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American Legacy Theatre  | Staged Reading | November 2025 The Plot At its heart,  Clos(in)g  is about community—one building, many lives, and the fragile balance between belonging and displacement. The play opens on the heels of Miss Angela’s funeral, the “heart of the building,” whose passing leaves a void among the residents who called her family. Through Brandy’s grocery dream, George’s grief, and the everyday rhythms of the tenants, playwright  Megan Benjamin Bennett  dra

The production nails the period look but can’t quite summon Coward’s quicksilver wit. A Ghostly Comedy of Manners Noël Coward’s  Blithe Spirit  is an “improbable farce” first staged in 1941 that became an instant success on both sides of the Atlantic. The story follows novelist Charles Condomine, who invites the eccentric medium Madame Arcati to conduct a séance for research on his next book. The experiment backfires spectacularly when the ghost of Charles’s first wife, Elvir

What Joshua Roman and MUSE Storytelling Taught Me About Creative Recovery By Shawn Maus There’s a phrase I’ve been hearing a lot lately — creative burnout. It ’s that quiet, invisible exhaustion that sneaks up on artists, writers, musicians — even people who don’t think of themselves as creative. It’s not laziness, and it’s not lack of talent. It’s what happens when the joy that once fueled your work starts flickering out. Recently, I listened to an NPR interview with cellist

Storytelling is an art that has captivated audiences for centuries. Whether on stage or screen, the way a story is told can make all the difference. Theatre and film, while distinct in their mediums, share many storytelling techniques. In this post, we will explore these techniques, highlighting how they engage audiences and create memorable experiences. Theatre is often seen as a live, immediate experience. The energy of the audience and the actors creates a unique atmospher

Screenwriting isn’t magic—it’s discipline in disguise. Fresh off completing the pilot and series bible for Patrick Chiles ’ Frontier and attending the MUSE Storytelling Conference , I’m reminded of Nic Kusmich ’s advice: “Do the reps. Embody stabilization. Unbecome.” Those words reframed how I approach the page. In this post, I share what I’ve learned about craft, courage, and the creative reset that comes from putting in the work—one scene, one story at a time. My "Crew" a

Cincinnati’s stages are buzzing right now—new work, bold revivals, scrappy storefronts, polished mainstages. When I review a show, I’m not writing a book report. I’m asking one question: Did the night in the theatre work —on me, on the room, on the story? Here’s how I break that down, and how you can sharpen your own theatergoing lens. The World on Stage (aka “the set is a character”) Before the first line lands, the set tells you how to watch the play. I look for choices th

Theatre That Makes You Laugh, Think, and Believe in the Future of America A Living Document, A Living Play Miami University Theatre and...

A Story Rooted in History Hannah Gregory’s Judith, Deliver Us , produced by One Off Productions, is a stirring new musical that blends...

A Summer Night Full of Magic If there’s one thing better than a summer evening in Cincinnati, it’s a summer evening filled with fairies,...

You’ve got the data.The number of meals served. The children helped. The dollars raised. But here’s the truth: facts don’t...

Reviewed by Shawn Maus for the League of Cincinnati Theatres Divine Comedy with a Doomsday Twist If Mel Brooks rewrote the Books of Job...

A review by Shawn Maus for the League of Cincinnati Theatres Suspense with a Wink and a Shiver From the moment the first line hits the...

a review for the Cincinnati League of Theatres A Bold Start with Room to Grow There’s something thrilling about watching a new work...

League of Cincinnati Theatres review for Cincinnati Lab Theatre production A Layered Drama That Cuts Deep Cincinnati LAB Theatre’s  Touch...

My meditation was very much disturbed this morning. Numerous outside noises were distracting me: dogs barking, trucks and construction,...

Reviewed by Shawn Maus for the League of Cincinnati Theatres (LCT) Stage Right Musical Theater Company’s production of  An Evening of...

For the last couple of days, I’ve been feeling out of sorts. Not burnout. Not ADD. Just… off. I haven’t been writing—despite having a TV...

In today’s fast-paced environment, running a successful campaign—whether it's for a product, service, or cause—demands both efficiency...

Review by Shawn Maus for The League of Cincinnati Theatres If Neil Simon and Oscar Wilde had a love child and raised it on a steady diet...

Reviewed by Shawn Maus for League of Cincinnati Theatres at Cincinnati Fringe Festival 2025 Cincinnati Fringe Festival's  Date Me ,...