Ensemble Theatre to Present Free Performance of STILL LIFE WITH IRIS in Washington Park, 7/19

Grab your picnic baskets and camp chairs, Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati is headed to Washington Park! Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati (ETC) is expanding the walls of its intimate theatre by presenting a special presentation of Steven Dietz's Still Life with Iris as a part of 3CDC's OTR Performs Series. This one-hour event, held at 6:00 pm on July 19, 2015 at Washington Park, will be preformed by a talented group of actors that have all once taken the ETC stage as interns over the last 20 years. Don't miss this free-yes FREE!-performance that is fun for the whole family.

The cast is entirely composed of former ETC acting interns from last 20 years. Taking the stage is Jared Doren (1995-96), Sara Mackie and Burgess Byrd (1999-00), Daniel Winters (2004-05), Lisa DeRoberts (2010-11), Ben Raanan and Jared Earland (2013-14), and Molly Israel and Patrick Phillips (2014-15). Stage Manager is Emily England. Directed by Ben Raanan.

Still Life with Iris is a fantastical adventure that centers on a little girl's search for the simplest of things: home. Iris lives with her mom in the land of Nocturno-a magical place in which the workers make, by night, all of the things we see in the world by day. The rulers of Nocturno, the Great Goods, are determined to have the "best" of everything on their island-and therefore take Iris away from her home and bring her to the Great Island to be their daughter, leaving her with no memory of her home or her family. Iris joins with friends she meets on her journey as she embarks on a quest to return to her family and her home. As the first play for young audiences to receive the Kennedy Center's Fund for New American Plays Award, this show celebrates ETC's past and present, while gearing up for its future.

"Still Life with Iris is all about finding your home," explains Ben Raanan, Director, former intern, and now ETC's Director of Education & Outreach. "It seemed fitting to invite past interns to perform this piece about finding your home when ETC has been home to so many interns over the years. It's a beautiful story that I knew needed to be brought to Cincinnati."

Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati is a professional theatre dedicated to producing world and regional premieres of works that often explore compelling social issues. We fulfill our mission through our stage productions and educational outreach programs that enlighten, enliven, enrich and inspire our audiences.