New Edgecliff Theatre

The mission of New Edgecliff Theatre is to serve the Greater Cincinnati area by presenting in an intimate setting small-scale theatre pieces designed to engage the human and thoughtful in all of us. We focus on contemporary work by lesser known, new, or infrequently produced artists that deserve attention. Our vision is to establish a unique connection between performer and audience, where social and political questions are fearlessly posed. NET reaches out to a broad cross-demographic audience with dynamic presentations. We stress intimate performing spaces and minimalist sets in our effort to provide the most immediate and unfettered artistic experience.

OUR HISTORY

Artistic Director Michael Shooner established New Edgecliff Theatre in 1998, building on a concept of locally-produced professional educational theater that he had first experienced at Edgecliff College in the 1970s. His first acting job with the new group (Eric Bogosian’s Sex, Drugs, and Rock & Roll ) earned Mr. Shooner a Cincinnati Entertainment Awards nomination as Best Actor. The organization incorporated the following year and mounted two full-scale productions during its first season: All in the Timing , produced in collaboration with Xavier University and presented at the University, and The Woolgatherer , presented to critical acclaim at the Fifth Third Bank Theater in the Aronoff Center. In 2000, NET received 501(c)(3) status and began by scheduling three productions during each fall/winter season.

During the 2000-01 season at the Fifth Third Bank Theater we offered Harry Kondoleon's Christmas on Mars , staged in collaboration with Xavier Players, Michael Folie's Naked by the River , and the world premiere of Randall David Cook's Southern Discomfort. The 2001-02 season included David Sedaris’ The Santaland Diaries , Michael Folie’s Slave Shack , and Joyce Carol Oates’ I Stand Before You Naked . Maintaining its reputation for strong acting, NET had two actors nominated for the Cincinnati Entertainment Awards. 2002-03 saw a continuation of incisive, character-driven, thought-provoking theatre, adding Season's Greetings to Sedaris' The Santaland Diaries , along with Linda Eisenstein's Three the Hard Way and Square One by Steve Tesich.

In May of 2002 NET moved into the newly established Artery space in downtown Newport, Kentucky with I Stand Before You Naked . The popular and critical success of that production led us to plan the 2002-03 season there. Due to a change in building ownership, we went in search of a new home and were quite thrilled to make use of the Columbia Performance Center (CPC) space in historic Columbia Tusculum for our third highly successful production of The Santaland Diaries in December of 2003. We are greatly looking forward to our upcoming season in this audience-friendly space.

In December of 2003, Elizabeth A. Harris was named Associate Artistic Director. Ms. Harris is one of the Greater Cincinnati area's most highly respected theatre professionals. In her inaugural season, she will be directing both Power Failure and Lives of the Saints, as well as acting in Matt Johnson's world premiere, Drinking Alone.

NET is a member of the League of Cincinnati Theatres, a regional organization committed to encouraging professionalism in area theatres.

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