AS YOU LIKE IT, HENRY VI & More Set for Cincinnati Shakespeare's 2015-16 Season

Cincinnati Shakespeare Company has announced its 2015-2016 Season line-up. CSC's 2015-2016 Season is generously sponsored by The Otto M. Budig Family Foundation and all productions will feature Cincinnati Shakespeare Company's Resident Company of Actors. 2015-2016 "Early Bird" subscription packages went on sale February 3, 2015 and experienced a record breaking first week of sales. Single tickets are now also on sale and the best seats are already in high demand!

As Cincinnati's stage for the classics, CSC is delighted to bring to life Shakespeare favorites, definitive works of drama, and literary classics adapted for the stage. They are also proud to create an artistic home for some of the region's most talented actors right here in Cincinnati. Audiences get the unique experience of connecting with the Resident Ensemble and seeing them in various roles over the years. The 2015-2016 Season is no exception. Cincinnati Shakespeare's resident ensemble is thrilled to return to the stage to bring these epic stories to life.

The 2015-2016 Season offers many opportunities to highlight Cincinnati Shakespeare Company's Resident Ensemble of actors. "Cyrano de Bergerac" opens the subscription season and features long-time Resident Ensemble member, Jeremy Dubin in the titular role. Arthur Miller's award-winning American classic "Death of a Salesman" will feature another long-time Cincinnati audience favorite and Resident Ensemble member, Bruce Cromer as Willy Loman. The Shakespeare opener next season will be William Shakespeare's popular comedy "As You Like It" featuring Resident Ensemble member Sara Clark as Rosalind this November and December. For the last several years, audiences have sold out house after house of CSC's Shakespeare comedies and they're delighted offer another opportunity for amusement around the holiday season!

With their dedicated slate of actors, CSC is able to present such epic feats as the continuation of their multi-year history cycle in "Henry VI: Part I" which features key Ensemble Members reprising their roles through these histories over several years. CSC is able to highlight their strong group of talented female actors in their Resident Ensemble in Jane Austen's "Emma" by Jon Jory. The Resident Ensemble even makes it possible to conclude this season with the epic pairing of "Julius Caesar" and "Antony and Cleopatra" with the ensemble providing the connective tissue that further illuminates these two Shakespeare Masterpieces. Cincinnati Shakespeare invites everyone to join them on these epic travels with familiar companions in the 2015-2016 Season!

The complete 2015-2016 Season line-up is as follows:

The Complete History of America (Abridged)*
by Adam Long, Reed Martin and Austin Tichenor
July 24- August 15, 2015

Get ready for a wacky wild ride through our nation's timeline! The brilliant (and deranged) minds that reduced all of 38 of Shakespeare's plays into one madcap evening of theater do it again, this time reducing centuries of American history! In "The Complete History of America (abridged)" watch as three actors, who may or may not have passed their high school History class, take you on a whirlwind historical tour sending up many of our nation's greatest hits and misses. Audiences raved about the hilarious "The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged)" and are sure to rave again as we lovingly lampoon the land of liberty.
*This is a Special Event. Not included in the subscription package.

Cyrano de Bergerac
Based on the translation written by Anthony Burgess of the play written by Edmond Rostand
September 11- October 3, 2015

Cyrano is a man of panache- a dazzling swordsman and a brilliant poet with a wit as quick as his blade. When he falls in love with the beautiful and brilliant Roxane, there is only one thing that stands between them- his gargantuan nose. When Roxane unknowingly confides in Cyrano that she is smitten with the handsome, but dimwitted solider Christian, Cyrano cannot resist the opportunity to finally speak his heart -- through letters and verses signed under Christian's name. His words have Roxanne swooning, but who is it that she truly loves and how long can Cyrano remain in the shadows? The witty wordplay of Wilde, the swashbuckling swagger of The Three Musketeers, and the unrivaled romanticism of Romeo & Juliet are all right under your nose in "Cyrano de Bergerac".

Death of a Salesman
by Arthur Miller
October 16- November 7, 2015

Arthur Miller's award-winning American classic, "Death of a Salesman" tells the poignant story of a salesman and his quest to make it big. In the land of the free, every man controls his own destiny and the right to try and achieve the elusive American Dream. But as his days grow shorter and the times tougher, can Willy Loman achieve this long cherished dream for his family? Recipient of the Pulitzer Prize, multiple Tony Awards, and deemed one of the greatest plays of the Twentieth Century, Arthur Miller's "Death of a Salesman" is an exploration of failure and success this still resonates today.

As You Like It
by William Shakespeare
November 20- December 12, 2015

Banished to the Forest of Arden with only her cousin and a fool for company, the clever Rosalind dresses as a man for protection. Once in the woods, she is shocked to discover the trees are covered with love poems written to her! She is further shocked when she discovers that their author is none other than the handsome Orlando, who recently captured her heart. Hiding behind her boyish disguise, she puts Orlando's love for her to the test, while juggling the affairs of courtiers and country bumpkins alike. Featuring a hilarious cast of characters, delightful music, and warm-hearted romance, "As You Like It" is the perfect choice for a cold winter's night.

Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some!)*
by Michael Carlton, James Fitzgerald and John K Alvarez
December 16-27, 2015

Celebrating its 10th anniversary, CSC's holiday smash hit "Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some!)" is back! What begins as another annual production of A Christmas Carol, soon devolves into a slightly irreverent look at all of our favorite "Beloved Holiday Classics" including It's a Wonderful Life, Frosty, Rudolph, Charlie Brown and more! Three actors (with the help of Santa) send up everything from Dickens to Dr. Seuss in 90 minutes of high octane jollity and frivolity. This show is not recommended for anyone young enough to still believe in Santa.
*This is a Special Event. Not included in the Subscription Package.

Henry VI
By William Shakespeare
January 22- February 13, 2016

Shakespeare's Game of Thrones continues with this first installment of the "Henry VI" trilogy. King Henry V, one of England's most beloved monarchs, brought unity and peace to his fractious country and victory over the rival nation of France. But when Henry's untimely death leaves his infant son to inherit the crown, the country falls back into chaos as rival families of York and Lancaster seek to seize the throne for themselves. Featuring some of history's most controversial characters, including Joan of Arc, this first installment in the epic War of the Roses trilogy sets the stage for the exciting conclusion soon to come.

Emma
By Jon Jory
February 26- March 26, 2016

Jane Austen's sparkling wit returns to CSC's stage! Amateur matchmaker Emma Wodehouse has a penchant for meddling in the love lives of others. Her latest mission is to find a promising prospect for her less than promising friend Harriet. But when her efforts to play cupid go awry, Emma finds herself struggling to undo the damage. Audiences that clamored for CSC's productions of "Pride and Prejudice" and "Sense and Sensibility" surely will again when Austen's trademark storytelling returns to the stage in "Emma".

Julius Caesar
by William Shakespeare
April 8- May 7, 2016

Julius Caesar is brilliant general, a cunning politician, and the most beloved leader Rome has ever known; but when his ambition threatens to topple the Republic, a small conspiracy of Roman patriots take matters into their own hands. When they assassinate the beloved Caesar on the senate floor, their actions plunge the Republic into a civil war that will test friendships, try loyalties, and determine the fate of an empire. Presented in full Roman regalia and flair, Shakespeare's breathless political thriller "Julius Caesar" returns to the CSC stage as the first installment of a special two part theatrical event with "Antony and Cleopatra".

Antony and Cleopatra
By William Shakespeare
May 13- June 4, 2016

Part two of CSC's special theatrical event, "Antony and Cleopatra" is the rarely-staged epic sequel to "Julius Caesar". The victors of Rome's civil war have divided the Empire amongst themselves, and Marc Antony has traveled to exotic Egypt to take up rule over his corner of the globe. There he encounters Egypt's mysterious monarch, the irresistibly entrancing Cleopatra. Their impassioned love affair ultimately pits their two countries against each other and will change the face of the ancient world forever.

Cincinnati Shakespeare Company continues to offer audiences great value with affordable, flexible subscriptions that include seven flexible tickets that can be used in any combination for any performance. Adult Subscriptions are $233, Senior Subscriptions are $204, and Student Subscriptions are $130. Budget-conscious patrons can also subscribe to the company's preview series. A Preview Subscription is just $143 and includes seven tickets that can be used for any preview performance, typically Wednesday and Thursday evenings before Opening Night. All subscriptions are currently on sale now and may be purchased through the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company website www.cincyshakes.com or box office by calling 513-381-BARD (2273) ext. 1. Single tickets for all shows are also now on sale.

The theater is located at 719 Race Street, downtown Cincinnati, two blocks west of the Aronoff Center. Single ticket prices range from $22-$35 on Thursday Nights and Saturday and Sunday Matinees and from $26-$39 on Friday and Saturday Nights. Student Rush tickets are available on any non-sold out performance in the mainstage seats for $14 starting 1 hour before curtain with a student ID. Previews of each shows are available the previous two nights of opening (usually Wednesday and Thursday) for $25 a ticket, no further discounts apply. Group discounts are available for groups of 6 or more and can be purchased online or in the box office. Weekday Educational Matinees at 10am are available for $12 a ticket for school, community, retirement and home school groups. Please contact the education department at 513.381.2273 ext. 3202 for more information about these and other educational offerings. Visa, MasterCard, and American Express are accepted. Discounts are available for students, seniors and groups as well as Enjoy the Arts, AAA members, and ArtsWave Fun Card holders. To purchase tickets or for more information, call the CSC Box Office at 513.381.BARD (2273) ext. 1, or go online at www.cincyshakes.com.