Tag Archives: Cincinnati Arts Association

THE SIXTIES SHOW | Fri., October 16, 2026 | Aronoff Center

THE SIXTIES SHOW
BRINGS ITS AWARD-WINNING THEATRICAL PRODUCTION TO CINCINNATI

Dazzling Multimedia Extravaganza Transports Audiences to Iconic Era

October 16, 2026
Aronoff Center – Procter & Gamble Hall

Tickets on sale Friday, June 19 at 10:00 AM

[Cincinnati, OH] – Get ready for a super-charged journey back in time to a turbulent and groundbreaking era when THE SIXTIES SHOW brings its high-octane, immersive, multimedia experience to the Aronoff Center’s Procter & Gamble Hall for one night only on Friday, October 16, 2026 at 7:30 PM. The show is part of the Cincinnati Arts Association’s CAA PRESENTS! 2026-27 Season.

Tickets go on sale Friday, June 19 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.

Playing to packed theaters and performing arts centers around the US, this award-winning, off-Broadway theatrical production from New York City is not a nostalgia tribute act. Part live concert, part time-travel ride, and entirely unforgettable, THE SIXTIES SHOW brilliantly recreates the 1960s with a ferocious energy that transports audiences to the music, the politics, the pop culture, and the soul of an influential decade that reshaped the world.

Co-created by New York City and Los Angeles music scene veterans Tom Licameli (Technical Producer and Multimedia Director, featured guitarist/vocalist/bassist) and Craig O’Keefe (Musical Producer and Artistic Director, as well as a featured bassist/guitarist/vocalist), THE SIXTIES SHOW combines jaw-dropping musical precision with stunning visuals and vintage flair.

The original show was created as a forceful theatrical thunderclap that rips open this historical timeline through authentically rendered music and brilliant storytelling, The goal was never just to recreate songs, but to evoke genuine feeling through a fully immersive experience to make people feel like they are there – not watching the past, but reimagining it and moving through it, like they’re part of it.

Every note is performed live — no backing tracks, no samples — using authentic 1960s-era gear and instrumentation, right down to the mod wardrobe. Powerfully dramatized by archival footage, newsreel audio, theatrical lighting, and time-bending narration, the result is a spectacular multidimensional history lesson that fires on all fronts.

To achieve the spectacular sound, THE SIXTIES SHOW is anchored by a powerhouse lineup of musicians. The show boasts a cast of current and former members of The Who, John Fogerty’s band, and The Rascals, who have also been hand-picked to perform and record with such legends as Paul McCartney, Mick Jagger, The Beach Boys, Bruce Springsteen, and Steely Dan. Individually, the cast members have played the world’s most iconic venues — from Madison Square Garden to The Hollywood Bowl, Wembley Stadium to Tokyo’s Budokan — but when they come together for THE SIXTIES SHOW, it is something truly singular.

The setlist dives deep — featuring not just Top 40 hits, but rare B-sides and deep cuts that defined the ‘60s soundscape — all performed with uncanny fidelity and explosive passion.

Whether you lived through the original era or are discovering it anew, THE SIXTIES SHOW offers theatergoers an exhilarating opportunity to capture lightning in a lava lamp and experience in a unique new way one of the most prodigiously creative time periods in modern history.

For more information on THE SIXTIES SHOW, upcoming tour dates, or to engage on social media, visit www.thesixtiesshow.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, The Party Source, Pepsi, Summerfair Cincinnati

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CALENDAR INFORMATION

WHAT:                The Sixties Show

WHEN:                Friday, October 16, 2026 – 7:30 PM

WHERE:              Aronoff Center – Procter & Gamble Hall

PRICES:               Start at $52.75 , inclusive of all fees 

INFO:                   The unforgettable, award-winning, off-Broadway theatrical production from New York City is not a nostalgia tribute act. Part live concert, part time-travel ride, and entirely unforgettable, THE SIXTIES SHOW brilliantly recreates the 1960s with a ferocious energy that transports audiences to the music, the politics, the pop culture, and the soul of an influential decade that reshaped the world.

TICKET INFORMATION – on sale Friday, June 19 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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NILADRI KUMAAR: The Space Between the Notes | Wed., October 14, 2026 | Aronoff Center

NILADRI KUMAAR: The Space Between the Notes

October 14, 2026
Aronoff Center – Jarson-Kaplan Theater

Tickets on sale Friday, June 19 at 10:00 AM

[Cincinnati, OH] – Sitar Maestro Niladri Kumaar – hailed as a maverick musician and composer, a celebrated cultural ambassador, an icon of Indian music, and one of the most compelling and innovative artists of his generation brings his The Space Between the Notes concert tour to the Aronoff Center’s Jarson-Kaplan Theater for one performance only on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, at 7:30 PM as part of the Cincinnati Arts Association’s CAA PRESENTS! 2026-27 Season.

Tickets go on sale Friday, June 19 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.

Sitar Maestro Niladri Kumaar is hailed as a maverick musician and composer, a celebrated cultural ambassador, and an icon of Indian music. One of the most compelling and innovative artists of his generation, he is a devoted exponent of Indian classical music—widely regarded as a source of national pride and among the most sought-after Indian musicians today. He frequently collaborated with the late Zakir Hussain, and together their sitar-tabla duo became one of their most popular and celebrated musical partnerships.

Space Between the Notes is an extraordinary live recording of these two maestros in concert in Mumbai, India. Set for release later this year, it stands as their only recorded performance together. Honoring the musical tradition they shared, Niladri continues to expand the global reach of Indian music with a specially curated 2026–27 concert tour featuring his sitar, zitar, and an ensemble of Indian and American musicians.

Niladri weaves his signature, spellbinding melodies in a distinctive style that blends centuries-old tradition with bold creative innovation. The tour also pays tribute to the unique musical bond between these two masters through selections from their album, presented live on stage. Space Between the Notes is a powerful musical journey—rooted in tradition and certain to resonate deeply with audiences.

Niladri will be accompanied by the following musicians:

Agnelo Fernandes
At an early age, Agnelo started learning the violin from his dad, Balthazar Fernandes, an arranger and orchestrator for the famous musical duo Kalyandji-Anandji. He started learning the trumpet from Chiyokozu Ohtsuka and played trumpet with the Bombay Chamber Orchestra (BCO). He learned the French horn under the tutelage of Alan Jones and Elizabeth Randall and eventually was inspired to play the piano by his brother-in-law Ben Fernandez, a jazz pianist. He started playing keyboards with various pop acts in Mumbai and became attracted to the electronics of music (programming/synthesis). Agnelo has collaborated with Raju Singh, Mehnaz, Shiamak Davar, Aadesh Srivastav, Terence Lewis, Leslie Lewis, Pritam, Rabbi Shergill, Shibani Kashyap, Niladri Kumar, Bombay Vikings (Neeraj Sridhar), and Salim-Suleiman. 

Sambit Chatterjee
Sambit has been playing drums for the past fifteen years, having taken tabla classes from his father – Grammy®-nominated tabla maestro Pandit Subhen Chatterjee – and has now branched out to find his own sound. He has been endorsed by some of the leading music brands of the world, including Zildjian Cymbals, EVANS Drumheads, Vic Firth Drumsticks, Sennheiser IEMS, Neumann Microphones, and CRS Cymbal Resonant System. He has played with some of the leading bands in the circuit, such as What Escapes Me, aswekeepsearching, Karma – BandishFusion,  and Amyt Datta, as well as some virtuosos including DIVINE, Mohini Dey, Niladri Kumaar, Rhythm Shaw, and Tajdar Junaid. He also is the touring drummer of Bollywood sensation playback singer Nikhita Gandhi. Sambit’s band has toured with artists like Parkway Drive, PLINI, and Polyphia, and his bands have played with Deep Purple, Steve Vai, Katy Perry, Dua Lipa, Post Malone, Goo Goo Dolls, The War on Drugs, Kings of Leon, and many more. He has also played with eminent senior classical musicians, including Grammy®-winning Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt and Ustaad Taufiq Qureshi.

He was invited by the genius Ustad Zakir Hussain to play solo and Indian compositions at his father Ustad Allah Rakhha Khan’s 100th birthday celebration concert. The very next day, he performed with the highly acclaimed vocalist Isheeta Chakraborty at the Mumbai International Jazz Day under Herbie Hancock, curated by Indian Jazz legend Loiuz Banks, at the National Centre for the Performing Arts. Sambit is also a regular at the biggest festivals in India and a prominent name in the Indian music circuit.

At the NH7 Weekender Festival, Sambit was invited by the American alternative band Switchfoot to share the stage and play a song with them, and he was the only drummer to represent India at the Commonwealth Games Gold Coast 2018. Sambit is also the director and curator of Kolkata International Drum Festival, which he co-curated with his father. The Festival was a huge success and included some of the biggest names in drumming in India.

Satyajit Talwalkar
Satyajit is a young, talented, and promising tabla player of the present generation. He belongs to a rich heritage of music – a son and disciple of great guru Padmashree Taalyogi Pt. Suresh Talwalkar and renowned Indian classical vocalist Smt. Padma Talwalkar. He started learning music at the age of four and gave his first public performance when he was nine.

He has accompanied the great musicians of India, including Ust. Amjad Ali Khan, Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia, Pt. Shivkumar Sharma, and Pt. Jasraj. He also regularly performs with Niladri Kumaar, Rakesh Chaurasia, Amaan Ali Khan, Ayaan Ali Khan, Purbayan Chatterjee, and Rahul Sharma.

Satyajit is very interested in fusion world music. He is fortunate to perform with renowned percussionists like Trilok Gurtu and Shiva Mani and has also performed many concerts with world-renowned piano wizard Mr. Louis Banks.

He has been awarded the prestigious Bharatratna Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar by the Sangeet Natak Akademi, as well as Aditya Birla Kala Kiran Puraskar.

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, The Party Source, Pepsi, Summerfair Cincinnati

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CALENDAR INFORMATION

WHAT:                Niladri Kumaar: The Space Between the Notes

WHEN:                Wednesday, October 14, 2026 – 7:30 PM

WHERE:              Aronoff Center – Jarson-Kaplan Theater

PRICES:               Start at $51.25, inclusive of all fees 

INFO:                   Sitar Maestro Niladri Kumaar is hailed as a maverick musician and composer, a celebrated cultural ambassador, and an icon of Indian music. One of the most compelling and innovative artists of his generation, he is a devoted exponent of Indian classical music—widely regarded as a source of national pride and among the most sought-after Indian musicians today.

TICKET INFORMATION – on sale Friday, June 19 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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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 QShrek the MusicalStephen 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 TrainSplash 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 RockThe StorytellerFarscape, 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

#  #  #

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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DANCING FOR THE STARS 2026 Announces Winners

Celebrity Dancer Meeka Owens (Cincinnati City Councilwoman)
and Dance Pro Alyenendrov Tsorokean
Crowned New Dancing for the Stars Champs

Dr. Mona Foad Honored as Fundraising Champion

[CINCINNATI, OH] – Meeka Owens (Cincinnati City Councilwoman) and dance pro Alyenendrov Tsorokean (Phoenix Rising Ballroom) were crowned the champions of the Cincinnati Arts Association’s eighteenth annual Dancing for the Stars on Saturday, April 25, 2026, at the Music Hall Ballroom. The dance pair earned perfect scores of (10) from each of the three judges. Dr. Mona Foad (Founder & CEO, Mona Dermatology) took home the Fundraising Champion Award as the celebrity who raised the most money for the event through ticket sales and donations – more $17,000.

Alex Beach (Director, Lifetime Engagements, Fidelity Investments) and Bonita Brockert (Independent Dance Instructor) took second place. Robert Warfel (Public Safety and Law Enforcement Executive) and Desiree Mainous (Owner, Arthur Murray Dance Studio – Montgomery) placed third.

In the fundraising arena, Robert Warfel (Public Safety and Law Enforcement Executive) placed second and Felisa Insignares (founder of ELEVATI Elevated Essentials and Owner Designer Items & More Boutique) placed third.

As the Cincinnati Arts Association’s largest annual fundraiser, the popular event raised $104,000 in support of the organization’s acclaimed arts education and community engagement programs, which reach over 75,000 Cincinnatians annually.  

Inspired by the hit TV show Dancing with the StarsDancing for the Stars 2026 featured six Cincinnati celebrities paired with some of the area’s finest professional dancers in a competition program at which the audience vote and judges scores propelled the winners to victory. The competitive dance theme for the evening was the 1950s, and each dance pair had a maximum of three minutes to woo the crowd and the judges. 

The night featured the following dance pairs, in performance order:

  • Dr. Mona Foad (Founder & CEO, Mona Dermatology) and Jozsef Parragh (Independent Dance Instructor): “The House is Rockin’” – Wynonna Judd
  • Nicholas Dunigan (Vice President, Wealth Management for Fifth Third Bank) and Melissa Vaughn (Arthur Murray – Montgomery): “Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White” – Hauser
  • Meeka Owens (Cincinnati City Councilwoman) and Alyenendrov Tsorokean (Phoenix Rising Ballroom) “Respect” – Aretha Franklin
  • Alex Beach (Fidelity Investments) and Bonita Brockert (Independent Dance Instructor): “Boogie-Woogie Queen” – Shayna Thompson
  • Robert Warfel (Public Safety and Law Enforcement Executive) and Desiree Mainous (Owner, Arthur Murray – Montgomery): “Jailhouse Rock” – Elvis
  • Felisa Insignares (founder, ELEVATI Elevated Essentials and Owner of Designer Items & More Boutique) and James Branham (Arthur Murray – Dayton): “Mambo Italiano” – Dean Martin and Rosemary Clooney

Event emcees were Chris O’Brien and Janeen Coyle (former hosts of “Married with Microphones,” 103.5 WGRR-FM). The competition judges were Doreen Beatrice (Dancing for the Stars Professional Alumna and committee member), Douglas Beal (Independent Dance Instructor and committee member), and Pam Kravetz (Nationally Recognized Artist and Arts Educator | Celebrity Dancer, Dancing for the Stars 2018)

In addition, Dancing for the Stars 2026 featured:

  • Dinner-by-the-Bite provided by Baru, DelightMore, eat well celebrations and feasts, Prime Cincinnati, Sebastian Bakehouse, Skyline Chili, Street City Pub, Vintage on Race.
  • A special showcase performance by 2026 Overture Awards Vocal Music winner, William Wittekind (grade 12, Saint Xavier High School).
  • Music by DJ JD Hughes of 103.5 WGRR-FM.

Event Committee:  Douglas Beal, Doreen Beatrice, Terry Foster, Alex Johns, Ginger Loftin, Rosemary Schlachter

Presenting Sponsor: TriHealth

Event Sponsors:  Accent on Cincinnati, Arthur Murray – Cincinnati, Arthur Murray – Dayton, Arthur Murray – West Chester, Bonita Brockert, Jozsef Parragh, The Party Source, Phoenix Rising Ballroom, Punky’s Pixels

The Cincinnati Arts Association is supported [in part] by the Ohio Arts Council, which receives support from the State of Ohio. 

Cincinnati Arts Association’s Education & community Engagement Programs
CAA’s Education & Community Engagement department cultivates diverse, inclusive, and accessible arts engagements, seeking to remove barriers preventing arts participation. Committed to a practice of antiracism, the Education and Community Engagement department encourages the use of CAA venues, develops diverse arts supporters, and fosters an appreciation and understanding of diverse arts disciplines, while encouraging and supporting practicing arts educators and administrators, audiences, and aspiring artists.  

SchoolTime presents a series of programs that feature nationally recognized artists at the Aronoff Center and Music Hall. The Artists on Tour program brings a variety of arts experiences directly to schools, community centers, and other organizations. The finest local teaching artists in the region enhance learning with unique programs that vary in culture and art form.

The Arts in Healing Initiative integrates the performing and visual arts in medical and community healthcare settings and other non-traditional settings to promote community wellness and encourage the community to explore the arts as an active part of their healing and ongoing wellness.   

The Overture Awards is a program that recognizes and rewards excellence in the arts among Greater Cincinnati students in grades 9-12. Its mission is to encourage arts education as an integral part of a student’s academic experience and to create an environment that encourages training in, and appreciation of, the arts. The Overture Awards is the area’s largest solo arts competition and offers awards in six artistic disciplines: creative writing, dance, instrumental music, theatre, visual art, and vocal music.

Now in its 30th year, the Overture Awards has granted more than $1,000,000 to youth and arts educators in the Tri-state region. The Overture Awards was launched in 1996 by the Cinergy Foundation (now Duke Energy) and Leadership Cincinnati (a Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber of Commerce program).

CINCINNATI ARTS ASSOCIATION
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 more than 600,000 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, including Cincinnati Ballet, Cincinnati Opera, Cincinnati Symphony/Pops Orchestras, May Festival, and First Financial Bank Broadway in Cincinnati, presented by TriHealth. Since the inception of its acclaimed arts education programs in 1995, CAA has reached more 2.1 million youth and adults.

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The Passing of Jared O’Roark

From Spring Grove Obituaries

Michael Jared O’Roark, age 46, passed away suddenly on March 18th, 2026, in Cincinnati, Ohio. He was born on June 13th, 1979, in Jacksonville, Arkansas.

Jared was a devoted husband, son, and brother whose life was rooted in love for his family and friends. He leaves behind his partner and husband of eight years, Benjamin Herrin, parents Michael Ron and Jody L. (Stobbs) O’Roark, brother Jordan (Ashley Rountree) O’Roark, nieces Tatum and Piper O’Roark, mother-in-law Vicky (Weitz) Herrin, father-in-law Mark (Liz Potter) Herrin, brother-in-law Bradley (Anna Sebastian) Herrin and nephew Lincoln Herrin.

Jared was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, John (Evelyn Rymal) Stobbs and paternal grandparents, James (Barbara St Clair) Roark.

Along with Jared being a loving and devoted family member and friend, Jared was an award-winning arts leader, educator, and community builder whose work over more than two decades left a lasting imprint across Cincinnati, Tampa Bay, and far beyond. He believed deeply that the arts should belong to everyone. He did not just talk about equity, accessibility, and inclusion. He lived those values, showing up with an authenticity in his work and in his life that people could feel, creating spaces where people felt welcomed, seen, heard, and valued.

He approached his work with care and intention, building something strong, beautiful, and deeply human. Young people found their voice through him. Communities connected. The arts became a bridge. He had a gift for bringing people into the same room, listening, and helping shape something meaningful and wonderful. Those who worked with him knew his integrity, felt his empathy and love, and saw the impact he made.

At the Cincinnati Arts Association, Jared poured himself into connecting young people to the arts and to one another. He built a group of teaching artists who reflected the communities they served, because it mattered to him that every student could see themselves in the room and in what was possible. What he helped create became more than an after-school program. It became a space where students could express themselves, feel supported, and begin to understand their own voice.

Jared was always thinking about who else could be reached. He worked to bring the arts into classrooms, supported young artists through the Overture Awards, and contributed to healing-centered work that met people where they were. He believed that when people are met with care, creativity, and connection, something shifts, sparks ignite, and lives change.

One of his most enduring works was Project: Shattered Silence, a youth-centered creative process he created, wrote, and directed. It invited young people to step forward with their stories, to speak what had often gone unspoken, and to be heard. Over a decade, more than 400 teenagers took part, discovering the strength of their own voice.

What began on stage reached far beyond it, becoming a PBS documentary that earned three Regional Emmy Awards in 2013, with additional nominations in 2014. But its true impact lived in the conversations it sparked, the understanding it deepened, and the quiet ways it changed those who experienced it, sending ripples outward for years to come.

Jared moved through the world with a fierce and gentle awareness. He saw something in people they had not yet seen in themselves. Through his work, he did not just create. He made space for others to step into their own voice.

He opened doors for young people and artists, building connections and supporting those around him. Earlier in his journey, he helped bring new performance spaces to life and supported more than 150 artists, including work with Broadway producer Zev Buffman. But more than anything, his impact lived in the people he believed in and the light he helped them find.

Jared received many honors, including Best of the Bay: Theatrical Trailblazer, the National Art of Heart Award, and international humanitarian recognitions. But that was never what drove him. He was guided by a belief in people, in their stories, and in helping others see themselves more clearly.

What he leaves behind cannot be measured in awards, but in the lives he touched, the voices he helped bring forward, and the sense of belonging he created for so many, including himself. He carved out space where there was none, and in doing so, helped others find where they belong.

He was a collaborator, mentor, and advocate who led with intention, resilience, and humor. He believed in the arts as a way to heal, connect, and transform. We have lost a giant, and he will be deeply missed.

Jared’s Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be held on Saturday May 16th, 2026 beginning at 1:00 pm in the ballroom at Music Hall, 1241 Elm St., Cincinnati, OH. with an Irish Wake to immediately follow. Kindly respond to joroark.memorial@gmail.com to RSVP and to share any photos as we are creating a photo montage for the memorial.

To honor Jared’s life and the causes he was passionate about, a GoFundMe campaign has been created in his memory. Donations will support several charities and organizations that were meaningful to him and will allow his legacy to live on.

https://gofund.me/541d3c877

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