Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park

Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park at night

The Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park was founded in 1959 by college student Gerald Covell and was one of the first regional theatres in the United States. Located in Eden Park, the first play that premiered at the Playhouse on October 10, 1960, was Meyer Levin's Compulsion.[1] The Playhouse has maintained a regional and national reputation in the theatre community for bringing prominent plays to Cincinnati as well as hosting national premieres such as Tennessee Williams' The Notebook of Trigorin in 1996[2] and world premieres such as the Pulitzer Prize-nominated Coyote on a Fence in 1998[2][3] and Ace in 2006.[2]

The Playhouse facility comprises two theatres, the larger Robert S. Marx Theatre and the smaller Thompson Shelterhouse. The Playhouse is among the members of the League of Resident Theatres. In addition to a full ten-month season of plays, the Playhouse also offers acting classes and programs for children.

In 1973-1975, the Playhouse was the first professional regional theatre to be led by Harold Scott.<ref name=history-old">"A Brief History of the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park". Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park. 2008. Archived from the original on 14 May 2008. Retrieved 14 December 2014.</ref>

Scott was followed by Michael Murray, who was Artistic Director at the Playhouse until 1985. Murray previously was co-founder of the Charles Playhouse in Boston and is one of the early leaders of the Regional Theatre Movement.

The Playhouse was under the leadership of Edward Stern (Producing Artistic Director) and Buzz Ward (Executive Director) between 1992 and 2012. In 2012, Blake Robinson became artistic director and Buzz Ward was promoted to managing director.[1]

In 2004, the Playhouse received a Tony Award for Best Regional Theatre. Then in 2007, the Playhouse received a second Tony Award for their revival of Company, which won Best Revival of a Musical.[4] The production was directed by John Doyle and also won Drama Desk, Outer Critic's Circle and Drama League Awards for Best Revival of a Musical.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Explore Our History". cincyplay.com. Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park. Retrieved December 14, 2014.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Production History". cincyplay.com. Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park. Retrieved December 14, 2014.
  3. ↑ Graham, Bruce (2000). "Coyote on the Fence". books.google.com. Dramatis Play Services Inc. Retrieved December 14, 2014.
  4. ↑ "Search Past Winners". tonyawards.com. Tony Award Productions. Retrieved 14 December 2014.

External links

Coordinates: 39°6′40.42″N 84°29′51.88″W / 39.1112278°N 84.4977444°W