Stranger Things
“The House on Watch Hill”
Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati
1127 Vine Street
Friday, May 22
Meet the Inspiration!
6:45 p.m.: Pre-show photo opportunities for media only
7:30 p.m.: Performance
Immediately following the show: Exclusive talkback with cast members and the real-life inspirations for the show
Performances continue through May 31, 2026
Tuesday – Saturday, 7:30 pm
Saturday and Sunda,t 2:00 pm
Tickets and information at ensemblecincinnati.org
Inspired by true events, “The House on Watch Hill” now playing at Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati tells the true story of a group of local teenagers who set out to create an unforgettable haunted house experience.
At this Friday’s performance the audience will have the unique opportunity to meet the actual people whose lives inspired the production!
The evening includes pre-show photo opportunities and a special post-show talkback featuring the real-life inspirations alongside members of the cast.
It’s a rare opportunity to learng behind-the-scenes insight into the real memories and experiences that inspired the story onstage.
“The House on Watch Hill” by Richard Oberacker and Robert Taylor, the Tony-nominated creators of “Bandstand,” closes Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati’s (ETC) 40th anniversary season with this regional premiere. Pulsing with original ‘80s-inspired music, this thrilling new musical is full of nostalgia, heart, and a touch of the supernatural. Playing through May 31, the show is directed by D. Lynn Meyers, ETC’s Producing Artistic Director, and Dee Anne Bryll.
“Do you remember a summer when you thought everything was possible?” asks Meyers. “This show is about the stripping away all the layers of who we’ve become and going back to a time when we were still growing, still dreaming, and still hoping things come to fruition. It’s based on a true and local story about the life of one of its creators, Richard Oberacker, and the summer that changed his life. What a brave and beautiful opportunity to share his story. The concept of this story would be considered completely outrageous if it wasn’t true. And the music? It’s intoxicating. Once you jump in, the rhythm just keeps going throughout the whole piece. These songs could have been hits of the ‘80s had they been written during that time.”
“The House on Watch Hill” follows a group of teen misfits in the summer of 1984 who set out to build the ultimate haunted house in their Cincinnati suburb. Led by 14-year-old horror buff Patrick, their project stirs up fears far more real than any ghost story. Set to an original ’80s-inspired soundtrack and steeped in Cold War anxiety and latchkey freedom, this coming-of-age story is funny, moving, and maybe just a little spooky. A must-see for fans of “Stranger Things,’ “The Goonies”, and anyone who’s ever felt like an underdog, “The House on Watch Hill” captures the bittersweet moment between childhood and growing up—when you’re old enough to know the world is scary but brave enough to face it anyway.
The cast includes Jason Collins (Adult 1), Julianne Ferreira da Silva (Jennifer), Wesley Akio Geary (Paul), Adrian Graff (Patrick), Jordyn Amani Jones (Joy), Morgan Lindell (Kristin), Sara Mackie (Adult 2), Gavin Poronsky (Tim), and Tommy Sanders (Jason).