Western Reserve Playhouse presents a yearlong, sweeping American epic: THE KENTUCKY CYCLE by Robert Schenkkan

Press Release
Written By Braelin A

Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 3, 2026

Western Reserve Playhouse presents a yearlong, sweeping American epic: THE KENTUCKY CYCLE by Robert Schenkkan

Western Reserve Playhouse proudly announces a rare and ambitious undertaking: The Kentucky Cycle, a nine-part theatrical epic presented across the entire 2026–2027 season, as WRP’s Five Bucks Series. Winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, The Kentucky Cycle spans more than 200 years of American history, tracing the intersecting lives of several families across generations. Presented episodically, each installment stands alone while still contributing to the greater narrative of legacy, land, survival, and the cost of power as we reflect on 250 years of American history for the Semiquincentennial.

Each episode stands on its own, but contributes to the greater epic of the full Kentucky Cycle, which will also be presented in full at the end of the year. The serialized format of this presentation is unique in that it mirrors a TV show, thematically similar to other American epics like Yellowstone and Deadwood.

The cycle begins with Masters of the Trade on March 1, followed by The Courtship of Morning Star (April 19), The Homecoming (May 3), Ties That Bind (June 14), God’s Great Supper (June 28), Tall Tales (August 9), Fire in the Hole (August 23), Which Side Are You On? (October 11), The War on Poverty (October 29), and concludes with a two-night finale December 5–6.

Directors and casts for each episode will feature a rotating ensemble of WRP artists, allowing performers to take on recurring roles or entirely new identities as the story moves across centuries and generations.

Set against the backdrop of our Historic Barn of Bath Ohio, the series embraces the minimalist, story-forward aesthetic of a typical Five Bucks Series reading, but with a little extra oomph of production that really takes the series to the next level.

You can pick up a Kentucky Cycle season booklet in the WRP lobby to follow the story as it unfolds throughout the year; and, at each performance, collect a unique episode sticker and fill your booklet as you journey through all ten chapters.

Media Contact:
Braelin Andrzejewski
Marketing/Communication Director
Western Reserve Playhouse
Braelin@thewrp.org

Braelin A

Braelin A. (she/her) is a queer, neurodivergent educator and entrepreneur from Cleveland, Ohio, who brings her richly diverse background and transparent self-awareness to the forefront of sexual health education. At 29, she leads Evidentia with a philosophy that personal history informs educational style, advocating for inclusivity and evidence-based, trauma-informed care. Formerly a child actor, Braelin has pivoted from professional theatre due to its systemic injustices, channeling her experiences into Evidentia and its HealthEquity Toolkit. She's holds a post-baccalaureate in Cannabis Therapeutics from Maryland University of Integrative Health and attended the Institute for Sexuality Education and Enlightenment. Committed to dismantling educational privilege, Braelin's mission is to deliver accessible, transformative resources that challenge oppression and promote holistic well-being.

http://www.braelina.com/
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