Notre Dame College Performing Arts programs have formed two new theatre partnerships.
The College now has two community theatre companies in residence, one for each of its major performance spaces. Ensemble Theatre, a professional theatre company with an emphasis on nontraditional casting, has a new home in the College’s Performing Arts Center in the Administration Building on the College campus. Heights Youth Theatre (HYT), one of the oldest children’s theatres, now is in residence at Notre Dame’s Regina Auditorium and the Regina Dance Studio.
Ensemble Theater had used Coventry PEACE Building in Cleveland Heights since 2010. HYT, a nonprofit organization committed to providing quality children’s programming on the East Side of the Cleveland metro area, had been part of the Cleveland Heights community for 65 years.
Regina and College Connections
Celeste Cosentino, director of theatre studies at Notre Dame, also is the executive artistic director of Ensemble Theatre, which has served audiences in Northeast Ohio for more than 40 years. The small professional theatre was founded by her late mother the year after she was born.
“Both my mother and I graduated from Regina High School, so in a lot of ways, I am returning to the ‘stage’ where a lot of this began for both of us,” Consentino said.
With the purpose of producing American classics, Ensemble was founded in 1979 by Artistic Director Lucia Colombi. Ensemble created the series Panorama of African-American Theatre, which was filmed by PBS, syndicated nationally and chosen for their “First View Award,” selecting it as one of the top 25 educational programs in the country.
Ensemble Theatre has won Northern Ohio Live’s Achievement Award for its productions of “A Trip to Bountiful,” “Kentucky Cycle” and “Having Our Say.” Cleveland Magazine’s Reader Poll chose the theatre’s production of “The Gin Game” as best production. Recently, Ensemble received the Cleveland Critics Circle Award for best director, actor and production for its 2012 production of “The Normal Heart,” as well as best director for its 2013 production of “The Iceman Cometh.”
“Notre Dame College is thrilled about our newly formed partnership with Ensemble Theatre. Ensemble is a fantastic organization that has brought the joy of theatre into the lives of thousands. We know that they will quickly become welcomed as part of the NDC community,” said Michael Krueger, co-director of performing arts, assistant professor of music and director of instrumental studies at the College. “We hope to see you at some incredible performances during the 22-23 season.”
Heights Youth Theatre 2022-2023 Season
HYT will open its season with the premiere of a musical based on the children’s book and motion picture, “Matilda.” The musical will be directed by Treva Offset. Show dates are October 7-9 and October 14-16.
The troupe’s second show, “The Drowsy Chaperone” will be directed by Eugene Sumlin in January. In this production a hard-core theatre fan plays his favorite cast album, and the characters come to life in a musical farce. Performances are January 13-15 and January 20-22 in 2023.
In May 2023, HYT will present its final show opening of the season. “Bye Bye Birdie.” Directed by Kelly Monaghan, this production harkens back to the excitement of the late 1950s with hilarity and a famous score.
All HYT performances will be conducted on Fridays at 7 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m., all in Regina Auditorium. More information about Heights Youth Theatre can be found here: https://www.heightsyouththeatre.com/
Ensemble Theatre’s 2022-2023 Season
Ensemble Theatre’s 43rd season will feature four productions:
- The first show will be the Tony Award-winning play, “Clybourne Park,” by Bruce Norris. The performance, directed by Celeste Cosentino, will be performed from September 23 to October 9.
- Shows of “Describe the Night” by Rajiv Joseph and directed by Cosentino, are from October 28 to November 13.
- “The River” by Jez Butterworth and directed by Ian Wolfgang Hinz will be performed from February 17 to March 5, in 2023.
- “The Light” by Loy A. Webb and directed by Jeannine Gaskin will be performed from May 26 to June 11, also in 2023.
All Ensemble Theatre productions will be in the Performing Arts Center on Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Individual tickets will range from $15 to $32 and season memberships will range from $55 to $130.
Tickets and additional information are available at EnsembleTheatreCLE.org.
September 2022
About Notre Dame College
Notre Dame College is a private, Catholic, liberal arts college in South Euclid, Ohio, committed to teaching students how to make a good living and live a good life. Founded by the Sisters of Notre Dame in 1922, the College offers bachelor’s degrees in 30 disciplines plus a variety of master’s degrees, certification programs and continuing and professional development programs for adult learners on campus and online. For more information, visit NotreDameCollege.edu.