Cincinnati Shakespeare Company has announced its 2026–27 season, a lineup that blends Shakespeare classics, contemporary comedy and new work as the organization marks its 20th anniversary.
Producing Artistic Director and CEO Brian Isaac Phillips introduced the season before the opening of the company’s current production of “Othello.”
“This season is about bold storytelling and theatrical exhilaration,” Phillips said. “From Shakespeare’s fiercest political dramas to side-splitting farce, from American history reclaimed to modern media satire, we are inviting audiences into stories that entertain, challenge, and ignite conversation.”
Summer launches with Shakespeare and a world premiere
Cincy Shakes’ summer lineup begins with free outdoor performances of “Much Ado About Nothing,” part of the company’s Shakespeare in the Park tour across the tristate region. The comedy will run from July 14 through Sept. 6.
Set shortly after the American Revolution, the production follows Beatrice and Benedick as their playful rivalry gradually reveals deeper feelings. The full tour schedule will be announced later this spring.
Inside the company’s Otto M. Budig Theater in Over-the-Rhine, the summer also features the world premiere of “Dogberry and Verges are Scared,” running July 10-25. The comedy by Michael Doherty and Will Mobley centers on the bumbling watchmen from “Much Ado About Nothing,” placing the characters at the center of a new story.
“This play has already taken Philadelphia Fringe by storm and is an Edinburgh Fringe hopeful,” Phillips said. “We are excited to give it its Cincinnati stop in this rolling World Premiere.”
Also scheduled for the summer is the regional premiere of “The Complete Works of Jane Austen (Abridged),” running July 31-Aug. 23. The production condenses the Regency era author’s novels into a fast-paced theatrical parody.
Season mixes classics, satire and comedy
The fall schedule opens with the regional premiere of “Network,” adapted from the Oscar-winning film by Paddy Chayefsky. The production runs Sept. 11-26, and follows a television news anchor whose on-air breakdown turns into a media spectacle.
The company will also bring back “Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors,” an irreverent take on Bram Stoker’s classic vampire story. The production runs Oct. 9-31.
“This was one of our most successful productions of all time and we loved welcoming in new folks at the Halloween season, so we are presenting it again!” Phillips said.
The holiday portion of the season includes “The Merry Wives of Windsor,” scheduled Nov. 13–Dec. 5, followed by the return of “Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some!),” running Dec. 11-27.
New year features history and Shakespeare
The new year opens with “The African Company Presents Richard III,” a play by Carlisle Brown based on the story of an early 19th-century Black theater troupe staging Shakespeare in New York. Shakespeare’s tragedy Hamlet follows March 5-28, 2027.
The company will also continue its 40×40 initiative – an effort to stage all 40 plays in Shakespeare’s canon – with Coriolanus, scheduled April 16-May 2, 2027.
“We haven’t produced this play since 2000 and are thrilled to bring it back to the stage once again,” Phillips said.
The season concludes with the regional premiere of “Peter Pan Goes Wrong,” a comedy that follows a theater troupe whose attempt to stage a production of Peter Pan spirals into chaos. Performances run May 28-June 27, 2027.
To help launch the season, Cincinnati Shakespeare Company is holding its annual online auction from March 6 to March 20. The event features ticket packages and other experiences tied to the newly announced season, with proceeds supporting the company’s productions and education programs serving about 85,000 patrons and students across the region.
“Your support ensures the continuation of CSC’s mission to bring Shakespeare and the Classics to life for all,” said Development Director Sara Clarks.
Season calendar
Free Shakespeare in the Park
- “Much Ado About Nothing,” by William Shakespeare — July 14–Sept. 6
Mainstage productions
- “Dogberry and Verges are Scared,” by Michael Doherty and Will Mobley — July 10–25
- “The Complete Works of Jane Austen (Abridged),” by Jessica Bedford, Kathryn MacMillan, Charlotte Northeast and Meghan Winch — July 31–Aug. 23
- “Network,” adapted by Lee Hall from the film by Paddy Chayefsky — Sept. 11–26
- “Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors,” by Gordon Greenberg and Steve Rosen — Oct. 9–31
- “The Merry Wives of Windsor,” by Shakespeare — Nov. 13–Dec. 5
- “Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some!),” by Michael Carleton, James FitzGerald and John K. Alvarez — Dec. 11–27
- “The African Company Presents Richard III,” by Carlisle Brown — Jan. 29–Feb. 14
- “Hamlet,” by Shakespeare — March 5–28
- “Coriolanus” by Shakespeare — April 16–May 2
- “Peter Pan Goes Wrong,” by Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer and Henry Shields — May 28–June 27
Discover more from Movers & Makers
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.