Category Archives: Press Releases

March 10, 2026 · 5:13 pm

Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park Announces 2026-27 Season, Including World Premiere by Theresa Rebeck & Inaugural MADE IN CINCINNATI: New Works Festival

Season also features two new thrillers for the stage, Pulitzer Prize-winners and the return of CINCINNATI KING

CINCINNATI – Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park today announced its 2026-27 season, including the world premiere of Theresa Rebeck’s commissioned media satire TALK, the centerpiece of its inaugural Made in Cincy: New Works Festival. Other season highlights: two new thrillers for the stage, the regional premiere of the Pulitzer and Tony Award-winning PURPOSE and the return of the hit musical about King Records, CINCINNATI KING.

“Our goal for the Made in Cincy: New Works Festival is to create a platform where local and national artists can be seen, supported and celebrated,” said Blake Robsion, Osborn Family Producing Artistic Director. “The festival will develop and premiere plays and musicals that become part of the American canon — works by some of the country’s most compelling artists —while simultaneously highlighting the artistic excellence of our local community for audiences across the nation. Who is better to help us launch this annual endeavor than Theresa Rebeck? Not only is she a prolific, nationally-recognized playwright, but she grew up right here in Cincinnati.”

Made in Cincy: New Works Festival will pilot this spring during the week of May 4, with public readings and events on May 8 and 9, 2026. The May events will feature local writers and Resident Artists Isaiah Reaves and Maggie Lou Rader, as well as nationally recognized playwright Nathan Alan Davis, who will workshop a brand-new commissioned play. Davis’s play Origin Story was produced by the Playhouse in 2023.

The official launch of Made in Cincy: New Works Festival will take place this fall. Development work with artists will occur during the week of September 28, culminating in a schedule of events on October 3 and 4, 2026. TALK runs September 26 to October 25, with official opening night on October 1.

Rebeck is an award-winning and widely produced playwright, television and film writer and novelist, whose work can be seen and read throughout the United States and abroad. She is the most Broadway-produced female playwright of our time. Her Broadway plays include Dead Accounts, which had its world premiere at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park.

Other 2026-27 season titles include Arun Lakra’s high-tech thriller HEIST; Brandon Jacob-Jenkin’s Pulitzer and Tony Award-winning PURPOSE; the return of the hit musical about King Records, CINCINNATI KING by KJ Sanchez; Jeffrey Hatcher’s new adaptation of the psychological thriller ROPE; and the regional premiere of Douglas Lyons witty rom-com, TABLE 17.

“From Pulitzer Prize winners and edge of your seat suspense to romantic comedy and musical celebrations, our new season offers the variety that Playhouse audiences have come to know and love,” said Robison. “We’ve put together an exciting and bold mix of storytelling, including some fun genres you might usually associate with film – thrillers, crime capers and rom-com – that will have uniquely theatrical stagings to entertain live audiences.”

The 2026-27 Season features:

  • Edge of your seat suspense in HEIST, a high-tech crime caper, and ROPE, a psychological thriller known for the Hitchcock film of the same name.
  • A celebration of Cincinnati’s rich music history with the return of the King Records musical CINCINNATI KING.
  • The witty romantic comedy TABLE 17 and a heartfelt, humorous look at dating in THE TWELVE DATES OF CHRISTMAS.
  • Pulitzer Prize winners PURPOSE, the celebrated Broadway play and winner of the Tony Award, and I AM MY OWN WIFE, based on a fascinating true story.
  • TALK, a world premiere and razor-sharp satire by award-winning Broadway playwright and Cincinnati native Theresa Rebeck and centerpiece of the inaugural Made in Cincy: New Works Festival.
  • GET HAPPY: ANGELA INGERSOLL SINGS JUDY GARLAND, a special concert event featuring an Emmy-nominated performance seen on PBS.
  • SEASON EXTRAS: The annual holiday favorite, A CHRISTMAS CAROL, and a special limited engagement, MIND READER with acclaimed mentalist Vinny DePonto.

2026-27 MOE AND JACK’S PLACE – THE ROUSE THEATRE SEASON

Presented by Schueler Group

 

MC and Tom Brennan present
HEIST
By Arun Lakra
Directed by Blake Robison
Co-Produced with Milwaukee Repertory Theater and Gulfshore Playhouse
September 12 – October 11, 2026

Production Sponsor: Johnson Investment Counsel
Honorary Producer: Barbara Weyand

Short Description:
Inspired by movies like Ocean’s Eleven, Now You See Me and The Sting – this theatrical caper is a high-tech mystery for the stage. When a team of professional thieves assembles to pull off one last job, the heist goes sideways into a web of danger, betrayal and double crosses. Blending quick-witted banter and heart-pounding suspense with a high-octane production, Heist  takes you on a fun and thrilling ride.

One Liner:
Inspired by movies like Ocean’s Eleven, this high-tech mystery takes you on a fun and heart-pounding thrill ride.

Ellen and Ray van der Horst present
GET HAPPY: ANGELA INGERSOLL SINGS JUDY GARLAND
An Artists Lounge Live Production
October 17 – November 7, 2026

Production Sponsor: Elizabeth Hendy, in loving memory of David G. Hendy

Short Description:
In a vibrant, Emmy-nominated performance seen on PBS, award-winning actress Angela Ingersoll sings the works of Judy Garland in this special concert event. Backed by a dynamite band, Ingersoll delivers virtuosic vocals, passionate storytelling, humor and heart. Classic songs include “Get Happy,” “The Trolley Song,” “The Man That Got Away,” “That’s Entertainment!” and, of course, “Over the Rainbow.” Don’t miss this entertaining and unforgettable tribute to an American icon.

One-Liner:
In a vibrant, Emmy-nominated performance seen on PBS, award-winning actress Angela Ingersoll sings the works of Judy Garland in this special concert event.

First Financial Bank presents
A CHRISTMAS CAROL
By Charles Dickens
Adapted and Originally Directed by Blake Robison
Directed by Bridget Leak
November 20 – December 27, 2026

SEASON EXTRA: Not part of season ticket packages.

Short Description:
The holiday story you love unfolds in spectacular fashion in Moe and Jack’s Place – The Rouse Theatre! Charles Dickens’ classic tale of the curmudgeon Ebenezer Scrooge, who finds his heart changing one fateful Christmas Eve, combines with dazzling set, costume and lighting designs to create a magical experience for your family!

One Liner: 
The holiday story you love unfolds with dazzling set, costume and lighting designs to create a magical experience for your family!

Fifth Third Bank presents
CINCINNATI KING
Written and Directed by KJ Sanchez
January 30 – February 28, 2027

Production Sponsors: The Greenberg Family, in loving memory of Linda Greenberg, and The Markley Family

SHORT DESCRIPTION:
Celebrate Cincinnati’s King Records in the return of the hit musical that traces the groundbreaking rise of music pioneer Syd Nathan and the artists he produced. Based on interviews, the show chronicles behind-the-scenes tales of King Records hits including “The Twist,” “Blues Stay Away From Me,” “Fever” and “Need Your Love So Bad.” Cincinnati King shines the spotlight on the Queen City’s music roots.

ONE-LINER:
Celebrate Cincinnati’s rich music history with the return of the hit musical about King Records.

Moe & Jack Rouse and Randolph Wadsworth present
PURPOSE
By Branden Jacobs-Jenkins
Directed by Tyrone Phillips
March 13 – April 4, 2027

SHORT DESCRIPTION:
Winner of the Tony Award for Best Play and the Pulitzer Prize, this riveting and hilarious new drama lays bare the influential Jasper family, led by a renowned Civil Rights leader and his formidable wife. When their adult sons return home for a celebration, the evening unravels and ignites long-simmering tensions. Accusations fly and secrets are laid bare as the Jaspers must reckon with their faith, their legacy and their purpose.

ONE-LINER:
Winner of the Tony Award and the Pulitzer Prize, this riveting and hilarious drama lays bare the long-simmering tensions and secrets of one influential family.

Leading Ladies presents
ROPE
Adapted by Jeffrey Hatcher
Based on the play “Rope’s End” by Patrick Hamilton
Directed by Blake Robison
April 24 – May 23, 2027

Honorary Producer: The Lemmerman Family

SHORT DESCRIPTION:
The gripping psychological thriller that inspired the Alfred Hitchcock and Jimmy Stewart film of the same name gets a tantalizing new adaptation. Two young men commit “the perfect murder,” then host a dinner party in the very room where the body is hidden. As the evening progresses, tension builds from one moment to the next as one of the killers grows bolder and the other gets increasingly nervous. Will they get away with murder? Rope will captivate fans of suspense-filled thrillers and leave you breathless.

ONE-LINER:
The gripping psychological thriller that inspired the Alfred Hitchcock film of the same name gets a tantalizing new adaptation.

ROSENTHAL SHELTERHOUSE THEATRE

Season presented by The Vontz Family

Digi and Mike Schueler present
TALK
World Premiere
By Theresa Rebeck
Directed by Melisa Annis
September 26 – October 25, 2026

Production Sponsor: The Roy Cockrum Foundation
Season Sponsor of New Work: Nancy and Mark Dawes

SHORT DESCRIPTION:
This world premiere delivers biting satire of the current media environment and will no doubt get people talking. When an unplanned guest is added to the mix of standard talking heads during a live news talk show, the conversation goes off the rails, and the show descends into chaos. All political points of view are represented, and all are skewered as this razor-sharp and funny play shines a satirical spotlight on news and dialogue in today’s fast-moving media world. A centerpiece of the inaugural Made in Cincy: New Works Festival, Talk was commissioned by the Playhouse from the award-winning Broadway and Hollywood writer and Cincinnati native Theresa Rebeck.

ONE-LINER:
A razor-sharp and funny world premiere that shines a satirical spotlight on the current media environment.

THE TWELVE DATES OF CHRISTMAS
By Ginna Hoben
Directed by Laura Kepley
November 7 – December 27, 2026

SHORT DESCRIPTION:
After seeing her fiancé kissing another woman on the televised Thanksgiving Day Parade, Mary’s life falls apart – just in time for the holidays. Newly single, she stumbles through the emotional, and often comically absurd, minefield of dating over the next year with each milestone on the calendar bringing dating misadventures. Until the following Christmas arrives and an unexpected encounter opens her heart and a new way forward. This heartfelt one-woman comedy brings humor and a fresh, modern spirit to the holiday season.

ONE-LINER:
This heartfelt one-woman comedy about dating misadventures brings a fresh, modern spirit to the holiday season.

SPECIAL LIMITED ENGAGEMENT – TWO WEEKS ONLY
SEASON EXTRA: Not part of season ticket packages.

MIND READER
Created and performed by Vinny DePonto
January 26 – February 7, 2027

Join acclaimed theatre-maker and mentalist Vinny DePonto for an evening of mind reading, psychic experiments and unexplained phenomena.

I AM MY OWN WIFE
By Doug Wright
Directed by Joanie Schultz
February 20 – March 21, 2027

Honorary Producer: Marty C. Tomb

SHORT DESCRIPTION:
Based on a true story and inspired by interviews conducted by the playwright, I Am My Own Wife is the fascinating tale of Charlotte von Mahlsdorf, an elegant and eccentric German trans woman who, against all odds managed to survive the Nazis during World War II and the repressive Communist regime that followed. Winner of the Pulitzer Prize, one actor gives a tour-de-force performance of over 30 roles in this profound story of survival.

ONE-LINER:
This Pulitzer Prize-winning play recounts the fascinating and true tale of an eccentric German trans woman who survived World War II and its aftermath.

TABLE 17
By Douglas Lyons
April 3 – May 16, 2027

SHORT DESCRIPTION:
Romance, regrets and second chances play out in this entertaining rom-com for the stage. Once engaged, Jada and Dallas meet for dinner to untangle their complicated past. Despite the intrusion of a cheeky waiter and their best efforts to keep it casual, an undeniable spark still lingers. A hit off-Broadway and in Los Angeles, Table 17 is a witty new comedy about love found, lost and possibly reignited. If you love a rom-com, this play is for you!

ONE-LINER:
Romance, regrets and second chances play out in this witty rom-com.

2026-27 SEASON TICKET INFORMATION:

Current season ticket holders must renew by April 24 to save their seats or to make a request to change them. Season tickets include exclusive benefits like the best prices, payment installments, discounted parking, and first access to A CHRISTMAS CAROL and MIND READER. Purchase those productions with season tickets to add the cost to a payment plan. Season ticket packages start with as few as three shows and range from $114 to $734.50, depending on the seat location and the productions included. A student season ticket package is available for $18 per production.

Purchase by visiting the Playhouse website at www.cincyplay.com or by calling the Box Office at 513-421-3888 or 800-582-3208 toll-free in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. For TDD (Telecommunications Device for the Deaf) access, call 513-345-2248. The Playhouse is fully accessible.

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.

All 2026-27 season illustrations, except MIND READER, by Kenton Brett.

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March 10, 2026 · 5:12 pm

Full Cast and Creative Team Announced for Noel Coward’s HAY FEVER at HRTC

The Human Race Theatre Company turns up the heat with this spring’s production of HAY FEVER. Too many guests and bad hosts turn a quiet weekend at the Bliss family’s country retreat into delicious, theatrical chaos.

Judith Bliss (Teri Clark Linden), a retired actress, and her husband David Bliss (James Walker), head to the country for a relaxing weekend, joined by their children Simon (Char Adams) and Sorel (Skye Hodgkin).  Unbeknownst to each other, every family member also invites an unsuspecting guest for the weekend (Jared Joplin, Kieran Cronin, and Evelyn Vordriede), stretching the limited abilities of dresser-turned-housekeeper Clara (Jennifer Joplin). The Bliss family does not intend to be rude. They’re just too busy performing for themselves. And that sharp witted rudeness elevates to an art form.
“Although Coward’s play premiered over 100 years ago, this razor-sharp comedy feels surprisingly modern,” notes Artistic Director Emily N. Wells. “In the same tone of Dan Levy’s hit series SCHITT’s CREEK, Coward finds humor and edge in the disappearance of courtesy and etiquette.”
Returning to The Human Race to direct, founding artist Robert Hetherington gathers a dynamic creative team with Joseph Tilford, scenic design; Kelsey Gallagher, lighting design; Erin Eva Butcher, costume design; Annabell Mallard, sound design; emily c. porter, sound advisor; Sarah Gomes, props design; Isabella Myers, stage manager, and Phoenix Perry, assistant stage manager.
HAY FEVER will play in the Loft Theatre in downtown Dayton, April 8-19, 2026.  Tickets are on sale through the Dayton Live box office, 937-228-3630, or online at www.humanracetheatre.org
The Human Race Theatre Company continues its commitment to high quality theatre with access points for all with two special ticket initiatives: two sections of $20 seats available at any time through the box office, and ten $10 rush seats available 60 minutes before any performance.
Special Nights at The Loft:  
  • Pay What You Can          Tuesday, April 7, 2026 7:30pm – Final Dress Rehearsal to support Brunner Literacy Center
  • Inside Track               Thursday, April 9, 2026 6:45 pm – Pre-show Discussion
  • While We’re On The Subject      Sunday, April 12, 2026 2 pm – Post Show Discussion
  • $10/Sawbuck Sunday       Sunday, April 12, 2026 7:30 pm – $10 tix starting at 6:00 pm
  • Parent’s Day Out            Sunday, April 19, 2026 2 pm – Kids Activities (5-12yo)
  • While We’re On The Subject      Sunday, April 19, 2026 2 pm – Post Show Discussion

The Human Race Theatre Company expresses gratitude for the public and private support which makes these productions possible:  Loft Season Sponsor: Jack W. and Sally D. Eichelberger Foundation. Sustainability Sponsors:   Steve and Lou Mason, The Toulmin Fund at The Dayton Foundation.  Additional Season support:  Erma R. Catterton Trust, Funds at The Dayton Foundation, Virginia F. Kettering Foundation, The Shubert Foundation, Charles D. Berry Foundation, Sam Levin Foundation, and Pizza Factory.  Organizational support:  Culture Works, Montgomery County, Ohio Arts Council. Media Sponsor: WDPR Discover Classical. Pay What You Can Sponsor: Enterprise Holdings Foundation.  Capital Support: The Schiewetz Foundation, The Dayton Foundation, The Toulmin Fund at The Dayton Foundation, Oakwood Rotary.

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March 10, 2026 · 5:11 pm

Create a Theatre Program at Your School with TCT

JumpStart Theatre Program Applications Now Open for K-12 Schools 

Cincinnati – The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati (TCT) is currently accepting applications for the 2026-2027 season of the school initiative, JumpStart Theatre.

The Educational Theatre Foundation (ETF), in collaboration with New York City-based companies iTheatrics and Music Theatre International (MTI), created JumpStart Theatre, a three-year scalable program designed to build sustainable musical theatre programs in underserved schools that previously had none.

All Cincinnati tri-state area schools may apply to participate in JumpStart Theatre. Applications can be completed and submitted online now through April 1, 2026. Selected schools will be announced later this spring and will begin implementing the program in their school in the fall of 2026.

Participant schools are chosen through the online application which is now available at: https://thechildrenstheatre.com/26-27-jumpstart-theatre-application/

Training & Ongoing Mentoring:
Each school will receive services and materials valued at $12,000 in the form of training, mentoring, and production support for a full-scale show for their community. Students will be involved in every aspect of the production, and TCT with ETF will also host the annual JumpStart Theatre showcase, bringing all the participants together to share their work.

The selected schools make a three-year commitment, and teams of three or more teachers from each school will participate in professional development “boot camps” in a variety of areas led by a master teacher in the fall, winter and spring. These workshops will provide training in all areas of musical theatre production, with the goal of empowering the teacher teams to guide the programs independently.

Local JumpStart Schools Include:
Spencer Center for Gifted and Exceptional Students, Mt. Washington School, Batavia Middle School, Shroder High School, Covedale Elementary, Holmes Middle School, Finneytown Middle School, and Gamble Montessori High School.

About the Educational Theatre Foundation:
The Educational Theatre Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the Educational Theatre Association, whose shared vision is to build a global community of creative problem solvers, effective collaborators, and empathetic individuals through theatre. ETF advances the field of educational theatre by broadening representation and increasing access for all. Learn how at foundation.schooltheatre.org.

-end-

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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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