Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park facts for kids
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| Address | Cincinnati United States |
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| Coordinates | 39°6′40.42″N 84°29′51.88″W / 39.1112278°N 84.4977444°W |
| Genre(s) | Theatre |
| Opened | October 10, 1960 |
The Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park is a well-known theater located in Cincinnati, Ohio. It is a type of theater called a "regional theatre," which means it produces its own shows for the local community. It was one of the first regional theatres in the United States.
The Playhouse was started in 1959 by a college student named Gerald Covell. It is located in the beautiful Eden Park. The very first play shown at the Playhouse was Compulsion by Meyer Levin, which opened on October 10, 1960.
Over the years, the Playhouse has become famous for bringing amazing plays to Cincinnati. It has even hosted the first-ever performances of some important shows. These "world premieres" included Coyote on a Fence in 1998, which was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize, and the musical Ace in 2006.
The Playhouse building has two separate stages: the Robert S. Marx Theatre and the smaller Shelterhouse stage.
History and Leadership
The Playhouse has had several important leaders who helped it grow.
Early Leaders
From 1973 to 1975, Harold Scott was the artistic director. He was one of the first African Americans to lead a major regional theatre in the country. After him, Michael Murray took over and led the Playhouse until 1985.
Recent Leadership
From 1992 to 2012, the Playhouse was led by Edward Stern and Buzz Ward. In 2012, Blake Robison became the new artistic director, and Buzz Ward was promoted to managing director. Mr. Ward retired in the summer of 2021 after many years of service.
Major Awards and Recognition
The Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park is so good that it has won two Tony Awards, which are like the Oscars for live theater.
- In 2004, it won the Tony Award for Best Regional Theatre. This award recognized the Playhouse for its excellent work over many years.
- In 2007, a show that the Playhouse revived, called Company, won a Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical. This production was so successful that it also won several other major theater awards.
