Category Archives: Press Releases

Pones Presents: EUNOIA – Celebrating Joy and Creativity in Cincinnati’s Dance Community

Casey Miller Photography.

An Evening-Length Performance and Fundraiser at the CAC Black Box Theatre

Pones returns with the highly anticipated second year of Eunoia, an evening-length mixed bill performance designed to foster community, celebrate artistic innovation, and support our ongoing mission. Following the Pones tradition of dynamic, socially conscious productions, Eunoia puts the focus on joy as a powerful form of advocacy – as an act of protest – demonstrating that social justice can take the shape of resilience and celebration amid adversity.

We are thrilled to be partnering with the Contemporary Arts Center (CAC) for this project. Performances will take place in CAC’s Black Box Lab, a space dedicated to making the arts accessible and inviting everyone to engage and grow together. Thanks to the support of The Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile, Jr. Foundation, CAC’s Black Box Theatre provides the perfect stage for community-driven performances and creative collaborations. Join us for an unforgettable experience where dance sparks connection and empowerment— as we believe at Pones, movement is a vehicle for social change and collective celebration. 

Eunoia will feature 14 brand-new works from 16 choreographers, spanning genres from contemporary to pole, and color guard to acro yoga. This vibrant showcase gathers the Pones collective alongside local partners, highlighting how creativity flourishes when diverse voices come together to uplift and inspire one another.

In addition to the performances, attendees will enjoy live music by Siri Imani, a photo booth hosted by Casey Miller Photography, a selection of auction items, snacks from Smidge of the South, and a full bar with drinks available for purchase. The evening is not only a celebration of creativity, but also a fundraiser supporting the Pones mission to expand access to the arts, nurture emerging talent, and create lasting partnerships that strengthen the cultural fabric of our region.

Community attendance and participation helps ensure that dance continues to serve as a platform for dialogue, inclusion, and meaningful community engagement well beyond this event.

Event Details

Dates & Times:

  • Saturday, March 7 at 7:00 PM
  • Sunday, March 8 at 2:00 PM

Location: CAC Black Box Theatre, 44 E 6th St, Cincinnati, OH 45202

Tickets: Community Support & Access pricing, from $0 to $50+ https://Eunoia2026.eventbrite.com

Pones encourages all attendees to consider making an additional donation at the event to further support their work in the community. For more information or to request images and quotes, please contact Pones or visit https://pones.org/. Mark your calendars, join the movement, and experience the transformative power of Eunoia. 

About Pones
Pones provides artistic opportunities for community growth by creating engaging new ways for audiences to experience dance. Founded in 2008, Pones has collaborated with over 400 artists, 180 service and arts organizations, and 170 education partners. The collective’s accessible and participatory performances have been seen in over 90 Greater Cincinnati locations, as well as Indianapolis and Chicago. Ongoing programs are available year round for artists and art groups, schools, and businesses.

Pones performers use their bodies to speak their minds. The collective uses its signature pedestrian-inspired movement to spark collaboration, connection, and community.

Pones believes that art creates powerful change.

Learn more at https://pones.org/

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The Carnegie and University of Cincinnati Partner on Classic Musical Comedy ANYTHING GOES

The Cole Porter hit sails into Covington February 27 – March 8

Indya Lincicome is Reno Sweeney in ANYTHING GOES. Photo by Mikki Schaffner.

(Covington, KY, February 9, 2026) — The Carnegie launches its 2026 season with the sparkle, sophistication, and show-stopping energy of Cole Porter’s Broadway classic ANYTHING GOES. Produced in partnership with the University of Cincinnati College–Conservatory of Music (CCM) and featuring performers from CCM’s nationally recognized Musical Theatre program, this fresh, high-spirited production runs at The Carnegie February 27 through March 8.

Set sail for madcap mayhem in this tuneful, tap-dancing romp where high society and low morals collide. Aboard the S.S. American, con men are celebrated, evangelists become showbiz sensations, and romance runs delightfully amok. Featuring Cole Porter’s sparkling score—including “You’re the Top,” “I Get a Kick Out of You,” and the toe-tapping title number—this screwball spectacle proves that with a little charm (and a catchy tune), you can get away with anything. ANYTHING GOES is your first-class ticket to fun.

Indya Lincicome, a senior at CCM, stars as evangelist-turned-nightclub singer Reno Sweeney. Lincicome recently appeared as Rizzo in The Carnegie’s Summer 2025 production of GREASE. Also returning to the Covington stage are Monique Churchill (Hope Harcourt), Josh Devine (Billy Crocker), Joey Baciocco (Lord Evelyn Oakleight), Dominic Carroll (Moonface Martin), and Jack Haroutunian, Arden Allmon, Grace Baker, Annika Jonker, Carter Minor, and Jameson Zoller in the ensemble.

Making their Carnegie debut are Zach “Zoo” Finkelstein, Benjamin Schultz, Abigayle Kate Gatton Stokes, Annie Dauk, Max Patrick, Andy Bakun, and Griffin Simmons. The productions swings and standbys include Matthew Williamson, Kage Cliburn, Naomi Thuren, Jack Bear Ryan, and JJ Korkin.

Joining the student cast are guest artists and real-life husband and wife Diane Lala (Mrs. Evangeline Harcourt) and Robert Pavlovich (Elisha J. Whitney). Lala, Professor Emerita of Musical Theatre at UC–CCM, returns to the stage after 36 years of teaching, directing, and choreographing. Pavlovich, a longtime UC–CCM Acting & Musical Theatre faculty member, is a veteran stage and screen actor and currently serves as host of All Things Considered for WWNO New Orleans.

The production is directed and co-choreographed by CCM faculty member Eric Byrd. Byrd directed several of The Carnegie’s best-selling productions including GREASE, THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW, RENT, and GUYS AND DOLLS. Choreographer Jessica Harris and Music Director Julie Spangler, both CCM faculty members, return after collaborating on last season’s SEUSSICAL.


ANYTHING GOES
Music and Lyrics by COLE PORTER
Original Book by P.G. WODEHOUSE & GUY BOLTON and HOWARD LINDSAY & RUSSEL CROUSE
New Book by TIMOTHY CROUSE & JOHN WEIDMAN

ANYTHING GOES is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Tams-Witmark LLC. This version of ANYTHING GOES was adapted from the 1987 Broadway revival, originally produced by Lincoln Center Theater.

Production Sponsor for ANYTHING GOES
Piper’s Ice Cream Bar

Artist Sponsors for ANYTHING GOES
Debbie Bardonaro, Realtor, Sibcy Cline
J. Brett Offenberger, MD and Mr. Douglas E. Duckett
Rosemary and Mark Schlachter

UC–CCM Production Supporters for ANYTHING GOES
Ken and Toni Kanter


Subscriptions & Tickets
Flexible subscriptions and single tickets for the 2026 season are available now at thecarnegie.com or by calling the box office at 859-957-1940. Flexible subscription options allow audiences to choose the shows, dates, and seats that work best for them — with savings up to 15% on ticket prices.

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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.

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, Cincinnati International Wine Festival, and Suits That Rock.

For more information on the 2026 season or First Show Free, visit thecarnegie.com.

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Complexions Contemporary Ballet: STAR DUST | March 19, 2026 | Aronoff Center

“Quite simply put, absolutely wonderful.” – BroadwayWorld

Complexions Contemporary Ballet:
STAR DUST

A transfixing tribute to the life and music of David Bowie,
full of glitter and glam.

March 19, 2026
Aronoff Center – Procter & Gamble Hall

[Cincinnati, OH]  The acclaimed Complexions Contemporary Ballet, under the artistic leadership of co-founders Dwight Rhoden and Desmond Richardson, will perform its transfixing tribute to the life and music of David Bowie on Thursday, March 19, 2026, at 7:30 PM at the Aronoff Center’s Procter & Gamble Hall. The event is part of the Cincinnati Arts Association’s 2025-26 CAA PRESENTS! Season.

Tickets are on sale now at www.CincinnatiArts.org(513) 621-2787 [ARTS], or the Aronoff Center Ticket Office. For group sales (10 or more), call (513) 977-4155. A special 50%-OFF Family Four Pack offer is available for purchases of four or more tickets. Prices include all applicable fees and taxes and are subject to change.

Led by dance icons Dwight Rhoden and Desmond Richardson, Complexions Contemporary Ballet has awakened audiences to a new, exciting genre with their singular approach of reinventing dance and contemporary ballet. Armed with a rich Alvin Ailey lineage and a cadre of sixteen stunning dancers, Complexions has been hailed as a “matchless American dance company” by the Philadelphia Inquirer and “game changing” by London’s The Guardian.

The program opens with favorites from Retro-Suite, a series of short works celebrating 30 years as a company. The second half is STAR DUST, an utterly transfixing tribute to the life and music of David Bowie, full of glitter and glam. This ballet takes an array of his hits and lays a visual imprint, inspired by his unique personas and his restless invention artistically, to create a Rock Opera-style production in his honor. With Bowie’s 40+ year career and 25 albums that stretch across musical borders, STAR DUST pays homage to the iconic and chameleonic spirit of what can only be described as… BOWIE.  Get ready to witness the raw power and diversity of Complexions as they redefine what ballet can be.

“Companies like Complexions are game-changing: they’re forging a path for what ballet can be instead of what it historically has been.” – The Guardian

“If there is one thing that Complexions knows how to do well (and, let’s be honest, they do many things quite well), it’s their choreographic exploration of rock ‘n’ roll and popular music.” – Hollywood Soapbox

“The genius of legendary Co-Founders, Co-Artistic Directors Desmond Richardson and Dwight Rhoden cannot be underestimated.” – BroadwayWorld

Dwight Rhoden (Co-Founding Artistic Director / Principal Choreographer)
A native of Dayton, OH, Rhoden has established a remarkably wide-ranging career, earning distinction from The New York Times as “one of the most sought out choreographers of the day.” Rhoden began dancing at age seventeen, and performed with Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, Les Ballet Jazz De Montreal, and as a principal dancer with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.

In 1994, alongside Desmond Richardson, he founded Complexions Contemporary Ballet, bringing their unique brand of contemporary ballet to the world, forging a center for innovation and cutting-edge programming. Rhoden’s choreography has been the lynchpin of the company’s repertory development. In three decades, he has created over 100 ballets for Complexions, as well as for numerous other companies, including the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Arizona Ballet, Aspen Santa Fe Ballet, BalletMet, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Joffrey Ballet, Miami City Ballet, New York City Ballet, Pennsylvania Ballet, PHILADANCO!, Mariinsky Ballet, Zenon Dance Company, The Washington Ballet, The Houston Ballet, and The San Francisco Ballet, among many others.

Rhoden has also choreographed for So You Think You Can Dance, E! Entertainment’s Tribute to StyleAMICI, Cirque Du Soleil’s Zumanity, and Mozart Her Story, and collaborated with artists including Prince, Lenny Kravitz, Paul Simon, Nina Simone, and many more. He is the recipient of The New York Foundation for the Arts Award, The Choo San Goh Award for Choreography, The Ailey School’s Apex Award, and an Honorary Doctorate from the Boston Conservatory in recognition of his extensive contributions to the field of dance.

Currently, he is an Adjunct Professor at Howard University and Artistic Professor of Dance at Chapman University.

Desmond Richardson (Co-Founding Artistic Director)
An iconic American Dance Professional, Richardson is the Co-Founder and Co-Artistic Director of Complexions Contemporary Ballet, celebrating its 30th year anniversary; Broadway Tony Award-nominee; TedTalk guest artist and speaker, and So You Think You Can Dance and AMICI (Italy) guest choreographer.

Richardson is a Presidential Scholar in the Arts and has graced the covers of various publications; he was the first African American principal dancer of American Ballet Theater, a principal dancer with The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and Frankfurt Ballet, and a featured guest performer nationally and internationally.

He has received the Capezio, Rosey Roosevelt Thompson, Bessie, and Dance Magazine awards. He is an honorary Doctorate recipient from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. Currently, Richardson and his collaborator Dwight Rhoden are working on the Broadway-bound Mozart Her Story with producers Tegan Summer, Patricia Klausner, and Christopher Sepulveda.

Richardson’s character Ted appeared on Season Three of the HBO Max hit series The Other Two.

For more information about Complexions Contemporary Ballet, visit  https://www.complexionscontemporaryballet.org/.

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:                Complexions Contemporary Ballet: STAR DUST
WHEN:  
              Thursday, March 19, 2026 – 7:30 PM
WHERE:              Aronoff Center – Procter & Gamble Hall
PRICE:                 Ticket prices start at $23, inclusive of all fees. A special 50%-OFF Family Four Pack offer is available for purchases of four or more tickets.
INFO:                 Led by dance icons Dwight Rhoden and Desmond Richardson, Complexions Contemporary Ballet has awakened audiences to a new, exciting genre with their singular approach of reinventing dance and contemporary ballet. The sixteen-member company will perform STAR DUST, an utterly transfixing tribute to the life and music of David Bowie, full of glitter and glam.

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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Explore the Unexpected Side of Opera with Cincinnati Opera’s New Event Series, UNDERSCORE

CINCINNATI (February 4, 2026)—You’re invited to experience the rich stories, history, and drama at the heart of opera through Cincinnati Opera’s new event series, Underscore. From March through May, audiences will be immersed in fun and imaginative experiences inspired by the operas featured during Cincinnati Opera’s 2026 Summer Festival. From theatrical investigations to topical discussions to lively character explorations, attendees will discover the unexpected connections and relatable moments that make opera resonate.


Cincinnati Opera presents
Underscore
A lively new event series that approaches opera from unexpected angles, inviting audiences to explore its stories and ideas in imaginative and surprising ways.


Underscore: The Importance of Being Oscar
A nearly-true story of Oscar Wilde’s first visit to Cincinnati

When:
Tuesday, March 3, 2026, at 7:30 p.m.

Where:
Wilks Studio at Cincinnati Music Hall, 1241 Elm Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202

Description:
Before writing his controversial play Salome, the source material for Richard Strauss’s opera, Oscar Wilde visited Cincinnati three times during his speaking tour of America in 1882. This original one-act play by Cincinnati Opera’s Evans Mirageas and Audrey Chait dramatizes the interview Wilde gave just prior to his first lecture at Music Hall. As interviewed by Samuel Flickinger of the Cincinnati Gazette, Oscar applies his trademark wit to his impressions of Cincinnati, the Aesthetic movement, music, fame, and much more. Starring Douglas Fries as Oscar Wilde and Chris Logan Carter as the Interviewer, with performances by soprano Heidi Middendorf, tenor Jack Keller, and pianist Matthew Umphreys.

Tickets:
$25 per event; $60 for 3-event package. Order at cincinnatiopera.org or 513-241-2742. 

Underscore: Carmen’s Revenge—An Operatic Murder Mystery 

When:
Tuesday, April 21, 2026, at 7:00 p.m.

Where:
Second Sight Spirits, 301 Elm Street, Ludlow, KY 41016

Description:
Spoiler alert: Things don’t go well for Carmen at the end of Bizet’s opera. But what if the drama didn’t stop at the end of Act IV? Join us for an interactive, irreverent, and, of course, operatic glimpse into what comes next for Carmen’s friends and foes—no prior Carmen knowledge required! Filled with clues and plot twists, plus live performances of classic Carmen arias, you’ll learn more about the opera while engaging with the cast of characters and fellow guests to uncover the truth. Will you be the sleuth who pieces it together and solves the murder?

Tickets:
$25 per event; $60 for 3-event package. Cash bar available. Order at cincinnatiopera.org or 513-241-2742. 

Underscore: The Afrofuturist Salon

When:
Thursday, May 7, 2026, at 6:30 p.m.

Where:
Artsville, 5021 Whetsel Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45227

Description:
Step into the vibrant universe of Lalovavi, Cincinnati Opera’s bold, new Afrofuturist opera, with The Afrofuturist Salon. This event brings together cultural innovators, creative voices, and curious minds for cocktails, connection, and conversation inspired by Afrofuturism and the power of hair, style, identity, storytelling, and legacy. Featuring Lalovavi librettist Tifara Brown, wig designer Tiara Jones, and Cassandra Jones, University of Cincinnati Assistant Professor of Africana Studies, exploring the intersections of Black futurism, beauty, and self-expression. The experience flows into a high-energy DJ set with spoken word and remixes inspired by Lalovavi. 

Tickets:
$25 per event; $60 for 3-event package. Cash bar available. Order at cincinnatiopera.org or 513-241-2742.


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 U.S., 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. Our programming is made possible in part by an investment of public funds from the Ohio Arts Council (OAC), a state agency that funds and supports quality arts experiences to strengthen Ohio communities culturally, educationally, and economically. Cincinnati Opera also receives support from The Louise Dieterle Nippert Musical Arts Fund, the Harry T. Wilks Family Foundation, and the H.B., E.W. & F.R. Luther Charitable Foundation, along with many other generous individuals, corporations, and foundations. Cincinnati Opera is a member of OPERA America. Learn more: cincinnatiopera.org.

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Poetic Romantic Drama MARY’S WEDDING Brings a Timeless Tale of Love, Loss and Resilience to Rosenthal Shelterhouse Beginning Feb. 7

Britian Seibert (Mary/Flowers) and Aaron Schilling (Charlie) in rehearsal for MARY’S WEDDING at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park.

CINCINNATI (Feb. 3, 2026) – MARY’S WEDDING, a poetic story of love, loss and the human spirit, begins in previews Feb. 7 in the Rosenthal Shelterhouse Theatre. The period drama, set during World War I and told through a series of interwoven dreams, runs through March 9. Opening night is Feb. 12.

The romance begins on the eve of the First World War. Mary and her mother have recently moved to Canada from England. Mary meets Charlie, a Canadian farm boy, and they fall in love. Soon after, Charlie is shipped off to battle in the trenches of France while Mary waits in anticipation of their wedding day. As the play unfolds, audiences experience an unforgettable story of love, loss, and the resilience of the human spirit.

MARY’S WEDDING is written by award-winning Canadian playwright Stephen Massicotte. It received the 2002 Betty Mitchell Award for Best New Play and the 2003 Alberta Book Award for Drama after it was first produced in Calgary in 2002, and it’s been widely produced across North America ever since.

The Calgary Herald noted, “Mary’s Wedding … proves Massicotte is a gifted storyteller with an ear for detail and imagery… It was Massicotte’s descriptive writing that allowed the audience to really lose themselves in the moment. There was nary a dry eye in the house by the time the actors took their final bows.”

“I believe there is great value in telling period stories set in a specific time and social context, with characters that are a product of their era,” states Osborn Producing Artistic Director Blake Robison, who directs the production. “Young people in love at a time of political turmoil and world tumult has something to do with what happens and continues to happen in the world today. The time period of World War I offered moral clarity that we don’t often get in contemporary times.”

ARTISTS

  • Aaron Schilling                                      Charlie
  • Britian Seibert*                                      Flowers/Mary
  • Stephen Massicotte                              Playwright
  • Blake Robison                                      Director
  • Lex Liang                                              Set/Costume Designer
  • Michelle Habeck                                   Lighting Designer
  • Matthew M. Nielson                              Sound Designer/Composer
  • Brandon T. Holmes*                              Stage Manager
  • Maggie Ballard                                      Production Assistant
  • D’Arcy Smith                                         Dialect Coach
  • Erin Carr                                               Intimacy Coordinator

*Member of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.

TICKETS
Tickets begin at $35.00. Prices vary depending on performance. Preview performances take place Feb. 7, 10 and 11 at 7:30 p.m. Opening night is Feb. 12 at 7:30 p.m. Regular performances will take place on Tuesday-Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 2 and 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. A matinee performance will take place at 1 p.m. on Feb. 25. To purchase tickets or for more information, call the Playhouse Box Office at 513-421-3888 (toll-free in Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana at 800-582-3208) or visit www.cincyplay.com. Patrons who are deaf, hard-of-hearing, deaf-blind or speech disabled: dial 711 to connect to the Box Office via Ohio Relay Services.

EVENTS

Preview Performances
Be among the first to see the show before opening night and save! Preview performance tickets are discounted.

  • Sat., Feb. 7 at 7:30 p.m.
  • Tue., Feb. 10 at 7:30 p.m.
  • Wed., Feb. 11 at 7:30 p.m.

Opening Night
Share the excitement of Thursday opening night.

  • Thu., Feb. 12 at 7:30 p.m.

Art Talks
(Formerly Meet the Artists), stay after select performances for a behind-the-scenes discussion with members of the artistic team.

  • Sun., Feb. 15 at 2 p.m.
  • Sun., Feb. 22 at 2 p.m.
  • Wed., Feb. 25 at 7:30 p.m.
  • Thu., Mar. 5 at 7:30 pm

Audio-Described Performance
Trained volunteers describe the visual elements of the production via a hearing enhancement system, allowing patrons to hear dialogue, music and other sound effects. The description is timed to avoid interfering with dialogue. Before the show and during intermission, show and actor information are shared.

  • Tue., Mar. 3 at 7:30 p.m.

ADVISORY
MARY’S WEDDINGis recommended for ages 13 and up. Two characters fall in love against the backdrop of World War I, navigating their feelings across space and time. Using very mild adult language, their story depicts war, with some sound effects and descriptions of violence and death.

SPONSORS
Production Sponsors are Dick and Sandy Manteuffel. Honorary Producer is the Lemmerman Family. Artists Sponsors are Betsy and Jerry Shroat and Diane and Carl Iseman. This production is made possible by a generous gift from the Greater Cincinnati Foundation. Media Sponsor is 91.7 WVXU.FM. The 2025-26 Rosenthal Shelterhouse Season is presented by the Vontz Family.

The Playhouse is supported by the generosity of almost 40,000 contributors to the ArtsWave Community campaign. The Ohio Arts Council helps fund the Playhouse with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans. The Playhouse also receives funding from the Shubert Foundation.

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