A story of order and disorder, reality and appearance and love and marriage. Theseus, Duke of Athens, and Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons, are to be married and great celebrations are planned.

Into the Forest

Egeus brings his rebellious daughter Hermia in front of the Duke. Egeus wants her to marry Demetrius but Hermia refuses, because she's in love with Lysander. The Duke orders Hermia to obey her father or, according to Athenian law, she must face a death penalty or enter a convent.

Hermia and Lysander decide to elope that night. They confide in their friend Helena. However, she's secretly in love with Demetrius so, hoping to win his affection, she tells him of Hermia's plan. That night, all four lovers set out into the forest.

Meanwhile, a group of Athenian tradesmen (known as the Mechanicals), led by Peter Quince, are planning to perform a play in celebration of the Duke's wedding. They rehearse The Tragedy of Pyramus and Thisbe in the same forest.

Love at First Sight 

Elsewhere in the forest, the fairy king and queen, Oberon and Titania, argue over Titania's refusal to give up her page-boy to Oberon. He sends his servant Puck to find a magic plant to cast a spell on Titania.

The juice of the plant, when squeezed onto the eyes of someone asleep, causes them to fall in love with the first creature they see when they wake up. Oberon uses the juice on Titania as she sleeps in her bower.

Puck overhears the tradesmen rehearsing and magically transforms Bottom's head into that of an ass. The other men are terrifed and flee the forest. When Titania wakes, the first creature she sees is Bottom and she falls rapturously in love with him.

Helena chases Demetrius in the forest and their fighting disturbs Oberon. He tells Puck to use the magic plant on Demetrius too, so that he will fall in love with Helena. However Puck muddles up the two Athenian men and uses it on Lysander instead, who promptly falls in love with Helena. Both women are confused and Hermia furiously attacks her friend.

Stop reading now if you don't want to know how it ends...

Eventually, Oberon lifts all the enchantments and puts the humans to sleep. Titania is horrifed that she's been enamoured of an ass and is reconciled with Oberon. On waking, the lovers decide the night's events must have all been a dream. Lysander and Hermia are back to normal, and Demetrius admits he does love Helena after all. Bottom wakes up and recounts his 'strange dream'.

The wedding of Theseus and Hippolyta becomes a triple celebration as the other human couples marry too. Quince and Bottom's troupe amuses the couples with their amateur performance of the play.

As the couples retire, Oberon, Titania and the fairies perform a blessing, and Puck asks the audience to applaud if they enjoyed the performance.

Sourced from the Royal Shakespeare Company

FREE Shakespeare in the Park!
July 11 - August 31, 2025

Cincinnati Shakespeare Company’s FREE Shakespeare in the Park tour is the only professional outdoor theatre opportunity of its kind in Cincinnati each summer, attracting more than 10,000 patrons to over 40 area parks during the summer months. CSC’s FREE Shakespeare in the Park Tour enhances the vibrancy of neighborhoods throughout the region by creating traveling arts programs that increase the affordability, availability, and accessibility of the arts outside the downtown core.

Cincinnati Shakespeare Company is partnering with the Q-Kidz for a limited number of FREE Shakespeare in the Park performances!  

Catch the Q-Kidz at these Parks:
Eden Park - July 11th
McDonald Commons Park - July 12
Washington Park - July 27
Village Green Park - July 30
Stubbs Park - August 3
Factory 52 - August 5
The Carnegie Center of Columbia Tusculum - August 10 
Bearcat Commons - August 22
Stanbery Park - August 24

Founded by Marquicia Jones-Woods in 1982, Q-Kidz Dance Team plays a vital role in encouraging and inspiring the creative expression for Cincinnati’s youth through dance and education. For four decades, Marquicia, and her daughters, Chariah and Mariah, have been champions for the Cincinnati community, serving over 100 youths annually through Q-Kidz.

Support the Q-Kidz

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FREE Shakespeare in the Park is made possible through the generous support of companies, foundations, and donors throughout the tri-state and beyond. If you would like to make a gift in support of the program, please visit the Park Fund page to donate online or call 513.381.2273 to donate by phone.

DONATE NOW

Explore the impact this program has on the community:

73% have more pride in their community because of the park tour.

97% feel their neighborhoods are positively impacted through this program.

86% of audiences report that their community needs more arts opportunities

89% of audiences report that this is the easiest and most accessible way to attend live theatre

FRIENDS OF THE COMPANY 

“With one ‘we thank you,’ many millions more…”
The Winter’s Tale, Act I, Scene ii 

Cincinnati Shakespeare Company extends thanks to the following individuals and organizations for their generous support. The following gifts were received by Cincinnati Shakespeare Company July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025 or pledged to the 2024 – 2025 Season. Giving Levels are exclusive of Capital Campaign donations. Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy. If you see an error, please accept our sincere apology and contact Sara Clark at 513-381-2273, ext. 3208. 

Illustrious and Inspiring, $50,000+

ArtsWave
John Bridgeland and Maureen Fallon Bridgeland
The Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile, Jr. Foundation
Cynthia Crilley
The Linnemann Family Foundation
Debby and Jim Mason
Ohio Arts Council
Robert & Adele Schiff Family Foundation

Benevolent and Bold, $25,000-49,000

Mrs. L.L. Browning
Charles H. Dater Foundation
Martin Chavez
Eleanora C. U. Alms Trust, Fifth Third Bank, Trustee
John A. Schroth Family Charitable Trust
Johnson Investment Counsel, Inc.
The Limestone Fund of the Greater Cincinnati Foundation
National Endowment for the Arts in Partnership with Arts Midwest
P&G Fund of The Greater Cincinnati Foundation
Sue Ann and Judge Mark Painter
Cass and Glenn Plott
Patrick Points and Wijdan Jreisat
Shubert Foundation
Don and Linda Tecklenburg
Donna and Robert Welch

Gallant and Glamorous, $10,000 - $24,999

Diane Adamec
Anonymous, in memory of our mom Kathy
BlankRome and Monteverdi Tuscany
Sean and Tracie Conway
Rance and Marilyn Duke
Estate of Henrietta Barlag
Gerald Greenberg and Pamela Meyers
The Gumbleton Family
David Kern
Marcene and Jim Kinney
John and Betsy LaMacchia
Martha Holden Jennings Foundation
Isabel Mendez
Millstone Fund
Whitney Owens
PNC Bank
Ruth J. and Robert A. Conway Foundation
Rosemary and Mark Schlachter
Laura and Tayfun Tuzun
University of Cincinnati
Western & Southern Financial Group
Richard and Debbie Westheimer
George and Nancy Yund

Avowed and Audacious, $5,000 - $9,999

Bob Amott and Janice Flanagan
 Katherine Berger
 Bricker Graydon
 Mr. Otto Budig
 Brian and Elizabeth Coley
Elsa Heisel Sule Foundation
 Eva Jane Romaine Coombe Fund for Cincinnati Shakespeare Company of the Greater Cincinnati Foundation
 Joel and Sally Davenport
 Rick and Melissa Eder
 EY
 Fifth Third Bank
GBBN
Edward Givens
Graeter’s
Ms. Karlee Hilliard
 Jack J. Smith Charitable Trust
 KeyBank
 Susan Lauf
 Jean and Charles Lauterbach
 Messer Construction Co.
 Chris Nare and Lori Rappold
 Rick Pender and Joan Kaup
 Vicky and Rick Reynolds
 Jessica and Michael Ruebusch
Dr. H. James Williams and Carole Campbell Williams
 Jay and Jodi Woffington
The Wohlgemuth Herschede Foundation
 Woodward Trust

Devoted and Daring, $2,500 – $4,999

Ameritas
Anonymous
 Mr. Fred Berger
 Mr. Scott Bischoff and Teresa Sedlack
 Tracy Cheever
 Crosset Family Fund
 Jennifer and Vito Damiano
 Dan Fales
 Sarah and Matt Graber
 Myron and Sherry Hughes
 Steve Kenat and Heidi Jark
 Shannon and Steve Kane
 Mark and Marcy Kanter
 Robert Keith and Kathleen Thornton
 Linda Klump
 Thomas P. Lee
 Ted and Molly Lucien
 Travis and Teresa McElroy
 David and Lesley Nevers
 Mitchell and Karen Rashkin
 Betty and Steve Robinson
 Robert Roesbery, in honor of Nancy Helwig
 RSL Architecture
 Steven Skibo and Susan Esler
 Scott and Wanda Spivey
 Marty C. Tomb
 Robert and Sue Trusty
 Rosalie P. van Nuis
 Jeanna Vella and Denny Boehm
 William P. Anderson Foundation

Ardent and Astounding, $1,000 - $2,499

Americana Arts Foundation
Jeffrey and Karen Anderson
Anonymous
William Artzt
 William and Caroline Bahlman
 Sara and Dan Bick
 Maureen Bickley and Richard Meader
Robert Brackenbury and Linda Parysek
Daniel and Kendra Braun
Charles Scott Riley III Foundation
 Thomas and Mary Clare Brennan Family Fund of the Greater Cincinnati Foundation
 Lee and Lisa Clapp
 Philip T. Clayton
Dr. and Mrs. Stewart Dunsker
Joe and Kay Ellis
 Ms. Lisa Ellram
Estate of Dava Lynn Biehl
 Carol and Richard Fencl
 Alan Flaherty
Ellen Forte and Michael DiMaggio
Jerome Glinka and Kathleen Blieszner
Scott Goebel and Emily Detmer-Goebel
Bill Gordon and Nancy Johnson
John and Elizabeth Grover
 Karen and Bill Hatcher
 Debbie and David Horn
 Carl and Judy Jackson
 Pat and Randy Krumm
 Carol Leslie
 Becky and Ross Long, in memory of James R. Bridgeland and Margaret B. Bridgeland
 Mr. and Mrs. Luke Lovell
 Anne and Paul Lucky
 Arthur and Stephanie McMahon
 David Mebius
 Ariel Miller
 Norah and Joe Mock
 Ed and Diane Mohlenhoff
 Tom and Cindy Muething
 Richard Oberacker
 David and Patricia Papoi
 Kathy and Mike Rademacher
 Dr. Robert Reed M.D. and Ms. Constance Reed
 Becky and Ted Richards
 Gates and Margaret Richards
 Matthew Schottelkotte and Melanie Swick
 Dr. Catherine Shackson
 Elizabeth Shaughnessy
 Ruth and John Sikorski
 Dr. William Spohn and Dr. Margaret Dunn
 Ron and Marty Visscher
 Teresa Wilkins
 Carol and Rich Wilson
 Ms. Karen Zaugg

Ebullient and Exhilarating, $500 - $999

Christine Adams
Anonymous
Anonymous, in honor of Josephine O'Leary
Mary Ann and Doug Bell
David and Elaine Billmire
Jackie and Gary Bryson
Marybeth Carlson
Carol C. Cole
Seth Diehm
Dana Eisinger
Allison Evans
Ms. Allyson Fleischer
Noah Goertemiller
Susan Goldman
Jean Haynes
Rachel Heberling
Wendy G. Hill
Ms. Emily M. Hodges
Kevin and Libby Howard
Stephen and Janet Jackson
Amy Katz
Gail and Eric Kirchner 
Geoff and Shellie Leder
Anthony and Jodi Maieron, Revel Urban Winery, in honor of John "JC" Coleman
Mark McKillip
Neda and Bruce Nutley
Amy Paul and Jerry Newfarmer
Ricky Patel and Kristen Reilly
Rhinegeist Brewery
Mark and Jan Sass
Suzanne Schindler
Rich Schultz
Michele Schuster
Saira Shahani and Rick Warn
Bob and Laurie Sternberg
Gordon and Mary-Anne Thompson
Maureen Tierney
Jessica Tribbe
Ms Linda Vaccariello
Jennifer Watts
Christine Whittaker and Thane Thompson
Ms. Jo Ann Wieghaus

Valiant and Voracious, $250 - $499

Anonymous
Debra Austin
Charles Bramwell
Curtis Brown
Chad and Patrice Burke
Elishia Chamberlain, in memory of Christian Morris
Larry and Julie Chandler
Jeffrey Conner
Dr. Kristen Copeland and Steve Johns
Donald and Victoria Daiker
Rose Marie Deibel
Carole Donnelly
Elizabeth End
Lindsey Faber
Ariel Fox
Heather Gaynor
Gail Ginther
Kevin Grace
Stew and Linda Hall
Rob Heidenreich
Mrs. Dawn Hensley
Brian Hiles
Tom and Kathy Hogan
Joanna Huh
Keith and Farrah Jackson
Phyllis Jackson and Martin Murray
Prashant Jagtap
Laura Jansen
Mr. Carl Kalota
Sandra Kohn
Sherwin Little
John Lorenz
Mary Mahoney
Mr. David Martin
Julia Meister
Dr. Karen Meyers
Kim Morrow
Rob and Andrea Morwood
Ryan and TJ Murphy
Niamh J. O'Leary
Sharon and Ray Ontko
Dwight and Danielle Packard
Cyndie and David Park
The Patel-Curran Family
Graham and Karen Paxton
Steve Peaslee, in honor of Doug and Denise Peaslee
Alice M. Perlman
David M. Piatt
Kay Puryear
Abigail Riddle and Braden Blankenship
Stephen and Helen Rindsberg
Barbara Norris
Marie and Jeff Rusincovitch, in honor of Jeanna Vella
Robin Sargent
Ms. Jennifer Sauvey
Lukas Schmid
Rebecca Schultz
Monica and Matt Scott
Jennifer Sebranek
Bryan Sweasy
Julie Theobald
Carrie Walsh
Hugh Walsh
Judge Lawrence Walter and Ms. Christena Walter
Jessica Warren-Jones and Matthew Jones
Pann and Terry Webb
Warren and Pam Weber
John and Caroline Weidner
Mary Ann Weiss
Laurie A. West
Robert and Jean Willis
Kristin Woeste and Jake Mahle

Grand and Gracious, $100 - $249

Marjorie and David Aaron
Wayne Adams
Bruce Allen and Colleen Foegle
Maria Anderson
Anonymous (11)
Heidi Atwood
Benevity Causes
Juliette Bezold 
Ron Bingham
John and Nancy Blignaut
David and Madonna Bowman
Krista Boyle
Sarah Breiel
Judith Jaspers Briggs
Teresa Brolley
John and Rebecca Bromels
Charlie Brown
John and Peg Bruggeman
Rob Bunnell
Margaret Burgin
Eric Burgmann
Aaron Byrd
Rebecca Campbell
Bridgit Chayt
Anderson Christopher
Jon and Katie Clark
Jeff and Lisa Cooper
Tommy Cooper
Mrs. Constance Crafton
Michelle Cybulski
Clare Dietrich
Nicole and Gary Dowdell
Ms Lisa Drake
Emilie and David Dressler
Justin Drouin
Randi and David Eastland
Charles and Harriet Edwards 
Ehlers Family
Roger Emerson
Lauren Erdman
Cristina Ferrari
Robert and Mary Fitzpatrick
Jessica Flake
Jillian Frasher
Michael Fusco
Brent Gallaher and Vanessa Keeton
Andrea Galloway
Chris and Christine Garten
GE Foundation
Jo Anne Gibbons and John Getz
Carolyn and Eric Glosby, in honor of Myron and Sherry Hughes
Robert A. Goering and Monica V. Kindt
David Goist
Maria Gomez
Les Hall
Haider Ala Hamoudi
Michael Haney and Amy Warner
Othello Harris
Sigrun Haude
Alan Heitner
Kathleen Hibbard
Dr. Thomas Highley
Dale Hodges
Daniel J. Hoffheimer
Hogan Market Research
Doug Ignatius and Bruce Preston
Ann Jarboe
Priti Jha
Marilyn and Robert Johnson 
Janice Kagermeier
Jim and Mary Ann Kalla
Rabbi Ken and Toni Kanter
Robert Kelly
Rabbi Ken
Crystal Kendrick
Erin and Jeff Klein 
David Koehler and Barbara Kraemer
Ms. CiCi Lee
Vice Mayor Jan-Michele Lemon Kearney
Amy Lewis
Joseph Link
Steve Long
Cat Looby
JP and Foote Lund
Joeliene and Michael Magoto, in memory of Michael Valentine
David Mann
Sherry and Steve McCamley
Colleen and Mike McSwiggin
Anita Meister
Lance Melching
Microsoft Rewards API
Patricia Miller
Chris and Molly Milligan
Dave and Diane Moccia
Ms. Mimi Moller
David and Vicki Motch
Christine Mulvin
Dr. Nicholas Newman
Fred and Barbara Norton
Kyrié Owen
Stephen Phillips
Brian Isaac Phillips and Corinne Mohlenhoff
Ronald Plybon
Phil and Susan Price
Beverly Pugh
Brian Reilly
Shannon Richards
Dr. and Mrs. Barry Robertson
Patty Rosely
Kim Salit
Leila Saxena
Kathryn Schnier
Robert and Jennifer Schwartz
Rachelle Sekerka and Michael Eissfeld
Dan Shumer
Nedra Sneed
Christine Socwell
Carol Sparks
Paul Spearman
Jim and Cathy Stautberg
Sarah Tankersley
Suzanne Terwilliger
Annelly Torres Gomez
Ms. Cindy Tsai
Dan and Leslie Turis
Sandra and James Uhrig
The Shakespeare Society of Zanesville Ohio
Buzz Ward
Fred and Jo Anne Warren
Nathaniel Washatka
William Watts
Matt and Jonelle Wehrman
John and Heidi Williams 
Bill and Kathy Winters
Leo Yakutis

Monthly Giving Circle

 Cincinnati Shakespeare Company relies on the sustained commitment of a strong community of supporters to fuel our mission of bringing Shakespeare and the Classics to life for all. We send special thanks to our Monthly Giving Circle for their ongoing support of Cincinnati Shakespeare Company now and for seasons to come.

Rebecca and John Bromels
Curtis Brown
Jon and Katie Clark
Ms. Janet Davidson
Jillian Frasher
Scott Goebel and Emily Detmer-Goebel
Noah Goertemiller
Emily Hodges
Stephen Jackson
Lance Melching
Kyrié Owen
Kathy and Mike Rademacher
Robert Roesbery
Patty Rosely
Jennifer Sauvey
Susan Schapiro
Suzanne Schindler
Mary Ann Weiss

In-Kind Donors

Cincinnati Shakespeare Company sends special thanks to the following individuals and organizations for their in-kind contributions. 

American Legacy Tours
The BonBonerie
Brazee Studios
Castle Skateland
The Children's Theater
Cincinnati Men's Chorus
Cincinnati Museum Center
Cincinnati Observatory
Cincinnati Zoo
Civic Garden Center
Dr. Niamh O'Leary
Esquire Theatre
Flying Cloud Academy of Vintage Dance
Friends of Music Hall
Gina Cerimele-Mechley
Graeter's
Green Umbrella
Jessica Ruebusch
KeyBank
Lightborne
The Macaron Bar
Mellotone Beer Project
Mercantile Library
Midwest Falconry
Mikki Schaffner
NKU Haile Planetarium
Red Tree Coffee and Art
REVEL Urban Winery
Rhinegeist Brewery
State Bound Operations
Western & Southern Financial Group

Legacy Society

Cincinnati Shakespeare Company is grateful to the generous donors who have remembered CSC in their estates, or have expressed their commitment to a future planned gift. If you have considered including Cincinnati Shakespeare Company in your estate plans and want to learn more, please reach out to Sara Clark, Director of Development, at Sara.Clark@cincyshakes.com.

Mrs. L.L. Browning
Cynthia Crilley
Estate of Henrietta Barlag
Estate of Dava Lynn Biehl
Estate of James R. Bridgeland, Jr.
William Gordon and Nancy Johnson
The Gumbleton Family
Thomas P. Lee
Julie Metz 

ArtsWave Partners

Cincinnati Shakespeare Company acknowledges the following partner companies, foundations and their employees who generously participate in the annual ArtsWave Campaign at the $100,000+ level. Thank you!

$2 million +

P&G

$1 million to $1,999,999

Fifth Third Bank and Fifth Third Foundation

$500,000 to $999,999

GE Aerospace

$250,000 to $499,999

The Cincinnati Insurance Companies
The H.B., E.W. and F.R. Luther Charitable Foundation, Fifth Third Bank, N.A., Trustee
Western & Southern Financial Group

$100,000 – $249,999

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Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
Cincinnati Reds
Dinsmore & Shohl LLP
The E.W. Scripps Company and Scripps Howard Foundation
The Enquirer│Cincinnati.com
Great American Insurance Group
Greater Cincinnati Foundation
The Kroger Co.
Messer Construction Co.
PNC