ENSEMBLE THEATRE CINCINNATI
2015-2016
30TH ANNIVERSARY SEASON
OTTO M. BUDIG FAMILY FOUNDATION
 2015-2016 SEASON
This page: Bruce Cromer, Emily Scott, & Deirdre Manning in An Iliad (2014). Back cover: Regina Pugh in The Other Place (2015). Photos by Ryan Kurtz.
LUNA GALE BY REBECCA GILMAN
This riveting, suspenseful, and topical play from Pulitzer Prize finalist Rebecca Gilman plunges us headfirst into one of the most complicated and controversial American social institutions.
BUYER AND CELLAR BY JONATHAN TOLINS
An outrageous one-man comedy, fresh off its chart-topping run Off-Broadway, about the price of fame, the cost of things, and the oddest of odd jobs.
CINDERELLA
BOOK BY JOSEPH MCDONOUGH LYRICS BY DAVID KISOR MUSIC BY FITZ PATTON A nearsighted bookworm heroine, two outlandish stepsisters, one devilishly diva stepmother, and a self-empowering Well-Wisher make this family-friendly musical one you can't miss!
GROUNDED BY GEORGE BRANT
A gripping new play about the complicated consequences of waging modern war that targets our assumptions about combat, family, and the power of storytelling.
ANNAPURNA BY SHARR WHITE
Ulysses unexpectedly finds his wife, Emma, at his trailer door, 20 years after their marriage was torn apart by a horrific event that he can't remember…and she can't forget.
VIOLET
MUSIC BY JEANINE TESORI BOOK & LYRICS BY BRIAN CRAWLEY BASED ON "THE UGLIEST PILGRIM" BY DORIS BETTS On a cross-country bus trip in search of a televangelist to heal her scarred face, one woman discovers the true meaning of beauty, courage, and love.
30 YEARS OF INS Todd Almond & a. Beth Harris in Hedwig and The Angry Inch, 2003
Renovations underway to convert 1127 Vine Street into a theatre, circa 1985 Ronald L. Connor & Cheryl Lynn Bruce in August Wilson's Gem of the Ocean, 2012
Jesse Vincent & Sara Mackie in The Cripple of Inishmaan, 2000
Bakersfield OTR
Jessica Hendy & Charlie Clark in Next to Normal, 2012
Bruce Cromer & Barry Mulholland in Freud's Last Session, 2013
The City Flea
Regina Pugh, Buz Davis, Gregory Procaccino, & Dale Hodges in Buckminster Fuller: In and Out of the Universe, 1991
SPIRING THEATRE
Regina Pugh, Josh Odsess-Rubin & Michael G. Bath in My Name is Asher Lev, 2010 Deborah Brock-Blanks in Intimate Apparel, 2005
Ginny Hoffman & Gary Sandy in A Streetcar Named Desire, 1991
Set of Romeo and Juliet, 1989
Set of The Great American Trailer Park Musical, 2008
"Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati has offered another POWERHOUSE season this year." —Cincinnati CityBeat
Sleeping Beauty (2014). Photo by Ryan Kurtz.
Named Best of the Arts, 2013 by Cincinnati Enquirer
A SIMPLE CALL GIVES YOU A YEAR OF THRILLING THEATRE! (513) 421-3555
WHY SUBSCRIBE? BEST PRICES Single ticket buyers pay over 30 PERCENT MORE than subscribers for their tickets. Subscribing guarantees that you lock in the best possible ticket prices for the entire season!
A SEAT TO THE HOTTEST TICKET IN TOWN Single ticket buyers miss out on sold-out shows. 50 PERCENT OF ALL PERFORMANCES LAST SEASON WERE SOLD OUT. As a subscriber, you enjoy the peace of mind knowing that your tickets, dates, and prices are secured in advance.
100% TICKET FLEXIBILITY Subscribers enjoy completely free, no-hassle ticket exchanges. Something come up? No problem, just swap your tickets for another night with no exchange fee.
PRIORITY ACCESS During Subscriber-Only Days, you get first crack at making exchanges, reserving FlexPass seats, and purchasing additional seats before tickets go on sale to the general public.
EXCLUSIVE DISCOUNTS Included with your subscription is a preferred partner card with great discounts to fantastic area restaurants. Use it to make your theatre night more special.
ADDITIONAL SAVINGS The more, the merrier! Subscribers receive $8 off unlimited additional tickets, so go ahead and bring some friends along.
THE ENSEMBLE THEATRE
EXPERIENCE EXCEPTIONAL, COMPELLING THEATRE Ensemble Theatre has achieved a national reputation by continually bringing visually stunning and groundbreaking new works to our city. As the largest local professional theatre solely dedicated to presenting new theatre, we guarantee our productions are unlike anything else you'll see around town.
INTIMATE PERFORMANCE SETTING With just 191 seats and only 12 rows, we offer an unparalleled intimate theatrical experience. With no obstructed views, there isn't a bad seat in the house and no matter where you sit, you'll feel like part of the action.
HISTORIC, BUSTLING NEIGHBORHOOD Located in the heart of historic Over-the-Rhine, there is always something else exciting going on to complement your theatre visit. From Washington Park to Findlay Market to nearby arts and music festivals, there are plenty of options for everyone.
DINING & PARKING OPTIONS Ensemble Theatre is conveniently located within walking distance of many fantastic restaurants and shops. And, with access to nearby parking and public transportation, you can easily enjoy all that Over-the-Rhine has to offer—whether you're having a date night, an outing with friends, or other special occasion.
ENHANCED AUDIENCE EXPERIENCES Take advantage of our Teen Scene Matinees, PLAY/Back series, and our newest program, Caffeinated Conversations, all of which are designed to take you more in-depth through discussions with our staff and artists.
Celebrate with us thirty years of extraordinary theatre here at Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati, your premiere theatre. Your premiere theatre certainly describes ETC’s dedication to presenting new work—work that enlivens, enlightens, and excites our audience—but we reach far beyond our stage with our mission. When you subscribe to ETC, not only are you supporting this season’s line-up of compelling plays, but you are also bolstering the transformative work ETC does to empower the renaissance in Over-the-Rhine, as well as the dozens of dedicated, local professional artists who work here throughout the season. ETC has never waivered in its belief that who we are is essential to where we are. As a catalyst for change, we are committed to bringing plays that possess a social conscienceness to life and give voice to and engage with the surrounding community. Look inside the world of Luna Gale, a play that examines the heart of our foster care and social service system, laugh with us as we visit Barbra Streisand’s basement in Buyer and Cellar to find a variety of characters and one man’s journey to his destiny. Allow Cinderella to charm from behind her eyeglasses, without a single glass slipper ever touching her foot. Explore the condition of our current military personnel through one Air Force pilot’s story in the critically-acclaimed Grounded. Climb Annapurna with us to find redemption in the midst of mystery and let the wonder of "On My Way" from Violet become your theme song, as it is ours as we look forward to the ever-evolving story of ETC. I invite you to join us this season for a year of inspiring theatre. The celebration will not be complete without you.
D. Lynn Meyers, Producing Artistic Director
Hands on A McAnally Hardbody (2014). Photo by Ryan Kurtz. Raymond and Dale Hodges in Mrs. Mannerly (2012). Photo by Ryan Kurtz.
"One of the year's most valuable additions to American drama." –Los Angeles Times
SEPTEMBER 8 – 27, 2015 REGIONAL PREMIERE DRAMA. Caroline, a veteran social worker, thinks she has a typical case on her hands when she meets Peter and Karlie, two teenage drug addicts accused of neglecting their baby. But, when she places their infant daughter in the care of Karlie's mother, Caroline ignites a family conflict that exposes a shadowy, secretive past—and forces her to make a risky decision. Powerful and arresting, this is a heartbreaking and unforgettable tale about moral ambiguity and knowing how to do good in the world. PREMIERE SPONSOR: THE OTTO M. BUDIG FAMILY FOUNDATION
Top Critics' Pick: New York Times, NPR, Huffington Post, Entertainment Weekly
OCTOBER 13 – NOVEMBER 1, 2015 REGIONAL PREMIERE COMEDY. What’s a renowned diva to do with decades of memories? And where to put the acres of memorabilia bursting the seams of her lavish Malibu estate? If you’re Barbra Streisand, you enshrine them in a mini-mall in your basement where you can pretend to go shopping! Out-ofwork actor Alex More can’t pass up an offer to play shopkeeper for one tough customer who doesn’t let anyone rain on her parade. Soon it begins to take a toll on his patience, his love life, and his view of people (who need people).
"Adorableness alert! Goofy, good fun." – Cincinnati Enquirer
DECEMBER 2, 2015 – JANUARY 3, 2016 FAMILY-FRIENDLY MUSICAL. What do you get when you combine a nearsighted bookworm heroine, two fabulously self-absorbed stepsisters, one devilishly diva stepmother, along with a self-empowering Well-Wisher? A fun spin on the classic fairy tale that demonstrates being smart is true beauty! When the King pressures his romantically challenged son to choose a bride from hundreds of “applicants,” a cross-country tour of the kingdom ensues to reunite a missing sneaker—yes a sneaker!—with its rightful owner. PREMIERE SPONSOR:
DESIGN SPONSOR:
"Gripping...presents a convincing portrait." – New York Times Named One of the Best Plays of the Year by London's The Guardian
JANUARY 26 – FEBRUARY 14, 2016 REGIONAL PREMIERE DRAMA. An unexpected pregnancy ends an ace fighter pilot’s career in the sky. Reassigned to operate remote-controlled military drones in the Middle East from a windowless trailer outside Las Vegas, she hunts terrorists by day and returns to her family each night. As the pressure to track a high-profile target mounts, the boundaries between the desert in which she lives and the one she patrols half a world away begin to blur. The struggle to navigate her dual identities may be her toughest mission yet. PREMIERE SPONSOR:
"Sharr White has created two fine and ferociously damaged people caught in [an] emotional whirlpool." – Huffington Post
MARCH 22 – APRIL 10, 2016 REGIONAL PREMIERE DRAMA. What if you had experienced the defining moment of your life—but couldn't remember it? Twenty years ago, Emma walked out on her husband, cowboy-poet Ulysses, in the middle of the night. Now, hearing he’s in dire straits, she tracks him down to the wilds of Colorado in a grungy trailer. He’s working on his magnum opus, hooked to an oxygen tank, and cooking breakfast in the buff. Their reunion, charged by rage and compassion, is a story that rides the fine line between tragedy and comedy.
“Deeply stirring.” – New York Times Winner of the Drama Critics' Circle Award for Best Musical
MAY 3 – 22, 2016 AWARD-WINNING MUSICAL. With a score of show-stopping anthems ranging from American-roots to folk to gospel, this is the story of a young woman’s quest for beauty amidst the image-obsessed landscape of the 1960s. Facially disfigured in a childhood accident, Violet hops a bus, seeking a televangelist in Oklahoma she believes can heal her. Along the way, she forms unlikely friendships with her fellow riders, including a young, African-American soldier whose love for her reaches far past her physical “imperfections.” PREMIERE SPONSOR: JOHN GOERING
SPECIAL PERFORMANCE EVENT!
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Named Most Playful Performers, People Magazine’s Most Talked About Bodies 2014 Issue LIMITED ENGAGEMENT. Ohio Debut! The Skivvies are Lauren Molina and Fairfield, Ohio native Nick Cearley, award-winning NYC singers, actors, and musicians, who perform stripped down arrangements of eclectic covers and eccentric originals. Not only is the music stripped down—cello, ukulele, glockenspiel, melodica—but the Skivvies also literally strip down to their underwear to perform! This “musically thrilling,” undie-rock, comedy-pop duo performs regularly to sold-out audiences in New York and beyond.
TICKETS: $30
OCTOBER 22, 23, & 24 ONLY!
Photo by Richard Phibbs for People Magazine
“A hot musical comedy duo,” -New York Times
THE TEEN SCENE
Teen Scene participants pose with the cast of The Mountaintop following the performance. Photo by Anna Penny.
$90 THEATRE SUBSCRIPTIONS EXCLUSIVELY FOR AGES 13-19 Ensemble Theatre's Teen Scene is fun, Saturday afternoon mainstage subscription designed specifically for ages 13-19! Following Teen Scene matinees, participants get to kick back over pizza with cast members and theatre artists to discuss the show in a casual, relaxed environment. This affordable performance series is perfect for young theater enthusiasts to see and interact with our productions!
2015-2016 TEEN SCENE SUBSCRIPTIONS ARE ON SALE NOW! Space is Limited! For more information, or to subscribe yourself or your teen, please visit the ETC Box Office today or call (513) 421-3555.
Second Sunday on Main
Krueger's Tavern
Holtman's Donuts
Picnic and Pantry The Mercer
Picnic and Pantry
Urban Sites Although we didn't originate this hashtag, we are thrilled to embrace the social movement showcasing the wonderful aspects of our Over-the-Rhine neighborhood. Help tell the OTR story by contributing your own images and tagging with #thisisOTR.
Krueger's Tavern
Elm & Iron OTR Japp's
Brezel
Maverick Chocolates
Homage
#ThisIsOTR Nicola's Macaron Bar
The Anchor The Farmer's Market at Findlay Market
2015-2016
PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE µ Opening Night ▼
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All plays and dates subject to change. Tickets and seating subject to availability at the time of purchase. All ticket sales are final. Tickets released prior to show time are eligible for a tax credit.
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SHOWTIMES Tues Previews 7:00 pm Tues, Wed, & Thurs Evenings 7:30 pm Fri & Sat Evenings 8:00 pm Sun Evenings 7:00 pm Weekend Matinees 2:00 pm Student Matinees 10:00 am
Above: Bryant Bentley, Burgess Byrd, & Leslie Goddard in Detroit '67 (2015). Photo by Ryan Kurtz.
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All other evening performances of Cinderella start at 7:00 pm.
MAINSTAGE SHOWS LUNA GALE
APRIL 2016 M
Sunday evening performances of Cinderella start at 6:00 pm.
September 8–27, 2015
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January 26–February 14, 2016
ANNAPURNA
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SPECIAL EVENTS
THE SKIVVIES
October 22, 23, & 24, 2015 Performances following Buyer and Cellar. Showtimes vary. Tickets sold separately.
EXPECTATIONS OF CHRISTMAS December 14, 7:00 pm
Making a date with theatre is easy: We have tickets for every budget and schedule!
Never Been Here?
$10 TRY US OUT TICKETS* *Introductory offer for OH, KY, & IN residents who have never purchased tickets to Ensemble Theatre. Limit two $10 tickets per qualifying household. Valid first two weeks of performances. Limited quantity available, while supplies last. Available in person or by phone. Fees apply.
SINGLE TICKET PRICES START AT $28 Buy early for best availability and prices!
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Half-price and $15 student rush tickets start 2 hours prior to all shows! (Subject to seating & availability.)
GROUPS OF 8+ SAVE Whether it's just you and some friends, your religious or school group, scout troop, or company party, we offer special savings for groups of 8+.
FOR INFO & TICKETS DIAL: 513.421.3555 SURF: www.ensemblecincinnati.org IN PERSON: 1127 Vine Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202
PARKING Convenient parking is available at the Gateway Garage, the surface lot at the corner of 12th and Vine Streets, Mercer Commons Garage, and Washington Park Garage.
Wheelchair-accessible seating, assisted-listening devices, and ASL interpreted performances available.
Above: Brian Isaac Phillips & Jen Joplin in Outside Mullingar (2015). Photo by Mikki Schaffner.
Children 12 and under (any performance).......... $ 18 Students (any performance).................................. $ 25
eviews, Tip: Tuesday pr , & Saturday Sunday evenings e matinees have th ns! best seating optio
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SUBSCRIPTION ORDER FORM
WHY RISK IT? Subscribing guarantees that you receive the best possible ticket prices for the 2015-2016 season! Plus, you enjoy significant savings over single ticket prices.
Name : _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Address :______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ City/State/Zip:____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Phone: ___________________________________________________ Email: ________________________________________________________________________________
CHOOSE YOUR SUBSCRIPTION Qty
Pro-rated subscription options available after season has started.
Price
Subtotal
Weekday (Tues, Wed, or Thurs)
$ 1 92
Senior Weekday (ages 65+, Tues, Wed, or Thurs)
$ 180
$ $ $ $
5-Show Tuesday Preview
$ 125
$
Student Subscription (available for any day of week)
$ 120
Teen Scene Subscription (ages 13-19, available 2nd Sat. matinee only)
$90 = Subtotal
$ $ $ $
+ My tax-deductible gift to support ETC's 30 Anniversary Season
$
+ Handling Fee
$
= TOTAL DUE
$
Weekend (Fri, Sat, or Sun)
$210
Senior Weekend (ages 65+; Fri, Sat, or Sun)
$ 192
(Restricted to preview performance; Excludes holiday production.)
FlexPass Subscription (6 flexible tickets to use any time, any way)
$202 th
6.00
PERFORMANCE DAY & SEATING PREFERENCES e.g., Tuesday evening or Saturday matinee; center or aisle seat; wheelchair-accessible seating.
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30TH ANNIVERSARY SEASON Image Sponsor:
Season Presenting Sponsor:
1127 Vine Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 (513) 421-3555 www.ensemblecincinnati.org @EnsembleCincy
CINCINNATI
Season Funder:
ENSEMBLE THEATRE
Artwork Sponsor:
Outreach Sponsor:
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Fairy Godmother Sponsor:
CINCINNATI, OH PERMIT NO. 5758
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