Ohio funds new Broadway, film and TV projects

OHIO — Millions of dollars are supporting Ohio’s 27 new production projects in 14 Ohio communities. 

The funding, totaling more than $46 million, is issued through the Motion Picture Tax Credit Program. It will go toward 11 feature films, four television mini-series, five television sseries, four Broadway/theatrical productions, two documentaries and one digital media. 

According to the Ohio Department of Development, the projects are set to create more than 1,000 new jobs, contribute over $150 million in eligible production spending and drive $196 million in production-related expenses.

“When productions choose Ohio, they put our communities on the global stage,” said Lydia Mihalik, director of the Ohio Department of Development. “Through the Motion Picture Tax Credit Program, we’re telling Ohio’s story to the world while creating new jobs and growing local economies.”

The program provides a refundable tax credit of 30% on production cast and crew wages and other in-state spending for eligible productions.

Funding is going toward four Broadway or theatrical productions including:

• Elf the Musical, Springfield: $463,877
• Hell’s Kitchen – First National Tour, Cleveland: $1,354,833
• Spamalot Tour, Cleveland: $1,045,826
• The Notebook, Cleveland: $613,270

There are also multiple TV series receiving funding for the program:

• AEW 2025-2026 Productions, Cleveland: $2,134,560
• Brick Wall Bars, Cincinnati: $258,974
• Buggy and Beyond Entertainment LLC Project (Mini-series): Canton, $757,800
• Gabriel and the Guardians, Columbus: $2,010,159
• The Blueprint Miniseries (Mini-series): Gahanna, $194,715
• The Guest List (Mini-series), Lorain, $3,048,900
• Triple Dare – Nickelodeon Miniseries (Mini-series): Worthington, $135,084
• WWE 2025-2026 Productions, Cleveland: $1,096,941
• Zombie Reno Ohio S1, Columbus: $264,132

Feature films receiving funding include:

• 10 Cent, North Canton: $3,657,702
• Carousel, Medina: $517,137
• Funnybone, Columbus: $185,131
• Love is Not the Answer: Cincinnati, $1,546,645
• Safe Space, Cleveland: $249,322
• Spain Thief, Cleveland: $10,533,057
• Sunny, Canton: $8,483,314
• Synthetic, Cincinnati: $1,287,577
• The Chaperones, Cincinnati: $2,867,270
• The Christmastyme Traveller, North Canton: $3,066,331
• The Darker Side, Middletown: $205,872

There are two documentaries receiving funding:

• Parma, Lakewood: $165,000
• The Peoples College, Warrensville Heights: $119,310

One digital media project is also receiving funds:

• Brave Wilderness, Lewis Center: $101,221

The applications are reviewed and awarded in two rounds each year, where $50 million is awarded annually which is evenly divded between the two rounds.