Cincinnati Playhouse to Continue 'Off the Hill' Series with ANTIGONE This Winter

The Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park's popular Off the Hill series for families continues its 2015-16 season with ANTIGONE, John Yearley's world premiere adaptation about a brave young woman who must choose between obeying the laws of men and honoring her loyalty to her family. ANTIGONE is an inventive retelling of the timeless Greek legend. Recommended for ages 11 and up, ANTIGONE will tour to Tristate community venues from Jan. 24 through Feb. 21.

New to the Off the Hill schedule this season, each production will debut "on the hill" at the Playhouse. ANTIGONE will be presented at 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 23; tickets for the Playhouse performance may be purchased through the Box Office for $5.

With a terrible war behind them, Antigone and Prince Haemon are resolved to bring peace and stability to their city through their marriage. But Antigone remains tortured by the king's edict forbidding the burial of her traitorous brother, and she must determine which she values most: a peaceful, safe and secure future alongside those who remain or an uncertain one defending the honor and respect of the deceased.

"This adaptation of ANTIGONE is inspired," says director Cristina Alicea of the script by Yearley, who also wrote Fake Flowers Don't Die, a popular Off the Hill touring production from the 2013-14 season, and Leap, which was a Shelterhouse world premiere in 2005. "The story captures the important elements of the original while having it told from the perspective of the young people in the play. Creon the King is spoken of but is not a featured character. Instead, the onus is put on his son Haemon to weigh the critical issues in the play and make decisions about them. This reframing is a great way to refresh the story beyond just contemporizing the language. These changes make the story relatable to modern adult audiences and also for the students who will be experiencing it as it tours the Tristate."

The cast and creative team will work in tandem to create a retelling of this classic tale that will engage and resonate with today's audiences. "Like all great Greek tragedy, this story has already happened," explains Alicea. "Try as you might, the end is inevitable. All we can do as an audience is bear witness to the events and learn from them. It is my aim to tread the line between feeling very modern (slick and cool) while still paying homage to the original Greek style."

Alicea, who is also artistic director at Vermont Stage, is no stranger to world premiere projects. Her credits include regional and world premieres by rising stars Johnna Adams, Jacqueline Goldfinger and Greg Pierce, as well as works by established artists such as Sarah Ruhl and Christopher Durang.

The ANTIGONE cast includes Renika Williams as Antigone, Serena Ryen as Ismene, Robert Carlton Stimmel as Haemon and Law Dunford as Cyrus, all members of the Playhouse's 2015-16 Bruce E. Coyle Acting Intern Company. Other production team members include set designer Christopher Boone, costume designer Gordon DeVinney, sound designer Jeremy J. Lee and stage manager Tracy Hoida.

For more information about the Playhouse's education and outreach programs, contact the Education Department at 513-345-2242 or visit www.cincyplay.com.

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE (as of Jan. 4, 2016):

Saturday, Jan. 23, 4 p.m., Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park (Tickets available through the Playhouse Box Office at 513-421-3888.)
Sunday, Jan. 24, 2 p.m., Woman's Art Club - The Barn (Mariemont)
Friday, Jan. 29, 7 p.m., Oxford Community Arts Center
Saturday, Jan. 30, 2 p.m., Sunset Players at Arts Center at Dunham (Price Hill)
Saturday, Jan. 30, 7 p.m., Evendale Cultural Arts Center
Sunday, Jan. 31, 2 p.m., Ft. Wright Civic Center
Friday, Feb. 5, 7 p.m., Springfield Township at the Grove
Saturday, Feb. 6, 2 p.m., Mount St. Joseph University (Recital Hall, Delhi)
Saturday, Feb. 6, 7 p.m., Blue Ash Recreation Center
Friday, Feb. 12, 7 p.m., Prospect House (Price Hill)
Saturday, Feb. 13, 2 p.m., Hyde Park Health Center
Friday, Feb. 19, 7 p.m., Boone County Library Main Branch (Burlington, Kentucky)
Saturday, Feb. 20, 7 p.m., District A at Nativity School (Pleasant Ridge)
Sunday, Feb. 21, 2 p.m., Cedar Village Retirement Community (Mason)

Note: Details vary by location. Contact the individual sites for tickets and prices. Contact information is available on the Playhouse website at www.cincyplay.com.

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