Know Theatre of Cincinnati is a

non-profit A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...

theatre company Theatre or theater is a collaborative form of performing art that uses live performers, usually actors or actresses, to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place, often a stage. The perfor ...

located in the historic

Over-the-Rhine Over-the-Rhine (often abbreviated as OTR) is a neighborhood in Cincinnati, Ohio, United States. Historically, Over-the-Rhine has been a working-class neighborhood. It is among the largest, most intact urban historic districts in the United State ...

neighborhood of

Cincinnati, Ohio Cincinnati ( ) is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located at the northern side of the confluence of the Licking and Ohio rivers, the latter of which marks the state line wit ...

, which produces contemporary and collaborative theatre that tends to be challenging and thought-provoking. MainStage performances occur in a 99-seat versatile black box theatre. Know Theatre produces a MainStage season, a SecondStage Series, an Educational Series rooted in

STEM Stem or STEM may refer to: Plant structures * Plant stem, a plant's aboveground axis, made of vascular tissue, off which leaves and flowers hang * Stipe (botany), a stalk to support some other structure * Stipe (mycology), the stem of a mushro ...

concepts, and the annual

Cincinnati Fringe Festival The Cincinnati Fringe Festival (Cincy Fringe), produced by Know Theatre of Cincinnati Know Theatre of Cincinnati is a non-profit theatre company located in the historic Over-the-Rhine neighborhood of Cincinnati, Ohio, which produces contemporary ...

. In 2010, Know Theatre launched the Jackson Street Market, a series of programs created to provide resources, foster collaborations, and to strengthen the local community of individual artists and independent arts organizations. Its goal is to retain artists in the city and create opportunities for them to make a living from their artistic endeavors. Know Theatre is part of an arts district in

with a number of diverse organizations including

Art Academy of Cincinnati The Art Academy of Cincinnati is a private college of art and design in Cincinnati, Ohio, accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design. It was founded as the McMicken School of Design in 1869, and was a department of the U ...

Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati is a professional equity theatre located at 1127 Vine Street in Cincinnati, Ohio that was founded in 1986. It is Greater Cincinnati’s second largest professional theatre, and until April 2012 was known as "Ensemble Thea ...

, Cincinnati Shakespeare Company,

Music Hall Music hall is a type of British theatrical entertainment that was popular from the early Victorian era, beginning around 1850. It faded away after 1918 as the halls rebranded their entertainment as variety. Perceptions of a distinction in Bri ...

History

Prior to 2006, Know Theatre of Cincinnati was known as the Know Theatre Tribe and was housed in the basement at Gabriel's Corner Church, 1425 Sycamore Street in Cincinnati, OH. Know Theatre moved into its new home on Jackson Street, merged with the

, and changed its name to Know Theatre of Cincinnati in 2006.

Know Theatre Tribe

The company was founded in the fall of 1997 when Jay B. Kalagayan formed a ‘tribe’ of artists who traveled to bookstores and venues in Cincinnati to perform original collaborative works. In 1999 the tribe took up its first residence in the basement of the church at Gabriel’s Corner and produced a full season of plays. In its early history, Know Theatre was best known for its 2003 production of

Terrence McNally Terrence McNally (November 3, 1938 – March 24, 2020) was an American playwright, librettist, and screenwriter. Described as "the bard of American theater" and "one of the greatest contemporary playwrights the theater world has yet produced," ...

's play '' Corpus Christi''. The production drew praise by winning a 2003 Post-Corbett Award and drew protests from religious groups, including a letter writing campaign in which over 20,000 post cards were mailed to the theatre.

Know Theatre of Cincinnati

In 2004, Know Theatre hired Artistic Director Jason Bruffy, founder of the Cincinnati Fringe Festival and former company manager of Cincinnati Shakespeare Company. In 2006, the company moved into its second permanent home at 1120 Jackson Street, and changed its name to Know Theatre of Cincinnati. The intent of this name change was both to acknowledge the city in which the company operates and to signify that its nomadic “tribe” days were over. Between 2006 and 2009, Know Theatre underwent an expansion of operational capacity, staff, and production values of the theatre produced. The fall of 2009 marked a transition period for Know Theatre, with founder Jay Kalagayan and Artistic Director Jason Bruffy both leaving the company to pursue other opportunities.

Explosive and Evocative Live Entertainment

The 2009-2010 season began with Eric Vosmeier as Managing Artistic Director and featured Cincinnati's first professional production of both parts of

Tony Kushner Anthony Robert Kushner (born July 16, 1956) is an American author, playwright, and screenwriter. Lauded for his work on stage he's most known for his seminal work ''Angels in America'' which earned a Pulitzer Prize and a Tony Award. At the turn ...

's '' Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes''. The production was recognized by the Acclaim Awards as Best Alternative Production and by the Cincinnati Entertainment Awards as Outstanding Play of the season. The 2009-2010 season also featured one of the highest selling productions in the company's history - ''Sideways Stories from Wayside School'' by John Olive and directed by Jason Ballweber of Four Humors Theater in Minneapolis, MN. At the start of the 2010-2011 season, Eric Vosmeier was named Producing Artistic Director. In 2010, Know Theatre launched the Jackson Street Market, a series of programs created to provide resources, foster collaborations, and to strengthen the local community of individual artists and independent arts organizations. Its goal is to retain artists in the city and create opportunities for them to make a living from their artistic endeavors. In 2011, construction was completed on a new marquee on the facade of Know Theatre's building funded by capital grants from The City of Cincinnati and The Greater Cincinnati Foundation. In 2012, the

American Theatre Wing The American Theatre Wing (the Wing for short) is a New York City–based non-profit organization "dedicated to supporting excellence and education in theatre", according to its mission statement. Originally known as the Stage Women's War Relief ...

, founder of the

Tony Award The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Broadway Theatre, more commonly known as the Tony Award, recognizes excellence in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual cer ...

s, awarded Know Theatre their National Theatre Company Grant.

Theatrical Playground

In 2014 longtime scenic and lighting designer Andrew Hungerford was named Producing Artistic Director. The theatre doubled the number of performances it offered in a season, increasing the number of MainStage shows and adding a SecondStage Series.

Notable Productions & Playwrights

View a full production history o
Know Theatre's Website
*2017 ''Listen for the Light'' by Kara Lee Corthron (world premiere. Directed by Tamara Winters; scenic design by Sarah Beth Hall; costume design by Noelle Johnston; lighting design by Andrew Hungerford; sound design by Doug Borntrager) *2016 ''Pulp'' by Joseph Zettelmaier ( National New Play Network Rolling World Premiere. Direction and lighting design by Andrew Hungerford; scenic design by Sarah Beth Hall; costume design by Noelle Johnston; sound and projection design by Doug Borntrager) *2015 ''Hundred Days'' by The Bengsons (directed by

Anne Kauffman Anne Kauffman is an American director known primarily for her work on new plays, mainly in the New York area. She is a founding member of the theater group the Civilians.Grode, Eric"Meet the Directors"''New York Times'', January 31, 2013 Early lif ...

; scenic and lighting design by Andrew Hungerford; costume design by Noelle Wedig; sound design by Doug Borntrager) *2015 ''

The Handmaid's Tale ''The Handmaid's Tale'' is a futuristic dystopian novel by Canadian author Margaret Atwood and published in 1985. It is set in a near-future New England in a patriarchal, totalitarian theonomic state known as the Republic of Gilead, which h ...

'' by

Margaret Atwood Margaret Eleanor Atwood (born November 18, 1939) is a Canadian poet, novelist, literary critic, essayist, teacher, environmental activist, and inventor. Since 1961, she has published 18 books of poetry, 18 novels, 11 books of non-fiction, nin ...

, adapted for the stage by Joe Stollenwerk (directed by Brian Isaac Phillips; scenic and lighting design by Andrew Hungerford; costume design by Noelle Wedig; sound design by Doug Borntrager) *2013 ''

When the Rain Stops Falling ''When the Rain Stops Falling'' is a play about family, secret legacies, betrayal and forgiveness seen across four generations and spanning two continents. The drama had its world premiere as part of the 2008 Adelaide Festival of Arts. It was wr ...

'' by

Andrew Bovell Andrew Bovell (born 23 November 1962) is an Australian writer for theatre, film and television. Life Bovell was born on 23 November 1962 in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia and completed his secondary school education in Perth. He graduated from t ...

(directed by Brian Isaac Phillips; scenic and lighting design by Andrew Hungerford; costume design by Noelle Wedig; sound design by Doug Borntrager) *2012 ''

Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson ''Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson'' is a rock musical with music and lyrics written by Michael Friedman and a book written by its director Alex Timbers. The show is a comedic historical rock musical about the founding of the Democratic Party. It r ...

'' by

Alex Timbers Alex Timbers (born August 7, 1978) is an American writer and director and the recipient of Tony, Golden Globe, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, and London Evening Standard Awards, as well as two OBIE and Lucile Lortel Awards. He is the recipie ...

& Michael Friedman (directed by Eric Vosmeier; scenic and lighting design by Andrew Hungerford; costume design by Noelle Wedig; sound design by Doug Borntrager) *2012 ''Collapse'' by Allison Moore (directed by Jason Bruffy; scenic and lighting design by Andrew Hungerford; sound design by Doug Borntrager) *2010 ''Skin Tight'' by

Gary Henderson (playwright) Gary Henderson (born 1955) is a New Zealand playwright, director and teacher. Henderson's work has been produced both nationally and internationally with his play ''Skin Tight'' having travelled to Edinburgh, New York City and Canada. Whilst at th ...

(directed by Drew Fracher; scenic and lighting design by Andrew Hungerford; sound design by Doug Borntrager) *2010 '' Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes'' by

(''Millennium Approaches'' directed by Brian Isaac Phillips and ''Perestroika'' directed by Drew Fracher; scenic and lighting design by Andrew Hungerford; sound design by Doug Borntrager; costume design by Susan Toy) *2010 '' Adding Machine: A Musical'' by Jason Loewith & Joshua Schmidt (directed by Michael Burnham, musical direction by Alan Patrick Kenney, scenic and lighting design by Andrew Hungerford, costumes by Susan Toy, sound design by Doug Borntrager) *2009 ''Sideways Stories From Wayside School'' by John Olive (directed by Jason Ballweber of Four Humors Theatre in Minneapolis; scenic design by Andrew Hungerford; lighting design by Josh Mansker; costume design by Susan Toy; sound design by Doug Borntrager) *2009 ''

Eurydice Eurydice (; Ancient Greek: Εὐρυδίκη 'wide justice') was a character in Greek mythology and the Auloniad wife of Orpheus, who tried to bring her back from the dead with his enchanting music. Etymology Several meanings for the name ...

'' by

Sarah Ruhl Sarah Ruhl (born January 24, 1974) is an American playwright, professor, and essayist. Among her most popular plays are ''Eurydice'' (2003), ''The Clean House'' (2004), and ''In the Next Room (or the Vibrator Play)'' (2009). She has been the reci ...

(directed by Jason Bruffy; scenic and lighting design by Sean Savoie; sound design by Doug Borntrager) *2008 ''Militant Language: A Play With Sand'' by Sean Christopher Lewis (World Premiere. Directed by Jason Bruffy; scenic and lighting design by Andrew Hungerford; sound design by Doug Borntrager) *2008 '' Bare: A Pop Opera'' by Jon Hartmere Jr. & Damon Intrabartolo (directed by Jason Bruffy; scenic and lighting design by Andrew Hungerford; sound design by Doug Borntrager) *2007 ''

Topdog/Underdog ''Topdog/Underdog'' is a play by American playwright Suzan-Lori Parks which premiered in 2001 off-Broadway in New York City. The next year it opened on Broadway, at the Ambassador Theatre, where it played for several months. In 2002, Parks rece ...

Suzan-Lori Parks Suzan-Lori Parks (born May 10, 1963) is an American playwright, screenwriter, musician and novelist. Her 2001 play ''Topdog/Underdog'' won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 2002; Parks was the first African-American woman to receive the award for d ...

'' (directed by Richard Hess; scenic and lighting design by Andrew Hungerford; sound design by Doug Borntrager) *2006 ''

See What I Wanna See ''See What I Wanna See'' is a musical by Michael John LaChiusa based on three short stories by Ryūnosuke Akutagawa: "Kesa and Morito", "In a Grove" (1922, the inspiration for Akira Kurosawa's 1950 film ''Rashomon'') and '' Dragon: the Old Pott ...

'' by

Michael John LaChiusa Michael John LaChiusa (born July 24, 1962) is an American musical theatre and opera composer, lyricist, and librettist. He is best known for musically esoteric shows such as '' Hello Again'', ''Marie Christine'', '' The Wild Party'', and ''See Wha ...

(Regional Premiere, first production after off-Broadway) (directed by Jason Bruffy) *2006 '' In the Blood'' by

(First production at new home on Jackson Street) *2005 '' Tick, Tick... Boom!'' by

Jonathan Larson Jonathan David Larson (February 4, 1960 – January 25, 1996) was an American composer, lyricist and playwright most famous for writing the musicals ''Rent'' and '' Tick, Tick... Boom!'', which explored the social issues of multiculturalism, ...

*2003 '' Corpus Christi'' by

(Heavily protested by religious groups, put Know Theatre on the map) *2000 ''In Rebel Country'' by

Kevin Barry Kevin Gerard Barry (20 January 1902 – 1 November 1920) was an Irish Republican Army (IRA) soldier who was executed by the British Government during the Irish War of Independence. He was sentenced to death for his part in an attack upon a Brit ...

References

External links

Know Theatre of Cincinnati
{{Authority control Theatres in Cincinnati Over-the-Rhine