Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park to Stage THE BOOK CLUB PLAY, 3/23-4/28

THE BOOK CLUB PLAY, a comedy about books and the people who love them, continues The Playhouse's Thompson Shelterhouse Theatre season. This engaging and hilarious play by Karen Zacarías begins previews March 23 and will continue through April 28.

When the members of a devoted book club become the subjects of a documentary filmmaker, their intimate discussions of life and literature take on new meaning with the camera rolling. Add in the unexpected arrival of a provocative new member and the sudden inclusion of some questionable titles, and long-standing group dynamics take a hilarious turn.

Zacarías' award-winning plays also include Legacy of Light, Mariela in the Desert and
The Sins of Sor Juana. This past February, Zacarías' most recent play, Just Like Us, was featured at the eighth annual Colorado New Play Summit at the Denver Center Theatre Company. Based in Washington, D.C., she is the founder of Young Playwrights' Theater, which teaches playwriting to high school students in the D.C. area, and is currently a resident playwright at Arena Stage.

THE BOOK CLUB PLAY made its world premiere at Round House Theatre in 2008 when Playhouse Artistic Director Blake Robison was the producing artistic director there. Although this will be the first time he has directed The Book Club Play, he directed Zacarías' adaptation of Julia Alvarez's How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents while at Round House.

According to Robison, "the book club play is one of the most successful new comedies of the American stage in years. Karen Zacarías used the experience of her own book club to imagine what might happen if personalities and reading lists collide on stage. Quite simply, it's the funniest play I've seen in years. Watch with horror, glee and recognition as this book club implodes."

The cast will all make their Playhouse debuts in THE BOOK CLUB PLAY. Appearing is Kate Cook as Ana, Toccarra Cash as Lily/Mrs. Simpson, Mike Ostroski as Rob/Sam, Lesley Gurule as Jen/Elsa, Jeffrey C. Hawkins as Will/Frank and Joel Reuben Ganz as Alex/Carl. The production team includes Set Designer Marion Williams, Costume Designer Gordon DeVinney, Lighting Designer Kenton Yeager, Sound Designer Matthew M. Nielson, Production Stage Manager Jenifer Morrow and Stage Manager Becky Merold.

Prices for THE BOOK CLUB PLAYrange from $30 to $76, depending on day and seat location, and are subject to change. Tickets are just $30 for the preview performances at 8 p.m. Saturday, March 23; 7 p.m. Sunday, March 24; 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 26 and 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 27. The official opening night is Thursday, March 28 at 8 p.m.

Performances take place at 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 8 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays, 4 and 8 p.m. Saturdays and 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Sundays.

Tickets to THE BOOK CLUB PLAY are on sale now. For more information, call The Playhouse box office at 513-421-3888 (toll-free in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana at 800-582-3208) or visit www.cincyplay.com. Call 513-345-2248 for TDD accessibility.

Audience members are invited to share the joy of reading during the run of THE BOOK CLUB PLAY by bringing a book to The Playhouse and taking a different one home. All remaining books at the end of the run will be donated to Tender Mercies, an agency that serves homeless people with histories of emotional and/or mental disabilities by providing them with housing and related services.

The Playhouse is fully accessible. Audio enhancement receivers, large print programs and complete wheelchair access are available.

Special Performances

Meet the Artists

These free programs allow audiences to interact with cast members and others associated with the production following the show.

2 p.m. Sunday, March 31
2 p.m. Sunday, April 7
7:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 10
8 p.m. Thursday, April 18