In 1967, Sydney Poitier starred in "Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner." A love story with a twist, the film tackled the subject of interracial marriage with charm and humor just as anti-miscegenation laws were struck down by the Supreme Court in the Loving v. Virginia decision. In the film, Mr. Poitier plays one of the world’s most sought-after doctors, who meets and falls in love with a white woman on vacation in Hawaii. They fly home together to break the news to her family, and the drama begins. This is a harrowing tale of equality and justice through the eyes of love.

“Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner” s released with broad critical acclaim and became a box office success. It garnered two Academy Awards and, just last year, was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress. Now, Cincinnati Shakespeare Company is bringing this enduring classic to the local stage. Now through February 17, you can experience the hilarity and heartbreak of "Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner" on stage at their Otto M. Budig Theater in an adaptation that manages to be both faithful to the original and, thanks to a wealth of local stage talent, more emotionally resonant in modern context.

Caitlin McWethy and Darnell Pierre Benjamin in "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner"
Photo credit: Mikki Schaffner Photography

This show is a powerful reminder of the underlying biases in our culture and how we perceive and address them. Cincinnati Shakespeare Company is putting that all on display for you, now through February 17. Need a date night? During Sunday's 2 p.m. performance on February 11, you can bring your kids (4 and older) for "Playdate," an artist-led child care program.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit Cincinnati Shakespeare Company’s website. Be sure to check out the ArtsWave Guide review of “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner” as well.