Ensemble Theatre to Present GROUNDED, 1/26-2/14

The second half of Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati's 30th Anniversary Season soars to new heights with the regional premiere of the captivating drama Grounded by George Brant. This gripping and powerful story is experienced through the fierce eyes of a female fighter pilot whose unexpected pregnancy changes the course of her career in the sky. Brace yourself for this award-winning, one-woman thriller, playing January 26-February 14, 2016. Directed by Michael Evan Haney. Premiere Sponsor is LPK.

An unexpected pregnancy ends an ace fighter pilot's career in the sky. Reassigned to operate remote-controlled military drones in the Middle East from a windowless trailer outside Las Vegas, she hunts terrorists by day and returns to her family each night. As the pressure to track a high-profile target mounts, the boundaries between the desert in which she lives and the one she patrols half a world away begin to blur. The struggle to navigate her dual identities may be her toughest mission yet.

"The story of Grounded is intensely human," explains Producing Artistic Director D. Lynn Meyers. "George Brant has created an extremely beautiful template for a very unsettling story. We're battling with drones and intelligence more than with boots on the ground. Michael Haney demonstrates his amazing talent directing this kind of dramatic, one-person material. The relationship ETC has had with him over the years has been nothing but terrific."

About the Cast

Kathleen Wise (The Pilot) makes her Ensemble Theatre debut as The Pilot in Grounded. Her theater credits include: Vinegar Tom (Potomac Theater Project/NYC), The Winslow Boy (Repertory Theatre of St. Louis), Talley's Folly (Merrimack Rep), Julius Caesar (The Acting Company/Guthrie Theater), Chain of Fools (Guthrie Theater), Diary of Anne Frank (Indiana Rep/ Pioneer Theatre), Murder on the Nile (Dorset Theatre Festival), A Midsummer Night's Dream (Will Geer's Theatricum Botanicum). She has played leading roles in the independent films Ironwood, Bella Vista, Historias del Canal, 4 Nights in the Hamptons, and Antidote. Other television and film credits include Palimpsest (Sundance Film Festival 2012), Unforgettable, and the award-winning web series WILDCATS. A Cincinnati native, Ms. Wise received her BA from Sarah Lawrence College and her MFA from NYU's Graduate Acting program.

Production team includes Brian c. Mehring (Resident Scenic & Lighting Designer), Jack Murphy (Technical Director), Matthew Hollstegge (Production Manager & Master Electrician), Shannon Rae Lutz (Properties Master & Design Assistant), Matt Callahan (Sound Designer), and Starr Fish (Costume Designer). Production Stage Manager is Brandon T. Holmes. Assistant Stage Manager is Elizabeth Freyman.

Performance Information

Performances run Tuesday through Sunday. Tuesday-Thursday, 7:30 pm; Friday and Saturday, 8:00 pm; Saturday and Sunday, 2:00 pm; and Sunday, 7:00 pm. A complete calendar of performances is available online at www.ensemblecincinnati.org.

Ticket Prices

Ticket prices range from $28 to $44 for adults; student tickets are $25; and children are $18. For the 2015-2016 season, ETC continues its popular $15 student and half-price rush tickets for all performances, which are available two hours prior to show time and may be purchased by phone or in person at the box office.

Available Discounts

Military, Educator, Public Radio Perks Card, ArtsWave FunCard, AAA, Senior, and Enjoy the Arts discounts available; tickets and seating are subject to availability.

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