Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati

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2022–2023 SEASON

The exterior of ETC's building, featuring three distinct architectural styles and bright banners with our logo

Announcing the exciting lineup of unique and compelling stories hitting our stage in 2022-2023!

This season is all about thriving and putting our ability and tenacity to move forward on display. We can’t wait to have you in our theatre again experiencing these essential socially conscious productions with us. Explore our riveting new season below, then mark your calendars and snag tickets for another year of premiere theatre!

Single tickets for the 2022-2023 Season are on sale now, or subscribe today by calling our box office at (513) 421-3555.

A pint of beer and a tall thermos sitting on a bar against a blurry background

Regional Premiere Drama

Sweat

by Lynn Nottage

Sept 17–Oct 9, 2022

 

This powerful drama takes us to the forgotten heart of America, where old friends come together at their favorite bar as they struggle to survive a fraying economy. For decades, they’ve shared secrets and laughs on the factory floor, but now layoffs pit them against one another as inequities of race and class fan the flames. Based on the playwright’s extensive research and interviews with real residents of Reading, Pennsylvania, Sweat is a topical reflection of the present and poignant outcome of America’s economic decline. MacArthur Genius and two-time Pulitzer Prize–winning playwright Lynn Nottage infuses this searing script with her trademark mix of compassion, humor, and suspense. It’s explosive drama, made in America.

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Several single shoes, including a ballet shoe, cowboy boot, a tap shoe, and several others, and a glistening key against a purple background

Family-Friendly Musical

The Dancing Princesses

by Joseph McDonough & David Kisor

Nov 30–Dec 30, 2022

This whimsical adaptation of the classic fairy tale is about a kingdom where an enchanting mystery is afoot! Wanting the best for his daughters, an overprotective king locks the castle doors each night. Yet, each morning, the princesses’ shoes have been curiously worn to tatters. Keen to cobble together the mystery of the frayed footwear, the king resorts to drastic measures of royal proportions. This is the heartfelt and humorous story of five uniquely different princesses who embark upon a journey of the imagination that explores the universal quest for understanding, acceptance, and love. This family-friendly musical is suitable for all ages.

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Regional Premiere Comedy

Grand Horizons

by Bess Wohl

Jan 14–Feb 5, 2023

Over a quiet dinner for two, Bill and Nancy serenely decide to divorce after fifty years of marriage. While Nancy feels liberated and Bill seems unfazed, their adult sons Brian and Ben don’t exactly take it well. As the “kids” descend on the Grand Horizons senior living community to mediate, everything they thought they knew about their parents comes crashing down. Bess Wohl’s Tony-nominated comedy is a hilarious, heartbreaking commentary on marriage, family, and the wisdom that comes with age—or not. Bursting with all the joy and pathos of everyday life, Grand Horizons is theatre at its most enjoyable and familiar.

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The sun rising over city apartment buildings against the silhouette of a woman's face

Regional Premiere Drama

Morning Sun

by Simon Stephens

Feb 25–Mar 19, 2023

In a brief flash, Charley’s life is sketched out before her, from the moment she was born through now, 50 years later. Her family, her friends, people she only met once, every moment she’s ever remembered crash through in full vibrancy. A bold story transcending time and space, three generations of women embark on a journey to embrace life before it’s too late. Deeply felt and gorgeously imagined by Tony winner Simon Stephens (The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time), experience the first regional premiere production of this new play following its successful New York debut.

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A Black woman and white man holding hands against a burnt orange background

World Premiere Dramedy

Who All Over There?

by Torie Wiggins

April 11–30, 2023

Things aren’t always black and white—especially when it comes to relationships. When Dean, a young professional, and Danya, an aspiring singer, go on a refreshingly candid first date, they keep it real about the dynamics of a potential interracial relationship. As they grow comfortable nestled in the cocoon of their budding love, the real world brings a whirlwind of inflammatory race relations, opinionated family and friends, and troublesome pasts. Can love truly be colorblind? This updated remix of the critically acclaimed classic Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner shines a light on what happens when cultures clash in the name of love.

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A white piece of fabric hanging on a clothesline against a bright blue sky

Regional Premiere Dramedy

Maytag Virgin

by Audrey Cefaly

May 27–June 18, 2023

Good fences make good neighbors, right? But what about clotheslines? And do appliances even belong inside the house? When the unflappable Jack Key moves in next door to the endearingly neurotic Lizzy Nash, sparks fly. Over time, neighborly nagging softens, and a deeper connection emerges between the two high school teachers. As the leaves turn yellow and the months march on, kept secrets shake loose, and the pair finds themselves facing the same question: How do you know when you’re ready to live, and love, again?

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Photo credits | Tickets, Bryant Bentley, Burgess Byrd, & Leslie Goddard Baum in Detroit ’67 (Mikki Schaffner); Accessibility, Nathan Robert Pecchia & Phil Fiorini in Fly By Night (Ryan Kurtz); Plan Your Visit, Kathleen Wise in Grounded (Ryan Kurtz).