Nestled in Cincinnati’s vibrant theater scene, One Off Productions (OOPs) has been quietly redefining the landscape of independent theater. Co-founded by local artists Rupert Spraul and Hannah Gregory, the company eschews traditional productions, focusing instead on theater that is raw, scrappy and deeply intimate.
“One Off Productions started not really with an ambition to start up any theater company, but with just a single idea for one production,” said Spraul, a director, producer and actor. “Then we assembled a team to put that together. And then I met Hannah, and we inspired each other to make that one show happen. And then from there on it just seemed that there was more in the tank. We had more to do, so One Off Productions was born.”
Their debut production, Romeo and Juliet: A Fool’s Paradise, premiered in January 2023 at Gabriel’s Corner, a converted church basement stage in Pendleton. This clown-show adaptation of Shakespeare’s classic tragedy was hilariously described as “like Dean Martin chugged a beer, hit you upside the head with a salami, fell in love, then died!” Entirely self-produced, the show captured the community’s imagination, raising nearly $3,000 through a GoFundMe campaign.
Following the success of their first production, OOPs staged Happy Birthday, Wanda June in the fall of 2024. This adaptation of Kurt Vonnegut’s dark comedy about war, masculinity and humanity’s search for meaning was once again performed at Gabriel’s Corner. The company, offering $15 tickets committed to accessibility to the arts, sold out its entire run, and the production solidified OOPs as a grassroots theater mainstay in Cincinnati.
Both Spraul and Gregory bring rich theatrical backgrounds to the company. Spraul is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music (CCM), while Gregory holds a BFA in musical theater from Northern Kentucky University. Founding a theater company wasn’t part of their original plans, but through shared passion and creativity, they have built something truly innovative.
“My personal journey with theater started, like many people, in high school, where I fell in love with the theater community as an integral part of myself and my identity,” said Spraul. “My acting journey has brought me all over the country, from New York to Montana, and that has helped me realize what my priorities are as a theatermaker.”
Gregory’s theater passion took root early, flourishing through her work with the Cincinnati Fringe Festival. Her drama, Descent: A Murder Ballad, premiered at the festival in 2019 to critical acclaim, solidifying her interest in unconventional storytelling.
“Fringe helped me understand the logistical and administrative aspects of theater production, where I felt like I already had a handle on the creative side of it,” Gregory said. “I think OOPs is a natural next step after Cincinnati Fringe. We’re fully taking on the responsibility of producing ourselves, and it’s been incredibly rewarding.”
Self-producing in an era of rising costs and high venue fees remains a challenge, especially with OOPs’ commitment to paying its actors. Yet Spraul sees this struggle as part of what makes independent theater so exciting and rewarding.
“I think that grassroots theater is kind of this — to use a platitude — of the people, by the people, for the people,” he said. “It’s just a really honest form of the art. There’s nothing that motivates doing it except for the drive to create something with the intention of sharing it with an audience. There’s no pretense of career stepping stones. It’s just a bunch of artists getting together and investing their time and their care to make something that might be impactful or strange.”
While the company’s formation may not have been preordained, launching OOPs in an arts-rich city like Cincinnati was a calculated risk. Spraul and Gregory recognized the city’s potential to support a fresh theater movement and foster community through the arts.
“Theater is communion, and it requires a community, and the community in Cincinnati is strong,” said Spraul, praising the local actors and crew who have contributed to OOPs’ productions. “I just couldn’t be more grateful for the openness and generosity of Cincinnati’s theater artists.”
With two productions completed, OOPs is already looking ahead, planning two more shows for 2025. Meanwhile, both Spraul and Gregory remain active performers, highlighting the collaborative spirit at the heart of their mission.
“Having this theater company is really wonderful because we’re in charge of it, and we can work around it when those performance opportunities come up,” Gregory said. Their commitment to expanding experimental and indie theater ensures OOPs will remain a dynamic force in Cincinnati’s artistic landscape.
To learn more about One Off Productions, visit their Facebook page.
This story is featured in CityBeat’s Dec. 11 print edition.
This article appears in Dec 11-24, 2024.
