Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Cincinnati

Founded in 1959 by college student Gerald Covell, the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park holds a special place in American theater history as one of the first regional theaters in the United States. Tucked into scenic Eden Park, the Playhouse opened its inaugural season on October 10, 1960, with Meyer Levin’s Compulsion, setting the stage—literally—for decades of dramatic excellence.

Over the years, the Playhouse has built a solid national and regional reputation for presenting classic and contemporary works. It was the home of significant premieres, including Tennessee Williams’ The Notebook of Trigorin in 1996 and the world premieres of Coyote on a Fence (1998), which went on to earn a Pulitzer Prize nomination, and Ace in 2006.

The Playhouse houses two distinct performance spaces: the larger Robert S. Marx Theatre and the more intimate Shelterhouse Theatre. Together, they host a robust ten-month season of productions each year. The theater also runs educational programs and acting classes for children, nurturing the next generation of performers and theater lovers.

The Playhouse's leadership has long reflected its pioneering role. Harold Scott became the first African American to lead a major regional theater (1973–1975), followed by Michael Murray until 1985. From 1992 to 2012, Edward Stern and Buzz Ward led the theater, with Blake Robison taking over as Artistic Director in 2012. A member of the League of Resident Theatres, the Playhouse remains a key player in American regional theater, known for artistic innovation and community engagement.