MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG, DEAD ACCOUNTS, et al. Set for Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park Season

Today Producing Artistic Director Edward Stern announced his 20th - and final - season at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park. The Playhouse' s 52nd season includes two world premieres and three regional premiere productions, as well as the return of one of the most popular musicals in its history.

Some of the highlights of the 2011-2012 season include:

Tony Award-winning British director John Doyle (COMPANY) directs an exciting new revival of Stephen Sondheim's beautiful MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG with his distinctive style of actor/musicianship.

THUNDER KNOCKI NG ON THE DOOR, The Playhouse' s most successful musical hit of the last 20 years, returns with its magic, mystery and great blues.

Commissioned by The Playhouse, DEAD ACCOUNTS by Theresa Rebeck, one of the nation' s finest playwrights, receives its world premiere.

Famed comedy company The Second City returns to the Queen City with an all-new show written just for us about all things Cincinnati.

Life, love and renewal in the intimate Shelterhouse with Shakespeare's AS YOU LIKE IT.

According to Playhouse Producing Artistic Director Edward Stern, " For my 20th - and final - year as producing artistic director, I wanted an absolutely memorable season to celebrate, captivate, entertain, enthrall and enchant. This unforgettable new season will remind you why you fell in love with live theatre and The Playhouse."The Robert S. M arx Theatre Season (sponsored by The Otto M . Budig Family Foundation)

The Marx Theatre season starts with the winner of the 2009 Tony Award for Best Play, GOD OF CARNAGE (September 3 - October 1, 2011; opening night: September 8) by Yasmina Reza ("Art") and translated by Christopher Hampton. It has been described by Variety as "Elegant, acerbic and entertainingly fueled on pure bile" and The New York Times hailed it as "First class!" When two sets of parents meet for a civilized discussion about their sons' playground fight, the evening quickly deteriorates into a laugh-out-loud train wreck of finger-pointing, name-calling, tantrums and tears. And that' s before they break out the rum! Producing Artistic Director Edward Stern will helm the production.

The season continues with RED (October 15 - November 12, 2011, opening night: October 20) by John Logan. Winner of the 2010 Tony Award for Best Play, RED took Broadway by storm with its provocative and searing portrait of an artist's ambition and vulnerability. Having just landed the biggest commission in modern art history, abstract expressionist painter Mark Rothko works feverishly in his studio with his young assistant, Ken. As Rothko nears completion of what he hopes will be his crowning achievement, he faces the possibility that it could also become his undoing. The New Yorker called RED "Smart, exciting and scintillating." Artistic Director Steven Woolf from The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis will direct.

For the holidays, The Playhouse will celebrate the 21st anniversary of its favorite seasonal tradition with Charles Dickens' A CHRISTMAS CAROL (December 1 - December 30, 2011; opening night: December 2). The Playhouse's production features a lovingly faithful adaptation by Howard Dallin, complete with a cast of nearly 30 actors and elaborate costumes and special effects. A CHRISTMAS CAROL is not part of any subscription package, although subscribers do receive discounts and early buying opportunities. Associate Artistic Director Michael Evan Haney directs for his 19th year.

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