Tag Archives: Cincinnati Arts Association

“Quite simply put, absolutely wonderful.” – BroadwayWorld

Complexions Contemporary Ballet:
STAR DUST

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

March 19, 2026
Aronoff Center – Procter & Gamble Hall

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Cincinnati Arts Association SPONSORS 

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

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

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

#  #  #

CALENDAR INFORMATION

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

TICKET INFORMATION – on sale now

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

Viral Sensation Lucy Darling is Coming to Cincinnati
in Touring Show SIMPLY DARLING

March 22, 2026
Aronoff Center – Procter & Gamble Hall

Tickets on sale Friday, January 9 at 10:00 AM

[Cincinnati, OH] – Carisa Hendrix, the performer behind the glamorous 1940s-style socialite Lucy Darling, is back on tour with her show, Simply Darling, which will make its much-anticipated Cincinnati debut at the Aronoff Center’s Procter & Gamble Hall on Sunday, March 22, 2026, at 7:00 PM. The show is part of the Cincinnati Arts Association’s 2025-26 CAA Presents! Season.

Tickets go on sale Friday, January 9 at 10:00 AM 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.

Hendrix first captured the world’s attention in December 2024, when one TikTok clip of her improvisational crowd work skyrocketed to twenty-one million views. Since then, thousands have flocked to theaters nationwide to see the award-winning performer and find out what all the fuss is about. From coast to coast, her shows have sold out in record time, proof that Lucy Darling’s blend of wit, sweetness, and old-Hollywood glamour has struck a chord with audiences.

Now, Hendrix is bringing more sharp-tongued charm to the stage in Simply Darling, a touring variety show that is designed to give the fans even more of what they have been craving – the perfect chance to take a break from reality and indulge in the mischief, sarcasm, and wonder that we all deserve.

After a year of sold-out performances across North America, Simply Darling is Lucy’s answer to her fans’ demand for more. The show is part variety spectacular, part cabaret, and part magic show, but always exceptionally darling.

For more information about Carisa Hendrix and Lucy Darling, visit https://www.carisahendrix.com/.

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

#  #  #

CALENDAR INFORMATION

WHAT:                Lucy Darling: Simply Darling
WHEN:               Sunday, March 22, 2026 – 7:00 PM
WHERE:              Aronoff Center – Procter & Gamble Hall
PRICE:                 Ticket prices start at $52.50, inclusive of all fees.
INFO:                  Carisa Hendrix, the performer behind the glamorous 1940s-style socialite Lucy Darling, is back on tour with her show, Simply Darling. After a year of sold-out performances across North America, Simply Darling is Lucy’s answer to her fans’ demand for more. The show is part variety spectacular, part cabaret, part magic show, but always exceptionally darling.

TICKET INFORMATION – on sale Friday, January 9 at 10:00 AM

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

Beloved and Popular America’s Got Talent Finalist
Makes its Cincinnati Debut!

NDLOVU YOUTH CHOIR
The Pride and Joy of South Africa

“If I could bottle your energy, I’d drink it every day!” –
Simon Cowell, America’s Got Talent

February 27, 2026
Aronoff Center – Procter & Gamble Hall

[Cincinnati, OH] – Ndlovu Youth Choir, the inspirational America’s Got Talent finalist (Season 14), makes its Cincinnati debut on Friday, February 27, 2026, at 7:30 PM at the Aronoff Center’s Procter & Gamble Hall. The event is part of the Cincinnati Arts Association’s 2025-26 CAA Presents! Season.

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

Since its inception in 2009, the Ndlovu Youth Choir has become one of the world’s most treasured groups. Their unique musical arrangements and powerhouse vocals, irresistibly combined with mesmerizing choreography and infectious energy, have inspired millions across the globe.

Their eleven-year journey has seen an after-school program for orphaned and vulnerable children, started by the Ndlovu Care Group, transform into an international recording and touring career. Participation does not only instill values of togetherness, a work ethic, and a sense of responsibility, but it also develops self-discipline, self-confidence, and leadership. Through the choir, choristers gain a global perspective that offers an early pathway to artistic and professional achievement. The choir uses their talents to share their inspirational story with the world through song and dance.

The choir’s repertoire is an exciting mix of traditional South African genres with pop, rock, jazz, and EDM. Their intention to create a fresh and original sound is evident in their ability to take internationally well-known songs – Toto’s “Africa,” Kygo’s “Higher Love,” U2’s “Beautiful Day,” and Ed Sheeran’s “Shape of You” – and move them into an exciting new territory. The Ndlovu Youth Choir’s incredible run on America’s Got Talent (Season 14) made them the first choir in the history of either America’s Got Talent or Britain’s Got Talent to reach the final. Their soul-stirring performances won hearts and minds around the world. After their final AGT performance, legendary music producer and record executive Simon Cowell labeled the performance “The best final I have ever sat on in my life.” He went on to sign the choir, and together with SYCO and Sony Music, they released their first album, which debuted at number one on iTunes.

Since AGT, the choir has undertaken two European tours, sold out every public performance, and performed on numerous local and international television and radio shows. Highlights include a performance to over 115,000 people in Cape Town and The Match in Africa, which featured Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Bill Gates, and Trevor Noah. During the Coronavirus crisis, the choir continued to offer hope and inspiration with their enthusiastic COVID-19 musical public service messages which were shared by the WHO and the United Nations. They joined many of the world’s top A-list performers on a virtual stage where they were featured during the Global Citizens One World: Together at Home virtual concert.

As the Ndlovu Youth Choir’s meteoric rise continues, they strive to push the creative boundaries of song and dance to reach and touch audiences of all ages across the globe. Their high-energy performances have not only thrilled audiences around the world, but have shared a message of hope, love, and togetherness.

For more information, visit Ndlovu Youth Choir on Facebook: @ndlovuchoir and Instagram: @choirafrica.

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

#  #  #

CALENDAR INFORMATION

WHAT:              NDLOVU YOUTH CHOIR
WHEN:             Friday, February 27, 2026 – 7:30 PM
WHERE:             Aronoff Center – Procter & Gamble Hall

PRICE:               Ticket prices start at $23, inclusive of all fees. A special 50%-OFF Family Four Pack offer is available for purchases of four or more tickets.

INFO:                 Since its inception in 2009, Ndlovu Youth Choir (America’s Got Talent finalist – Season 14) has become one of the world’s most treasured groups. Their unique musical arrangements and powerhouse vocals, irresistibly combined with mesmerizing choreography and infectious energy, have inspired millions across the globe.

TICKET INFORMATION – on sale now

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

THE JOKERS OF MAGIC

January 24, 2026
Aronoff Center – Jarson-Kaplan Theater

[Cincinnati, OH] – Laugh your cares away and be astounded at the Cincinnati premiere of The Jokers of Magic at the Aronoff Center’s Jarson-Kaplan Theater for two performances only on January 24, 2026, at 4:00 PM & 8:00 PM. The show is part of the Cincinnati Arts Association’s 2025-26 CAA Presents! Season.

Tickets are on sale now at www.CincinnatiArts.org, (513) 621-2787 [ARTS], or the Aronoff Center Ticket Office. For group sales (10 or more), call (513) 977-4155. Prices include all applicable fees and taxes and are subject to change.

Introducing… The Jokers of Magic – the irreverent, laugh-your-butt-off night of comedy and magic you didn’t know you needed (but trust us, you do). Armed with credits from America’s Got Talent, Penn & Teller’s Fool Us, and a few places in which it might technically be illegal to perform, these slick tricksters will blow your mind and swindle their way into your heart in a no-holds-barred evening of tricks, lies, and laughs. It’s like SNL and Whose Line is it Anyway? had a love child and sent it to Hogwarts!

The show is rated PG-13 and is recommended for ages 14 and up. The attendance of young children is discouraged.

The Jokers of Magic – Bios 

Eric Dittelman
Eric is best known as the first mind reader on America’s Got Talent, where he was a Top Ten Finalist and judges’ favorite. He’s been a guest on The Ellen DeGeneres Show and Live with Kelly & Ryan and has appeared on Penn & Teller: Fool Us, where Penn called his act “bordering on genius.”  Eric has also been featured in Entertainment Weekly, Rolling Stone, and even The National Enquirer.  He has performed on Broadway with The Illusionists and currently performs in the hit off-Broadway show Speakeasy Magick.

Matt Donnelly
The Las Vegas Review Journal recently named Matt “Las Vegas’s Best Up and Coming Comedy Magician.” His act, The Noodler, has been dazzling audiences across North America with his unique and hilarious brand of magic and one-of-a-kind story. Many years ago, while working as head writer on Penn & Teller Fool Us, Penn Jillette challenged Matt to learn one trick. He said, “It’s harder than you think…but you might be better at it than you think.” So, he did learn one trick…from seven different magicians! He put all seven tricks together and made his first show.

Matt spent years on tour opening for “Piff The Magic Dragon” with his unique take on magic. Now, he tours with his own Mind Noodling show, amazing audiences across North America at prestigious magic venues like LA’s Magic Castle, The Chicago Magic Lounge, and Nashville’s House of Cards, while also headlining at the Second Bell Comedy Festival in Tennessee. Offstage, Matt is the cohost of Penn Jillette’s award-winning podcast, Penn’s Sunday School, as well as magic podcast, Abracababble. He just wrapped his ninth season as head writer of Fool Us for CW.

Long before he ever thought of dipping his toes into magic, Matt crushed the Las Vegas comedy world. He played the Las Vegas strip alongside Wayne Brady in the smash-hit improv comedy show Making It Up at the Venetian, played Christian Grey in the ridiculously funny 50 Shades! The Parody at Bally’s, and hosted the innovative and hilarious show Executive Monkeys at The Palms.

Derek Hughes
The live performances of celebrated conjurer “Stand Up Magician” Derek Hughes have been lauded by audiences and critics alike, with The New York Times calling him “thoroughly entertaining.”  Hughes has performed his magic on MTV, VH1, Comedy Central, CW’s Penn & Teller: Fool Us, and The Ellen DeGeneres Show. He’s a consulting producer on truTV’s hit magic series The Carbonaro Effect and was a top-ten finalist on NBC’s America’s Got Talent.

Michael Mills
Michael’s contemporary and playful approach to comedy magic takes audiences on a thrilling funhouse tour of deception.

Hailing from upstate New York, his journey into the world of entertainment began as a performer at the classic resorts of the Catskills and Adirondack region. These early experiences laid the foundation for his unique performance style and love for magic. Over the years, he has graced the stages of hundreds of private events. More recently, Michael has appeared at Chicago Magic Lounge in Chicago and Carnival of Illusion in Phoenix. His one-man show Fool Me Once tours clubs and theaters.

While performing magic was his first passion, Michael is best known for his remarkable journey as the founder and CEO of Mills Entertainment, one of the nation’s leading producers of touring entertainment. From comedic legends like John Cleese and Mel Brooks to the dynamic duo Colin Mochrie and Brad Sherwood from Whose Line Is It Anyway, Mills has consistently delivered innovative and exceptional live experiences. Last year, Mills partnered with legendary magicians Penn & Teller to produce a nationwide tour of Penn & Teller present The Foolers.

For more information, visit The Jokers of Magic website at https://www.jokersofmagic.com.

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

#  #  #

CALENDAR INFORMATION

WHAT:                The Jokers of Magic
WHEN:                Saturday, January 24, 2026 – 4:00 PM & 8:00 PM

WHERE:              Aronoff Center – Jarson-Kaplan Theater

PRICE:                 Ticket prices start at $45.25, inclusive of all fees.

INFO:                   The Jokers of Magic is an irreverent, laugh-your-butt-off night of comedy and magic you didn’t know you needed (but trust us, you do). Armed with credits from America’s Got Talent, Penn & Teller’s Fool Us, and a few places in which it might technically be illegal to perform, these slick tricksters will blow your mind and swindle their way into your heart in a no-holds-barred evening of tricks, lies, and laughs. The show is rated PG-13 and is recommended for ages 14 and up. The attendance of young children is discouraged.

TICKET INFORMATION – on sale now

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