About

The Story
In Richie and Blanche, a mother and son find themselves at a crossroads. Their relationship had taken a turn after Richie came out to his parents, setting off five years of estrangement. Their emotional journey includes a walk across the Purple People Bridge as they take in the beautiful sites and views of the Ohio River and Cincinnati Skyline.

What is a Pod Play?
The Pod Plays Project makes creative use of technology, storytelling and outdoor space. Playwrights were asked to choose a unique location in Cincinnati and write an original audio play that makes use of their chosen setting. When listeners tune in to the audio file and begin the play, they’ll be guided through the location as the story unfolds, interacting with the same views, spots and markers as the characters in the story they’re streaming. Pod Plays are free to the public, and can be listened to at any time.

Advisory
Richie and Blanche is suitable for adult and teenage audiences, and contains themes of suicide and emotional abuse.

Location
This Pod Play is designed to be listened to while walking through the Purple People Bridge, starting and ending at the entrance near Newport on the Levee in Kentucky.

**The Purple People Bridge can only be accessed from the Kentucky side at this time. You can read more about this on their website.
 

Things to Know

• Wear comfortable shoes and be prepared to walk for approximately 20-25 minutes.

• The majority of Richie and Blanche takes place in settings that are wheelchair-accessible, and there are benches along the path that have views of the locations referenced in the play.

Where to Begin

• The story is best experienced in the evening. You don't have to go in the evening, but we recommend it if you'd like the most true-to-story experience.

• Start at the double black gates on the Newport side of the bridge (not the single black gate to the far right), and press play.

• Once you press play, you’ll hear an introduction, and your narrator will guide you to the next location. Here is a visual reference of the locations that you can expect to encounter during the story:

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