Supporters and Friends,
As we celebrate the conclusion of our 31st Season, I want to express my deepest gratitude for your support of Cincinnati Shakespeare Company. Your belief in our mission and your generosity made this season—one of the most ambitious in our history—possible.
Thanks to you, our 2024–2025 Mainstage season was a bold showcase of world premieres, national collaborations, and innovative storytelling. We launched three brand-new productions into the world: Kindred Spirits, A Room in the Castle, andMrs. Dalloway: A New Musical, each one developed right here at CSC. These premieres not only told vital, contemporary stories—they also underscored our commitment to fostering new voices in the classical canon.
This season also took our work beyond Cincinnati in exciting ways. Frankenstein, our haunting reimagining of Mary Shelley’s classic, was co-produced with Merrimack Repertory Theatre in Boston. Twelfth Night took a globe-trotting journey with our partners at Prague Shakespeare Company, culminating in a performance run in the Czech Republic. And A Room in the Castle—our deeply personal exploration of Hamlet—continued its life in Washington, D.C. through our co-production with the renowned Folger Theatre.
Speaking of Hamlet, this season’s Project Hamlet brought Shakespeare’s iconic character into sharp focus. The journey began with our summer Park Tour production of Hamlet, continued with the Pulitzer Prize-winning Fat Ham, and culminated with A Room in the Castle. Through this project, we explored identity, grief, and legacy across time, text, and generations.
We also deepened our commitment to community, education, and accessibility. Our FREE Shakespeare in the Park Tour again traveled 30 neighborhoods throughout the region, welcoming audiences of all ages. Thousands of students participated in transformative educational programming, and familiar favorites like YP Preview Night and ShakesQUEER returned to connect new audiences to our work.
We were especially proud to continue two major community initiatives: our second annual Sensory Friendly performance of Twelfth Night, making Shakespeare more accessible for neurodivergent audiences, and our second mainstage collaboration with the Q-Kidz dance team on The Tempest, blending Shakespeare with the joy, movement, and spirit of young artists in our community.
It is your support that made all of this possible. With your partnership, we’ve elevated new stories, sparked vital conversations, nurtured the next generation of theatre lovers, and built a stronger, more vibrant community—here in Cincinnati and far beyond.
Thank you for being part of this extraordinary journey.
See you at the theater,
Brian Isaac Phillips
Producing Artistic Director & CEO
Cincinnati Shakespeare Company
To our Donors and Patrons,
As we look back on Season 31 at Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, I’m proud to say that your generosity and steadfast support helped us deliver another remarkable year of art, education, and impact. Thanks to you—and the smart, ambitious, and adaptive leadership of our staff and Board—CSC not only weathered the ongoing challenges facing arts organizations nationwide, but thrived.
We are especially proud to share that we closed this fiscal year with a budget surplus, and that we raised a record-breaking $1.9 million in contributed revenue—a powerful testament to the strength of our community and your belief in our mission. Those funds are not just numbers on a balance sheet. They represent new productions, new educational initiatives, and continued investment in artists, students, and audiences. Every surplus dollar will be thoughtfully reinvested into the business and the work on our stages.
While many of our peers across the country have had to scale back, cancel productions, or close their doors entirely, Cincinnati Shakespeare Company continues to move forward. That’s not by chance. It’s because of strong financial controls, clear strategic vision, and an enduring base of donor support—including you.
Of course, we are not immune to the pressures still facing our sector—from rising costs to shifting audience habits to threats to public arts funding. But thanks to your commitment, and to the extraordinary team at CSC, we are able to produce a full season of dynamic programming, develop new works, tour the region with free Shakespeare, and expand access to the arts in Cincinnati and beyond.
This year has reminded us of what’s possible when passionate people come together around a shared purpose. At CSC, we remain grounded in our mission and energized by your trust.
Thank you for standing with us, and for helping to build a future where the power of live theater continues to thrive.
With gratitude,
Otto M. Budig, Jr.
President, Board of Trustees
Cincinnati Shakespeare Company
Annual Report
Sponsors and Partners List
2024-2025 Season
We wish to thank the following corporations, foundations, agencies, and individuals for their support of the 2024-2025 Season. We are forever grateful.
We endeavor to recognize all of our supporters correctly.* If you see a problem with this list, please accept our apologies and email Director of Development, Sara Clark to correct. Thank you.
*Listed by size of donation and then alphabetically within groups
Season Funder:
ArtsWave
Operating Support Partners:
The Robert and Adele Schiff Family Foundation
The Ohio Arts Council
The Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile, Jr. Foundation
The Shubert Foundation
Education Season Sponsors:
Debby and Jim Mason,
Cindy Bridgeland Crilley, and
Maureen and John Bridgeland
In honor of Jim Bridgeland
Creative Services Partner:
Lightborne
Mainstage Production Sponsors:
Monteverdi Tuscany/Blank Rome
Rance and Marilyn Duke
Judge Mark and Sue Ann Painter
PNC Bank
Marcie and Jim Kinney
Fifth Third Bank
KeyBank
Messer
H. James Williams and Carole Campbell Williams, Mount St. Joseph University
Education Partners:
The Limestone Fund
The Charles H. Dater Foundation
Martin Chavez
National Endowment for the Arts in Partnership with Arts Midwest
P&G Fund of the Greater Cincinnati Foundation
Ohio Arts Council Arts Partnership
Andrew Jergens Foundation
Johnson Investment Counsel
Martha Holden Jennings Foundation
Ruth J. and Robert A. Conway Foundation
Ameritas Community Giving
Crosset Family Fund
Elsa Heisel Sule Foundation
Paul Sittenfeld, in memory of Eva Jane Romaine Coombe
Wohlgemuth Herschede Foundation
Woodward Trust
William P. Anderson Foundation
Charles Scott Riley III Foundation
FREE Shakespeare in the Park Sponsors:
Western & Southern Financial Fund
Eleanora C. U. Alms Trust, Fifth Third Bank, Trustee
REVEL Sponsors:
Johnson Investment Counsel
The University of Cincinnati
Bricker Graydon
Otto M. Budig, Jr.
GBBN
EY
Glenn and Cass Plott
PNC Bank
Tayfun and Laura Tuzun
Blue Rose Supply
Rick and Melissa Eder
Debby and Jim Mason
Vicky and Rick Reynolds
George Yund, Maureen Bickley, and Frost Brown Todd
Lightborne
Macaron Bar
Revel Urban Winery
Rhinegeist Brewery
New Play Development Partners:
The McElroy Family
Bob and Donna Welch
Opening Night Partners:
Cass and Glenn Plott
Graeter’s
Season Catering Sponsor:
eat well celebrations and feasts
YP Preview Night Sponsor:
ArtsWave YP Grant
Sensory Friendly Performance Sponsors:
Cass and Glenn Plott
Community Partner Sponsors:
Richard and Debbie Westheimer
Production Manager Artist Sponsor:
Judge Mark Painter
2024-2025 Season Sponsors:
Annual Report
Friends of the Company
2024-2025 Season
“With one ‘we thank you,’ many millions more…”
-The Winter’s Tale, Act I, Scene ii
Cincinnati Shakespeare Company extends thanks to the following individuals and organizations for their generous support. The following gifts were received by Cincinnati Shakespeare Company July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025 or pledged to the 2024 – 2025 Season. Giving Levels are exclusive of Capital Campaign donations. Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy. If you see an error, please accept our sincere apology and contact Sara Clark at 513-381-2273, ext. 3208.
Individual Donors
ArtsWave
John Bridgeland and Maureen Fallon Bridgeland
The Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile, Jr. Foundation
Cynthia Crilley
The Linnemann Family Foundation
Debby and Jim Mason
Ohio Arts Council
Robert & Adele Schiff Family Foundation
Mrs. L.L. Browning
Charles H. Dater Foundation
Martin Chavez
Eleanora C. U. Alms Trust, Fifth Third Bank, Trustee
John A. Schroth Family Charitable Trust
Johnson Investment Counsel, Inc.
The Limestone Fund of the Greater Cincinnati Foundation
National Endowment for the Arts in Partnership with Arts Midwest
P&G Fund of The Greater Cincinnati Foundation
Sue Ann and Judge Mark Painter
Cass and Glenn Plott
Patrick Points and Wijdan Jreisat
Shubert Foundation
Don and Linda Tecklenburg
Donna and Robert Welch
Diane Adamec
Anonymous, in memory of our mom Kathy
BlankRome and Monteverdi Tuscany
Sean and Tracie Conway
Rance and Marilyn Duke
Estate of Henrietta Barlag
Gerald Greenberg and Pamela Meyers
The Gumbleton Family
David Kern
Marcene and Jim Kinney
John and Betsy LaMacchia
Martha Holden Jennings Foundation
Isabel Mendez
Millstone Fund
Whitney Owens
PNC Bank
Ruth J. and Robert A. Conway Foundation
Rosemary and Mark Schlachter
Laura and Tayfun Tuzun
University of Cincinnati
Western & Southern Financial Group
Richard and Debbie Westheimer
George and Nancy Yund
Bob Amott and Janice Flanagan
Katherine Berger
Bricker Graydon
Mr. Otto Budig
Brian and Elizabeth Coley
Elsa Heisel Sule Foundation
Eva Jane Romaine Coombe Fund for Cincinnati Shakespeare Company of the Greater Cincinnati
Foundation
Joel and Sally Davenport
Rick and Melissa Eder
EY
Fifth Third Bank
GBBN
Edward Givens
Graeter’s
Ms. Karlee Hilliard
Jack J. Smith Charitable Trust
KeyBank
Susan Lauf
Jean and Charles Lauterbach
Messer Construction Co.
Chris Nare and Lori Rappold
Rick Pender and Joan Kaup
Vicky and Rick Reynolds
Jessica and Michael Ruebusch
Dr. H. James Williams and Carole Campbell Williams
Jay and Jodi Woffington
The Wohlgemuth Herschede Foundation
Woodward Trust
Ameritas
Anonymous
Mr. Fred Berger
Mr. Scott Bischoff and Teresa Sedlack
Tracy Cheever
Crosset Family Fund
Jennifer and Vito Damiano
Dan Fales
Sarah and Matt Graber
Myron and Sherry Hughes
Steve Kenat and Heidi Jark
Shannon and Steve Kane
Mark and Marcy Kanter
Robert Keith and Kathleen Thornton
Linda Klump
Thomas P. Lee
Ted and Molly Lucien
Travis and Teresa McElroy
David and Lesley Nevers
Mitchell and Karen Rashkin
Betty and Steve Robinson
Robert Roesbery, in honor of Nancy Helwig
RSL Architecture
Steven Skibo and Susan Esler
Scott and Wanda Spivey
Marty C. Tomb
Robert and Sue Trusty
Rosalie P. van Nuis
Jeanna Vella and Denny Boehm
William P. Anderson Foundation
Americana Arts Foundation
Jeffrey and Karen Anderson
Anonymous
William Artzt
William and Caroline Bahlman
Sara and Dan Bick
Maureen Bickley and Richard Meader
Robert Brackenbury and Linda Parysek
Daniel and Kendra Braun
Charles Scott Riley III Foundation
Thomas and Mary Clare Brennan Family Fund of the Greater Cincinnati Foundation
Lee and Lisa Clapp
Philip T. Clayton
Dr. and Mrs. Stewart Dunsker
Joe and Kay Ellis
Ms. Lisa Ellram
Estate of Dava Lynn Biehl
Carol and Richard Fencl
Alan Flaherty
Ellen Forte and Michael DiMaggio
Jerome Glinka and Kathleen Blieszner
Scott Goebel and Emily Detmer-Goebel
Bill Gordon and Nancy Johnson
John and Elizabeth Grover
Karen and Bill Hatcher
Debbie and David Horn
Carl and Judy Jackson
Pat and Randy Krumm
Carol Leslie
Becky and Ross Long, in memory of James R. Bridgeland and Margaret B. Bridgeland
Mr. and Mrs. Luke Lovell
Anne and Paul Lucky
Arthur and Stephanie McMahon
David Mebius
Ariel Miller
Norah and Joe Mock
Ed and Diane Mohlenhoff
Tom and Cindy Muething
Richard Oberacker
David and Patricia Papoi
Kathy and Mike Rademacher
Dr. Robert Reed M.D. and Ms. Constance Reed
Becky and Ted Richards
Gates and Margaret Richards
Matthew Schottelkotte and Melanie Swick
Dr. Catherine Shackson
Elizabeth Shaughnessy
Ruth and John Sikorski
Dr. William Spohn and Dr. Margaret Dunn
Ron and Marty Visscher
Teresa Wilkins
Carol and Rich Wilson
Ms. Karen Zaugg
Christine Adams
Anonymous
Anonymous, in honor of Josephine O'Leary
Mary Ann and Doug Bell
David and Elaine Billmire
Jackie and Gary Bryson
Marybeth Carlson
Carol C. Cole
Seth Diehm
Dana Eisinger
Allison Evans
Ms. Allyson Fleischer
Noah Goertemiller
Susan Goldman
Jean Haynes
Rachel Heberling
Wendy G. Hill
Ms. Emily M. Hodges
Kevin and Libby Howard
Stephen and Janet Jackson
Amy Katz
Gail and Eric Kirchner
Geoff and Shellie Leder
Anthony and Jodi Maieron, Revel Urban Winery, in honor of John "JC" Coleman
Mark McKillip
Neda and Bruce Nutley
Amy Paul and Jerry Newfarmer
Ricky Patel and Kristen Reilly
Rhinegeist Brewery
Mark and Jan Sass
Suzanne Schindler
Rich Schultz
Michele Schuster
Saira Shahani and Rick Warn
Bob and Laurie Sternberg
Gordon and Mary-Anne Thompson
Maureen Tierney
Jessica Tribbe
Ms Linda Vaccariello
Jennifer Watts
Christine Whittaker and Thane Thompson
Ms. Jo Ann Wieghaus
Anonymous
Debra Austin
Charles Bramwell
Curtis Brown
Chad and Patrice Burke
Elishia Chamberlain, in memory of Christian Morris
Larry and Julie Chandler
Jeffrey Conner
Dr. Kristen Copeland and Steve Johns
Donald and Victoria Daiker
Rose Marie Deibel
Carole Donnelly
Elizabeth End
Lindsey Faber
Ariel Fox
Heather Gaynor
Gail Ginther
Kevin Grace
Stew and Linda Hall
Rob Heidenreich
Mrs. Dawn Hensley
Brian Hiles
Tom and Kathy Hogan
Joanna Huh
Keith and Farrah Jackson
Phyllis Jackson and Martin Murray
Prashant Jagtap
Laura Jansen
Mr. Carl Kalota
Sandra Kohn
Sherwin Little
John Lorenz
Mary Mahoney
Mr. David Martin
Julia Meister
Dr. Karen Meyers
Kim Morrow
Rob and Andrea Morwood
Ryan and TJ Murphy
Niamh J. O'Leary
Sharon and Ray Ontko
Dwight and Danielle Packard
Cyndie and David Park
The Patel-Curran Family
Graham and Karen Paxton
Steve Peaslee, in honor of Doug and Denise Peaslee
Alice M. Perlman
David M. Piatt
Kay Puryear
Abigail Riddle and Braden Blankenship
Stephen and Helen Rindsberg
Barbara Norris
Marie and Jeff Rusincovitch, in honor of Jeanna Vella
Robin Sargent
Ms. Jennifer Sauvey
Lukas Schmid
Rebecca Schultz
Monica and Matt Scott
Jennifer Sebranek
Bryan Sweasy
Julie Theobald
Carrie Walsh
Hugh Walsh
Judge Lawrence Walter and Ms. Christena Walter
Jessica Warren-Jones and Matthew Jones
Pann and Terry Webb
Warren and Pam Weber
John and Caroline Weidner
Mary Ann Weiss
Laurie A. West
Robert and Jean Willis
Kristin Woeste and Jake Mahle
Marjorie and David Aaron
Wayne Adams
Bruce Allen and Colleen Foegle
Maria Anderson
Anonymous (11)
Heidi Atwood
Benevity Causes
Juliette Bezold
Ron Bingham
John and Nancy Blignaut
David and Madonna Bowman
Krista Boyle
Sarah Breiel
Judith Jaspers Briggs
Teresa Brolley
John and Rebecca Bromels
Charlie Brown
John and Peg Bruggeman
Rob Bunnell
Margaret Burgin
Eric Burgmann
Aaron Byrd
Rebecca Campbell
Bridgit Chayt
Anderson Christopher
Jon and Katie Clark
Jeff and Lisa Cooper
Tommy Cooper
Mrs. Constance Crafton
Michelle Cybulski
Clare Dietrich
Nicole and Gary Dowdell
Ms Lisa Drake
Emilie and David Dressler
Justin Drouin
Randi and David Eastland
Charles and Harriet Edwards
Ehlers Family
Roger Emerson
Lauren Erdman
Cristina Ferrari
Robert and Mary Fitzpatrick
Jessica Flake
Jillian Frasher
Michael Fusco
Brent Gallaher and Vanessa Keeton
Andrea Galloway
Chris and Christine Garten
GE Foundation
Jo Anne Gibbons and John Getz
Carolyn and Eric Glosby, in honor of Myron and Sherry Hughes
Robert A. Goering and Monica V. Kindt
David Goist
Maria Gomez
Les Hall
Haider Ala Hamoudi
Michael Haney and Amy Warner
Othello Harris
Sigrun Haude
Alan Heitner
Kathleen Hibbard
Dr. Thomas Highley
Dale Hodges
Daniel J. Hoffheimer
Hogan Market Research
Doug Ignatius and Bruce Preston
Ann Jarboe
Priti Jha
Marilyn and Robert Johnson
Janice Kagermeier
Jim and Mary Ann Kalla
Rabbi Ken and Toni Kanter
Robert Kelly
Rabbi Ken
Crystal Kendrick
Erin and Jeff Klein
David Koehler and Barbara Kraemer
Ms. CiCi Lee
Vice Mayor Jan-Michele Lemon Kearney
Amy Lewis
Joseph Link
Steve Long
Cat Looby
JP and Foote Lund
Joeliene and Michael Magoto, in memory of Michael Valentine
David Mann
Sherry and Steve McCamley
Colleen and Mike McSwiggin
Anita Meister
Lance Melching
Microsoft Rewards API
Patricia Miller
Chris and Molly Milligan
Dave and Diane Moccia
Ms. Mimi Moller
David and Vicki Motch
Christine Mulvin
Dr. Nicholas Newman
Fred and Barbara Norton
Kyrié Owen
Stephen Phillips
Brian Isaac Phillips and Corinne Mohlenhoff
Ronald Plybon
Phil and Susan Price
Beverly Pugh
Brian Reilly
Shannon Richards
Dr. and Mrs. Barry Robertson
Patty Rosely
Kim Salit
Leila Saxena
Kathryn Schnier
Robert and Jennifer Schwartz
Rachelle Sekerka and Michael Eissfeld
Dan Shumer
Nedra Sneed
Christine Socwell
Carol Sparks
Paul Spearman
Jim and Cathy Stautberg
Sarah Tankersley
Suzanne Terwilliger
Annelly Torres Gomez
Ms. Cindy Tsai
Dan and Leslie Turis
Sandra and James Uhrig
The Shakespeare Society of Zanesville Ohio
Buzz Ward
Fred and Jo Anne Warren
Nathaniel Washatka
William Watts
Matt and Jonelle Wehrman
John and Heidi Williams
Bill and Kathy Winters
Leo Yakutis
Special Thanks
Cincinnati Shakespeare Company relies on the sustained commitment of a strong community of supporters to fuel our mission of bringing Shakespeare and the Classics to life for all. We send special thanks to our Monthly Giving Circle for their ongoing support of Cincinnati Shakespeare Company now and for seasons to come.
Rebecca and John Bromels
Curtis Brown
Jon and Katie Clark
Ms. Janet Davidson
Jillian Frasher
Scott Goebel and Emily Detmer-Goebel
Noah Goertemiller
Emily Hodges
Stephen Jackson
Lance Melching
Kyrié Owen
Kathy and Mike Rademacher
Robert Roesbery
Patty Rosely
Jennifer Sauvey
Susan Schapiro
Suzanne Schindler
Mary Ann Weiss
Cincinnati Shakespeare Company sends special thanks to the following individuals and organizations for their in-kind contributions.
American Legacy Tours
The BonBonerie
Brazee Studios
Castle Skateland
The Children's Theater
Cincinnati Men's Chorus
Cincinnati Museum Center
Cincinnati Observatory
Cincinnati Zoo
Civic Garden Center
Dr. Niamh O'Leary
eat well celebrations and feasts
Esquire Theatre
Flying Cloud Academy of Vintage Dance
Friends of Music Hall
Gina Cerimele-Mechley
Graeter's
Green Umbrella
Jessica Ruebusch
KeyBank
Lightborne
The Macaron Bar
Mellotone Beer Project
Mercantile Library
Midwest Falconry
Mikki Schaffner
NKU Haile Planetarium
Red Tree Coffee and Art
REVEL Urban Winery
Rhinegeist Brewery
State Bound Operations
Western & Southern Financial Group
Cincinnati Shakespeare Company is grateful to the generous donors who have remembered CSC in their estates, or have expressed their commitment to a future planned gift. If you have considered including Cincinnati Shakespeare Company in your estate plans and want to learn more, please reach out to Sara Clark, Director of Development, at Sara.Clark@cincyshakes.com.
Mrs. L.L. Browning
Cynthia Crilley
Estate of Henrietta Barlag
Estate of Dava Lynn Biehl
Estate of James R. Bridgeland, Jr.
William Gordon and Nancy Johnson
The Gumbleton Family
Thomas P. Lee
Julie Metz
Cincinnati Shakespeare Company acknowledges the following partner companies, foundations and their employees who generously participate in the annual ArtsWave Campaign at the $100,000+ level. Thank you!
$2 million +
P&G
$1 million to $1,999,999
Fifth Third Bank and Fifth Third Foundation
$500,000 to $999,999
GE Aerospace
$250,000 to $499,999
The Cincinnati Insurance Companies
The H.B., E.W. and F.R. Luther Charitable Foundation, Fifth Third Bank, N.A., Trustee
Western & Southern Financial Group
$100,000 – $249,999
altafiber
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
Cincinnati Reds
Dinsmore & Shohl LLP
The E.W. Scripps Company and Scripps Howard Foundation
The Enquirer│Cincinnati.com
Great American Insurance Group
Greater Cincinnati Foundation
The Kroger Co.
Messer Construction Co.
PNC
