Artistic Director Blake Robison steps away from rehearsals to chat with us about the exciting fall productions taking the stage this fall at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park. Read on to learn more about all the fall offerings at Playhouse, including The Secret Garden, Playhouse’s season opener and Mad River Rising, a play set right here in our own Ohio, and get a sneak-peek at the spring’s eagerly-anticipated To Kill a Mockingbird. 

Which performance are you most excited for this fall?  

We’re especially pleased to open our 2015-16 season with one of the best family-friendly musicals in the canon, The Secret Garden, a musical adaptation of the beloved young adult story by Frances Hodgson Burnett. It’s a captivating story for all ages. This production will showcase all of the Playhouse’s theatrical strengths – outstanding acting, gorgeous singing and sweeping theatricality.

Which performance do you think will be the most popular for all audiences?

We expect large, enthusiastic crowds for a number of our productions this fall – including The Secret Garden and Low Down Dirty Blues – but much of the public anticipation has been around To Kill a Mockingbird, which opens in March.  It’s been more than 20 years since the Playhouse produced this classic, and we expect added interest due to the publication of Harper Lee’s recently released early draft of the story titled Go Set a Watchman.

What behind-the-scenes insight can you give us on these fall performances?

Variety is a key feature of our fall season.  From September through December, we have two musicals, two new contemporary plays and our annual production of A Christmas Carol, celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. Of particular note, Mad River Rising is a generational drama set right here in Ohio. It concerns an 85-year old farmer trying to hold onto his legacy and honor his family’s heritage. Plays about our own community have great appeal and are always well-received by our audiences.

Is your organization trying anything new this fall?

This fall, we welcome a new education director to the Playhouse.  Daunielle Rasmussen has great experience in community programming and will work with our artistic staff to expand our presence in the many, diverse communities that make up Greater Cincinnati. Look for more community engagement and off-site programming. We want to bring art to people where they live, work and play.