Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park 2024 - Dial M / Mr. Parent

2024 – 25 SEASON

DIAL M FOR MURDER

Adapted by JEFFREY HATCHER

From the original by FREDERICK KNOTT

MR. PARENT

By MELINDA LOPEZ with MAURICE EMMANUEL PARENT

Conceived with MEGAN SANDBERG-ZAKIAN

Season presented by SCHUELER GROUP and THE VONTZ FAMILY

Moe and Jack’s Place – The Rouse Theatre

Rosenthal Shelterhouse Theatre

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

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

ARRASMITH/ARRASMITH

A NOTE FROM BLAKE

WELCOME BACK TO YOUR PLAYHOUSE IN THE PARK!

We’ve got a terrific season of plays and a world premiere musical that promise to entertain, enlighten and inspire. I hope this is the first of many trips you will make to our glorious new facility this season.

First up in Moe and Jack’s Place – The Rouse Theatre is a thriller. But not just any thriller – it’s one of the all-time greats! You may remember Dial M for Murder from the iconic Alfred Hitchcock film. This fast-paced and clever new stage version is adapted by veteran playwright

Jeffrey Hatcher, whose last play here at the Playhouse was another popular, edge-of-your-seat mystery: Sherlock Holmes and the Adventure of the Suicide Club. Our production is directed by Tatiana Pandiani, making her Playhouse debut with a stylish and playful staging of this suspenseful and newly vibrant classic.

In the Rosenthal Shelterhouse Theatre, we welcome Maurice Emmanuel Parent in his one-person show, Mr. Parent. You’re bound to enjoy his life story, as he balances his theatre career with a stint as a teacher in the public school system. Heartfelt, funny and thought-provoking, it’s the perfect theatrical event to kick things off in our most intimate space.

I encourage you to spread the word about our offerings and make your own plans now. Last season, six of our nine productions sold out by the end of their runs. Whether it’s the exciting new musical Rutka — starting its journey to Broadway right here at our theatre — or any of the rest, we look forward to seeing you again soon!

Best wishes for an engaging and entertaining theatre season.

Cheers!

Blake Robison

Osborn Family Producing Artistic Director

U.S. Bank strives to make a positive impact in the community. That’s why we support community events that bring us together for the greater good. When we work together, anything is possible.

U.S. Bank is proud to support Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park.

CINCINNATI PLAYHOUSE IN THE PARK

OSBORN FAMILY PRODUCING ARTISTIC DIRECTOR Blake Robison

MANAGING DIRECTOR Abby Marcus

IN ASSOCIATION WITH ALLEY THEATRE

DIAL M FOR MURDER

ADAPTED BY JEFFREY HATCHER

FROM THE ORIGINAL BY FREDERICK KNOTT

DIRECTOR Tatiana Pandiani

SET DESIGNER Marcelo Martínez García

COSTUME DESIGNER Rodrigo Muñoz

LIGHTING DESIGNER Yuki Nakase Link

ORIGINAL MUSIC/SOUND DESIGNER Mikaal Sulaiman

CASTING DIRECTOR Brandon Weinbrenner

AUG. 17 — SEPT. 15, 2024

MOE AND JACK’S PLACE — THE ROUSE THEATRE

Production Sponsor

Honorary Producer The Lemmerman Family

Artist Sponsors

Season presented by

Rouse Theatre Season Design Sponsor

DIAL M FOR MURDER

CAST

(In speaking order)

Margot Wendice Teresa Zimmermann*

Maxine Hadley Geena Quintos*

Tony Wendice Brandon Hearnsberger*

Lesgate Justin McCombs*

Inspector Hubbard Barry Mulholland*

Stage Manager Andrea L. Shell*

Assistant Manager/Stage Manager (Sept. 3 – 15) Shelby Scaffidi*

Assistant Manager (Aug. 27 – Sept. 15) Carolyn Fast*

Time: 1952

Location: The living room of the Wendice flat in London.

DIAL M FOR MURDER WILL BE PERFORMED WITH AN INTERMISSION.

*Member of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States. This production is made possible in part by a generous gift from the Greater Cincinnati Foundation.

ADDITIONAL PRODUCTION STAFF

Dialect Coach

Molly Wetzel

Fight Director/Intimacy Specialist Adam Noble

Assistant Lighting Designer Lucas Inman

Wardrobe Erin Donnelly

Rouse Theatre Light Board Operator Alec Schneider

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 SPONSORS

Dial M for Murder

DIAL M FOR MURDER

DON’T HANG UP: HITCHCOCK’S CLASSIC FILM CELEBRATES ITS 70 TH ANNIVERSARY

BY JOE HORINE

Most audiences are familiar with the name Dial M for Murder from Alfred Hitchcock’s film adaptation of Frederick Knott’s play, which arguably launched the greatest decade of filmmaking for cinema’s greatest director. Well-known classics including Rear Window, To Catch a Thief, The Man Who Knew Too Much, Vertigo, North by Northwest, Psycho and The Birds followed Dial M from “Hitch” in the next 10 years.

“The Master of Suspense” had adapted Patrick Hamilton’s play Rope five years earlier by attempting to make the stage drama appear on film as if it was all shot in a single take. The result was marginal at best.

Abandoning this “stage-toscreen” camera gimmick, he decided to make his (only) attempt at a 3D film with Dial M for Murder (though most audiences in 1954 saw it in regular “flat 2D” because so few theatres were equipped for 3D). Hitchcock avoided typical 3D “shock effects” like weapons thrusting out at the audience or objects falling into the camera lens, but it didn’t really make it a better film-watching experience. Dial M didn’t need it.

At a time when movies were actively competing with the growing popularity of television that kept audiences at home instead of going out to cinemas, the competitive attempt of 3D wasn’t working and fewer films were being released in 3D. Dial M for Murder was one of the last. In the following year, Hitchcock began winning “the TV battle” differently with his top-rated “Alfred Hitchcock Presents”

series. And with Dial M, he let his trademark suspenseful, emotionally appealing story drive audience reaction instead of a “gimmick.”

The film is shorter than the play, but the crispness of the dialogue and the tension of the narrative that he carried over from the play worked well. And many of the expected “Hitchcock touches” are there:

• An enigmatic beautiful blond character at the center of the drama (played here by Grace Kelly in the first of three films she made with Hitchcock).

• A MacGuffin – an object that is more critical to the characters than the audience.

• A tendency for the audiences to like and reluctantly root for the “bad guy.”

Alfred Hitchcock for “Dial M For Murder” by Sanford H. Roth (Warner Brothers, 1954).

Dial M created a challenge for Hitchcock’s signature cameo, as it was in his other films with limited space for him to appear, such as Lifeboat where he appears in a newspaper weight-reduction ad or Rear Window where he shows up in one of the courtyard apartments winding a clock. Another stage-to-screen challenge involved Hitchcock taking advantage of recognizable locations like Mount Rushmore, the Golden Gate Bridge and the Statue of Liberty in his films. While the space limitations of a stage play like Dial M negated

DIAL M FOR MURDER

including such notable landmarks, it also increased a sense of claustrophobia that Hitchcock took advantage of in the film.

Taking place almost entirely in the Wendice apartment, Dial M for Murder was a real test for the cameo appearance. Hitchcock tackled this by placing himself in a framed wall photo of a college dinner along with two of the main on-stage characters involved in the intrigue. The inclusion almost always generated a chuckle from audiences, who by this time in his career knew they’d see Hitch somewhere and were amused by his creativity in Dial M

In a landmark year for movies that included On the Waterfront, The Caine Mutiny as well as Hitchcock’s own Rear Window, Dial M for Murder had the 14th highest box office and ranks fifth in Internet Movie Database’s most popular films of 1954. While a remake titled A Perfect Murder in 1998 with Michael Douglas and Gwyneth Paltrow fell short, Hitchcock’s version remains a fan favorite, and it is a special treat for audiences of both stage and screen in Cincinnati to have a chance to see both the play and the movie during the 70th Anniversary of the film’s release.

Joe Horine is a film historian, professor and screenwriter. He has taught film, history and communications at the University of Cincinnati and has worked with multiple directors as a screenwriter including Brian De Palma. He will host film screenings of the movie on Aug. 19, 21 and 26. Visit cincyplay.com for information.

Dial M for Murder Vintage 1950’s Movie Cinema Poster; Dial M For Murder directed by Alfred Hitchcock 1954, Warner Bros., U.S.; One-sheet poster by Bill Gold starring Ray Milland, Grace Kelly, Robert Cummings, John Williams, Patrick Allen, Robin Hughes, Martin Sam Milner.

BRANDON

HEARNSBERGER (HE/HIM)- TONY WENDICE

CINCINNATI PLAYHOUSE IN THE PARK: Debut. REGIONAL THEATRE: Dial M for Murder; world premieres of Lend Me a Soprano, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, Cowboy Bob, Ken Ludwig’s Treasure Island; Rob Melrose’s adaptations of The Servant of Two Masters and A Christmas Carol; Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Jersey Lily; The Farnsworth Invention; The Lieutenant of Inishmore; Othello; Mrs. Warren’s Profession; Cyrano de Bergerac; The Unexpected Guest; Journey’s End; A Moon for the Misbegotten; and Hamlet (Alley Theatre). Also, Much Ado About Nothing (A Noise Within Theatre); The Thanksgiving Play and Gloria (4th Wall Theatre Company); The Lover (Dallas Theater Center); The Tempest, Macbeth, The Winter’s Tale, The Taming of the Shrew, Titus Andronicus, and As You Like It (Houston Shakespeare Festival). VIDEO GAMES: Starfield, Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond, Fire Emblem Heroes, Final Fantasy, Wasteland 3, F.I.S.T., Chivalry 2, Star Ocean, Shatterline, and Elder Scrolls Online. ANIME: Ninja Kamui, Helck, Made in Abyss, I’m Quitting Heroing, Devil May Cry, Urusei Yatsura, Call of the Night, and Tokyo Majin. EDUCATION: BA from University of Houston. WEBSITE: brandonhearnsberger.com. INSTAGRAM: @brandonhearnsberger.

JUSTIN McCOMBS (HE/HIM)- LESGATE

CINCINNATI PLAYHOUSE IN THE PARK: Debut. CINCINNATI: Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, Ensemble Theatre, Know Theatre of Cincinnati and New Stage Collective. REGIONAL THEATRE: Human Race Theatre Company (Dayton, Ohio), Theatre J (Washington, DC), Mounds Theater (St. Paul, Minn.), Old Creamery Theater (Amana, Iowa). FILM: Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile. WEBSITE: justin-mccombs.com. INSTAGRAM: @mccombsjustin.

BARRY MULHOLLAND - INSPECTOR HUBBARD

CINCINNATI PLAYHOUSE IN THE PARK: Burkie, Pride and Prejudice, To Kill a Mockingbird and Treasure Island . OFF-BROADWAY: Ghost Sonata , Danton’s Death, Wild Oats, Balloon (Classic Stage Company), and Life in The Trees (Laurie Beechman Theatre). CINCINNATI: Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, Ensemble Theatre and Cincinnati Pops at Music Hall. REGIONAL THEATRE: Long Wharf Theatre, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, The Shakespeare Theatre, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Capital Repertory Theater, Delaware Theatre Company, Human Race Theatre, Clarence Brown Theatre, Merrimack Repertory Theatre, A Contemporary Theatre and Intiman Theatre. INTERNATIONAL: Edinburgh Fringe Festival. FILM/TELEVISION: The Royal Romance of Charles and Diana; Surviving Compton: Dre, Suge, & Michel’le; Loving;Dark Waters; A Kind of Murder; Curvature; The A-Frame; and Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile. PLAYWRIGHT: Existential Therapy (Love Creek Theatre, New York) and Barnes & Noble Conquer the World (Shakespeare & Company). WEBSITE: Barrymulholland.com.

GEENA QUINTOS (SHE/HER)- MAXINE HADLEY

BROADWAY: Miss Saigon and Here Lies Love. OFF-BROADWAY: Good Enemy (Audible), Soft Power (Public Theater) and Emojiland (Duke 42). REGIONAL THEATRE: Kiss My Aztec! (Hartford Stage) and Undesirables (Kennedy Center).

NATIONAL TOURS: A Chorus Line and Cambodian Rock Band. CAST RECORDING: Soft Power (Grammy Nominee). FILM/TELEVISION: Elsbeth (Paramount+).

DIAL M FOR MURDER

TERESA ZIMMERMANN (SHE/HER) - MARGOT WENDICE

REGIONAL THEATRE: Alley Theatre: Amerikin (as Michelle, Alley All New Festival and World Premiere), Michael Wilson’s A Christmas Carol (as Belle, Ensemble and Swing) and Survivors: an Alamo Play (Susanna Dickinson, Alley All New Festival). Theatre Under the Stars: Rent (as Maureen Johnson), Rock of Ages (as Regina), Jerome Robbins Broadway (as Ma, Golde and Elektra) and Sweeney Todd (Ensemble and Lovett Understudy). Stages: Roe (as Norma McCorvey and Jane Roe), Stages Studio Session (as Self), Great American Trailer Park Musical (as Pickles) and Veronica’s Room (as Girl). WEBSITE: TeresaZ.net. INSTAGRAM: @Tereereeree.

FREDERICK KNOTT - PLAYWRIGHT

Frederick Knott (1916–2002) was a British playwright renowned for his gripping suspense thrillers. He crafted just three plays in his career, all of which were thrillers: Dial M for Murder (1952), Write Me a Murder (1961) and Wait Until Dark (1966). Dial M for Murder was rejected by several theatre producers until the BBC made it a television series in 1952. A subsequent stage production in London led to the play being staged on Broadway by the end of that same year, running for 16 months. The Alfred Hitchcock film premiered in 1954. Knott died in New York City in 2002.

JEFFREY HATCHER - ADAPTER

Jeffrey Hatcher’s plays have been produced on Broadway, off-Broadway, and in theatres around the world. BROADWAY: Never Gonna Dance (book). OFF-BROADWAY: Three Viewings and A Picasso at Manhattan Theatre Club; The Government Inspector and The Alchemist at Red Bull; Scotland Road and The Turn of the Screw at Primary Stages; Lucky Duck (book w/Bill Russell) at the New Victory; Tuesdays with Morrie (with Mitch Albom) at The Minetta Lane and Sea Dog (starring Len Cariou). OTHER THEATERS: The Guthrie, the Geffen, Old Globe, Yale Rep, Seattle Rep, Huntington, South Coast Rep, Arizona Theater Company, Denver Center, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Milwaukee Rep, Westport Playhouse, Actors Theater of Louisville, and more.

TATIANA PANDIANI - DIRECTOR

CINCINNATI PLAYHOUSE IN THE PARK: Debut. BROADWAY: What the Constitution Means to Me (Associate Director, Resident Director First National Tour). OFF-BROADWAY: someone spectacular and FISH (Signature Theatre) and Nanas (IATI Theater and Teatro LATEA). REGIONAL THEATRE: Dallas Theatre Center, Alley Theatre, La Jolla Playhouse, Cleveland Play House, Miami New Drama and Urbanite Theatre. CREATOR: AZUL (bilingual musical – Jonathan Larson Winner, NAMT, O’Neill, Goodspeed). AWARDS: Lucille Lortel Alcove commission (Hinge Baby); Film in Focus and New York Film Academy Awards (How to Fix Grief). NEW PLAY DEVELOPMENT: La Jolla Playhouse, Milwaukee Rep, Miami New Drama, Westport Country Playhouse, and Cleveland Play House. FELLOWSHIPS: New York Theatre Workshop 2050, National Director Fellowship, Kennedy Center, NNPN. EDUCATION: MFA from Columbia University. WEBSITES: www.tatianapandiani.com and www.azulthemusical.com. SOCIAL MEDIA: @tatianapandianii.

MARCELO MARTÍNEZ

GARCÍA (HE/HIM) - SET DESIGNER

CINCINNATI PLAYHOUSE IN THE PARK: Debut. OFF-BROADWAY: Manahatta (The Public Theater). REGIONAL THEATRE: Alley Theatre, Yale Repertory Theatre and TheaterWorks Hartford. EDUCATION: MFA from Yale School of Drama. WEBSITE: marcelomg.com. INSTAGRAM: @marcelomgdesigns.

RODRIGO

MUÑOZ (HE/HIM) - COSTUME DESIGNER

CINCINNATI PLAYHOUSE IN THE PARK: Debut. OFF-BROADWAY: Sally & Tom, Plays for the Plague Year (The Public Theater); What Became of Us (Atlantic Theatre); Bernarda’s Daughters (The New Group); Sorry for Your Loss (Minetta Lane Theatre); RENT (Paper Mill Playhouse); Notes From Now (Prospect Theater Company); This Space Between Us (Theater Row); Preparedness (Bushwick Starr); Volpone; and The Revenger’s Tragedy (Red Bull Theater). REGIONAL THEATRE: Mother Road (Berkeley Rep); The Bluest Eye (Huntington Theatre); Red Velvet (Shakespeare Theatre Company); Torera (Alley Theatre); Cabaret (Barrington Stage Company); Somewhere (Geva Theatre); How to Make an American Son (Arizona Theatre Company); Mushroom (People’s Light); Fall of the House of Usher (Boston Lyric Opera); Bad Dates (Portland Stage); and Jazz Singer (Abrons Arts Center). WEBSITE: rodrigomunozdesign.com.

YUKI NAKASE LINK (SHE/HER) - LIGHTING DESIGNER

CINCINNATI PLAYHOUSE IN THE PARK: Debut. CINCINNATI: Madame Butterfly (Cincinnati Opera). REGIONAL THEATRE: Alley Theatre, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Dallas Theater Center, Miami New Drama, Shakespeare Theatre Company and Two River Theater. OFF-BROADWAY: Baryshnikov Arts Center, Brooklyn Academy of Music, Chocolate Factory Theater, La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club, New World Stages, New York Live Arts, SoHo Playhouse, Target Margin Theater and Theatre Row. OPERA: Canadian Opera Company, David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Detroit Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Pittsburgh Opera, San Francisco Opera, Santa Fe Opera and Utah Opera. EDUCATION: MFA from New York University. WEBSITE: yukinlink.com.

MIKAAL SULAIMAN (HE/HIM) - ORIGINAL MUSIC/SOUND DESIGNER

BROADWAY: Enemy of the People , Doubt , The Thanksgiving Play , Fat Ham , Death of a Salesman, Cost of Living, Macbeth and Thoughts of a Colored Man. OFF-BROADWAY: Sabbath’s Theatre (New Group); The Half-God of Rainfall, On Sugarland and Sanctuary City (New York Theatre Workshop); Primary Trust (Roundabout Theatre); Fairview (Soho Rep) and Underground Railroad Game (Ars Nova). AFFILIATION/AWARDS: Tony Award nomination, Drama Desk nomination, Obie Awards, Creative Capital Award, Henry Hewes Award and CTG Sherwood Award. WEBSITE: mikaal.com.

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.

DIAL M FOR MURDER

MOLLY WETZEL (SHE/HER) - DIALECT COACH

CINCINNATI PLAYHOUSE IN THE PARK: Debut. REGIONAL THEATRE: Alley Theatre, Stages Repertory Theatre, AD Players, Rec Room Arts and West End Productions. EDUCATION: MFA from the University of Houston’s Professional Actor Training Program. INSTAGRAM: @mollydoesdialects.

ADAM NOBLE (HE/HIM) - FIGHT DIRECTOR/INTIMACY SPECIALIST

CINCINNATI PLAYHOUSE IN THE PARK: Debut. REGIONAL THEATRE: Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Alley Theatre, New York Shakespeare Festival/ Delacorte Theater, Seattle Opera, Houston Shakespeare Festival, Lincoln Center Director’s Lab, Houston Grand Opera, Indiana Repertory Theatre, Stages Repertory Theatre, Opera Carolina, Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival and many more.

FILM/TELEVISION: Ecco, Guardian Angels, Deaf Killer, Student 7, Saint Seiya: Knights of the Zodiac and Haikyuu!! The Dumpster Battle. EDUCATION: MFA from the University of Washington and BA from the University of California at Berkeley. AFFILIATIONS/AWARDS: Founding Artistic Director of the Dynamic Presence Project; nationally recognized intimacy educator for “The Noble Method”; Head of MFA Acting at the University of Houston; Teaching Excellence Award (University of Houston); Trustee’s Teaching Award (Indiana University); recognized Intimacy Director with Intimacy Directors and Coordinators; Fight Director and Certified Teacher with the Society of American Fight Directors; member of Actors Equity Association; and an associate member of Stage Directors and Choreographers.

ANDREA L. SHELL (SHE/HER) - STAGE MANAGER

CINCINNATI PLAYHOUSE IN THE PARK: More than 100 productions, including 24 world premieres. FAVORITES: A Christmas Carol (2006-2021), Vietgone; 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; 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.

SHELBY SCAFFIDI (SHE/HER) - ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER/ STAGE MANAGER

CINCINNATI PLAYHOUSE IN THE PARK: Rooted, Origin Story, A Christmas Carol and Vietgone. 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.

DIAL M FOR MURDER

CAROLYN FAST (SHE/HER)- ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER

CINCINNATI PLAYHOUSE IN THE PARK: A Christmas Carol (Wardrobe). CINCINNATI: Cincinnati Shakespeare Company (Resident Stage Manager for 35 productions). REGIONAL THEATRE: The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, The Human Race Theatre Company, Northern Stage, Peterborough Players, Utah Shakespeare Festival, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Quintessence Theatre Group and Hope Repertory Theatre. AFFILIATIONS: Central Region AtLarge Councilor for Actors’ Equity Association.

ALLEY THEATRE - CO-PRODUCER

Alley Theatre, one of America’s leading nonprofit theatres, is a nationally recognized performing arts company led by Artistic Director Rob Melrose and Managing Director Dean R. Gladden. The Alley is committed to developing and producing theatre that is as diverse as the Houston community. The Alley produces up to 11 plays and nearly 400 performances each season, ranging from the best current work and classic plays to new plays by contemporary writers. Home to a full-time resident company of actors and expert artisans in all theatre crafts, the Alley engages theatre artists of every discipline — actors, directors, designers, composers, playwrights — who work on individual productions throughout each season as visiting artists. Alley Theatre performs at the Meredith J. Long Theatre Center which is comprised of two state-of-the-art theatres: the 774-seat Hubbard Theatre and the 296-seat Neuhaus Theatre. The Alley reaches over 200,000 people each year through its performance, education, and community engagement programs.

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 and signed performances for those with hearing impairments are offered for designated performances in Moe and Jack’s Place – The Rouse Theatre. For the schedule, visit cincyplay.com. Signers and audio describers for the season are Dawn Caudill, Mark DeWitt, Montez Greer and Mike Snyder.

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

James C. Leonard President Nirvani Head Vice President

TRUSTEES

Ronald T. Bates

MC Brennan

Julie A. Broadwell

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

EMERITUS

Otto M. Budig, Jr.

Chuck Carothers

David Herriman

Andrew MacAoidh Jergens

Margo K. Ross Secretary James P. Conway, Jr. Treasurer

Vitaly Goldfeder

Ken Goldhoff

Chandra Gravely

Linda Greenberg

Nirvani Head

Bernita McCann Hightower

Diane S. Jordan

Bet Koeninger

Terry Lemmerman

James C. Leonard

Stephen Lett

Jacqueline M. Mack

Morse Johnson

Lois Rosenthal

Jack Rouse

Howard Tomb

Kevin N. McMurray

Danute Miskinis

Roy A. Mitchell

Samuel Moore, Jr.

Dean A. Moulas

Patti Myers

Sara Phillips

Audra Rance

Robert Reifsnyder

Debbie White

Richardson

Margo K. Ross

KJ Sanchez

Digi France Schueler

Chair

Digi France Schueler

Jerry T. Shroat

Jovoni Trollinger

Julia Wesselkamper

Barbara M. Weyand

Susan Whitman

Ronna K. Willis

Susan B. Zaunbrecher

Albert Vontz, Jr. Al 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 July 10, 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

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

Julia Okenfuss

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

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.

Jerome A. Fey and Robert J. Schlafle

Stona Fitch

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 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

PROGRAM CO-CHAIRS

Catharina Toltzis

Ronna K. Willis

GRANDE DAMES

Amelia Crutcher

Kelly M. Dehan

Vickie Buyniski Gluckman

Linda Greenberg

Karlee L. Hilliard

Danute Miskinis

Linda Muth

Rosemary Schlachter

Catharina Toltzis

Ronna K. Willis

DIVAS

Randal S. Bloch

Susan Cummings

Louise Head

Susan Ingmire

Diane S. Jordan

Margo Kirstein

Patti Myers

Karen Neyer

Jennifer Powell

Betty Prince

Digi France Schueler

Maureen Vignola

Patricia J. Wagner

STARLETS

Anonymous

Nancy Aichholz

Janice Amatulli

Barbara Banks

Molly R. Barber

Becky Beckstedt

Sue K. Blaney

Linda D. Brink

Jacklyn Bryson

Carol Campbell

Mary Ellen Cody

Marjorie Compton

Judy S. Dalambakis

Debora Del Valle

Kathryn Dierckes

Marilyn Duke

Kay Eby

Joyce Elkus

Mary Anne Frey

Nancy Gaffney

Barbara Hahn

Margo Hall

Nirvani Head

Patti Heldman

Judy Tondi Herd

Meg Hilmer

Linda R. Holthaus

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

2024-25 LEADING LADIES

Patricia Larsen

Lynn P. Larson

Terry Lemmerman

Nancy Lippincott

Sally A. Lloyd

Jackie Mack

Laurel Markley

Carolyn Ott Martin

Nancy C. Martin

Kathy McCord

Joann Mead

Kathy Merchant

Audrey E. K. Miller

Mary G. Moran

Jeannie Niebuhr

Debbie Pendl

MaryAnn Pietromonaco

Jane Portman

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

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

When amazing women come together, great things happen! Thank you to these 2024-25 season Leading Ladies. This list recognizes members as of July 10, 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 four exciting events. Meet the incredible professionals who bring worldclass theatre to life, and attend a dress rehearsal of The Book Club Play — sponsored by the Leading Ladies!

Susie Tweddell

Ellen G. van der Horst

Nancy A. Virgulak

Lea A. Ward

Judy Wells

Laani A. Wuest

Linda Elam Young

Mary Beth Young

Sue Zimmerman

Bold indicates Steering Committee Members

MC & TOM BRENNAN

LINDA & GARY GREENBERG and THE LEMMERMAN FAMILY present

RUTKA: A NEW MUSICAL

Based on the diary of RUTKA LASKIER , as published in Rutka’s Notebook: A Voice from the Holocaust

Music and Lyrics By JOCELYN MACKENZIE AND JEREMY LLOYD-STYLES

Book By NEENA BEBER

MOE AND JACK’S PLACE – THE ROUSE THEATRE

OCT. 13 – NOV. 10, 2024

A powerful new indie-rock musical about teens finding hope, resilience and resistance, while grappling with life in war-torn Poland, 1943. Rutka makes its world premiere in Cincinnati, launching this unforgettable true story on its path to Broadway.

Sponsored by The Jewish Foundation of Cincinnati 24 | 2024–2025

THE SECOND CITY

65 TH

ANNIVERSARY SHOW

ROSENTHAL SHELTERHOUSE THEATRE OCT. 24 – DEC. 22, 2024

Having sold out with every outing at the Playhouse, The Second City is back! Celebrate 65 years of legendary laughs with some all-time favorite songs, sketches and characters written by some of The Second City’s most illustrious alumni. With material handpicked from their iconic comedy archive, see for yourself why The Second City continues to be the world’s most influential name in comedy for 65 years and counting.

Sponsored by Dick and Sandy Manteuffel

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

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.

CINCINNATI PLAYHOUSE IN THE PARK

OSBORN FAMILY PRODUCING ARTISTIC DIRECTOR Blake Robison

MANAGING DIRECTOR Abby Marcus

MR. PARENT

BY MELINDA LOPEZ WITH MAURICE EMMANUEL PARENT

CONCEIVED WITH AND DIRECTED BY MEGAN SANDBERG-ZAKIAN

DIRECTOR Megan Sandberg-Zakian

SET DESIGNER Cristina Todesco

COSTUME DESIGNER Yao Chen

LIGHTING DESIGNER Karen Perlow

ORIGINAL MUSIC/SOUND DESIGNER Arshan Gailus

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR Christine Hamel

SEPT. 7 — OCT. 6, 2024

ROSENTHAL SHELTERHOUSE THEATRE

Production Sponsor Digi & Mike Schueler

Design Sponsor Mark and Rosemary Schlachter

Artist Sponsor

Season presented by The Vontz Family

Mr. Parent is produced by special arrangement with the Playwright and Harden Curtis Kirsten Riley Agency, attn. Mary Harden, 214 W 29th Street, Suite 1203 New York, NY 10001.

Mr. Parent was developed through the Breaking Ground Festival supported by the Stanford Calderwood Fund for New American Plays at The Huntington in Boston in April 2019, received a developmental virtual production with TheaterWorks Hartford in March 2021, and had its world premiere at the Lyric Stage Company in Boston in January 2022. The Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park production is based on the Fall 2023 production at Boston Playwrights’ Theatre and Geva Theatre Center.

Selections from Angels in America by Tony Kushner, Bootycandy by Robert O’Hara, and Snow Queen by Kirsten Brandt, Haddon Kime, and Rick Lombardo used by permission from each of the incredible playwrights.

MR. PARENT

CAST

Mr. Parent Maurice Emmanuel Parent*

Stage Manager (Aug. 27 – 31)

Brandon T. Holmes*

Stage Manager (Aug. 30 – Oct. 6) Brooke Redler*

MR.PARENT WILL BE PERFORMED WITHOUT AN INTERMISSION.

*Member of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States. This production is made possible in part by a generous gift from the Greater Cincinnati Foundation.

ADDITIONAL PRODUCTION STAFF

Assistant Set Designer

Gaby Trice Cincinnati Education Consultant Jane Simon Production Assistant Maggie Ballard

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

Mr. Parent

MAURICE EMMANUEL PARENT (HE/HIM) - MR. PARENT/ PLAYWRIGHT

CINCINNATI PLAYHOUSE IN THE PARK: Debut. REGIONAL THEATRE: Geva Theatre, Huntington Theatre Company, Barrington Stage Company, Northern Stage, Fulton Theatre, Commonwealth Shakespeare Company, SpeakEasy Stage Company, Lyric Stage, New Repertory Theatre and Central Square Theater. FILM/ TELEVISION: Kevin Can F**K Himself, Castle Rock and Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody. AFFILIATIONS/AWARDS: Three-time Elliot Norton Award Winner; Resident Company Member of Actors’ Shakespeare Project; Co-Producing Artistic Director, Front Porch Arts Collective; Professor of the Practice, Tufts Department of Theatre, Dance and Performance Studies. INSTAGRAM: @MauriceEparent.

MELINDA LOPEZ (SHE/HER) - PLAYWRIGHT

CINCINNATI PLAYHOUSE IN THE PARK: Debut. REGIONAL THEATRE: Mr. Parent (Lyric Stage Boston, Geva Theatre and Boston Playwrights’ Theatre), Stir (The Old Globe), Mala (ArtsEmerson, Huntington Theatre Company, Guthrie Theatre, The Old Globe, Audible – available in Spanish and English), Yerma (adaptation, Huntington Theatre), Sonia Flew (Huntington Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre and many others). AFFILIATIONS/AWARDS: 2019 Elliot Norton Award for Outstanding Achievement, recognizing her 20-year career as a playwright, performer and educator; 2019 Massachusetts Cultural Council Award in Dramatic Writing (as well as 2004 and 2013); Mellon Foundation’s National Playwrights Residency Program (Huntington Theatre); Professor of the Practice at Northeastern University; and MFA Playwriting faculty at Boston University. EDUCATION: Dartmouth College and Boston University. Melinda also performs on stage, radio and film. WEBSITE: www.melindalopez.com.

MEGAN SANDBERG-ZAKIAN (SHE/HER) - DIRECTOR

CINCINNATI PLAYHOUSE IN THE PARK: Debut. OFF-BROADWAY: Nat Turner in Jerusalem (New York Theatre Workshop). REGIONAL THEATRE: Arena Stage, Cal Shakes, Commonwealth Shakespeare Company, Huntington Theatre Company, Geva Theatre, Merrimack Repertory Theatre, Lyric Stage and Providence Black Repertory Company. EDUCATION: MFA from Goddard College. AFFILIATIONS: Artistic Director of Boston Playwrights’ Theatre, the author of There Must Be Happy Endings: On a Theater of Optimism and Honesty (The 3rd Thing Press) and proud SDC member. WEBSITE: megansz.com.

CRISTINA TODESCO (SHE/HER) - SET DESIGNER

CINCINNATI PLAYHOUSE IN THE PARK: Debut. REGIONAL THEATRE: Actors Shakespeare Company, Boston Playwright’s Theatre, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Capital Repertory Theatre, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Commonwealth Shakespeare Company, Company One, Geva Theatre, Huntington Theater Company, Kitchen Theatre Company, Lyric Stage Boston, Merrimack Repertory Theatre, New England Conservatory, Olney Theatre Center, Shakespeare & Company, Speakeasy Stage Company, Summer Play Festival, Trinity Repertory Company, Williamstown Theatre Festival, among many more. FILM/TELEVISION: Black Mass and Spirited. EDUCATION: MFA from Boston University School for the Arts. TEACHING: Boston University School of Theater. AFFILIATIONS/AWARDS: Member of USA 829; four-time recipient of the Elliot Norton Award and

one IRNE Award for “Outstanding Design;” board member and founding artist tenant of Humphreys Street Studios Artist Collective, one of the first majority artist-owned and operated affordable artist workspace communities in perpetuity in the City of Boston; and founding member of #artstayhere, an organization dedicated to helping prevent artist displacement. WEBSITE: cristinatodesco.com.

YAO CHEN (SHE/HER) - COSTUME DESIGNER

CINCINNATI PLAYHOUSE IN THE PARK: Debut. INTERNATIONAL: Mozart l’opera rock (Seven Ages, Ltd and Beijing) and Amadeus (Espresso Theatre, San Jose, Costa Rica). REGIONAL THEATRE: Little Prince (Seattle Children’s Theatre); A Midwinter Night’s Dream, Merry Wives of Windsor and Titus Andronicus (Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey); The Music Man (Berkshire Theatre Group); Radio Golf (Trinity Repertory Company); Glass Menagerie, Folks at Home, Paper Dream of Harry Chin, Diary of Ann Frank and The House that Jack Built (Indiana Repertory Theatre); Until the Flood, Holy Fudge, Macbeth and The Letter from Home (Merrimack Repertory Theatre); CATS (Utah Opera and Musical Festival); Elephant and Piggie’s “We are in a Play!” (Children’s Theatre of Charlotte); Emily Song and the Queen of the Night (First Stage); Babel and Ushuaia Blue (Contemporary American Theater Festival); Skippyjon Jones, Diary of Worms, Nancy Drew and Her Biggest Case Ever, Pete the Cat (Orlando Family Stage); Antony and Cleopatra, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (Orlando Shakespeare Theatre); Miss You like Hell (TheatreSquared); and other productions at Lyric Stage Company of Boston, Boston Playwrights’ Theatre and Geva Theatre. AFFILIATIONS: Member of USA 829. WEBSITE: www.yao-chen.com.

KAREN PERLOW (SHE/HER) - LIGHTING DESIGNER

CINCINNATI PLAYHOUSE IN THE PARK: Debut. REGIONAL THEATRE: Shakespeare & Company, Geva Theatre, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Merrimack Repertory Theatre, Commonwealth Shakespeare Company, SpeakEasy Stage Company, Lyric Stage Company of Boston, Actors’ Shakespeare Project, Boston Playwrights’ Theatre, Barnstormers Theater, Wheelock Family Theatre, Central Square Theater, New Repertory Theatre, Gloucester Stage Company and Greater Boston Stage Company. AFFILIATIONS/AWARDS: Independent Reviewers of New England: “Best Lighting Design” and USA 829 Union Member.

ARSHAN GAILUS (THEY/THEM)- ORIGINAL MUSIC/SOUND DESIGNER

CINCINNATI PLAYHOUSE IN THE PARK: Debut. REGIONAL THEATRE: Shakespeare & Company, ArtsEmerson, The Old Globe, California Shakespeare Theater, Huntington Theatre Company, Capital Repertory Theatre, Contemporary American Theater Festival, Commonwealth Shakespeare Company, Lyric Stage Company of Boston, Actors’ Shakespeare Project, SpeakEasy Stage Company and Company One. EDUCATION: MFA in Interdisciplinary Arts from Goddard College and BS in Music from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. WEBSITE: arshangailus.com.

CHRISTINE HAMEL (SHE/HER) - ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR

CINCINNATI PLAYHOUSE IN THE PARK: Debut. BROADWAY: Fish in the Dark (voice coach). OFF-BROADWAY: The Possibilities, After-Dinner Joke and Brecht on Brecht (PTP/NYC). REGIONAL THEATRE: Olney Theatre Center, Geva Theatre, Huntington Theatre Company, Merrimack Repertory Theatre, SpeakEasy Stage

Company, New Repertory Theatre, Lyric Stage Boston, Boston Playwrights’ Theatre, North Shore Music Theatre, Actors’ Shakespeare Project, Greater Boston Stage Company, Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts, Nora Theatre Company, Underground Railway Theater, Vineyard Playhouse and Wellesley Repertory Theatre. Specializes in devising and directing solo work, including Ibrahim Miari’s In Between, Leahy Ardon’s Conflict Zone and Antonia Lassar’s God Box. AWARDS: Granada Artist Fellowship Award at UC Davis to create the new work Alone/Together. EDUCATION: MFA from Boston University. AFFILIATIONS: Assistant Professor of Voice and Acting, Boston University; member of Actors’ Equity; VASTA (Voice and Speech Trainers Association); and MICHA (Michael Chekhov Association). CO-AUTHOR: Sounding Bodies: Identity, Injustice, and the Voice (Bloomsbury/ Methuen). WEBSITE: www.christinehamel.info.

BROOKE REDLER (SHE/HER)- STAGE MANAGER

CINCINNATI PLAYHOUSE IN THE PARK: 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. OFFBROADWAY: 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 Ameria Shakespeare Festival. OTHER OPERA: Opera Long Beach and Santa Fe Opera. AFFILIATIONS: Lead Producer of the Over the Rhine International Film Festival.

BRANDON T. HOLMES (HE/HIM)- 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.

MARIAN SPENCER: A TRAILBLAZER FOR SCHOOL DESEGREGATION

Mr. Parent sheds light on the inequitable systems within public schools that affect students all over the country. Issues like racial isolation, the underfunding of urban schools and lack of opportunities for a standard education have resulted in organizations such as the NAACP taking action. One woman in particular, University of Cincinnati Alumna and civil rights champion Marian Spencer propelled the fight for equality in Cincinnati Public Schools and continuously shattered glass ceilings in the fight for desegregation for Cincinnati.

Spencer was also involved in the struggle to desegregate Cincinnati’s Coney Island Amusement Park and was the first African American woman elected to Cincinnati’s City Council. She was involved with numerous organizations including the NAACP, Women’s City Club of Greater Cincinnati and Housing Opportunities Made Equal. She also served on the Cincinnati Public School Board. Spencer passed away in 2019.

Take a closer look at Spencer’s efforts toward school desegregation in this article by Sam Whittaker of the University of Cincinnati Archives and Rare Books Library.

The State of Ohio repealed its so called “Black Codes” mandating legal segregation in 1887. However, de facto segregation remained common throughout the State and still persists in many of Ohio’s cities today. Racial isolation in education often results from economic segregation of African Americans in low income neighborhoods or “white flight” to suburban areas. Other times, school districts consciously and sinisterly draw arbitrary lines between white and black neighborhoods in an effort to intentionally separate the races. Cincinnati struggled with racial isolation and segregation in its city school

Marian Spencer

district well into the twentieth century. In 1977, eighty percent of Cincinnati’s schools failed to meet the integration goals laid out by the United States Civil Rights Commission.

Marian Spencer decided that she needed to take action and help lead the effort to achieve educational equity in Cincinnati. Spencer would work for decades, beginning in the early 1970s, to integrate Cincinnati schools, reduce racial isolation, and foster diversity and inclusion in the Queen City. In 1973, Spencer ran for a seat on the Board of Education of Cincinnati. Though unsuccessful in her campaign, she made important contacts in education, formulated her ideas and goals for the city, and strongly advocated for a more equitable school system. Spencer then became the Chairperson of the Education Committee for the Cincinnati NAACP in 1974, a position that she would hold for twenty years. The NAACP

of Cincinnati had already been fighting for school desegregation efforts in Cincinnati for decades, filing lawsuits on behalf of pupils in segregated schools, advocating on behalf of black teachers for fairness in hiring practices and treatment once employed, and listening to the complaints of parents and students regarding punishments or conditions in the schools. Spencer continued these practices, proving herself a strong advocate for the African American community when it came to a variety of educational matters. She often spoke at local events during this time. For example, in 1978 she gave a speech titled “Desegregation in the Schools” at the Presbyterian Church in the neighborhood of Wyoming.

Spencer undertook the most important case in the fight for school desegregation in Cincinnati: Mona Bronson et al. v. Board of Education of the City School District of the City of Cincinnati in 1974 as NAACP Education Committee Chairperson. Later known as simply the Bronson case, Spencer and the NAACP organized the plaintiffs and brought suit

against the school board on their behalf. The position of the NAACP was that Cincinnati Public Schools operated as racially segregated institutions in violation of the fourteenth amendment of the United States. In 1983 and into 1984, Judge David Porter of the U.S. District Court of Southern Ohio and Warner Patterson of the Department of Justice helped the plaintiffs and Cincinnati School Board come to an agreement. The parties agreed to specific goals in lowering the “Taeuber Index,” a number that measures racial isolation within schools. The district would primarily achieve its goals through alternative school programs. The alternative programs sought to provide students with specialized training and experiences, such as fine arts or technology, that would attract a diverse pool of students voluntarily and facilitate racial mixing. Further, it was agreed that, if the alternative programs failed to sufficiently desegregate schools, the court could order more forceful methods such as increased busing or the redrawing of districts in seven years.

In order to implement and promote the Bronson case settlement agreement, the Board of Education formed a Community Wide Task Force in 1986. The task force consisted of members appointed by the Board and by community organizations, and the NAACP of Cincinnati decided to appoint Spencer to the task force. The Community Wide Task Force sought to “improve the racial balance in schools in the Cincinnati district” and “secure the widest

possible support throughout the community for fair and effective performance” of the settlement. The task force recommended many alternative programs and promoted diverse enrollment in these specialized courses as a primary means to decrease segregation in the city. For example, Hughes High School in the Clifton neighborhood was recommended to become math and science focused while Woodward High School was to focus on business training. Further, they recommended “pairing” or “clustering” African American schools that were racially isolated with nearby white schools that were similarly isolated. For example, Bloom and Roberts Middle School could be paired and clustered together into two more integrated middle schools.

Though the sailing was not always smooth and some alternative programs worked better than others, the Community Wide Task Force and the Cincinnati Board of Education saw success in their efforts to reduce racial isolation and segregation in Cincinnati schools. By 1990, a year before the court agreement goals needed to be met, Cincinnati middle schools had well surpassed their integration

benchmark of 34.2 (Taueber Index) with a score of 32.6. Additionally, elementary schools had drawn within a half point of their goal with a year to go. The dedication of Spencer, the NAACP, and the Community Wide Task Force helped to make integration a priority in Cincinnati Schools through their diligent efforts.

Spencer’s legacy continues today. In honor of her groundbreaking achievements towards racial injustice and civil rights, The University of Cincinnati has partnered with Cincinnati Public Schools to create the Marian Spencer Scholarship Program that provides Cincinnati Public School students the opportunity to pursue a higher education without barriers. Scholars receive full tuition, housing and food in UC’s Marian Spencer Hall, also named after the trailblazer.

For more information on Marian Spencer, visit libapps.libraries.uc.edu/exhibits/marian-spencer/.

courtesy of Marian Alexander Spencer and Donald Spencer Papers, University of Cincinnati Archives and Rare Books Library.

Photos

ANNUAL GIFTS

Thank you for your support! This list includes all gifts given to the Playhouse from July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024, not including Endowment and Capital Campaign gifts.

VISIONARY CIRCLE

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER

($50,000+)

Anonymous

ArtsWave

MC and Tom Brennan

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&L Nippert Charitable Foundation

Terry Lemmerman

Ohio Arts Council

Ohio Department of Development

The Rosenthal Family Foundation

Moe and Jack Rouse

The Robert and Adele Schiff Family Foundation

The Harold C. Schott Foundation

The Schueler Group

Digi and Mike Schueler

The Shubert Foundation

Nancy and Tim Sparks

Ellen and Ray van der Horst

PRODUCER

($30,000 - $49,999)

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

The Charles H. Dater Foundation

The Daniel and Susan Pfau Foundation

The Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust

U.S. Bank

Margaret and Albert Vontz III*

Randolph Wadsworth

Barbara and Irwin Weinberg Fund*

ARTISTIC

DIRECTOR’S CIRCLE

DIRECTOR

($10,000 - $29,999)

Neil Bortz

Mrs. L.L. Browning, Jr.

Chemed Foundation

Clark Schaefer Hackett

Nancy and Mark Dawes

Richard and Lisa Ernst

Sarah and Tommy Evans

Frost Brown Todd

The Geiler Company

The Goldhoff Family

Mrs. Andrea and Dr. Edward Herzig

Johnson Investment Counsel

Marilyn Kinne

Jacqueline M. Mack and Dr. Edward B. Silberstein

Dick and Sandy Manteuffel

The Markley Family, in memory of James and Noretta Markley

Ron Matson and Dan Young

Manuel D. & Rhoda Mayerson Foundation

Charles and Joann Mead

Leon and Barb Meyer

Becky Miars

Diane and Dave Moccia

Arthur C. Morrissey and Janet M. Hayes

The Marilyn J. and Jack D. Osborn Fund

Jenny and David Powell

Richard Goettle, Inc.

William S. Rowe Foundation

Mark and Rosemary Schlachter

The Louise Taft Semple Foundation

Eddie and Pat Sheppard

Julie and Steven J. Shifman

Betsy and Jerry Shroat

John and Jennifer Stein

Steve and Sarah Steinman

Nellie Leaman Taft Foundation

Jennifer and Woody Taft

Marty C. Tomb

Towne Properties

Barbara M. Weyand

The Wohlgemuth Herschede Foundation

PLAYWRIGHT

($5,000 - $9,999)

1919 Investment Counsel

Atkins & Pearce Inc.

Bahl & Gaynor Investment Counsel

Ron Bates and Randy Lasley

Mark and Lindsay Bibler

David and Elaine Billmire

Ruth and Tom Bobenread

Terri and John Byczkowski

Wayne and Fran Carlisle

Denise and Martin Chambers

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

Amelia and Thomas Crutcher

Richard and Teddie Curry

Elizabeth George

Mrs. Victoria Buyniski Gluckman and Dr. Jack Gluckman

Clifford Goosmann and Andrea Wilson

Jeb and Nirvani Head

Fred and Patti Heldman*

Susan Ingmire

Diane and Carl Iseman

Bill and Mary Jane James

Patti and Tom Keckeis*

David M. and Bet Koeninger

Mark and Karen Kremzar

Mr. and Mrs. Michael H. Kremzar

Jamie and Jenny Leonard

Mr. and Mrs. Stephen S. Lett

Craig and Anne Maier

Barbara and Kim McCracken

Kevin and Frances McMurray

James A. Miller

Ms. Danute M. Miskinis

David and Judith Morgan

Dean and Catherine Moulas

Patti Myers and Alan Flaherty

Karen Neyer

Ohio Holocaust and Genocide Memorial and Education Commission

Prudential - Matching Fund

Mrs. Deborah White Richardson

Amy and John Rosenberg

Margo and Sam Ross

Susan and Jeffrey Routh

Skidmore Sales & Distributing Co., Inc.

Edward Trach

Lawrence and Maureen Vignola

The Vista Foundation

The Maxwell C. Weaver Foundation

WesBanco

Ronna and Dr. James B. Willis

Susan and Don Zaunbrecher

PLAYHOUSE

INSIDER’S CIRCLE

PRINCIPAL

($2,500 - $4,999)

Anonymous (2)

David and Traci Alexander

William P. Anderson Foundation

Mr. and Mrs. Robert O. Banks

Jan Bartel

Ed and Debbie Birck

Jane and Gary Booth

Douglas Brauch

Thomas J. Breed

Susan Brenner and Steven Mombach

Jacklyn and Gary Bryson

The Otto M. Budig Family Foundation

Jeff and Gay Bullock

Janet and Bruce Byrnes

Candace Carson

Marjorie Compton

Jack and Virginia Copley

The Crawford Family Foundation

Scott X. Deters

Peter Draugelis

Allison and Rick Edwards

Michael and Amy Fitzgibbons

Shelly and Michael Gerson

Homewood Suites by HiltonCincinnati Midtown in Oakley Station

Ellen and Garrett Jackson*

Johnson & Johnson - Matching Fund

Dr. Robert Keith and Kathleen Thornton-Keith

Marvin Kolodzik

David Martin

McKesson

Samuel Moore, Jr.

Tom and Linda Palmer

Stuart and Ildiko Pray

Betty L. Prince

Audra Rance

Rob and Gretchen Reifsnyder

Kathy Shell and Joetta Prost

Rick Slack

Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Smith

Sandra and Henry Spitz

Steiner Family Foundation

Joseph B. Steiner

Robert D. Temple and Sue E. Auerbach

Thembi Speaks LLC

Mr. and Mrs. Scott Tieke

Barbara and Daman Turner

Water Tower Fine Wines

Julia Wesselkamper and Julian Johnson

Susan Whitman

Jo Ann Wieghaus

Margaret and John H. Wyant

ENSEMBLE

($1,500 - $2,499)

25th Hour

Ms. Kathryn Allred Al-Lamadani

Gordon Allen and Linda Baas

Americana Arts Foundation

Thomas and Susan Anthony

Patricia J. Armstrong

Ron Bunt and Wei Sun

Eric Burgmann and Linda Vaccariello

Bonnie and Dick Buten

David and Sara Butler

Ramon and Kathleen Cardona

Philip Clayton

Burton and Susan Closson

Dr. Robert Henry and Deborah Collins

Kassy and Jeff Corken

Robin Cotton and Cindi Fitton

Susan Cummings

Kelly M. Dehan

Mr. and Mrs. Robert T. Dorward

Ms. Joyce Elkus

Eric and Judy Ellis

Paul and Nancy Gaffney

Richard and Kathleen Glaser

Eleanor and Richard Goering

Peggy L. Golden and Kerry J. Klumpe

Betsy and Dave Hendy

Bernita McCann Hightower

William W. and Sue R. Hill

Karlee L. Hilliard

Hixson Architecture, Engineering, Interiors

Carolyn and Michael Hoyt

Sylvia Johnson

Laurie F. Johnston

Randolph and Patricia Krumm

Jo Ann and George Kurz

Dr. John Larkin

Donna Lilley

Kelly Lyle

Kay Lynch and Chuck Beckman

Ms. Margaret E. Mathile

Mr. Roy A. Mitchell

Linda Muth

Judy and Thomas Oxman

Leo and Sarah Pulte

Gerald D. Rape

Jeff and Lori Raser

Mitch and Karen Rashkin

Pat and Paul Schlecht

Elizabeth C. B. and Paul G. Sittenfeld

Elizabeth A. Stone*

Dr. Susan R. Strick

JoAnn Stamper Thomas

Catharina Toltzis Ph.D.

James and Susan Troutt

Doug and Molly Tyger

Mary Ann and Ted Weiss

Anthony and Sally Woodward

ANNUAL FUND

BENEFACTOR

($750 - $1,499)

Anonymous (2)

Susie Ackermann

Nancy Aichholz

Janice Amatulli

Eric and Brenda Armstrong Family Fund*

Molly R. Barber

Peggy Barrett

Michael and Shelia Becker

Becky Beckstedt

Miss Martha L. Bell

Mary Ann and Doug Bell

Judith and Louis Belli

Kit Berger

John Berninger

Kenneth W. and Dawn H. Bertsche

Randal S. Bloch

Sandra Bolek

Mr. and Mrs. Ken Borisch

Linda D. Brink

Charlotte Brooks

David and Marybeth Brothers

Dr. Jane Brown and Mr. Paul Beck

John and Peg Bruggeman

Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Bullock

Larry and Julie Chandler

James Cissell

Mr. Rick Coffey

Pearl J. Compaan, M.D.

The Cord Foundation

Anne Dagenbach

Judy S. Dalambakis

Deborah Davis

Kathryn Dierckes

DJJ, A Nucor Company

Michael and Kathleen Doherty

Dr. and Mrs. Walter E. Donnelly, Jr.

William G. Dorward III

Saralou and Dave Durham

Kay and Rich Eby

George Fabe Fund*

Dr. and Mrs. Michael Farrell

Matthew Feldman and Julie Baker

Mary and Bob Fitzpatrick

Mary Anne Frey

Edward Gemperle

Donn Goebel and Cathy McLeod

Tom Gougeon

Graeter’s Ice Cream Co.

Carl and Joyce Greber

Chris and Janet Gunn

Barbara Hahn

Ham and Ellie Hamilton

Teri and Mike Haught

Brenda Hausterman

Louise Head

Mrs. Anne P. Heldman*

Helene Herbert

Jim and Susan Herman

Ms. Sherrie Heyse

Grace and Brian Hill

Meg Hilmer

Noel and Karen Hofmann

Karen and David Hoguet

Linda R. Holthaus

Timothy and Julie Driehaus Horton

Barbara J. Howard

Marty Humes

Pat Humphrey

Dr. Linda Huntress

Maite Iraolagoitia

Charlie and Janie James

Patti and Keith James

Mark and Sarah Johnson

Don and Frani Jones

James and Brenda Jones

Kyle and Sue Jones

Dr. Toni and Rabbi Ken Kanter

Arlene Katz

Mr. and Mrs. Geoffrey Keenan

Arleene Keller

Rosalynd Kendall

Robert A. and Marian K. Kennedy

Charitable Trust

Judith Kenniston

Beverly Kinney and Edward Cloughessy

Margo Kirstein

Kohnen Interior Design ‘Meg Kohnen’

Kathleen B. and Michael C. Krug*

Mr. and Mrs. John LaMacchia

Patricia Larsen

Susan J. Lauf

Dr. Carol P. Leslie

Sally A. Lloyd

Mark K. Mandell-Brown MD

Laurel Markley

Carolyn Ott Martin

Nancy C. Martin

Elizabeth Mayfield*

David and Diane McClain

Selena McKean

Mark McKillip and Amira Beer

Hope Earls McSwigan

Jan Melcher

Kathy Merchant

Richard I. Michelman and Karen E. Meyer

Audrey E. K. Miller

Jim and Eileen Moon

Joyce and William Mullins

National Jewish Theatre Foundation

Jeannie Niebuhr

Michael Nordlund and Lisa Lee

Melissa and John Panzeca

Debbie Pendl

Marcia Philipps

Phillips Family Fund*

Mr. and Mrs. Don Popelar

Jane Portman

Prolink

Robert and Connie Reed

Sherri Adams Remaklus

Ms. Carol Reubel

Danielle Revelson

Alison and Rob Rice

Mr. and Mrs. Gates T. Richards

Ridgeway Foundation

Carole T. Rigaud

Cathie Rothfuss

Karina Rothzeid

Jim Rubenstein and Bernadette Unger

Debra and Peter Ruehlman

Diane Rumpke

ANNUAL GIFTS ANNUAL

Ann Saluke and Don Yelton

KJ Sanchez

Mark Sass and Jan Rosenbaum Sass

David Savage

Glenn and Kitty Schaaf

Austin Schiff

Martha and Lee Schimberg

Michael and Jeanne Schmerler

Charles and Alice Schneider

Roger and Glenda Schorr*

Mary D. Schweitzer

P. Robert Schwetschenau MD

Linda and Tom Senter

Sue Showers

Mr. and Mrs. Irwin Simon

Debbie Renick Sims

Gerald and Sarah Skidmore

Laura Skidmore

Skyline Chili

Steven Smith

Susan and David Smith

Martha Lowe Steier

Dr. and Mrs. Peter J. Stern

Carol Striker

Glenda Suttman

Tom and Keri Tami

Gretchen Thomas

Linda Trebbi

Dionn Tron

Laura Turton

Nancy A. Virgulak

Patricia J. Wagner

Daniel G. Walker and Lisa Capurro

JoAnn Ward

Larry Weber

Jane Welling

Judy Wells

Marsha and Robert Wuerdeman

Laani A. Wuest

Mary Beth Young

SUPPORTER

($300 - $749)

Anonymous (18)

Liz and Hank Alexander

Sherri D. Allen

Mr. and Mrs. R. Bruce Anderson

Vic and Dee Angel

James Anthony and Sarah Corathers

Elizabeth C. Armitage

Charles W. Ashing, III

Bruce and Helene Ault

Susan Awadalla

Joseph Baker

Barbara Banks

Mandy Bartel

Marianne Beard

Megan Beck

Gale and Dave Beckett

Wayne and Barbara Beimesch

Thelma Bergman

Stephanie Besl

Bradley R. Bevington

Mr. Thomas E. Blackburn

Mr. and Mrs. Ben Blackmer

Sue K. Blaney

Cheryl L. Borland

Mark Bowen

Selena, James, and Justin Bowling

Barbara and Neal Bronson

Dr. Daniel T. Brown, DDS and Mr.

Mark Haggard

Michael Brown

Jack and Marti Butz

Carol Campbell

Angela Carl

Conni Carlson and John Reynolds

Nancy B. Carrothers

Chris and Jim Cartledge

Susana Chamlee

Melanie M. Chavez

Christine Christen

Fran Christensen

Cincinnati Art Museum

Mary Ellen Cody

Cynthia Cole

Loretta and David Cook

Dr. and Mrs. Alan Cordell

Mr. and Mrs. Roy Cotcamp

Mrs. Martha S. Crafts

Jean and John Croxton

Mark Dauner

Mr. Frank Davis

Michelle de la Vega

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Dearth

Carol DeGreg

Debora Del Valle

Jan Denton

Marilyn J. Derfus

Jeffrey and Sharon DeRossette

Diamond/Wolf Family

Nancy Steman Dierckes

Martha Dillow

Thomas Donnelly

Timothy Douglas

Bethany L. Doverspike

Marilyn Duke

Tim and Tina DuMont

Bob and Kitty Dunn

John and Liz Dye

Delores J. Erby

Dr. and Mrs. William Faulkner

Michael Federle

Barbara Ann Feldmann

Bill Ferring

Dr. Daniella Fisher

James K. and Susan A. Fitton

Maureen Flanagan and Will Groneman

Dr. and Mrs. Bernard Foster

Carolyn and Terry Fox

Missy and Brian J. Fox

John and Susan Frank

Mr. and Mrs. James A Fraser

Sharon Freyhof

Shirley Gallagher

General Electric

Mr. and Mrs. Howard Gerber

Frank and Karen Girolami

Veronica Glogowski

Daniel P. Goetz and Pattie Messmer

Jim and Elaine Goldschmidt

Nancy Gollobin

Mrs. Sharon Gorman

Barbara Gould

Pank and Wendy Goulet

Phillip Griggs

Marla and Gary Gross

Mary and Phil Hagner

Jan C. Hall

Margo Hall

Walter and Karen Hand

Jeff Hanna and Peggy Eberhard

Jim and Sally Harper

Carolyn Heck

Alice and John Hehman

Judy Tondi Herd

Bertie Hertz

Wendy Hill

Dale Hodges and David F. Logan

Mark and Deanna Hollon

Patricia L. Holman

Mr. and Mrs. George Horning

Kim Howland

Dr. Carol Hubbard

Joseph Huber and Shelli Smith

Amy Hughes

Nada Huron

Anne Jaroszewicz

Clare Jaymes

Larry and Jan Jeffers

Dr. Amy Johnstone

Lisa Kagan

Amy J. Katz

Peter and Sandy Keiser

Alina S. Khan

Zofeen Khan

Tom and Judith Kinman

Mr. and Mrs. Larry E. Kissel

Mr. and Mrs. John Kmet

Judith A. Koch

Mary Kay Koehler and Heather Apple

Sandy Kohn

Heather Krombholz

Mark and Elisabeth Kuhlman

In memory of Ms. Lisa Jo Lambert

Bill and Evie Landrigan

Mr. Edward Lanzit

Lynn P. Larson

Mary Kay Levesay

Jim Lippert and Carrie ShortLippert

Nancy Lippincott

James Lockey and Grace Lemasters

Elia Lopez

Thomas W. Loring, Jr.

Mr. and Mrs. Damon Lynch, Jr.

Thomas and Jean Macejko

Ms. Carol MacGregor

Dave and Lee MacKenzie

Ward and Ellen Maresca

Charles and Jennifer Margolis

David Mason

Raymond and Madelynn Matlock

Minda Matthews-Smith

Susan Matz

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

Kathy McCord

Dennis and Carol McCoy

Stacy McIntosh

Jeff and Debbie McNaul

Sarah Mizelle Miller

David and Martha Millett

Mitchell Briggs

Jill and Bruce Mitchell

ANNUAL GIFTS

Joel Monteith and Barbara MustoeMonteith

Mary G. Moran

Brian and Katherine More

Mr. Jerry Morgan

Stan and Mary Morton

Nora E. Moushey

Scott and Barb Muhlhauser

Munich Reinsurance America, Inc.

Nottinghill Investment Advisers, Ltd.

Andrew J. Nuckols

Bruce and Neda Nutley

J. Brett Offenberger and Douglas Duckett

Kit and Jack Overbeck

Niki Pappas

Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Pardekooper

Carl Parrott and Molly Katz Fund*

Jenny Partridge

Mr. and Mrs. Donald Peairs

Kathy and Bob Pellegrino

Alice W. Perlman

Diane and Jeff Pfaff

Janet Phillips

David Piatt Fund*

MaryAnn Pietromonaco

Les and Molly Polasky

Philip J. Poon

Mr. and Mrs. James Pretz

Phil and Susan Price

Michael and Nelda Purdon

Jennifer Ramage

Margie Rennie

Carol Holland Rentschler

Jeff and Joyce Rich

Dr. Jeri B. Ricketts

Buffie Rixey

Pete and Debbie Rizzo

Mary Ellen Roberts

Gigi Robison

Rita Ross

Ashley Rothfuss

Richard and Barbara Ruddy

Jane M. Rutherford

James Sanitato

Ann Santen*

Bill and Kathy Schnier

Carol J. Schroeder

Chris Schulte

Mary Schwaderer

Linda Sears

William and Sandra Selvey

Carol Serrone

Ms. Connie Sheets

Shelly S. Sherman

John L. Shields

Ivan and Karen Silverman

Mary Lee and Louie Sirkin

Mary G. Skelly

Adrienne Angst Smith

Jack and Barbara Smith

Richard and Patricia Smith

Roger Smith

Ellen Pease and V. Clark Sole, Jr.

Martha and John Spiess

Mary Stagaman and Ron Kull

Tom and Dee Stegman*

Robert L. and Christine J. Steiner*

Stephanie and Joseph Stitt

Gunther and Sara Storjohann

Gary and Nancy Strassel

Kendra L. Struthers

Dee Talley

Carlos and Roberta Teran

Amy and Bill Thaman

Gordon and Mary-Anne Thompson

J. Dwight Thompson

Morley and Brenda Thompson

Robert and Marcia Togneri

Sneja H. Tomassian

Torey and Tom Torre

Alicia B. Townsend

Ann Marie Tracey and Daniel

Buckley

Dilip and Janet Tripathy

Lynn Tumen

Susie Tweddell

Gloria Uziel and Patrick Shea, M.D.

Catherine Valentine

Geroge and Julia Wadih

Carol Walkner

Liz and Dave Wallingford

Sarella Walton

Lea A. Ward

Sarah Warrington

Dr. and Mrs. Nelson B. Watts

Dr. and Mrs. Barry W. Webb

Kate Wehby

Dr. Alan Weinstein

Dr. Donald R. and Patricia R. Welti

Steven and Heather Wesloh

Brendan and Julie White

Steve Wilken

Mrs. Joan R. Wilson

Robert and Judy Wilson

Susan and Dean Windgassen

Daniel and Jessica Woo

Dr. Linda Wulff

John M. Yacher

Linda Elam Young

David and Cynthia Zink

*Denotes a fund of the Greater Cincinnati Foundation

$50,000+

ROBERT AND ADELE SCHIFF FAMILY FOUNDATION

THE HAROLD C. SCHOTT FOUNDATION

$20,000 – $49,999

ELEANORA C.U. ALMS TRUST, FIFTH THIRD BANK, N.A., TRUSTEE

$10,000 – $19,999

THE HAROLD AND MIMI STEINBERG CHARITABLE TRUST

$5,000 – $9,999

THE WOHLGEMUTH HERSCHEDE FOUNDATION

$1,000 – $4,999

As of July 10, 2024

WILLIAM S. ROWE FOUNDATION

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR’S CIRCLE

Anonymous

Ron Bates and Randy Lasley

Mark and Lindsay Bibler

David and Elaine Billmire

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Blatt

Ruth and Tom Bobenread

Tom and MC Brennan

Susan Brenner and Steven Mombach

Mrs. L.L. Browning, Jr.

Terri and John Byczkowski

Wayne and Fran Carlisle

Denise and Martin Chambers

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

Amelia and Thomas Crutcher

Richard and Teddie Curry

Nancy and Mark Dawes

Richard and Lisa Ernst

Sarah and Tommy Evans

Elizabeth George

Mrs. Victoria Buyniski Gluckman and Dr. Jack Gluckman

The Goldhoff Family

Clifford Goosmann and Andrea Wilson

Linda and Gary Greenberg*

Jeb and Nirvani Head

Brian and Helen Heekin

Fred and Patti Heldman*

Mrs. Andrea and Dr. Edward Herzig

Susan Ingmire

Diane and Carl Iseman

Bill and Mary Jane James

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!

Patti and Tom Keckeis*

Marilyn Kinne

David M. and Bet Koeninger

Mark and Karen Kremzar

Mr. and Mrs. Michael H. Kremzar

Terry Lemmerman

Jamie and Jenny Leonard

Mr. and Mrs. Stephen S. Lett

Jacqueline M. Mack and Dr. Edward B. Silberstein

Craig and Anne Maier

Dick and Sandy Manteuffel

The Markley Family

Ron Matson and Daniel Young

Barbara and Kim McCracken

Kevin and Frances McMurray

Charles and Joann Mead

Barbara N. Meyer

Becky Miars

James A. Miller

Ms. Danute M. Miskinis

Diane and Dave Moccia

David and Judith Morgan

Arthur C. Morrissey and Janet M. Hayes

Dean and Catherine Moulas

Patti Myers and Alan Flaherty

Karen Neyer

Jenny and David Powell

Danielle and Kenneth Revelson

Mrs. Deborah White Richardson

Amy and John Rosenberg

Dianne and J. David Rosenberg

Margo and Sam Ross

Moe and Jack Rouse

Susan and Jeffrey Routh

Mark and Rosemary Schlachter

Digi and Mike Schueler

Pat Sheppard

Betsy and Jerry Shroat

John and Jennifer Stein

Steve and Sarah Steinman

Jennifer and Woody Taft

Marty C. Tomb

Edward Trach

Ellen and Ray van der Horst

Lawrence and Maureen Vignola

Margaret and Albert Vontz III*

Randolph Wadsworth

Barbara and Irwin Weinberg *

Barbara M. Weyand

Ronna and Dr. James B. Willis

Susan and Don Zaunbrecher

*Denotes a fund of the Greater Cincinnati Foundation

List as of July 10, 2024

RECOGNITION GIFTS

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 June 5, 2023, through July 10, 2024.

IN HONOR OF SARA AND DAVE BUTLER

Germaine Mae Jarvis

IN HONOR OF JIM CONWAY

Ronna and Dr. James B. Willis

IN HONOR OF LINDA GREENBERG

Linda and Tom Senter

IN HONOR OF DIANE MCCLAIN

Joseph and Vickie Beer

IN HONOR OF DR. AMY MURDOCH

Anonymous

IN HONOR OF NANCY RUST

Anonymous

IN HONOR OF SHELBY SCAFFIDI

Jennifer Hall

MEMORIAL GIFTS

IN HONOR OF DIGI SCHUELER

Minda Matthews-Smith

IN HONOR OF RONNA AND JIM WILLIS

Joyce Elkus

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 June 5, 2023, through July 10, 2024.

IN MEMORY OF RENEE ALPER

Gregory Alper

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 JUDGE ROBERT

S. MARX

Daniel Hoffheimer

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 W. ERNST MINOR

Burton and Susan Closson

IN MEMORY OF JACK OSBORN

David and Marilyn Beran

Mary Anne Brennan

JW Carter Family

The Contemporary Arts Center

Meredythe and Clayton Daley

Barbara J. Fitch

Dawn and Chris Hock

Linda Holthaus and Richard Zinicola

Susan Ingmire and Lynn Hailey

Peggy and William Jackson

Carl Kalnow

Kohnen Interior Design, Meg Kohnen

Dr. and Mrs. Joseph T. Luttmer

Mellott & Mellott, P.L.L.

Timothy C. Miller

Patti Myers and Alan Flaherty

Tolli Pugh

Richard Rosenthal

Kathy Schultz

Ed and Ronda Smith

Ms. Patricia Smitson and Dr. Walter Smitson

J. Dwight and Deanna G. Thompson

Carol Turner

Winslow Turner Upson

Nancy VandenBerg

Ellen and Ray van der Horst

Judith Verhave

Larry and Maureen Vignola

Diane and Gary West

Ronna and Dr. James B. Willis

IN MEMORY OF MORSE JOHNSON

Daniel Hoffheimer

IN MEMORY OF BARBARA RIPPETOE

Anonymous (2)

Barbara Barclay

Bob and Karen (Burr Durgin) Bernaski Toni, Nestor Dana (Burckhart) and Eric Bojarczuk

Michele Foss

Candice Hall

Barbara Martin

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

Cathy and Stan Silverman

IN MEMORY OF ELLEN PEASE

SOLE

V. Clark Sole, Jr.

IN MEMORY OF EDWARD SCOTT TIEKE

Sally Wentworth Tieke

IN MEMORY OF DOROTHY “DOLLY” VARLAND

Carolyn and Terry Fox

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

DJJ, A Nucor Company

Graeter’s Ice Cream Co.

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

Mt. Adams Bar and Grill

WGRR-FM

WOSL-FM

WXIX-TV, Fox 19

THE CURTAIN IS RISING

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

Grants Manager Kimberly Passaro

Individual Giving Assistant 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 Staff Amanda Adams, Tommy Berninger, Grace Caccavari, Katie Collier, Olivia Cremisio, Laurel Dobrozsi, Victoria Forbes, Jenny French, Max Holman, Ariana Hooberman-Piñeiro, Chase Johnson, Michelle LaMantia, Whitney Menser, Cyrus Newitt, Sarah O’Haver, James Racster, Addie Renne, Theresa Richmond, Christine Richtsfeld, Thomas Richtsfeld, Charlie Rusk, Jacqueline Smith, LaCheryl Steele, Monica Williams-Mitchell, Kendall Young

Bar Manager Darren Cox

Bartenders Kathy Burr, Clint Collins, Justin Eckstein, Julia Migliara, Lisa Porter, John Simpson, Barb Santel, 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

Cutter/Draper Justin Collings

Wig and Makeup Artist Amy Whitaker

First Hand Bridget Kline

Lead Rouse Wardrobe Karla Knochelmann

Wardrobe Assistant Grace Hazlett

LIGHTING/SOUND

House Audio/Projection Supervisor Aaron Stephenson

Rouse Theatre Light Board Operator Samuel Wilson

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

Community is the commitment we make to each other

When a community is strong, it's more than a collection of streets and buildings—it's a place that helps its residents thrive.

That's why we're committed to building stronger communities as a proud supporter of Playhouse in the Park.