CPI was formed in November 1996 and exists to serve the local Cincinnati community of playwrights, directors and actors who wish to pursue the art and craft of playwriting.
CPI’s goal is to enhance the cultural awareness of the community by offering new, original work by local playwrights in both an entertaining and educational setting.
We present low cost staged readings to the general public for playwrights to receive valuable feedback on their scripts and for audiences to be part of the creative process with the playwright.
CPI has been a resident company of the Aronoff Center for the Performing Arts since its inception as a 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Service Code in July, 2001. All staged reading performances take place in the Fifth Third Theater.
CPI is proud to announce its 2026/2027 New Works season featuring 5 staged readings for only $45, a savings of $10 off the single ticket pricing. Click the link to purchase season tickets starting on Tuesday, July 7th at 10 a.m. through Tuesday, September 15th at 7 p.m. Tickets for single staged readings will remain the same as last year, just $11 each.
Martie has been trying to get back on her feet ever since her thirty-year marriage ended. Crippled by chronic depression, she has tried, without success, to find a treatment that works. But just when she thinks her life won’t get better, hope arrives in the form of a philosophical teen, a flaky coworker, an innovative doctor, and a “flustrated” nephew. Martie learns that, while it’s important for her to help herself, it’s just as important to accept help from the other people sharing her corner of the world.
Nancy Robinson Crist’s first play, Everything’s Relative, was published by Dramatic Publishing in 1990. Over the next eight years she wrote The Case of the Disappearing Drumsticks, a children’s play; Murder in Mayberry, a comedy; Soul Survivors, a comedy-drama that received a staged reading at Lincoln Center and productions in Chicago and New York; and Jack the Chipper, a musical written with composer Mark Hollmann and produced in Chicago. She was hijacked by life for twenty-eight years before returning to her passion in 2026, writing The Opposite of Failure. She lives in Greendale, Indiana, with her cat and confidante, Javy.
What Might Have Been follows the trials and tribulations, successes and failures, happiness and sadness, of two men, one who follows a safe and conventional life and one who takes a riskier, more unconventional one. Both antagonists possess similar intellects, talents and interests which make the feasibility of either path attainable. Alternate scenes from both scenarios present narrative and dialogue revealing how choices affect all facets of life, especially family, relationships, careers, security, faith and ambition. After the choices are made, we often ponder what might have been?
Dr. Leo Bradley is a prolific writer of both fiction and non-fiction. In the fiction genre, Here’s to Living, is his second play. Bradley’s first, Bleachers presented, through music and dialogue, the parallels between the history of baseball and the story of America. He has also authored three novels, one with historical Civil War settings, a family saga of the 20th Century, and a contemporary tale set in Music City, USA. What Might Have Been is Leo’s third play with CPI.
Dr. Bradley is also a songwriter, musician, and singer having written and recorded three CD’s and having over forty of his songs recorded.
Fun and the unexpected connect with a lucky, lurking eyeball and Grandma’s estate riddle in this one-act play. After the colorful Grandma Maissey dies, how will the rest figure out the mystery? And where does the funky Eyeball land? The challenges and disputes are met with ‘a wink and a prayer’ …and, always, a heartfelt sense of care.
A retired professional, Paul enjoys writing stories—both meaningful and fun filled. This play represents the first time he has engaged with his son, Alan, and wife, Barb, in creating a script. They were able to help him find some clever, off-kilter instances with the characters in this heartwarming show. He dedicates this show to the ‘Bergman Team” and writers everywhere.
Two patients in different stages of knee replacement surgery engage in conversation while awaiting access to the treatment room. In the holding area, they engage in the friendly banter of sports, kindred lines and commonality of spirit. By the time they are called to physician interaction they are thrust into the commerce of anger and distrust.
Jonathan Singer, M.D. is Professor Emeritus Wright State University School of Medicine. He has published widely in scientific realms including 100 poems in Emergency Medicine periodicals. He authored an autobiography, anthologies of non-medical poetry and of short stories. He contributed 50 children’s books to print and electronic media. Three of his plays have had staged readings at the Aronoff.
CPI’s popular annual Ten-minute play festival fundraiser to support the Save the Animals Foundation Cincinnati no-kill animal shelter.
Evendale Bell Tower Pavilion
Playwrights TBA in October 2026
Tickets will be sold separately for that event starting in December 2026
An Artist/painter dies. His European collector, Executor, and live-in meet in NYC. The live-in reveals a private notebook in a locked desk the painter has shared with no one. Its contents unleashes a cascade of moral challenges and destructive events.
Michael Defrancesco graduated in English and Theater Arts. He taught high school a few years. He fell into work with developmental disabilities and founded a residential housing program for the DD population. After attending a summer drama program at the University of Cincinnati, Michael was awarded a Rockefeller grant to UC’s Theatre Arts program, where he earned a Master’s degree. He began writing plays several years ago. Arc of Luminescence is his fifth play selected for a reading at CPI.Michael has previously had CPI staged readings of his plays, The Circle, The Car Ride, The Hound and Thump.
In 1933, the movie industry was about to enact new censorship standards. Young Helen who dreams of becoming a movie star, runs a lodge with her boyfriend, George. When a Hollywood film crew checks in to shoot their first “talkie” on location before these movie restrictions take effect, things go right and wrong in the midst of everyone involved seeking hope, love and redemption.
Susan and Doug became a writing team after their marriage in 2018. They’ve co-written 3 full-length plays, Unfinished Business, a 2020 Austin Film Festival second round selection and Screencraft finalist in addition to Martha’s Will, which was also an Austin Film Festival second round selection in 2025. They also collaborated on Lovestruck, a compilation of 8 ten-minute plays inspired by their own love story. All 3 plays were performed at the Aronoff. Behind the Scene is their 4th CPI staged play together.
The Decaturs are also National Senior Games athletes. Doug won a Gold medal in Basketball and Susan won a Silver Medal in the 50-meter Track and Field event. They also enjoy playing tennis, ballroom dancing, hiking and eating dark chocolate.
Bigger and better than ever!
Lovefest 4 is back: Valentine’s Day weekend!
Don’t miss this opportunity to tell your ten-minute love story in a fully produced stage production at the Bell Tower Pavilion in Evendale.
8 plays will be selected for a first ever weekend of love and romance with proceeds to support the Cincinnati Save the Animals Foundation no-kill animal shelter.
Submissions are open now through Friday, August 28th (5 p.m. EST)
Up to 2 submissions per playwright but only one can be selected for Lovefest 4.
Click the red submissions button below to get all the requirements on sending us your ten-minute plays celebrating Valentine’s Day now!
Send us your scripts for possible inclusion in our next season of New Works!
We accept full-length (90 minutes), One-Acts (45 minutes), and/or a compilation of short ten-minute plays that equate to 90 minutes of theater run time. Multiple script submissions are accepted but only one is eligible for selection per season.
Visit our Submissions page for requirements on how to send us your work.
Address:
CPI
P.O. Box 40
Terrace Park, OH 45174-0040
Email:
cincyplaywrights@gmail.com