The complete works of William Shakespeare, abridged
He’s naturally gifted, a modern day Charlie Chaplin, but with the sincerity of Tom Hanks.
McCombs doesn’t have to try to hard to entertain. [He] shows off his range with a serious monologue from Hamlet that had the woman behind me “amen-ing” like we were in some sort of Shakespeare church service.
–Kirk Sheppard, The Sappy Critic
Justin McCombs and Sara Clark as Winston Smith and and Julia in Cincinnati Shakespeare Company’s 1984.
Photo Credit: Mikki Schaffner
1984
Fortunately, McCombs is the actor who is leading us through all of this. He is a performer who is
at his best when he’s playing an everyman –
the man next door, the regular guy. He has a way of
making us want to invest ourselves in him. We trust him.
–David Lyman, The Cincinnati Enquirer
The complete works of William Shakespeare, abridged
And then you have my favorite, the unstoppable Justin McCombs, who is
as comfortable wearing a wig and a dress as he is bounding out of the audience pretending to be “one of us.”
If there’s a more consistently funny comedian on Cincinnati stages I don’t know who it is.
–Kirk Sheppard, The Sappy Critic
Miranda McGee, Geoffrey Warren Barnes II, and Justin McCombs in Cincinnati Shakespeare Company’s The Complete Works of William Shakespeare Abridged.
Photo Credit: Mikki Schaffner
The cast of Cincinnati Shakespeare Company’s 1984, with Justin McCombs as Winston Smith, second from right.
Photo Credit: Mikki Schaffner
1984
Justin McCombs… demonstrates he can step out of his usual penchant for lighter roles with intensity and authenticity.
Justin McCombs’ portrayal of Winston Smith [in 1984] begins quietly and remains understated for the first part of the play. As tensions rise and allegiances are tested, McCombs works himself into a full fledged frenzy on stage. Sweat, spit, and blood become tools in his performance as he works to close the gap between the actors and the audience,
forcing us to question our own reality and leaving us to wonder, is this really a play?
–Sheldon Polonsky, League of Cincinnati Theatres
McCombs, typically cast as the comic relief, seizes this opportunity to shine. He begins meekly, but hungry for rebellion. Winston’s story takes him to the peak of desperate hope and the deepest depths of fear and despair. McCombs proves completely up to the task.
–zach moning, League of Cincinnati Theatres
Justin McCombs as the titular Henry V in Cincinnati Shakespeare Company’s production.
Photo Credit: Mikki Schaffner
Henry V
The way McCombs handles the text and embodies [Henry V] is
so totally genuine that you will not have to suspend your disbelief.
He makes Shakespeare’s words so much the king’s and provides such authentic behavior that you will find yourself identifying with this young man in every scene.
–League of Cincinnati Theatres
Featuring a fierce Justin McCombs in yet another departure from the slapstick comedy he does so well, this show is anchored by a strong performance by him as Henry V.
–Kirk Sheppard, The Sappy Critic
History of America Abridged
Special praise goes to Justin McCombs, who was outstanding playing a large number of female roles in drag. [He] comes on stage playing a seductive Madame Chiang-Kai-Shek that is a showstopper. McCombs has this exaggerated cross-legged shashay that is completely hysterical.
–League of Cincinnati Theatres
Macbeth
A bearded Justin McCombs is imposing as Banquo and makes a truly terrifying ghost in the banquet scene.
–Sheldon Polonsky, League of Cincinnati Theatres
The great Gatsby
We meet “Nick Carraway,” played with refreshingly dialed-down charm by Justin McCombs, who narrates this ultimately tragic story of love and loss. Both Chace and McCombs are known for their comedic chops; its refreshing to see them get to play it (mostly) straight for a change.
–Kirk Sheppard, The Sappy Critic
Pulp
Justin McCombs channels funny-man John Cleese with wacky physicality as effete Walter Kingston-Smith.
–rick Pender, City Beat
Rosencrantz and guildenstern are dead
Why don’t Billy Chace and Justin McCombs have their own television program yet?
It could be something like if “Laurel and Hardy” met the Impractical Jokers. It’d be a huge hit, I’m telling you! I was enchanted by their comedic rapport with one another and the audience.
–Kirk Sheppard, The Sappy Critic
Billy Chace and Justin McCombs in Cincinnati Shakespeare Company’s Rosencrantz & Guildenstern are Dead.
Photo Credit: Mikki Schaffner
Every Christmas story ever told (and then some!)
The cast of four has evolved over the years, although one Cincy Shakes veteran, the delightfully rubbery comedian Justin McCombs, has been in every iteration, playing a Christmas-and Santa-loving naïf who no longer wants to be part of annual stagings of A Christmas Carol.
Despite the nonstop hilarity, there are genuine moments. In a re-creation of A Charlie Brown Christmas, after Charlie (Barnes) is berated by Lucy (Handy) for his selection of a bedraggled tree, he wonders if anyone can tell him the true meaning of Christmas. Linus (McCombs, with a blue security blanket) steps into a pool of light and delivers the New Testament verses from Luke 2: "I bring you good tidings of great joy ..." Surrounded by silliness, this is a startling intrusion of stillness and beauty that always resonates with warmth, especially with the wish of "peace on earth and goodwill to men."
–rick Pender, Talking Broadway
The Comedy of Errors
McCombs, one of the local kings of comedy, knows how to get the laughs. He knows timing and physicality, and has starred in many shows in his 15 years at CSC.