February 26, 2026 – May 17, 2026
“Sherlock, wait! You’re looking a bit… ruuufffff. “
— Scene 37, Hound of the Baskervilles (Canny & Nicholson adaptation)
When Sir Charles Baskerville is found dead on the moors with a look of terror on his face and paw prints by his body, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson are called to unravel the curse of the hound. But in this riotous retelling, the suspense goes delightfully off the rails as classic literature meets modern spoof.
With just three actors playing dozens of roles, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s most celebrated detective story gets a gloriously funny makeover in Steven Canny and John Nicholson’s Olivier-nominated adaptation.
The Hound of the Baskervilles becomes a whirlwind of slapstick comedy and quick-change artistry as the gothic mystery transforms into a theatrical romp packed with wit, parody, and non-stop laughter. This is Sherlock Holmes as you’ve never seen him before.
THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Adaptation © 2018 Steven Canny & John Nicholson for Peepolykus
Copyright agent: Peepolykus, 39-41 Charing Cross Road, 5th Floor, WC2H 0AR, London
Creative Team
Director, The Hound of the Baskervilles (2026) at the American Shakespeare Center.
Cait Redman is a dedicated theatre artist whose insightful direction and love for Shakespearean performance shine at the ASC and beyond.
Alexander Carey is a Stage Manager whose expertise and passion bring seamless productions to life at ASC and beyond.
Aimee Amelia Greco is an Assistant Stage Manager for the Spring 2026 Season at the American Shakespeare Center.
Rachael Sheffer, Assistant Stage Manager at the American Shakespeare Center.
Blake Henri is an accomplished actor who brings dynamic and captivating performances to ASC and beyond.
Christopher Seiler is a seasoned actor and musician whose performances embody transformation and connection, captivating audiences at ASC and beyond.
Christopher Joel Onken is an actor at the American Shakespeare Center. Explore his theater experience, education, and background.
Summer England is a gifted actor whose compelling and elegant performances light up the ASC stage and beyond.
Isabel Lee Roden is an actor at the American Shakespeare Center’s Blackfriars Playhouse in Staunton, VA.
Angela Iannone is a celebrated actor, known for her nuanced performances and captivating presence at ASC and beyond.
Haley Fentriss Roberts is an accomplished Intimacy Choreographer dedicated to fostering meaningful connections on stage at ASC and beyond.
Doreen Bechtol is a seasoned movement consultant, actor, and educator with extensive experience in theatre, choreography, and original devised works.
Elizabeth Wislar is a costume designer at the American Shakespeare Center. Explore her theatre experience and education.
Thomas J. Coppola was part of the American Shakespeare Center from 2015 to 2025.
Conrad Gothard worked at the American Shakespeare Center from 2023 – 2026
Grace Easterday, Prop Shop Manager at the American Shakespeare Center in Staunton, VA.
Amy Monsalve is Wardrobe Manager & Design Assistant at the ASC, recognized for her attention to detail and passion for bringing costumes to life.
Trina Yager is the Costume Coordinator & Wardrobe Supervisor at the American Shakespeare Center.
Rebecca Bailey is a versatile performer and theatre artist whose dynamic talent shines in productions at ASC and beyond.
MARCY GIRARD is a prop shop intern for the ASC’s Spring 2026 Season.
Cast
Topher Embrey is an actor at the American Shakespeare Center. Explore his theater experience, education, and background.
Justin McCombs is an Actor at the American Shakespeare Center. Explore his theater experience, education, and background.
Christopher Joel Onken is an actor at the American Shakespeare Center. Explore his theater experience, education, and background.
Christopher Seiler is a seasoned actor and musician whose performances embody transformation and connection, captivating audiences at ASC and beyond.
Acting Fellow
Nick Trusty, Acting Fellow at the American Shakespeare Center.
Oliver Chase Marten, Acting Fellow at the American Shakespeare Center.
Evin McQuistion, Acting Fellow at the American Shakespeare Center.
This fast-paced, Olivier-nominated comedy reimagines Sherlock Holmes’ most famous mystery as a whirlwind of quick changes, slapstick, and theatrical mischief. While the show is designed to be hilarious, some elements may be intense or surprising for younger audience members. Parents may want to consider the following:
- Sir Charles Baskerville is found dead on the moor, leaving behind rumors of a curse and a terrifying hound that supposedly haunts the Baskerville family.
- Dr. Mortimer brings the case to Sherlock Holmes, hoping he can protect the Baskerville heir, Sir Henry Baskerville, from meeting the same fate.
- Sir Henry Baskerville arrives in England and quickly begins receiving alarming warnings that his life may be in danger.
- Holmes sends Dr. Watson to Baskerville Hall to investigate while he quietly pursues his own line of inquiry.
- Dr. Watson encounters strange locals, a roaming escaped convict whose presence raises unsettling questions, and the secretive caretakers of Baskerville Hall, Mr. and Mrs. Barrymore.
- A naturalist named Stapleton appears, offering insight into the moor and its wildlife, though his motives remain unclear. A woman introduced as his sister arrives alongside him, further complicating matters.
- Disguises are adopted, identities blur, and Holmes keeps his deductions close to his chest.
- The legend of the hound grows louder and closer as deduction, deception, and theatrical hijinks ensue…
So when did all this begin?
The idea of minimizing the greats? Of abridging the classics? Does it predate the Reduced Shakespeare Company’s treatment of William Shakespeare? Or was that the play that launched a thousand comic ships into the vasty sea of the world theatre?
If you want a comic, clever, pared-down rendition of a classic, I think you can find it. Complete canons of Shakespeare and Jane Austen, all the books, all the sports, all the history, Hitchcock, the Greeks, Dracula, and on and on. Our stages have seen many a share of lengthy novels and film trilogies turned into 90-minute comedic spectacles performed by 3 or 4 actors. And tonight is no exception! But have no fear! This play is, in my humble opinion, one of the finest of the genre. A jewel in the crown of comedic adaptation, if you will. This play is the reason writers continue trying their hand at this type of work – in order to create the perfect blend of narrative clarity and hilarious tomfoolery.
And why do these comedic hits keep on coming? Because we love them? Yes, but it is so much more than that. It’s the opportunity to see a story we thought we knew in a whole new way because it’s been turned upside down. It’s the delight of seeing designers discover how to dress one actor as forty characters, make a hand prop represent a teeming metropolis, or travel around the globe in a matter of seconds. It is the thrill of watching incredible actors run a comedic marathon by bringing a cast of thousands to life thanks to their imagination and a talented wardrobe team. These comedic adaptations keep on coming because they can be some of the most inspiring and exhilarating nights in a theatre that an artist or audience can have.
The other reason they keep coming? We need them. We need these narrative touchstones to remind us where we come from. We need these opportunities to laugh together as a community to show us where we can go together.
Together.
I hope tonight we have provided a comedic respite from the storm of your everyday. But I also hope we have created a bit of community in this room to reinforce the notion that we really are all in this together.
I hope.
Thanks for being here tonight.
— Brian Isaac Phillips
Producing Artistic Director & CEO
Cincinnati Shakespeare Company