CCM PLAY SERIES PRESENTS
By William Shakespeare
Oct. 3-5, 2024, Patricia Corbett Theater
*CCM Student
By Susan Felder, CCM Associate Professor of Acting and Movement
A tale. I approached this play as a modern day fairytale, brimming with mystery, danger, magic and, finally, redemption. It is perhaps Shakespeare’s most unique structure — the first act leans into tragedy, the second, all-out comedy.
We see the pitfalls of absolute power, when one man’s fears can turn tyrannous. The rules and thinking in the first act of this play are very black and white. Authority has little censure and misinformation and judgement rule. We have set it in a Victorian age of structure and order. As we fast forward to the second act in time and space, 16 years, there is more room for fun in 1910. We see the next generation reject harsh rulings and make their own way. Redemption is possible.
There are several supernatural elements in this play which add to the fabric of magic and wonder: the oracle of Apollo (straight out a Greek tragedy); the swift justice brought when man rejects his gods; the presence of nature — how it punishes, how it heals. The most famous of Shakespeare’s stage direction, “Exit pursued by a bear” is both terrifying and comical. It comes at the end of the first act as a Greek deus ex machina of justice. The ending of the second act, brings as unbelievable an event. But for it to work, Paulina tells the King as well as the audience: “It is required you do awake your faith.”
I am drawn again and again to the themes of The Winter’s Tale. So, on the heels of cancel culture, we offer a play about forgiveness and judgement. Who gets forgiven and who is unforgiveable? And in the case of those who fall hard, who do harm, is there hope for new life and redemption?
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March 5, 2026
UC College-Conservatory of Music presents Dance Works, playing March 5-7 in Patricia Corbett Theater. Tickets are on sale through the CCM Box Office.
February 17, 2026
A new collaboration between the University of Cincinnati's Digital Performance Lab (DP Lab), CCM Acting, UC's School of Information Technology, and the Cincinnati Fire Museum is using gaming technology to bring essential fire safety education to children. The project titled Fire Escape is an interactive video game designed to teach K-12 students how to respond safely during a house fire. It was developed through Digital Futures research support, student game development, and guidance from local fire safety professionals.
Event: February 12, 2026 12:00 AM
UC College-Conservatory of Music's Play Series continues with Rope, a mystery thriller centered on college classmates who commit the perfect murder "just for fun." Adapted by CCM alumna Amy Berryman and Professor Brant Russell, the play runs Feb. 12-14 in Patricia Corbett Theater.
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CCM's faculty and staff and its state-of-the-art facilities make possible the professional training and exceptional education on which CCM believes the future of the arts relies. The school's roster of eminent faculty regularly receives distinguished honors for creative and scholarly work, and its alumni have achieved notable success in the performing and media arts. More than 150 internationally recognized faculty members work with students from around the world, specializing in eight areas of study.
Performance dates and repertoire are subject to change. View CCM's current calendar of events.
The purpose of these performances is educational, and they are part of a University of Cincinnati academic program.