CSC Opens HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES Tonight, 7/20

The legendary detective Sherlock Holmes and his assistant Dr. Watson are on the job to investigate the mysterious case of the "hound of hell" that stalks the moors. This fast-paced farcical adaptation of the classic novel is performed by only three actors tackling dozens of roles. Physical humor and visual gags will make this production a laugh out loud treat this summer. Audience will watch misstep after misstep to see if the questionably courageous detective and his bumbling man can manage to survive the mystery of Baskerville Hall. The game is afoot in this regional premiere of this thrilling adaptation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's "The Hound of the Baskervilles"!

CSC is pleased to produce the regional premiere of "The Hound of the Baskervilles" here in Cincinnati. The production recently enjoyed a stellar run at the Duchess Theatre in London's West-End. "Hound" is a happy spoof of what was once a serious piece of fiction. The Daily telegraph said that "theatre doesn't come much sillier than... this wonderfully barking spoof." The Independent said that the play is "packed with physical inventiveness...the gags...come thick and fast." The 3-man production is "pure comic bliss...reminiscent of the Marx Brothers" says The Stage.

CSC is also pleased to welcome Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park's Associate Artistic Director, Michael Evan Haney, to the director's chair for "The Hound of the Baskervilles". This will be his directorial debut at Cincinnati Shakespeare Company. Recent highlights from his long directorial tenure at Cincinnati Playhouse include "Speaking in Tongues" (2012), "As You Like It" (2011), "Over the Tavern" (2011), "The Understudy" (2010), "The History of Invulnerability" (2010), "Sleuth" (2009), "Blackbird" (2009), "Love Song" (2008), "Around the World in 80 Days" (2008), "Crime and Punishment" (2008), "Reckless" (2007), "Witness for the Prosecution" (2006), "The Clean House" (2006) and "A Christmas Carol" (1993-2011). Mr. Haney also directed the off- Broadway production of "Around the World in 80 Days" for the Irish Repertory Theatre. As the artistic director and the Allenberry Playhouse he helmed more than 30 plays including "Bus Stop", "Shirley Valentine", "Love Letters" (with Shirley Jones), "Crimes of the Heart", "The Secret Garden" and "Gypsy". CSC Producing Artistic Director, Brian Isaac Phillips says "Michael Haney is one of the finest directors in the region. His work is always exciting and unexpected. It has been a joy to see his many productions on stage at Playhouse in the Park and Ensemble Theatre and it is a pleasure to welcome him to the director's chair at Cincinnati Shakespeare Company. I couldn't imagine a better director to stage the regional premiere of this fantastic new play."

"The Hound of the Baskervilles" features CSC Resident Ensemble Members Jeremy Dubin, Nicholas Rose and Brent Vimtrup. CSC Artistic Associate Jeremy Dubin is entering his 13th season with the company. Audiences have delighted in many of Mr. Dubin's comedic performances including this past season as Costard in "Love's Labour's Lost", The Common Man and narrator of "A Man for All Seasons" and "Henry VIII: All is True" as well as in Season 18 as Launce in "The Two Gentlemen of Verona", which brought houses down nightly. Nicholas Rose, entering his 16th season with the company, was last seen on the stage in the wildly humorous production of "The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)". He has been featured at CSC this past season as the title role in "Macbeth" as well as Thomas Cromwell in "A Man for All Seasons" and "Henry VIII: All is True". Brent Vimtrup will be entering his 2nd season with the company. His debut last season included comedic roles in "Bedroom Farce", "Love's Labour's Lost" and "Sense & Sensibility" as well as critically acclaimed roles in "The Grapes of Wrath" as Noah Joad and in "A Man for All Seasons" and "Henry VIII: All is True" as the Duke of Norfolk. The design team includes the return of Resident Scenic and Lighting Designer Andrew Hungerford and Sound Designer Doug Borntrager. CSC is welcoming Denise Watkins as costume designer for this production.

Performances of "The Hound of the Baskervilles" are scheduled from tonight, July 20- August 12, 2012 on Thursday, Friday & Saturday evenings at 7:30pm and Sundays at 2pm. Preview performances are on July 18 & 19, and tickets are only $14. No performance Sunday July 21st. The theater is located at 719 Race Street, downtown Cincinnati, two blocks west of the Aronoff Center. Single ticket prices range from $22-$28 on Thursday Nights and Sunday Matinees and from $26-$32 on Friday and Saturday Nights. If available, $14 student rush tickets may be purchased 30 minutes before a show with a valid student ID. Visa, Discover, MasterCard, and American Express are accepted. Ticketing fees may apply. Discounts are available for students, seniors and groups as well as Enjoy the Arts and AAA members. To purchase tickets or for more information, call the CSC Box Office at 513.381.BARD (2273) ext. 1, or go online at www.cincyshakes.com.

Cincinnati Shakespeare Company is a professional theatre company dedicated to bringing Shakespeare and the classics to life for audiences of all ages. Located in the heart of downtown Cincinnati, CSC produces a dozen mainstage productions each season. CSC employs a resident company of actors and artists who live and work in Cincinnati year- round, and performs on a Small Professional Theatre contract with Actors' Equity Association. Cincinnati Shakespeare Company's Education and Outreach Programs see more than 22,000 students each season by taking Shakespeare into schools, parks, community centers and by hosting educational matinees of mainstage productions at its home on Race Street. In Season 20, CSC will become one of only a handful of companies worldwide to have produced Shakespeare's 38-play canon in its entirety. CSC is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization and all donations are tax deductible.