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June 25, 2025 · 5:49 pm

Cincinnati Opera Launches Free Ticket Initiative for Students in Grades 7–12

The new deal is in addition to Pay What You Wish tickets and $16 tickets for other full-time students, enhancing opera’s accessibility for all

CINCINNATI (June 25, 2025)—Cincinnati Opera is proud to announce a new student access initiative designed to welcome and inspire the next generation of opera lovers. Thanks to a generous donation, students entering grades 7–12 (including 2025 high school graduates) are invited to attend select performances during the company’s 2025 Summer Festival free of charge.

Eligible students may reserve up to two free tickets per person in any available seating area for the following performances at Music Hall:

Tosca
Music by Giacomo Puccini
Libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa

  • Thursday, June 26 at 7:30 p.m.
  • Saturday, June 28 at 7:30 p.m.

Fiddler on the Roof
Music by Jerry Bock
Lyrics by Sheldon Harnick
Book by Joseph Stein

  • Friday, July 25 at 7:30 p.m.
  • Sunday, July 27 at 3:00 p.m.

Tickets can be reserved as follows:

  • Online at cincinnatiopera.org
  • By phone at 513-241-2742 (Monday–Friday, 12:00–5:00 p.m.)
  • In person at the Cincinnati Opera Box Office at Music Hall, 1243 Elm Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202

Free tickets are available for a limited time, so early purchase is encouraged. Proof of eligibility is required at the time of ticket pickup.

Expanded Access for All Audiences

In addition to the free ticket initiative for middle and high school students, Cincinnati Opera continues its commitment to accessibility with the following offers:

$16 Student Tickets:
All full-time students, including those in college and graduate school, may purchase up to two tickets for $16 each during the week of a performance, subject to availability. Students may purchase in person, online, or via phone, and a valid student ID is required for pickup.

Pay What You Wish Tickets: 
Cincinnati Opera’s recently launched Pay What You Wish (PWYW) program allows audience members to name their own ticket price for select performances. PWYW tickets are available starting at 12:01 a.m. the day of the show for select performances and continue until 5:00 p.m. Guests may purchase in person, online, or via phone and pay any price starting at $16 per ticket. (The recommended price is $55 per ticket.) There is a limit of four tickets per household.

For more information on these accessibility initiatives and how to order, visit cincinnatiopera.org/tickets/ways-to-save.

About Cincinnati Opera’s 2025 Summer Festival

Cincinnati Opera opened its 2025 Summer Festival on June 12 and 14 with Giuseppe Verdi’s heartbreaking tragedy Rigoletto. The season continues this week with Giacomo Puccini’s gripping tale of love, betrayal, and political intrigue, Tosca (June 26 and 28; 7:30 p.m.; Music Hall). In July, Cincinnati Opera continues its series of intimate, artist-curated concerts, Studio Sessions (July 10 and 17; 8:00 p.m.; Music Hall’s Wilks Studio), and concludes the 2025 season with a brand-new production of one of the most beloved musicals of all time, Fiddler on the Roof (July 23, 25, 26, 7:30 p.m.; July 27, 3:00 p.m.; Music Hall). For information, visit cincinnatiopera.org.

About Cincinnati Opera

Cincinnati Opera’s mission is to enrich and connect our community through diverse opera experiences. Founded in 1920 and the second-oldest opera company in the nation, Cincinnati Opera presents a thrilling season of grand opera every summer and engaging programs throughout the year. The company’s repertoire includes beloved classics and contemporary masterworks brought to life by some of the world’s most dynamic performers and creative artists.

Cincinnati Opera is supported by the generosity of tens of thousands of contributors to the ArtsWave Community Campaign. This project was supported in part by the Ohio Arts Council, which receives support from the State of Ohio and the National Endowment for the Arts. Cincinnati Opera also receives general season support from The Louise Dieterle Nippert Musical Arts Fund and the Harry T. Wilks Family Foundation, along with general season and project support from many other generous individuals, corporations, and foundations. Cincinnati Opera is a member of OPERA America.

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June 24, 2025 · 6:18 pm

Cast Announced for SOMETHING ROTTEN! at Loveland Stage Company

We’re thrilled to reveal the egg-cellent cast of Loveland Stage Company’s Fall production of SOMETHING ROTTEN!

This delightfully outrageous musical comedy is packed with Shakespearean shenanigans, show-stopping numbers, and a whole lot of Renaissance razzle-dazzle!

  • NICK BOTTOM: Derek Foster
  • WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE: Christopher Ball
  • NIGEL BOTTOM: Jonah Human
  • BEATRICE “BEA” BOTTOM: Gabi Homonoff
  • PORTIA: Deanna Berryhill
  • BROTHER JEREMIAH: Doug Bruening
  • NOSTRADAMUS: Nate Huitger
  • MINSTREL: Chantel Allen
  • LORD CLAPMAN/MASTER OF THE JUSTICE: John Sloan
  • SHYLOCK: Charlie Rader
  • TROUPE: Bradyn Gundle, David Ludwig, Charlie Phillips, Christopher Toney
  • FEATURED DANCERS: Chantel Allen, Corrie Allen, Jessica Chase**, Lauren Davidson**, Jackson Frazier, Paula Gerhardt**, Jules Grimm**, Roman Harris-Richardson, Nate Huitger, Jessica Rychlik**, Mary Beth Schwartz, Tara Wade** (**denotes tap dancers)
  • ENSEMBLE: Jessica Bailey, Marianne Bradshaw, Bradyn Gundle, Lee-Ann Hall, Ashley Renee Herbert, David Ludwig, Temple Nguyen, Charlie Phillips, Charlie Rader, John Sloan, Elizabeth Swan, Christopher Toney

Director/Vocals: Amy Prestridge
Producers: Chris George, Becky Jones
Choreographer: Hunter Gee
Stage Manager: Nor White

Performances run November 7-23, 2025 at Loveland Stage Company. Tickets on sale soon!
It’s hard to be the bard… but it’s even harder to wait for opening night!

SOMETHING ROTTEN! is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. http://www.mtishows.com

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June 24, 2025 · 6:14 pm

THE COLOR PURPLE Launches The Carnegie’s 2025-26 Season

Jordyn Jones as Celie. Photo by Mikki Schaffner.

The Tony award-winning musical is on stage June 27 – July 6 in Covington, KY.

Covington, KY (June 16, 2025) — The Carnegie kicks off its 2025-26 musical theatre season with THE COLOR PURPLE, running June 27 – July 6. Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Alice Walker and adapted for the stage by Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winner Marsha Norman, with music and lyrics by Brenda Russell, Allee Willis, and Stephen Bray, THE COLOR PURPLE takes audiences on an unforgettable musical journey that celebrates the strength of the human spirit. This moving production brings to life the story of Celie, an African American woman in the early 20th century, as she embarks on a remarkable journey of self-discovery. With soul- stirring gospel, jazz, and blues music, THE COLOR PURPLE is a vibrant celebration of love, family, and the indomitable will to overcome.

The production is directed by Torie Wiggins, choreographed by Julia Schick, with music direction by Jason Alexander Holmes. Producing Director of Theatre Tyler Gabbard says “I am thrilled to share this timeless, moving story with our audiences. Torie, Julia, Jason, and the entire team are crafting a production that is both intimate and epic” .

The Creative Team:
Director Torie Wiggins returns to The Carnegie after directing DREAMGIRLS and PROOF. Her work as a director, actor, and playwright has been featured at Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, Know Theatre, Falcon Theatre, and the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM).

Choreographer Julia Schick returns from the national tour of HADESTOWN. A UC– CCM Musical Theatre graduate, Schick choreographed The Carnegie’s KINKY BOOTS and assisted on INTO THE WOODS and SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN.

Music Director Jason Alexander Holmes, Associate Director of Choirs at the May Festival, previously led music for The Carnegie’s LADY DAY AT EMERSON’S BAR & GRILL and numerous productions at The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati.

The design team includes Scenic Designer Tyler Gabbard (The Carnegie: THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW, HELLO, DOLLY!; The Children’s Theatre: THE WIZARD OF OZ, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST), Costume Designer Maria F. Ortiz Lopez (The Carnegie: TICK, TICK… BOOM; Ensemble Theatre: FIONA! THE MUSICAL), Lighting Designer Julie Cowger (The Carnegie: THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW, SEUSSICAL), Sound Designer Danielle Lobello (The Carnegie: SEUSSICAL, The Children’s Theatre: FROZEN, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST), and Wig and Hair Designer Tiara M. Jones (The Carnegie: LADY DAY…; Ensemble Theatre: JAJA’S AFRICAN HAIR BRAIDING).

The Cast:

Jordyn Jones, a current musical theatre student at UC–CCM, makes her professional stage debut as Celie. Kenneth Early, seen locally at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, and Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati, plays Mister.Brandi La’Sherrill plays Nettie. La’Sherrill starred as Billie Holiday in The Carnegie’s 2023 production of LADY DAY AT EMERSON’S BAR & GRILL.

The cast also features Brittany “Harmony” Hayes as Sofia (The Carnegie: DISENCHANTED), Elana Danielle Elmore as Shug Avery (The Carnegie: THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME; La Comedia: SISTER ACT, NEWSIES), Javon Cameron as Harpo (The Carnegie: DREAMGIRLS), and Kertu Bell as Squeak (The Carnegie: BEAUTIFUL: THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL). Edin Kebede (The Carnegie: SEUSSICAL), Fiona Capri (The Carnegie: DREAMGIRLS), and Roniece Hutchins (Dayton Playhouse: ONCE ON THIS ISLAND) play the church ladies. The ensemble includes William Boatwright Jr. (Cincinnati Opera: BLIND INJUSTICE), Jathan “JB” Briscoe (The Carnegie: KINKY BOOTS, BEAUTIFUL: THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL), Nia Buchannon (Wright State university: THE APPLE TREE), Caira Carmelle (Orangelight Theatre: SISTER ACT), Austin Hoard (Cincinnati Landmark Productions: SOMETHING ROTTEN), Mary E. Patton (Touring: SISTER ACT, DREAMGIRLS), Deondra Kamau Means (Know Theatre: BLERDS), and Carter Minor (The Carnegie: SEUSSICAL, GREASE).

Ticket and Performance Information:

When: June 27 – July 6, 2025
Where: The Carnegie, 1028 Scott Blvd, Covington, KY 41011
Run Time: 2 hours and 30 minutes, including an intermission

Price: $18-$45
Purchase: Tickets may be purchased online at thecarnegie.com, by calling 859-957- 1940, or in person from the Box Office.

This production contains mature themes including domestic abuse, violence, incest and strong language.

Additional Information:
THE COLOR PURPLE is sponsored by New Riff Distilling.

THE COLOR PURPLE is presented through special arrangement with and all authorized performance materials are supplied by Theatrical Rights Worldwide, 1180 Avenue of the Americas, Suite 640, New York, NY 10036. www.theatricalrights.com.

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About The Carnegie
The Carnegie is Northern Kentucky’s largest multidisciplinary arts venue providing theatre events, educational programs and art exhibitions to the Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati community. The Carnegie facility is home to The Carnegie Galleries, the Otto M. Budig Theatre, and the Eva G. Farris Education Center. More information about The Carnegie is available at http://www.thecarnegie.com or by calling (859) 491-2030. The Carnegie is supported by the generosity of tens of thousands of contributors to the ArtsWave Community Campaign. The Carnegie receives ongoing operating support from the Kentucky Arts Council, City of Covington, Kenton County Fiscal Courts, Carol Ann & Ralph V. Haile, Jr. Foundation, the Greater Cincinnati Foundation, and Cincinnati International Wine Festival.

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June 24, 2025 · 5:58 pm

THE SIMON AND GARFUNKEL STORY | Wed., April 1, 2026 | Aronoff Center

THE SIMON AND GARFUNKEL STORY
2025 North American Tour

April 1, 2026
Aronoff Center – Procter & Gamble Hall

Tickets on sale now

[Cincinnati, OH] – Relive the magic of the legendary folk-rock duo! The internationally-acclaimed, hit theater show The Simon & Garfunkel Story (www.thesimonandgarfunkelstory.com) returns to the road in 2025 with a North American tour to nearly sixty U.S. cities. Stopping at the Aronoff Center’s Procter & Gamble Hall on Wednesday, April 1, 2026 at 7:30 PM for one show only, the immersive concert-style tribute show, complete with nostalgia-inducing, unforgettable hits, will recreate the magic and authenticity of Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel live on stage and chronicle the amazing journey of the iconic Grammy® Award-winning act. The show is part of the Cincinnati Arts Association’s CAA PRESENTS! 2025-26 Season.

Tickets go on sale Friday, June 20 at 10:00 AM at www.CincinnatiArts.org, (513) 621-ARTS [2787], and the Aronoff Center Ticket Office. Group discount tickets for 10 or more are available by calling (513) 977-4155.

Fans aren’t the only ones blown away by The Simon & Garfunkel Story. Earlier this year, immediately following a performance in Long Island, Art Garfunkel himself rushed the stage, grabbed the microphone, and declared, “What a great f—— show!” before leaving the audience in awe once again. If the legend himself is a fan, you know this is a tour you won’t want to miss.

The Simon & Garfunkel Story covers the duo’s humble beginnings as Tom & Jerry, to their incredible success as one of the best-selling music groups of the ‘60s, as well as their dramatic split in 1970. The Simon & Garfunkel Story culminates with the pair’s famous “The Concert in Central Park” reunion in 1981 which had more than half-a-million fans in attendance. The show features a set list of nearly thirty songs and uses state-of-the-art video projection, photos, and original film footage. A full live band will perform all the hits including “Mrs. Robinson,” “Cecilia,” “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” “Homeward Bound,” and many more, complete with the unmistakably perfect harmonies that will transport audiences down memory lane.

With more than 100-million album sales since 1965, Simon & Garfunkel’s unforgettable songs and poetic lyrics poignantly captured the times and made them one of the most successful folk-rock duos of all time. Over the years, they won ten Grammy® Awards and were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1990. In 1977, the Brit Awards honored their Bridge Over Troubled Water album with Best International Album. In 2003, Simon & Garfunkel were awarded a Grammy® Lifetime Achievement Award, and the following year saw their “The Sound of Silence” awarded a Grammy® Hall of Fame Award.

For more information about the tour, visit www.thesimonandgarfunkelstory.com.

ABOUT RUCKUS ENTERTAINMENT (Producers)
Ruckus Entertainment, based in Los Angeles and formed in 2022, brings together veteran entertainment producers Alison Spiriti, Justin Sudds, Dean Elliott, and Ralph Schmidtke, who are collectively responsible for producing over 100 touring productions seen by millions around the world. Their burgeoning production company brings audiences world-class concerts and live events and is focused on celebrating the history and music behind iconic, globally recognized musical artists. Current productions include The Simon & Garfunkel Story, The Life and Music of George Michael, and The British Invasion.

Cincinnati Arts Association SPONSORS

The Cincinnati Arts Association is supported [in part] by the Ohio Arts Council, which receives support from the State of Ohio and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Season Sponsors: AMERITAS (Founding Season Sponsor), MIAMI UNIVERSITY, ARTSWAVE, LOCAL 12 WKRC-TV, The P&G FUND of The Greater Cincinnati Foundation

SEASON PRESENTING SPONSORS: 21C Museum Hotel, Bahl & Gaynor, Cincinnati Herald, CityBeat, Fairfield Inn & Suites Cincinnati Uptown/University Area, Harlan Graphics, Heidelberg Distributing, Kinley Cincinnati, Pepsi, ProSource, Skyline Chili, TriHealth

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CALENDAR INFORMATION

WHAT:                The Simon & Garfunkel Story

WHEN:                Wednesday, April 1, 2026 – 7:30 PM

WHERE:              Aronoff Center – Procter & Gamble Hall

PRICE:                 Ticket prices start at $52.50, inclusive of all fees. Subject to change.

INFO:                   This immersive, concert-style theater show chronicles the amazing journey shared by the folk-rock duo Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel. It tells the story from their humble beginnings as Tom & Jerry to their incredible success as one of the best-selling music groups of the ‘60s to their dramatic split in 1970. It culminates with the famous “The Concert in Central Park” reunion in 1981 with more than half-a-million fans in attendance.

TICKET INFORMATION – on sale Friday, June 20 at 10:00 AM

  • www.CincinnatiArts.org
  • (513) 621-ARTS [2787]
  • Aronoff Center Ticket Office
  • Group sales (10 or more): (513) 977-4155

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June 24, 2025 · 5:53 pm

Cast Announced for A RAISIN IN THE SUN at Dayton Theatre Guild

Announcing the cast of A RAISIN IN THE SUN by Lorraine Hansberry

Dayton Theatre Guild is thrilled to unveil the stellar cast of our upcoming production of Lorraine Hansberry’s groundbreaking drama, A RAISIN IN THE SUN. This timeless story, which explores dreams, identity, and resilience within a Black family striving for a better life, will be brought to life by an exceptional ensemble.

  • Walter Lee Younger – Shaun Diggs
  • Lena Younger (Mama) – Gail Andrews Turner
  • Ruth Younger – Cormari Pullings
  • Beneatha Younger – Amirah Musa
  • Travis Younger – Dominic Bothers
  • George Murchison – Jarrod Davis
  • Joseph Asagai – William Boatwright
  • Bobo – Andre Tomlinson
  • Karl Lindner – Rick Flynn

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL!

Under the direction of Robert-Wayne Waldron this production promises to deliver the depth, heart, and urgency of Hansberry’s powerful narrative. Performances will take place August 22- September 7, 2025 at The Dayton Theatre Guild inviting audiences to witness the triumphs and struggles of the Younger family as they navigate a world filled with challenges and aspirations.

Set in Chicago’s South Side in the 1950’s, this is about the divergent dreams and conflicts in three generations of the Younger family: son Walter Lee, his wife Ruth, his sister Beneatha, his son Travis, and matriarch Lena. When her deceased husband’s insurance money comes through, Mama Lena dreams of moving to a new home and a better neighborhood in Chicago. Walter Lee, a chauffeur, has other plans: buying a liquor store and being his own man. Beneatha dreams of medical school. Hansberry’s portrait of one family’s struggle to retain dignity in a harsh and changing world is a searing a nd timeless document of hope and inspiration. It was the first play by an African American woman to win a Pulitzer Prize.

Directed by Robert-Wayne Waldron
Produced by Rick Flynn

The show runs weekends Aug 22-Sep 7, 2025

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