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About Us
History
The Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati (ETC) was founded in the summer of 1986. ETC performed at Memorial Hall through two subscription seasons of works unseen before in Cincinnati. During this period the theatre became a nonprofit corporation and a Board of Trustees was elected.
In 1988, after an extended search throughout the downtown Cincinnati area, ETC moved to its present location at 1127 Vine Street in Over-the-Rhine. At this time, the theatre secured a contract with Actors Equity Association, thereby distinguishing it as the only Equity house in downtown Cincinnati. Formerly the building had been a consulate, then a bank, and finally, a printing shop. Extensive renovations were required and construction crews worked around-the-clock during the summer of 1988 to permit the new theatre to open its inaugural production, Deep Sleepers (ETC did not receive its certificate of occupancy until two hours before first curtain).
Remodeling continued until a scene shop, costume shop, dressing rooms, and a rehearsal hall were completed in 1991. Two years later, the 134-seat house was expanded to a seating capacity of 202. The occupancy and all the improvements of the theatre could not have been accomplished without the generosity and vision of two Cincinnati families, Ruth and John Sawyer and Murph and Ken Mahler.
D. Lynn Meyers has been the theatre's producing artistic director since 1995. Under her enthusiastic direction, supported by an active board of trustees, ETC continues to expand its community outreach programs, strengthen its intern company and motivate a dedicated staff. Under her leadership, the theatre has successfully attained associate member status with the Fine Arts Fund and has risen to national stature in becoming Cincinnati's "Premiere Theatre".
ETC has also collaborated through the years with a number of well-known playwrights in presenting a consistent array of extraordinary theatre. Edward Albee came on board in 1991, 1992, and 1993 to personally direct three of his plays, including the world premiere of Fragments. Lee Blessing, one of the country's outstanding playwrights, has presented four world premieres of his own: Lake Street Extension, Going to Saint Ives, The Rights, and Chesapeake.
Arthur Miller's daughter, Rebecca, came to Vine Street to direct her father's provocative play, After the Fall. Warren Leight's Tony Award winning play, Side Man, had its first performance outside of New York City at ETC. His Glimmer, Glimmer and Shine received an early production, and the playwright returned to Cincinnati present for world premiere of his play James and Annie on ETC's stage in 2003. Additionally, performers of national renown have taken the stage, including Gary Sandy, Sara Gilbert, Dennis Parlato, Brenda Vaccaro and Pamela Sue Martin.
ETC has been the first theatre in the nation to present plays while they were still running on Broadway. Productions include the Tony Award Winning Side Man, The Guys, Underneath the Lintel, and the Pulitzer Prize Winning Dinner With Friends. We are proud to have presented many first regional productions including Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Full Gallop, Violet, Copenhagen, Blue Orange, A Lesson Before Dying, The Women of Lockerbie and the upcoming Stones In His Pocket, The Exonerated, Sight Unseen, and the Pulitzer Prize winning I Am My Own Wife.
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