Production Program
Written by Jonathan Spector
Directed by Ed Cohen
From The Producing Artistic Director
I love launching a new season at Falcon! Each year I get the privilege of talking about the exciting work we’re planning for the upcoming year and this season is one of the best, most well-rounded seasons we’ve ever put together. It’s full of premieres again so we’re continuing to bring new work to Greater Cincinnati audiences and I think you’re going to love what we have on tap!
The world around us is constantly changing and that’s never been a more dominant part of our psyche than it is right now. From the political turmoil and social conflict our country is going through to the effects of global warming and other environmental threats to the meteoric rise of AI in almost every aspect of life, the world is changing faster than ever. But theater offers us a chance to slow down; to look at the world through new eyes; to broaden our minds and hearts in ways that have never been more important.
The plays we have chosen for this season have a little bit of everything. From futuristic musings to reimagined classics to quieter places where mysterious things happen, Falcon will take you to so many places this year and I’m incredibly excited to invite you to come with us on this journey.
For years, the common misconception has been that live theater is a dying art. It Is Not. We may no longer be in the so called “golden age” of theater but the stage and the tales we tell there are very much alive and well. They have been an essential part of our humanity since the very beginning of civilization, and they will continue to be as long as people gather and share stories.
Welcome…to Falcon’s 2026-2027 season!
Sincerely,
Ted Weil
Producing Artistic Director
CAST (in order of appearance):
Meiko— Julie Sonia Locker
Eli — David Derringer
Suzanne — Bekka Eaton
Don — Rick Grant
Carina — Kyndra Dyanne Jefferies
Winter — Clint Ibele
PRODUCTION TEAM
Assistant Director — Hades Whalen
Production Stage Manager — Katie Ruwe
Scenic Design — Ted Weil
Intimacy Coordinator — Amanda Marasch
Lighting Design — Chad Brinkman
Sound & Projection Design — Ted Weil
Props Design — Faith Von Handorf
Costume Design — Corinne Felt
Set Decor — Faith Von Handorf
Lighting & Sound Execution — Katie Ruwe
Set Construction — Ted Weil, Clint Ibele
Graphic Design — Steve Luhn
Lobby Display — Samantha Joy Luhn
Dramaturg — Julie Carpenter
Marketing — Rachel Mock, Kara Ann Scullin
House Staff Coordination — Clint Ibele
Photography — Claudia Herschner
Box Office — Kathleen Luhn, Clint Ibele
Falcon thanks these organizations for their support:
Special Thanks
Nicole Heims, Eric Kessler and the art students at Delshire Elementary
Wooden Cask Brewery
Urban Chick Bar & Bottle Shop
Cast Biographies
David Derringer (Eli) David is thrilled to be returning to Falcon as an actor after last appearing onstage as Jerry in Betrayal. Since then he has fallen in love with this intimate, theatrical space and has had the pleasure of directing Vincent and The Shark is Broken in two of the past three seasons. And don’t blink because David will be back this spring directing the season closer, The Beacon! Some of his favorite past acting credits include Dr. Norbert Woodly in Happy Birthday, Wanda June! with One Off Productions and playing the title role of Macbeth in CincyShakes’ touring production. He is also a frequent collaborator with Cincinnati Lab Theatre and performed with them at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival before taking his own students across the pond for a sold out run of an original production, 140 at Vines Way. When not onstage David can be found teaching and running Milford High School’s theatre program, working with buyers and sellers in real estate, or at home reading a good book with his wife Anna, dog Bowie, cat Odin, and three fish – Clem, Monet, and Vincent. Thank you for coming to see the Cincinnati premiere of Eureka Day and enjoy the show!
Bekka Eaton (Suzanne) Bekka is a retired Associate Professor of Theatre at Miami University where she created and ran a theatre production program on both the home and regional campuses for 25 years. This is her second play at Falcon Theatre. Bekka received her undergraduate degree in theatre from Northwestern University and her MFA in acting from Indiana University. She began her professional acting career as a resident company member in Chicago’s The Second City. Her SAG credits include Sixteen Candles, Dayo, and various independent projects including an MTV music video. Bekka was also a singer-songwriter in the East coast theatrical rock band—The Daves. Bekka is so happy and grateful to be back at Falcon for her sophomore play.
Rick Grant (Don) Rick is thrilled to return to Falcon Theatre, where audiences may remember him in During/After (Lucas), Mindgame (Dr. Farquhar), and Breaking the Code (Alan Turing). His other recent area credits include Mariemont Players’ Cabaret (Max/Herman) and Beechmont Players’ A Steady Rain (Joey). A graduate of the University of Cincinnati – College Conservatory of Music (CCM) with a B.F.A. in Acting, his favorite university roles included Angels in America (Prior Walter), The Hostage (Princess Grace), and Amadeus (Venticello). Rick took a hiatus from the theater to earn his doctorate in clinical psychology. He returned to acting 14 years later in Sacramento, earning credits in Small Mouth Sounds (Rodney), As Is (Rich), Leading Ladies (Leo), and Othello (Cassius). Today, Rick balances his time between his private psychology practice and the stage. Rick will next be seen in Grangeville at The Know Theatre of Cincinnati in February. For more information on his past and upcoming projects, please visit www.RickGrantActor.com.
Clint Ibele (Winter) After a long absence from Falcon’s stage, Clint returns from several behind-the-scenes roles. He is the project leader for HIVoices, director of Falcon Takes Flight, House Manager, chair of the playreading committee, and coordinator of The Play’s the Thing in partnership with Cincinnati Public Library. Outside Falcon, he volunteers at a local food pantry, plays guitar, and writes books about his Civil War ancestors. Clint is pleased to share the stage with this talented group of artists and gives special thanks to director Ed Cohen for the opportunity.
Kyndra Dyanne Jefferies (Corina) Kyndra is thrilled to be part of the cast of Eureka Day. A passionate performer and lifelong lover of the arts, Kyndra is grateful for every opportunity to explore meaningful stories and connect with audiences through theater. In addition to performing, Kyndra has shared her love of drama and storytelling as a teaching artist, working with others to encourage creativity, confidence, self-expression, and the power of imagination. She believes theater has a unique ability to bring people together, spark conversation, and help us see the world—and one another—from new perspectives. Being part of Eureka Day has been an exciting opportunity to collaborate with a talented cast and creative team. She would like to thank her family, friends, and everyone who has supported and encouraged her artistic journey. Kyndra hopes you enjoy Eureka Day and leave the theater with plenty to talk about!
Julie Sonia Locker (Mieko) Julie attained her M.A. in Acting at East 15 Acting School in Loughton, UK before moving to Cincinnati. Recent credits include Tapped In by Pones at the Cincinnati Fringe Festival, The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party with Merry Band Entertainment, and Sunrise Coven and Glassheart at The Know. This is her Falcon Theater debut. Julie is a founding board member and mainstage cast member of Joyride Comedy, a women-led comedy group focusing on sketch, standup, and improv comedy, and additionally is a regular cast member with Pones and OTRimprov.
Production Team Biographies
Ed Cohen (Director) Ed is pleased to return to Falcon after having directed During/After, Breaking the Code, The Lifespan of a Fact, Marjorie Prime, The Pillowman, The Beauty Queen of Leenane, In the Heat of the Night, Down the Road (twice) and Assassins (with his wife, Dee Anne Bryll). Ed has directed for CCM (In the Next Room (or the Vibrator Play), Recent Tragic Events, Falsettos and Parade), for Xavier University (Ragtime and The Music Man), Miami University (The Wild Party) and NKU (Encore, Encore, Some Enchanted Evening, A Grand Night for Singing, The Foreigner and Persona. Other directing credits include multiple shows with The Covedale Center for the Performing Arts, The Showboat Majestic, New Edgecliff Theatre, New Stage Collective and The If Theatre Collective. Ed teaches Playscript Analysis and Directing at NKU and was an acting instructor for CCM’s High School Musical Theatre Intensive Program for 19 years. He and Dee Anne received the Trailblazer Award from the Cincinnati Enquirer’s Acclaim Panel in 2010 for ongoing contributions to area theatre and their productions of Parade and Chicago at the Carnegie were voted as the Best Musicals of 2013 and 2014, respectively, by The League of Cincinnati Theatres.
Katie Ruwe (Stage Manager) Katie Ruwe is pleased to be joining this production of Eureka Day. Born and raised in Cincinnati and a graduate of NKU, she has worked throughout the Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky region. At The Falcon Theatre, she has also managed The Apiary, Crocodile Fever, Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons, The Secretary, The Shark is Broken, Mr. Parker, POTUS, The Other Place, Breaking the Code, Vincent, Lifespan of a Fact, Silent Sky, Ben Butler, The Agitators, and Yankee Tavern. She has also stage managed with Queen City Opera on productions of Cenerentotla, Iolanta, Der Freischütz, Die Valkyrie, and the world premiere of Tchaikovsky’s Undina Eco-Opera. She has also managed Spinning Into Butter with American Legacy Theater, 100 Days with the KNOW Theater of Cincinnati, Steel Magnolias with The Story Collective, as well as several Fringe Festival shows with many different and wonderful creative minds. She would like to thank her fiance for his outstanding support and the staff at Falcon for their continued trust in her. She sincerely hopes you enjoy this show as much as she has enjoyed working on it!
Jonathan Spector (Playwright): Jonathan is a Tony Award-winning playwright based in Oakland, California, whose work has been produced on and off-Broadway, regionally and internationally. His plays include Eureka Day (2025 Best Revival: Tony Award, Drama Desk Award, Drama League Award & Dorian Award); This Much I Know (Edgerton Award, Glickman Award, BATCC Award); Birthright; Best Available; Siesta Key; and Good. Better. Best. Bested. Jonathan’s work has been produced with Manhattan Theatre Club, the Old Vic/Sonia Friedman Productions, Pasadena Playhouse, Hampstead Theatre, Miami New Drama, Colt Coeur, Theater J, Syracuse Stage, Asolo Rep, Aurora Theatre, Marin Theatre and Mosaic Theater, among others. He has been a MacDowell Fellow, Playwrights Foundation Resident Playwright, TheatreWorks Core Writer, Playwrights Center Core Writer, SPACE on Ryder Farm Resident and PlayPenn Haas Fellow. Jonathan is currently under commission with Manhattan Theatre Club, Roundabout Theatre Company and La Jolla Playhouse.
Falcon Theatre Management Board
Chad Brinkman – Technical/Artistic Consultant
Piper N. Davis – Diversity & Inclusion Director
Clint Ibele – Falcon Takes Flight Director, Volunteer Coordinator
Katie Ruwe – Resident Stage Manger
Samantha Joy Weil – Company Coordinator
Ted J. Weil – Producing Artistic Director
Patrons for our 2025-26 Season
ANGEL:
Douglas & Carol Burks
BENEFACTOR:
Judy & Lou Belli
Lynn Krabacher, CPA
Kathleen & Steve Luhn
Suzana & Randy Waterhaus
Michael & Susan Whitehead
PLAYWRIGHT:
Clint Ibele
Joe & Nora Mock
Greg Schaper
Ted & Samantha Joy Weil
DIRECTOR:
Tom & Chris Comte
Rob Dorgan & Steve Bolia
Rita Larkin
PRODUCER:
Mark, Jane & Parker Culp
Leonard Kuntz
STAGE MANAGER:
Toni Alterman
Melody Brauninger
Dave Osburg
Karen Whitney
ACTOR:
Lisa Arnette
Doreen Beatrice
Noah Brown
Elizabeth Carman
Mitch Cohen
Roger Collins
Robert Due
Teri Foltz
Steve Hegge
Sarah Kimble
Dino Lucarelli
Jane MacKnight
Barbara McManus
Stephen Noga
Phillip Nuxhall
Lisa Raisor
Barbara & Dave Reaman
Chris Ruschman
Anne Smith
Susan Tyler
Olivia Wallace
Jeff Weiss
Sue Yux
Your Support Makes It All Possible!
Falcon has been creating quality theater for our audiences since 1989 and we remain committed to our vision to lead our community through artistic expression and inclusive creativity. Like all arts organizations, we can’t do it without you. Your tax-deductible donation helps us continue to produce affordable theatre while offsetting the cost of creating professional productions. The generosity of patrons continues to allow Falcon Theatre the opportunity to expand its horizons, reaching new audiences, new markets and a new generation of theatre minds. Your gift goes a long way in helping us grow, thrive and continue this success.
Click Here to visit our Patron Information page.
Falcon is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, and your donations are tax-deductible. Please consult your tax advisor for more information.
Patron Levels:
- Angel $5000+ (Includes 2 five-show Flex Passes)
- Benefactor $1000+ (Includes 1 five-show Flex Passes)
- Playwright $500+
- Director $250+
- Producer $100+
- Designer $50+
- Stage Manager $25+
- Actor Up to $25
Flex Passes
Want To See A Show For Free?
We have Flex Passes on sale to save you money and help you see only the shows you want. A Flex pass is a block of tickets you can use whenever you want at Falcon and it’s a great way to save money and see some great theater.
Click Here For Flex Pass Information