Category Archives: Events

SEASON EIGHTEEN

April 25, 2026
Music Hall Ballroom

CINCINNATI, OH – Who will be voted Cincinnati’s best celebrity dancer?  Which stars have the right moves to rule the dance floor?  Find out on Saturday, April 25, 2026, when the Cincinnati Arts Association (CAA) celebrates Season Eighteen of its fundraiser Dancing for the Stars at the Music Hall Ballroom to benefit CAA’s Overture Awards – the nation’s largest locally-run high school arts scholarship competition – and arts education programs. 

Inspired by the hit ABC-TV show Dancing with the Stars, Dancing for the Stars will feature six Cincinnati celebrities paired with some of the area’s finest professional dancers in a competition program at which the audience will vote for their favorite celebrity dancer. The competitive dance for the evening will be themed to the 1950s, and each dance pair will have a maximum of three minutes to woo the crowd and the judges.

In addition, Dancing for the Stars will feature:

• Dance music by JD Hughes, guest DJ and 103.5 WGRR-FM on-air personality
• Pre-event reception and whiskey tasting provided by Willow Run Custom Bourbon
• Open dancing before and after the competition
• Lite bites provided by some of Cincinnati’s finest restaurants and caterers

In addition to the winner of the dance competition, Dancing for the Stars will crown a Fundraising Champion – the celebrity dancer who raises the most revenue toward the event’s fundraising goal through table/ticket sales and donations. Fans may add a donation under their favorite celebrity’s name at the time of ticket purchase or sponsorship, or by simply making a donation if they cannot attend the event. These direct donations will help one of the fans’ favorite celebrities win the Dancing for the Stars Fundraising Champion award – which will be announced on the evening of the event – and are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.

Tickets are currently on sale at the following levels (a portion of the ticket price is tax-deductible):

• $100 – Patron (pre-event reception and two drink tickets)
• $150­ – VIP (pre-event reception and open bar)
• $1,000 – Patron Table (ten Patron level tickets)
• $1,500 – VIP Table (ten Premium level tickets)

RESERVATIONS AND INFORMATION

• www.cincinnatiarts.org/dfts2026
•  (513) 977-4106 

THE STARS:

• Alex Beach (Director, Lifetime Engagements, Fidelity Investments)
• Nicholas Dunigan (Associate Wealth Management Advisor, Fifth Third Bank)
• Dr. Mona Foad (Founder & CEO, Mona Dermatology)
• Felisa Insignares (Owner, Designer Items and More Boutique)
• Meeka Owens (Cincinnati City Councilwoman)
• Robert Warfel (Public Safety and Law Enforcement Executive) 

THE PROS (with Star pairing):  

• James Branham (Arthur Murray Dance Studio – West Chester) – Felisa Insignares
• Bonita Brockert (Independent Dance Instructor) – Alex Beach
• Desiree Mainous (Owner, Arthur Murray Dance Studio – Montgomery) – Robert Warfel
• Jozsef Parragh (Independent Dance Instructor) – Dr. Mona Foad
• Alyenendrov Tsorokean (Phoenix Rising Ballroom) – Meeka Owens
• Melissa Vaughn – (Arthur Murray Dance Studio – Montgomery) – Nicholas Dunigan 

THE HOSTS: Chris O’Brien and Janeen Coyle (Retired radio hosts – 103.5 WGRR-FM, Married with Microphones) 

EVENT COMMITTEE: Doreen Beatrice, Douglas Beal, Terry Foster, Alex Johns, Ginger Loftin, Rosemary Schlachter

EVENT SPONSORS:  TriHealth – Presenting Sponsor, Accent on Cincinnati, Arthur Murray – Cincinnati, Arthur Murray – Montgomery, Arthur Murray – West Chester, Baru, eat well celebrations and feasts, Mazunte, Prime Cincinnati, Punky’s Pixels, Willow Run Custom Bourbons, Skyline, Vintage on Race 

SEVENTEEN YEARS OF DANCING FOR THE STARS WINNERS:

• 2007:    Dr. O’dell Owens (former Hamilton County Coroner)
• 2008:    Jenell Walton (former WCPO-TV9 Anchor and Reporter)
• 2009:    Phil Schworer (past President, Cincinnati Bar Association; Environmental Lawyer, Frost, Brown and Todd)
• 2010:    Donna Speigel (Owner, The Snooty Fox)
• 2011:    Dr. Tracey Skale (Chief Medical Officer, Greater Cincinnati Behavioral Health Services)
• 2012:    Regina Russo (former Director of Marketing and Communications, Cincinnati Art Museum)
• 2013:    Chris Seelbach (Cincinnati City Councilman)
• 2014:    Neal Schulte (Founder & President, Schulte Financial Group, LLC)
• 2015:    Johnny Chu (Owner, AmerAsia Kungfood Restaurant)
• 2016:    Jay Lame (Financial Analyst, Lenox Wealth Management)
• 2017:    Rohan Hemani (Procter & Gamble Fabric Care Intrapenuer)
• 2018:    Dr. Marcia Bowling (Gynecologic Oncology, Oncology Hematology Care, Inc.)
• 2019:    Halle Quinn (Community Volunteer)
• 2022:    Sebastian Castillo (General Manager, Prime Cincinnati)
• 2023:   Britton Spittler as Brock Leah Spears (Project Manager, ADM)
• 2024:   Deb Schubert (Health Care Professional Marketing, Procter & Gamble)
• 2025:   Erin Mignano (Vice President and General Manager, Turner Construction)

Cincinnati Arts Association’s Arts Education Programs
CAA’s Education Department promotes life-long learning through its programs, which are diverse, multidisciplinary, and accessible to all ages and cultural groups. SchoolTime presents a series of programs that feature nationally recognized artists at CAA’s two venues (the Aronoff Center and Music Hall), and Artists On Tour brings the finest local artists in the region to Tri-state schools for interactive arts experiences aligned with the curriculum.

The Overture Awards Scholarship Competition is the largest locally run arts scholarship competition in the country.  The program annually provides a $4,000 scholarship to six area high school students for education and training, with eighteen finalists winning a $1,500 scholarship. This year, over 200 students were nominated to compete in one of six artistic disciplines: Creative Writing, Dance, Instrumental Music, Theater, Visual Art, or Vocal Music. There are three levels of competition: Regional, Semi-Finals, and Final.

The Overture Awards was developed to recognize, encourage, and reward excellence in the arts among Tri-state students in grades 9-12. It also provides students with an opportunity to share their talents and interests among their peers in a supportive environment outside of their individual schools.  Now in its 30^th year, The Overture Awards was launched in 1996 by the Cinergy Foundation and Leadership Cincinnati (a Cincinnati Regional Chamber program).

Founded in 1992, the Cincinnati Arts Association (CAA) is a not-for-profit organization that oversees the programming and management of two of the Tri-state’s finest performing arts venues – the Aronoff Center for the Arts and Music Hall – and is dedicated to supporting performing and visual arts. Each year, CAA presents a diverse schedule of events; serves more than 600,000 people in its venues; features the work of talented local, regional, and national artists in the Weston Art Gallery (located in the Aronoff Center); and supports the work of more than one dozen resident companies, including Cincinnati Ballet, Cincinnati Opera, Cincinnati Symphony/Pops Orchestras, May Festival, and First Financial Bank Broadway in Cincinnati, presented by TriHealth. Since the inception of its acclaimed arts education and community engagement programs in 1995, CAA has reached more than 2.1 million students and adults.

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CALENDAR INFORMATION 

WHAT:                Dancing for the Stars 2026
                                A Benefit for Cincinnati Arts Association’s Overture Awards and Arts Education Programs

WHEN:                Saturday, April 25, 2026

• 6:30 PM – Dancing, Dinner-by-the-Bite, Open Bar
• 8:00 PM – Celebrity Dance Competition
• 9:30 PM – Dance the Night Away

WHERE:              Music Hall Ballroom

PRICES:               $100 – Patron Ticket • $150 VIP Ticket • $1,000 – Patron Table • $1,500 – VIP Table
Additional Sponsorship Opportunities available: $2,500 to $10,000.  Contact Vice President of Development, Sarah Miller, at Smiller@cincinnatiarts.org or (513) 977-4106 for details.

INFO:                   Inspired by the hit ABC-TV show Dancing with the Stars, Dancing for the Stars will feature six Cincinnati celebrities paired with some of the area’s finest professional dancers in a competition program at which the audience will vote for their favorite celebrity dancer. The stars include: Alex Beach (Director, Lifetime Engagements, Fidelity Investments), Nicholas Dunigan (Associate Wealth Management Advisor, Fifth Third Bank), Dr. Mona Foad (Founder & CEO, Mona Dermatology), Felisa Insignares (Owner, Designer Items and More Boutique), Meeka Owens (Cincinnati City Councilwoman), Robert Warfel (Public Safety and Law Enforcement Executive).

RESERVATIONS AND INFORMATION – Tickets on sale now

• www.cincinnatiarts.org/dfts2026
• (513) 977-4106

360 ALLSTARS

May 7, 2026
Aronoff Center – Procter & Gamble Hall

[Cincinnati, OH] – SOLD OUT ON BROADWAY… SOLD OUT IN EDINBURGH… SOLD OUT AT THE SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE… SEEN BY OVER ONE MILLION PEOPLE WORLDWIDE! An urban circus of BMX, basketball, breakdancing, acrobatics, drumming and more, the international hit 360 ALLSTARS makes its Tri-state premiere at the Aronoff Center’s Procter & Gamble Hall on Thursday, May 7, 2026, at 7:30 PM as part of its 10-year anniversary World Tour. 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.

A phenomenal physical performance exploring all forms of rotation, 360 ALLSTARS connects the street with the elite to deliver a supercharged urban circus. Boasting a stellar cast of World Champion and World Record-holding artists and athletes, 360 ALLSTARS is a spectacular fusion of the extraordinary artistry that emerges from street culture. Add to this a stunning live soundtrack delivered by award-winning musicians, coupled with spectacular video projections, 360 ALLSTARS is as aurally exciting as it is visually astounding. A magnificent, colorful, and astonishing expression of a generation that has reinvented the circus, 360 ALLSTARS is a revolutionary production that will leave you dizzy with excitement!

CAST BIOS

HERU ANWARI (Indonesia) – 3x Australian Champion BMX Flatlander
Born in Indonesia, Heru Anwari is an elite BMX Flatland rider. He was awarded “Rider Of The Year” by the Indonesian Ministry of Youth from 2011-2014, and in 2013, he was crowned champion at the Indonesia International Urban Sport Festival. In 2017, he moved to Australia and won the Down Underground Flatland Championship three years in a row. Outside of his success as a competitor, he has featured as an actor in the TV series GoBMX, founded his own clothing brand ZTFF, and has collaborated with companies such as Honda, Acer, Intel, and Sony.

B-BOY CURT RAGE (USA) – National Champion Break-Dancer
Curt Rage is a highly accomplished B-boy, originally from Annandale, VA, now based in Los Angeles. With an illustrious career in breaking, Curt Rage has won numerous prestigious competitions. This year, he was the winner of Freestyle Session with his crew, earning them a spot in the World Finals, in which they finished second place. He has been invited to Red Bull BC One multiple times and has competed internationally at some of the world’s top-tier events. Additionally, Curt Rage has been a featured judge and competitor in breaking battles worldwide. Beyond the dance floor, Curt Rage has appeared in commercials for major brands like Instagram, Camping World, and NBA 2K.

B-BOY KENZO (USA) – National Champion Break-Dancer
Kevin “Kenzo” Ibanez is a powerhouse of movement and passion. A two-time National Champion who claimed his titles in Washington, D.C., Kenzo began breakdancing at just seven years old and has been dominating the floor ever since. Known for his explosive style, fearless energy, and gravity-defying flips, he’s competed and performed at some of the biggest stages in the country. Whether in the heat of a battle or in performance on stage, Kenzo brings intensity, creativity, and unmatched charisma. He maintains a deep love for his art and is always on a mission to prove that greatness starts with passion and ends with impact. 

JOSH CURTIS (UK) – Internationally Acclaimed Roue Cyr Artist
Born in the English countryside, Josh Curtis is a dynamic Cyr wheel artist whose journey began with breakdancing as a kid. After earning a BA (Hons) in Circus Arts in 2020, Josh has gone on to captivate audiences around the world with his unique style and fluid control. When not performing, he shares his passion by teaching circus arts, helping to inspire the next generation. His work has taken him to major stages and collaborations with global brands like Hyundai and ASICS. Now in his fourth year touring with the international sensation 360 ALLSTARS, Josh continues to push the limits of movement and performance. 

PAFO (Japan) – World Renowned Basketball Freestyler
Pafo is one of the world’s leading basketball freestylers. Hailing from Japan, he has travelled the world wowing audiences with his incredible tricks and unparalleled freestyling feats that rival even the best of the Harlem Globetrotters. An experienced and exciting performer, Pafo has been featured in productions, events, basketball games, festivals, and televised performances, wowing audiences across the globe with his phenomenal basketball freestyle skills.

MIRRAH (USA) – International Mistress of Ceremonies
Mirrah is a passionate LA-Sydney based hip hop and soul artist, with a strong message of self-empowerment, positivity, and unity. Armed with a microphone, she is able to amaze crowds with her incredibly versatile vocal skillset and sensational stage presence. Combining intricate wordplay with soulful vocals and a comprehensive mastery of her craft as a captivating performer, Mirrah’s unique and uplifting approach to live performance has taken international stages by storm. She has been featured in film clips of artists including Christina Aguilera, Destiny’s Child, Snoop Dogg, Jay Z, 50 Cent, and many more. Bringing world-class talent to the stage, Mirrah is able to seamlessly draw you in with her endearing personality and blow you away, all at once!

GENE PETERSON (Australia) – Multi Award-Winning Drummer and Composer
Gene Peterson has fast established himself as one of Australia’s leading musicians. He is a phenomenal percussionist, a prolific composer, and an exceptional pianist. As a drummer, he has toured extensively across Australia, Europe, Asia, America, and The Middle East, and has won numerous awards and competitions, including “The Billy Hyde’s National Drum Play Offs.” Aside from his successes as a touring artist, Gene is also a renowned producer and composer, has been commissioned to create the scores for symphony orchestras to productions on Broadway, and is the creator and director of 360 ALLSTARS.

COMPANY BIO 

ONYX PRODUCTIONS
Onyx Productions has fast established itself as a leading Australian production house, with a portfolio of multi-disciplinary contemporary works. Founded in 2011 by producer and performer Gene Peterson, Onyx Productions has achieved significant success both nationally and internationally. To date, the company has delivered over 3,500 performances across more than 100 tours to more than two million people worldwide, including sold out seasons on Broadway, in Edinburgh, and at the Sydney Opera House.

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

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CALENDAR INFORMATION

WHAT:                360 ALLSTARS

WHEN:                Thursday, May 7, 2026 – 7:30 PM

WHERE:              Aronoff Center – Procter & Gamble Hall

PRICES:               ADULT:  start at $35, inclusive of all fees

                          STUDENT: $25, inclusive of all fees

INFO:                   A phenomenal physical performance exploring all forms of rotation, 360 ALLSTARS connects the street with the elite to deliver a supercharged urban circus. Boasting a stellar cast of World Champion and World Record-holding artists and athletes, 360 ALLSTARS is a spectacular fusion of the extraordinary artistry that emerges from street culture.

TICKET INFORMATION – on sale now

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

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

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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