Sometimes I get news items that might interest local theater fans. Here are two:
AWARD FOR PLAYHOUSE’S JOANIE SCHULTZ
Joanie Schultz, the associate artistic director at the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, is being recognized with its annual Zelda Fichlander Award for 2026. Presented by the Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation (SDCF), the Award recognizes directors and choreographers who have demonstrated great accomplishment to date with singular creativity and deep investment in a particular community or region, and is named for Zelda Fichandler, the founding artistic director of Arena Stage in Washington, D.C.
She’s directed the current Playhouse production of Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women, and will stage Mrs. Christie later this season. Before coming to Cincinnati, Schultz directed for the Goodman Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre and Victory Gardens Theatre in Chicago, as well as the Cleveland Play House, Kansas City Repertory Theatre, Indiana Repertory Theatre and at least 30 other theater and opera companies throughout Chicago and the U.S. Cincinnati audiences will recall her memorable staging of Frida … a Self Portrait for the Playhouse (in a production at Covington’s Carnegie Theatre).
Back in 2011 Ensemble Theatre’s D. Lynn Meyers was named a finalist for the Fichlander Award. It’s a rare distinction.
FREE TICKETS FOR NEW AUDIENCES AT THE CARNEGIE
The Carnegie in Covington has launched its First Show Free initiaive. It’s designed to welcome new audiences to live theater. Through this program offers a pair of complimentary tickets to first-time Carnegie visitors for one 2026 performance. If you’ve never seen a show at this renovated Carnegie Library, it’s worth a visit — they’ve really hit their stride with well-done musicals. The next production there will be Cole Porter’s tuneful musical comedy Anything Goes, onstage from February 27 to March 8. It’s a co-production with UC’s College-Conservatory of Music. Details can be found at thecarnegie.com/firstfree
Tyler Gabbard, the Carnegie’s director of theater, says, “Live theatre thrives in community, launching our First Show Free initiative with a season this wide-ranging felt natural. These are stories meant to be shared, and this program ensures more people get to be part of that shared experience.” Subsequent 2026 productions include the recent Broadway hit Dear Evan Hansen (June 19-28); a musical whodunit, Murder for Two (July 22-26); the classic hit La Cage aux Folles (August 14-23); and for Halloween, Carrie: The Musical (October 23-November 1).