The Cast Photo by Ryan Kurtz

The House on Watch Hill chronicles the summer and fall of 1984 in suburban Cincinnati. Patrick and his friend group of "weird kids" are soon to be high-schoolers. They hatch a plan to build a "kick-butt" haunted house to impress the outgoing producer of the city's premiere one in hopes of taking over when he leaves. Challenges, including Patrick's unexpected romance with an older teen boy, must be overcome before the Halloween season deadline arrives.

The show is written by Richard Oberacker and Robert Taylor, who also created the musical Bandstand, which reached Broadway in 2017. The songs, which feature lyrics by both and music by Oberacker, are pastiche 1980s pop and rock. The music pulsates with the chords and rhythms of the period. The lyrics are dense and witty when heard and thankfully adhere to musical theatre standards rather than the blandness of most '80s hits. Unfortunately, the sound balance with the live musicians wasn't where it needed to be on opening night, so many lyrics were lost. Highlights of the score include "I Draw A Line," which features excellent wordplay, the redemptive "Let's Be Honest," and the fun "Midnight Picture Show," an ode to sneaking in to see The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

The House on Watch Hill is based on true events from Richard Oberacker youth in Cincinnati. There is a lot of local name-dropping in the libretto, which is fun for ETC audience members of a certain age (yours included, who was the exact same age as the characters in 1984). Other nostalgic moments like a trip to Spencer Gifts at the mall is smile-inducing as well. However, the book for the show is its weakest element. The coming-of-age story is universal and rightfully demonstrates that those formative years are truly scarier than any haunted house. But many of the events and relationships feel off (too mature) for 14-year-olds. Though based on what really happened, presenting the story with characters just a couple of years older would make certain elements more relatable to theatregoers. Much of the deep introspection is conveyed by a character introduced significantly later than the core group and who doesn't seem to be the focus of the tale. Otherwise, most of the story is situational rather than character driven. In Act 2, a few major plot points are rushed and muddled in their writing, diminishing the overall impact at the end of the show. Finally, more solid comedic moments would be helpful in balancing out the pathos of the piece.

The ETC production is co-directed by D. Lynn Meyers and Dee Ann Bryll. They capture the 1980s tone of the show (a mix of "Stranger Things" meets The Goonies) and supply effective blocking and transitions. The reveal of the haunted house elements is impressive as well. Ms. Bryll's choreography and movement is apt and fun. The four-piece band led by musical director Steve Goers replicates the '80s sounds of the score skillfully.

The six actors performing the roles of the core friends within the show are all current musical theatre majors at the University of Cincinnati's College-Conservatory of Music (CCM). Adrian Graff is Patrick, who leads the plan and who falls for an older boy who attends a neighboring high school. Graff captures the necessary youthful exuberance and naivety accurately, and is likeable even in the character's darker moments. Morgan Lindell (Kristin), Jordyn Amani Jones (Joy), Wesley Akio Geary (Paul), Julianne Ferreira Da Silva (Jennifer), and Gavin Poronsky (Tim) each shine during their spotlight moments and songs as well. As good as they are, believing them to be 14-year-olds may be a bit of a stretch, though. Likewise, Tommy Sanders displays a wealth of talents as Jason and nails much of the meatier material of the piece, but also isn't really passable for the age he's portraying. Sanders also impresses with some silk aerial work performed as part of the haunted house display. Jason Collins and Sara Mackie take on numerous adult roles within the piece, both exhibiting versatility and seasoned acting throughout.

Brian c. Mehring's scenic and lighting elements are well integrated. Angled light bars with matching designs on the floor will quickly remind '80s kids and parents of Trapper Keeper motifs. Tiered staircases and smaller moveable set pieces communicate the period and locales effectively. The costumes by Cat Schmeal-Swope likewise are period appropriate and fun, and the haunted house outfits are spooky, especially under Mehring's strobe effects.

Kudos to Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati for partnering with Broadway writers with a local connection to tell a Cincinnati story as an original musical. The current version of The House on Watch Hill isn't perfect, but let's hope that further work can produce an even more entertaining and rewarding result for audiences. In the meantime, enjoy the scary nostalgia of the piece, some throwback styles songs, and a talented cast.

The House on Watch Hill runs through May 31, 2026, at Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati, 1127 Vine Street, Cincinnati OH. For tickets and information, please visit www.ensemblecincinnati.org or call 513-421-3555.