Category Archives: Press Releases

June 8, 2026 · 5:54 pm

Cincinnati Opera Opens 2026 Summer Festival June 18 & 20 with Richard Strauss’s SALOME

A fever dream of obsession, power, and prophecy comes to Music Hall June 18 and 20 

Cincinnati Opera opens its 2026 Summer Festival with
SALOM

Music by Richard Strauss
Libretto by Hedwig Lachmann
Based on the play by Oscar Wilde

CINCINNATI (June 5, 2026)—On June 18 and 20 at Cincinnati’s historic Music Hall, immerse yourself in a psychological thriller that will set your heart racing: Richard Strauss’s Salome. Not seen in Cincinnati in more than 25 years, Cincinnati Opera opens its 2026 Summer Festival with this spellbinding story of obsessive desire and devastating consequences.

Salome pairs a richly dramatic score with fierce performances from a cast led by the Metropolitan Opera’s “reigning Queen of the Night” (The New York Times), soprano Kathryn Lewek, in her title role debut. The all-star cast of Metropolitan Opera regulars also includes tenor Chad Shelton as Herod, bass-baritone Alfred Walker as Jochanaan, mezzo-soprano Michelle DeYoung as Herodias, and tenor Zach Borichevsky as Narraboth. Robert Spano conducts the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, and Jose Maria Condemi directs. 

EVENT DETAILS

WHAT: Cincinnati Opera presents Salome
Music by Richard Strauss
Libretto by Hedwig Lachmann
Based on the play by Oscar Wilde

Sung in German with projected English translations

WHEN:

  • Thursday, June 18, 7:30 p.m.
  • Saturday, June 20, 7:30 p.m.

WHERE: Cincinnati Music Hall, 1241 Elm Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202

THE STORY:
Salome, the teenage princess of Judea, becomes dangerously fixated on the imprisoned prophet John the Baptist (named “Jochanaan” in the opera). When he rejects her advances, her desire curdles into obsession. At her stepfather Herod’s birthday feast, Salome dances and, at her maniacal mother’s behest, demands a gruesome reward. Set to Richard Strauss’s lush score, Salome is a fever dream of obsession, power, and prophecy, where every glance is loaded, and no desire is without cost.

CAST AND CREATIVE TEAM:

  • Salome … Kathryn Lewek
  • Herod … Chad Shelton
  • Jochanaan (John the Baptist) … Alfred Walker
  • Herodias … Michelle DeYoung
  • Narraboth … Zach Borichevsky
  • Page of Herodias … Emily Cotten
  • First Nazarene … Thomas Dreeze
  • First Soldier … Donghoon Kang
  • Second Soldier … Sam Smith
  • First Jew … Julius Ahn
  • Second Jew … Levi Capesius
  • Third Jew … Mark Hockenberry
  • Fourth Jew … M. Andrew Jones
  • Fifth Jew … Ron Dukes
  • Second Nazarene … Alexander Gushrowski
  • A Slave … Clara Reeves
  • A Cappadocian … Stephen Hanna
  • Dancers … Sydney Caggiano, Amanda Pérez Duarte

 

  • Conductor … Robert Spano
  • Stage Director … Jose Maria Condemi
  • Scenic and Properties Designer … Tim Wallace
  • Costume Designer … Anita Yavich
  • Lighting Designer … Thomas C. Hase
  • Wig & Makeup Designer … James Geier
  • Choreographer … Erina Noda
  • Stage Manager … Jennifer Shaw
  • Featuring the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra

TICKETS & INFO:

Tickets start at $25. Call 513-241-2742 or visit cincinnatiopera.org.

  • The June 18 performance of Salome is Veterans Night. In appreciation, a limited number of free tickets are available to U.S. veterans through Vet Tix, and a 20% discount on full-priced tickets is available for veterans and their families.
  • The June 20 performance of Salome is Pride Night. Following that evening’s performance, the company celebrates LGBTQIA+ community with drinks, dancing, and surprises in Music Hall’s Wilks Studio. Tickets are $40 (Salome tickets sold separately). Host and Sponsor opportunities available.
  • Additional discounts are available for groups, students, educators, young professionals, seniors, SNAP cardholders, and ArtsWave Pass members. Cincinnati Opera also offers Pay What You Wish tickets for the June 18 performance of Salome, beginning the day of the performance. Details are available at cincinnatiopera.org.

Looking ahead:

Cincinnati Opera 2026 Summer Festival

Salome
Music by Richard Strauss
Libretto by Hedwig Lachmann

  • June 18, 2026 | 7:30 p.m.
  • June 20, 2026 | 7:30 p.m.

Springer Auditorium, Cincinnati Music Hall

Studio Sessions: Soul & Sound 2.0

  • June 25, 2026 | 8:00 p.m.
    Wilks Studio, Cincinnati Music Hall

Studio Sessions: Matthew White in Recital

  • July 1, 2026 | 8:00 p.m.
    Wilks Studio, Cincinnati Music Hall

Lalovavi (world premiere)
Music by Kevin Day
Libretto by Tifara Brown

  • July 9, 2026 | 7:30 p.m.
  • July 11, 2026 | 7:30 p.m.

Springer Auditorium, Cincinnati Music Hall

Carmen
Music by Georges Bizet
Libretto by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy

  • July 25, 2026 | 7:30 p.m.
  • July 29, 2026 | 7:30 p.m.
  • July 31, 2026 | 7:30 p.m.
  • August 2, 2026 | 3:00 p.m.

Springer Auditorium, Cincinnati Music Hall

Orpheus and Euridice
Music and text by Ricky Ian Gordon

  • July 28, 2026 | 8:00 p.m.
  • July 30, 2026 | 8:00 p.m.
  • August 1, 2026 | 3:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.

Wilks Studio, Cincinnati Music Hall

Visit cincinnatiopera.org for complete details.

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 mainstage season of grand opera every summer at Cincinnati Music Hall, a National Historic Landmark, performed with the renowned Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. The company also offers year-round community programming throughout the Greater Cincinnati region.

The company’s repertoire spans beloved classics and bold new works, with a distinguished tradition of producing opera that resonates far beyond the stage. Select regional, national, and world premieres include Margaret Garner (2005), Fellow Travelers (2016), and Blind Injustice (2019), which have gone on to productions across the country. Cincinnati Opera is also the originating home of The Black Opera Project, a first-of-its-kind, multiyear commissioning initiative creating three full-length operas celebrating the Black American experience, beginning with the Afrofuturist grand opera Lalovavi (July 2026). Through Opera Fusion: New Works, its long-running creative partnership with the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, the company shepherds new American operas from workshop to world premiere. Cincinnati Opera is a proud member of OPERA America. Learn more at cincinnatiopera.org 

Cincinnati Opera is supported by the generosity of tens of thousands of contributors to the ArtsWave Community Campaign. 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. 90.9 WGUC is media partner for the 2026 Summer Festival.

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June 1, 2026 · 6:14 pm

Broadway in Cincinnati Economic Impact Release

Broadway in Cincinnati Continues to be an Economic Driver for Greater Cincinnati

  • Disney’s The Lion King expected to boost economy by more than $30M million during 4-week run at the Aronoff Center
  • The First Financial Bank Broadway in Cincinnati series presented by TriHealth contributed more than $213 million in economic activity in Cincinnati in the past 24 months

  • Touring Broadway Drives $5.7 Billion in Economic Impact Across US 

June 1, 2026

Cincinnati  — On April 7, 2026 the Broadway League released the Economic Impact of Touring Broadway 2023–2024 report. According to this report, Touring Broadway generates substantial direct spending from producers, presenters, and venues, while also drawing audiences into downtown areas where they support local businesses. This activity creates a ripple effect throughout the local economy, as dollars spent in connection with Broadway performances continue to circulate across industries and extend into surrounding communities.

Based on data from the report, the Broadway touring shows that visit the Aronoff Center with the First Financial Bank Broadway in Cincinnati series, presented by TriHealth, has contributed more than $213 million in economic activity during the past 24 months in the Greater Cincinnati area, reflecting both direct expenditures related to presenting Broadway shows and additional spending by theatergoers. Across the country, audiences contribute more than $1.34 billion annually to local economies through dining, transportation, employment, shopping, and lodging tied to their theater experience. This combined spending highlights Broadway’s role in supporting local businesses and jobs while driving economic activity beyond the stage.

Based on this study, Disney’s THE LION KING will bring in more than $30 million of economic activity during its four-week run in Cincinnati. HAMILTON‘s 3-week run in December 2025 made up $32 million of that $213 million of impact for the local economy.

“Our Broadway series is more than world-class entertainment—it’s a powerful economic engine for Cincinnati and the surrounding region,” said Genevieve Holt, Vice President Midwest for Broadway Across America (BAA).  “Each production drives meaningful impact for local businesses, from restaurants and hotels to small retailers, while bringing vibrancy and energy to the community. We’re proud to play a role in strengthening the local economy while connecting audiences through the magic of live theater.”

“We are proud to partner with Broadway in Cincinnati to present productions of this scale that bring tens of thousands of visitors downtown, said Steve Loftin, President & CEO of Cincinnati Arts Association (CAA). “In addition to providing the world-class performance home for extended Broadway engagements such as Disney’s THE LION KING, the Aronoff Center provides significant salaries and wages stimulating local spending. With labor accounting for as much as 32% of a show’s total local expenses, the economic impact generated is meaningful and measurable for downtown businesses and our region and serves as a powerful economic engine for Cincinnati.”

One of Broadway in Cincinnati and the Aronoff Center’s longtime neighbors has been Nicholson’s Pub, a Walnut Street mainstay since 1997.  “Nicholson’s has been a part of the Theater District from the very beginning, and we are honored to be a preferred destination for a pre-show meal,” said Nick Sanders, CEO of Tavern Restaurant Group.  “Every show presents an opportunity for us to connect with the Broadway in Cincinnati audience with special themed features, exceptional hospitality, comfort, and convenience. The loyal patronage and support from the Aronoff community for thirty years has been an essential part of our success.”

Broadway Across America is proud to highlight the significant economic impact of Touring Broadway in Cincinnati, where live theater continues to serve as both a cultural cornerstone and a powerful economic engine for the region.

Broadway Across America, which embraces the philosophy that live theater has the power to change the world, has invested significantly in Cincinnati youth in recent years as well.   In the 26/27 season so far, the company has deeply subsidized tickets for more than 3,000 local students through the Janet Taylor Memorial Education Fund.  BAA, along with CAA, has also developed a comprehensive education program with the School for the Creative and Performing Arts (SCPA) called Broadway Beyond the Classroom.  This program provides training and master classes from Broadway touring cast and crew to the talented Cincinnati-area students studying the arts at SCPA.

First Financial Bank Broadway in Cincinnati presented by TriHealth is committed to bringing the very best of Broadway to the Tri-State, presenting touring Broadway plays and musicals in Cincinnati since 1987. For over twenty years, Broadway in Cincinnati has presented all shows at the Aronoff Center. The Broadway in Cincinnati series brings more than 185,000 people downtown to the Aronoff Center each year and contributes an average of $30 million to the local economy each season. Broadway in Cincinnati is a member of the Greater Cincinnati Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Greater Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce and The Broadway League. 

Broadway Across America (BAA) is part of the John Gore Organization family of companies, which includes Broadway.com, The Broadway Channel, BroadwayBox.com, Group Sales Box Office, and Broadway Brands. Led by 25-time Tony Award winner John Gore (Owner & CEO), Broadway Across America pioneered the Broadway subscription touring model and is a leading presenter of the first-class productions across more than 45 North American markets. Since inception, Broadway Across America has produced and/or invested in hundreds of Broadway, touring Broadway, and international productions that have won countless Tony awards and introduced millions of fans to the power of live theater.  

The John Gore Organization is a leading presenter, distributor, and marketer of Broadway theater worldwide. Under the leadership of 25-time Tony-winner and owner John Gore, its family of companies includes Broadway Across America, Broadway.com, The Broadway Channel, BroadwayBox.com, Group Sales Box Office and Broadway Brands. The company presents shows in over 45 cities across North America as well as on Broadway, Off-Broadway, London’s West End, Japan, and China. It has won Tony Awards in every producing category as well as numerous other Drama League, Drama Desk, and Olivier Awards. The John Gore Organization is committed to supporting theater access and education programs that introduce Broadway to the next generation of audiences and theater professionals.

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June 1, 2026 · 6:10 pm

Jim Henson’s Fraggle Rock: BACK TO THE ROCK LIVE | Sat., October 3, 2026 | Aronoff Center

JIM HENSON’S FRAGGLE ROCK: BACK TO THE ROCK LIVE
The first-ever live musical Fraggle Rock touring show 

October 3, 2026
Aronoff Center – Procter & Gamble Hall

Tickets on sale Friday, June 5 at 10:00 AM

Cincinnati, OH] – Jim Henson’s musical, fun-loving Fraggles are dancing their cares away across North America and coming to Cincinnati in Jim Henson’s Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock LIVE, the first-ever live touring show based on The Jim Henson Company’s beloved franchise. The show plays the Aronoff Center’s Procter & Gamble Hall for one performance only on Saturday, October 3, 2026, at 2:00 PM as part of the Cincinnati Arts Association’s CAA PRESENTS! 2026-27 Season.

Tickets go on sale Friday, June 5 at 10:00 AM at www.CincinnatiArts.org, (513) 621-2787 [ARTS], and 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.

Gobo, Mokey, Wembley, and Boober Fraggle discover the legend of the Celebration Stone – an ancient Fraggle treasure that has the power to bring everyone together for the greatest party of all time, but was shattered and lost generations ago. As the Fraggles set off on an exhilarating, adventurous journey exploring exciting new caves within Fraggle Rock and even beyond, they discover magic that they never knew existed and learn to work together to unite the lost pieces of the magical artifact. Can the Fraggles succeed in their quest to bring the Celebration Stone back to Fraggle Rock so everyone can enjoy the most incredible party in Fraggle history? And, along the way, will they find something even more memorable and heartfelt than they could have ever imagined?

Based on the Emmy-winning Apple TV original series Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock, this all-new, family-friendly, live stage adventure features colorful new walkaround versions of the Fraggles, new puppet versions of their industrious friends the Doozers, and visits from a giant Gorg, as well as exciting new puppet creature friends – all built by the renowned Jim Henson’s Creature Shop. Featuring fan-favorite songs and exciting visual effects, this all-new musical stage adventure welcomes audiences on a joyful, nostalgia-filled trip to Fraggle Rock. With lots of music, laughter, and imagination, it’s an unforgettable live experience that will have Silly Creatures of all ages dancing in the aisles! 

Written and directed by John Tartaglia (Avenue Q, Shrek the Musical, Stephen Schwartz’s The Secret Silk), this interactive live musical features both new and classic Fraggle songs, eye-popping immersive stage effects, and all the hilarious, heartwarming magic that has kept Fraggle Rock captivating generations of audiences for over forty years.

Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock LIVE is produced by The Jim Henson Company with Catalyst Theatricals LLC as General Manager and Broadway & Beyond Theatricals as the show’s exclusive booking agency. Visit www.fragglerocklive.com for more information.

About The Jim Henson Company
The Jim Henson Company has remained an established leader in family entertainment for over seventy years and is recognized as an innovator in puppetry, animatronics, and digital animation. The Company’s most recent credits include the hit holiday special for Apple TV The First Snow of Fraggle Rock, as well as the Emmy®-nominated Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Road Trip for Disney+, the Oscar®-winning Guillermo Del Toro’s Pinocchio for Netflix, and the Emmy®-winning Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock for Apple TV. Other television credits include Slumberkins and Harriet the Spy for Apple TV; Dinosaur Train, Splash and Bubbles, and Sid the Science Kid for PBS; Earth to Ned for Disney+; and the Netflix series Word Party and the Emmy®-winning The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance. Iconic catalogue titles include Fraggle Rock, The Storyteller, Farscape, and the ground-breaking fantasy classics The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth.

Headquartered in Los Angeles with additional locations in New York and London, the Company is also home to Jim Henson’s Creature Shop™, a pre-eminent puppet and creature-building group and industry leader in puppeteered digital animation, with international film, television, theme park, and advertising clients. 

About John Tartaglia
John Tartaglia is an acclaimed actor, director, writer, and puppeteer who is Tony-nominated for originating both Rod and Princeton in Broadway’s debut company of Avenue Q. His theatrical directing credits include Stephen Schwartz’s The Secret Silk and Jim Henson’s Inspired Silliness, both for Princess Cruises, Kinky Boots (3d Theatricals), Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (Maltz Jupiter Theater), Claudio Quest (six-time winner at NY Musical Theatre Festival, including Best in Fest and Best Director), Shrek the Halls (DreamWorks Theatricals), Because of Winn Dixie (Arkansas Rep and Goodspeed Opera House development), and Jim Henson’s Musical World (Carnegie Hall). 

Most recently, he finished production on the second season of the Emmy®-winning Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock, serving as an executive producer, writer, and puppet captain, and performing Gobo Fraggle, Architect Doozer, Gunge, Barry Blueberry, and Sprocket the Dog. 

John has worked many summer seasons at the country’s award-winning, oldest outdoor theater, the St. Louis MUNY, directing such shows as Shrek the Musical, The Wizard of Oz, Tarzan, Annie, Matilda, Mary Poppins, and most recently, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. Other credits include the national tours of Jim Henson’s Dinosaur Train Live and Jim Henson’s Sid the Science Kid Live! as well as several shows for Sesame Place, PA. 

John can be heard every Sunday on Sirius XM’s On Broadway with his show “Sunday Funday with John Tartaglia.”

Cincinnati Arts Association SPONSOR 

The Cincinnati Arts Association is supported [in part] by an investment of public funds from the Ohio Arts Council (OAC). The OAC is a state agency that funds and supports quality arts experiences to strengthen Ohio communities culturally, educationally, and economically.

Season Sponsors:  AMERITAS (Founding Season Sponsor), MIAMI UNIVERSITY, ARTSWAVE, LOCAL 12 WKRC-TV, The P&G FUND of The Greater Cincinnati Foundation, TRIHEALTH 

SEASON PRESENTING SPONSORS:  21C Museum Hotel, altafiber, Bahl & Gaynor, Cincinnati Herald, CityBeat, Fairfield Inn & Suites Cincinnati Uptown/University Area, Harlan Graphics, Heidelberg Distributing, Kinley Cincinnati, Pepsi, Summerfair Cincinnati

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CALENDAR INFORMATION

WHAT:                Jim Henson’s Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock LIVE

WHEN:                Saturday, October 3, 2026 – 2:00 PM

WHERE:              Aronoff Center – Procter & Gamble Hall

PRICES:               Start at $52.75 , inclusive of all fees 

INFO:                   Based on the Emmy-winning Apple TV original series Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock, this all-new, family-friendly live stage adventure features colorful new walkaround versions of the Fraggles, new puppet versions of their industrious friends the Doozers, and visits from a giant Gorg, as well as exciting new puppet creature friends – all built by the renowned Jim Henson’s Creature Shop. Featuring fan-favorite songs and exciting visual effects, this all-new musical stage adventure welcomes audiences on a joyful, nostalgia-filled trip to Fraggle Rock.

TICKET INFORMATION – on sale Friday, June 5 at 10:00 AM

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

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May 26, 2026 · 4:56 pm

ACE Fundraising Gala on June 20

YOU’RE INVITED!

ACE Theatre Company’s first ever Gala, a night of live music, games, and all that jazz.

Join us in Dayton on June 20th. Entry includes dinner and four drinks, with raffle baskets, games, photo booth and more! Formal attire is highly encouraged, and tickets are on sale!

This is a fundraiser for our upcoming production of THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME, coming November 6-8, 2026.

June 20
7-10pm
The Czech Center – 922 Valley St, Dayton OH

$100 social admission.
$125 player admission.

https://events.ticketleap.com/tic…/ace-theatre-co/ace-gala

 

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May 21, 2026 · 5:01 pm

MCP Sponsors Guitar Concert

Mason Community Players will present STRINGS ATTACHED: A Classical Guitar Concert being held Friday, May 22nd, at 7pm at the Playhouse, 5529 Mason Road in Mason.

The concert features an ensemble from Childbloom Guitar Program of St. Louis. They were invited by a Cincinnati recording studio to have a professional recording made of their work. MCP members are serving as host families, so that these teens can take advantage of that opportunity. 

Please come and support these young musicians. We know because of our love for theatre that the larger community does not always support the arts. We also know how very important they are for the life of a community. Young people who have an interest in music, visual art, dance, and theatre do not always receive the support they need to continue refining their talent and gifts. Let’s show them support from the Cincinnati theatre community.

The only “entry fee” is to purchase a 50/50 raffle ticket at the price of $1. You can purchase more to show your support, but that is not needed. Your presence is the most important thing! So bring family and friends and neighbors.

Though the students cannot stay late, since they will need to be up early and making their way to downtown Cincinnati to get to the recording session, audience members are welcome to stay and socialize.

Thank you for supporting classical guitar!

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