Cincy A&E - 2025 Edition by Cincinnati Magazine

FALL ARTS GUIDE 2025

Cristian Macelaru

A play adapted by Joseph Hanreddy and J. R. Sullivan from the novel by Jane Austen Oct. 2-4

CENDRILLON

An opera composed by Jules Massenet with a libretto by Henri Caïn Nov. 13-15

ARIEL QUARTET

CCM String Quartet-in-Residence 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 30

THE LIGHTNING THIEF

THE PERCY JACKSON MUSICAL

A musical with book by Joe Tracz, music and lyrics by Rob Rokicki, adapted from the novel by Rick Riordan Oct. 23-25

THE NUTCRACKER: JUST DESSERTS

Excerpts of the holiday ballet, set to music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Nov. 20-22

THE MUSIC OF JENNIFER HIGDON

CCM Philharmonia + CCM Wind Symphony Featuring guest composer-in-residence Jennifer Higdon and faculty artist Adam Groh, percussion 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 17 View our complete fall

CCM Jazz Orchestra

7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 23

FEAST OF CAROLS

CCM and UC choirs + guest choirs from Cincinnati’s School for Creative and Performing Arts, Elder High School, Walnut Hills High School and Anderson High School

Featuring guest ensemble Seven Hills Brass Dec. 6 & 7 JAZZ HOLIDAY

8 CRISTIAN MACELARU FEELS AT HOME

The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra’s new music director traveled the world to ﬁnd himself at Music Hall.

BY GIL KAUFMAN

CALENDARS

THEATER & DANCE

New works, classics, and a couple of trips to Oz. 25

VISUAL ARTS

Gallery shows, a revival at 21c Museum Hotel, and a revolution at the CAC. 31

MUSEUMS

THE EMERY THEATER'S RENOVATION DAZZLES

How the Children’s Theatre restored a relic and reconﬁrmed its mission.

6 APP UPDATES

ArtsWave has big plans for the Cincy A&E app.

ADC CONNECTS ARTISTS AND ART LOVERS

Litsa Spanos has helped artists get paid for more than three decades.

ON THE COVER Illustration by Mercedes deBellard

Gathering spots for every interest, from history to science to nature. 37

CLASSICAL MUSIC

The Symphony, Pops, and cozy chamber shows.

READINGS, LECTURES & COMEDY

Comedians, writers, and big names like Lily King and Colson Whitehead.

LIVE CONCERTS

Little Big Town, outdoor festivals, and John Madden's 30-year concert career.

SCREEN & CINEMA

Film festivals, outdoor movies, and live orchestral soundtracks.

PUBLISHER

Ivy Bayer

EDITOR IN CHIEF

John Fox

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Emma Balcom

DIGITAL EDITOR

Claire Lefton

SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR

Brianna Connock

DESIGN DIRECTOR

Brittany Dexter

ART DIRECTOR

Stef Hadiwidjaja

ADVERTISING DESIGNERS

Sophie Kallis, Matthew Spoleti

CINCY A&E CALENDAR DEVELOPMENT

Jeni Barton, ArtsWave

SENIOR ACCOUNT MANAGERS

Laura Bowling, Maggie Wint Goecke, Joe Hoffecker, Julie Poyer

SENIOR MANAGER, SPONSORSHIP SALES

Chris Ohmer

PRODUCTION DIRECTOR

Vu Luong

BUSINESS

OPERATIONS DIRECTOR

Missy Beiting

BUSINESS COORDINATOR

Meredith Carroll

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An Exhibition Humanity Needs You to See

at Cincinnati Union Terminal Opens October 18

Presented By:

An Exhibition By:

Hosted By:

THIS IS YOUR PLAYHOUSE

Choose as few as THREE SHOWS for Season Tickets.

Don’t miss the shows you want to see. Here’s a peek at what’s in store:

• MYTHIC, a new pop-rock musical with Broadway ambitions directed by three-time Tony Award-winner Kathleen Marshall;

•A playful new adaptation of LOUISA MAY ALCOTT’S LITTLE WOMEN;

• MRS. CHRISTIE, a charming new mystery about the real-life disappearance of Agatha Christie;

• AUGUST WILSON’S explosive, prize-winning masterpiece THE PIANO LESSON;

•Intimate stories of connection: An emotional tale of a father-son bond in WHERE THE MOUNTAIN MEETS THE SEA, a comedy about a new friendship in THE HEART SELLERS, and a poetic World War I romance in MARY’S WEDDING;

•The return of TENDERLY: THE ROSEMARY CLOONEY MUSICAL;

•SEASON EXTRAS: BECAUSE YOU’RE MINE, a celebration of country music love songs. Plus, the holiday favorite, A CHRISTMAS CAROL Season presented by SCHUELER GROUP and THE VONTZ FAMILY

The Emery Theater’s Renovation Dazzles

How the Children’s Theatre restored a relic and reconﬁrmed its mission. –KATHY

DOANE

As Dorothy reminds us in The Wizard of Oz, there’s no place like home. That’s especially true for the Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati, which returns this fall to the Emery Theater, its Over-the-Rhine home from 1949 to 1969, after a whopping $51.5-million renovation.

It’s an extraordinary transformation, especially since several arts organizations looked the Emery in the past as a primary or secondary space and came away convinced

there were too many problems and limitations to overcome. For the longest time, of course, they were right.

The Emery Auditorium opened in 1911 as the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra’s home after CSO conductor Leopold Stokowski deemed Music Hall too big (3,600 seats) and, at the time, acoustically poor for orchestral concerts. Philanthropist and arts patron Mary Emery generously build the 2,200-seat theater, and the CSO performed there for 25 years before returning to Music Hall.

8 UPDATES FOR ARTSWAVE'S CALENDAR APP

9 ADC GETS ARTISTS PAID 10 CRISTI MACELARU FEELS AT HOME WITH THE CSO

(around 60 apartments and a few businesses) for $8.3 million. The Children’s Theatre was part of that bid proposal because President/ CEO Kim Kern and Artistic Director Roderick Justice saw possibilities where others had seen only insurmountable obstacles.

As of press time, the Children’s Theatre has managed to raise all but $1.5 of the $51.5 million budget, most of which came from individual donors as well as corporate and private foundation grants. The remaining dollars were a combination of new market tax credits, federal tax credits, a city of Cincinnati grant, and state budget allocations.

In the nearly 90 years since, the Emery staged a wide range of events and hosted several guests who influenced the course of history, Eleanor Roosevelt and Martin Luther King Jr. to name just two. But the building spent the better part of the last two and a half decades shuttered and decaying.

Local developers Dave Neyer and Chris Frutkin submitted the winning bid in 2019 to the University of Cincinnati, which had owned the Emery since 1969, and bought the theater and accompanying Emery Center

“When we first looked at the Emery in March 2019, it was definitely in grim shape,” Kern recalls. One of the first things she and Justice ordered was an existing condition assessment, which showed that the building’s bones were structurally fine. Still, there were big challenges ahead in overcoming its basic physical limitations in order to create a viable space for modern theater audiences.

“When I ﬁrst walked through the theater, my immediate thought was, How do I make an immersive experience in an auditorium like this?” says Justice. It would take a lot of imagination, creativity, and expert input, but the secret sauce that allowed the Children’s Theatre to solve all of the insurmountable production problems of the past was 21st-century technology.

To compensate for a lack of wing space, they dug under the stage. “We lowered the basement ﬂoor four feet to accommodate a massive 20-by-20-foot rotating lift that rises to centerstage above,” Kern says.

The stage itself also was raised by two feet, which allows sets—for instance, a house—to be brought up from below. “For one scene you might see the front of the house, which can be then rotated to show the inside for the next scene,” Justice says.

Projection mapping solved some of the other shortcomings. That may be an unfamiliar term, but if you’ve been to BLINK you’ve seen building surfaces transformed

before you. The entire back of the Emery’s new stage is a 20-by-40-foot LED screen. “It will allow us to create amazing set effects,” says Justice, adding that projectors throughout the theater will allow those effects to extend beyond the stage as well.

The renovation was also an opportunity to provide patrons of all ages with a more comfortable experience, starting with the seats. The Emery’s original number of seats was misleading by today’s standards because its gallery seats were benches that held more people than a row of actual seats. “The number of seats we ended up with (1,534) actually chose us,” says Kern.

A new elevator allows able and disabled patrons access to seating on all levels, audio description, and bathrooms to accommodate children and adults with disabilities and sensory issues. Linking the enclosed historic gallery stairwell towers to the theater’s first and second floors was the trickiest part of the construction project, since the stairwell landings and theater floors didn’t line up. Additional space was added next to the original lobby to provide a large new lobby and concession area for patrons on the first floor.

When Justice and Kern talk about the future, they get a little giddy. “Having our own home has opened up a whole new reality for what we can now do,” he says. That covers a range of possibilities, from adding a summer mainstage show to productions targeting speciﬁc age groups.

“We want to create smaller, more intimate shows,” Kern says. “For children under age 4, for instance, that will be all about movement. And we’ll look at more substantial productions for middle schoolers that speak to what they’re dealing with in their lives.”

Owning the Emery Theater also comes with much more ﬂ exibility to schedule rehearsals in the evening, which means attracting more local onstage and backstage talent who often have day jobs. It also allows the company to host other U.S. children’s theater companies or possibly co-produce shows. “We’ve been told we are now the most technologically advanced theater in the country,” says Justice says.

There’s a learning curve to settling into their new home for the time being, but Justice says their core mission hasn’t changed. “It’s entertainment for everyone,” he says. “My goal has always been to make everybody feel like a kid again when they see a Children’s Theatre show.”

Fittingly, the 2025–26 season opens October 10 with The Wizard of Oz: Youth Edition. And if you need a little help unlocking that spirit of imagination and sense of whimsey, take the yellow brick road and keep walking. Oz lies straight ahead … and likely all around you in the reimagined Emery Theater.

Calendar App Update

Cincy A&E sees 16,000 downloads in its ﬁrst year. –JOHN FOX

ArtsWave’s Cincy A&E calendar debuted in summer 2025, and the app followed in October to allow arts and entertainment organizations to highlight their events and to offer free tickets and ﬂash sales to ArtsWave donors. There have been more than 16,000 app downloads so far, with between 350 and 450 app users on any given day.

“We’re thrilled to see people using the calendar and responding to the ticket offers,” says Jeni Barton, ArtsWave’s director of digital products. “One of my favorite days in the past year was when Cincinnati Ballet made free tickets available to a performance and more than 400 were claimed through the app in two hours.”

Barton considers the app a tool for recruiting more individual ArtsWave donors since ticket deals and

enhanced content become available once a user gets an ArtsWave Pass ($100) or makes $10 one-time donations. As workplace culture changes post-Covid, ArtsWave’s annual corporate campaigns reach fewer people; Barton says it’s key for ArtsWave to be able to build direct relationships with individuals through the calendar and app.

Two big app upgrades are on deck in the coming year, she says. The site will begin incorporating natural language search to make events and venues easier to ﬁnd; the app will learn that CSO and Cincinnati Symphony, for instance, are the same organization. And gamiﬁcation will be added to provide rewards for frequent users and to introduce fun digital experiences at live events. “I kind of envision a Pokemon GO for the arts,” says Barton.

Connecting Artists and Art Lovers

Litsa Spanos’ Art Design Consultants has been helping artists get paid for more than three decades. —MACKENZIE MANLEY

Art Design Consultants’ Fine Art Gallery in the West End is all about the reveal. At 13,000 square feet, the former popcorn-factory-turned-gallery/sales showcase/event space is unassuming at ﬁrst. “Once you get inside here, it’s a big wow moment,” says founder Litsa Spanos.

Spanos founded ADC more than three decades ago as an art consultancy firm. Having called multiple spaces home before ﬁnally opening at 1013 York Street, she’s connected dozens upon dozens of clients with working artists from across the globe in her career. Their artwork can be found everywhere from homes to healthcare facilities to corporate offices.

Before entering the West End gallery, visitors are greeted by a vintage door that carries a piece of Cincinnati history: It once belonged to the first African American

Mayor of Cincinnati, Theodore M. Berry. It’s a clever reminder that inclusivity and approachability form ADC’s foundation.

A good many of ADC’s public events are women-focused, including the New York Fashion Week-esque Wearable Art Fashion Show on September 26. The show will feature prominent Cincinnati women walking the runway alongside professional models to pair dresses with artwork and will also include experiential activities like dip-dying your own accessories.

Other fall events at the West End space include artist gallery shows by Brittney Uehlein and Katie Zhestkova on October 3, Girl’s Night Holiday Shopping Soiree on November 13, and Art Comes Alive Artist Meet and Greet on November 14.

The author of Secrets of the Art World: Getting Real About the Process, Business, and

Selling of Your Work, Spanos is passionate about giving working artists the exposure and the business tools necessary to build careers around their talents. She isn’t a fan of the term “starving artist.”“What we can do to help each other grow and build each other up has been one of the things I’ve worked at throughout my career,” she says.

Spanos is also passionate about helping both artists and art buyers understand the inherent value of artwork and about demystifying the art-buying process. “It’s not about what you know, it’s about how you feel when you see a piece of art,” she says. “It should instill a feeling. Even if you don’t know anything about art, when you come in and walk out of ADC, you will be inspired. That’s the number one goal.”

Litsa Spanos (middle) has curated Art Design Consultants' West End home to host events such as Wearable Art Fashion Show (above).

PHOTOGRAPH BY MARK LYONS

RISTIAN MA ELARU

By Gil Kaufman

The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra’s new music director feels like “a child discovering ice cream for the ﬁrst time.”

Traveled the World to Find a Place He Feels at Home

ristian Macelaru has spent most of his adult life living out of a suitcase. But the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra’s new music director, who replaces maestro Louis Langrée after a decade-plus tenure, is ready to put down roots and become one of the city’s biggest cultural ambassadors.

“With the orchestra’s touring and global presence, I want to make a case for how wonder-

ful Cincinnati is and what it has to offer to the rest of the world,” he says about his excitement to spread the word about the CSO and his new hometown.

Macelaru, 44, the youngest of 10 children in a Romanian musical family in which he learned to read and write music a year before mastering the alphabet, came to the U.S. at 17 to study at Michigan’s famed Interlochen Arts Academy. At the time, he was focused on playing the violin—though his ambitions to

conduct began to blossom thanks to a gig as the Miami Symphony Orchestra youngest-ever concertmaster. He performed in the Houston Symphony Orchestra while earning his master’s degree in violin at Rice University.

Macelaru (who prefers you call him “Cristi”) became a U.S. citizen in 2019 and has lived and worked recently in Germany and France, but he says he felt a strong pull when he ﬁrst conducted the CSO in 2015.

Given your resume, you could have taken your services anywhere or stayed where you were. What drew you to Cincinnati and the CSO?

I admit I didn’t know much about Cincinnati when I ﬁrst came in 2015. I knew the reputation of the orchestra as one of the premiere orchestras in the country, and my time here planted a seed in my mind about the possibility of having a closer relationship with the city and the Symphony. I was surprised to see how supportive and involved and generous people were toward the arts, not just in terms of ﬁnancial support but also with their time and appreciation.

Describe that connection you’ve said you felt “right away” with the CSO, which left you in tears following that ﬁrst introduction. What made you realize that day that it was “your orchestra.”

This kind of interaction with musicians happens on a weekly basis because I do a lot of guest conducting. So it’s really quite remarkable to feel the response from the musicians in a way that feels, ﬁrst and foremost, based in respect. An audience member, especially those that are not very wellversed in the classical music repertoire, will not be able to tell you why a performance is better or not. That is our job as professionals. But they will be able to tell when that performance is better than the other. So for those less knowledgeable about the artform, we have to make it that much better and make the artistry that much more profound for them to feel and understand it clearly.

We’ve all had job interviews, but can you describe the process of being selected for such a job? I imagine it’s much more than your resume and YouTube clips?

When the committee takes their job very se-

riously and smartly, the most important aspect of the interview process is the connection the music director or conductor has with the musicians on the podium when he’d conducting. I’d say that’s 90 percent of the job. It’s a vibe, something that works or it doesn’t. It’s a chemistry that needs to exist. Without the chemistry it’s really difficult to have this marriage, because it really is a marriage and you are entrusting each other with being influenced by the other. The orchestra will influence the way I make music for the rest of my life, and hopefully I will influence how they make music for the rest of their lives.

The CSO says your inaugural season as Music Director will explore “national identity and engage with social justice themes.” Is that a perilous program to undertake at this unique time in our nation’s history when the White House seems determined to tamp down all things it deems “DEI.” The beauty of it all for me is understanding that the greatest art comes at the intersection of the biggest diversity. If you want to achieve an incredible artistic experience, you have to search deeply to discover the individual cultural identities that all of us bring. That requires embracing who we all

are individually.

I don’t look at diversity as a social or political requirement or something that can be viewed as a negative point of view. I’m looking at how it enhances the artistic experience for all of us. You cannot imagine artists saying anything meaningful while being in a vacuum. You need to be touched by all of our experiences, and that in itself is what diversity is.

You’ve played in rooms around the world as well as in Music Hall before and after its renovation. What appeals to you about the current Music Hall? I did get to experience both of them, and any time we can bring the orchestra closer to the audience and have the audience surrounding the orchestra I think is a huge plus. People are interested in experiencing the music as close as possible. Part of the magic of live performance is that you feel immersed in it rather than being an observer from the outside. I love that even though

CHRISTIAN MACELARU CONDUCTS THE CINCINNATI SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA IN FEBRUARY 2024 (OPPOSITE PAGE). HE FIRST CAME TO THE U.S. IN 1997 TO STUDY AT THE INTERLOCHEN ARTS ACADEMY (BELOW).

it’s a large hall there is an intimacy from every vantage point.

You have young kids. How did you convince them that this is the right move? What are they excited about?

They’re 12 and 14. They are so used to me throwing this kind of curve ball, it’s nonstop because that’s the life of a conductor. We’ve moved often, and my rule to them is as soon as you’re comfortable in one place we have to move to another to challenge the pathways you build in life. Also my dream for them, and it is happening, is for them to speak as many languages as possible by immersing themselves in that culture. You can get such a beautiful perspective on life when you are able to see it from someone else’s perspective, and nothing does that better than living in places around the world.

The CSO also has a new president, Robert McGrath, which brings

even more new energy to the organization. How do you plan to work together to bring the CSO into the next era?

Robert is uniquely qualiﬁed because he has had a 13-year relationship with the orchestra working at the very top management level. He has been in so many positions with the CSO and is the person who holds the largest amount of institutional history, which is remarkable to have this person be the CEO. It is a wonderful gift, and he is an extraordinary human being and so accomplished. He also shares something in common with my wife, Cheryl, which is fabulous—he’s a former bassoon player, and she is a bassoon player.

Cincinnati has a well-earned reputation as a city that punches above its weight in the arts. What other institutions here have you explored or which are you looking to explore?

We’ve done the Art Museum, and I

can’t wait to experience my ﬁrst BLINK in October 2026. Believe it or not, it’s a little strange for conductors to be able to go watch other people’s performances live because you are busy a lot of the time. When I’m conducting two or three concerts a week, it’s very hard to ﬁnd time to enjoy a concert, but it’s something I’ve done in Cincinnati already a few times when I’ve come in under the radar to observe the CSO and learn what it feels like to sit in the audience for a CSO concert.

Does being a violin player make a you a different kind of conductor? Does it give you a different insight into conducting or confer some inside knowledge? What it gives me is perspective and appreciation for what the musicians are doing. My favorite thing is when I go to a new orchestra and musicians try to guess what instrument I play. Because all conductors train as musicians ﬁrst, and I love it when they cannot guess

what is my instrument, because that means I am not biased toward one or the other. It’s my job to be fair and equal to everyone.

Do you plan to play violin while with the orchestra?

I think with great pleasure I will join the musicians wherever my skills are needed and desired, but I deﬁnitely won’t impose myself because I have a very speciﬁc job to do and they are experts in their own ways and I don’t have time to keep up with my practicing. No one wants to hear a bad violinist try to play. But for fun and to connect with the musicians in a different way, I think there will be the occasional chamber music collaboration.

You have a very energetic style of conducting. Where did that originate and what do you think it tells an audience about your as a musician and conductor?

The truth is I don’t plan that. When I started conducting, I was asking my conducting teacher so many questions, like, How do you show the music? One piece of advice he gave me that stuck is, when the music inside of you screams loudly enough, your body will ﬁnd a way to show it. I feel like I am living that advice.

I don’t plan any of my movements or gestures. I get to a point when I’m on stage where I feel so closely connected to the music and with the composer and the musicians performing that somehow I become that music. You have to be a little bit like a child discovering ice cream for the ﬁrst time. That’s how I feel, except it’s in front of 2,000 people and I’m not a child.

What music is in your regular rotation that might surprise people?

I’ve been on a really big David Bowie kick lately. Every time I’m in the

car with my kids everyone gets to pick a song, and lately they’ve been picking [Queen’s] Freddie Mercury and they keep playing Billy Joel for me. Listening to some of these artists, they are so profound and beautiful and creative and I really think there is something to learn from all of them. I love the abandonment in the way a Freddie Mercury sings or the sophistication of a Radiohead and creativity of a Billy Joel. I appreciate them not on a “this is fun” level but on an intellectual level as well.

Is there something on the menu in Cincinnati that reminds you of a comfort food from home in Romania? The Germanic tradition of meat

and potatoes, the sausage, is very close to my upbringing. Those that know me very well know I’m a huge food lover and I appreciate all cuisine. There’s always someone making lists for me of restaurants to try, but I have spent a lot of time at Findlay Market. I love walking around and trying new things and meeting new people. Anything that connects someone with their past, a family recipe, or a feeling of My grandmother used to do this….

RETURNED TO INTERLOCHEN (BELOW) TO CONDUCT ITS WORLD YOUTH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA AND NOW SETS UP A PERMANENT HOME AT MUSIC HALL (OPPOSITE PAGE).

MACELARU

MUST-SEE SHOWS

THEATER & DANCE

DON’T MISS

Sister Power

Broadway in Cincinnati brings Hamilton back to town starting 12/16 at the Aronoff Center for the Arts.

THEATER & DANCE CALENDAR

SEPTEMBER

Hairspray

THROUGH 9/14 The Tony Award-winning musical turned hit movie turned smash Broadway revival hits the stage in Price Hill. Warsaw Federal Incline Theater, clpshows.org

Where the Mountain Meets the Sea

THROUGH 9/28 Live folk music strengthens the bond between a Haitian immigrant father and his son. Playhouse in the Park, Shelterhouse Theatre, cincyplay.com

The Rainmaker

9/4-21 A charming romantic drama about a young woman’s self-discovery when a charismatic stranger

claims he can make it rain. Mariemont Players, mariemont players.com

What Happens in Vegas

9/5-13 Cincinnati Music Theatre brings the Vegas Strip music and lights alive in a musical revue. Aronoff Center for the Arts, cincinnatiarts.org

An Enemy of the People

9/5-20 Amy Herzog’s new version of the classic Henrik Ibsen story about the price of integrity. Cincinnati Shakespeare, cincyshakes.com

Back to the Future (The Musical)

9/9-21 The movie classic-turned-Broadway smash promises 1.21 gigwatts of fun. Broadway in Cincinnati,

Aronoff Center for the Arts, cincinnati. broadway.com

King James

9/11-27 A clever comedy by Rajiv Joseph about chosen brotherhood and LeBron James. Know Theatre, knowtheatre. com

The Kaplan New Series Works

9/12-20 Staged in the intimate Jarson-Kaplan Theater, the contemporary world-premiere series is a perennial Cincinnati Ballet favorite. Aronoff Center for the Arts, cballet.org

Rehearsal for Murder

9/19-20 Middletown Lyric Theatre presents a murder mystery in a play-within-a-play.

THE TRUTH SETS US FREE

CincyShakes tries to reveal the real “enemy.”

Cincinnati Shakespeare has long conjured magic on its stage by making 500-year-old plays by The Bard relevant for modern audiences and current times. This fall a 140-year-old Henrik Ibsen play becomes the company’s latest “ripped from the headlines” effort.

Amy Herzog’s adaptation of An Enemy of the People, running September 5-20, features Brent Vimtrup (above) as Dr. Thomas Stockmann, who discovers a serious problem with his hometown’s water supply and battles local leaders, including his brother, to expose the truth. The show was a Broadway sensation last year, starring Jeremy Strong and Michael Imperioli.

“I saw it in New York and immediately thought Brent could drive the story for us,” says CincyShakes Producing Artistic Director and CEO Brian Isaac Phillips, who is directing the show.A longtime resident actor for CincyShakes, Vimtrup now works in the medical ﬁeld but appears on local stages once or twice a year.

Phillips says he’ll present Enemy in the round, as was done on Broadway. “The lead character is surrounded at all times by people he thought were his friends and were on his side,” says Phillips. “The audience’s changing relationship with him is crucial to the story.”

Phillips says one of his goals in organizing a CincyShakes season is to converse with audiences about issues of the day—in this case, standing up for truth in the face of political pressure. “It’s special to see that we’re wrestling with the same issues as they were 100, 200, 500 years ago. There’s also comfort in knowing we survived those bad times.”

—JOHN FOX

Back to the Future(The Musical)

Sorg Opera House (Middletown), sorgoperahouse.org

The Secretary

9/19-10/4 An offbeat comedy about safety, love, and guns in a world that’s up in arms. Falcon Theatre, falcontheater.net

Next to Normal 9/23-10/5 The Tony-winning rock musical follows a family shattered by mental illness. Ensemble Theatre, ensemblecincinnati.org

Mythic

9/28-10/19 World premiere pop-rock musical based on the Greek myth of Persephone. Playhouse in the Park, Rouse Theatre, cincyplay.com

OCTOBER

Pride and Prejudice

10/2-4 An updated version of Jane Austen's classic. UC's College-Conservatory of Music, ccm.edu.com

Deeply Rooted Dance Theater

10/3-4 The 16-member troupe from Chicago is presented by Mutual Dance Theatre and the 2025-26 Jefferson James Contemporary Dance Theater Series. Aronoff Center for the Arts, mutualdance.org

Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors

10/3-11/1 Sink your teeth into this comedy take on Bram Stoker’s classic vampire tale. Cincinnati Shakespeare, cincyshakes.com

Dog Man: The Musical

10/4-5 The heartfelt family theater adventure is based on the best-selling books series by Dav Pilkey, creator of Captain Underpants. Aronoff Center for the Arts, cincinnatiarts.org

Puppy Pals Live

10/9 A family fun show where adopted and rescued dogs perform spectacular stunts and breathtaking feats. Woodward Theater, woodwardtheater.com

Emery Theater, thechildrenstheatre.com

The Notebook

10/14-26 A stage musical version based on the best-selling book and movie favorite. Broadway in Cincinnati, Aronoff Center for the Arts, cincinnati.broadway. com

CoComelon: Sing-a-Long Live

Hello, Dolly!

10/9-11/2 One of Broadway’s greatest musicals offers a litany of memorable songs. Covedale Center for the Performing Arts, clpshows.org

The Wizard of Oz: Youth Edition

10/10-26 Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati officially opens the renovated Emery Theater with this timeless story of trying to get back home.

10/15 The international hit children’s show comes to life on stage. Taft Theatre, tafttheatre.org

The Rocky Horror Show

10/24-11/2 The original stage musical in all of its Time Warp glory, just in time for Halloween. The Carnegie, thecarnegie. com

The Conjurors

10/25 Matthew Pomeroy and Natasha Lamb bring their world-class magical mind reading act to

Hamilton. Fitton Center for Creative Arts, ﬁttoncenter.org

The Heart Sellers

10/25-11/23 A new comedy about an immigrant couple’s ﬁrst American Thanksgiving. Playhouse in the Park, Shelterhouse Theatre, cincyplay.com

Frightfest

10/28 The annual Cincinnati Playwrights Initiative 10-minute play festival fundraiser sports a Halloween theme in support of Cincinnati Care Center Animal Blood Bank. Aronoff Center for the Arts, cincinnatiarts.org

NOVEMBER

Swan Lake

11/5 International ballet stars perform the full Tchaikovsky masterpiece. Taft Theatre, tafttheatre.org

The Wizard of Oz: Youth Edition

The Addams Family Musical

11/6-23 They’re creepy and they’re kooky, mysterious and spooky. The Footlighters, footlighters.org

I’ll Be Back Before Midnight

11/6-23 A thriller about a couple’s retreat to a haunted remote farmhouse. Mariemont Players, mariemontplayers.com

The Great Gatsby 11/7-15 Cincinnati Ballet leaps into the jazz age with the regional premiere of choreographer Septime Webre’s opulent take on the classic novel. Aronoff Center for the Arts, cballet.org

Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons

11/7-22 The average person will speak 123 million words in a lifetime. What if there were a limit? Falcon Theatre, falcontheater.net

Something Rotten!

11/7-23 Struggling playwright brothers try to outshine Shakespeare by writing the world’s very ﬁrst musical. Loveland Stage Co., lovelandstagecompany. org

Ninja Kidz

11/14 Siblings Bryton, Ashton, Paxton, and Payton present their ﬁrst-ever stage tour. Taft Theatre, tafttheatre.org

Stuart Little 11/14 Celebrating 80 years since the book’s initial print release, Lexington Children's Theatre presents a delightful stage adaptation. Fitton Center for Creative Arts, ﬁttoncenter.org

Seussical the Musical 11/14-16 SCPA’s mainstage season opens with Horton the Elephant and the Whos in Whoville. School for the Creative & Performing Arts, scpa.cps-k12.org

A Christmas Story: The Musical 11/14-22 Cincinnati Musical Theatre puts the classic movie story to a musical score by Pasek & Paul (Dear Evan Hansen). Aronoff Center for the Arts, cincinnatiarts.org

Love’s Labour’s Lost 11/14-12/6 Shakespeare’s comedy is recast as a “totally tubular” 1980s high school romp. Cincinnati Shakespeare, cincyshakes.com

A Christmas Carol 11/21-12/28 The classic Dickens tale of Scrooge, ghosts, Tiny Tim, and Christmas redemption. Playhouse in the Park, Rouse Theatre, cincyplay.com

Die Hard Is a Christmas Movie 11/28-12/21 A meta almost-shot-for-shot remake of the original Bruce Willis-led action movie. Know Theatre, knowtheatre.com

DECEMBER

Christmas in Mexico

12/2 Mariachi Garibaldi de Jaime Cuéllar and Ballet Folklorico del Rio Grande celebrate cherished Mexican holiday traditions. Aronoff Center for the Arts, cincinnatiarts.org

Because You’re Mine

12/3-23 A celebration of great country love songs from Johnny and June and many others. Playhouse in the Park, Shelterhouse Theatre, cincyplay.com

It’s Fritz!

12/3-31 The world premiere musical is ETC’s sequel to its 2023 holiday smash, Fiona: the Musical. Ensemble Theatre, ensemblecincinnati.org

Up-Close ’25

12/4-13 Exciting new choreography from Crystal Michelle and Hannah Williamson. Mutual Arts Center (Hartwell), mutualdance.org

Holiday Inn

12/4-28 Irving Berlin’s classic songs, including “White Christmas,” come alive in this stage version of the famous ﬁlm. Covedale Center for Performing Arts, clpshows.org

Happy Holidays

With the Wurlitzer Organ

12/5 Acclaimed organist Tedde Gibson plays nostalgic carols, toe-tapping classics, a children's chorus, and excerpts from The Nutcracker . Music Hall Ballroom, friendsofmusichall.org

Elf The Musical Jr.

12/5-21 The big elf tries to ﬁnd his way back to The Big Guy at the North Pole. Emery Theater, thechildrenstheatre.com

A Cozy Christmas

12/6-7 Queen City Cabaret hosts a holiday season journey through the Great American Songbook. The Carnegie, thecarnegie.com

The Great Gatsby

Love's Labour's Lost

Welcome to Cincy Shakes

2025-2026 Season

It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play

12/9-10

The live reading (with sound effects) is a co-production with UC’s College-Conservatory of Music. The Carnegie, thecarnegie. com

Every Christmas Story Ever Told

12/10-28

The annual mashup of A Christmas Carol, It’s a Wonderful Life, Charlie Brown, and other holiday classics. Cincinnati Shakespeare, cincyshakes.com

The Nutcracker 12/12-14 SCPA’s mainstage season continues with the

classic holiday ballet. School for the Creative & Performing Arts, scpa.cps-k12.org

Hamilton

12/16-1/4 A welcome return of the smash hit on the eve of America’s 250th birthday. Broadway in Cincinnati, Aronoff Center for the Arts, cincinnati.broadway. com

The Nutcracker

12/18-28 Cincinnati Ballet’s holiday tradition features the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra performing Tchaikovsky’s classic score. Music Hall, cballet.org

CINCINNATI OPERA

June 18 & 20

Studio Sessions

June 25 & July 1 WORLD

July 9 & 11

Orpheus and Euridice

July 28 & 30, August 1

Carmen

July 25, 29 & 31, August 2

Elf The Musical Jr.

Harry T. Wilks Family Foundation

D R E A M S

FotoFocus presents Signature Programs designed to foster dialogue around contemporary lens-based art and the history of photography. Opening Spring 2026, the FotoFocus Center will offer year-round exhibitions and expanded programming. Learn more at FotoFocus.org.

Photo Economics

BIENNIAL FALL 2026

VISUAL ARTS

VISUAL ARTS CALENDAR

SEPTEMBER

2025 Truth & Innovation Showcase

THROUGH 9/7 The ﬁfth art showcase celebrates 25 BIPOC artists commissioned through ArtsWave’s Black and Brown Artist Grant program. Contemporary Arts Center, contemporary artscenter.org

Ohio Now: State of Nature

THROUGH 9/7 Artists from across Ohio focus on sustainability, agriculture, food justice, and natural ecologies. Contemporary Arts Center, contemporaryartscenter. org

The

Crafted World of Wharton Esherick

THROUGH 9/7 Innovative work from the American artist known as the father of the Studio Furniture Movement. Taft Museum of Art, taftmuseum.org

Cincinnati Collects THROUGH 9/7 Recent acquisitions from noted artists David Hockney, Jeff Koons, Roy Lichtenstein, Nam June Paik, and others. Solway Gallery, solwaygallery.com

Tending Stems THROUGH 9/19 Devan Horton explores connection, acceptance, and ancestry through handmade paints, botanical dyes,

and homegrown plants. Clifton Cultural Arts Center, cliftonculturalarts.org

Farm to Table: Food and Identity in the Age of Impressionism

THROUGH 9/21

Explores the intersections of art, food, and national identity in the age of Monet, Gauguin, and van Gogh, among other painters. Cincinnati Art Museum, cincinnatiartmuseum. org

Selected Works from The Grief Club

THROUGH 9/26

Artwork by Sarah Stolar, the AAC alum who recently returned to the school as Academic Dean. Art

THE CAC FOCUSES ON REVOLUTION

Artist Sheida Soleimani turns family history into a multimedia game board.

The Contemporary Arts Center unveils a bold expression of memory and resistance with Sheida Soleimani: What a Revolutionary Must Know, the ﬁrst solo U.S. museum show by the IranianAmerican multimedia artist who grew up near Cincinnati. On view September 26 through January 11, the show weaves a personal narrative around her parents’ escape from Iran in 1979 and their eventual reunion in the U.S. Gallery space is being transformed into an immersive Snakes and Ladders game board, combining collaged photography, sculpture, and a neverseen-before experimental video to convey the uncertainty, resilience, and emotional depth of her parents’ journey. “When I think about her work, I think about resolve,” says CAC Executive Director Christina Vassallo. “She is a relentless experimenter pushing well beyond the frame.”

In June, Soleimani (above) debuted Panjereh at the International Center of Photography, featuring photographs included in this CAC exhibition. She reﬂected on the developing conﬂict in Iran and her family in an Instagram post: “Transcribing and recording their stories has become part of my life’s work—to speak truth to power, and to ensure their histories are not forgotten.”

This powerful season opener arrives as the CAC rolls out its 2025–2029 strategic plan. InJuly, Vassallo attended a residency in Washington, D.C., as part of a three-year DeVos Institute Global Arts Management Fellowship, which helps cultural leaders shape the future of nonproﬁt arts institutions. “The CAC is nearly 90 years old, and we are working to ensure it remains a vitally important part of the city,” she says. –JILL

E. DUNNE

The Crafted World of Wharton Esherick

Academy of Cincinnati, artacademy.edu

Everything Else THROUGH 9/26

Artwork by the longtime Art Academy visual art teacher Gary Gaffney, who died in February. Art Academy of Cincinnati, artacademy.edu

Revival: Digging into Yesterday, Planting

Tomorrow THROUGH 9/30 A mutlimedia collection from a variety of contemporary artists. 21c Museum Hotel, 21cmuseumhotels/ cincinnati

Brazee at The Barn

9/4-17 Brazee Studio artists. The Barn, thebarninmariemont.org

FreshART

9/6 Live auction of en plein air paintings from local artists, with proceeds supporting the museum’s arts and children’s programming. BehringerCrawford Museum, bcmuseum.org

Inflammatory Essays

9/19-11/2 Jenny Holzer (text-based public artwork) and Emily Hanako Momohara (landscapes around Asian American and Paciﬁc Islander identity) are featured. Weston Art Gallery, cincinnatiarts.org/ weston-art-gallery

Fiber Fantasy

9/19-11/14 Immersive ﬁber and textile exhibition featuring the artwork of V+V artists, staff, and local community artists.

Visionaries and Voices Gallery, visionariesand voices.com

Rediscovered Treasures

9/19-1/18 See 60 hidden gems of East Asian art rediscovered through CAM research and conservation. Cincinnati Art Museum, cincinnatiart museum.org

The Animals

9/20-30 Ukrainian and U.S. artists in collaboration with Mariemont Schools. The Barn, thebarnin mariemont.org

Sheida Soleimani: What a Revolutionary Must Know

9/26-1/11 The ﬁrst solo U.S. museum exhibit by the daughter of Iranian political refugees features photographs, sculptures, and video art. Contemporary Arts Center, contem poraryartscenter.org

All Four Seasons in Equal Measure

9/26-3/7 Artists

Britany Baker, Kiah Celeste , Shohei Katayama , Gibbs Rounavall , Rachel Singel, and Roy Taylor reﬂect on intimate relationships with place and the natural world. The Carnegie, thecarnegie.com

Art Fair at Pyramid Hill

9/27-28 The annual event features paintings, ceramics, jewelry, woodworking, glass, and more from 50 regional artists. Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park & Museum, pyramidhill.org

Annual Asian Art Society Lecture: Rediscovered Treasures

9/28 CAM’s Curator of East Asian Art Hou-mei Sung highlights work displayed in the Rediscovered Treasures exhibit. Cincinnati Art Museum, cincinnatiart museum.org

OCTOBER

Year of the Gentleman: Redefining Modern Excellence THROUGH 10/2 The solo exhibition by Shawndale Thomas, whose photographs redeﬁne modern masculinity through

fashion-forward portraiture. Kennedy Heights Arts Center, kennedyarts.org

Dilly Dallin: Where Does Your Mind Wander? THROUGH 10/9 Artist-in-Residence Nytaya Babbitt explores relationships, identity, and community through acrylic paintings. ArtWorks Gallery, artworkscinci nnati.org

Marcus Leslie Singleton: New Steps THROUGH 10/19 The ﬁrst solo museum exhibition dedicated to Singleton’s nuanced, deeply intimate paintings of Black

American communities. Contemporary Arts Center, contempo raryartscenter.org

Quiet Chaos: Watercolors, Monoprints & Collages by Beth Goldstein THROUGH 10/25 The Cincinnati artist offers quick glimpses of the lasting implications of change and disorder in modern life. Kennedy Heights Arts Center, kennedyarts.org

Woman’s Art Club

10/19-11/2 Art from the Woman’s Art Club of Cincinnati members. The Barn, thebarninmariemont.org

Rediscovered Treasures

Indigo and the Art of Quiltmaking

10/4-1/11

Encounter

20 quilts created from the early 1800s to 2015 using fabric in every shade of blue. Taft Museum of Art, taftmuseum.org

Cincinnati Unveiled

10/10-26 New visual art from the region. Art Academy of Cincinnati, artacademy. edu

Recall, Reframe, Respond: The Art of Paul Scott

10/10-1/4 Scott’s blue and white printed tableware creates new patterns that express social commentary. Cincinnati Art Museum, cincinnatiart museum.org

Contemporary Quilt and Fiber Arts

10/17-19 Colorful patterns and images created by local quilters and ﬁber artists. Cincinnati Nature Center, cincynature.org

Local Talent 2025

10/18-12/11 Artwork created by residents of Kennedy Heights, Pleasant Ridge, Silverton, and Amberley Village. Kennedy Heights Arts Center, kennedyarts.org

Threads

of Our Lives

10/24-12/4 Artist -in-Residence Josie Love Roebuck creates tapestry-like quilts that tell complex stories of identity, pain, triumph, and healing. ArtWorks Gallery, artworkscin cinnati.org

NOVEMBER

A New Look at the Longworths THROUGH 11/2 Newly gifted portraits of Nicholas and Susan Longworth (who lived in the house before it became a museum) and his sister Catherine. Taft Museum of Art, taftmuseum.org

Soul of a Garden THROUGH 11/9 A multi-disciplinary, multi-sensory exhibition by migrant artist and ecologist Julia Orquera Bianco. Contemporary Arts Center, contemporary artscenter.org

Early American Medicine THROUGH 11/21

Explores the arc of American medicine from its earliest developments through books and medical and pharmaceutical implements. Lloyd Library, lloydlibrary.org

Unleashed: New Works by Kennedy Collective Members

11/1-12/20 The annual show exhibits new and previously unseen works in all media by local artists. Kennedy Heights Arts Center, kennedyarts.org

The Golden Ticket 11/14-12/12 The annual juried show

highlights diverse, talented artists living or working within a 50-mile radius of Clifton. Clifton Cultural Arts Center, cliftonculturalarts.org

Story Art

11/14-12/12 Artwork from regional book illustrators. Art Academy of Cincinnati, artacademy.edu

Sparrow Come Back Home

11/14-1/11 Mark Harris and Carmel Buckley celebrate the artistic, political, and sociological achievements of Trinidadian calypso vocalist Slinger Francisco, known as Mighty Sparrow. Weston Art Gallery, cincinnatiarts. org/weston-art-gallery

Teatime: Chinese Enamels from the Taft Collection

11/15-3/22 Ceramic pots and cups from the 1700s, when a newfound craze for tea took over Europe

and the U.S. Taft Museum of Art, taftmuseum.org

Walk in the Woods Art Show 11/22-12/7 Annual exhibition of local artists inspired by the beauty of walking the woods. Cincinnati Nature Center, cincynature.org

DECEMBER

Woodland

Wonders Art Show

12/11-1/4 A holiday tradition highlighting the artwork of renowned Cincinnati illustrator Charley Harper. Cincinnati Nature Center, cincynature.org

Soul of a Garden

Recall, Reframe, Respond: The Art of Paul Scott

Visit this fall!

Enjoy free general admission and free parking.

Open Tuesday–Sunday.

UPCOMING EXHIBITIONS:

Rediscovered Treasures

September 19, 2025–January 18, 2026

Recall. Reframe. Respond. The Art of Paul Scott

October 10, 2025–January 4, 2026

Rediscovered Treasures is presented by

Additional

Sumo Wrestler's Apron (L496.1891) as seen in the woodblock print: Osuke Oyama by Utagawa Kuniaki II (Japanese, 1835–1888), Saitama Prefectural Museum of History and Folklore

support provided by The E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Foundation

MUST-VISIT PLACES

MUSEUMS

Never Forget

The Cincinnati Museum Center presents the traveling exhibition Auschwitz: Not Long Ago, Not Far Away, opening 10/18.

DON’T MISS

MUSEUMS CALENDAR

ONGOING

American Sign Museum

After doubling in size last year, the collection of vintage and neon signage is more massive than ever. americansign museum.org

Baker-Hunt Art & Cultural Center

The Covington space offers classes in the visual arts, culinary arts, and mind & body. bakerhunt.org

BehringerCrawford Museum

The home for Northern Kentucky’s heritage opened in Devou Park in 1950 and has been celebrating its 75th anniversary all year long. bcmuseum.org

Betts House

Built in 1804, this is

the oldest residential structure in the downtown area and Ohio’s oldest brick house still sited in its original location. bettshousecincinnati.org

Cincinnati

Black Music Walk of Fame

Opened in 2023, the downtown riverfront space brings history to life through immersive technology. cincyblack musicwalkoffame.org

Cincinnati Fire Museum

The downtown building that now houses the museum was once home to Engine Company 45 in 1906. cincyﬁremuseum.com

Cincinnati History Museum

Step back in time and experience the area’s history at the bustling

Public Landing, the Cincinnati in Motion 1/64-scale replica of the city, and the Made in Cincinnati exhibit. cincymuseum.org/ historymuseum

Cincinnati Observatory

Two National Historic Landmark buildings, one designed by Samuel Hannaford, complement the beautiful setting in Ault Park. cincinnati observatory.org

Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame & Museum

Ten galleries present the story of baseball’s ﬁrst professional team and include World Series trophies from 1975, 1976, and 1990 as well as Reds Hall of Fame plaques. redsmuseum.org

75 AND COUNTING

Behringer-Crawford keeps its year-long birthday celebration going.

The Behringer-Crawford Museum in Devou Park celebrates Northern Kentucky’s history, particularly related to transportation. Interactive kidfriendly exhibits abound, and the museum hosts one of the region’s best holiday train displays.

Its 75th birthday is being celebrated throughout the with The Legacy of Behringer-Crawford Museum: 75 Years of Art, Culture, and Community, a museum-wide exhibit that offers more insight into of its origin story, how it’s grown, and what it’s meant to the community over the years. “Some galleries have been updated with new displays, rarely seen artifacts, and fresh ways to connect the past with today,” says Communications Manager Mary Jane Calderon. “If you’ve been here before, you’ll still recognize it, but you’ll also notice some exciting new touches that bring our 75-year journey to life.”

She’s excited for this season’s Holly Jolly Days (starting November 7), which includes the return of the White Christmas exhibit, presented in partnership with the Rosemary Clooney House and featuring original costumes and memorabilia from the holiday movie classic. Holiday Toy Trains returns for the 34th year, providing oldfashioned fun for visitors of all ages via a bevy of O-gauge Lionel trains chugging along more than 250 feet of track.

“We’ve been called a hidden gem, though we like to think of ourselves as a community treasure that’s been deeply rooted in Northern Kentucky for generations,” says Calderon. “Our 75year legacy is really about celebrating the region’s people, places, and culture.”

—SARAH McCOSHAM

Cincinnati Fire Museum

Welcome Cristian Măcelaru.

14th Music Director of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.

“ Life is good when you’re surrounded by music.”

Cristian Măcelaru Music Director

OCT

AMERICAN VOICES

JAN 16 & 17

FRI 11 AM & SAT 7:30 PM

Cristian Măcelaru conductor

Morris Robinson narrator & bass

Rita Dove poet

Margaret Bonds • Samuel Barber • Wynton Marsalis

SLAVIC LEGENDS

JAN 30 & 31 FRI & SAT 7:30 PM

HANDEL’S MESSIAH

DEC 5 & 6

FRI & SAT 7:30 PM

Cristian Măcelaru conductor

Lauren Snouffer soprano

Sasha Cooke mezzo-soprano

Nicholas Phan tenor

Jonathan Lemalu bass May Festival Chorus, Matthew Swanson director

George Frideric Handel JAN ’26

TRIFONOV PLAYS BEETHOVEN

JAN 10 & 11

SAT 7:30 PM & SUN 2 PM

Cristian Măcelaru conductor Daniil Trifonov piano

Ludwig van Beethoven • Daníel Bjarnason

Oksana Lyniv conductor

Esther Yoo violin

Evgeni Orkin • Sergei Prokoﬁev •

Antonín Dvořák • Bedřich Smetana

FEB ’26

MAHLER

SYMPHONY NO. 4

FEB 6 & 7

FRI 11 AM & SAT 7:30 PM

Tabita Berglund conductor

Camilla Tilling soprano

Anna Thorvaldsdottir • Gustav Mahler

BEETHOVEN & RAVEL

FEB 28 & MAR 1 SAT 7:30 PM & SUN 2 PM

Samuel Lee conductor

Jean-Efflam Bavouzet piano

Louise Farrenc • Maurice Ravel • Ludwig van Beethoven

MAR ’26

BEETHOVEN, MOZART & HAYDN

MAR 20 & 21

FRI & SAT 7:30 PM

James Conlon conductor

Renaud Capuçon violin

Franz Joseph Haydn • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart • Ludwig van Beethoven

APR ’26

RACHMANINOFF

SYMPHONY NO. 2

APR 11 & 12

SAT 7:30 PM & SUN 2 PM

Ramón Tebar conductor

James Ehnes violin

Margaret Brouwer • Max Bruch • Sergei Rachmaninoff

BRAHMS & SCHUMANN

MAR 6 & 7

FRI 11 AM & SAT 7:30 PM

Louis Langrée conductor

Clayton Stephenson piano

MENDELSSOHN

SYMPHONY NO. 3

APR 17 & 18

FRI 11 AM & SAT 7:30 PM

Kristiina Poska conductor Lise de la Salle piano

Julia Adolphe • Frédéric Chopin • Felix Mendelssohn

APR 24 & 25

STRAVINSKY’S FIREBIRD

FRI & SAT 7:30 PM

Johannes Brahms • Robert Schumann

Cristian Măcelaru conductor Janni Younge director

Gustav Mahler • Igor Stravinsky

MAY ’26

Season Finale BEETHOVEN & TCHAIKOVSKY

MAY 8 & 9

FRI 11 AM & SAT 7:30 PM

Roderick Cox conductor

Stephen Hough piano

Jennifer Higdon • Ludwig van Beethoven • Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

The sound of a new era begins.

CSO Music Director Cristian Măcelaru shares a bit of his own spirit through this series of programs that seek to connect us to each other and the community we call home.

CRISTIAN MĂCELARU’S DEBUT

OCT 3 & 4

Cristian Măcelaru conductor

Hélène Grimaud piano

In my official debut as Music Director, I open the season alongside my dear friend Hélène Grimaud with works that showcase the virtuosity of our great Orchestra. There may also be a special surprise from me at the end!

Clyne Abstractions • Gershwin Piano Concerto in F Major • Strauss Der Rosenkavalier Suite

DVOŘÁK SYMPHONY NO. 7

TRIFONOV PLAYS BEETHOVEN

JAN 10 & 11

Cristian Măcelaru conductor

Daniil Trifonov piano

We have a responsibility to keep our art form alive through new music. Beethoven often broke from tradition in his time and we continue to keep that spirit alive today with innovators like Daníel Bjarnason.

NOV 29 & 30

Cristian Măcelaru conductor

Tessa Lark violin

We all are born from the cultural experiences, traditions and folklore of those who came before us, and, to me, this program is all about our roots and what it means to ﬁnd “home.”

Simon Tales: A Folklore Symphony • Bielawa PULSE for violin and orchestra • Copland Variations on a Shaker Melody from Appalachian Spring • Dvořák Symphony No. 7

HANDEL’S MESSIAH

DEC 5 & 6

Cristian Măcelaru conductor

Lauren Snouffer soprano

Sasha Cooke mezzo–soprano

Nicholas Phan tenor

Jonathan Lemalu bass

May Festival Chorus, Matthew Swanson director

Handel’s Messiah is one of my most cherished works. My family of 10 grew up singing Messiah together and, for me, it is the purest representation of the holidays— it’s my musical comfort food.

Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 2 • Bjarnason I Want to Be Alive – Trilogy for Orchestra

AMERICAN VOICES

JAN 16 & 17

Cristian Măcelaru conductor

Morris Robinson narrator & bass

Rita Dove poet

Featuring new poetry from Ohio’s own Rita Dove, and music from across genres, this program is built on the values that Martin Luther King Jr. fought for his entire life, and is all about fostering community.

Bonds Select movements from Montgomery Variations • Barber Adagio for Strings with poetry commissioned by the CSO • Marsalis Select movements from Blues Symphony

STRAVINSKY’S FIREBIRD

APR 24 & 25

Cristian Măcelaru conductor

Janni Younge director

Stravinsky wrote The Firebird to be seen as well as heard. Larger-than-life puppets bring this story to life. I bring this to you from my travels abroad and encourage families of all ages to experience it together.

Mahler Totenfeier • Stravinsky The Firebird

Creation Museum

Tells its own biblical history story via 160 exhibits, a planetarium, a special FX Theatre, animatronics, an insectorium, a petting zoo, and a botanical garden. creationmuseum .org

Dinsmore Homestead

After living on theland for six generations, the family donated its Burlington house and farm as a museum for the community. dinsmorefarm.org

Duke Energy Children’s Museum

Hands-on fun for children ages 0-10 in eight educational and themed play areas, including two speciﬁcally designed for preschool-aged children and younger. cincymuseum.org/ childrensmuseum

Fifth Third Museum

Located in Fifth Third’s corporate headquarters on Fountain Square, the museum celebrates the bank’s heritage in Cincinnati since 1858. 53.com

Fort Thomas Museum

The collection spans 150 years from the District of the

Highlands to the activation of Fort Thomas Military Reservation. fortthomas ky.org

Greater Cincinnati Police Museum

The history and artifacts of more than 100 municipal, county, state, and federal law

enforcement agencies who have eight contiguous counties of Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky. gcphs.com

Harriet Beecher Stowe House

Reopened in summer 2024 after extensive renovations to tell the story of the author of Uncle Tom’s Cabin as well as the building’s later use as a boarding house and tavern. stowehousecincy.org

Heritage Village Museum

A living history museum depicting life in Southwestern Ohio throughout the 19th Century. heritage villagecincinnati.org

Holocaust & Humanity Center

Experience stories of courage, perseverance, loss, redemption, and new life as told by local Holocaust survivors. holocaust andhumanity.org

Krohn

Conservatory

The indoor botanical garden is operated by Cincinnati Parks to showcase more than 1,000 plant species from around the world. cincinnati-oh.gov/ cincyparks

Lloyd Library & Museum

The independent downtown research library and exhibit space is devoted to bringing science, art, and history to life. lloydlibrary.org

Museum of Natural History & Science

A world of science,

history, and nature through interactive exhibits and amazing artifacts like the Dinosaur Hall, the Cave, the Ice Age Gallery, and Advancing Health. cincymuseum. org/sciencemuseum

National Underground Railroad Freedom Center

Shares the stories and circumstances of 19th-century slavery and the people who sought to escape it via the Underground Railroad, while also exploring the importance of freedom in today’s world. freedomcenter.org

National Voice of America Museum of Broadcasting Preserves and celebrates the legacy and global impact of the Voice of America and its place in Cincinnati broadcasting history. voamus eum.org

Over-the-Rhine Museum

Work is underway to restore a historic tenement building near

Findlay Market to house the museum, while historians lead educational walking tours of the neighborhood. otrmuseum.org

Railway Museum of Greater Cincinnati

Numerous historic rail artifacts are displayed in a rugged outdoor railroad yard environment in Covington. cincirailmuseum.org

Skirball Museum

A permanent collection of Jewish archaeological artifacts on the campus of Hebrew Union College in Clifton. csm.huc.edu

Ulysses S. Grant Museum

Birthplace of the Civil War general and two-term U.S. president of the U.S. in Point Pleasant, where the Grant family established themselves in the early 19th century. ohiohistory.org

Union Terminal

The art deco train station, built in 1933, houses the Cincinnati Museum Center’s individual museums, the Robert D. Lindner

Family OMNIMAX Theater and the Holocaust & Humanity Center, all of them detailed in this publication. The terminal’s glorious rotunda and old control tower are worth visits in themselves. cincymuseum.org

Vent Haven Museum

The recently renovated Ft. Mitchell space the only museum in the world dedicated to ventriloquism. venthaven.org

White Water Shaker Village

More than 20 original Shaker buildings still stand, having been purchased by the Great Parks of Hamilton County from private owners. whitewater village.org

William Howard Taft National Historic Site

Visit the two-story Greek Revival house in Mt. Auburn where the 27th President and 10th Chief Justice was born and grew up. nps. gov/wiho

Heritage Village

SEPTEMBER

FreshART

9/6

Live auction of en plein air paintings from local artists, with proceeds supporting arts and children’s programming. BehringerCrawford Museum, bcmuseum.org

The Power of Remembering

9/21 The Holocaust & Humanity Center hosts Walter Frank and Berndt Kruse, natives of Germany, discussing Holocaust education. holocaustandhumanity. org

International Freedom

Conductor Awards

9/27 The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center bestows its highest honor on Opal Lee, Lonnie Bunch III, Toni Morrison, and Isabel Wilkerson. Aronoff Center for the Arts, freedomcenter.org

OCTOBER

A Healing Garden

THROUGH OCTOBER 12

Krohn Conservatory’s 2025 fall show draws inspiration from the Padua Botanical Garden in Italy. cincinnati-oh. gov/cincyparks

Civic Architecture THROUGH OCTOBER 19

Thomas Schiff ’s panoramic photography captures small county courthouses to the U.S. Capitol. Cincinnati Museum Center, cincymuseum.org

Auschwitz: Not Long Ago, Not Far Away

10/18- 4/12 A daunting selection of more than 500 original artifacts from the AuschwitzBirkenau State Museum in Poland as well as 20 institutions and museums around the world. cincymuseum.org

NOVEMBER

Sustaining Our Moral Compass

EXPERIENCE PYRAMID HILL

470 acres of park grounds complete with outdoor sculptures, an antiquities collection, contemporary art exhibitions, hiking trails, picnic areas, and more.

Ranked the 4th best sculpture park in the country, Pyramid Hill is just 30 minutes from Cincinnati in Hamilton, OH!

11/2 The annual Hornstein Lecture on the Holocaust and the Human Spirit presents Hedy Wald, M.D., Clinical Professor of Family Medicine at Brown University. Union Terminal, holocaustandhumanity. org

Holly Jolly Days

11/7-1/19 Find 13 animated displays in the Holiday Toy Trains exhibit, a nostalgic “Window Through Time” vintage Christmas décor display, and the White Christmas exhibit in partnership with the Rosemary Clooney House. BehringerCrawford Museum, bcmuseum.org

Holiday Junction 11/14-1/5 Catch the annual running of the Duke Energy Holiday Trains and get in the spirit of the season. Cincinnati Museum Center, cincymuseum. org

DECEMBER

Faith & (in)Justice THROUGH 12/7 The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center traces the nation’s 250-year struggle for equity and the role of Christianity, Islam, and Judaism in that struggle. freedomcenter.org

Abracadabra by Alexander Liberman

BRENTANO QUARTET

“… a masterclass in eloquence.” – The Guardian

Tuesday, October 7, 2025

KAREN SLACK, soprano

MICHELLE CANN, piano

2025 GRAMMY Winners

Tuesday, February 17, 2026

RENAISSANCE QUARTET

2024 Salon de Virtuosi Award

Tuesday, November 18, 2025

ISRAELI CHAMBER PROJECT with Antje Weithaas

“… you want to rush home and discover more.” – The New York Times

Tuesday, March 24, 2026

Six-concert subscriptions: $200. $150 (25% off) on checkout with code AE2025.

Single Tickets: $40. $30 (25% off) on checkout with code AE2025.

Tickets and program information at CincyChamber.org

or call Memorial Hall at 513-977-8838.

MIRÓ QUARTET

“Rewarding in every way.” – The Washington Post

Tuesday, January 13, 2026

QUATUOR ÉBÈNE

“One of the ten greatest string quartets of all time.”

– BBC Music Magazine

Tuesday, April 14, 2026

Students under 18 admitted free, 18 and over $10, if available, on the day of performance. All concerts 7:30 p.m. at Memorial Hall, 1225 Elm Street.

The World’s Leading Chamber Music Artists

MUST-SEE SHOWS

CLASSICAL MUSIC

Four of a Kind

DON’T MISS

The Renaissance Quartet, Juilliard classmates who are mentored by Itzhak Perlman, are presented by Chamber Music Cincinnati 11/8.

CLASSICAL MUSIC CALENDAR

SEPTEMBER

The War and Treaty

9/6 Husband-and-wife duo Michael Trotter Jr. and Tanya Trotter perform their powerful fusion of soul, country, gospel, blues, and rock with the Cincinnati Pops. Music Hall, cincinnatisymphony.org/ pops

Manami Suzuki 9/7 Matinee

Musicale’s recital series kicks off with the ﬁrst Japanese artist to win the prestigious Hamamatsu International Piano Competition last year at age 22. Memorial Hall, matineemusicale cincinnati.org

Cirque Espana

9/12-14 Troupe Vertigo fuses cirque acrobatics, classical dance, and modern theater with a memerizing score from

the Cincinnati Pops. Music Hall, cincinnatisymphony.org/ pops

The Voice of Whitney: A Symphonic Celebration

9/20-21 The tribute features original and remastered Whitney Houston recordings set to new orchestrations by the Cincinnati Pops. Music Hall, cincinnatisymphony.org/ pops

Ariel Quartet

9/30 String quartetin-residence. UC's College-Conservatory of Music, ccm.edu.com

OCTOBER

Cristian Macelaru’s Debut

10/3-4 The CSO’s new Music Director makes his official conducting debut with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, with pianist Helene Grimaud. Music Hall, cincinnatisymphony.org

Grand Music for Winds & Strings

10/5 Opening show in the Linton Chamber Music Series for 202526 features members of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and CCM faculty performing works by Mozart, Dohnanyi, and Spohr. First Unitarian Church, lintonmusic.org

Brentano Quartet

10/7 Chamber Music Cincinnati presents the acclaimed quartet performing works by Haydn, Webern, and Schubert. Memorial Hall, cincychamber.org

Megan Moore

10/12 Matinee

Musicale presents the Lyric Coloratura mezzo-soprano, a Cincinnati native, accompanied by

pianist Francesco Barfoed. Memorial Hall, matineemusicale cincinnati.org

Brahms and Frenemies

10/18 The Cincinnati Community Orchestra, which consists of more than 80 amateur and professional musicians, performs works by Brahms, Tchaikovsky, and Wagner. Church of the Savior United Methodist, cincinnaticommunity orchestra.org

Dame Jane Conducts Mozart 10/18-19 Dame Jane Glover leads the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra in an all-Mozart program featuring CSO Concertmaster Stefani Matsuo on violin and Principal Viola Christian Colberg. Music Hall, cincinnatisymphony.org

Ingrid Michaelson

10/21 The singersongwriter makes her debut with the Cincinnati Pops during the same week her Broadway musical The Notebook is being performed at the Aronoff Center. Music Hall, cincinnatisymphony. org/pops

Candlelight: A Haunted Evening 10/24 The series of live string quartet

Brentano Quartet

concerts in candlelight takes a Halloween turn with music by Shostakovich, Mussorgsky, Gounod, Michael Jackson, John Carpenter, and more. Memorial Hall, feverup.com/en/ cincinnati

Barber & Shostakovich

10/24-25 Giancarlo Guerrero conducts the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, featuring violinist Stella Chen. Music Hall, cincinnatisymphony.org

Civic Orchestra

Fall Concert

10/26 Founded in 1929, the Cincinnati Civic Orchestra is one of the nation’s oldest all-volunteer orchestras. Glendale Lyceum, cincinnaticivicorchestra. org

NOVEMBER

Richard Elliott

11/2 The annual Organ Concert Series presents the principal organist for the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square in Salt Lake City. Hyde Park Community United Methodist Church, hydeparkchurch.org

Yo-Yo Ma Plays

Elgar

11/4 Cristian Macelaru conducts the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra to accompany the world-renowned cellist in works by Brahms, Elgar, and Enescu. Music Hall, cincinnatisymphony.org

The Bells & Symphonie Fantastique 11/8-9 Matthias

Pintscher conducts the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and May Festival Chrous in iconic works by Rachmaninoff and Berlioz. Music Hall, cincinnatisymphony.org/ pops

Renaissance Quartet

11/8 These Juilliard classmates, mentored by Itzhak Perlman, will perform works by Price, Brahms, and Daniel Haas. Memorial Hall, cincychamber.org

Nas: Illmatic 11/12-13 The hip-hop legend revisits his 30-year-old acclaimed album in its entirety with the Cincinnati Pops. Music Hall, cincinnatisymphony.org/ pops

Joy & Resilience: Uplifting Black, Queer Voices 11/15-16 MUSE

Cincinnati’s Women’s Choir presents a powerful celebration amplifying stories and legacy from the past through today. Christ Church Cathedral, musechoir.org

Bridget Kibbey

11/16 Matinee Musicale presents the internationally celebrated harpist, a native of Findlay, Ohio. Memorial Hall, matinee musicalecincinnati.org

Louis Conducts Petrushka

11/21-22 Former Music Director Louis Langree conducts the Cincinnati Symphony

Orchestra in works by Higdon, Mozart, and Stravinsky. Music Hall, cincinnatisymphony.org

Dvorak Symphony No. 7

11/29-30 Cristian Macelaru conducts the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra in a Thanksgiving program exploring cultural roots and “home,” with violinist Tessa Lark. Music Hall, cincinnatisymphony.org

DECEMBER

Civic Orchestra

Holiday Concerts

12/4-12 The allvolunteer Cincinnati Civic Orchestra hosts four holiday concerts at the Kenton County Public Library, Glendale Lyceum, and in Colerain and Springﬁeld Townships. cincinnaticivicorchestra. org

Handel’s Messiah

12/5-6 Cristian Macelaru conducts the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and May

Festival Chrous in a wonderful holiday tradition. Music Hall, cincinnatisymphony.org

Curl Up With a Good Book

12/6 The Cincinnati Community Orchestra, performs literary works by Humperdinck, Taylor, Liszt, and Schonberg. Church of the Savior United Methodist, cincinnaticommunity orchestra.org

Schubert’s Divine Quintet

12/7 The second show in the Linton Chamber Music Series for 202526 features Boccherini’s famed String Quintet as well as works by Mozart and Schubert. First Unitarian Church, lintonmusic.org

Holiday Pops

12/12-14 John Morris Russell leads the Cincinnati Pops to bring your holiday favorites to life, featuring vocalist Cody Fry. Music Hall, cincinnatisymphony.org/ pops

Candlelight: Christmas Carols on Strings

12/18-21 The series of live string quartet concerts in candlelight takes a holiday turn with carols, hymns, and pop songs. Rinegeist Brewery, feverup.com/en/ cincinnati

Candlelight: Christmas Special Featuring The Nutcracker 12/18-21 The series of live string quartet concerts in candlelight plays Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker score as well as holiday carols, hymns, and pop songs. National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, feverup.com/en/ cincinnati

Cabaret Cafe

12/31 Ring in the new year in the style of 1930s cabaret speakeasies with John Morris Russell and the Cincinnati Pops. Music Hall, cincinnatisymphony.org/ pops

Yo-Yo Ma

READINGS, LECTURES, & COMEDY

A Voice of Our Times

Two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Colson Whitehead presents the Neihoff Lecture 10/25 at the Mercantile Library's annual gala.

DON’T MISS

READINGS, LECTURES & COMEDY CALENDAR

SEPTEMBER

Pauly Shore

9/3 Stand-up comedy. Funny Bone, liberty. funnybone.com

Deon Cole

9/6 Comedian and Old Spice actor. Hard Rock Casino, casino.hardrock. com/cincinnati

Carter Deems

9/6 Stand-up comedy. The Comet, bombs awaycomedy.com

LOL Podcast: Laugh Out Loud Tour

9/7 Live interactive version of the popular podcast. Taft Theatre, tafttheatre.org

Kaveh Akbar

9/9 Presents the Modern Novel Lecture. Mercantile Library, mercantilelibrary.com

Pete Lee 9/11-13 Stand-up comedy. Go Bananas, gobananascomedy.com

Jay Pharoah

9/12-13 Stand-up comedy. Funny Bone, liberty.funnybone.com

Sam Jay

9/12-13 Stand-up comedy. Commonwealth Comedy Club, commonwealthcomedy club.com

J.R. Ward

9/13 Discusses and signs Lover Forbidden Joseph-Beth Booksellers, josephbeth.com

Piff the Magic Dragon

9/13 The long-standing Las Vegas headliner hosts a night of illusion and comedy. Taft Theatre, tafttheatre.org

Tasha Faruqui 9/16 Discusses and signs Keep Your Head Up. Joseph-Beth Booksellers, josephbeth.com

Eileen Flanagan

9/17 Discusses and signs Common Ground Joseph-Beth Booksellers, josephbeth.com

Jeff Foxworthy 9/20 Stand-up comedy. Lawrenceburg Event Center, thelawrenceburgevent center.com

Kelly Collette

9/20 Stand-up comedy. Commonwealth Comedy Club, commonwealthcomedy club.com

Mary Kay Carson 9/20 The Cincinnati Public Library’s Writer-in-Residence hosts a workshop on decoding picture books. Forest Park branch, cincinnati library.com

Nicholas Kristof 9/25 Presents the Cincinnati Public Library’s Mary S. Stern Lecture. Aronoff Center for the Arts, cincinnatilibrary.com

Emily Jane

9/27 Discusses and signs American Werewolves. JosephBeth Booksellers, josephbeth.com

LILY KING PUSHES ON

Her new novel, Heart the Lover, recalls the buff eting of youth.

Lily King, the best-selling author of Writers & Lovers and ﬁve other novels, is coming to Joseph-Beth Booksellers on November 11 to discuss and read from her latest release, Heart the Lover (Grove Atlantic). Her work has been recognized with a Kirkus Prize, a New England Book Award for Fiction, and a Whiting Award.

The beautiful and evocative Heart the Lover tells the story of a college senior who dates a fellow English major and then falls in love with his housemate. Nicknamed Jordan by the boys, the narrator ﬁnds herself in the middle of a love triangle during a tumultuous season of ambiguity and change. It prompted me to reﬂect on how the actions of the unformed girl I was in my early twenties anticipated the woman I’d become. Choices I thought were incidental or random had a huge impact on my life.

When I mention this insight to King in an interview, she says, “That’s exactly what I wanted to capture, without saying it. I just wanted it to be on the page. God, youth. It becomes more miraculous the farther you get from it. You’re acting from such a strange place of impulse and ignorance and with no idea how your childhood has impacted you and your response to the world.”

King says she felt like she had a blindfold on for all of her twenties. “In the book I try to show the buffeting of youth, the way things are always knocking Jordan around, or at least that’s how it feels to her,” she says. “And yet there is some force in her holding steady, pushing on.”

—KELLY BLEWETT

Deon Cole

READINGS, LECTURES, & COMEDY

Julia Leahy & Connor Willey 9/27 Stand-up comedy. The Comet, bombsawaycomedy.com

OCTOBER

Andre Darlington

10/3 Discusses and signs Booze & Vinyl Country. Joseph-Beth Booksellers, josephbeth.com

Michael Turner

10/3 Stand-up comedy. The Comet, bombsawaycomedy.com

Ron White

10/4 Charter member of the “Blue Collar Comedy Tour.” Hard Rock Casino, casino. hardrock.com/cincinnati

fREADom fest: Banned Books

10/4 All three Roebling Books locations will celebrate freedom of speech with book tables, authors, unique merch, music, food, and drinks. roeblingbooks.com

Julie Berry

10/4-5 Discusses and signs If Looks Could Kill. Joseph-Beth Booksellers, joseph beth.com

Nurse Blake

10/6 “Did You Die?” comedy tour. Taft Theatre, tafttheatre.org

Freida McFadden

10/7 Discusses and signs The Intruder. Joseph-Beth Booksellers, josephbeth.com

Lauren Groff

10/9 Presents the Innovation Lecture. Mercantile Library, mercantilelibrary.com

Mark Chalifoux 10/9-12 Stand-up comedy. Go Bananas, gobananascomedy.com

Rickey Smiley 10/10 Stand-up comedy. Turfway Park, turfway.com

Bill Bellamy 10/10-11 Stand-up comedy. Funny Bone, liberty.funnybone.com

Jimmy Carr 10/12 “Laughs Funny” comedy tour. Taft Theatre, tafttheatre.org

Birding to Change the World: A Conservation Civics Event 10/15 Trish O’Kane, author of Birding to Change the World, discusses the importance of connecting with others and ﬁnding common ground to protect what we love. Cincinnati Nature Center, cincynature.org

An Evening With Cincinnati Magazine 10/16 Get an insiders’ look at the magazine’s process from a collaborative panel of editors, freelance writers, and photographers. Roebling Books in Newport, roeblingbooks.com

Anjelah JohnsonReyes 10/18 “Family Reunion” comedy tour. Hard Rock Casino, casino.hardrock.com/ cincinnati

Ali Siddiq 10/18 “In the Shadows” comedy/ storytelling tour. Taft Theatre, tafttheatre.org

Second City 11/21 “The Best of the Second City!” comedy tour. Hard Rock Casino, casino. hardrock.com/cincinnati

Heather McMahan 10/23 “Bamboozled” comedy tour. Taft Theatre, tafttheatre.org

Sheryl Underwood, Kyle Erby & Mike Washington 10/24-25 “Mix & Mingle” comedy tour. Funny Bone, liberty. funnybone.com

Graham Kay 10/24-25 Stand-up comedy. The Comet, bombsawaycomedy.com

Colson Whitehead 10/25 Presents the Neihoff Lecture at the Mercantile Library’s annual gala. Hyatt Regency Cincinnati, mercantilelibrary.com

Nate Bargatze 10/25-26 The world’s top touring comedian hosts two shows in Cincinnati. Heritage Bank Center, heritage bankcenter.com

Taylor Tomlinson 10/25-26 “Save Me” comedy tour. Taft Theatre, tafttheatre.org

Dane Cook 10/25 Stand-up comedy. Hard Rock Casino, casino. hardrock.com/cincinnati

NOVEMBER

Hedy Wald, M.D.

11/2 Presents the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati’s Hornstein Lecture. Holocaust & Humanity Center, jewishcincinnati.org

Beyond the Blinds Live

11/6 Troy and Kelli take their celebrity podcast on the road. Woodward Theater, woodwardtheater.com

Fortune Feimster 11/7 “Taking Care of Biscuits” comedy tour. Taft Theatre, tafttheatre.org

Daman Wayans Jr. 11/7-8 Stand-up comedy. Funny Bone, liberty.funnybone.com

Ridney Carrington 11/8 Stand-up comedy. Lawrenceburg Event Center, thelawrenceburgevent center.com

Lily King 11/11 Discusses and signs Heart the Lover. Joseph-Beth Booksellers, josephbeth.com

Books by the Banks

11/15 The region’s annual literary festival is hosted at the Cincinnati Public Library’s main downtown branch. booksbythebanks.org

Tom Toro 11/20. Discusses and

signs And to Think We Started As a Book Club Mercantile Library, mercantilelibrary.com

85 South Spin the Block Comedy Tour 11/29 Karlous Miller, DC Young Fly, and Chico Bean. Heritage Bank Center, heritage bankcenter.com

DECEMBER

Bored Teachers

12/4 “The Struggle Is Real!” comedy tour. Taft Theatre, tafttheatre.org

Edward Fishman 12/8 Discusses and signs Chokepoint. Mercantile Library, mercantilelibrary.com

Adrienne Iapalucci 12/13 Stand-up comedy. The Comet, bombsawaycomedy.com

Moshe Kasher 12/19 Stand-up comedy. Commonwealth Comedy Club, commonwealthcomedy club.com

Fortune Feimster

THE SUMMIT HOTEL

Discover The Summit Hotel, nestled on the vibrant Madison Square campus, where premium comfort meets cutting-edge sophistication. Enjoy campus walkability, with Element Eatery Cincinnati’s premier food hall just across the street.

Designed to engage, enlighten and inspire our guests, The Summit Hotel promises a transformative journey from everyday to extraordinary. From thought-provoking works of art to chef-curated dining experiences, we'll spark your sense of creativity and self discovery at every turn.

Plan your getaway at thesummithotel.com

Experience the joy of live music, together. There’s a seat for you at the Pops.

THE WAR AND TREATY

SEP 6, 2025

THE VOICE OF WHITNEY: A Symphonic Celebration

SEP 20–21, 2025

TROUPE VERTIGO: Cirque España! SEP 12–14, 2025

NAS: ILLMATIC live with the Cincinnati Pops

NOV 12–13, 2025

DISNEY’S HOCUS POCUS in Concert NOV 1–2, 2025

NYE: Cabaret Café DEC 31, 2025

cincinnatipops.org • 513.381.3300

MUST-SEE SHOWS

LIVE CONCERTS

Summer Fever

DON’T MISS

Little Big Town will help us hang on to the last bit of summer at their Riverbend show 9/11.

LIVE CONCERT CALENDAR

SEPTEMBER

Ani DiFranco 9/3 Taft Theatre, tafttheatre.org

Quinn XCII 9/3 Brady Music Center, bradymusiccenter.com

The Messthetics, James Brandon Lewis 9/3 Woodward Theater, woodwardtheater.com

Gaelic Storm 9/4 Taft Theatre, tafttheatre.org

Whimmydiddle Festival: Grace Potter, The Devil Makes Three 9/5-6 RiversEdge (Hamilton), whimmydiddle.com

Colby T. Helms & the Virigina Creepers 9/5 Southgate House Revival, southgatehouse. com

Night Ranger, Jefferson Starship 9/5 Turfway Park, turfway.com

Bonnie Raitt 9/6 Rose Music Center (Dayton), rosemusiccenter.com

The Red Clay Strays 9/6 Brady Music Center, bradymusiccenter.com

Barrington Levy 9/6 Ludlow Garage, ludlowgaragecincinnati. com

Cincy Music Jerk Festival: Lady G 9/6 Washington Park, washingtonpark.org

The Beach Boys 9/7 Fraze Pavilion (Dayton), fraze.com

Jerry Cantrell 9/7 Bogart’s, bogarts.com

Bob Mould 9/9 Memorial Hall, memorialhallotr.com

Chevelle 9/10 Riverbend, riverbend.org

Leon Bridges, Charley Crockett 9/10 Brady Music Center, bradymusiccenter.com

Little Big Town, Wynonna Judd, Shely Lynne 9/11 Riverbend, riverbend.org

Bonnie Raitt 9/12 Brady Music Center, bradymusiccenter.com

Doobie Brothers, Coral Reefer Band 9/12 Riverbend, riverbend.org

James McMurtry 9/12 Woodward Theater, woodwardtheater.com

Poppy 9/12 Bogart’s, bogarts.com

OTR Fest: Project Vela, Deej, New Moons 9/12 MOTR Pub, motrpub.com

Whispering Beard Folk Festival

9/13 Carriage House Farm (North Bend), whisperingbeard.com

Girl Named Tom 9/14 Taft Theatre, tafttheatre.org

Weird Al Yankovic

9/16 MegaCorp Pavilion, promowestlive. com/cincinnati

MAD(DEN) ABOUT MUSIC

John Madden’s promotion side gig has lasted 30 years.

John Madden's JBM Promotions shows (the “B” is wife Brenda, who handles most of the administrative duties) skew toward singer-songwriter, bluegrass, and roots artists, with the bulk of his bookings at intimate venues like Southgate House Revival in Newport and Memorial Hall in OTR. His musical moonlighting (he worked at GE for 35 years) began after seeing folk artist Chris Smither at Dayton’s Canal Street Tavern and getting the number for his booking agent. The rest is Cincinnati concert history.

Madden says music streaming has negatively impacted the concert business, as paltry royalty rates and the loss of physical album sales have driven up ticket prices for live shows. He also laments recent consolidation in the booking business, because smaller agencies like his focus more on building a lasting fanbase than on short-term revenue.

JBM’s “Americana Celebration” concert (October 25 on all three Southgate House stages) pays tribute to the legacy of WNKU-FM, the radio station whose 2017 demise caused a dip in shows when his type of musicians lost valuable airplay. “It was a devastating blow when we lost that station,” says Madden. “I don’t know that we’ve ever quite recovered.”

John and Brenda are lifelong music fans who still enjoy watching the performers, and you’ll ﬁnd them cheering alongside fans at shows like James McMurtry (September 12 at Woodward Theater) and Patty Griffin and Rickie Lee Jones (above, October 26 at Memorial Hall). His advice to anyone who enjoys live music: Get out to a show or three at smaller venues, where you can ﬁnd your next favorite band before they break big.

James McMurtry

Blink-182

9/16 Riverbend, riverbend.org

Suicideboys

9/17 Riverbend, riverbend.org

Avett Brothers, Heartless Bastards

9/18 MegaCorp Pavilion, promowestlive. com/cincinnati

Leo Kottke

9/18 Ludlow Garage, ludlowgaragecincinnati. com

Melissa Etheridge, Indigo Girls

9/19 Riverbend, riverbend.org

GWAR

9/19 Bogart’s, bogarts. com

John Paycheck 9/19 Southgate House Revival, southgatehouse.com

Bilal

9/20 Ludlow Garage, ludlowgaragecincinnati. com

X, Los Lobos

9/21 Rose Music Center (Dayton), rosemusiccenter.com

Matt Kearney 9/21 Taft Theatre, tafttheatre.org

Walter Trout

9/21 Ludlow Garage, ludlowgaragecincinnati. com

Marianas Trench

9/23 Bogart’s, bogarts.com

Low Cut Connie 9/25 Woodward Theater, woodwardtheater.com

Tribute to Frank Sinatra 9/25 Memorial Hall, memorialhallotr.com

MOTR 15th

Anniversary Party: Idle Aires, Old City 9/25 MOTR Pub, motrpub.com

The Gibson Brothers

9/26 Liberty Theater (Lawrenceburg), whiskeycitysliberty theater.com

Dwight Yoakam 9/26 Riverbend, riverbend.org

Dwight Yoakam 9/27 Rose Music Center (Dayton), rosemusiccenter.com

Talk Low Music Festival: Clipping, Why?, Kelly Moran 9/28 Memorial Hall, memorialhallotr.com

Lene Lovich 9/28 Ludlow Garage, ludlowgaragecincinnati. com

Tinfoil Hat Cowboys 9/28 MOTR Pub, motrpub.com

Garbage 9/30 MegaCorp Pavilion, promowestlive. com/cincinnati

OCTOBER

Franz Ferdinand 10/1 Bogart’s, bogarts.com

Hayes Carll 10/2 Southgate House Revival, southgatehouse.com

Duane Betts & Palmetto Motel 10/2 Ludlow Garage, ludlowgaragecincinnati. com

Tyler Childers 10/3 Riverbend, riverbend.org

TobyMac, Mercy Me, Matthew West 10/3 NKU Truist Arena, thetruistarena. com

Beth Stelling 10/3 Woodward Theater, woodwardtheater.com

Emmaline 10/3 Ludlow Garage, ludlowgaragecincinnati. com

Women in Blues: Lexie Blue, Gina & Johnny Band, Madalyn & the Hunters 10/3 Madison Theater, madisontheater.com

Judas Priest, Alice Cooper 10/4 Riverbend, riverbend.org

The Four Horsemen 10/4 Bogart’s, bogarts.com

Giant Steps: The Music of John Coltrane 10/4 Fitton Center for Creative Arts, ﬁttoncenter.org

Here Come the Mummies 10/5 Bogart’s, bogarts.com

Psychedelic Furs, Gary Numan 10/7 MegaCorp Pavilion, promowestlive. com/cincinnati

Kristone “Kingfish” Ingram 10/8 Taft Theatre, tafttheatre.org

Seether, Daughtry 10/10 Rose Music Center (Dayton), rosemusiccenter.com

Billy Bob Thornton & the Boxmasters 10/11 Hard Rock Casino, casino.hardrock. com/cincinnati

Southern Culture on the Skids 10/11 Southgate House Revival, southgatehouse.com

Papadosio 10/11 Riverfront Live, riverfrontlivecincy.com

Spencer Crandall 10/11 Lori’s Road House, lrhlive.com

A.J. Croce 10/13 Taft Theatre, tafttheatre.org

Neko Case 10/14 Taft Theatre, tafttheatre.org

Nellie McKay 10/15 Southgate House Revival, southgatehouse.com

Brandy & Monica 10/16 Heritage Bank Center, heritagebank center.com

Donna the Buffalo 10/16 Memorial Hall, memorialhallotr.com

Herbie Hancock 10/17 Taft Theatre, tafttheatre.org

Confederate Railroad, Smith & Wesley 11/17 Riverfront Live, riverfrontlivecincy.com

Ruben Studdard 10/18 Ludlow Garage, ludlowgaragecincinnati. com

Peter Rowan, Sam Grisman Project 10/18 Memorial Hall, memorialhallotr.com

Pierce the Veil 10/19 Riverbend, riverbend.org

My Morning Jacket 10/20 MegaCorp Pavilion, promowest live.com/cincinnati

They Might Be Giants 10/ 21-22 Madison Theater, madisontheater.com

Jon Batiste 10/21 Taft Theatre, tafttheatre.org

Eric Johnson 10/21 Memorial Hall, memorialhallotr.com

Jukebox the Ghost 10/21 Woodward Theater, woodwardtheater.com

Weakened Friends 10/22 Radio Artifact, radioartifact.com

Moe. 10/24 Taft Theatre, tafttheatre.org

Atlanta Rhythm Section

10/24 Ludlow Garage, ludlowgaragecincinnati. com

Midland

10/24 Turfway Park, turfway.com

Gov’t Mule 10/25 MegaCorp Pavilion, promo westlive.com/cincinnati

Americana Celebration: Junior Brown, Bill Kirchen, Robbie Fulks

10/25 Southgate House Revival, southgatehouse.com

Patti Griffin, Rickie Lee Jones 10/26 Memorial Hall, memorialhallotr.com

Yes 10/28 Taft Theatre, tafttheatre.org

Everclear

10/28 Bogart’s, bogarts.com

NOVEMBER

Steve Hackett

11/1 Taft Theatre, tafttheatre.org

Lee Rocker 11/2 Ludlow Garage, ludlowgaragecincinnati. com

Blue October 11/6 Taft Theatre, tafttheatre.org

Bill Murray & His Blood Brothers 11/7 Brady Music Center, bradymusiccenter.com

Ekoostic Hookah 11/7 Liberty Theater (Lawrenceburg), whiskeycitysliberty theater.com

Jo Dee Messina 11/7 Hard Rock Casino, casino. hardrock.com/cincinnati

Tito Puente Jr. 11/7 Ludlow Garage, ludlowgaragecincinnati. com

Blues & Boogie

Piano Summit 11/8 Memorial Hall, memorialhallotr.com

All Time Low 11/8 Brady Music Center, bradymusiccenter.com

The Mars Volta 11/12 MegaCorp Pavilion, promowest live.com/cincinnati

Willie Watson 11/13 Southgate House Revival, southgatehouse.com

Shaun Cassidy 11/14 Ludlow Garage, ludlowgaragecincinnati. com

KC & the Sunshine Band 11/15 Lawrenceburg Event Center, thelawrenceburgevent center.com

Bryan Wallick 11/15 Fitton Center for Creative Arts, ﬁttoncenter.org

On the Lash:

Celtic Christmas 11/15 Sorg Opera House (Middletown), sorgoperahouse.org

Steep Canyon Rangers 11/15 Memorial Hall, memorialhallotr.com

Wishbone Ash 11/16 Ludlow Garage, ludlowgaragecincinnati. com

Silverstein 11/19 Bogart’s, bogarts.com

Molly Tuttle 11/21 Memorial Hall, memorialhallotr.com

Hunter Toot, Harley Day 11/21 Liberty Theater (Lawrenceburg), whiskeycitysliberty theater.com

Lalah Hathaway 11/22 Ludlow Garage, ludlowgaragecincinnati. com

Damien Escobar 12/5 Ludlow Garage, ludlowgaragecincinnati. com

ABBA Holly Jolly Christmas

12/7 The cast of Abbafab presents the legendary band’s hits along with holiday favorites. Aronoff Center for the Arts, cincinnatiarts.org

Heart

12/8 Brady Music Center, bradymusiccenter.com

Kruger Brothers 11/22 Liberty Theater (Lawrenceburg), whiskeycitysliberty theater.com

Pigeons Playing Ping Pong 11/22 Madison Theater, madisontheater.com

Bela Fleck & the Flecktones 11/29 Taft Theatre, tafttheatre.org

DECEMBER

Peter White

Christmas

12/3 Ludlow Garage, ludlowgaragecincinnati. com

Christmas

Together: Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith, and Cece Winans 12/5 Aronoff Center for the Arts, cincinnatiarts.org

Yung Gravy 12/5 MegaCorp Pavilion, promo westlive.com/cincinnati

Straight No Chaser

12/10 Taft Theatre, tafttheatre.org

Raheem DeVaughn

12/11 Ludlow Garage, ludlowgaragecincinnati. com

Corey Kent 12/13 Lawrenceburg Event Center, thelawrenceburgevent center.com

Jim Brickman: Gift of Christmas 12/13 Aronoff Center for the Arts, cincinnatiarts.org

Masters of the Mic: Slick Rick, Big Daddy Kane, Talib Kweli, Arrested Development 12/ 14 Hard Rock Casino, casino. hardrock.com/cincinnati

Chris Isaak 12/19 Hard Rock Casino, casino. hardrock.com/cincinnati

Peter Noone & Herman’s Hermits 12/20 Ludlow Garage, ludlowgaragecincinnati. com

Bill Murray & His Blood Brothers

2025-2026 2025-2026

OCTOBER 4-5, 2025

PROCTER & GAMBLE HALL

JANUARY 24, 2025

JARSON-KAPLAN THEATER

MARCH 19, 2026

PROCTER & GAMBLE HALL

OCTOBER 28, 2025

PROCTER & GAMBLE HALL

FEBRUARY 27, 2026

PROCTER & GAMBLE HALL

APRIL 1, 2026

PROCTER & GAMBLE HALL

DECEMBER 2, 2025

PROCTER & GAMBLE THEATER

MARCH 6, 2026

JARSON-KAPLAN THEATER

MAY 7, 2026

PROCTER & GAMBLE HALL

MUST-SEE SHOWS

SCREEN & CINEMA

Fantasy on Film

and

DON’T MISS

The Cincinnati Pops and May Festival Chorus celebrate the Final Fantasy video game

movie series 9/27-28 at Music Hall.

SCREEN & CINEMA CALENDAR

SEPTEMBER

Free Movies at Washington Park

9/2, 16, 23 Free Tuesday movies at 8:15 p.m. on the great lawn in Over-the-Rhine. Washington Park, washingtonpark.org

Nightlight: Wolf of Wall Street

9/11 The outdoor movie series on the Covington riverfront includes food trucks, bar drinks, and pre-ﬁlm DJ. Covington Plaza, nightlight513.com

Dead Man’s Rocky Horror Shadowcast

9/13 Dead Man’s Rocky from Dayton hosts this audience participation screening. Sorg Opera House (Middletown), sorgoperahouse.org

Cineposium

Cincinnati

9/15-18 Film Cincinnati is producing this annual gathering of ﬁlmmakers and industry leaders for the Association of Film Commissioners International. Northern Kentucky Convention Center, afci.org/cineposium2025

Cindependent Film Festival

9/18-20 The annual celebration of independent ﬁlm returns with three days of screenings, screenplay salons, master classes, and a tech exhibition. One-day tickets through three-day VIP passes are on sale. Memorial Hall, cindependentﬁlmfest.org

Distant Worlds: Music from Final Fantasy

9/27-28 Conductor Arnie Roth leads the Cincinnati Pops and May Festival Chorus in works by composers from throughout the Final Fantasy series.

Music Hall, cincinnati symphony.org/pops

OCTOBER

Nightlight: Wicked

10/2 The outdoor movie series on the Covington riverfront includes food trucks, bar drinks, and pre-ﬁlm DJ. Covington Plaza, nightlight513.com

Yellow Springs Film Festival

10/2-5 This third annual independent ﬁlm festival will

Nightlight 513

DECLARATION OF CINDEPENDENT

The annual Cindependent Film Festival grows as Cincinnati’s national ﬁ lm proﬁ le increases.

Founded in 2017, Cindependent is Cincinnati’s only multi-genre film festival, and it continues to attract more submissions, audiences, and acclaim right beside the city’s higher national and international profile among filmmakers.

This year’s festival (September 18-20 at Memorial Hall) is worth making plans for, especially the Opening Night Shorts block, says Executive Director Allyson West (above). “This block of shorts features the best local ﬁlms made right here in the Buckeye State, with stories that are bold, heartfelt, funny, weird in the best way, and totally homegrown,” she says. “It’s our way of showing off just how much creative talent is brewing in our own backyard.”

West also recommends the feature ﬁlm American Comic from Sundancesupported director Daniel J. Clark. “It’s a sharp, personal, and hilariously selfaware mockumentary that blends the director’s documentary instincts with Joe Kwaczala’s fearless, in-character comedy,” she says.

But Cindependent isn’t just about media consumption, says West—it’s an interactive, creative experience. “We’ve expanded our educational programming to include nine moderated discussions and a curated slate of events designed to spark real career growth for emerging artists."

The biggest shift for the 2025 festival, though, is accessibility. “We’re creating more space for real conversations between audiences and working ﬁlmmakers who are actively doing ﬁlms right now,” says West. “Artists are coming to Cincinnati not just to screen their work but to share it, talk about it, and celebrate alongside the community.”

–SARAH McCOSHAM

present the Julia Reichert Award to an emerging female documentary ﬁlmmaker. Little Art Theatre (Yellow Springs), ysﬁlmfest.com

Nightlight: The Shining 10/3 The outdoor movie series on the Covington riverfront includes food trucks, bar drinks, and pre-ﬁlm DJ. Covington Plaza, nightlight513.com

Evil Dead in Concert

10/7 Sam Raimi’s cult classic ﬁlm will be accomapnied by a live performane of Joe LoDuca’s revamped original score. Taft Theatre, tafttheatre.org

Avondale Film Festival

10/11 Organized by the Avondale Development Corporation, the festival will award four cash prizes to area ﬁlmmakers, including two for students.

Urban League’s Holloman Center for Social Justice, growavondale.org/ avondale-ﬁlm-festival

Ohio: Wild at Heart

10/14-1/31 Outdoor adventures across the state as only a ﬁve-story-tall movie theater can present. Lindner Family OMNIMAX Theater, cincymuseum. org

HUMP!

Film Festival

10/16 Features 22 brand-new shorts that create a public space for sex-positivity, representation, and inclusivity. Woodward Theater, woodwardtheater.com

Twilight in Concert

10/28 The original movie screens and is accompanied by a live band on stage and an enchanting candlelit atmosphere. Aronoff Center for the Arts, cincinnatiarts.org

NOVEMBER

Call

of the Dolphins

THROUGH 11/ 14 Set out on an unforgettable journey into how dolphins live, play, and interact with humans, and each other.

Narrated by Mary Steenburgen. Lindner Family OMNIMAX Theater, cincymuseum. org

Cincinnati Pops and Hocus Pocus

11/1-2 The magical Halloween movie is screened as the Cincinnati Pops perform the score live. Music Hall, cincinnati symphony.org/pops

OutReels Cincinnati

11/7-9 Founded in 2012, the festival presents innovative and thought-provoking ﬁlms from around the world. Warsaw Federal Incline Theater, outreelscincinnati.org

AbouttheEvent!

Thisimmersiveexperiencetakes audiencesonajourneytodiscover themusicalandculturalhistoryof ourregionthroughfollowingthe flowoftheriverandthemigration ofpeople.

LTA'spremiereperformingarts literacyprogram, BooksAlive!For KidswillcreateaSongbookfor thisspecialproduction tobe featuredwithinourawardwinninginteractivelibrary!

Call of the Dolphins

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