heller/ Big Beach), and sold an original idea, The Persians, to FX with Joe Weisberg and Joel Fields attached as Executive Producers. Sanaz is a member of Youngblood and the Middle Eastern American Writers Lab at the Lark, and an alum of Clubbed Thumb’s Early Career Writers’ Group. She was the 2019 P73 Playwriting Fellow, a recipient of the 2020 Steinberg Playwright Award, the 2022 recipient of The Horton Foote Award and, most recently, the 2023 recipient of the Best New American Play Obie Award. MFA: NYU Tisch.

KIMBERLY SENIOR (SHE/HER)- DIRECTOR

CINCINNATI PLAYHOUSE IN THE PARK: Debut. BROADWAY: Disgraced. OFF-BROADWAY: Bella Bella and The Niceties (Manhattan Theatre Club); Sakina’s Restaurant (Audible Theater) and Engagements (Second Stage Theater).

REGIONAL THEATRE: Guthrie Theater, Goodman Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre, Writers Theatre, Pasadena Playhouse, Center Theatre Group, La Jolla Playhouse, South Coast Repertory, Berkeley Repertory Theatre and many more. FILM/TELEVISION: Chris Gethard: Career Suicide (HBO). BOOK: What Would a Person Do? Thoughts on Directing and Living. TEACHING: Brooklyn College, Brown University, Yale University, New York University, University of Rhode Island, DePaul University, Columbia College Chicago, University of Chicago and many more. WEBSITE: kimberlysenior.net.

AFSANEH AAYANI (SHE/HER)- SET DESIGNER

REGIONAL THEATRE (selected): English (The Old Globe and Alliance Theatre); A Christmas Carol and Alley All New Festival (Alley Theatre); Birthday Candles (Chautauqua Theater); Disgraced (American Stage); Romeo and Juliet (Two River Theater); The Ugly Christmas Sweater and Frozen (Theatre Under The Stars); and Alabaster (Trinity Repertory Company). OTHER CREDITS: Meow Wolf Houston; Extinctionist (Heartbeat Opera); Turn of the Screw, Innominate, Cleansed

and Waiting for Godot (Catastrophic Theatre); Roe and Black Superhero Magic Mama (Stages); Frida and Sunday in the Park With George (El Paso Opera); Big Swim (Houston Grand Opera); King Lear (Houston Shakespeare Festival); Finding Nemo the Musical (Theatre of the Republic); Blueberry’s Clubhouse (Arkansas PBS); and Little Shop of Horrors (Moores School Of Music). EDUCATION: BFA in Puppetry from Tehran University of Art and MFA in Scenic Design from the University of Houston. WEBSITE: afsanehaayani.com.

SHAHRZAD MAZAHERI (SHE/HER) - COSTUME DESIGNER

REGIONAL THEATRE: English (a co-production with Goodman Theatre and Guthrie Theatre); Someone Will Remember Us, POTUS, Ms. Holmes and Ms. Watson: Apt. 2B, Becky Nurse of Salem, The Good John Proctor, Sweeney Todd and Sueño (Trinity Repertory Company); Wish You Were Here (South Coast Repertory); La Gringa (American Stage Theatre); and English (Berkeley Repertory Theatre).

EDUCATION: MFA in Stage Design from Southern Methodist University. AF-

FILIATIONS: teaching professor based in Washington, D.C.; USA 829; Design Action. WEBSITE: www.shahrzadmazaheri.com. INSTAGRAM: @scheherezade.mzr.

ANSHUMAN BHATIA - LIGHTING DESIGNER

CINCINNATI PLAYHOUSE IN THE PARK: Debut. OFF-BROADWAY: HERE Arts Center, Keen Company, Ma-Yi Theater Company, Primary Stages, Puerto Rican Traveling Theater, Soho Rep, Atlantic Theater Company, The Public Theater, The McKittrick Hotel, WP Theater and Park Avenue Armory. REGIONAL THEATRE: Chautauqua Theater Company, Classic Stage Company, Dublin’s Civic Theatre, Hartford Stage, Repertory Theater of St. Louis and Writers Theatre. OPERA: Austin Opera, Bard Music Festival, Beijing’s National Centre for the Performing Arts, Kentucky Opera, LoftOpera, Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Madison Opera, Opera Columbus, Opera Omaha, Opera San Jose, Paciﬁc Symphony, Palm Beach Opera, Santa Fe Opera, The Juilliard School, Virginia Arts Festival. EDUCATION: MFA NYU. AFFILIATIONS: USA829. WEBSITE: www.bhatiadesign.com

CHRISTOPHER DARBASSIE - SOUND DESIGNER

OFF-BROADWAY: The Counter (Roundabout Theatre); Table 17 (MCC Theater); Six Characters (Lincoln Center Theater); Grangeville, A Bright New Boise and A Case for the Existence of God (Signature Theatre, NYC); The Apiary, Camp Siegfried and Patience (Second Stage Theater); The Antiquities and Amusements (Playwrights Horizons); I’m Almost There (Audible at Minetta Lane Theatre and Francesca Moody Productions at Edinburgh Festival Fringe); This Beautiful Future (Cherry Lane Theatre); Uncle Vanya (in a Loft); P.S. (Ars Nova); Preparedness, Black Exhibition and Demons (The Bushwick Starr); Packages O’ the Things We Deliver (National Black Theatre); and work at Weston Theater, Alliance Theatre, PlayMakers Repertory Company and more.

SADE NAMEI (SHE/HER) - DIALECT COACH

Sade is an actor, dialect coach, consultant, translator, and writer. CINCINNATI PLAYHOUSE IN THE PARK: Debut. OFF-BROADWAY: Emotional Creature (Signature Theatre), United Front (The Flea Theater) and In the Line (A.R.T./New York Theatres). REGIONAL THEATRE: Alliance Theatre, Berkeley Repertory Theatre and Eugene O’Neill Theatre. FILM/TELEVISION: The Night Agent (season

two) and New Amsterdam. TRANSLATION AND DIALECT COACHING: The Night Agent (season two), The Penguin, Complete Unknown, The Blacklist, Madam Secretary, Limitless, Mr. Robot, Homeland, Yale Repertory Theater, Trinity Repertory Theater and City Theatre Company. SOCIAL MEDIA: @sadenamei.

SHARIFA YAZMEEN (SHE/HER) - ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR

REGIONAL THEATRE: Disgraced (American Stage); Babel (Contemporary American Theatre Festival); The War Boys (Hangar Theatre); and 3:59 AM (Actors Theatre of Louisville). EDUCATIONAL THEATRE: Beirut, One Flea Spare and Alabaster (Brown/Trinity Rep); Noon Panir in the Dark (Dartmouth College); Witch (Wittenberg University); and Twelfth Night (SUNY Brockport). FELLOWSHIPS: Hangar Fellowship (The Drama League); Directing Apprentice (Actors Theatre of Louisville); National Directing Fellow (Eugene O’Neill Theater Center); and Directing Fellow (Manhattan Theatre Club). EDUCATION: MFA from Brown/Trinity Rep. AWARDS: Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation’s Barbara Whitman Award and Abe Burrows Award. WEBSITE: sharifayazmeen.com. INSTAGRAM: @sharifa_yaz.

STEPHANIE KLAPPER (SHE/HER) - CASTING DIRECTOR

See bio on page 15.

BROOKE REDLER (SHE/HER) - STAGE MANAGER

CINCINNATI PLAYHOUSE IN THE PARK: Mr. Parent, The Chosen, A Christmas Carol, Frida. . . A Self Portrait, Destiny of Desire, 2 Pianos 4 Hands, Once on This Island, In The Heights, Million Dollar Quartet and Native Gardens. CINCINNATI: Cincinnati Opera. OFF-BROADWAY: Breathing Time, The Faire and From White Plains (Fault Line Theatre). REGIONAL THEATRE: Hair: Retrospection, Stillwater, The Whipping Man, August: Osage County, Cabaret and ﬁve seasons of A Christmas Carol (Kansas City Repertory Theatre); Peter and the Starcatcher (Utah Shakespeare Festival); Vanya, Sonya, Masha & Spike (Center Stage Baltimore); The Drowsy Chaperone and Is He Dead? (Creede Repertory Theatre); Hairspray and The Sound Of Music (Starlight Theatre); Stages St. Louis and Heart Of America Shakespeare Festival. OTHER OPERA: Opera Long Beach and Santa Fe Opera. AFFILIATIONS: Lead Producer of The Over The Rhine International Film Festival.

SHELBY SCAFFIDI (SHE/HER) - SECOND STAGE MANAGER

CINCINNATI PLAYHOUSE IN THE PARK: Rooted, Origin Story, A Christmas Carol, Vietgone and Dial M for Murder. CINCINNATI: Cincinnati Ballet and Cincinnati Shakespeare Company. REGIONAL THEATRE: Goodman Theatre and Clinton Area Showboat Theater. Education: BA in Theatre and Sustainability from Miami University

Casting Assistants

ADDITIONAL PRODUCTION STAFF

Emma Balk, Joe Piserchio

Assistant to Stephanie Klapper Gracie Guichard

Voice Over

AJ Ford, Shahryar Motia, Kimberly Short

Wardrobe Run Crew Lauren Wooten

English is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com

COMMUNITY SUPPORT

CORPORATE PARTNERS

For companies looking to make a smaller investment in the Playhouse, the Corporate Partner Program is just the ticket. A gift of $1,000 or more is recognized in our show programs, provides invitations to exclusive events, and entitles your employees to receive a 20 percent online ticket discount throughout the season!

$1,000 - $3,499

Hixson Architecture Engineering Interiors

Prolink

Skyline Chili

For more information about joining these individuals and organizations in support of the Playhouse, call Mary Kay Koehler, Director of Institutional Giving at 513-977-2026.

IN-KIND CONTRIBUTORS

The Blind Lemon

The BonBonerie

Emerge Managed Solutions, LLC

The Geiler Company

Local 12, WKRC-TV

Mt. Adams Bar and Grill

WARM 98

WGRR-FM

WOSL-FM

WXIX-TV, Fox 19

2024-25 LEADING LADIES

PROGRAM CO-CHAIRS

Catharina Toltzis

Ronna K. Willis

GRANDE DAMES

Jan Bartel

Amelia Crutcher

Kelly M. Dehan

Vickie Buyniski Gluckman

Linda Greenberg

Karlee L. Hilliard

Judy Kenniston

Danute Miskinis

Mary Woode

Morton

Linda Muth

Rosemary Schlachter

Catharina Toltzis

Ronna K. Willis

DIVAS

Janet G. Banks

Randal S. Bloch

Susan Cummings

Brenda Hausterman

Louise Head

Nirvani Head

Patti Heldman

Susan Ingmire

Diane S. Jordan

Margo Kirstein

Patti Myers

Karen Neyer

Jennifer Powell

Betty Prince

Cathie Rothfuss

Digi France Schueler

Maureen Vignola

Patricia J. Wagner

Jane Welling

STARLETS

Anonymous

Shakila Ahmad

Nancy Aichholz

Beverly Allen

Janice Amatulli

Susan S. Anthony

Elizabeth C. Armitage

Athena AvgoustiBauer

Kathy Bachman

Barbara Banks

Molly R. Barber

Becky Beckstedt

Mary Ann Bell

Sue K. Blaney

Linda D. Brink

Jacklyn Bryson

April A. Cain

Carol Campbell

Nancy B. Carrothers

Fran Christensen

Mary Ellen Cody

Marjorie Compton

Virginia Copley

Cathy Crain

Alva Jean Crawford

Judy S. Dalambakis

Debora Del Valle

Kathryn Dierckes

Nancy Steman Dierckes

Marilyn Duke

Kay Eby

Joyce Elkus

Mary Anne Frey

Nancy Gaffney

Nancy Gollobin

Barbara Hahn

Margo Hall

Betsy Hendy

Judy Tondi Herd

Meg Hilmer

Linda R. Holthaus

Kim Howland

Marty Humes

Pat Humphrey

Dr. Linda Huntress

Diane Iseman

Anne Jaroszewicz

Sarah Raup Johnson

Lisa Kagan

Arlene Katz

Molly Katz

Alina S. Khan

Zofeen Khan

Heather Krombholz

Patricia Krumm

Patricia Larsen

Lynn P. Larson

Terry Lemmerman

Donna Lilley

Glenda Lindsay

Nancy Lippincott

Sally A. Lloyd

Jackie Mack

Laurel Markley

Carolyn Ott Martin

Nancy C. Martin

Madelynn Matlock

Evi Banzhaf McCord

Kathy McCord

Maryanne McGowan

Joann Mead

Kathy Merchant

Audrey E. K. Miller

Mary G. Moran

Joy S. Nadler

Jeannie Niebuhr

Debbie Pendl

Marcia C. Philipps

MaryAnn Pietromonaco

Jane Portman

Ildiko Pray

Sherri Adams Remaklus

Margie Rennie

Carol Holland Rentschler

Sara Repenning

Carol Reubel

Danielle Revelson

Carole T. Rigaud

Bufﬁe Rixey

Mary Ellen Roberts

Gigi Robison

Ashley Rothfuss

Karina Rothzeid

Jeanne Schmerler

When amazing women come together, great things happen! Thank you to these 2024-25 season Leading Ladies. This list recognizes members as of December 16, 2024. You don’t have to be a Playhouse subscriber to join Leading Ladies – just be a woman who loves theatre and wants to learn more! Your Leading Ladies membership gives you a backstage pass to exciting events, specially curated for you. Meet the incredible professionals who bring world-class theatre to life, and attend a dress rehearsal of The Book Club Play — sponsored by the Leading Ladies!

kendra.struthers@cincyplay.com

Renee Schuler

Susan Schuler

Carol Serrone

Sue Showers

Debbie Renick Sims

Mary G. Skelly

Laura Skidmore

Martha Lowe Steier

Dr. Susan R. Strick

Glenda Suttman

Gretchen Thomas

Linda Trebbi

Dionn Tron

Laura Turton

Susie Tweddell

Ellen G. van der Horst

Nancy A. Virgulak

Lea A. Ward

Judy Wells

Jeannine Winkelmann

Laani A. Wuest

Linda Elam Young

Mary Beth Young

Sue Zimmerman

INGENUES

Lucy Lane Broderick

Helene Herbert

Stacie Miller

Bold indicates Steering Committee Members

ANNUAL GIFTS

Thank you for your support! This list includes all gifts given to the Playhouse from December 1, 2023 to January 5, 2025, not including Endowment and Capital Campaign gifts.

VISIONARY CIRCLE

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER

($50,000+)

ArtsWave

MC and Tom Brennan

Nancy and Mark Dawes

Fifth Third Bank

First Financial Bank

Greater Cincinnati Foundation

Linda and Gary Greenberg*

Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile, Jr. Foundation

The Jewish Foundation of Cincinnati

Kerry Automotive

L.I.F.E. Foundation

Terry Lemmerman

L&L Nippert Charitable Foundation

Ohio Arts Council

The Robert and Adele Schiff Family Foundation

Harold C. Schott Foundation

The Schueler Group

Digi and Mike Schueler

The Shubert Foundation

Nancy and Tim Sparks

Margaret and Albert Vontz III*

Barbara and Irwin Weinberg Fund*

PRODUCER

($30,000 - $49,999)

Eleanora C.U. Alms Trust, Fifth Third Bank, N.A., Trustee

The Charles H. Dater Foundation

Johnson Investment Counsel

Becky Miars

The Daniel and Susan Pfau Foundation

Rockwern Charitable Foundation

Moe and Jack Rouse

The Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust

U.S. Bank

Ellen and Ray van der Horst

ARTISTIC

DIRECTOR’S CIRCLE

DIRECTOR

($10,000 - $29,999)

David and Elaine Billmire

Neil Bortz

Mrs. L.L. Browning, Jr.

Chemed Foundation

Clark Schaefer Hackett

Richard and Teddie Curry

eat well celebrations and feasts

Sarah and Tommy Evans

Frost Brown Todd

The Geiler Company

The Goldhoff Family

Jeb and Nirvani Head

Huntington Bank

Marilyn Kinne

Mr. and Mrs. Michael H. Kremzar

Jacqueline M. Mack and Dr. Edward B. Silberstein

Dick and Sandy Manteuffel

The Markley Family

Ron Matson and Daniel Young

Manuel D. & Rhoda Mayerson Foundation

Charles and Joann Mead

Diane and Dave Moccia

Arthur C. Morrissey and Janet M. Hayes

The Marilyn J. and Jack D. Osborn Fund

Jenny and David Powell

Jennie Rosenthal

Richard Rosenthal and Kitty Strauss Rosenthal

William S. Rowe Foundation

John A. Schroth Family Charitable Trust

The Sheakley Group, Inc.

Rhonda and Larry Sheakley

Eddie and Pat Sheppard

Julie and Steven J. Shifman

Betsy and Jerry Shroat

John and Jennifer Stein

Steve and Sarah Steinman

The Sutphin Family Foundation

Jennifer and Woody Taft

Marty C. Tomb

Towne Properties

Edward Trach

Randolph Wadsworth

Barbara M. Weyand

Mr. William J. Weyand

The Wohlgemuth Herschede Foundation

PLAYWRIGHT

($5,000 - $9,999)

Anonymous

1919 Investment Counsel

William P. Anderson Foundation

Atkins & Pearce Inc.

Ron Bates and Randy Lasley

Mark and Lindsay Bibler

Ruth and Tom Bobenread

Susan Brenner and Steven Mombach

Terri and John Byczkowski

Wayne and Fran Carlisle

Candace Carson

Denise and Martin Chambers

Mr. Maurice and Lela Coffey, II

James P. Conway, Jr. and Richard D. Robertson, Jr.

Jack and Virginia Copley

The Crawford Family Foundation

Amelia and Thomas Crutcher

Richard and Lisa Ernst

Vitaly and Samantha Goldfeder

Mrs. Andrea and Dr. Edward Herzig

Karen and David Hoguet

Susan Ingmire and Lynn Hailey

Diane and Carl Iseman

Bill and Mary Jane James

Don and Frani Jones

Patti and Tom Keckeis*

Bet and Dave Koeninger

Mark and Karen Kremzar

Asher and Kelsey Lanier

Jamie and Jenny Leonard

Mr. and Mrs. Stephen S. Lett

Craig and Anne Maier

David Martin

Barbara and Kim McCracken

Kevin and Frances McMurray

Leon and Barb Meyer

Lauren and James Miller

Ms. Danute M. Miskinis

Samuel Moore, Jr.

David and Judith Morgan

Dean and Catherine Moulas

Patti Myers and Alan Flaherty

Karen and Bill Neyer*

Ohio Holocaust and Genocide Memorial and Education Commission

Wayne L. Prim Foundation

Prudential - Matching Fund

Rob and Gretchen Reifsnyder

Amy and John Rosenberg

Dianne and J. David Rosenberg

Margo and Sam Ross

Susan and Jeffrey Routh

Mark and Rosemary Schlachter

Skidmore Sales & Distributing Co., Inc.

Sandra and Henry Spitz

Elsa M. Heisel Sule Foundation

Robert D. Temple and Sue E. Auerbach

Thembi Speaks LLC

Barbara and Daman Turner

Lawrence and Maureen Vignola

WesBanco

Julia Wesselkamper and Julian Johnson

Ronna and Dr. James B. Willis

Susan and Don Zaunbrecher

PLAYHOUSE

INSIDER’S CIRCLE

PRINCIPAL

($2,500 - $4,999)

Anonymous (2)

25th Hour

David and Traci Alexander

Ms. Kathryn Allred Al-Lamadani

Americana Arts Foundation

Thomas and Susan Anthony

Mr. and Mrs. Robert O. Banks

Ed and Debbie Birck

Jane and Gary Booth

Thomas J. Breed

John and Peg Bruggeman

The Otto M. Budig Family Foundation

Jeff and Gay Bullock

Ron Bunt and Wei Sun

Eric Burgmann and Linda Vaccariello

David and Sara Butler

Janet and Bruce Byrnes

Philip Clayton

Kassy and Jeff Corken

ANNUAL GIFTS

Marjorie Davis

Scott X. Deters

Allison and Rick Edwards

Amy and Michael Fitzgibbons

Richard and Kathleen Glaser

Clifford Goosmann and Andrea Wilson

Ms. Madeleine H. Gordon

Chandra and Mel Gravely

Chris and Janet Gunn

Betsy and Dave Hendy

James and Susan Herman

Sue and William W. Hill III

Karlee L. Hilliard

Homewood Suites by HiltonCincinnati Midtown in Oakley Station

Ellen and Garrett Jackson*

Sylvia Johnson

Dr. Robert Keith and Kathleen Thornton-Keith

Arleene Keller

Marvin Kolodzik

John C. Ludy

McKesson

Stan and Mary Morton

Judy and Thomas Oxman

Tom and Linda Palmer

Stuart and Ildiko Pray

Audra Rance

Gerald D. Rape

Mitch and Karen Rashkin

Richard Reis and Pamela Spangler

Richard Goettle, Inc.

Diane and William Rumpke, Jr.

The Louise Taft Semple Foundation

Kathy Shell and Joetta Prost

Gerald and Sarah Skidmore

Rick and Cathy Slack

Steiner Family Foundation

Joseph B. Steiner

Dr. Susan R. Strick

Nellie Leaman Taft Foundation

Mr. and Mrs. Scott Tieke

Mark and Susan Whitman

Jo Ann Wieghaus

Anthony and Sally Woodward

Margaret and John H. Wyant

Jeff Zipkin and Shelly Gerson

ENSEMBLE

($1,500 - $2,499)

Anonymous (2)

Gordon Allen and Linda Baas

Eric and Brenda Armstrong Family Fund*

Patricia J. Armstrong

Jan Bartel

Gale and Dave Beckett

John Berninger

Sandra Bolek

Mr. and Mrs. Ken Borisch

Lucy Lane Broderick

Charlotte Brooks

Dr. Jane Brown and Mr. Paul Beck

Jacklyn and Gary Bryson

Ramon and Kathleen Cardona

Rosalind Chaiken

Larry and Julie Chandler

Burton and Susan Closson

Leland M. and Carol C. Cole

Dr. Robert Henry and Deborah Collins

Robin Cotton and Cindi Fitton

Kelly M. Dehan

Florence and Tom DeWitt

Kathryn Dierckes

Mr. and Mrs. Robert T. Dorward

Saralou and Dave Durham

Ms. Joyce Elkus

Eric and Judy Ellis

George Fabe Fund*

Matthew Feldman and Julie Baker

Mary and Bob Fitzpatrick

Paul and Nancy Gaffney

Vickie Buyniski Gluckman

Donn Goebel and Cathy McLeod

Eleanor and Richard Goering

Peggy L. Golden and Kerry J. Klumpe

David and Sheryl Harris

Grace and Brian Hill

Hixson Architecture, Engineering, Interiors

Carolyn and Michael Hoyt

Patti and Keith James

Kyle and Sue Jones

Judy Kenniston

Randolph and Patricia Krumm

Mark and Kymberly Kuenning

Jo Ann and George Kurz

Dr. John Larkin

Susan J. Lauf

Donna Lilley

Kay Lynch and Chuck Beckman

Mark McKillip and Amira Beer

Hope Earls McSwigan

Pattianne and Mark Menden

Richard I. Michelman and Karen E. Meyer

Jill and Bruce Mitchell

Linda Muth

Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Pardekooper

Betty L. Prince

Prolink

Jeff and Lori Raser

Ridgeway Foundation

Pete and Debbie Rizzo

Jim Rubenstein and Bernadette Unger

Mr. Richard H. Russell

Mark and Jan Rosenbaum Sass

Elizabeth C. B. and Paul G. Sittenfeld

Skyline Chili

Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Smith

John and Merrie Stillpass

JoAnn Stamper Thomas

Catharina Toltzis Ph.D.

Water Tower Fine Wines

Sallie Westheimer

ANNUAL FUND

BENEFACTOR

($750 - $1,499)

Anonymous (5)

Susie Ackermann

Liz and Hank Alexander

Bruce and Helene Ault

John and Kathy Bachman

Peggy Barrett

Michael and Shelia Becker

Miss Martha L. Bell

Judith and Louis Belli

Kit Berger

Jeff and Pam Bernstein

Kenneth W. and Dawn H. Bertsche

Randal and Peter Bloch

Phyllis Bossin and Robert Strauss

Selena, James, and Justin Bowling

Linda D. Brink

David and Marybeth Brothers

Dr. Daniel T. Brown, DDS and Mr. Mark Haggard

Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Bullock

In Honor of Carolyn Guild Carter

Christine Christen

James Cissell

Mr. Rick Coffey

Pearl J. Compaan, M.D.

Marjorie Compton

Douglas and Sarah Coons

The Cord Foundation

Mrs. Martha S. Crafts

Susan Cummings

Anne Dagenbach

The Daley Family Foundation

Mark Dauner

Jeffrey and Sharon DeRossette

DJJ, A Nucor Company

Michael and Kathleen Doherty

William G. Dorward III

Timothy Douglas

Emilie and David Dressler Fund*

Tim and Tina DuMont*

Kay and Rich Eby

Sharon and Bill Emeigh

Dr. and Mrs. Michael Farrell

James K. and Susan A. Fitton

Missy and Brian J. Fox

Mr. and Mrs. John Freeman

Sharon Freyhof

Edward Gemperle

Mr. and Mrs. Howard Gerber

Graeter’s Ice Cream Co.

Carl and Joyce Greber

Mary and Phil Hagner

Ham and Ellie Hamilton

Teri and Mike Haught

Louise Head

Patti Heldman

Bertie Hertz

Ms. Sherrie Heyse

Noel and Karen Hofmann

Mark and Deanna Hollon

Linda R. Holthaus

Timothy and Julie Driehaus Horton

Barbara J. Howard

Dr. Carol Hubbard

Joseph Huber and Shelli Smith

Mr. and Mrs. William Ivers

Johnson & Johnson - Matching Fund

Mark and Sarah Johnson

James and Brenda Jones

Dr. Toni and Rabbi Ken Kanter

Mr. and Mrs. Geoffrey Keenan

Peter and Sandy Keiser

Rosalynd Kendall

Beverly Kinney and Edward Cloughessy

Margo Kirstein

Larry and Kathleen Kissel

Mark and Nancy Kleespies

Mary Kay Koehler and Heather Apple

Heather Krombholz

Kathleen B. and Michael C. Krug*

Dr. Carol P. Leslie

Sherwin Little

Sally A. Lloyd

Whitney and Phillip Long

Cheryl Harden Love

Ellen and Ward Maresca

Ms. Margaret E. Mathile

Raymond and Madelynn Matlock

Susan Matz

Elizabeth Mayﬁeld*

Jim and Eileen Moon

Terry and Jannelle Moore

National Jewish Theatre Foundation

Michael Nordlund and Lisa Lee

Melissa and John Panzeca

Carl Parrott and Molly Katz Fund*

Kathy and Bob Pellegrino

Diane and Jeff Pfaff

Phillips Family Fund*

Mr. and Mrs. Don Popelar

Leo and Sarah Pulte

Robert and Connie Reed

Alison and Rob Rice

Mr. and Mrs. Gates T. Richards

Louise and Gary Roselle

Cathie Rothfuss

Debra and Peter Ruehlman

Ann Saluke and Don Yelton

KJ Sanchez

David Savage

Glenn and Kitty Schaaf

Martha and Lee Schimberg

Pat and Paul Schlecht

Michael and Jeanne Schmerler

Roger and Glenda Schorr*

Carol J. Schroeder

Mary D. Schweitzer

P. Robert Schwetschenau MD

Ivan and Karen Silverman

Mr. and Mrs. Irwin Simon

Robin and Murray Sinclaire

Adrienne Angst Smith

Steven Smith and David Vanderpool

Susan and David Smith

Mary Stagaman and Ron Kull

Tom and Dee Stegman*

Elizabeth A. Stone

Gary and Nancy Strassel

Carol Striker

Tom and Keri Tami

Gordon and Mary-Anne Thompson

Morley and Brenda Thompson

Jovoni Trollinger

James and Susan Troutt

Robert Trusty

Christopher and Nancy Virgulak

Geroge and Julia Wadih

Patricia J. Wagner

Daniel G. Walker and Lisa Capurro

Sarella Walton

Dr. and Mrs. Barry W. Webb

Larry Weber

Mary Ann and Ted Weiss

Jane Welling

Carol and Rich Wilson

Mrs. Joan R. Wilson

Marsha and Robert Wuerdeman

John M. Yacher

SUPPORTER

($300 - $749)

Anonymous (20)

Marjorie and Steven Adler

Shakila Ahmad

Dr. David and Mrs. Nancy Aichholz

Drs. Gordon and Dorothy Air

Janice Amatulli

Mrs. Patricia Anderson

Victor and Dolores Angel

James Anthony and Sarah Corathers

Carol Aquino

Elizabeth C. Armitage

Charles W. Ashing, III

Athena Avgousti-Bauer

Walter and Barbara Bailey

Joseph Baker

Barbara Banks

Molly R. Barber

Donald Beck and Lawrence E. Eynon, M.D.

Becky Beckstedt

Wayne and Barbara Beimesch

Mary Ann Bell

Doug and Judy Betz

Bradley R. Bevington

Mr. Thomas E. Blackburn

Mr. and Mrs. Ben Blackmer

Sue K. Blaney

Katy Bodenburg

Rick and Janet Bohne

Mark Bowen

David Brashear

Dr. Samuel Brewer and Dr. Carole Stokes-Brewer

Barbara and Neal Bronson

Michael Brown

Nancy and Thomas Bunnell

Mark and Diane Bunte

Jack and Marti Butz

John and Diane Byrne

Jane and Frank Caccamo

April A. Cain

Carol Campbell

Nancy B. Carrothers

Chris and Jim Cartledge

Jo-Ann Casuto

Fran Christensen

Cincinnati Art Museum

Mary Ellen Cody

Julie and John Cohen

Loretta and David Cook

Dr. and Mrs. Alan Cordell

Mr. and Mrs. Roy Cotcamp

Cathy Crain

Jean and John Croxton

Mr. and Mrs. Scott Cruse

Judy S. Dalambakis

Merida and Rick D’Augustine

Mr. Frank Davis

Michelle de la Vega

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Dearth

Debora Del Valle

Jan Denton

Marilyn J. Derfus

Diamond/Wolf Family

Nancy Steman Dierckes

Martha Dillow

Thomas Donnelly

Marilyn Duke

Bob and Kitty Dunn

John and Liz Dye

Leslie R. Dye, M.D.

Jon and Tara Eaton

Karla Epperson

Delores J. Erby

Dr. and Mrs. William Faulkner

Michael Federle

Barbara Ann Feldmann

Bill Ferring

Dr. Daniella Fisher

Dr. and Mrs. Bernard Foster

Carolyn and Terry Fox

Patricia Fraley

John and Susan Frank

Mr. and Mrs. James A Fraser

Gregrick A Frey

Mary Anne Frey

Shirley Gallagher

Sharon and Dennis Geiger

General Electric

Veronica Glogowski

Daniel P. Goetz and Pattie Messmer

Jim and Elaine Goldschmidt

Nancy Gollobin

Goret Family Foundation

Mrs. Sharon Gorman

Pank and Wendy Goulet

Phillip Griggs

Dr. and Mrs. Ralph Gruppo

Barbara Hahn

Jan C. Hall

Margo Hall

Timothy and Barbara Haller

Jeff Hanna and Peggy Eberhard

Jerri and Dan Hanus

Jim and Sally Harper

Alice and John Hehman

Gwenn and Mark Heintzelman

Alan and Marion Heitner

Jane E. Henney, M.D. and J. Robert Graham, M.D.

Helene Herbert

Judi Tondi Herd

Susan Hibbs

Wendy Hill

Meg Hilmer

Dale Hodges and David F. Logan

Daniel J. Hoffheimer

Daniel and Marcia Holden

Patricia L. Holman

Mr. and Mrs. George Horning

Kim Howland

Amy Hughes

Marty Humes

Pat Humphrey

Dr. Linda Huntress

Robert Hyland

Charlie and Janie James

Anne Jaroszewicz

Larry and Jan Jeffers

Robert and Tara Jennings

Marilyn S. and Robert C. Johnson

Dr. Amy Johnstone

Lisa Kagan

Amy J. Katz

Arlene Katz

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas T. Keating

Alina S. Khan

Zofeen Khan

Mr. and Mrs. John Kmet

Judith A. Koch

Sandford and Nancy Kopnick

Michael and Paula Kunka

Bill and Evie Landrigan

Mr. Edward Lanzit

Patricia Larsen

Lynn P. Larson

Donald Leedy, PhD

Mary Kay Levesay

Glenda Lindsay

Jim Lippert and Carrie ShortLippert

Nancy Lippincott

James Lockey and Grace Lemasters

Kevin G. Loesch

Dr. and Mrs. Louis B. Louis, IV

Mr. and Mrs. Damon Lynch, Jr.

Thomas and Jean Macejko

ANNUAL GIFTS

Ms. Carol MacGregor

Dave and Lee MacKenzie

Kenneth T. Mahler

Mark Mallory

Mark K. Mandell-Brown MD

Charles and Jennifer Margolis

Laurel Markley

Carolyn Ott Martin

Nancy C. Martin

David Mason

Minda Matthews-Smith

Mr. and Mrs. David J. McAdams, in honor of Vickie and Bruce Ellis

David and Diane McClain

Evi Banzhaf McCord

Kathy McCord

Dennis and Carol McCoy

Maryanne McGowan

Jeff and Debbie McNaul

Kathy Merchant

Ms. Donna Miliano

Audrey E. K. Miller

Steven and Jacqueline Miller Family Foundation

David and Martha Millett

Mitchell Briggs

Joel Monteith and Barbara MustoeMonteith

Mary G. Moran

Brian and Katherine More

Mrs. Jane Motz

Scott and Barb Muhlhauser

Joyce and William Mullins

Munich Reinsurance America, Inc.

Joy S. Nadler

Jeannie Niebuhr

Nottinghill Investment Advisers, Ltd.

Andrew J. Nuckols

Les and Molly Polasky

Philip J. Poon

Jane Portman

James and Linda Pretz

Phil and Susan Price

Michael and Nelda Purdon

Jennifer Ramage

Sherri Adams Remaklus

Margie Rennie

Carol Holland Rentschler

Sara Repenning

Carol Reubel

Danielle Revelson

Jeff and Joyce Rich

Kathleen and Tom Riga

Carole T. Rigaud

Bufﬁe Rixey

Mary Ellen Roberts

Gigi Robison

Bruce and Tina Ross

Ashley Rothfuss

Karina Rothzeid

Barb and Rich Ruddy

Josie Russo

James Sanitato

Jane Schaefer

Karen Schilling

Chris Schulte

Mary Schwaderer

Linda Sears

William and Sandra Selvey

Carol Serrone

Ms. Connie Sheets

John L. Shields

Sue Showers

Dr. Tariq Siddiqi

Debbie Renick Sims

Robert and Linda Singer

Mary Lee and Louie Sirkin

Jack and Barbara Smith

Richard and Patricia Smith

Martha and John Spiess

John and Sarah Spiller

Joseph and Linda Staneck

Martha Lowe Steier

Robert L. and Christine J. Steiner*

Stephanie and Joseph Stitt

Joe and Gladys Stolz

Gunther and Sara Storjohann

Kendra L. Struthers

Glenda Suttman

Ms. Marie H. Sweeney

Carlos and Roberta Teran

Amy and Bill Thaman

Gretchen Thomas

J. Dwight Thompson

George and Linda Toft

Robert and Marcia Togneri

Sneja H. Tomassian

Torey and Tom Torre

Alicia B. Townsend

Ann Marie Tracey and Daniel Buckley

Mr. and Mrs. George Trebbi

Dilip and Janet Tripathy

Dionn Tron

Laura Turton

Susie Tweddell

Doug and Molly Tyger

Ms. Marlena Tyre

Gloria Uziel and Patrick Shea, M.D.

Catherine Valentine

Mr. Steve Voellmecke

John and Ann Wagner

Liz and Dave Wallingford

JoAnn Ward

Lea A. Ward

Glenn and Maureen Weber

Dr. Alan Weinstein

Judy Wells

Steven and Heather Wesloh

Brendan and Julie White

Steve and Patty Wilken

Chris and Diane Williams

Jim and Mary Williams

Mauri J. Willis

Rev. Anne Warrington Wilson

Robert and Judy Wilson

Susan and Dean Windgassen

$50,000+

L.I.F.E. FOUNDATION

ROBERT AND ADELE SCHIFF FAMILY FOUNDATION THE HAROLD C. SCHOTT FOUNDATION

$20,000 – $49,999

$10,000 – $19,999

As of December 23, 2024

$1,000 – $4,999

JOHN A. SCHROTH FAMILY CHARITABLE TRUST

THE SUTPHIN FAMILY FOUNDATION

WAYNE L. PRIM FOUNDATION

ROCKWERN CHARITABLE FOUNDATION THE WOHLGEMUTH HERSCHEDE FOUNDATION

WILLIAM P. ANDERSON FOUNDATION

CORD FOUNDATION

RIDGEWAY FOUNDATION

ADMINISTRATIVE AND PRODUCTION STAFF

DIRECTORS

Osborn Family Producing Artistic Director Blake Robison

Managing Director Abby Marcus

ADMINISTRATION

Executive Assistant/Board Liaison Stefanie Meyer

Associate Producer Suann Pollock

Company Manager A.J. Ford

Assistant Company Manager/Management Associate Remy Elton-Alexander

Director of HR, Equity and Inclusion Dawn Mundy Payroll/HR Specialist Madalaina Welton

Finance Associate Brian Anderson Ofﬁce Administrator Kathy Durnell

OPERATIONS

Director of Operations Bridget Siedlecki

IT Applications Specialist Scott Youger

Facilities Manager Brian Smith

DEVELOPMENT

Chief Philanthropy Ofﬁcer Sneja H. Tomassian

Director of Institutional Giving Mary Kay Koehler

Director of Donor Relations Kendra L. Struthers, CFRE

Major Gifts Ofﬁcer Lynn Smith, CFRE

Development Associate, Giving and Stewardship Jennifer Radisch

Development Assistant Douglas Fries

MARKETING/COMMUNICATIONS

Director of Marketing and Communications Kathy Neus

Audience Engagement Manager Piper N. Davis

Multimedia Designer Sean Martin

Digital Marketing Associate Victoria Forbes

Marketing Data and Website Manager Jacob Krismanick

Content Marketing Associate Deja A. Shanks

Marketing Intern Kit Gladieux

Photographer Mikki Schaffner

PATRON SERVICES

Patron Services Director Don Wong

Assistant Patron Services Manager Julia Hasl Miller

House Managers Joellyn Goos, Kayden Hauke, Ethan Mann

Patron Services Associate Olivia Cremisio

Patron Services Staff Amanda Adams, Tommy Berninger, Grace Caccavari, Katie Collier, Tessa D’Errico, Jenny French, Max Holman, Michelle LaMantia, Francis McGovern, Whitney Menser, Cyrus Newitt, Sarah O’Haver, Alexis Pinto, James Racster, Addie Renne, Theresa Richmond, Charlie Rusk, Gina Serger, Jacqueline Smith, Logan Smith, LaCheryl Steele, Janis Tibbs, Monica Williams-Mitchell, Kendall Young

Bar Manager Darren Cox

Bartenders Kathy Burr, Clint Collins, Justin Eckstein, Rachel Ellis, Julia Migliara, Lisa Porter, John Simpson, Niki Sherwood, Kathleen Thorman

ARTISTIC

Associate Artistic Director Joanie Schultz

Literary Manager Tatiana Godfrey

Associate Artists Wendy C. Goldberg, Karen Zacarías

EDUCATION/ENGAGEMENT

Education Director Ariana Moses

Artistic Engagement Manager Katie Baskerville

Education Associate John Llewellyn

Education and Engagement Coordinator Ariana Hooberman-Piñeiro

STAGE MANAGEMENT

Production Stage Manager Andrea L. Shell

Stage Managers Brooke Redler, Brandon T. Holmes

Artistic Engagement Stage Manager Erin Speno-Stout

PRODUCTION

Director of Production Joshua Escajeda

Technical Director Sam Thompson

Assistant Production Manager Valerie Perez

Assistant Technical Director Ethan Ruhl

Scene Shop Administrative Assistant Quinn Morgan

SCENERY

Staff Carpenters Valerie Bramer, Timothy Fowler, Michael Lyons, Brandon Smith, Patrick Wellman

Charge Scenic Artist Jennifer Rhodus

Assistant Scenic Artist Alex Kuntz

Scenic Artist Payton Epperson

Rouse Run Crew Christopher Albaugh, Kara Trusty

PROPERTIES

Properties Manager Liz Lyons

Assistant Properties Manager Katie Kim

Properties Benjamin Adams, Jeff Fowee, Alicia Rhodus

Rosenthal Shelterhouse Properties Running Crew Lead Debra Hildebrand

Rouse Theatre Properties Running Crew Lead Gigi Wendt

COSTUMES/WARDROBE

Costume Shop Manager Gordon DeVinney

Costume and Design Administrative Assistant Joe Kovacs

Interim Cutter/Draper Bridget Kline

Wig and Makeup Artist Amy Whitaker

Wardrobe Lead Amira Rowe

Wardrobe Assistants Grace Hazlett, Lilly Levine

LIGHTING/SOUND

House Audio/Projection Supervisor Aaron Stephenson

Lead Electrician Samuel Wilson

Rouse Theatre Light Board Operator Alec Schneider

Rouse Theatre Audio Engineer M. Adam Jacob

Rosenthal Shelterhouse Light Board Operator Jonathan Armstrong

Rosenthal Shelterhouse Sound Engineer Samuel Sadler

EMERITI

Managing Director Emeritus Buzz Ward

INVEST ENGAGE INNOVATE LEAD

Investing state and federal dollars, the Ohio Arts Council funds and supports quality arts experiences for all Ohioans to strengthen communities culturally, educationally, and economically.

Learn more about our grant programs and resources, find your next arts experience, or connect: OAC.OHIO.GOV.

Grantee Spotlight: INSPIRATION STUDIOS, INC.

Inspiration Studios, Inc., and Sonny Spot Too are two Southwest Ohio organizations serving people with developmental disabilities. In 2023, they collaborated to create a new mural for Sonny Spot’s computer and technology room. Image courtesy of the organization