You don’t need to hop a Megabus to New York to experience some of the very best of American theatre. The two-time Tony Award-winning Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park brings the nation’s finest actors, directors and designers to the Marx and Rosenthal Shelterhouse stages all season long. From cherished classics to bingeworthy musicals to world premieres, the Playhouse invites college students to check out top-notch theatre in the heart of Cincinnati at some seriously affordable prices.

Student Subscriptions

There’s a ton of benefits to enjoy as a Playhouse subscriber — like getting the best seats at the best prices, for one — and students score the best deal out of all the packages we offer. With the Student Build Your Own (BYO) series, choose as few as four shows from either theatre at just $15 per seat (which is cheaper than day-of student rush tickets!). You can purchase a Student Subscription here, or by visiting the subscription page, selecting the BYO option and using promo code: StudentSubs.

Check out what else you’ll enjoy as a subscriber:

• Payment plans.
Don’t worry about paying all at once. We make it easy to spread out the cost by offering monthly installments if you pay by credit card.* 

• Exclusive discounts.
We love our neighbors in Mt. Adams and Eden Park, and we’re sure you will, too. Enjoy exclusive coupons and discounts at local businesses and organizations such as Cincinnati Art Museum, The Blind Lemon, Bow Tie Café, Mount Adams Pavilion and more.

• Free ticket exchange.
Can’t make your show? Last-minute obligation? Call the Box Office and they’ll hook you up with seats for the same show at a later date at no extra cost to you. Or, give your seats to a friend and they’ll reprint the tickets in their name — still at no extra cost!

• Free magazine.
Be the first to receive exclusive, behind-the-scenes insight and show information with Prologue, a Playhouse publication that’s either sent to your email or mailed right to your home, whichever form you prefer.

• Free tickets when you refer friends.
Share the love of theatre with friends and you’ll earn a free ticket for each referred subscription.

• Priority access.
Not only do subscribers get to secure their seats for all our shows before anyone else, they’re also first in line to purchase tickets to our fast-selling, holiday favorite A Christmas Carol, presented by First Financial Bank. 

Which shows will you choose?

Marx Theatre

• Once on This Island 
Hearts soar in the Tony Award-winning, Calypso-flavored musical about a peasant girl who rescues a wealthy boy and falls in love with him.

• Moe & Jack Rouse and Randolph Wadsworth present The Lifespan of a Fact
A critically acclaimed 2018 Broadway play, this fast-paced, blistering comedy is the ultimate showdown of fact versus fiction.

• Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story
Experience the sensational musical about the bespectacled, 1950s rock and roll icon Buddy Holly and his meteoric rise to fame.

• Leading Ladies presents Destiny of Desire
Burning passion, cunning deception and outrageous melodrama combine in this enormously entertaining homage to Latin American soap operas.

• Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient Express
Whodunit? Detective Hercule Poirot is determined to find out in this masterpiece from the world’s most popular mystery writer.

Rosenthal Shelterhouse Theatre

• Margaret Atwood's Alias Grace
Based on the novel by master storyteller Margaret Atwood, this spine-tingling mystery of the mind will chill you to the bone.

• 2 Pianos, 4 Hands
Piano wizardry and laugh-out-loud comedy come together to tell the story of Richard and Ted’s life-long pursuit of becoming concert pianist superstars.

• americUS
Universes performance ensemble fuses theatre, poetry, dance and music to create a compelling portrait of contemporary America that will challenge, move and entertain you. 

• Actually 
Amber and Tom share one night together that sets off a damning chain of events that neither of them sees coming.

• The Jewish Foundation of Cincinnati presents Becoming Dr. Ruth
This heartwarming portrait is a humorous and illuminating one-woman show about America’s favorite sex therapist Dr. Ruth Westheimer. 

Be sure to check out our 2019-19 season playlist on Spotify to start binging!

College Nights

On Sundays, college students can snag great seats for 7 p.m. shows in either theatre at just $10.90 per ticket**. Call the Box Office at 513-421-3888 in advance, and you can pick up your tickets at Will Call when you arrive.

Here’s a look at the College Night schedule for the 2019-20 season:

Marx Theatre

• Once on This Island: Sept. 15 and Sept. 22

• Moe & Jack Rouse and Randolph Wadsworth present The Lifespan of a Fact: Oct. 27 and Nov. 3

• Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story: Jan. 26 and Feb. 9

• Leading Ladies presents Destiny of Desire: March 8 and March 15 

• Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient Express: April 19 and April 26

Rosenthal Shelterhouse Theatre

• Margaret Atwood's Alias Grace: Sept. 15, Sept. 22, Sept. 29 and Oct. 6

• 2 Pianos, 4 Hands: Nov. 10, Nov. 17, Nov. 24, Dec. 1, Dec. 22 and Dec. 29

• americUS: Every performance during the run from Feb. 1 to March 8

• Actually: Every performance during the run from March 21 to April 26 

• The Jewish Foundation of Cincinnati presents Becoming Dr. Ruth: May 10, May 17, May 24 and May31

Student Rush Tickets

Want to see a show on a day other than Sunday? Purchase a day-of-show ticket by phone or in person for only $15.90, pending seat availability. Just remember to bring your student ID when picking up the tickets at Will Call. BONUS: This special offer includes A Christmas Carol, presented by First Financial Bank!

Ready to join us for another season chock full of amazing stories and masterful performances? Head to our subscription page to get started, and we’ll see you at the Playhouse!

*Student BYO subscription payments can be made in two or three, monthly installments. To take advantage of a three-month payment plan, students must purchase their subscription by Nov. 30. To take advantage of a two-month payment plan, students must purchase their BYO package by Dec. 31. Student BYO packages purchased beginning Jan. 1 require full payment at time of purchase.

**College Night tickets not available for A Christmas Carol.

Show visuals by Tony Arrasmith/Arrasmith & Associates. Photo of Steven Sapp by Arthur Cohen; Mildred Ruiz-Sapp by Mildred Ruiz-Sapp; Gamal Abdel Chasten by Lawrence Turner. Photo of Naomi Jacobson as Dr. Ruth Westheimer in Becoming Dr. Ruth at Theater J by Teresa Wood.