Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati 2019-2020 Season Brochure

ENSEMBLE THEATRE CINCINNATI

2019 –2020 SEASON

SUBSCRIBE NOW

FOR THE BEST SEATS AT THE BEST PRICES!

THEATRE GOALS.

The cast of The Wolves, 2019. Photo by Ryan Kurtz.

OTTO M. BUDIG FAMILY FOUNDATION

2019–2020 SEASON I invite you to join us as we embark on a great season of world class theatre.

Presenting a lineup entirely devoted to the newest contemporary shows has been the hallmark of Ensemble Theatre for more than twenty years and the 2019 –2020 Season is no exception—not only is it our specialty, but it's also our organization's mission!

Each title has been carefully considered and selected not just on the script's merits alone, but also based on how well it reflects the topics at the forefront of our nation's mind and how deeply it will resonate with our audiences and local community.

And with the centennial anniversary of the suffragette movement in 2020, I am also thrilled that six of the seven plays this season happen to be written by women and feature strong female characters. These are fierce, bold, and empowering voices that represent the very best in contemporary theatre while also appealling to the breadth and depth of the universal human experience, regardless of gender.

As a subscriber, you're guaranteed a ticket to enjoy each of these fresh, vibrant, and compelling selections—shows meant to excite, entertain and engage long after the curtain comes down. Our beautiful, fully renovated theatre is ready to welcome you as we have welcomed patrons to our Overthe-Rhine neighborhood for decades.

I look forward to seeing you soon.

D. Lynn Meyers The Ruth Dennis Sawyer/Mary Taft Mahler Producing Artistic Director

This page: Brooke Steele & Nathan Robert Pecchia in Fly By Night, 2018.

Cover: Connan Morrissey & Tony Campisi in A Doll's House, Part 2, 2019. Photos by Ryan Kurtz.

The cast of Failure: A Love Story, 2018. Photo by Mikki Schaffner.

Ken Early in Red Velvet, 2018. Photo by Mikki Schaffner.

GREAT SHOWS. GREAT SEATS. GREAT SAVINGS. Put them together? They add up to a great theatrical experience.

Put them together again and again, and you have an Ensemble Theatre subscription! Join us for our electrifying 2019-2020 Season at a price your pockets will love. Plus, you'll:

SECURE THE LOWEST PRICES Save nearly 30% off single ticket prices depending on the subscription you choose and avoid price increases during the season.

LOCK IN THE BEST SEATS Rest easy knowing your seats and dates are locked in ahead of time.

RECEIVE FIRST ACCESS Make exchanges, reserve FlexPass seats, and buy additional tickets during Subscriber-Only Days before they go on sale to the public.

ENJOY FREE TICKET EXCHANGES Something come up? Subscribers get unlimited free ticket exhanges.

Charges only apply when transferring from preview packages.

SAVE EVEN MORE The more, the merrier! Subscribers also receive $8 off and do not pay handling fees on unlimited additional tickets.

SUBSCRIBE NOW FOR THE BEST SEATS AND PRICES!

513.421.3555 | www.ensemblecincinnati.org

WINNER! 5 TONY AWARDS, INCLUDING BEST MUSICAL

August 31 – September 28, 2019 REGIONAL PREMIERE MUSICAL. This is the groundbreaking, cathartic comingof-age memoir based on Alison Bechdel's best-selling graphic novel. Alison’s father, Bruce, was an enigmatic, brilliant man whose secrets defined her family and her life. He taught high school English, ran the family’s funeral home, and was obsessed with restoring their old house. When he dies unexpectedly, Alison digs deeply into her memories to explore and unravel the mysteries of her childhood and the surprising secrets that shaped her life.

Premiere Sponsor: The Otto M. Budig Family Foundation

“Fine family entertainment...a charming escape for the holidays.”

—Cincinnati CityBeat

December 4, 2019 – January 4, 2020 FAMILY-FRIENDLY MUSICAL. When Prince Ivan discovers his bride-to-be is actually a frog, he's toad-ally disappointed. Vasilisa is more than your typical hoppy-go-lucky frog, though. She’s a kindhearted princess under a curse! When villainous Old Bones takes her to a far-away land, Ivan sets out to find her, discovering along his journey that love sees beyond outside appearances. With a revitalized script and score, this modern, musical spin on the famous Russian fairy tale celebrates the beauty within each of us and is fun for the entire family!

Premiere Sponsor: Real Estate Services | Development | Construction

Artist Sponsor:

“Charming and off-beat...the laughter is constant and the romance sweet in this fine concoction.” — Ithaca Times

January 18 – February 15, 2020 REGIONAL PREMIERE COMEDY. Maude, aka Madame Rosa, is not your average fortune teller. A true clairvoyant with a bluntness that won’t quit, she often scares her customers away with the truth of what their futures hold. However, when love-hungry accountant Jeremy stumbles into her parlor with death in his imminent future, Maude tells a little white lie, triggering supernatural consequences and changing both of their destinies. In hilarious rom-com style, Fortune sweetly affirms the benefits of the unpredictability of life.

Premiere Sponsor: John Goering

WINNER! 2018 OBIE AWARD FOR PLAYWRITING “Pipeline confirms Dominique Morisseau's reputation as a playwright of piercing eloquence.” — New York Times

March 7 – April 4, 2020 REGIONAL PREMIERE DRAMA. 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. 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.

Premiere Sponsor: The Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile, Jr./U.S. Bank Foundation Artist Sponsor:

“Terrific...if this were a movie, there would be Oscar chatter.”

— Chicago Tribune

PHotoGraPh 51 BY

ANNA ZIEGLER

April 18 – May 16, 2020 REGIONAL PREMIERE DRAMA. London, 1952. Pioneering British biophysicist Rosalind Franklin’s DNA discovery leads to the Nobel Prize—not for her, but for three men: Francis Crick, James Dewey Watson, and Maurice Wilkins. Based on the true story and masterfully weaving the thriller-like twists and tensions in the competitive race to map the DNA molecule, this is a riveting and moving portrait of one of the greatest female scientists and the pivotal—yet often-overlooked— role she played in the biggest breakthrough of the 20th century.

“Though it touches on themes of friendship and art-making, this is mostly a comedy about aging.” — New York Times

May 30 – June 27, 2020 REGIONAL PREMIERE DRAMA/COMEDY. An impromptu behind-bars snapshot taken during a 1970s protest lockup sparks an eccentric, four-decade friendship.

Every year, photographer Danny and her friends reunite to take a new photo showcasing their changing selves. However, when Danny is offered a career retrospective, the ritual that has been the glue holding them together for 40 years may now also tear them apart. The images unearth secrets, prompting the women to question who they are in this new play by two-time Obie Award winner Susan Miller.

SPECIAL PERFORMANCE EVENT

“Entertaining...deliciously dry,” — Los Angeles Times

October 15 – 27, 2019 REGIONAL PREMIERE COMEDY. Meet Joe Marks, a graduating basketball star whose college scholarship is suddenly in jeopardy when his poorly-written, sexually explicit note to his girlfriend is confiscated during a final exam. Meet Miss Edwards, his jaded public high school English teacher, on her last day of teaching. With nothing to lose and resentment from years of disinterested students, she assigns Joe the task of turning the purloined letter into a polished, persuasive essay. This scintillating romp is a hilarious lesson for all in life, sex, and grammar.

Content advisory: contains explicit language and mature themes.

MORE TO LOVE ETC offers a variety of ways for audiences to engage with the plays, people, and process behind the work on our stages, including:

MEET THE ARTISTS SERIES Dialogues with actors following the second and third Thursday performances, facilitated by a member of the ETC Artistic Staff.

ETC ESSENTIALS SERIES Conversations with panelists, scholars, and community members that explore the themes and context of our productions before third Sunday matinee performances.

SENSORY-FRIENDLY PERFORMANCES Select performances offered for those with developmental disabilities and their families to enjoy the production with lighting and sound adjustments and other accommodations.

TEEN SCENE SUBSCRIPTIONS A subscription package on the second Sunday matinee for students ages 13-19, featuring script previews, pre-performance workshops, and a discussion and dinner following the shows.

STUDENT MATINEES Group sales are available for any of our public performances for grade schools, middle schools, high schools, home schools, universities, and colleges. School matinee dates are listed online.

ACCESSIBILITY OPTIONS ETC offers audio-described performances, ASL-interpreted performances, wheelchair accessible seating, large-print programs, assistive listening devices, and sensory sensitivity items such as noise-canceling headphones and fidgets.

NEW SUBSCRIPTION FEATURES HOLIDAY OPTION 6-show subscribers may now select between The Frog

Princess and Sex and Education as part of their package.

ONE AND DONE Subscribers may add on extra tickets to their subscription order and conveniently pay all together.

PAY NOW... AND LATER Split your subscription order into two equal payments when paying by credit card. Half of your grand total will be charged upon receipt and the other half at a later date.

STAGE

Our intimate 182-seat theatre means that regardless of where you sit, you'll enjoy a clear, unobstructed view of the stage and feel part of all the action!

TO SUBSCRIBE: (513) 421–3555 Download an order form: www.ensemblecincinnati.org

2019 –2020 SUBSCRIPTION PRICES 6-Show Packages

Save up to nearly 25% off single ticket prices with a 6-show subscription.

Weekend | Friday & Saturday; Sunday matinee

$254

Weekday | Tuesday, Wednesday, & Thursday

$242

Sunday Evening

$220

Preview Packages

Be among the first audiences to see our productions at a discount.

5-Show Preview (Excludes Frog Princess/Sex and Education option) Available for Tuesday and Saturday preview performances.

Student Packages

$ 164

Special rates exclusively for young audiences.

Proof of full-time student status required.

Student | Available any day of week

$ 125

Teen Scene

$100

Flexible Package

A convenient option if your schedule changes often or you want to attend just a few shows with a friend!

FlexPass (6 flexible tickets to use any time, any way)

$266

Additional handling fee applies. All plays, dates, packages, and prices are subject to change.

Top image: Amari Cheatom & Burgess Byrd in Skeleton Crew, 2019.

Back cover: Pamela Myers, Lisa DeRoberts, Justin McCombs, Carter Bratton, & Dale Hodges in Ripcord, 2019. Photos by Ryan Kurtz.

2019 –2020 SCHEDULE Andrew Maloney, Michael G. Bath, & Kenneth Early in Alice in Wonderland, 2018.

Photo by Ryan Kurtz.

PERFORMANCE

SHOWTIMES Previews Tue, Wed, Thu Evenings Fri & Sat Evenings Sun Evenings* Weekend Matinees

MAINSTAGE SHOWS 7:00 pm 7:30 pm 8:00 pm 7:00 pm 2:00 pm

evening performances of * Sunday The Frog Princess start at 6:00 pm.

All other evening performances of The Frog Princess start at 7:00 pm.

SPECIAL EVENTS Sex and Education October 12– 27, 2019 Expectations of Christmas December 16, 7:00 pm

Fun Home August 31 – September 28, 2019 The Frog Princess December 4, 2019 – January 4, 2020 Fortune January 18 – February 15, 2020 Pipeline March 7 – April 4, 2020 Photograph 51 April 18 – May 16, 2020 20th Century Blues May 30 – June 27, 2020

Tickets and seating are subject to availability at time of purchase. All ticket sales are final.

Tickets released prior to showtime are eligible for a tax credit.

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@ENSEMBLECINCY

LET’S THEATRE TOGETHER

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Season Funder:

1127 Vine Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 (513) 421-3555 www.ensemblecincinnati.org

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ENSEMBLE THEATRE

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Additional Support:

Fairy Godmother Sponsor:

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