Category Archives: Press Releases

March 8, 2026 · 7:50 pm

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

THE SIMON & GARFUNKEL STORY
April 1, 2026
Aronoff Center – Procter & Gamble Hall

[Cincinnati, OH] – Relive the magic of the legendary folk-rock duo! The internationally acclaimed hit, The Simon & Garfunkel Story, returns to 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 chronicles the amazing journey of the iconic, Grammy Award-winning act. The event is part of the Cincinnati Arts Association’s 2025-26 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. Prices include all applicable fees and taxes and are subject to change.

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 tour dates, tickets and more information about The Simon & Garfunkel Story, 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 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

media ParTNer:  103.5 wgrr-FM

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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.

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 now

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

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March 5, 2026 · 3:06 pm

Overture Awards Finals Competition and Awards Ceremony | Sat., March 14 | Aronoff Center

TOMORROW’S STARS

FINALS COMPETITION and AWARDS CEREMONY
March 14, 2026
Aronoff Center – Procter & Gamble Hall

Tickets on sale now

[CINCINNATI, OH] – The Cincinnati Arts Association (CAA) is proud to present the 2026 Overture Awards Finals Competition. The Overture Awards provides $4,000 to six area high school students for education and training expenses, with eighteen finalists each winning $1,500. The program also includes an Arts Educator Award for Excellence in Arts Instruction totaling $2,000.

The Overture Awards Finals Competition and Awards Ceremony will be held on Saturday, March 14, 2026, at 1:00 PM at the Aronoff Center’s Jarson-Kaplan Theater. Winners will be announced immediately following the competition. The Visual Art Finalists Exhibition will be showcased in the Aronoff Center’s Center Stage Room (adjacent to the Weston Art Gallery on 7th Street) from Tuesday, March 10 – Sunday, March 29, 2026.

Tickets are on sale now at www.CincinnatiArts.org, (513) 621-ARTS [2787], and the Aronoff Center Ticket Office.

This year, 189 students applied to compete in one of six artistic disciplines: Creative Writing, Dance, Instrumental Music, Theater, Visual Art, and Vocal Music. 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 an opportunity to share their talents and interests among their peers in a supportive environment outside of their individual schools. There are three levels of competition: Regional, Semi-Final, and Final.

The Overture Awards Regional Competitions were held virtually in January 2026. The top twenty to thirty percent of competitors in each discipline advanced to the Semi-Finals, which were held at the Aronoff Center from February 5-12. Twenty-four finalists will compete in the Finals Competition at the Aronoff Center’s Jarson-Kaplan Theater on March 14.

Now in its 30th year, The Overture Awards was launched in 1996 by the Cinergy Foundation (now Duke Energy) and Leadership Cincinnati (a program of the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber). The Overture Awards is funded and administered by the Cincinnati Arts Association, which operates and manages the Aronoff Center and Music Hall. The Overture Awards also relies on hundreds of volunteers from the community who help raise funds, adjudicate, manage the competitions, and nurture the program. 

The Overture Awards are endowed by The Otto M. Budig Family Foundation

THANK YOU to the following generous supporters of the Overture Awards and Dancing for the Stars (CAA’s annual fundraiser which benefits the Awards):

Accent on Cincinnati, Ryan Anderson, Arthur Murray-Cincinnati, Arthur Murray -West Chester, Baru, Douglas Beal, Doreen Beatrice, Karla Boldery,  James Branham, Bonita Brockert, Carri Chandler, Bill Chappie, Dance Manor, DelightMore, eat well celebrations & feasts, Maura Garuccio, Heidelberg Distributing Company, KungFood AmerAsia, Lasting Impressions Event Rentals, Desiree Mainous, Erin Mignano, Moerlein Lager House, Dylan Morton, Jozsef Parragh, The Party Source, Pepsi, Prime Cincinnati, Punky’s Pixel’s,  Stacy Sims, Sebastian Bakehouse, Street City Pub, Skyline, Josh Tilford, Alyenendrov Tsorokean, Vintage on Race, Willow Run Custom Bourbons

Chris O’Brien and Janeen Coyle (former hosts of “Married with Microphones,” 103.5 WGRR-FM), JD Hughes (popular DJ and 103.5 WGRR-FM personality)

Overture Scholarship Sponsors: The Eleanora C.U. Alms Trust, Fifth Third Bank, Trustee; Fort Washington Investment Advisors, Inc.; Otto M. Budig Family Foundation; Summerfair Cincinnati; TriHealth

Printing Sponsor:  Harlan Graphics 

2026 Overture Awards Finalists 

CREATIVE WRITING

  • Lauren Ashelman, grade 12, Springboro High School
  • Devi Kool, grade 11, Wyoming High School
  • Olivia Landry, grade 11, Villa Madonna Academy
  • Angela Tang, grade 11, William Mason High School

DANCE

  • Brinkli Cox, grade 10, Homeschool/Studies with Hairston School of Dance
  • Nora Doyle, grade 11, School for Creative and Performing Arts/Studies with Just Off Broadway
  • Easton Gliebe, grade 11, Ohio Virtual Academy/Studies with Just Off Broadway
  • Riley Neugebauer, grade 12, Turpin High School/Studies with Just Off Broadway 

INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC

  • Autumn Rinaldi, grade 11, Cincinnati Country Day School/Studies with Dr. Sarah Kim
  • Sophia Suwiryo, grade 11, Summit Country Day School/Studies with Professor Alvin Chow
  • Mario Agustín Ynga Orellana, grade 10, Walnut Hills High School/Studies with Dr. Laura Sabo
  • Grace Yu, grade 12, Indian Hill High School/Studies with Joyce Grabell

THEATER

  • Maeve Bachman, grade 12, Sycamore High School/Studies with Andrea Davies
  • Avery Fox, grade 12, Homeschool/Northern Kentucky University/Studies with Xan Jeffery
  • Elliot Martin, grade 11, Highlands High School
  • Jai’Den Pritchett, grade 11, Sycamore High School/Studies with Musical Arts Center 

VISUAL ART

  • Edie Anderson, grade 12, School for Creative and Performing Arts
  • Jinming Gu, grade 11, Indian Hill High School/Studies with Yinyan Studio
  • Riley Judd, grade 12, School for Creative and Performing Arts
  • Ronan Wolfer, grade 12, Loveland High School

VOCAL MUSIC  

  • Genevieve Howard, grade 12, Newport Central Catholic High School/Studies with Talia Zoll Studio of Music
  • Ray Muenzer, grade 12, Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy/Studies with Musical Arts Center
  • Sahana Siddharth, grade 10, Seven Hills School/Studies with Allison Highland
  • William Wittekind, grade 12, Saint Xavier High School/Studies with Musical Arts Center

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 upwards of 700,000 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. Since the inception of its acclaimed arts education programs in 1995, CAA has reached more than two million students and adults.

CAA is proud to be a member of Association of Performing Arts Presenters, Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber, Greater Cincinnati Alliance for Arts Education, Cincinnati USA Convention & Visitors Bureau, Greater Cincinnati Chinese Chamber of Commerce, Greater Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky African American Chamber of Commerce, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and Over-the-Rhine Chamber of Commerce.

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CALENDAR INFORMATION

WHAT:          2026 Overture Awards – Finals Competition and Awards Ceremony

WHERE:        Aronoff Center – Jarson-Kaplan Theater

WHEN:          Saturday, March 14, 2026 – 1:00 PM

TICKETS:       $15 • $10

INFO:            The 2026 Overture Awards Competition provides $4,000 to six area high school students for education and training expenses with eighteen finalists each winning $1,500. Students compete in one of six artistic disciplines: Creative Writing, Dance, Instrumental Music, Theater, Visual Art, and Vocal Music. The program also includes Arts Educator Awards for Excellence in Arts Instruction totaling $2,000. The Overture Awards was developed to recognize, encourage, and reward excellence in the arts among Tri-state students in grades 9-12.

TICKET INFORMATION – on sale now

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March 4, 2026 · 5:31 pm

Cincy Shakes Presents the Infamous Tragedy of OTHELLO

Jealousy, betrayal, and passion collide in this classic Elizabethan staging of Shakespeare’s timeless tale 

Billy Chace as Iago & Sylvester Little Jr. as Othello. Photo by Mikki Schaffner

Cincinnati, March 4, 2026 – Cincinnati Shakespeare Company is proud to present Othello playing March 6 – 29, 2026 and directed by Associate Artistic Director Candice Handy and featuring Slyvester Little Jr. as Othello and Billy Chace at Iago. This production is generously sponsored by Season Shakespeare Sponsor, The Linnemann Family Foundation, Production Sponsor Monteverdi, and Design Sponsor PNC.

When the esteemed General Othello succumbs to the cunning Iago’s deceptions, suspicion and heartbreak tear apart the bonds of love and loyalty. Featuring some of the most dramatic and iconic moments in all of Shakespeare, Othello is a searing exploration of trust, love, and the devastating consequences of doubt. “I hope the audience will leave this production of Othello with a desire to discover truth that comes from facts and facts that come from unmasked sources,” said Director, Candice Handy.

Bringing this classic to life is an ensemble cast of 10 talented actors. Taking on the title role of Othello is Sylvester Little Jr. and Billy Chace plays the conniving Iago weaving his demise. Tess Talbot takes the role of Desdemona, Othello’s wife, and Cary Davenport plays Cassio, falsely accused of an affair with Desdemona. Filling out the rest of the ensemble is Montez Jenkins Copeland as Montano, Courtney Lucien as Bianca, Sara Mackie as Brabantio, Kelly Mengelkoch as Emilia, Grant Niezgodski as Duke and Lodovico, and Patrick Earl Phillips as Roderigo.

Director Candice Handy leads the creative team in building a traditional setting for this Shakespearean tragedy. Performed in the round, scenic designer Charlie Calvert, alongside assistant scenic designer Gabby Trice, has created a striking environment that brings the audience into the action. Rainy Edwards’ costume designs and Kayla Cieslinski’s wig designs evoke the traditional Elizabethan aesthetic, firmly placing the story in its period. Lighting by Andrew Hungerford and sound design by Derek A. Graham shape the production’s atmosphere. Fight Director Gina Cerimele-Mechley brings the action with engaging swordfights. Dramaturgy is provided by Isaiah Reaves, and intimacy direction is provided by Torie Wiggins. This production of Othello is stage managed by Cole Cammack-Sweasy with assistant stage manager Danitza Piper.

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Othello runs from March 6 – 29, 2026. Performances of Othello are on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 7:30 PM, with three Sunday Matinees on March 15, 22, and 29 at 2:00 PM. CSC offers performances with accessibility resources. Live Audio Descriptions are available on March 6, and there is a Sign Language Interpreted performance on March 29 at 2:00 PM.

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Tickets are on sale now. Preview performances are on Wednesday, March 4, and Thursday, March 5, with half price tickets. Discounts are available for students, seniors, local residents, and community partners. Each performance night has a limited number of $14 “Access” tickets.  These can be purchased in advance by going online or calling the Box Office.  And starting 1 hour before each performance, any unreserved tickets may be available as a discounted Rush Ticket to anyone, not just students. These tickets are only $12 and could be located anywhere in the house, depending on that evening’s availability. These cannot be reserved more than 1 hour before a show and must be purchased in person in the Box Office. Visa, Discover, MasterCard, and American Express are accepted. Ticketing fees apply. To purchase tickets or for more information, call the CSC Box Office at 513.381.BARD (2273) ext. 1, or go online at http://www.cincyshakes.com.

Cincinnati Shakespeare Company is located at The Otto M. Budig Theater at 1195 Elm Street in OTR, adjacent to Washington Park.  Many parking spaces are available on the street and in nearby lots and garages- for more information, visit online here.

CSC has coordinated a prepaid self-parking option right next door to the theater for a hassle‐free, guaranteed spot. A limited number of reserved spaces are available starting 1.5 hours before performances and lasting through the end of the show. The 3CDC parking attendant will have your name on the list with advance purchase, guaranteeing your spot and price. Visit www.cincyshakes.com/parking to reserve self-parking.

Cincinnati Shakespeare Company’s 2025-2026 Season is generously presented by our Operating Support Partners: The Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile, Jr. Foundation; The Linnemann Family Foundation; The Ohio Arts Council; The Robert and Adele Schiff Family Foundation; The National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest; The Shubert Foundation; Maureen and John Bridgeland, Cindy Bridgeland Crilley, and Debby and Jim Mason in honor of Jim Bridgeland; Lightborne, and the tens of thousands of people who give generously to the ArtsWave Community Campaign.

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About Cincinnati Shakespeare Company:

Cincinnati Shakespeare Company is a professional theatre company dedicated to bringing Shakespeare and the classics to life for all.  In the summer of 2017, the theater relocated to the Otto M. Budig Theater, a brand new facility in the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood of Cincinnati. CSC’s repertoire is composed of the works of William Shakespeare, literary adaptations, world premieres, and contemporary classics. CSC performs on a Small Professional Theatre contract with the Actors’ Equity Association. Cincinnati Shakespeare is a member of Theater Communications Group and Shakespeare Theatre Association. Each year, Cincinnati Shakespeare Company’s Education and Outreach Programs reach more than 50,000 young people and community members by meeting audiences where they are. This includes sharing programming in schools, parks, community centers and hosting educational matinees of mainstage productions. In 2015, CSC was proud to become one of the first five theaters in the United States to “Complete the Canon” by producing all 38 plays by William Shakespeare. CSC is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and all donations are tax-deductible.  Cincinnati Shakespeare Company is proud to be Cincinnati’s stage for the Classics!

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March 3, 2026 · 3:02 pm

MRS. CHRISTIE, A Mystery Based on Agatha Christie’s Real-Life Disappearance, Now Playing in the Rouse Theatre

CINCINNATI ( March 3, 2026) – The curious, real-life disappearance of Agatha Christie sets the stage for MRS. CHRISTIE, now in previews in Moe and Jack’s Place – The Rouse Theatre and presented by the Leading Ladies. The charming mystery, which Broadway World called “sophisticated, smart, funny, heartbreaking and hopeful,” runs through March 29. (Opening night is March 5.)

When Agatha Christie was 37 years old in 1926, she vanished for 11 days, prompting a nationwide search. Then, she reappeared without explanation. The reasons behind her disappearance remain unknown to this day, but Christie left clues behind including in her documented biography. A century later, a devoted superfan emerges to solve the case. MRS. CHRISTIE follows the parallel journeys of Agatha in 1926 and Lucy, the superfan determined to solve the disappearance in 2026.

Playwright Heidi Armbruster, an Agatha Christie superfan herself who has read all 37 novels, blends historical detail with theatrical invention, inviting audiences to consider not only what happened during those missing days but also how Christie’s life and legacy continue to resonate a century later.

MRS. CHRISTIE “cracks open the mythology around Agatha and lets us sit with the human being inside it – brilliant, wounded, funny, furious, searching,” explained Associate Artistic Director Joanie Schultz, director of MRS. CHRISTIE, which is a co-production with Milwaukee Repertory Theater. “Heidi doesn’t flatten her into a legend. She lets her be contradictory. Brave and petty. Lost and luminous. And through Lucy – who represents all of us who love Christie’s work – we see ourselves reflected back.”

“There’s also a tension in the play between Agatha’s public mask and her private self. I’m interested in the idea that the work and the woman are inseparable. Her secrets, her shame, her reinvention — those things don’t exist apart from the books. They fuel them,” noted Armbruster. “Learning about her life gave me a deeper appreciation for her work. Americans, especially, love a reinvention story. Christie’s life is a chrysalis story as much as it is a mystery.”

ARTISTS

Matt Bowdren*                                      Archie

Blake Hamilton Currie*                         William/Collins

Amira Danan*                                       Nancy/Chloe

Zoë Sophia Garcia*                              Lucy

Dale Hodges*                                       Jane

Betsy Hogg*                                         Charlotte/Mary

Alex Keiper*                                         Agatha

William Sturdivant*                               Monsieur

Heidi Armbruster                                  Playwright

Joanie Schultz                                      Director

Se Hyun Oh                                         Set Designer

Valérie Thérèse Bart                            Costume Designer

Keith Parham                                       Lighting Designer

Thomas Dixon                                      Sound Designer/Original Music

Deanie Vallone                                     Dramaturg

Jonathan Hetler, CSA                          Casting Director

Andrea L. Shell *                                  Stage Manager

Shelby Scaffidi*                                    Assistant Stage Manager

Madison Stone*                                    Assistant Stage Manager

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

TICKETS
Tickets begin at $37.00. Preview performances take place on March 3 and 4. Prices vary depending on performance. Opening performance is March 5 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 be offered on March 18 at 1 p.m. 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.

  • Tuesday, March 3, at 7:30 p.m.
  • Wednesday, March 4, at 7:30 p.m.

Opening Night
Share the excitement of the opening performance!

  • Thursday, March 5, 7:30 p.m.

Wine Pairing Dinner
$75 per person, tickets sold separately
Wine Pairing Dinner from 6-7 p.m.
Performance at 7:30 p.m.

  • Thu., March 12 at 6 p.m.
  • Fri., March 27 at 6 p.m. (SOLD OUT)

Join us for an evening where storytelling meets fine wine. Enjoy a curated wine tasting experience where we pair four delicious courses that complement every sip. Mingle with fellow theatre lovers, indulge your palate, and enjoy community and connection. It’s a celebration of everything we love—exceptional performances, exquisite wines, delicious food, and memorable moments. Cheers to a night to remember! Reservation is required 10 days prior to the event.

To purchase a Wine Pairing Dinner event as an add on only (without a ticket to the show) click here.

Agatha Christie Film Screenings
Dive deeper into the world of Agatha Christie with local film historian Joe Horine at the Esquire Theatre. Join us for a movie screening followed by a Q&A session. For tickets and more information, esquiretheatre.com.

  • Sun., March 8 at 7 p.m. Murder on the Orient Express (1974)
    Buy Tickets
  • Mon., March 9 at 7:30 p.m. Witness for the Prosecution (1957)
    Buy Tickets

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

Read Between the Wines Book Club
Join us in reading and discussing one of Agatha Christie’s novels that ties in with the play at our pre-show Read Between the Wines Book Club events. Each one includes wine, hors d’oeuvres and a fun book discussion. Doors open at 6 p.m., and the discussion runs 6:15 to 7 p.m. in the Kaplan Lobby. Cost is $25 per person, per event, which includes the hors d’oeuvres, two glasses of wine and doesn’t include tickets to the play (sold separately).

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie

  • Thursday, March 19, 2026, 6:15-7 p.m.

Pay What You Can
Pay What You Can performances are an additional way we try to make live theatre accessible to those who otherwise might not be able to attend our shows. Tickets can be purchased by phone at 513-421-3888 or in person beginning at noon, day of the performance only. Tickets are subject to availability.

  • Wed., March 11 at 7:30 p.m.
  • Wed., March 18 at 1 p.m. (Tickets available for purchase at 11 a.m.)

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.

  • Sat., March 21 at 2 p.m.

Signed ASL Performance
Each Rouse Theatre production offers one signed ASL performance during the show’s run.

  • Sun., March 22 at 2 p.m.

College Night
Join other students who love theatre at College Night and enjoy an exclusive post-show gathering with an artist from the show. College students can purchase advance tickets for just $15 and stay after the performance for a curated discussion with one of the artists — and free pizza! Student ID required.

  • Thu., March 26 at 7:30 p.m.

ADVISORY
MRS. CHRISTIE is recommended for ages 13 and up. Using minimal adult language, the mysterious disappearance of Agatha Christie leads to depictions of attempted murder as well as references to violence, infidelity and death. Two characters discuss having suicidal thoughts.

SPONSORS
Presented by the Leading Ladies. Honorary Producer is the Lemmerman Family. Design sponsors are Karen and Bill Neyer. Artist Sponsors are Frost Brown Todd, Geiler and Brooks and Beth Ewing. The 2025-26 Season is presented by The Scheuler Group. Rouse Season Designer Sponsor is Kerry Automotive.

The Playhouse is supported by the generosity of tens of thousands of contributors to the annual ArtsWave Campaign, the region’s primary source for arts funding. The Ohio Arts Council helps fund the Playhouse with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans.

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March 2, 2026 · 5:14 pm

Cincinnati Opera and CCM’s Opera Fusion: New Works Partnership Presents Public Preview of OKEEFE: KISS THE SKY

A New Opera-Ballet by Christopher Tin and Kelley Rourke
Commissioned by Washington National Opera

Soprano Christine Goerke headlines an exclusive sneak peek of this new work inspired by the life of legendary artist Georgia O’Keeffe

CINCINNATI (March 2, 2026)—Cincinnati Opera and the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) invite the public to an exclusive preview of O’Keeffe: Kiss the Sky, a new opera-ballet commissioned by Washington National Opera and inspired by the life of celebrated American artist Georgia O’Keeffe, on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. at Cincinnati Ballet (1801 Gilbert Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45202). This special sneak peek will be presented through Cincinnati Opera and CCM’s dynamic creative partnership, Opera Fusion: New Works, which offers composers and librettists the opportunity to refine their works-in-progress through Cincinnati-based workshops.

With music by GRAMMY Award-winning composer Christopher Tin, libretto by Kelley Rourke, stage direction by Francesca Zambello, and choreography by Jessica Lang, O’Keeffe: Kiss the Sky traces the artist’s journey to becoming one of America’s most iconic creative forces, and the people who shaped her along the way. At its heart is the tension between her passionate but complicated marriage to art dealer and photographer Alfred Stieglitz—her greatest champion, but also controlling and unfaithful—and the liberating influence of Mabel Dodge Luhan, an intellectual and arts patron who brought artists to the Southwest and, in so doing, helped Georgia discover the vast desert landscape that would define her work. Through opera and ballet, O’Keeffe: Kiss the Sky explores not just the artist’s life but the unpredictable ways relationships shaped her voice and legacy. Commissioned by Washington National Opera, O’Keeffe: Kiss the Sky will receive its world premiere there at a date to be announced.

Internationally-renowned soprano Christine Goerke will lead the cast of the March 31 preview in the role of Mabel Dodge Luhan, with mezzo-soprano Natalie Corrigan as Georgia O’Keeffe and tenor Tristan Tournaud as Alfred Stieglitz. Also featured are dancers Sierra Armstrong, SunMi Park, and Tristan Brosnan from American Ballet Theatre, along with student singers and dancers from CCM.

Event Information

  • Opera Fusion: New Works presents O’Keeffe: Kiss the Sky Public Preview
  • Tuesday, March 31, 7:30 p.m.
  • Cincinnati Ballet, 1801 Gilbert Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45202
  • Tickets: $15 for adults; free for full-time students (one ticket per valid student ID)
  • Order at cincinnatiopera.org or 513-241-2742

About Opera Fusion: New Works
Opera Fusion: New Works (OF:NW) is a partnership between Cincinnati Opera and the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) dedicated to fostering the development of new American operas. OF:NW offers composers and librettists the opportunity to workshop an opera during a residency in Cincinnati utilizing the facilities, personnel, and talent of both Cincinnati Opera and CCM. The workshops are cast with a combination of CCM students and professional artists and culminate with a public presentation of excerpts. Opera Fusion: New Works is generously supported by an anonymous donor. For more information, visit ofnw.org.

About Washington National Opera
Washington National Opera (WNO) is one of the world’s leading opera companies. Led by General Director Timothy O’Leary, Artistic Director Francesca Zambello, and Music Director Robert Spano, WNO presents a wide-ranging repertory that spans iconic classics, contemporary works, and newly commissioned operas. Founded in 1956, WNO celebrates its 70th anniversary in 2026, a year that also marks its return to operating as a fully independent company. Recent seasons have featured acclaimed productions of Verdi’s Aida, Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro, and a landmark Turandot with a newly commissioned ending by Christopher Tin and Susan Soon He Stanton. WNO’s legacy includes Zambello’s internationally celebrated Ring Cycle, the D.C. premiere of Jeanine Tesori and Tazewell Thompson’s Blue, and the world premiere of Philip Glass’ reimagined Appomattox. WNO is also internationally recognized for its education and community engagement programs, including the American Opera Initiative, the Cafritz Young Artist Program, the WNO Opera Institute, and Opera in the Outfield®, which advance WNO’s mission to make opera vital, accessible, and artistically ambitious in the nation’s capital. 

About CCM
Nationally ranked and internationally renowned, the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) is a preeminent institution for the performing and media arts. The school’s educational roots date back to 1867, and a solid, visionary instruction has been at its core since that time. CCM offers 10 degree types (BA, BFA, BM, MA, MFA, MM, MME, AD, DMA, PhD) in nearly 120 possible majors, along with a wide variety of pre-collegiate and post-graduate programs and workshops.

CCM provides students with professionally oriented immersive experiences in order to prepare them to enter directly into performing and media arts careers. CCM’s Opera and Voice Departments provide one of the most comprehensive training programs for opera singers, coaches, and directors in the United States. CCM’s Dance Department puts an emphasis on ballet and contemporary styles, making it perfect for dancers seeking top-level training and rigorous artistic, academic, and studio curriculum. CCM offers an international faculty of dedicated educators who are also celebrated professionals in their own right, widely and currently active in their respective fields. Many of the college’s graduates have achieved notable success in the performing and media arts, and 94.1% of graduates are working or continuing their education one year after graduation.

CCM Voice and Opera program support is provided by The Louise Dieterle Nippert Musical Arts Fund and the Patricia A. Corbett Estate. Additional support for CCM’s undergraduate opera productions is provided by Rafael and Kimberly de Acha. CCM Dance program support is provided by the Corbett Endowment and the William L. Gasch Endowment Fund for Dance Excellence. To learn more, visit ccm.uc.edu.

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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