Category Archives: Press Releases

March 17, 2025 · 3:30 pm

2025-2026 Season Announced by Greater Hamilton Civic Theatre

Greater Hamilton Civic Theatre is thrilled to announce the 2025-2026 season

GUYS AND DOLLS
Directed by Matt Neal
October 3-5, 2025

Gambler, Nathan Detroit, tries to find the cash to set up the biggest craps game in town while the authorities breathe down his neck; meanwhile, his girlfriend and nightclub performer, Adelaide, laments that they’ve been engaged for fourteen years. Nathan turns to fellow gambler, Sky Masterson, for the dough, and Sky ends up chasing the straight-laced missionary, Sarah Brown, as a result. Guys and Dolls takes us from the heart of Times Square to the cafes of Havana, Cuba, and even into the sewers of New York City, but eventually everyone ends up right where they belong.

THE 39 STEPS
Directed by Katelyn Quinn
February 12-15, 2026

Mix a Hitchcock masterpiece with a juicy spy novel, add a dash of Monty Python and you have THE 39 STEPS, a fast-paced whodunit for anyone who loves the magic of theatre! A man with a boring life meets a woman with a thick accent who says she’s a spy. When he takes her home, she is murdered. Soon, a mysterious organization called “The 39 Steps” is hot on the man’s trail in a nationwide manhunt that climaxes in a death-defying finale!

ANNIE
Directed by Ryan Heinrich
April 30-May 3, 2026With equal measures of pluck and positivity, little orphan Annie charms everyone’s hearts despite a next-to-nothing start in 1930s New York City. She is determined to find the parents who abandoned her years ago on the doorstep of a New York City Orphanage that is run by the cruel, embittered Miss Hannigan. With the help of the other girls in the Orphanage, Annie escapes to the wondrous world of NYC. She finds a new home and family in billionaire, Oliver Warbucks, his personal secretary, Grace Farrell, and a lovable mutt named Sandy.

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March 11, 2025 · 3:25 pm

The KSO & NKU’s SOTA Take on Opera’s Greatest Femme Fatale

present
Carmen in Concert
(The KSO & NKU’s SOTA Take on Opera’s Greatest Femme Fatale)

7:30 p.m. Friday, March 28, 2025
3:00 p.m. Sunday, March 30, 2025
Greaves Concert Hall, NKU

In March of 1875 George Bizet’s opera Carmen received its premiere in Paris just weeks before the composer’s death. For the work’s 150th anniversary, the KSO and the School of the Arts at NKU have teamed-up for a full concert presentation with nationally acclaimed leads Kristin Chávez (Carmen), native Northern Kentuckian Matthew Pearce (Don Jose) and Morgan Smith (Escamillo). Local students and area singers fill out the cast along with NKU choirs, dancers,
and youth choirs from the prep department and Ignite.

Carmen has become a top-ten classic opera due its number of universally recognizable tunes and its wily, freespirited title character. As a soldier (Don Jose) and bull-fighter (Escamillo) compete for Carmen’s attention, the affair spirals out of control leading to her demise.

The KSO has collaborated with UK Opera Theater and CCM for concert presentations of Tosca, Otello, La Boheme, Rigoletto, Samson & Delilah and Turandot since 2000. The opportunity to work with students and faculty from NKU again creates unique, new experiences to engage with professional singers, directors and musicians that would not be possible (cost, logistics) without combining the forces of over 150 performers. (See full cast list and lead bios attached).

The Kentucky Symphony Orchestra and NKU’s School of the Arts break out their “Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves” (without Cher) to celebrate 150 years of Carmen (with English supertitles). Join the KSO & SOTA for two dates to experience Carmen in concert — 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 28 and 3:00 p.m. (matinée) Sunday, March 30 at Greaves Concert Hall on the campus of NKU. For additional info and tickets — kyso.org or (859) 431-6216.

Cast: 

  • Carmen, a Gypsy girl – Kirstin Chávez
  • Don José, Corporal of the Dragoons – Matthew Pearce
  • Escamillo, Toreador (bull-fighter) – Morgan Smith
  • Micaela, a village maiden – Meg Booker*
  • Zuniga, Captain of the Dragoons – Stephen Hanna
  • Morales, Officer – Alan Rendzak
  • Frasquita, companion of Carmen – Kimberly Legel*
  • Mercedes, companion of Carmen – Annie Hovey*
  • El Dancaïro, smuggler – Joshua Turner*
  • El Remendado, smuggler – Henry Benson

Production Staff:

  • Stage Director – Audrey Chait*
  • Conductor – James Cassidy
  • SOTA Vocal Coordinator – Dr. Kimberly Lazzeri*
  • Vocal Coach – Stephen Variames*
  • Chorus Master – Katie Barton*
  • Youth Chorus Director – Holly Bowen*
  • Stage Manager – Ellis Clay*
  • Greaves Hall Manager – Kyle Malesevich*

* SOTA

Carmen Lead Bios

Kirstin Chávez, Carmen
Kirstin Chávez has captured attention and acclaim in her signature roles and is recognized as one of the definitive Carmens of today; Opera News reported that her Carmen in Graz, Austria was “the Carmen of a lifetime. With her dark, generous mezzo, earthy eroticism, volcanic spontaneity and smoldering charisma, Chávez has it all, including a superb command of French and a sense of humor.” Ms Chávez’ Carmen has taken her all around globe and into such celebrated venues as Lincoln Center, the Sydney Opera House in Australia, the Arena di Verona, in Italy, and the Welsh National Opera.

Kirstin Chávez has earned praise for her performances in modern operas, with Jo in Adamo’s Little Women (Opera Pacific), Thérèse, in Tobias Picker’s Thérèse Raquin (San Diego Opera) and Sondra Finchley in Picker’s An American Tragedy, which was her Metropolitan Opera principal debut in 2005. In 2018/19, Kirstin was seen as Flora in the highly anticipated production and HD broadcast of La Traviata at the MET, which marked the beginning of Yannick Nézet-Séguin’s tenure as music director.

Over the past two years, Kirstin and several talented colleague/friends have created and prepared Kirstin’s new ‘one-woman Carmen show’ called CARMEN INSIDE OUT. This is a dream realized for Kirstin because it provides an outlet for her to share the depths and intricacies of the character of Carmen who has come to be so much a part of her during her 20+ year professional career.

Kirstin Chávez was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, but spent most of her childhood in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where her parents worked as English and Music teachers. She received a Bachelor of Music degree, from New Mexico State University, and a Master of Music degree from the Eastman School of Music. Kirstin currently teaches voice at the University of Utah.

Matthew Pearce, Don Jose
Hailing from Lexington, KY, tenor Matthew Pearce is praised for his “confidence, brightness and high level of control” (Operawire). This season, he sings Don Pizzarro in Paer’s Leonora (Chicago Opera Theatre) and the Duke of Mantua in Rigoletto (Pacific Opera Victoria), and will reprise the role of Don José in Carmen with the Kentucky Symphony Orchestra and the West Virginia Symphony. This season marks his seventh performance of the role with companies including The Glimmerglass Festival, Portland Opera, Washington National Opera and the Chautauqua Institution. Highlights: Lennie Small in Of Mice and Men (Livermore Valley Opera), Simon Tam in Slanted: An American Rock Opera (Opera Theatre St. Louis), Ground Controller in the workshop of Grounded (Metropolitan Opera), and a soloist in Das Buch mit Sieben Siegeln (Dallas Symphony) and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 (Chattanooga Symphony); Monostatos in Samson and Dalila, Rodolfo, Boyar in Boris Godunov, First Prisoner in Fidelio, and The Magician in The Consul (Washington National Opera); Guard in Prisoner of the State (New York Philharmonic), Poem in October (Juilliard Orchestra/AXIOM ensemble), Easter Oratorio Thy Will be Done (National Chorale), and Tebaldo in I Capuleti e i Montecchi (Chautauqua Institution).

Morgan Smith, Escamillo
Known for his riveting dramatic portrayals and the power and beauty of his voice, American baritone Morgan Smith has been entrusted to create 16 roles in world premieres, including Starbuck in Jake Heggie’s widely celebrated Moby-Dick. Mr. Smith has also earned universal praise for performances in traditional repertoire, notably Escamillo (Carmen), the title role of Don Giovanni, Sharpless (Madama Butterfly), Count Alamaviva (Le nozze di Figaro), Four Villains (Les contes d’Hoffmann), and the title role of Eugene Onegin. Recently, Morgan’s work as Richard in Kevin Puts’ The Hours has been heard in workshops with Cincinnati Opera and The Metropolitan Opera.

Recent successes include Scarpia in Tosca with National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra, Herman in Ben Moore’s Enemies, a Love Story with Kentucky Opera, Paul Jobs in The (R)Evolution of Steve Jobs with Seattle Opera, Tadeusz in Weinberg’s The Passenger with Israeli Opera, Joseph De Rocher in Dead Man Walking with Welsh National Opera, his title role debut of Eugene Onegin at Lyric Opera Kansas City, Sharpless in Madama Butterfly at Kentucky Opera and Opéra de Montréal; the reprise of his critically acclaimed Starbuck at Dallas Opera and LA Opera, Marcello in La Bohème with Oper Leipzig and San Diego Opera.

Mr. Smith performed Don Giovanni with Arizona Opera, Austin Opera, and Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. Morgan Smith made his KSO debut in the Summer 2022 in a tribute to Stephen Sondheim — “Sunday in the Park with Steve”

Audrey Chait, Stage Director
Audrey Chait is a director, writer, and producer of opera and theater. She is on the artistic staff at Cincinnati Opera, and has been a member of the NKU music department faculty since 2019. Favorite recent directing credits include Carmen for the Reno Philharmonic; L’elisir d’amore and La fille du regiment for Opera St. Louis; Don Pasquale, and La Cenerentola for Opera Las Vegas; The Bartered Bride, Dinner at Eight, and the Bach St. John Passion for CCM; and Scalia/Ginsburg with Opera North. Ms. Chait also directed the Kentucky Opera’s outreach tour of Mozart’s The Magic Flute. Her new libretto adaptation of The Elixir of Love premiered at Tri-Cities Opera in May 2021. Ms. Chait holds a BA in Literary Arts from Brown University and an Artist Diploma from CCM. She has been directing opera since 2009

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March 11, 2025 · 3:24 pm

Cincinnati Ballet Announces 2025-2026 Season

Cincinnati Ballet proudly presents the regional premiere of Septime Webre’s THE GREAT GATSBY; the return of the iconic SWAN LAKE; Director’s Vision: LIBERTY IN MOTION, which celebrates the evolution of American choreography for the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence – PLUS, The Kaplan New Works Series, THE NUTCRACKER presented by Sheakley Family and the annual Family Series: PINOCCHIO

CINCINNATI, OH (March 11, 2025) – Cincinnati Ballet is pleased to announce the repertoire slated for the 2025-2026 Season curated by Cervilio Miguel Amador in his first season since being named the Company’s permanent Artistic Director. The Season opens September 12 – 20, 2025 at the Aronoff Center’s Jarson-Kaplan Theatre with The KAPLAN NEW WORKS Series. Experience four world premiere commissions from choreographers Yoshihisa Arai, Caroline Dahm, Andonis Foniadakis, and Andrea Giselle Schermoly. Yoshihisa Arai is Director of Cincinnati’s Ballet’s Second Company – CB2 Director and Rehearsal Director. A former leading artist with Chicago’s Joffrey Ballet, Arai has choreographed for Colorado Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, and Cincinnati Opera, among others. Caroline Dahm is a Los Angeles-based dancer and choreographer who has created works for Cincinnati Ballet, SALT Contemporary Dance, Newport Contemporary Ballet, Indiana University, Lyric Opera of Kansas City, UMKC Conservatory, and Wylliams Henry Contemporary Dance Company. Greek-born Andonis Foniadakis is an internationally-renowned choreographer who has collaborated with Martha Graham Dance Company, Sydney Dance Company, Royal New Zealand Ballet, Washington Ballet, among many others. South African-born Andrea Giselle Schermoly has choreographed nationally and internationally for companies such as Royal New Zealand Ballet, Cincinnati Ballet, and Kansas City Ballet, among others. She is also the Resident Choreographer for Louisville Ballet.

Leap into the jazz age and celebrate American culture in the 1920s with the regional premiere of choreographer Septime Webre’s opulent The Great Gatsby at the Aronoff Center, November 7 – 15, 2025. Based on F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic 1925 novel, this production features stylish dancing, shocking scandals, and jazz music performed live.

No holiday is complete without a trip to the Land of Sweets for The Nutcracker presented by Sheakley Family at Music Hall, December 18 – 28, 2025. When a curious young girl named Clara receives a magical Nutcracker for Christmas, her dreams come to life in the Land of Sweets. With Tchaikovsky’s beloved score performed live by the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.

Experience the breathtaking romantic tragedy, Swan Lake at Music Hall, February 13 – 21, 2026. Hailed as one of the greatest ballets of all time, this production features virtuosic choreography after Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov, with additional choreography by Kirk Peterson and live music performed by the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.

Spring will bring Director’s Vision: Liberty In Motion, A patriotic triple bill at the Aronoff Center, April 10 -12, 2026. The production features works from choreographers George Balanchine, Justin Peck, and Claudia Schreier. Peck’s The Times Are Racing draws inspiration from a variety of dance styles while matching Dan Deacon’s electronic score with youthful impulse and vigor. Schreier’s First Impulse is a neoclassical style rooted in contemporary ballet concepts. Balanchine’s Serenade is a milestone in the history of dance, as the first original ballet George Balanchine created in America.

‘Be brave, truthful, and unselfish.’ It’s the heartwarming story of a puppet who wants to be a real boy. A one-hour, narrated ballet at the Aronoff Center, April 16 – 19, 2026, Pinocchio features Cincinnati Ballet Second Company – CB2 dancers and young performers from the Otto M. Budig Academy. Arrive early for free lobby games, crafts, photos and more.

Subscriptions are on sale now for the 2025-2026 Season. Single tickets will go on sale August 1, 2025. For more information visit cballet.org.

Cincinnati Ballet 2024-2025 Season Sponsors:
Margaret and Michael Valentine, Julie and John Richardson | SugarCreek, ArtsWave, Louise Dieterle Nippert Musical Arts Fund, Ohio Arts Council, The Austin E. Knowlton Foundation

About Cincinnati Ballet
Since 1963, Cincinnati Ballet has been the cornerstone professional ballet company of the region, presenting a bold and adventurous array of classical, full-length ballets and contemporary works, regularly with live orchestral accompaniment. Cincinnati Ballet is a creative force within the larger dance community, commissioning world-premiere works and exploring unique collaborations. With a mission to enrich, expand, and excel in the art of dance through performance, a high-caliber academy, and impactful education and community engagement in local to global communities, Cincinnati Ballet reaches beyond the stage in programs that allow every person in the region to be part of the continued evolution of dance. To that end, Cincinnati Ballet presents exhilarating performances, provides extensive education and community engagement programs, and offers top-level professional ballet training at Cincinnati Ballet Otto M. Budig Academy.

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March 10, 2025 · 4:03 pm

TCT Receives $2 Million Anonymous Challenge Gift

Emery Theater Fundraising Nears Finish Line in $51.5 Million Campaign

CINCINNATI, OH – The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati (TCT) is thrilled to announce a transformative $2 million anonymous gift to its capital campaign for the restoration and reimagination of the historic Emery Theater. This remarkable donation reduces the recent $4 million gap to just $2 million needed to meet the project’s total goal. This gift was made to encourage additional supporters to step forward and to meet the challenge to close the final funding gap. The anonymous donor hopes to inspire new donors, and those already considering support for The Emery, to seize this opportunity and make their commitment now, helping TCT bring the vision for a world-class children’s theatre home to life.

In a statement, the donor shared:
“We look forward to the completion of this historic new home for The Children’s Theatre, which will be another jewel in Cincinnati’s crown.”

Kim Kern, TCT’s President & CEO, expressed her gratitude, saying: “We are enormously grateful for the generosity of this donor, and this gift that is a testament to the community’s belief in our vision for The Emery Theater — a space that will not only serve as TCT’s permanent home, but also as a vibrant cultural anchor for families, schools, and the entire region. We hope this challenge inspires others to step up and join us in preserving this historic landmark and creating an extraordinary venue where future generations will experience the magic of live theatre.”

A Campaign to Crown Cincinnati
TCT’s Emery Theater campaign, titled “A Crown for the Queen City,” will restore and reinvent the 113-year-old venue into a technologically advanced, one-of-a-kind home for TCT’s MainStage productions, education programs, and community events. The renovation includes cutting-edge stage technology, a 40’ x 60’ LED video wall, an automated fly system, projection mapping, and a stage lift with a built-in turntable — all seamlessly integrated into the theater’s historic architectural beauty.

Once complete, The Emery will become one of the most innovative children’s theaters in the country, expanding TCT’s reach and allowing for the development of groundbreaking new works. It will also enhance accessibility for all families and ensure TCT’s ability to serve future generations.

About the Emery Theater and TCT’s Historic Return
The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati’s roots at The Emery date back to 1947, when it became the company’s first performance home. TCT remained at the Emery until 1969. After decades of vacancy, TCT officially purchased the building in December 2023, beginning the process of reclaiming and reimagining this historic treasure.

TCT’s inaugural season back at The Emery will begin in October 2025, opening with The Wizard of Oz: Youth Edition, a fitting tribute to the theatre’s legacy and the company’s vision to blend historic charm with cutting-edge theatrical innovation.

History of The Emery Theater
Imagined by philanthropist Mary Emery and designed by the famed architectural firm of Samuel Hannaford & Sons, the Emery Auditorium opened in January 1912 with an inaugural concert by the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. The acoustically exceptional 2,200-seat theater in Over-the-Rhine was once considered one of the top concert halls in the country. Sergei Rachmaninoff, John Philip Sousa, George Gershwin, Eleanor Roosevelt, Bette Davis, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. all stood on the Emery stage at various points in its history.

The Emery was also the performance home of TCT until 1969 when the University of Cincinnati took ownership of the property and ran it as the College of Applied Sciences until 1989. The theater was used for films, lectures, and meetings for the next decade. While the building’s upper floors were developed as apartments in 2001, the theater has fallen into disrepair since that time. TCT is the Emery Theater’s best hope to be restored to its former glory and to regain its place as a memorable and iconic arts venue.

About The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati
Celebrating 105 years this season, The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati (TCT) is the oldest professional theatre for young audiences in the country. For more than a century, it has created lifelong memories and lasting impact for children and families. TCT serves more than 200,000 in the region and brings art to life through three divisions: TCT MainStage productions, TCT on Tour/WorkShops, and TCT Academy. Delivering much more than entertainment, TCT offers an inclusive space and innovative programming for children and adults to learn confidence, patience, and imagination. TCT’s partnerships with regional schools allow thousands of students each year to reap the lifelong benefits of a quality arts education that they might otherwise not experience due to geographic or economic limitations.

With productions geared specifically toward the attention span of a child, we expose children to the magic of theatre in an age-appropriate way. While Broadway-quality, our shows are only one hour long and allow for a true family/school outing where new memories and traditions can be created. Our purpose is to enrich the lives of all people by providing access to exceptional performing arts experiences, which includes our Sensory-Friendly program where performances are adapted to specifically meet the needs of children with autism and other sensory concerns. We are the only professional theater in the region that devotes our entire MainStage season to children, helping to create the future arts patrons of our community.

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March 5, 2025 · 5:56 pm

Cincinnati Opera Announces 2025 Studio Sessions

The artist-curated, cabaret-style performance series runs June 17–July 17 and features a diverse array of music—from opera to jazz to popular song and more—in Music Hall’s intimate Wilks Studio

CINCINNATI (March 5, 2025)—Cincinnati Opera has announced the lineup for its 2025 series of Studio Sessions—intimate, cabaret-style performances at Music Hall’s Wilks Studio curated and performed by Cincinnati Opera artists. Studio Sessions will take place during Cincinnati Opera’s 2025 Summer Festival (June 12–July 27) alongside its mainstage productions of Giuseppe Verdi’s Rigoletto, Giacomo Puccini’s Tosca, and an all-new production of Fiddler on the Roof by Jerry Bock, Sheldon Harnick, and Joseph Stein. See below for details.

Cincinnati Opera presents
STUDIO SESSIONS

June 17, 2025, at 8 p.m.
Soul and Sound: Dueling Pianos and Artistic Tributes to the Harlem Renaissance
Wilks Studio at Cincinnati Music Hall
1241 Elm Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202

Experience a virtuosic evening spanning multiple genres and time periods. Inspired by the Harlem “rent parties” of the 1920s and onward, pianists Kevin Day and Kevin Miller present opera, jazz, and classical repertoire along with poet and curator Tifara Brown and special musical guests.

Tickets: General admission: $47, reserved seating: $67. Tickets are on sale now for 2025 Summer Festival subscribers and will go on sale to the general public on April 1, 2025. To order, call 513-241-2742 or visit cincinnatiopera.org.

July 10, 2025, at 8 p.m.
Anthony Clark Evans in Recital
Wilks Studio at Cincinnati Music Hall
1241 Elm Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202

Audiences will remember the “warm-toned, vivacious, and humane” (San Francisco Chronicle) baritone Anthony Clark Evans from recent Cincinnati Opera productions of Lucia di Lammermoor and La Traviata. Now, following his mainstage performances as Scarpia in Tosca, Evans returns for an evening of handpicked selections perfect for the intimate studio setting, joined by pianist James Maverick.

Tickets: General admission: $47, reserved seating: $67. Tickets are on sale now for 2025 Summer Festival subscribers and will go on sale to the general public on April 1, 2025. To order, call 513-241-2742 or visit cincinnatiopera.org.

July 17, 2025, at 8 p.m.
From Avenue A to Broadway: Songs and Stories of Tin Pan Alley
Wilks Studio at Cincinnati Music Hall
1241 Elm Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202

At the turn of the 20th century, an unassuming Manhattan neighborhood was quickly becoming the vibrant epicenter of American popular music. Tin Pan Alley gave voice to a community of diverse composers, lyricists, and performers, mingling the traditions of Yiddish theater with Western classical music, ragtime, and jazz to shape the soundtrack of an era. Cincinnati Opera features Queen City Cabaret’s Sarah Folsom and Matthew Umphreys along with special guests to shine a spotlight on the artists whose resilience, innovation, and spirit of collaboration spurred the golden age of American popular song.

Tickets: General admission: $47, reserved seating: $67. Tickets are on sale now for 2025 Summer Festival subscribers and will go on sale to the general public on April 1, 2025. To order, call 513-241-2742 or visit cincinnatiopera.org.

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

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

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