While the title is familiar as one of Shakespeare’s most popular romantic comedies — a tale of confused love, mistaken identities and tangled affections — it’s also a fitting description of what Producing Artistic Director Ed Stern has been doing with shows and seasons he’s presented at the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park for two decades — and that’s pleasing audiences. Stern, who has announced his retirement at the end of the current season, is staging As You Like It as his final production as a director at the Playhouse. “I so much wanted to finish directing at the Playhouse with a Shakespeare play,” he says, “because of all the challenges involved.” The show will be presented in the intimate Thompson Shelterhouse where Stern staged a memorable production of Othello in 2007. “More importantly,” he adds, “I wanted to end my directing with a show dedicated to love and life. I don’t know a better play than As You Like It to accomplish that.” Collaborating closely with Stern to stage the production is Associate Artistic Director Michael Evan Haney, who is enjoying the process of co-directing. “I love hearing Ed’s insights into the play and his vision of the production,” Haney says. “We are having a great time batting ideas about.” With these two fine theater artists working side by side, this will surely be a memorable production.
Show Times: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday-Wednesday; 8 p.m. Thursday-Friday; 4 and 8 p.m. Saturday; 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday. Through Nov. 6.