John Carroll University is pleased to announce its partnership with Ensemble Theatre Cleveland for the 2025-2026 season. This collaboration will bring two captivating productions to JCU’s Marinello Little Theater, a 135-seat black box theater space located in the University’s D.J. Lombardo Student Center.
Ensemble Theatre’s season begins with “Henrik Ibsen’s Enemy of the People: A Rust-Belt Adaptation” by Les Hunter, running from February 7–23, 2025. This adaptation, set in a mid-sized Rust-Belt city, examines timeless questions about truth, power, and societal values that remain strikingly relevant today. Following this production, Ensemble Theatre will present “Heisenberg” by Simon Stephens from May 9–25, 2025. Taking place in a bustling London train station, this intimate and electric drama explores the transformative impact of an unexpected encounter between two strangers.
This collaboration comes at a time when John Carroll is investing more deeply in exciting arts programming. Recent initiatives include the addition of new arts-focused classes for the 2025 and 2026 academic years, including jewelry making and two theater courses taught by Ensemble Theatre’s Executive Artistic Director, Celeste Cosentino: Directing and Acting for the Stage. The University is also expanding arts programming through workshops on topics like puppetry, iPhone movie making, Indie Rock music, and more.
Additionally, the University recently welcomed Amy Payne as the Assistant Director of Student Engagement for the Arts, a role dedicated to fostering creative opportunities and enhancing the campus arts culture.
Partnerships like this demonstrate JCU’s commitment to the arts as a critical component of a well-rounded liberal arts education,” said Payne. “We are excited to see our students engage with theater in innovative and hands-on ways, while also enriching the campus community with professional-level productions.
“Partnerships like this demonstrate JCU’s commitment to the arts as a critical component of a well-rounded liberal arts education,” said Payne. “We are excited to see our students engage with theater in innovative and hands-on ways, while also enriching the campus community with professional-level productions.”
Through this collaboration, Ensemble Theatre will collaborate with the University’s Theatre Club and offer valuable professional opportunities to JCU students, including internships and mentoring in various aspects of theater production. Ensemble Theatre will also host a free Performing Arts Summer Camp in the Marinello Little Theatre on JCU’s campus for middle school and early high school students who reside in Cuyahoga County. The camp will take place from July 14 through 25 and focus on theatre, film, and voice overs.
“This partnership with Ensemble Theatre Cleveland reflects our commitment to experiential learning,” said Rodney Hessinger, Interim Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at John Carroll University. “It offers our students the unique chance to work alongside seasoned professionals, enriching their academic and creative journeys while strengthening the arts community at JCU.”
Cosentino, for her part, is enthusiastic about the partnership, and is looking forward to helping inspire students through powerful arts programming. “Ensemble is honored to join the JCU community. My “Uncle Kit” (Christopher Colombi Jr. ’64) was the Vice President of “The Little Theatre Society” when Marinello was a professor--so I not only have a sense of family history, but great enthusiasm and just plain joy to be part of such a beautiful campus, and to be able to again work with amazing students, exposing them to the rich fabric of the arts which are an integral part, and asset, of our Cleveland and Northeast Ohio Communities!”
To learn more, purchase tickets, or apply to Ensemble Theatre’s summer camp, visit www.ensembletheatrecle.org/.