Since 1994, American Theatre magazine has published a list of the top 10 most-produced plays for the upcoming season at professional theatres around the country. The industry publication then began calculating the top 20 most-produced playwrights in 2014. With the exception of pandemic-affected seasons from 2019-20 to 2021-22, these lists are published annually and recognize the stories and storytellers theatres are most keen to produce.

In September, American Theatre released their top-10 and top-20 lists for the 2022-23 season. Playhouse audiences will recognize many of these production titles and names, emphasizing our commitment to bringing the best of American theatre to Cincinnati audiences.

Playwright and Playhouse Associate Artist Karen Zacarías

One of our theatre’s most notable connections to these lists is Karen Zacarías. As a Playhouse Associate Artist, she works with Producing Artistic Director Blake Robison on season planning and artistic engagement. She has been featured as a most-produced playwright three times: this season, the 2018-19 season and the 2016-17 season. Her play Native Gardens has been featured as a most-produced play this season and the 2018-19 season; the contemporary comedy made its world premiere at the Playhouse in 2016 under Robison’s direction.

Take a peek below at the shows and storytellers that have been (or will soon be) seen on the Playhouse stages!

TOP 10* MOST-PRODUCED PLAYS OF 2022-23

• Clyde’s, by Lynn Nottage (11 productions)

• Chicken & Biscuits, by Douglas Lyons (8 productions)

• Clue, adapted by Sandy Rustin from the film by Jonathan Lynn (7 productions)

• Once, by Enda Walsh, Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová (7 productions)

• Sweat, by Lynn Nottage (7 productions)

• The Chinese Lady, by Lloyd Suh (6 productions)

  • Will be presented in 2023

• Fairview, by Jackie Sibblies Drury (6 productions)

• Into the Woods, by Stephen Sondheim & James Lapine (6 productions)

• The Lifespan of a Fact, by Jeremy Kareken & David Murrell and Gordon Farrell (6 productions)

  • Presented in 2019

• Little Shop of Horrors, by Howard Ashman and Alan Menken (6 productions)
  • Presented in 1986 and 2017

• Native Gardens, by Karen Zacarías (6 productions)

  • World premiere produced by the Playhouse and presented in 2016

• The Play That Goes Wrong, by Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer & Henry Shields (6 productions)

• Steel Magnolias, by Robert Harling (6 productions)

  • Presented in 2022

• Trouble in Mind, by Alice Childress (6 productions)

*Actually 14 due to ties.

• Lynn Nottage (24)

• Lauren Gunderson (24, 9 of them co-writes)

  • World premiere of The Revolutionists produced by the Playhouse and presented in 2016

  • Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley, co-written by Margot Melcon, presented in 2018

• Matthew López (16, 1 of them a co-write)

• August Wilson (14)

  • August Wilson’s Seven Guitars will be presented in 2023

  • August Wilson’s Two Trains Running presented in 2019

  • Jitney presented in 2016

  • Fences presented in 1989

  • Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom presented in 1988

• Dominique Morisseau (11)

• Ken Ludwig (10, 4 of them adaptations)

  • Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express presented in 2022

  • Treasure Island presented in 2018

  • Ken Ludwig’s Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery presented in 2017

  • The Three Musketeers presented in 2012

• Lucas Hnath (9, with 1 co-write)

• Jonathan Larson (9)

• Margot Melcon (9 co-writes)

  • Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley, co-written by Lauren Gunderson, presented in 2018

• Karen Zacarías (9)

  • World premiere of Shane is co-produced with the Guthrie Theater and will be presented in 2023

  • Destiny of Desire presented in 2020 (in person and virtually)

  • World premiere of Native Gardens produced by the Playhouse and presented in 2016

  • The Book Club Play presented in 2013

• Kate Hamill (8)

• James Lapine (8)

• Henry Lewis, Henry Shields & Jonathan Sayer (8)

• Douglas Lyons (8)

• Lloyd Suh (8)

  • The Chinese Lady will be presented in 2023

• Enda Walsh (8)

• Alice Childress (7)

• Jackie Sibblies Drury (7)

• Branden Jacobs-Jenkins (7)

• Duncan Macmillan (7, with 5 co-writes)

• Sandy Rustin (7, adaptation)

• Lauren Yee (7)

The Cast of Agatha Christie's S Murder on the Orient Express  (2022). PHOTO BY MIKKI SCHAFFNER. 

Learn more about the Playhouse's 2022-23 season here and our theatrical history here.