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ABOUT MPI
The History of Mariemont Players Inc.


Mariemont Players, Inc. (MPI) has been producing theatre in Greater Cincinnati since 1936, making it one of the area's oldest community theaters. Needless to say, the group has seen many faces come and go over the years, but one fact remains - this all-volunteer organization has always been committed to delivering high quality entertainment at affordable prices.

MPI got its start as a church group, performing plays in the village of Mariemont, Ohio. The group began regular performance seasons in the 1950s and was incorporated as a not-for-profit organization on August 28, 1956 by its president, Woodrow (Woody) Jarrett. In honor of Woody & Lois Jarrett's longtime commitment to the theater, the auditorium is named after them.

In 1958, the group made a bold move to obtain a permanent space. For $13,000, the group bought at auction the old Plainville four-room schoolhouse located at the intersection of Walton Creek and Muchmore Roads, between Mariemont and Terrace Park. The building's original cornerstone had been placed in 1869, but the present solid brick building dates from 1910. Renovations to the theater have been a constant activity, the most memorable one being the removal of "the pole" that stood at the very foot of the stage (a slice of "the pole" is proudly displayed in the Walton Creek Theater lobby). The most recent upgrades to the building have been the return of the lobby windows, a new dressing and green room for the actors, new flood-proof storage areas for our extensive costume and prop collection, and for our patrons, the much anticipated addition of a first-floor bathroom.

MPI is very fortunate to be one of the few local community theaters to have a permanent home. We welcome you to our home each and every year, and hope you have a great theatre experience whenever you visit us.

If you become a new member, you will be joining a group that has had almost 500 members during the past 10 years. Some have become movie actors, Broadway musical directors and played roles in professional theater, TV commercials, corporate videos, voice-overs plus dozens of support roles in media and the creative arts.