© Cincinnati Shakespeare Company
If all of Cincinnati were a stage, the men and women of the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company (CSC) would be more than merely players. The members of this ensemble of actors sign on not for one play but for an entire season, a unique arrangement allowing a more intimate connection to develop with audience members. Other local and national actors will join the resident company for certain shows to add an element of surprise.
Plenty of surprise can be found in the shows themselves - CSC does much more than just Shakespeare. A regular season typically features between eight and ten different shows, only half of which are by the Bard. The remaining shows are a mix of classic plays (Oscar Wilde, Samuel Beckett, and the like), unusual productions, quirky new shows, and crowd favorites such as The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) - this a comedy, not an English class - and Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol. These plays are expertly produced and acted- every year since 1998, CSC has had an actor or actress win best of their category at the Cincinnati Entertainment Awards for local theater and music, as well as numerous other wins for directing, lighting design, or costumes.
CSC, known as the Fahrenheit Theatre Company when founded in 1997, then as the Cincinnati Shakespeare Festival until 2006, is located in a former small movie theater downtown. The thrust stage seats around 165 audience members, giving an intimate feel to a professional and well-designed theatre experience. Beyond the regular season, the CSC runs educational touring shows, a variety of classes and summer camps, and a summertime Shakespeare in the Park program. Normal ticket prices are $26, with rush prices and special discounts for students and seniors, as well as a variety of popular subscription packages. The location in the growing Backstage District gives you plenty of options for a complete night out - this district (which includes the Aronoff Center for the Arts) is full of fun restaurants and bars and is just a few blocks north of Fountain Square.
Attraction Information
- Hours:
- Typical show times are Thursday through Saturday, 7:30pm; Sunday 2pm (verify for individual shows)
- Box Office Hours are Tuesday through Friday 12pm to 5pm, and 12 pm to 8pm on show nights
- Admission/Single Ticket Pricing:
- Adult $26
- Senior $22
- Student $20
- See website for more details on student rush tickets, AAA discounts, group prices, and subscription packages
- Contact:
- Location: 719 Race Street, Cincinnati, OH
- Phone: 513-382-BARD (513-381-2273)
- Website: www.cincyshakes.com
