The Lamplight Theater Company is calling on passionate directors to bring their creative vision to our stage for 2026! As a relatively new theatre group, we've captivated audiences with an innovative radio-play production of "It's a Wonderful Life" (featuring live Foley effects) and a heart-felt staging of "The Curious Savage". We are currently preparing for our fall production of "A Christmas Carol". Our shows are family-friendly yet sophisticated, engaging audiences of all ages. We typically run a minimum of two weekends with one show per weekend as ‘dinner theatre’ which is very popular.
We are now seeking directors to help craft immersive, meaningful theatre, with ‘the world’ of the show spilling out from the stage into the audience, lobby and parking lot. We welcome both classic and contemporary works that for the next 2 seasons at least are well known among the general public and theatre goers alike and that align with this vision.
As examples of transforming our intimate theatre into immersive experiences that extend beyond our stage:
· For "The Curious Savage" the audience was ‘the garden’ – a reflection of the garden in the window at the back of the stage with each table in the audience representing a type of flower in the garden. Guests entered through a garden gate into the theatre space and seed packets were an extra touch at each place setting with a saying from the play (and which provided wait staff info for which entrée they had for the dinner theatre). A park bench under our iconic street lamp as a lobby photo spot. There were even ‘firefly’ (lights) blinking in the ‘garden’ (windows) since they are mentioned in the play.
· For "It's a Wonderul Life" as the audience arrived in the parking lot, a 1931 Ford greeted them and as they approached the theatre a “You are Now In Bedford Falls” sign with edison bulb street lights welcomed them. The smell of coffee and homebaked Christmas cookies were for sale inside and a photo op available of a life-size cut out of George Bailey’s car in the movie. ‘Dinner at Martini’s’ featured a local favorite, “Ferrari’s Little Italy’ with the vibe of ‘everything you’d expect to find at a small family-owned Italian restaurant on a snowy Christmas Eve’. As guests entered the theatre seating area, there was a lighted ‘Martini’s’ sign in the same font as the movie. There was even a tenor singing rousing renditions of Italian songs with the audience.
With two upstage doors and two downstage floor-level entrances (side double doors), our space offers many opportunities to spill the story into every corner -- we're looking for directors to dream up similar expansive touches for both timeless and modern stories. "If you could step into your favorite movie or show even for a short time---- why wouldn't you?"
What We're Looking For in Director Submissions: Our board has outlined the following criteria to ensure productions reflect Lamplight's mission and suits our compact stage.
Here's what we value:
Wholesome, Family-Friendly Stories: Choose plays or musicals -- classic or contemporary --- that resonate with all ages, aligning with our community's values. Plays that are well-known and beloved will do well as our theatre gets off the ground over the 2026 and 2027 seasons. Examples include witty classics like 'You Can't Take It With You' or newer works like 'You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown'.
Creative Use of Limited Space: Our stage has no wings (but doesn't mean we couldn't build something temporary that folds up between weekend shows to allow for full use of the theatre hall by others). Using minimal, movable sets and leveraging two upstage doors and two floor-level downstage entrances and the theatre hall space to extend the story into the audience, the lobby and parking lot are desirable with immersive props and/or interactive elements.
Empowering Actors: Select shows with rich roles that challenge and inspire actors. Avoid 'filler' parts -- every character should matter. Foster a positive and uplifting process with your cast.
Pacing & Variety: Match your show to the season -- comedies or lighter dramas for summery, dramas or holiday tales for fall/winter. Keep the energy fresh. Generally, we perform in June and November, but will consider adding a Spring show as well.
Audience Connection: Build trust with diverse age groups by involving the audience throughout the theatre space. Shows with younger cast members draw younger patrons, enhancing our community.
Affordability: Keep production costs (royalties, sets) low and ticket prices reasonable to ensure accessibility even with expanded immersive elements. Our dinner theatre (one evening per weekend of shows), allows guests who crave ‘more’ to spend more for a more immersive experience.
Director's Passion & Vision: Bring enthusiasm and a clear plan, including potential staffing and budget. New directors are welcome -- show us your creative spark!
Immersive Experiences: Create a world that spills out -- use photo ops, themed props, or interactive stations that engage the senses, lobby, audience and parking lot, enhancing the story with the stage's unique layout.
Why Direct at Lamplight? As a newer theatre, Lamplight offers a chance to be a part of our forming community and to help shape Cincinnati's growing scene in a fresh new way. Our stage, with its flexible entrances (4 doors) and dimensions 22' x 19.5' x 8' is perfect for experimenting with immersive theatre that flows beyond the stage. We're equipped with a modern computer-controlled RGB lighting system with movers, allowing for dynamic, colorful illumination to enhance your vision. Our house is also equipped with all the supplies to create a sophisticated dinner theatre atmosphere. Join us to create immersive, family-friendly experiences where the story lives…. everywhere.
Submit your proposal today for the 2026 (and 2027) seasons!
How to Submit Your Proposal: Fill out the form below with as much detail as you like and upload your script and any other documents that you think may help (or email them to our Artistic Director) at LamplightTheater@outlook.com before September 1 to be considered for our next season, 2026! The chosen plays for 2026 will appear in our playbill for ‘A Christmas Carol’ November 7 – 16 and be announced on our website and annual sales meeting next February 2026!
