The spirit was joyful during a recent Sunday matinee performance of “The Prospect of Equality” at Ensemble Theatre.

The play, which tells the story of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s life, is the theater company’s first commissioned piece in its 44-year history. The production is also the world debut of local playwright Rachel Zake’s newest piece, said Celeste Cosentino, executive artistic director of Ensemble Theatre. 

“I think my mom would be proud,” Cosentino said. “We ended our [theater’s] run on a piece written by a local writer and tells a powerful story. It’s what she would have wanted.” 

Earlier this year, Notre Dame college announced it would be closing due to financial challenges. The theater company, which was founded in 1979 by Cosentino’s mother, Lucia Colombi, has been working out of the college’s black box theater for the last two years. Now,  the company is in search of a new home to keep its more than 40-year-old mission of arts education and programming going.  

Lucia Colombi founded Ensemble Theatre in 1979. Credit: Courtesy of Celeste Consentino

“We made a lot of memories [at Notre Dame],” Cosentino said. “But it just means that new audiences, people and communities can discover our company and be inspired to celebrate the arts.” 

Ensemble Theater history 

In the company’s early days, it  paid homage to classic American playwrights such as Arthur Miller, Eugene O’Neill and Tennesse Williams. The company traveled and staged its shows at many theaters in Northeast Ohio, including the former Cleveland Playhouse facility, where they spent eight years, and 18 years in the Civic Theatre in Cleveland Heights.  

Actors Magdalyn Donnely, Nancy Telserow, Chris Fortunato, Dorhy Canepari and Joseph Bonamico, Guiseppe Diomede, John Kolibab act in the theater’s “A View from the Bridge,” by playwright Arthur Miller. Credit: Aimee Lambes Photography

In 1991, the company also developed the first Panorama of African American Theatre. The series celebrated select works and vignettes from Black playwrights such as Lorrane Hansberry, August Wilson, Ossie Davis and George Wolfe, The series was performed at Cleveland’s Civic Theater and was broadcast by PBS.

Actress Angela Winborn and Actor Eugene Sumlin act in the theater’s production of “A Rasin in the Sun,” by playwright Lorainne Hansberry. Credit: Aimee Lambes Photography

The series  won the First View Award, making it one of the top 25 educational programs in the country, Cosentino said. 

“That was a momentous moment for my mother and the actors who got to work at the company,” she said. 

Since then, the company has produced more than 150 plays and won numerous local and national awards for its productions. The company also provided  educational theater and performing arts programs for senior citizens and underserved communities in Northeast Ohio. 

‘Modern works keep our theater alive’ 

In 2009, when Lucia Colombi died, Cosentino took over the theater company and decided to move it in a new direction. 

In recent years, Ensemble has looked for ways to showcase  works that dive into contemporary issues. In 2015, the theater produced the play “THURDGOOD,” by playwright George Stevens Jr., which tells the story and life of Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall. 

The success of that play led Cosentino to approach Zake about writing a play about Ginsburg’s life.

Playwright Rachel Zake talks with Executive Artistic Director Celeste Cosentino in the theater’s “Talk Back” after Sunday, June 2 performance of Zake’s “The Prospect of Equality.” Credit: Candice Wilder / Signal Cleveland

“While we loved to stage the American classics, modern works from new playwrights also helped keep our work in the theater alive,” Cosentino said. “We have learned and explored so much with new works that connect us to new audiences every year.” 

Zake and Cosentino workshopped the play with the public for more than two years. Public readings began in September 2023. Rehearsals began in April, and the production debuted at the end of May. 

“It is such a joy to work with Celeste and the cast because they gave me so much freedom to experiment with this story,” Zake told Signal Cleveland after Sunday’s matinee performance. “It’s every actor and writer’s dream to work with a company that allows you to do it, so I’m glad it’s happening here in Cleveland.” 

Cosentino said the company will begin looking for a new home to launch its next season. She said the hope is to make an announcement in June. In the meantime, they will spend the rest of their  2024 season traveling to different theaters with a new slate of plays and shows for the community to see. 

“This isn’t the end of Ensemble,” Cosentino said. “Like all changes and seasons, it just makes way for a new beginning.” 

The Prospect of Equality runs through Sunday, June 9 at Ensemble Theatre in Notre Dame College.

Editor’s note: This article was updated with the correct spelling of Celeste Cosentino, executive artistic director of Ensemble Theater’s, last name. A previous version of this article also stated the theater commissioned the 2015 play “THURGOOD.” Ensemble Theater produced the play.

Candice covered health and arts and culture for Signal Cleveland until July, 2024. Her health reporting focused on women's health and lead poisoning.