Category Archives: Events

TREE Runs April 25-26

TREE
Cincinnati Arts Association
April 25-26
Aronoff Center Fifth Third Bank Theater

TREE is intended for ages 0–3, but all ages are welcome with a paid ticket; each child must attend with a paid adult.

Snuggle up in your warm nest while the mama bird takes care of her glowing eggs. The tree is full of wonders—tiny bugs and animals moving around, all while gentle music plays. As the moon rises, its twinkling stars will help you drift off to sleep, filling you with the energy to soar like a bright baby bird when morning comes.

TREE lets you enter a fully interactive, multi-sensory universe, wrapped in soft light, music, and silence, where five characters interact with your little ones.

  • Fri, April 25 at Noon
  • Sat, April 26 at 3pm

Official page |

 

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Enter Revolting Times with Walnut Hills High School’s MATILDA JR

Katherine Hoffman as Miss Honey & Annajane Updegrove as Matilda. Costumes by Grace Cotton and Greta Linser. Hair and makeup by Izzy Hayes. Photo by Mikki Shaffner.

Cincinnati, OH – For their fourth show of the season, the Walnut Hills High School Theatre Department is excited to present Matilda Jr! The show dates are April 23rd & 25th at 7 pm, along with a matinee on April 25th at 2 pm. All performances will take place in Walnut Hills High School’s Westheimer Auditorium.

Matilda Jr. is based on the children’s novel of the same name, Matilda, published in 1988 and written by Roald Dahl. The story follows the bright young Matilda, a gifted child with a knack for reading books and attaining new knowledge. Her neglectful parents oppose her smarts, and send her to school after many years of desperately wanting to attend. However, she quickly discovers that this school has an imperious headmistress: The Trunchbull.

With the assistance of her classmates, her understanding and kind teacher Miss Honey, and a sudden development of telekinetic powers, Matilda navigates her way through various conflicts, allowing for a pleasant and meaningful story to unfold for all audiences alike.

Tickets are $14 for adults and $12 for students.Tickets can be purchased at: https://whhstheatre.ludus.com/

This production and the entire WHHS Theatre Season is graciously sponsored by:

  • The Walnut Hills High School Class of 1964 Performing Arts Fund
  • The Walnut Hills High School Alumni Foundation
  • Wings Walnut Hills Theatre Boosters
  • WHHS Parent Association
  • Dr. Pepper and Family

Walnut Hills High School Theatre Department Presents: Matilda Jr.

Book by Dennis Kelly, Music and Lyrics by Tim Minchin

Silas Dronen as The Trunchbull in Walnut Hills High School’s production of Matilda Jr. Costume by Grace Cotton and Greta Linser. Hair and makeup by Izzy Hayes. Photo by Mikki Shaffner.

Featuring Annajane Updegrove as Matilda, Katherine Hoffman as Miss Honey, Silas Dronen as Trunchbull, Will Crone as Mr. Wormwood, Amelia Hoops as Mrs. Wormwood, Ellis Klump-Lawson as Bruce, Madeline Benoit as Lavender, Adina Morvay as Amanda, Grayson Isenberg as Nigel, Mabel Hartmann as Alice, Violet Haunschild as Erica, Bea Steele as Hortensia, Norah Kestner as Tammy, Red Kinnear as Mrs. Phelps/Ensemble, Tomi Olakanmi as Escapologist/Ensemble, Charlie Hans as Acrobat/Ensemble, Christian Alexander as Michael/Ensemble, Ivy Syroney as Rudolpho/Ensemble, Levi Singer as Sergei/Ensemble, Eleanor Augustynen as Cook/Ensemble, Leni Cable as Mechanic/Ensemble, and Sanah Badran, Ellie Cowan, Gabrielle Daniels, Fiona Fischer, Mabel Garth, Oli Georgin, Zoë Haas, Lucy Howe, Laney Kelley, Mia Kline, Neve Kolshorn, Sienna McClain, Theo Miritello, Bridget Patel, Annie Sayre, Rayhanna Sen, Charlotte Sorenson, Denise Wentz, and Harper Willison as Ensemble.

Director- Joe Mitchell
Assistant Directors- Elijah Cook and Caroline Lovelace
Music Director- Bret Albright
Assistant Music Director- Clark Sayre
Technical Director- Michael Sherman
Student Technical Director- Abbie Kershner
Student Choreographers- Lauryn Shafer and Annie Kate Sayre
Production Stage Manager- Noa Jaffee
Costume Designers- Grace Cotton and Greta Linser
Costume Manager- Alice Carmicle
Hair and Makeup Designer- Izzy Hayes
Marketing and Publicity Leads – Adelaide Linser and Naomi Madaris
House Manager- Ellie Cook
Lighting Designers- Norah Boehm and Dallon Hatton
Lighting Managers- Dallon Hatton and Eleanor Jackson
Props Designer- McKenzie Bell
Props Manager- Asher Morin
Scenic Designers- Kieran Karuna and Easton Taylor
Scenic Manager/Sound Designer- Lily Pavelka
Sound Manager- Violet Garitson

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THE ADVENTURES OF ALVIN SPUTNIK: DEEP SEA EXPLORER | May 1-2, 2026 | Aronoff Center

THE ADVENTURES OF ALVIN SPUTNIK:
DEEP SEA EXPLORER

May 1-2, 2026
Aronoff Center – Fifth Third Bank Theater

[Cincinnati, OH] – The deeply affecting, multi-award-winning, one-man micro-epic puppet show, The Adventures of Alvin Sputnik: Deep Sea Explorer, that melds technology and multimedia into a touching story of enduring love and the end of the world, makes its Cincinnati debut at the Aronoff Center’s Fifth Third Bank Theater on Friday, May 1, 2026 at 7:00 PM and Saturday, May 2 at 3:00 PM & 7:00 PM. The show is part of the Cincinnati Arts Association’s CAA PRESENTS! 2025-26 Season.

Tickets are on sale now 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.

Created by Tim Watts, The Adventures of Alvin Sputnik: Deep Sea Explorer is a visually inspired solo show. Employing a unique blend of puppetry, live and recorded music, and animation, the show presents an exploration of the next and oldest frontier: the deep blue sea.

The seas have risen, billions have died, and those who are left live on farms atop skyscrapers, atop mountains. The scientists have tried everything. Floating islands sank, space probes found nothing, and effort to refreeze the icecaps failed. Now, science and humanity are turning to the oceans themselves. A last-ditch effort to save the human race requires journeying down through the mysterious depths of the deep blue sea to find a new place for us to live.

Alvin Sputnik, who has just lost his wife, accepts this perilous mission so that he may follow her soul down to the underworld to be together once more.

This exquisite one-man show is a unique and charming performance that is emotional, uplifting, touching, and funny – a heart-warming and beautiful experience that’s a remarkable pocket masterpiece of invention, staging, and performance.

Watts debuted The Adventures of Alvin Sputnik: Deep Sea Explorer at Perth’s (Australia) Blue Room Theatre in May 2009 before presenting a highly successful season at the New York International Fringe Festival, where it was awarded “Outstanding Solo Show” and received rave reviews. The show has been performed over 400 times across the world including Korea, China, New Zealand, America, Canada, and the UK. Alvin is a very moving and touching piece, which has a deep emotional resonance with those who’ve seen it.

TIM WATTS (Show Creator/Performer)
Tim Watts is a performer, deviser, director, puppeteer, improvisor, and animator from Perth, Western Australia. He is a founding member of The Last Great Hunt and a Sidney Myer Fellowship recipient. He has a passion for creating and performing original, imaginatively engaging theatrical experiences born from improvisation and experimentation.

Since graduating from Notre Dame University, Fremantle, Western Australia, with a Bachelor of Performing Arts in 2005, he has participated in international workshops, including studying clown and physical comedy with Dell’Arte International in Blue Lake, CA, as well as Puppetry workshops with Spare Parts Puppet Theatre in Fremantle and Blind Summit in the UK. He has co-created and performed in a plethora of shows, some of which won awards and toured all over the world. These include: The Adventures of Alvin Sputnik: Deep Sea Explorer (2009), It’s Dark Outside (2012), BRUCE (2014), Monroe and Associates (2015), New Owner (2016), The Irresistible (2017), Stay With Us (2018), Lé Nør [The Rain] (2019), Whistleblower (2021), and Cicada (2022).

Audience age range recommendation: 10+. Content advisory: themes of loss and death. While Alvin is suitable for (and enjoyed by) ages 10+, it’s not just for kids. It’s a show loved and enjoyed by adults and kids alike, combining childlike wonder and emotional complexity into a whimsical yet poignant experience for all ages.

…akin to a theatrical Wall-E.” – The New York Times

“…an ingenious and beguiling blend of live action, puppetry, animation, music and film to tell a story of love, loss and quiet heroism…” – The Guardian (UK)

Cincinnati Arts Association SPONSORS

The Cincinnati Arts Association is supported [in part] by an investment of public funds from the Ohio Arts Council (OAC). The OAC is a state agency that funds and supports quality arts experiences to strengthen Ohio communities culturally, educationally, and economically.

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

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

#  #  #

CALENDAR INFORMATION

WHAT:                The Adventures of Alvin Sputnik: Deep Sea Explorer

WHEN:                Friday, May 1, 2026 – 7:00 PM

Saturday, May 2, 2026 – 3:00 PM & 7:00 PM

WHERE:              Aronoff Center – Fifth Third Bank Theater

PRICE:                 $25, inclusive of all fees. Subject to change.

INFO:                   Created by Tim Watts, The Adventures of Alvin Sputnik: Deep Sea Explorer is a visually inspired solo show. Employing a unique blend of puppetry, live and recorded music, and animation, the show presents an exploration of the next and oldest frontier: the deep blue sea. This unique and charming performance is emotional, uplifting, touching, and funny – a heart-warming and beautiful experience that’s a remarkable pocket masterpiece of invention, staging, and performance.

TICKET INFORMATION – on sale now

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

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Outlander in Concert: Echoes Through the Highlands | October 30, 2026 | Aronoff Center

OUTLANDER IN CONCERT:
ECHOES THROUGH THE HIGHLANDS

Comes to Cincinnati Following the Upcoming
Sold-Out World Premiere in Scotland

October 30, 2026
Aronoff Center – Procter & Gamble Hall

Tickets on sale Friday, March 27 at 10:00 AM

[Cincinnati, OH] – GEA Live and Sony Pictures Television today announced the global tour dates for Outlander in Concert: Echoes Through the Highlands, launching this fall to more than 75 cities across the United States and Europe, including a stop at the Aronoff Center’s Procter & Gamble Hall on Friday, October 30, 2026, at 7:30 PM. The announcement comes ahead of the concert’s sold-out world premiere in Scotland on May 30 and on the heels of the final season currently airing on STARZ (US) and MGM+ (UK). The live experience features stunning cinematic visuals from all eight seasons of the global phenomenon Outlander presented on a large HD cinema screen, paired with the iconic Celtic score by Emmy® Award–winning composer Bear McCreary.

Tickets go on sale Friday, March 27 at 10:00 AM at www.CincinnatiArts.org, (513) 621-2787 [ARTS], and the Aronoff Center Ticket Office. For group sales (10 or more), call (513) 977-4155. Prices include all applicable fees and taxes and are subject to change.

Executive producer and showrunner Matthew B. Roberts collaborated with McCreary to create a concert experience for fans with a specially curated set list and scenes from the show, including footage from the highly anticipated eighth and final season that premiered on STARZ (US) and MGM+ (UK) earlier this month. A live ensemble of musicians and vocalists will perform with traditional Scottish instruments including bagpipes, fiddles, and the hurdy-gurdy.

The music of Outlander has achieved remarkable acclaim, led by McCreary, whose work also includes the television series The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power and the video game “God of War.” Across seven successful soundtracks, the franchise has generated 500 million streams in 236 territories, with its iconic theme, “Outlander – The Skye Boat Song,” surpassing 49 million plays. The Outlander soundtrack stands as the best-selling title in Sony Pictures Television’s entire catalogue, underscoring the series’ enduring cultural impact on both screen and sound.

The score has long been central to the series’ emotional power, helping carry the soul of the story for fans worldwide. That global appeal is already clear, with concertgoers set to travel from 40 countries to experience Outlander in Concert: Echoes Through the Highlands in Scotland. On stage, the music and visuals combine to create a cinematic live event that is both immersive and unforgettable.

The Outlander television series is based on Diana Gabaldon’s internationally best-selling books, which have sold an estimated 50 million copies worldwide, with all nine novels gracing The New York Times Best Seller list. The global success of the Outlander TV franchise also sparked prequel Outlander: Blood of My Blood, which premiered last fall and is set to return for a second season. Previous seasons of Outlander along with Outlander: Blood of My Blood are available to stream on the STARZ app in the US and MGM+ in the UK.

Outlander is produced by Sony Pictures Television and stars Caitríona Balfe as Claire Fraser, Sam Heughan as Jamie Fraser, Sophie Skelton as Brianna MacKenzie, Richard Rankin as Roger MacKenzie, John Bell as Young Ian Murray, David Berry as Lord John Grey, Charles Vandervaart as William Ransom, Izzy Meikle-Small as Rachel Hunter Murray, and Joey Phillips as Denzell Hunter. Roberts, Ronald D. Moore, Maril Davis, Toni Graphia, Luke Schelhaas, Andy Harries, and Jim Kohlberg serve as executive producers. Balfe and Heughan also serve as executive producers.

For more information, visit www.outlanderinconcert.com and follow #OutlanderinConcert, @outlander_starz, and @sonypicturestv.

About Bear McCreary
Award-winning composer and recording artist Bear McCreary began his career as a protégé of legendary film composer Elmer Bernstein, before bursting onto the scene scoring the revered series Battlestar Galactica in 2004. Since then, McCreary has won three Emmy® Awards, including two for Disney’s Percy Jackson and the Olympians and one for his theme for Da Vinci’s Demons, a musical palindrome, and has won twelve International Film Music Critics Association Awards, including the award for Score of the Year in 2024, his second. Named the 23rd Most Definitive Bear in Popular Culture (The Ringer), he’s also been the subject of a clue on Jeopardy! Project highlights include The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (Amazon); Foundation (Apple TV); the beloved series Outlander (STARZ); Godzilla: King of the Monsters (Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures); The Walking Dead (AMC); and Netflix’s Academy Award®–nominated documentary Crip Camp (produced by Barack and Michelle Obama). McCreary’s celebrated scores for Sony PlayStation’s blockbusters God of War and God of War Ragnarök have earned him two BAFTA Awards and two Grammy® nominations. In 2024, McCreary released The Singularity, a hard-rock concept album featuring legendary rock talent including Slash, Serj Tankian (System of a Down), Corey Taylor (Slipknot), Rufus Wainwright, and more. McCreary has collaborated with artists from across the musical spectrum, including Hozier, Fiona Apple, Shirley Manson (Garbage), and the late Sinéad O’Connor. In 2014, Maestro Gustavo Dudamel conducted a suite of McCreary’s music with the L.A. Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl.

About Matthew B. Roberts
Matthew B. Roberts is a writer, executive producer, and director, currently serving as showrunner on both Outlander and Outlander: Blood of My Blood, the prequel series he created. Outlander: Blood of My Blood premiered in 2025 and has wrapped filming on its second season. Under an overall term deal with Sony Pictures Television, Roberts is developing multiple dramatic series. His acclaimed television career spans multiple genres, and his innovative approach to period drama has garnered both critical acclaim and a devoted global audience.

About GEA Live
GEA Live has established itself as the premier partner in location-based entertainment, combining creativity, excellence and credibility to deliver unforgettable events that bring iconic brands to life in all their glory. Working with renowned IPs from TV, film, theatre, music, gaming, and anime, GEA Live designs, produces, and distributes everything from symphonic and film concerts to immersive exhibitions and stage shows. With a vast portfolio of shows spanning more than forty countries, GEA Live has collaborated with world-class brands like PlayStation, Avatar: The Last AirbenderTwilightDirty DancingOur Planet, and Demon Slayer, in addition to exclusively representing the legendary Ennio Morricone. As a trusted pillar of Sony Music’s Masterworks Live division, GEA Live has partnered with entertainment giants like Sony Pictures, Lionsgate, Viacom, and Warner Brothers, among others, delivering unparalleled value for licensors while further elevating the world’s most cherished brands.

About RoadCo
RoadCo Entertainment, formed in 2020, is a producing and distribution agency specializing in live entertainment experiences. A collaboration between Sony Music Entertainment and independent touring entrepreneurs Stephen Lindsay and Brett Sirota, RoadCo represents a broad roster of live events based on popular brands and intellectual properties, as well as all-new immersive and interactive attractions for audiences of all ages.

About Sony Pictures Television
Sony Pictures Television (SPT) is one of the television industry’s leading content providers, producing, distributing, and carrying programming worldwide in every genre and for every platform. In addition to managing one of the industry’s largest libraries of award-winning feature films, television shows, and formats, SPT is home to a thriving global content business, operating a robust portfolio of wholly owned and joint-venture production companies across the U.S., Europe, Latin America, and Asia Pacific, as well as linear and digital channels around the world. SPT is a Sony Pictures Entertainment Company, a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Group Corporation.

Cincinnati Arts Association SPONSORS 

The Cincinnati Arts Association is supported [in part] by an investment of public funds from the Ohio Arts Council (OAC). The OAC is a state agency that funds and supports quality arts experiences to strengthen Ohio communities culturally, educationally, and economically.

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

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

#  #  #

CALENDAR INFORMATION

WHAT:                Outlander in Concert: Echoes Through the Highlands
WHEN:  
              Friday, October 30, 2026 – 7:30 PM

WHERE:              Aronoff Center – Procter & Gamble Hall

PRICE:                 Ticket prices start at $47.25, inclusive of all fees.

INFO:                 This concert experience for Outlander fans, with a specially curated set list and scenes from the show, includes footage from the highly anticipated eighth and final season of the popular series that premiered on STARZ (US) and MGM+ (UK) earlier this month. A live ensemble of musicians and vocalists will perform with traditional Scottish instruments including bagpipes, fiddles, and the hurdy-gurdy.

TICKET INFORMATION – on sale Friday, March 27 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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A Timeless Story Comes to Life Mars Hill Academy Presents FIDDLER ON THE ROOF – March 26-28

Maggie Magill as Golde, Zeke Crocker as Tevye, and Grace Magill as Tzeitel

“Tradition!” takes center stage this spring as Mars Hill Academy proudly presents FIDDLER ON THE ROOF

Audiences are invited to step into the village of Anatevka, where Tevye, a warmhearted milkman, his wife Golde, and their five spirited daughters find themselves caught between the comforts of long-held traditions and the uncertainties of a changing world. With humor, heart, and a few miracles of its own, this family-friendly production brings to life the timeless struggle of holding fast to faith while the world begins to “turn, turn, turn.”

“Fiddler on the Roof is a story about the tension between tradition and change — something every generation faces,” explained director Abbie Patrick. “Our cast has embraced these characters with remarkable depth and joy, and I believe audiences will see not only a beautiful musical, but also a reflection of enduring faith and hope. This is also very much a story for families and parents. We hope that parents who come to see our production see themselves in Tevye and Golde as they navigate their hopes, expectations, and fears for their children.”

Through rich storytelling and unforgettable songs, theatergoers can expect a performance that inspires laughter, reflection, and melodies that linger long after the curtain falls.

The cast includes Zeke Crocker of Maineville as Tevye, Maggie Magill of Maineville as Golde, Grace Magill of Maineville as Tzeitel, Emma May of Mason as Hodel, Adali Belcher of Maineville as Chava, Christian Shehane of Springboro as Motel, Hugh Patrick of Clarksville as Perchik, Marko Mavridis of Lebanon as Fyedka, Adelaide Solomon of Mason as Yente, and Elijah Forster of Clarksville as Lazar Wolf.

Other cast members include Camdon Hutchinson of Cincinnati as Mordcha, Abel Johnson of Middletown as the Rabbi, Liam Bedinghaus of Loveland as Mendel, Christopher Sheldon of Fairfield as Avram, Eli Lewandowski of Pleasant Plain as the Fiddler, William Wheeler of Centerville as the Constable, Emily Frank of Mason as Grandma Tzeitel, Louisa Graham of Loveland as Fruma Sarah, Elliana Walls of Maineville as Shaindel, Luke Perin of West Chester Twp. as Nachum, and Drew Pullins of Liberty Twp. as Sasha.

The ensemble also features Sydel Belcher of Maineville, Lydia Bell of Cincinnati, Esther Costa of Cincinnati, Will Davis of Middletown, Ryanne Franks of Maineville, Clara Graham of Loveland, Naomi Johnson of Mason, Kaden Knodel of Springboro, Lydia LaFleur of West Chester Twp., Clara Grace Mahl of Lebanon, Rebecca Minick of Glendale, Annie Pawlak of Mason, Ellery Powers of Maineville, Joshua Sheldon of Fairfield, Abby St. Clair of Maineville, Leon Tu of Cincinnati, Ellie Warren of Loveland, and Annie Wheeler of Centerville.

How to Go
What: Fiddler on the Roof presented by Mars Hill Academy
When: Thursday-Saturday, March 26-28, 2026
Where: Dave Finkelman Auditorium, Miami University Middletown
4200 N. University Blvd., Middletown, OH 45042
Tickets: Available online at www.marshill.edu/fiddler

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