BroadwayWorld.com Cincinnati Stories

RENT, CABARET, LA BOHÈME, and More Set For The University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 09:13:43 PST

The University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) has announced its initial schedule of major performances for 2026-27. These 15 events include beloved titles for the stage like La bohème, RENT and Cabaret, along with concerts showcasing the works of Gustav Mahler, Duke Ellington and John Williams ... just to name a few highlights!

This schedule of major performances runs Sept. 15, 2026, through April 23, 2027. Tickets for all 15 concerts and shows listed below are on sale now. See individual performance listings for additional information.

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

Russian Giants

September 15

The CCM Philharmonia kicks off the season with guest conductor Timothy Muffitt in a program of Russian masterworks, including the rarely heard Symphony No. 3 by Sergei Rachmaninoff.

PROKOFIEV: Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Major, Op. 26 (1921)

RACHMANINOFF: Symphony No. 3 in A Minor, Op. 44 (1936)

Estimated run time: 100 minutes

Location: Corbett Auditorium

Tickets: $19.50 adult, $15 student, $15 UC faculty/staff, $10 UC student, $5 CCM student; group discounts available.

Places We Can No Longer Go

September 17

CCM welcomes guest composer John Mackey in a concert that showcases Places we can no longer go, featuring GRAMMY Award-nominated soprano Lindsay Kesselman. Written about Mackey's mother's struggle with dementia, Places we can no longer go is the story of the disease, but in reverse as confusion turns to clarity, and grief turns into comfort. The concert opens with CCM Commercial Music Production faculty member Jasmine Guo's the sound of where i came from. Commissioned by the League of American Orchestras, Guo's piece acts as a musical exploration of home, culture and personal memory. The performance closes with Mackey's newest work The isle is full of noises, inspired by Shakespeare's The Tempest.

GUO: the sound of where I came from

MACKEY: Places we can no longer go

MACKEY: The isle is full of noises, Symphony No. 2

Estimated run time: 90 minutes, including a 15-minute intermission

Location: Corbett Auditorium

Tickets: $19.50 adult, $15 student, $15 UC faculty/staff, $10 UC student, $5 CCM student; group discounts available.

Lerner and Loewe's Brigadoon in Concert

September 25-26

The CCM Philharmonia and CCM Musical Theatre collaborate on a special concert performance of Lerner and Loewe's Brigadoon. Brigadoon tells the story of a mystical Scottish village that appears for only one day every 100 years. The musical concert blends romance and fantasy with some of Broadway's most recognizable songs, including "The Heather on the Hill" and "Almost Like Being in Love." Presented with colorful lighting designed by CCM Lighting Design and Technology students.

Estimated run time: 2 hours and 15 minutes, including one 15-minute intermission

Location: Corbett Auditorium

Tickets: $26 adult, $15 student, $20 UC faculty/staff, $10 UC student, $5 CCM student; group discounts available.

Intimate Apparel

October 1-3

Inspired by turn-of-the-century photographs of her own relatives, Nottage's play follows the life of Esther, a gifted African American seamstress living in New York City in 1905. Esther creates beautiful clothes for women from every part of society, but longs for her own romantic partner and home life. While drawn to the Hasidic shopkeeper who sells her cloth, she nonetheless begins a correspondence with a Caribbean man, George, who asks to marry her, sight unseen. A delicate and tender exploration of the human heart, Intimate Apparel won the 2004 New York Drama Critics Award for Best Play.

Estimated run time: 2 hours and 15 minutes, plus one 15-minute intermission

Location: Cohen Family Studio Theater

Tickets: $26 adult, $15 student, $20 UC faculty/staff, $10 UC student, $5 CCM student; group discounts available.

La Bohème

October 29-31

Rent is overdue, but passion burns bright among a group of young friends scraping by on talent, wit and borrowed time. Puccini's soaring arias tell the tale of Mimi, Rodolfo, Marcello and Musetta — dreamers adrift in Paris on the cusp of a new century, where the city is literally reinventing itself. As the first Paris Métro trains rumble beneath, ushering in a breathless age of speed and possibility, life in the garrets above remains unchanged: cold, precarious and lit by the fierce glow of youth. A story that transcends time and place, its message is for the artists, the dreamers, and the everyday people who face challenges but never lose sight of love and connection. Sung in Italian with projected English supertitles.

Estimated run time: 2 hours, including a 15-minute intermission

Location: Corbett Auditorium

Tickets: $36 adult, $20 student, $15 UC faculty/staff, $10 UC student, $5 CCM student; group discounts available.

Rent

November 12-14

La Vie Bohème! Based loosely on Puccini's La Bohème, Jonathan Larson's RENT shaped a generation of dreamers and taught us all to measure our life in love. The story follows a year in the life of a group of starving young artists and musicians struggling to survive and create in New York's Lower East Side, under the shadow of HIV/AIDS. RENT is about falling in love, finding your voice and living for today. Winner of the Tony Award for Best Musical and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, the musical has become a pop cultural phenomenon with songs that rock and a story that resonates with audiences.

Content advisory: This production has mature themes, including drug addiction, HIV/AIDS, sexuality, and strong language.

Estimated run time: 2 hours and 30 minutes, including a 15-minute intermission

Location: Patricia Corbett Theater

Tickets: $36 adult, $20 student, $15 UC faculty/staff, $10 UC student, $5 CCM student; group discounts available.

A Sea Symphony

November 20

Ralph Vaughan Williams' A Sea Symphony gives voice to majesty and mystery of the ocean, bringing musical life to sea poems from Walt Whitman's Leaves of Grass. A Sea Symphony is celebrated for its ambitious scope, masterful integration of choral and orchestral forces, and its deep emotional and philosophical impact. It stands as a testament to Vaughan Williams' creativity and his ability to capture the grandeur of the natural world through music. Presented with colorful lighting by CCM Lighting Design and Technology students.

Vaughan Williams: A Sea Symphony

Estimated run time: 1 hour and 45 minutes

Location: Corbett Auditorium

Tickets: $19.50 adult, $15 student, $15 UC faculty/staff, $10 UC student, $5 CCM student; group discounts available.

Duke Ellington's Nutcracker Suite

November 22

The romantic melodies of The Nutcracker Suite transform into jumping jazz tunes arranged by Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn. Swing into the season with jazz interpretations of the beloved holiday masterpiece, including "Toot Toot Tootie Toot (Dance of the Reed-Pipes)," "Peanut Brittle Brigade (March)" and "Sugar Rum Cherry (Dance of the Sugar-Plum Fairy)." Presented with colorful lighting by CCM Lighting Design and Technology students.

Estimated run time: 75 minutes

Location: Corbett Auditorium

Tickets: $26 adult, $15 student, $20 UC faculty/staff, $10 UC student, $5 CCM student; group discounts available.

Dance Works

December 3-5

Join us for an evening of magic and mystery as we visit beautiful gardens and shadowy kingdoms. The program includes selections from two classical ballets — "Kingdom of the Shades" from La Bayadère and "Jardin Animé" from La Corsaire — plus Pas de Quatre, a work originally choreographed for the four greatest ballerinas of the 19th century. CCM Dance Chair Shauna Steele creates a new contemporary work exploring themes of dissonance, veritas and the indomitable nature of the soul.

Estimated run time: 2 hours and 15 minutes, plus one 15-minute intermission

Location: Patricia Corbett Theater

Tickets: $36 adult, $20 student, $15 UC faculty/staff, $10 UC student, $5 CCM student; group discounts available.

Feast of Carols

December 5-6

A Cincinnati tradition for more than 100 years! Bring family and friends to CCM to welcome the 2026 holiday season with festive choral favorites performed by CCM's, UC's and CYC's fabulous choirs and outstanding guest choirs. Presented with colorful lighting by CCM Lighting Design and Technology students.

Estimated run time: 90 minutes

Location: Corbett Auditorium

Tickets: $26 adult, $15 student, $20 UC faculty/staff, $10 UC student, $5 CCM student; group discounts available.

Cabaret

March 4-6

Forget all your troubles and come to the Cabaret, where life is beautiful and the music is always playing. Daring, provocative and exuberantly entertaining, Cabaret explores the dark and heady life of bohemian Berlin in the late 1920s. With the Emcee's bawdy songs as wry commentary, Cabaret explores the tumultuous life of Berlin's natives and expatriates as Germany slowly yields to the emerging Third Reich. Cliff, a young American writer, is immediately taken with English singer Sally Bowles. Meanwhile, Fräulein Schneider, proprietor of Cliff and Sally's boarding house, tentatively begins a romance with Herr Schultz, a mild-mannered fruit seller who happens to be Jewish. A Tony Award-winning musical, beloved songs include "Willkommen," "Cabaret," "Don't Tell Mama" and "Maybe This Time."

Content advisory: This production contains mature themes, including strong sexual content, profanity, drug use, abortion, violence, antisemitism and Nazi imagery.

Estimated run time: 2 hours, including a 15-minute intermission

Location: Patricia Corbett Theater

Tickets: $36 adult, $20 student, $15 UC faculty/staff, $10 UC student, $5 CCM student; group discounts available.

Mahler Five

March 10

The next stop on CCM Philharmonia's Mahler excursion is his epic Symphony No. 5, paired with the world premiere of CCM Professor Michael Fiday's new orchestral work "5." Introduced to American audiences with its U.S. premiere by the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra in 1905, Mahler's fifth is a romantic masterpiece — from the iconic trumpet fanfare opening to the final Adagietto, often dubbed Mahler's "greatest hit," the music takes audiences on an emotional journey from mourning to triumph.

FIDAY: "5" *World Premiere

MAHLER: Symphony No. 5 in C-sharp Minor (1902)

Estimated run time: 100 minutes

Location: Corbett Auditorium

Tickets: $19.50 adult, $15 student, $15 UC faculty/staff, $10 UC student, $5 CCM student; group discounts available.

Star Wars x The Planets

April 6

Journey through the galaxy in a cosmic concert featuring Gustav Holst's celestial showpiece The Planets and John Williams' epic Star Wars Suite. Presented with colorful lighting by CCM Lighting Design and Production students.

HOLST: The Planets

WILLIAMS: Star Wars Suite

Estimated run time: 2 hours, including a 15-minute intermission

Location: Corbett Auditorium

Tickets: $19.50 adult, $15 student, $15 UC faculty/staff, $10 UC student, $5 CCM student; group discounts available.

Ariadne auf Naxos

April 15-17

A lighthearted "opera within an opera," Ariadne auf Naxos entertains audiences with high art and low comedy. Heartbreak meets humor when a serious opera and a bawdy comedy troupe are forced to perform simultaneously on stage. The result is a witty, yet heartwarming, story about love, loss and transformation. Sung in German with projected English supertitles.

Estimated run time: 2 hours and 35 minutes, including one 15-minute intermission

Location: Patricia Corbett Theater

Tickets: $36 adult, $20 student, $15 UC faculty/staff, $10 UC student, $5 CCM student; group discounts available.

Journeys Through Time

April 23

Travel across time, myth and imagination in a concert that blends vivid contemporary soundscapes with the sweeping power of the Romantic era. Music by David Biedenbender, Ida Gotkovsky and Patrick Harlin launches us into a world where time bends and motion propels us forward. The journey continues with the majestic music of Richard Wagner, from the radiant Prelude to Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg to the shimmering forest textures of "Waldweben" and the thrilling momentum of "Siegfried's Rhine Journey." From fleeting moments to epic sagas, this program invites audiences to experience music that captures the passage of time and the power of storytelling in sound. Presented with colorful lighting designed by CCM Lighting Design and Technology students.

CCM Wind Symphony:

BIEDENBENDER: Time Flies

GOTKOVSKY: Poeme du feu

HARLIN: The Time Traveler

CCM Philharmonia:

WAGNER: Prelude to Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg (1868)

WAGNER: "Waldweben," from Siegfried (1876)

WAGNER: "Siegfried's Rhine Journey," from Götterdämmerung (1876)

Estimated run time: 2 hours, including a 15-minute intermission

Location: Corbett Auditorium

Tickets: $19.50 adult, $15 student, $15 UC faculty/staff, $10 UC student, $5 CCM student; group discounts available.

GOOD BONES to Make World Premiere at Cincinnati Opera

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 05:20:43 PST

Cincinnati Opera has announced Good Bones, a new American opera with music by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Michael Abels and libretto by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright James Ijames, as the third and final work in The Black Opera Project, completing a trilogy of commissioned world premieres dedicated to centering Black joy, resilience, and creativity on the opera stage. With humor, heart, and unflinching honesty, Good Bones follows a young couple renovating a historic home in a historically Black neighborhood within an up-and-coming city, compelling them to contend with spirits past and present. Good Bones will receive its world premiere in Summer 2028 at Cincinnati Music Hall.

Cincinnati Opera's Black Opera Project is a first-of-its-kind initiative, creating three original, full-length operas across three successive years that celebrate the richness of the Black American experience. Announced in 2024 with initial support from the Mellon Foundation, The Black Opera Project represents an overall financial commitment of approximately $6 million, made possible through the Mellon gift and a group of visionary donors. Its three new works span a remarkable range of artistic vision: an Afrofuturist epic (Lalovavi, July 2026), a tribute to a Civil Rights icon (John Lewis: Good Trouble, June 2027), and now, a contemporary story of homecoming, community, and belonging (Good Bones, Summer 2028).

“We launched The Black Opera Project to illuminate dimensions of the Black American experience that have not yet been represented by our art form,” said Evans Mirageas, Cincinnati Opera's Harry T. Wilks Artistic Director. “With Good Bones, we conclude the Project's three-year arc with a relatable, heartfelt—and occasionally haunted—story about a young Black couple adapting to the changing world around them and rediscovering the meaning of community. We're thrilled to have Michael Abels and James Ijames join the roster of brilliant creators and performers whose work will come to life at Music Hall over the next three summers.”

Good Bones

Good Bones features music by Abels with a libretto by Ijames, based on Ijames's play of the same name, and will be staged by veteran theatre and opera director Timothy Douglas, with Kelly Kuo conducting.

The Story: Aisha and her husband Travis have moved back to her childhood neighborhood, a historically Black community in a post-industrial city on the rise, to renovate a beautiful old house and start fresh. But the neighborhood has changed, and Aisha's homecoming is more complicated than she expected. Their contractor, Earl—a craftsman who grew up on the same streets and never left—becomes an unlikely mirror, forcing Aisha to reckon with her feelings about the place that shaped her. Haunting it all is Sister Bernice, the first Black woman on city council and the house's original owner, whose spirit moves through the walls. By turns funny, tender, and raw, Good Bones asks what we owe the places and people that made us, and what it means to find home.

Michael Abels is a Pulitzer Prize-winning and Emmy- and Grammy-nominated composer best known for his genre-defying scores for Jordan Peele's films Get Out, Us, and Nope. His stage work includes Omar, the opera co-composed with Grammy-winning recording artist Rhiannon Giddens, which won the 2023 Pulitzer Prize and was named by The New York Times as one of the Best Classical Performances of 2022. Other works include the choral song cycle At War with Ourselves for the Kronos Quartet, and the Grammy-nominated Isolation Variation for violinist Hilary Hahn. Abels's compositions have also been performed by the New York Philharmonic, the Chicago Symphony, the Los Angeles Master Chorale, and many others. He is co-founder of the Composers Diversity Collective, an advocacy group to increase visibility of composers of color in film, gaming, and streaming media. Abels's concert and operatic works are published by Subito Music Corporation.

James Ijames is a Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright, director, and educator whose plays have been produced on Broadway, off-Broadway, and across the country by theaters including The National Black Theatre, The Public Theater, and Steppenwolf Theatre. He was also a founding member of Orbiter 3, Philadelphia's first playwright producing collective. His many awards and honors include the 2017 Whiting Award, the 2019 Kesselring Prize, the 2020 Steinberg Prize, and the 2022 Pulitzer Prize for Drama for Fat Ham, which received a Tony nomination for Best Play. He is an associate professor at Columbia University, where he serves as head of the playwriting concentration. Good Bones is based on his play of the same name, which was originally commissioned by Studio Theatre in Washington, D.C. (David Muse, Artistic Director; Rebecca Ende Lichtenberg, Managing Director), where it premiered in 2023, followed by its New York premiere production in 2024 at The Public Theater (Oskar Eustis, Artistic Director; Patrick Willingham, Executive Director). This adaptation marks his debut as an opera librettist.

Lalovavi

Lalovavi, the first commissioned work in The Black Opera Project, will receive its world premiere on July 9 and 11, 2026, at Cincinnati Music Hall, marking the launch of this historic initiative. The opera features music by Kevin Day and a libretto by Tifara Brown, with stage direction and dramaturgy by Kimille Howard, and Kevin miller on the podium as conductor.

The Story: Set 400 years into the future, Lalovavi (lah-low-VAH-vee) is an Afrofuturist adventure that follows Persephone, the youngest daughter of the ruler of Atlas, the city formerly known as Atlanta. Currency and status in Atlas are determined based on the presence of Syndica, a gene that promotes vitality and longevity. When Persephone is found to possess a version of Syndica that confers immortality, she is betrayed by her family and must run for her life. She is thrust into an epic journey, uncovering a hidden past that leads her to discover love's true meaning and the power to determine her destiny. Lalovavi is the first opera to incorporate Tut, a language created by enslaved Black Americans to communicate in secret; “lalovavi” is the Tut word for “love.”

Kevin Day is an award-winning, multi-disciplinary composer, jazz pianist, and conductor based in Las Vegas, Nevada. His works have been commissioned and performed by some of the world's top instrumental soloists and ensembles, including Cincinnati Opera, the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Houston Symphony Orchestra, Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, New Jersey Symphony, Las Vegas Philharmonic, Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra, and the “President's Own” U.S. Marine Band, U.S. Army Band, U.S. Navy Band, and U.S. Air Force Band, among many others across the U.S., Canada, Austria, Taiwan, South Africa, Australia, and Japan. Lalovavi marks his debut as an operatic composer. His second opera, For the Love of Uvalde (based on the acclaimed play by librettist Dr. Ayvaunn Penn), is a chamber opera commissioned by the Texas Christian University College of Fine Arts and Urban Arts Initiative, premiering in 2027.

Tifara Brown is a performance poet, oral historian, published author, activist, and organizational culture strategist with roots in Southern Georgia. She is the founder of Honeysuckle Poetry LLC and Creative Director of Honeysuckle Studios, a creative direction and organizational culture practice whose work sits at the intersection of art, ancestral memory, and institutional transformation. She self-published Honeysuckle: Poems and Stories from a Black Southerner as a memorial to one of her ancestors who was killed by racial violence in the late 1950s. Her poetry has been widely published in Gulf Stream Literary Magazine, Sunspot Literary Journal, Cathexis Northwest Press, Quartz Literary, Minerva Rising Press, Main Street Rag Publishing Company, and numerous other literary journals and anthologies. Lalovavi marks her debut as an opera librettist. More information is available at www.tifarabrown.com.

John Lewis: Good Trouble

John Lewis: Good Trouble, the second commissioned work in The Black Opera Project, will receive its world premiere in June 2027. The opera features music by Maria Thompson Corley and a libretto by Diana Solomon-Glover, with stage direction and dramaturgy by Good Bones director Timothy Douglas, and conducted by Everett McCorvey.

The Story: John Lewis: Good Trouble chronicles the remarkable life of U.S. Congressman John Lewis, a towering figure in the Civil Rights Movement. The opera interweaves Lewis's personal story with the broader struggles of the time, capturing the essence of his unwavering commitment to love, nonviolence, and justice. Spanning Lewis's humble beginnings in Troy, Alabama, through the tumultuous events that shaped the movement, the opera delves into issues of race, humanity, and the moral imperative to rise above division, underscoring an enduring message of hope and urging each generation to continue the fight for equality.

Maria Thompson Corley is a composer, arranger, pianist, educator, poet, author, voice actor, and recording artist. She has performed on stages across North and Central America, the Caribbean, and Europe. Her compositions and arrangements span art song, choral and solo vocal music, chamber music, spirituals, and opera and have been commissioned by ensembles and institutions worldwide. In addition to John Lewis: Good Trouble, her operas include the The Sky Where You Are, commissioned by An Opera Theatre in 2020; The Place, commissioned by Lyric Opera of the North, which premiered in 2021; the children's opera The Fox and the Cookie, which premiered at UTEP in 2023, and Dragonfly, commissioned by Manitoba Opera. Her recordings appear on Naxos, Albany, Navona Records, and MSR Classics.

Diana Solomon-Glover is a journalist, singer, and librettist whose artistry has been dedicated to telling stories of unsung American heroes through opera. Her collaboration with composer Chandler Carter, This Little Light of Mine, an opera about Civil Rights activist Fannie Lou Hamer, premiered at Santa Fe Opera in 2022, with subsequent performances at Kentucky Opera in 2025 and the HBCU Opera and Musical Theater Summer Festival in 2027. Inspired by relics from the 127th US Colored Troops, she and composer Carlos Castro created The Promise for Atlanta Opera's inaugural 96-Hour Opera Project. Solomon-Glover is co-owner of Reduta Deux, a not-for-profit producing theatrically innovative works reflecting broad human consciousness.

Around The BroadwayWorld: Top News, Reviews, Interviews & More from May 2026

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 12:03:21 PST

Around the BroadwayWorld is our monthly snapshot of the biggest stories making waves across the global theatre community. In this May 2026 edition, we're bringing you a fresh batch of standout reviews from regional stages across the country - from Brigadoon at Pasadena Playhouse in Los Angeles to The Phantom of the Opera at Seattle's Paramount Theatre and Pippin at Signature Theatre in DC.

Diane Paulus directs an immersive, David Bowie-inspired Life on Mars at American Repertory Theater, the producers of Japan's Gypsy revival walk back a planned title change, and we go behind the scenes with interviews spanning Adam Fields of the Beetlejuice national tour, The Muny's casting director Michael Baxter, Richard Kind on finally taking on Edna in Hairspray, and BWW's Kid Reporters chatting with the touring Von Trapp kids of The Sound of Music. Plus, get a first look at exciting new productions through performance videos and photos, including Anastasia at La Mirada Theatre, Dear Evan Hansen at Arden Theatre, Pippin at Signature Theatre, and the Manila cast of Jesus Christ Superstar - and so much more from across the BroadwayWorld.

Diane Paulus Will Direct Immersive David Bowie Inspired LIFE ON MARS at American Repertory Theater

Joshua Wright | Boston

Diane Paulus will direct Life on Mars, an immersive theatrical production set to David Bowie's music, as the inaugural production at the Goel Center for Creativity & Performance in May.

GYPSY in Japan: Producers Walk Back Title Change Ahead of 2026 Revival

Joshua Wright | Japan

The Japanese revival of GYPSY will retain its original title when it returns to the stage in 2026, reversing an earlier decision to present the production under the name 'Rose.'

Interviews

Interview: Adam Fields of BEETLEJUICE National Tour

Brock Mills | Jacksonville

For Adam Fields, returning to Jacksonville with the national tour of Beetlejuice the Musical isn’t just another stop, it’s a full-circle moment. The production will play in Jacksonville from May 12–17 at the Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts.

Interview: BWW’s 'Kid Reporters' Chat With THE SOUND OF MUSIC’s Touring Von Trapp Kids

Melissa Heckscher | Los Angeles

BroadwayWorld Los Angeles' kid reporters talk with the young touring cast of THE SOUND OF MUSIC to find out what it's like to be part of one of Broadway’s most iconic shows and what actually happens behind the curtain.

Interview: Chatting with The Muny's Casting Director Michael Baxter

James Lindhorst | St. Louis

Michael Baxter’s work will shine on The Muny stage during all 50 performances this summer. He led the efforts and had a hand in hiring every one of the 194 actors who will fill the principal and ensemble roles.

Interview: Richard Kind Talks Finally Taking on Edna in The Muny's HAIRSPRAY

James Lindhorst | St. Louis

When The Muny opens their production of Hairspray on June 15, 2026, the legendary Richard Kind will don Edna Turnblad’s housecoat and step into her fuzzy house slippers. Kind, star of stage, screen and film, calls it bucket list moments to get to perform at The Muny and play Edna all at the same time.

Reviews

Review: BRIGADOON at Pasadena Playhouse

Andrew Child | Los Angeles

Brava to Alexandra Silber for capturing all the heart and humor of Lerner’s original book with her thoughtful new adaptation and brava to Katie Spelman for dreaming up a Brigadoon that is as ebullient and spirited as it is deeply human.

Review: THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA at Paramount Theatre

Shelley Dean | Seattle

It’s almost unbelievable for me to admit that this was my first time seeing The Phantom of the Opera. Of course, I knew the iconic songs and had seen countless clips over the years, but experiencing the production live on stage for the first time was entirely different, haunting, and spine-chilling in the best way possible. From the chandelier drop to the monumental set pieces, the show truly lives up to its legendary reputation. The 2026 tour, directed by Harold Prince, serves as a revitalized version of the original production, featuring Maria Björnson’s iconic designs, musical staging, and choreography by Gillian Lynne. It is absolutely ravishing, and Seattle audiences are lining up hours early to witness the spectacle for themselves.

Review: PIPPIN at Signature Theatre

Aidan O'Connor | Washington, DC

Certain facets of the human condition are foundational to our very existence – change, connection, desire. One such particularly toxic universal truth is a constant need to be something more than we currently are. To search for happiness in external achievement rather than within ourselves, in our simple joys. Pippin at Signature Theatre breathes within that precise virulence, relatively orchestrated by a troupe of impeccably costumed and choreographed players. A feast for the eyes in all senses, Matthew Gardiner’s production surpasses even the highest of expectations.

Videos

Video: Watch La Mirada Theatre's ANASTASIA Star Lena Ceja Perform 'Journey to the Past'

Michael Major | Los Angeles

La Mirada Theatre has released new video footage of Lena Ceja rehearsing 'Journey to the Past' from their upcoming production of Anastasia. The production features Dillon Klena as Dmitry, a role first played on Broadway by his brother Derek Klena.

Photos/Video: DEAR EVAN HANSEN At Arden Theatre

A.A. Cristi | Philadelphia

Arden Theatre Company is now presenting DEAR EVAN HANSEN as the final production of its 2025/26 season, with performances continuing through July 5. New production photos and video have been released from the Philadelphia production, including footage of Evan A. Kaushesh performing “Waving Through a Window.”

Video: Watch 'Corner of the Sky' From Signature Theatre's PIPPIN

Michael Major | Washington, DC

Watch a video of Brayden Bambino performing 'Corner of the Sky' in Signature Theatre's production of Pippin. The in-the-round production is now running through July 26 with tickets available now.

Photos

Photos: Get a First Look at JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR in Manila

Oliver Oliveros | Philippines

The 2017 Olivier Award winner for Best Musical Revival, Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s rock opera 'Jesus Christ Superstar,' has officially opened at The Theatre at Solaire.

SALOME to Open Cincinnati Opera's 2026 Summer Festival at Music Hall

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 22:41:39 PST

On June 18 and 20 Cincinnati Opera opens its 2026 Summer Festival with Richard Strauss's Salome.

Salome will feature a cast led by soprano Kathryn Lewek, in her title role debut. The all-star cast of Metropolitan Opera regulars also includes tenor Chad Shelton as Herod, bass-baritone Alfred Walker as Jochanaan, mezzo-soprano Michelle DeYoung as Herodias, and tenor Zach Borichevsky as Narraboth. Robert Spano conducts the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, and Jose Maria Condemi directs.

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

The cast is led by Kathryn Lewek as Salome, alongside Chad Shelton as Herod, Alfred Walker as Jochanaan (John the Baptist), and Michelle DeYoung as Herodias. The company also features Zach Borichevsky as Narraboth, Emily Cotten as the Page of Herodias, Thomas Dreeze as the First Nazarene, Donghoon Kang as the First Soldier, Sam Smith as the Second Soldier, Julius Ahn as the First Jew, Levi Capesius as the Second Jew, Mark Hockenberry as the Third Jew, M. Andrew Jones as the Fourth Jew, Ron Dukes as the Fifth Jew, Alexander Gushrowski as the Second Nazarene, Clara Reeves as a Slave, and Stephen Hanna as a Cappadocian. Dancers Sydney Caggiano and Amanda Pérez Duarte round out the company.

The production is conducted by Robert Spano and directed by Jose Maria Condemi. The creative team includes scenic and properties designer Tim Wallace, Costume Designer Anita Yavich, lighting designer Thomas C. Hase, wig and makeup designer James Geier, choreographer Erina Noda, and stage manager Jennifer Shaw. The production features the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.

Tickets start at $25. For tickets and information, call 513-241-2742 or visit cincinnatiopera.org.

The June 18 performance of Salome is Veterans Night. A limited number of free tickets are available to U.S. veterans through Vet Tix, and veterans and their families can receive a 20% discount on full-priced tickets.
The June 20 performance of Salome is Pride Night. Following the performance, Cincinnati Opera will host a celebration of the LGBTQIA+ community featuring drinks, dancing, and special surprises in Music Hall's Wilks Studio. Event tickets are $40; Salome tickets are sold separately. Host and sponsor opportunities are also available.
Additional discounts are available for groups, students, educators, young professionals, seniors, SNAP cardholders, and ArtsWave Pass members. Cincinnati Opera also offers Pay What You Wish tickets for the June 18 performance of Salome, available beginning the day of the performance. More information is available at cincinnatiopera.org.

ADRENALIZE to Kick Off Ohio Summer Concert Season with Def Leppard Tribute Shows

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 18:33:27 PST

Adrenalize - The Ultimate Def Leppard Experience is bringing the music of one of rock's most iconic bands to outdoor audiences across Ohio and beyond.

The nationally recognized tribute act will launch its summer outdoor concert schedule this weekend with two highly anticipated Ohio appearances. On Friday, June 5, Adrenalize will headline the season-opening concert of Wilmington's Friday Night Summer Concert Series, a popular downtown tradition that brings music fans together throughout the summer for free outdoor concerts in the heart of the city. As the featured performer launching the 2026 season, Adrenalize is proud to help begin another summer of live music and community celebration in Wilmington.

The following evening, Saturday, June 6, the band travels to LA-Z Acres Campground in Nashport, Ohio, one of the Midwest's most unique outdoor concert destinations.

Known for its impressive concert grounds, massive video wall, professional production, and enthusiastic crowds, LA-Z Acres Campground has become one of Ohio's most distinctive outdoor concert destinations. Throughout the season, campers from across the property make their way to the concert grounds - many arriving by golf cart - to experience the evening's entertainment. With its state-of-the-art presentation, community atmosphere, and passionate audience, the venue provides the perfect setting for Adrenalize's arena-sized tribute to Def Leppard.

Widely regarded as the country's leading Def Leppard tribute experience, Adrenalize recreates the sound, energy, and excitement of a classic Def Leppard concert with remarkable attention to detail. More than simply performing the songs, the band is committed to honoring the music, legacy, and spirit of one of rock's most influential and enduring acts. From the soaring harmonies and dual-guitar attack to the authentic visual presentation, Adrenalize delivers the music with the same passion, respect, and integrity that have made Def Leppard a global arena rock phenomenon for more than four decades.

Fans can expect performances featuring favorites such as "Photograph," "Rock of Ages," "Hysteria," "Animal," "Foolin'," "Rocket," "Bringin' On The Heartbreak," and, of course, "Pour Some Sugar On Me," presented with the power and precision that have earned Adrenalize a growing reputation among theaters, festivals, casinos, and concert venues nationwide.

The Ohio performances are just the beginning of a busy summer schedule that includes both outdoor festivals and headline theater appearances.

Upcoming Adrenalize Dates:

June 5 - Friday Night Concert Series - Wilmington, OH

June 6 - LA-Z Acres Campground - Nashport, OH

June 13 - Appalachian Harley-Davidson's 25th Birthday Bash - Mechanicsburg, PA

June 26 - Penn Theater - Butler, PA

June 27 - Pennsylvania Roundhouse Rally - Altoona, PA

Additional dates continue throughout the summer and fall.

For tickets, show information, and a complete tour schedule, visit AdrenalizeBand.com.

About Adrenalize

Adrenalize - The Ultimate Def Leppard Experience is dedicated to celebrating the music and legacy of Def Leppard through authentic live performances that capture the excitement of the band's legendary arena tours. Performing for audiences across the United States, Adrenalize has become the country's leading Def Leppard tribute experience, earning praise for its musicianship, attention to detail, and commitment to delivering a first-class concert experience.

BroadwayWorld Launches Producer Fantasy Game

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 11:00:05 PST

Ever watched the weekly Broadway grosses roll in and thought you could pick the winners? Now you can put it to the test. BroadwayWorld has launched the Producer Fantasy Game, a free, season-long competition that lets theatre fans build a roster of Broadway shows and earn points based on how those productions actually perform at the box office. The draft window is open now.

How It Works

The setup is simple. During the draft window, you pick any six Broadway productions that opened this season. Drafting is non-exclusive, so there is no need to race a rival for a hot title. Any number of players can roster the same show.

From there, your shows go to work for you. Every week, each production on your roster earns fantasy points based on its reported box office grosses and capacity percentages. When Tony, Drama Desk, Drama League, and Outer Critics Circle nominations and wins are announced, your shows bank bonus points on top of that. And each week you can answer our Fantasy Forecast prediction questions for up to five bonus points per correct call.

Weekly Scoring

Each week, a show earns one base point for every $50,000 it grosses, so a $1 million week is worth 20 base points. On top of that, shows can earn bonuses: up to five points for filling seats (based on how close to full capacity the house ran), six points for grossing $2 million or more (or three points for grossing between $1 million and $2 million), and eight points if its gross jumped at least 15 percent from the week before. A show loses four points if its gross dropped at least 15 percent. If a show goes dark and reports no gross for a week, it scores zero for that week with no penalty.

The Fantasy Forecast

The Producer Fantasy Game is really two games in one. The first is the box office game: drafting shows and earning points from their weekly grosses and awards. The second is the Fantasy Forecast, a weekly set of prediction questions about what's happening on Broadway, where each correct answer is worth up to five points. You can play one or both.

We track them separately so you can shine at either. Your Producer score covers the box office game, your Forecast score covers your prediction results, and your Combined score adds the two together for the overall championship ranking. The leaderboard lets you toggle between Overall, Producers, and Forecasters, so a sharp predictor can top the Forecasters board even during a rough season for their roster, and a roster powerhouse can lead the Producers board without answering a single question.

Managing Your Roster

Your lineup stays at six shows all season, and you have plenty of room to maneuver. You get one free drop every week, three additional season drops to use anytime before the trade deadline, and free replacements whenever a show on your roster closes. New productions open throughout the season and become available the moment they start reporting grosses, so it pays to keep a transaction in your pocket for that buzzy new opening.

Join the Game

The Producer Fantasy Game is free for all BroadwayWorld users, and you can join any time the draft window is open. Draft within the first two weeks of the season and your roster is scored from opening week, so the earlier you get in, the more weeks you bank. Build your roster, make your predictions, and start climbing the leaderboard today.

A DRAG QUEEN CHRISTMAS to Return for 12th Year With 39-City National Tour

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 19:57:07 PST

“A Drag Queen Christmas” will return for its 12th year, launching a 39-city national tour this November - December. The 2026 edition is hosted by returning fan favorite and theatre star Nina West, and features an all-new merry lineup of drag superstars from the Emmy-winning RuPaul's Drag Race franchise.

Artist pre-sale begins Wednesday, June 3 at 10 a.m. (local time) with the code “TWELVE,” and general on sale begins Friday, June 5 at 10 a.m. (local time) at dragfans.com.

This year's cast includes:

Myki Meeks, Winner of RuPaul's Drag Race Season 18 (2026)
Nini Coco, Runner-up, Drag Race Season 18 (2026)
Darlene Mitchell, Drag Race Season 18 (2026)
Juicy Love Dion, Drag Race Season 18 (2026)
Discord Addams, Drag Race Season 18 (2026)
Crystal Methyd, Drag Race All Stars Season 11 (2026) & Drag Race Season 12 (2020)
Silky Ganache, Drag Race All Stars Season 11 (2026), Drag Race All Stars Season 6 (2021), Drag Race Season 11 (2019)

“A Drag Queen Christmas” is the world's premiere holiday drag showcase and a sensational theatrical experience that delivers high camp, over-the-top lip-sync performances, side-splitting comedy, elaborate costumes, Broadway-style staging, and a whole lot of heart—something we all seek during the chaos of the holiday season. With plenty of spectacular surprises in store, the show offers audiences a chance to see drag queens at the top of their game perform showstopping numbers of epic holiday proportions on revered theater stages across America. Each year, “A Drag Queen Christmas” provides an annual tradition for folks from all walks of life to come together and connect, find community, and celebrate the season with joy and laughter.

This dazzling, 18+ holiday extravaganza runs two hours and offers fans the chance to add-on a VIP Meet & Greet Experience—including early access to the venue, photos with the queens on stage, autographs, and exclusive tour merchandise.

A Drag Queen Christmas 2026 Tour Dates:

November 11 - Detroit, MI (Fisher Theatre)

November 12 - Rochester, NY (Kodak Center)

November 13 - Rutland, VT (Paramount Theatre)

November 14 - Portland, ME (Merrill Auditorium)

November 15 - Boston, MA (Emerson Colonial Theatre)

November 17 - Red Bank, NJ (Count Basie Center for the Arts)

November 18 - Morristown, NJ (Mayo Performing Arts Center)

November 19 - Washington, DC (Warner Theatre)

November 20 - Durham, NC (Durham Performing Arts Center)

November 21 - Wilmington, NC (Wilson Center - Cape Fear Community College)

November 22 - Philadelphia, PA (Fillmore)

November 24 - Pittsburgh, PA (Byham Theater)

November 25 - Columbus, OH (Palace Theatre)

November 27 - Chicago, IL (Riviera Theatre)

November 28 - Appleton, WI (Fox Cities Performing Arts Center)

November 29 - Omaha, NE (Orpheum Theater)

November 30 - Oklahoma City, OK (The Criterion)

December 1 - Des Moines, IA (Hoyt Sherman Place)

December 2 - Kansas City, MO (Uptown Theater)

December 4 - Denver, CO (Paramount Theatre)

December 5 - Salt Lake City, UT (Kingsbury Hall)

December 7 - Seattle, WA (Moore Theatre)

December 9 - Sacramento, CA (Channel 24)

December 10 - San Francisco, CA (Golden Gate Theatre)

December 11 - Stockton, CA (Bob Hope Theatre)

December 12 - Los Angeles, CA (The Wiltern)

December 13 - Santa Rosa, CA (Luther Burbank Center)

December 15 - Mesa, AZ (Mesa Arts Center)

December 16 - Tucson, AZ (Fox Tucson Theatre)

December 17 - El Paso, TX (Plaza Theatre)

December 19 - Austin, TX (ACL Live at The Moody Theater)

December 20 - Dallas, TX (Winspear Opera House)

December 21 - Wichita, KS (Orpheum Theatre)

December 22 - St.Louis, MO (The Factory)

December 23 - Knoxville, TN (Tennessee Theatre)

December 26 - Tampa Bay, FL (Straz Center for the Performing Arts)

December 27 - Fort Myers, FL (Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall)

December 28 - West Palm Beach, FL (Kravis Center for the Performing Arts)

December 29 - Jacksonville, FL (Florida Theatre)

JIM HENSON’S FRAGGLE ROCK: BACK TO THE ROCK LIVE is Coming to the Aronoff Center

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 14:02:43 PST

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

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

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

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

SONIC LIVE IN CONCERT to Launch Global Tour With US and UK Premieres

Wed, 27 May 2026 20:59:39 PST

As Sonic the Hedgehog celebrates 35 years as one of the most iconic video game franchises of all time, Senbla and SEGA today announced Sonic Live In Concert (www.sonicliveinconcert.com). This new concert experience brings the music and moments of the beloved video games to the stage.

Featuring iconic moments and music from the very first game in 1991 through today, the production will debut in the U.S. at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood on September 26, 2026, before making its European premiere at London's Eventim Apollo on September 30. The U.S. tour will visit more than 30 cities nationwide, and a UK tour will follow in February 2027. More European dates will be announced at a later time. Tickets will go on sale May 29, 2026, with pre-sale tickets going on sale on May 28, 2026.

As part of a global rollout celebrating the franchise's milestone anniversary, Sonic Live In Concert features the most recognizable music from the Sonic universe, performed by a live ensemble alongside rock musicians, vocalists, and electronic elements. The setlist includes fan-favorite tracks and an incredible array of music from the very first game through to today accompanied by synchronized HD footage of iconic levels, moments and boss battles from the franchise. Audiences can expect musical Easter eggs woven into the arrangements, adding an extra layer of discovery that brings Sonic's world vividly to life on stage.

The concert also highlights the creative legacy behind Sonic's music from legendary composers Jun Senoue and Tomoya Ohtani, whose work has helped define Sonic's sound across generations.

"Sonic has some of the most distinct and celebrated music in gaming," says Ollie Rosenblatt, CEO of Senbla. "We wanted to create a live show that stays true to what the fans love about Sonic's music, from the electronic and melodic themes to high-energy rock."

“Music has always been a core part of Sonic's identity, shaping how fans experience this world across generations," said Ivo Gerscovich, Chief Business & Brand Officer at SEGA of America, Inc. "With this concert, we're looking forward to celebrating that legacy in a live setting; bringing together the energy, emotion, and creativity of Sonic's music in a way that both longtime fans and new audiences can enjoy together.”

Since his debut in 1991, Sonic the Hedgehog has become a global entertainment icon spanning video games, film, television, and consumer products. With renewed momentum driven by recent film releases, new game titles, and a global brand campaign tied to the 35th anniversary, the franchise continues to reach new generations of fans worldwide.

The performance schedule includes:

September 20, 2026 – Spokane, Washington – First Interstate Center for the Arts
September 22, 2026 – Seattle, WA – Paramount Theatre (preview)
September 23, 2026 – Portland, OR – Keller Auditorium (preview)
September 25, 2026 – San Diego, CA – San Diego Civic Theatre (preview)
September 26, 2026 – Hollywood, CA – Dolby Theatre
September 27, 2026 – Riverside, CA – Fox Performing Arts Center
September 29, 2026 – Mesa, AZ – Mesa Arts Center - Ikeda Theater
September 30, 2026 – London, U.K. – London Eventim Apollo
October 1, 2026 – Las Vegas, NV – Resorts World Theatre
October 2, 2026 – Fresno, CA – Saroyan Theatre
October 3, 2026 – San Jose, CA – San Jose Civic
October 4, 2026 – Reno, NV – Grand Theatre at The Grand Sierra Resort & Casino
October 6, 2026 – Denver, CO – Temple Hoyne Buell Theatre
October 8, 2026 – Irving, TX – The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory
October 9, 2026 – Houston, TX – Bayou Music Center
October 10, 2026 – San Antonio, TX – Boeing Center at Tech Port
October 11, 2026 – Oklahoma City, OK – The Criterion
October 13, 2026 – Wichita, KS – Orpheum Theatre
October 15, 2026 – Omaha, NE – Orpheum Theater
October 16, 2026 – Peoria, IL – Prairie Home Alliance Theater
October 17, 2026 – Louisville, KY – The Louisville Palace Theatre
October 18, 2026 – St. Louis, MO – The Factory
October 19, 2026 – Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium
October 20, 2026 – Mobile, AL – Saenger Theatre
October 22, 2026 – Brandon, MS – City Hall Live
October 23, 2026 – Huntsville, AL – VBC Mark C. Smith Concert Hall
October 24, 2026 – Atlanta, GA – Fox Theatre
October 25, 2026 – Greensboro, NC – Steven Tanger Center for Performing Arts
October 27, 2026 – Charlotte, NC – Ovens Auditorium
October 28, 2026 – North Charleston, SC – North Charleston Performing Arts Center
October 29, 2026 – Jacksonville, FL – Florida Theatre
October 30, 2026 – St. Petersburg, FL – Duke Energy Center for the Arts - Mahaffey Theater
October 31, 2026 – Fort Lauderdale, FL – Broward Center for the Performing Arts - Au Rene Theater
November 1, 2026 – Orlando, FL – Walt Disney Theater at Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts
February 17, 2027 – Glasgow, UK – Royal Concert Hall
February 18, 2027 – Edinburgh, UK – Usher Hall
February 19, 2027 – Manchester, UK – Bridgewater Hall
February 20, 2027 – Birmingham, UK – Symphony Hall

For more information, tour dates, and tickets, visit www.sonicliveinconcert.com.

QUIET COYOTES To Make Cincy Fringe Premiere

Sat, 23 May 2026 18:13:00 PST

Three summer camp counselors are left in charge during a wildfire emergency. In an effort to distract and entertain the campers, the trio begin performing skits inspired by plant adaptations. As the fire draws closer, the plays get more personal, and the counselors become forever changed.

Quiet Coyotes will be performing as part of the 2026 Cincinnati Fringe Festival at the Miami Venue, located at 1300 Vine Street.

The cast featured in this show are: ELLYN BRODERICK as Blair, Cary Davenport as Logan and MONICA TENHOVER as Sam.

Public Showtimes include: Friday, May 29, 2026: 8:45 PM,, Saturday, May 30, 2026: 4:15 PM,. Sunday, May 31, 2026: 7:00 PM, Thursday, June 4, 2026: 7:00 PM, Sunday, June 7, 2026: 4:15 PM and Tuesday, June 9, 2026: 8:45 PM.

Tickets can be purchased at the Cincy Fringe's website.

Green Fuse Productions is led by Robyn Novak, an artist and horticulturist based out of Southgate, KY. After graduating from Cincinnati State in 2024 with an A.A.B. in horticulture, she sought to combine her love of nature with her theatrical skills to produce shows that encourage environmentalism. Quiet Coyotes wouldn’t be possible without her extremely talented and creative team, including: Ellyn Broderick, Johnny Kyle Cook, Cary Davenport, Cal Harris, Hannah Plessinger, and Monica Tenhover.

Disney on Broadway School of Excellence Program Names 20 Winning Schools Nationwide

Thu, 21 May 2026 11:36:21 PST

The Educational Theatre Foundation, Disney Theatrical Group, and Music Theatre International have revealed the recipients of the Disney on Broadway School of Excellence program. This initiative recognizes middle and high schools across the United States for their exceptional student-led involvement in theatre production.

The nationwide program, now entering its third year, called upon schools to demonstrate creativity and student leadership in theatrical disciplines such as stagecraft, direction, performance, choreography, and design. Winning schools receive free licensing and production materials to produce Disney musicals, plus exclusive educational webinars with industry professionals.

The selected schools will produce performances of iconic Disney musicals such as Newsies, High School Musical, and Alice in Wonderland, JR. in the 2026-27 school year. This initiative underscores the ongoing commitment of ETF, DTG, and MTI to inspire the next generation of storytellers while providing schools with the resources to produce high-quality theatrical productions.

The recipients, listed alphabetically:

Advanced Learning Academy at Fox Tech High School – San Antonio, Texas
Cairo High School – Cairo, Ga.
Calvary Christian School – Columbus, Ga.
Desert Edge High School – Goodyear, Ariz.
Edward H. White High School – Jacksonville, Fla.
Falls Lake Academy – Creedmoor, N.C.
Hedgesville High School – Hedgesville, W.Va.
Hickory High School – Chesapeake, Va.
Horizon West Middle School – Windermere, Fla.
Howell Middle School South – Howell, N.J.
I.S. 78 Roy H. Mann – Brooklyn, N.Y.
Jesús Moroles Expressive Arts Vanguard – Dallas, Texas
Jule F. Sumner High School – Riverview, Fla.
Lincoln High School – Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.
Mandeville High School – Mandeville, La.
Munster High School – Munster, Ind.
Oscar Smith High School – Chesapeake, Va.
Salina Central High School – Salina, Kan.
Silver Creek High School – Longmont, Colo.
Southside Christian School – Simpsonville, S.C.

Students from School of Excellence alumni schools will kick off the Opening Ceremony of the 2026 International Thespian Festival in Bloomington, Indiana with a thrilling tribute to Disney's High School Musical, celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the original Disney Channel film and the ongoing impact of school theatre on students worldwide. More information about the Disney on Broadway School of Excellence program can be found at foundation.schooltheatre.org.

Meeka Owens and Alyenendrov Tsorokean Crowned 2026 DANCING FOR THE STARS Champs

Wed, 20 May 2026 12:36:04 PST

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

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

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

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

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

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

Dr. Mona Foad (Founder & CEO, Mona Dermatology) and Jozsef Parragh (Independent Dance Instructor): “The House is Rockin’” – Wynonna Judd
Nicholas Dunigan (Vice President, Wealth Management for Fifth Third Bank) and Melissa Vaughn (Arthur Murray – Montgomery): “Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White” – Hauser
Meeka Owens (Cincinnati City Councilwoman) and Alyenendrov Tsorokean (Phoenix Rising Ballroom) “Respect” – Aretha Franklin
Alex Beach (Fidelity Investments) and Bonita Brockert (Independent Dance Instructor): “Boogie-Woogie Queen” – Shayna Thompson
Robert Warfel (Public Safety and Law Enforcement Executive) and Desiree Mainous (Owner, Arthur Murray – Montgomery): “Jailhouse Rock” – Elvis
Felisa Insignares (founder, ELEVATI Elevated Essentials and Owner of Designer Items & More Boutique) and James Branham (Arthur Murray – Dayton): “Mambo Italiano” – Dean Martin and Rosemary Clooney
Event emcees were Chris O’Brien and Janeen Coyle (former hosts of “Married with Microphones,” 103.5 WGRR-FM). The competition judges were Doreen Beatrice (Dancing for the Stars Professional Alumna and committee member), Douglas Beal (Independent Dance Instructor and committee member), and Pam Kravetz (Nationally Recognized Artist and Arts Educator | Celebrity Dancer, Dancing for the Stars 2018)

In addition, Dancing for the Stars 2026 featured:

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

THE NOTEBOOK North American Tour Adds 26 Cities to 2026-27 Route

Tue, 19 May 2026 08:13:15 PST

The North American Tour of THE NOTEBOOK hasannounced engagements for the 2026-27 season, adding 26 cites to the previously announced route, including stops in Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, and Houston. The tour began performances on September 6, 2025, at Playhouse Square in Cleveland, Ohio, and has welcomed over 500,000 patrons to date.

Read the reviews for the touring production of The Notebook.

Allie and Noah, two people from different worlds, share a lifetime of love despite the forces that threaten to pull them apart in a deeply moving portrait of the enduring power of love. Based on the book that has sold millions of copies worldwide and a film that is one of the highest-grossing romantic dramas of all-time, the musical adaptation of THE NOTEBOOK played Broadway at the Schoenfeld Theatre from March 2024 to December 2024 following a critically acclaimed world premiere engagement at Chicago Shakespeare Theater in the fall of 2022.

THE NOTEBOOK features music and lyrics by multi-platinum singer-songwriter Ingrid Michaelson and a book by playwright Bekah Brunstetter (writer and producer on NBC's “This Is Us,” The Cake). The production is directed by Michael Greif (Dear Evan Hansen, Next to Normal, RENT) and Schele Williams (Aida, The Wiz), with choreography by Katie Spelman (Associate Choreographer on Moulin Rouge! The Musical).

The creative team for the tour includes scenic design by David Zinn and Brett J. Banakis, costume design by Paloma Young, lighting design by Ben Stanton, sound design by Nevin Steinberg, hair and wig design by Mia Neal, and projection design by Lucy Mackinnon. The production's music supervisor is Carmel Dean, who also collaborated on arrangements with Ingrid Michaelson and on orchestrations with John Clancy, and the music director is Tina Faye. Casting by The Telsey Office, Patrick Goodwin, CSA.

The production was recognized with three 2024 Tony Award nominations (Best Book of a Musical, Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical, Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical), Drama League Award nominations for Outstanding Production of a Musical, two Distinguished Performance Awards and the Founders Award for Excellence in Directing, Drama Desk Award nominations for Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical, and an Outer Critics Circle Award nomination for Outstanding Lead Performer in a Broadway Musical.

2026-2027 Tour Dates:

Detroit, MI — Fisher Theatre
September 22 – October 4, 2026

Dayton, OH — Schuster Center
October 6 – 11, 2026

Grand Rapids, MI — DeVos Performance Hall
October 13 – 18, 2026

East Lansing, MI — Wharton Center
October 27 – November 1, 2026

Richmond, VA — Altria Theater
November 3 – 8, 2026

Pittsburgh, PA — Benedum Center
November 10 – 15, 2026

Schenectady, NY — Proctors
December 1 – 6, 2026

Boston, MA — Emerson Colonial Theatre
December 8 – 20, 2026

Oklahoma City, OK — Civic Center Music Hall
December 29, 2026 – January 3, 2027

Houston, TX — Hobby Center
January 5 – 10, 2027

Dallas, TX — Winspear Opera House
January 12 – 24, 2027

New Orleans, LA — Saenger Theatre
January 26 – 31, 2027

Hershey, PA — Hershey Theatre
February 3 – 7, 2027

Providence, RI — PPAC
February 9 – 14, 2027

Rochester, NY — Auditorium Theatre
February 16 – 21, 2027

Fayetteville, AR — Walton Arts Center
February 24 – 28, 2027

Huntsville, AL — Von Braun Center
March 2 – 7, 2027

Ft. Lauderdale, FL — Broward Center
March 9 – 14, 2027

Ft. Myers, FL — Barbara B. Mann Hall
March 16 – 21, 2027

Naples, FL — Artis—Naples
March 23 – 28, 2027

North Charleston, SC — North Charleston PAC
March 30 – April 4, 2027

Birmingham, AL — BJCC Concert Hall
April 6 – 11, 2027

Atlanta, GA — Fox Theatre
April 13 – 18, 2027

Tucson, AZ — Centennial Hall
April 27 – May 2, 2027

San Jose, CA — Center for the Performing Arts
May 4 – 9, 2027

Sacramento, CA — SAFE Credit Union PAC
May 11 – 16, 2027

DOODLE POP! and ARTRAGEOUS Come to The Emery Theater This Summer

Mon, 18 May 2026 19:37:40 PST

This June, The Children's Theatre of Cincinnati will transform the historic Emery Theater will into a high-energy summer destination for immersive family entertainment with Doodle POP! and Artrageous.

Perfect for kids ages 3–12 and their families, these visually Dynamic Productions blend music, art, comedy, movement, and audience interaction into unforgettable live experiences designed to spark imagination and creativity.

First, Doodle POP! arrives at The Emery Theater June 4–7. This whimsical visual theater experience from South Korea combines live performance, stunning projection effects, imaginative storytelling, and larger-than-life creativity in a nonverbal adventure audiences of all ages can enjoy together. An international hit praised for its inventive visual style and playful energy, Doodle POP! invites audiences into a colorful world where drawings come to life in surprising and magical ways.

Then, June 26–28, Artrageous comes to The Emery Theater with a one-of-a-kind performance experience that feels like a rock concert meets live painting event. Featuring a troupe of world-class artists, musicians, singers, and performers, Artrageous combines live music, speed painting, choreography, and audience participation into a fast-paced multimedia spectacle.

Known for performances around the world, Artrageous has earned praise for its electrifying blend of creativity, music, and visual art that turns the artistic process into live entertainment.

“These are the kinds of experiences families don't get to see every day,” said Kim Kern, President & CEO of The Children's Theatre of Cincinnati. “We wanted to bring something truly unique to Cincinnati this summer — visually spectacular events that create excitement, spark creativity, and give families memorable shared experiences inside one of the most extraordinary theaters in the country.”

Both productions will be presented at the newly restored Emery Theater, now the most technologically advanced proscenium-style theaters in the United States and the permanent home of The Children's Theatre of Cincinnati. Doodle POP! runs June 4–7 for eight performances only. Artrageous runs June 26–28 for four performances only. Tickets are on sale now at thechildrenstheatre.com.

DOODLE POP!

June 4–7, 2026

The Emery Theater

Tickets starting at $25

Performance Schedule:

Thursday, June 4 at 11:00 AM
Thursday, June 4 at 2:00 PM
Friday, June 5 at 4:00 PM
Friday, June 5 at 7:00 PM
Saturday, June 6 at 2:00 PM
Saturday, June 6 at 5:00 PM
Sunday, June 7 at 2:00 PM
Sunday, June 7 at 5:00 PM

ARTRAGEOUS

June 26–28, 2026

The Emery Theater

Tickets starting at $30

Performance Schedule:

Friday, June 26 at 6:00 PM
Saturday, June 27 at 2:00 PM
Saturday, June 27 at 7:00 PM
Sunday, June 28 at 2:00 PM

For tickets and information about both productions, visit www.thechildrenstheatre.com.

ABOUT THE CHILDREN'S THEATRE OF CINCINNATI

Celebrating 106 years this season, The Children's Theatre of Cincinnati is the nation's oldest professional theatre for young audiences and the only professional theatre in the region devoted entirely to children. Through Broadway-quality MainStage productions at the Emery Theater, TCT on Tour performances throughout the region, and TCT Academy education programs, TCT educates, entertains, and inspires audiences of all ages while awakening a lifelong love of theatre in the young and the young at heart.

Review: Broadway in Cincinnati presents SUFFS at The Aronoff Center

Thu, 14 May 2026 10:14:35 PST

It is always baffling to me, the things that history books don’t teach us. How can something so important within the history of our country be overlooked? This was one of many conversations I had last night after attending the opening night performance of Suffs in Cincinnati. The show focuses on Alice Paul and her involvement with the women’s suffrage movement until its ratification of the 19th amendment giving (white) women the right to vote. If you happen to be reading this review, I ask you this: do you know who Alice Paul is? How about Carrie Chapman Catt? Or even Ida B. Wells? These women and many more helped to shape our country over 100 years ago, and this sharp new musical written entirely by Shaina Taub is finally giving them their time in the spotlight - where they should’ve been all along. Ultimately winning two Tony Awards, Suffs is now touring the country in a stunning and awe inspiring fashion.

The show is led quite beautifully by Maya Keleher as Alice Paul. She exquisitely inhabits the force of nature this woman was, relentless in her pursuit for voter equality. While her fiery moments are exciting, I want to put emphasis on the more subtle heartfelt ones as well, like the Act 1 song “Worth It” where Alice asks herself if the cause is worth dedicating her whole life to achieving. Acting as her foil is Marya Grandy as Carrie Chapman Catt. Grandy plays Catt with Grace and sophistication, which makes the moments we see her crack all the more impactful. At the end of the day these two characters want the same things, but fundamentally disagree on how to achieve them. Rounding out the trio of what I would consider the true leads of the show is Danyel Fulton as Ida B. Wells. Fulton plays Wells as very stoic and reserved, and beautifully delivers the heartbreaking “Wait My Turn”. A piece regarding the fact that sadly the 19th amendment would ignore black women if and when their cause is realized.

The supporting cast is all uniformly strong, and there are too many to give everyone their flowers but I was very taken with Monica Tulia Ramirez as Inez Milholland. Ramirez has stunning vocals and commands the stage as if it’s the easiest thing in the world. Watching her experience the character’s highs and lows is just thrilling. Livy Marcus’ Dorris Stevens is quirky and adorable, bringing many moments of needed comedy, and is a great energetic addition anytime she is onstage. I also must recognize Jenny Ashman as President Wilson. Ashman plays the character with just the right amount of tongue in cheek bafoonery, adding some needed levity to what is essentially the villain of our story. She has wonderful timing and a soaring voice.

Visually, the show doesn’t have a lot going on, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. The sets are very basic and serve the purpose of the show which is to give focus to the writing and the characters that drive the experience. I will say that the lighting did a magnificent job of adding in layers and depth to what is sometimes a rather bare stage.

I believe genuinely that Suffs is one of the best musicals written in the last decade. It is so rare these days to hear a score be so utterly complete in its vision and storytelling that it’s something wonderful to behold. On top of that, the show tackles a highly fascinating and often overlooked subject with what I would consider world class performances. This production is only running for a week in Cincinatti, and I while I realize it’s not the flashiest title - I urge any and everyone to go see it. Suffs is so utterly important, especially right now as we often need to be reminding that progress is possible, not guaranteed.

SUFFS

Now - May 17th

Aronoff Center For The Arts

650 Walnut Street Cincinnati, OH 45202.

StageMag Launches Programmable PDF Editor for Digital Theater Programs

Thu, 21 May 2026 10:04:02 PST

StageMag, the digital show program platform from BroadwayWorld, today launched its new PDF Editor to all producers and stage managers using the service. The tool gives editors granular, real-time control over how their digital program renders as a downloadable or printable PDF - the format most often used in lobby printouts, accessibility packets, and press kits.

Until now, the StageMag-to-PDF path was a one-shot export: whatever fit, fit. The new editor turns the export into a configurable surface. Each section of a program including the cast list, song list, director's note, bios, advertisements, sponsor pages, articles, listings and more — can be individually told how to paginate. Editors choose between three strategies per section:

Flow: natural pagination, sections may split across pages.
Own page: start the section on a fresh page.
Fit one page: start fresh and scale the section to occupy the whole page.

A live preview pane re-renders the PDF on every change, so editors see the final printed result as they work rather than guessing and re-exporting.Beyond the strategy picker, the editor exposes a set of advanced controls familiar to anyone who has hand-tuned a long-form print document: hide-element selectors (drop sponsor strips or vestigial nav from the print version), forced page breaks before or after named elements, a draggable section-order list, custom header/footer/watermark text, and a custom-CSS escape hatch for theaters whose programs follow a house style.

The release also includes paper-level controls including US Letter or A4, portrait or landscape, three margin presets, three type scales, and a "booklet" mode that adds a binding gutter for stapled lobby printouts.

The PDF Editor is available now to all StageMag-enabled productions at no additional cost, under the Share PDF tab in the program editor. Existing programs render with sensible defaults; the new controls are opt-in and per-production.

About StageMag

StageMag is BroadwayWorld's digital playbill platform, used by Broadway, Off-Broadway, regional, university, and community theater productions to publish interactive programs that audiences open on their phones from a QR code in the lobby. StageMag is offered as a free service to participating productions.

About BroadwayWorld

Founded in 2003, BroadwayWorld is the largest theater website in the world, covering Broadway, the West End, and theater news, reviews, interviews, and resources across all 50 US states and 45 countries.

EdTA Reveals 2026 Annual Award Recipients in Theatre Education

Wed, 13 May 2026 13:58:23 PST

The Educational Theatre Association (EdTA) has revealed the 2026 recipients of its annual awards, recognizing educators, administrators, researchers, advocates, alumni, and schools whose work has made an extraordinary impact on theatre education.

Recipients will be celebrated during EdTA's two signature events: the Educator Appreciation Dinner at the International Thespian Festival (June 21–26 in Bloomington, Indiana), hosted by Cayleigh Capaldi, and the EdTA Awards for Excellence in Theatre Education ceremony at the Theatre Education Conference (July 22–24 in New York City), hosted by Broadway's Lilli Cooper.

This year's awards program reflects EdTA's continued investment in recognizing excellence across the field, including several newer honors introduced to celebrate emerging educators, teaching artists, researchers, and alumni whose work is shaping the future of theatre education. The 2026 awards also mark a new partnership with the Children's Theatre Foundation of America to present the prestigious Reba R. Robertson Award.

Children's Theatre Foundation of America (CTFA)'s Reba R. Robertson Award

Presented in partnership with CTFA, this biennial award honors a public high school theatre or drama teacher who demonstrates artistic excellence, mentorship, and a strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Abra Chusid, Adlai E. Stevenson High School, Lincolnshire, Ill.

EdTA Administrator's Award

Recognizes outstanding school or district administrators who have demonstrated exemplary support for educational theatre programs.

Peter Avery, New York City Department of Education, New York, N.Y.
Matthew Ballentine, Chillicothe City Schools, Chillicothe, Ohio

EdTA Emerging Theatre Educator Award

Presented annually to a graduate student, pre-service teacher, or early-career theatre educator who demonstrates innovation, service, and impact in advancing theatre education in schools and communities.

Julie Rose, Elizabeth Davis Middle School, Chester, Va.

EdTA Founders' Award

Presented to an individual or group whose work has significantly advanced theatre education, research, and practice.

Dr. Maria Rosario Jackson, Arizona State University, Former Chair of the National Endowment for the Arts, Los Angeles, Calif.

EdTA Hall of Fame Award

Honors longtime EdTA members who have dedicated their careers to promoting and advancing the field of educational theatre.

Erik Hart, Warren Consolidated School for the Performing Arts, Sterling Heights, Mich.
Brad Rackers, Lee's Summit West High School, Lee's Summit, Mo. (posthumous)

EdTA President's Award

Presented to an individual who has made exceptional contributions to the association, its volunteer leadership, and its mission.

Helen Duranleau-Brennan, Arts Consultant, Former EdTA Board President, Davenport, Iowa

EdTA Research Excellence Awards

Presented annually to recognize outstanding scholarship in theatre education, honoring a leading researcher and an author whose work advances the field.

Distinguished Book
- Dr. JoBeth Gonzalez, Bowling Green High School, Bowling Green, Ohio
Distinguished Research and Scholarship
- Dr. Thalia Goldstein, George Mason University, Fairfax, Va.

EdTA Teaching Artist Award

Presented annually to a teaching artist employed by a regional theatre, arts organization, or working independently whose work in schools or communities reflects creativity, commitment, and significant contribution to theatre education.

Robert Hindsman, Alliance Theatre, Atlanta, Ga.
Michael Wiggins, Teaching Artist & Administrator, New York, N.Y.

Inspirational Theatre Educator Award

This award celebrates educators who inspire their students and are deeply committed to providing quality theatre education.

Martin Rodriguez, Ramon C. Cortines School of Visual and Performing Arts, Los Angeles, Calif.

Thespian Alum of the Year Award

Honors Thespian alumni who exemplify how the lessons and skills gained through school theatre lead to meaningful contributions in adulthood.

Carolina Garcia, Netflix, Alum of Troupe 2129, Claremont High School, Claremont, Calif.
Morgan Scott, Broadway's John Proctor is the Villain, Alum of Troupe 7407, Woodmont High School, Piedmont, S.C.
Dr. Tyler TerMeer, San Francisco AIDS Foundation, Alum of Troupe 5440, Dublin Scioto High School, Dublin, Ohio

Theatre In Our Schools Outstanding Impact Award

Three schools have been named recipients of the Theatre in Our Schools Outstanding Impact Award for their advocacy efforts during Theatre In Our Schools Month this past March. Winners receive a prize package courtesy of Disney Theatrical Group and Music Theatre International.

Adairsville High School, Troupe 6316, Adairsville, Ga.
Topeka West High School, Troupe 3061, Topeka, Kan.
York Country Day School, Troupe 5305, York, Pa.

The recipient of the Stephen Schwartz Musical Theatre Teacher of the Year Award, presented in partnership with The ASCAP Foundation, will be announced soon.

EdTA Reveals 2026 Annual Award Recipients in Theatre Education

Wed, 13 May 2026 13:58:23 PST

Children's Theatre Foundation of America (CTFA)'s Reba R. Robertson Award

Abra Chusid, Adlai E. Stevenson High School, Lincolnshire, Ill.

EdTA Administrator's Award

Recognizes outstanding school or district administrators who have demonstrated exemplary support for educational theatre programs.

Peter Avery, New York City Department of Education, New York, N.Y.
Matthew Ballentine, Chillicothe City Schools, Chillicothe, Ohio

EdTA Emerging Theatre Educator Award

Julie Rose, Elizabeth Davis Middle School, Chester, Va.

EdTA Founders' Award

Presented to an individual or group whose work has significantly advanced theatre education, research, and practice.

Dr. Maria Rosario Jackson, Arizona State University, Former Chair of the National Endowment for the Arts, Los Angeles, Calif.

EdTA Hall of Fame Award

Honors longtime EdTA members who have dedicated their careers to promoting and advancing the field of educational theatre.

Erik Hart, Warren Consolidated School for the Performing Arts, Sterling Heights, Mich.
Brad Rackers, Lee's Summit West High School, Lee's Summit, Mo. (posthumous)

EdTA President's Award

Presented to an individual who has made exceptional contributions to the association, its volunteer leadership, and its mission.

Helen Duranleau-Brennan, Arts Consultant, Former EdTA Board President, Davenport, Iowa

EdTA Research Excellence Awards

Presented annually to recognize outstanding scholarship in theatre education, honoring a leading researcher and an author whose work advances the field.

Distinguished Book
- Dr. JoBeth Gonzalez, Bowling Green High School, Bowling Green, Ohio
Distinguished Research and Scholarship
- Dr. Thalia Goldstein, George Mason University, Fairfax, Va.

EdTA Teaching Artist Award

Robert Hindsman, Alliance Theatre, Atlanta, Ga.
Michael Wiggins, Teaching Artist & Administrator, New York, N.Y.

Inspirational Theatre Educator Award

This award celebrates educators who inspire their students and are deeply committed to providing quality theatre education.

Martin Rodriguez, Ramon C. Cortines School of Visual and Performing Arts, Los Angeles, Calif.

Thespian Alum of the Year Award

Honors Thespian alumni who exemplify how the lessons and skills gained through school theatre lead to meaningful contributions in adulthood.

Carolina Garcia, Netflix, Alum of Troupe 2129, Claremont High School, Claremont, Calif.
Morgan Scott, Broadway's John Proctor is the Villain, Alum of Troupe 7407, Woodmont High School, Piedmont, S.C.
Dr. Tyler TerMeer, San Francisco AIDS Foundation, Alum of Troupe 5440, Dublin Scioto High School, Dublin, Ohio

Theatre In Our Schools Outstanding Impact Award

Adairsville High School, Troupe 6316, Adairsville, Ga.
Topeka West High School, Troupe 3061, Topeka, Kan.
York Country Day School, Troupe 5305, York, Pa.

The recipient of the Stephen Schwartz Musical Theatre Teacher of the Year Award, presented in partnership with The ASCAP Foundation, will be announced soon.

Branford Marsalis and Dianne Reeves to Celebrate John Coltrane at the Aronoff Center

Mon, 11 May 2026 11:46:51 PST

September 2026 marks the centennial of John Coltrane’s birth. To honor the enduring legacy of one of jazz’s most transcendent voices, the Branford Marsalis Quartet and Dianne Reeves will release a tribute album which revisits Coltrane’s seminal 1963 collaboration with Johnny Hartman (coming in the Fall of 2026 on Blue Note Records) and embark on a worldwide tour. The iconic, Grammy Award-winning jazz artists will play the Aronoff Center’s Procter & Gamble Hall for one night only on Thursday, September 10, 2026, at 7:30 PM.

Tickets go on sale Friday, May 15 at 10:00 AM at online, (513) 621-2787 [ARTS], and the Aronoff Center Ticket Office. For group sales (10 or more), call (513) 977-4155. Prices include all applicable fees and taxes and are subject to change.

Branford Marsalis Quartet

Saxophonist Branford Marsalis is one of the most influential and revered figures in contemporary music. The NEA Jazz Master, three-time Grammy Award winner, and Tony and Emmy Award-nominee is equally at home performing concertos with symphony orchestras and sitting in with members of the Grateful Dead, but the core of his musical universe remains the Branford Marsalis Quartet. After more than three decades of existence with minimal personnel changes, this celebrated ensemble is revered for its uncompromising interpretation of a kaleidoscopic range of both original compositions and jazz and popular classics. After receiving Grammy nominations on its last two albums, Upward Spiral and The Secret Between the Shadow and the Soul, the Quartet made its Blue Note Records debut in 2025 with the release of Belonging, a full album interpretation of Keith Jarrett's 1974 ECM album of the same name.

Dianne Reeves

Five-time Grammy-winner Dianne Reeves is the world’s pre-eminent jazz vocalist. As a result of her virtuosity, improvisational prowess, and unique jazz and R&B stylings, Reeves received the Grammy for “Best Jazz Vocal Performance” for three consecutive recordings — a Grammy first in any vocal category. Reeves was featured in George Clooney’s award-winning film Goodnight, and Good Luck, for which she received a Grammy. Her most recent release, Beautiful Life, features Gregory Porter, Robert Glasper, Lalah Hathaway, and Esperanza Spalding. Produced by Terri Lyne Carrington, Beautiful Life also won a Grammy. Reeves has received honorary doctorates from DePaul University, the Berklee College of Music, and The Juilliard School, and like Branford, she was designated a Jazz Master by The National Endowment for the Arts — the highest honor the United States bestows on jazz artists. Apart from a duo recording with Romero Lubambo slated for early 2026, her collaboration with the Branford Marsalis Quartet will be Reeves’ first album in twelve years.

Cincinnati Fringe Festival 2026 Will Present 35+ Productions Across OTR

Fri, 08 May 2026 19:45:44 PST

The Cincinnati Fringe Festival has announced the lineup for its 2026 festival, featuring more than 35 local, national, and International Artists. The annual event will include theater, dance, puppetry, comedy, and experimental performance throughout Cincinnati’s Over-the-Rhine neighborhood. The festival runs from May 29 through June 13.

The Cincinnati Fringe Festival will return for its 23rd year with more than 190 performances presented across pop-up venues throughout Over-the-Rhine from May 29 through June 13.

The festival will feature more than 35 local, national, and International Artists presenting original theater and experimental performance work, alongside free Kids Fringe programming, ASL-interpreted performances, and nightly Late Night events at Know Theatre’s Underground Bar.

“The Cincy Fringe is really special,” said Producer Katie Hartman in a statement. “It's famous for being a festival where artists and patrons mix and mingle in the Know Theatre's Underground Bar. Every night, after seeing a wild variety of shows from a wide array of artists, folks meet there and talk about all the art they just saw and the party just keeps going.”

This year’s festival includes 25 Primary Lineup productions, more than 35 total productions, and performances staged at Know Theatre, Gabriel’s Corner, First Lutheran Church, and the Miami University Center for Community Engagement in Over-the-Rhine.

TICKETING INFORMATION

Single tickets for the 2026 Cincinnati Fringe Festival are priced at $20. The festival’s All-Access Pass is available for $330 and includes admission to Primary Lineup, Limited Run, Fringe in Development, and Kids Fringe performances. A five-ticket Flex Pass is also available for $90.

Festival organizers noted that 50 percent of all box office revenue is distributed directly to Producing Artists.

The full schedule and ticket information are available through Cincy Fringe.

THE 2026 CINCY FRINGE FESTIVAL PRIMARY LINEUP

1 Gay Wedding and Absolutely No Funerals: Reception to Follow

Ben & Justin Present
Cincinnati & Columbus, OH

“'Til death do us party!”

A Hollywood Horror Story

Ingrid Garner
Los Angeles, CA

“The wild true story behind TV's first horror host, Vampira.”

Antonym

Solasta Theatre Lab
Cincinnati, OH

“Why did Kafka cross the road? Because Bukowski pushed him.”

Appalachian Songcatcher

Hannah Sage From
Atlanta, GA

“Banjo tunes, folk songs, and a queer Appalachian coming-of-age.”

BOMB! An FBI Memoir

Silver Linings Productions
Cincinnati, OH

“Songs of the unsung heroes. An explosive new musical.”

Champagne Dreams

3 Sticks
Auburn, AL

“Eloise longs to escape her boring life for... Champagne Dreams.”

Colonial Circus: History, Clown Style

Two2Mango
Toronto, ON, Canada

“Two brown clowns pretending to be British colonizers journey through the history of colonialism.”

Dizzy Miss Lizzie's Roadside Revue presents The Saints

Dizzy Miss Lizzie's Roadside Revue
Baltimore, MD

“A satirical take on Catholic Saints with rock and roll, puppetry and magic.”

Early Bird

Jack Fogle and the River Rat Puppet Collective
Cincinnati, OH

“A grandson hiding his queerness visits his Appalachian grandparents.”

ERYS SICHTHON

Lina Keys
Cincinnati, OH

“After messing with Demeter's forest, Erys faces the cursed consequences.”

FRONTIER So Far

Justin Dodd and george mcconnell
New York, NY and Bryan, TX

“An experimental comedy that imagines how to do masculinity better.”

Jon Bennett: This Will Only Ever Happen Once

2HOOTS PRODUCTIONS
Adelaide, Australia

“A hilarious show by a world-renowned Aussie about life's unrepeatable moments.”

Locusta's School For Assassins

Samantha Joy Weil
Covington, KY

“Two women bond over plants, poisons, and murdering privileged men.”

Memento Holly

Zoë Peterson
Cincinnati, OH

“A journey to spread a friend's ashes reignites past relationships.”

Modern Butchood

Molly Gloeckner
Los Angeles, CA

“A dark comic lesbian quarter life crisis.”

Papa

Madeleine Rowe
Minneapolis, MN

“Frankenstein's Monster isn't just a creation. He's somebody's son.”

Private Equity: The Musical!

Doin' Too Much Productions
Cincinnati, OH

“If the Phantom Tollbooth happened in a hypergentrified apartment complex.”

Quiet Coyotes

Green Fuse Productions
Southgate, KY

“A wildfire creates opportunities for campers to discover nature's resilience.”

RAT MAN HAPPY PLACE

Bruce Ryan Costella
Orlando, FL

“A guided comedy tour through the happiest ruins on Earth.”

Tapped In

Pones
NKY / Cincinnati, OH

“Uncovering cultural identity through tap's layered lineage and creative collaboration.”

The Boy from Bantay

Jeremy Rafal
New York, NY

“Cartoons. Classical Music. A Coming-of-Age Story.”

Transcendent

Queen City Queers
Cincinnati, OH

“A macabre exploration on living in your freaky, felty, flesh.”

Unreconciled

Unreconciled Project
Easthampton, MA

“A humorous, heartbreaking story of courage, family, and reclaiming your voice.”

With a special talkback on Sunday, May 31, following the show.

What Art Is and What Art Is Good Art

Ben Dudley
Cincinnati, OH

“Two self-proclaimed experts offer the definitive, final statement on art.”

White Whale

Autumn Kaleidoscope & Mette Puppets
Cincinnati, OH

“Discover the forgotten history of Cincinnati's living white whales!”

2026 CINCY FRINGE FESTIVAL LIMITED RUNS

Bloody Fairytales: Paul Strickland

Paul Strickland Presents
Covington, KY

“Dark fairytales for adults where laughter and dread share space.”

Mad Women's Ball

InBocca Performance
Cincinnati, OH

“The Mad Women's Ball: Entrance Upon Invitation, Exit Upon Transformation.”

O'Fringe Is The New Black

Wit's End Productions
Newport, KY

“A sketch comedy show. Break out - into laughter!”

trueFRINGE 2026

True Theatre
Cincinnati, OH

“Fringe artists sharing true, personal, behind-the-scenes stories!”

2026 CINCY KIDS FRINGE

Linton PB&J Presents: Heroic Harmonies!

Linton Chamber Music PB&J Sessions
Cincinnati, OH

“Interactive superhero training for young kids with live music!”

Pato y Muerte

Dos-Corazones Productions
Cincinnati, OH

“A playful, bilingual dance-theater performance that celebrates life, death and friendship.”

ALL AGES FREE EVENTS

Know Theatre
1120 Jackson Street

Pones Will Bring TAPPED IN to the Cincinnati Fringe Festival

Thu, 07 May 2026 05:27:24 PST

Pones, a movement-based arts organization known for activating communities through inclusive performance, will premiere Tapped In at the Cincinnati Fringe Festival June 3-10. The new work explores the cultural roots of tap dance, blending history, rhythm, and live jazz music into a high-energy performance that positions tap as both a living archive and a powerful expression of identity. Performances will run June 3-10.

Driven by innovative choreography and improvisation, Tapped In honors tap's roots while pushing the form forward. The production brings together regional artists and collaborators whose distinct perspectives highlight the cultural convergence, resilience, and storytelling embedded in the art form.

The production features two acclaimed performers: Louisville-based artist Parker Hall, who has shared the stage with renowned tap artist Savion Glover and performed with Riverdance; and Broadway veteran Jason E. Bernard, whose credits include Bring in 'da Noise, Bring in 'da Funk and the Spike Lee film Bamboozled. Together with local artists, they bring a powerful mix of global experience and perspective to the stage.

“Tap is an art form born from layered cultural exchange among communities shaped by oppression, resilience, and proximity,” said the Tapped In collective. “Its rhythms carry memory; honoring them requires resisting erasure and staying connected to the people and stories that made it.”

Founded in 2008, Pones creates accessible, participatory arts experiences that engage audiences across backgrounds and abilities. A longtime participant in the Cincinnati Fringe Festival, Pones has received multiple Critic's Pick and Producer's Pick awards. Tapped In continues that legacy with an all-ages performance that is both educational and entertaining.

Pones Will Bring TAPPED IN to the Cincinnati Fringe Festival

Thu, 07 May 2026 05:27:24 PST

COLONIAL CIRCUS To Perform At Cincy Fringe

Sun, 03 May 2026 10:17:33 PST

Sachin Sharma and Shreya Parashar, the comedy duo behind Two.2.Mango, have announced their award-winning clown show Colonial Circus will have five performances at Cincy Fringe 2026, just after wrapping up Orlando Fringe 2026.

This performance is devised and performed by South Asian artists Sharma and Parashar who are co-founders of Hinprov - Canada’s first bilingual improv community for people of color. As founders of Hinprov, they’ve brought multilingual comedy to stages across North
America, including Just for Laughs, Detroit Improv Festival, Newfoundland &
Labrador SketchFest, Toronto Sketch Comedy Festival, Improv Fest Ireland, and Vancouver
Improv Fest. Their brand new show, Hansal and Geetal debuted in London in November 2025 and has already been nominated for The Offies, and winning the Producers’ Pick at Toronto Comedy Sketch Fest, 2026.

Colonial Circus flips the Western narrative on its head as two Brown clowns take on the role of British colonizers- delivering the laughs, gasps, and uncomfortable chuckles the audiences can handle. The performers blend clown, song, dance, and audience interaction, and morphing props to reimagine history through absurdity.

Performances will take place on May 30, June 3, 6, 7, 9 at The KNOW Theatre of Cincinnati located at 1120 Jackson St, Cincinnati, OH. Tickets can be purchased at the Cincy Fringe's website.

EdTA Names 15 Schools as Premier Communities for Theatre Education Recipients

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 09:58:22 PST

The Educational Theatre Association (EdTA) has announced the 2025-2028 recipients of its Premier School distinction, part of the Premier Communities for Theatre Education program, recognizing schools that demonstrate an exceptional commitment to theatre education and student success. This year marks the introduction of separate distinctions for schools and districts, with schools recognized in this current cohort.

Rooted in EdTA's Opportunity to Learn Standards for Theatre Education, the Premier Communities for Theatre Education program—comprising Premier School and Premier District distinctions—recognizes programs that provide teachers and students with the resources to achieve at or above the levels suggested by the National Core Arts Standards in Theatre.

“Theatre programs have the power to shape how students see themselves and the world around them,” said Jay Gerlach, EdTA's Interim Executive Director. “The Premier School distinction recognizes schools that are expanding access to high-quality theatre education and creating spaces where students can grow as artists, collaborators, and empathetic leaders. We're proud to celebrate the impact these programs are having in their communities.”

Schools are selected through a comprehensive application and review process, with the distinction awarded for a three-year period.

2025-2028 Premier School Distinction Recipients

Academy for Academics and Arts, Huntsville, Ala.
Birdville High School, North Richland Hills, Texas
Bowie High School, Bowie, Md.
Chaparral High School, Killeen, Texas
Cumberland Regional High School, Bridgeton, N.J.
Dighton-Rehoboth Regional High School, North Dighton, Mass.
Farmingdale High School, Farmingdale, N.Y.
Glen Cove High School, Glen Cove, N.Y.
Hilton Head Island High School, Hilton Head Island, S.C.
Madison Consolidated High School, Madison, Ind.
Mississippi School of the Arts, Brookhaven, Miss.
Mother McAuley Liberal Arts High School, Chicago, Ill.
Oregon Trail Middle School, Olathe, Kan.
Pine Island High School, Pine Island, Minn.
The Overlake School, Redmond, Wash.

The Premier District distinction, newly formalized as a separate application track, recognizes school systems that demonstrate a broad, systemic commitment to theatre education across multiple schools. Applications for the Premier District distinction will open in Fall 2026.

For more information about the Premier Communities for Theatre Education, visit schooltheatre.org/premier-communities.

OPERATION MINCEMEAT Reveals 2026-27 Tour Dates and Cities

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 09:12:44 PST

OPERATION MINCEMEAT has announced the full 2026/27 season dates for the North American leg of its world tour. The news comes as OPERATION MINCEMEAT celebrates its 500th performance on Broadway this Saturday, May 2, after hitting 2,000 performances worldwide - now playing simultaneously in the West End, on Broadway, and on tour across the UK. Following the North American leg, further stops on its international journey will include Australia, China, Mexico, and New Zealand.

Read the reviews for the Broadway run here.

Producer Jon Thoday for Avalon said, “Launching our third OPERATION MINCEMEAT production, the North American leg of the world tour, as the show reaches 500 performances on Broadway and passes 2,000 worldwide is incredibly exciting. With its continued international growth and an expanding fanbase, we look forward to welcoming new audiences across the continent.”

The North American leg of the Mincemeat World Tour will launch at the Providence Performance Arts Center (Providence, RI), on September 20, 2026, before crisscrossing North America this upcoming season, with stops including Chicago, Boston, Toronto, Los Angeles, and Washington, DC.

Operation Mincemeat Tour Dates:

Providence, RI – Providence Performing Arts Center
September 20–26, 2026

Chicago, IL – CIBC Theatre
September 29–October 11, 2026

Boston, MA – Colonial Theatre
October 13–25, 2026

Toronto, ON – Theatre TBD
October–December 2026

Philadelphia, PA – Forrest Theatre
December 15–20, 2026

Columbus, OH – Ohio Theatre
January 5–10, 2027

Detroit, MI – Fisher Theatre
January 12–24, 2027

Minneapolis, MN – Orpheum Theatre
January 26–31, 2027

Eugene, OR – Hult Center
February 3–7, 2027

Seattle, WA – 5th Avenue Theatre
February 10–21, 2027

Tempe, AZ – ASU Gammage
February 23–28, 2027

Salt Lake City, UT – Eccles Theatre
March 2–7, 2027

San Francisco, CA – Orpheum Theatre
March 9–28, 2027

Los Angeles, CA – Pantages Theatre
March 30–April 18, 2027

San Diego, CA – Civic Center
April 20–25, 2027

Hartford, CT – Bushnell Center
May 4–9, 2027

Durham, NC – Durham Performing Arts Center
May 11–16, 2027

Greenville, SC – Peace Center
May 18–23, 2027

Fayetteville, AR – Walton Arts Center
May 25–30, 2027

Tampa, FL – Straz Center
June 1–6, 2027

Washington, DC – The National Theatre
June 8–20, 2027

Buffalo, NY – Shea’s Performing Arts Center
June 22–27, 2027

Atlanta, GA – Fox Theatre
July 6–11, 2027

Memphis, TN – Orpheum Theatre
July 13–18, 2027

Fort Worth, TX – Bass Performance Hall
July 20–25, 2027

About Operation Mincemeat

In OPERATION MINCEMEAT: A NEW MUSICAL, it's 1943, and the Allied Forces are on the ropes. Luckily, they've got a trick up their sleeve. Well, not up their sleeve, per se, but rather inside the pocket of a stolen corpse. Equal parts farce, thriller, and Ian Fleming-style spy caper (with an assist from Mr. Fleming himself), OPERATION MINCEMEAT tells the wildly improbable and hilarious true story of the covert operation that turned the tide of WWII.

Written by triple Tony Award nominees SpitLip (comprised of David Cumming, Felix Hagan, Natasha Hodgson, and Zoë Roberts), OPERATION MINCEMEAT began performances on Broadway on February 15, 2025, and continues to play at the historic Golden Theatre (252 West 45th Street), where it has been extended eight times and will soon celebrate its 500th performance. The West End production, which has been playing at the Fortune Theatre since March 29, 2023, is widely recognized as one of the best-reviewed shows in West End history, holding the record for the most five-star reviews for a new musical, with a tally of 131. OPERATION MINCEMEAT has just launched its world tour, beginning with a UK leg before heading across the pond.

Olivier Award nominated Robert Hastie (Standing at the Sky's Edge, National Theatre – Best New Musical Olivier Award winner) will reprise his work for the tour, while Olivier Award nominated Jenny Arnold (Jerry Springer: The Opera, National Theatre) continues as Choreographer. The creative team will include Olivier nominated Set and Costume Designer Ben Stones (Standing at the Sky's Edge), Tony and Olivier winning Lighting Designer Mark Henderson (The History Boys), Tony nominated Sound Designer Mike Walker (Charlie & The Chocolate Factory), Tony nominated Orchestrator Steve Sidwell (Beautiful: The Carole King Musical), and Olivier nominated Music Supervisor Joe Bunker (Spring Awakening). Georgie Staight is Associate Director and Paul Isaiah Isles is Associate Choreographer. Production Stage Management is by Geoff Maus, Casting is by Carrie Gardner, CSA, and General Management is by TT Partners.

OPERATION MINCEMEAT has been nominated for 64 awards since opening at the 77-seat New Diorama Theatre in 2019, winning 13, including Best Musical 3 times, from the Olivier Awards, WhatsOnStage Awards, and Off-West End Awards. On Broadway, the show was nominated for 4 Tony Awards in 2025, including Best Musical. The production won Best Featured Actor in a Musical for Jak Malone's portrayal of Hester Leggatt, who previously won the Olivier Award in the same category. The production has also received nominations for Outstanding Production of a Musical at the Drama League Awards, Outstanding New Broadway Musical at the Outer Critics Circle Awards, Best Musical at the BroadwayWorld Theater Fans' Choice Awards, and Favourite New Musical at the Broadway.com Audience Choice Awards.

RAGTIME Will Launch National Tour in Fall 2027

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 16:00:22 PST

Lincoln Center Theater’s Broadway revival of Ragtime, directed by Kewsong Lee Artistic Director Lear deBessonet, announced today that it will launch a North American Tour in the fall of 2027. The tour will premiere at Shea’s Buffalo Theatre in Buffalo, New York, before continuing onto cities across the U.S. and Canada. Additional tour stops and casting will be announced at a later date.

Lincoln Center Theater’s limited engagement of Ragtime has been extended twice by popular demand with performances now through August 2, 2026. The production set a new box office record at the Vivian Beaumont Theater and was recently nominated foreight Drama Desk Awards, six Outer Critics Circle Awards including Best Revival of a Musical and Outstanding Direction of a Musical (Lear deBessonet), as well as five Drama League Awards including Outstanding Revival of a Musical and Outstanding Direction of a Musical (Lear deBessonet).

“Ragtime is one of the most ambitious musicals ever written, and it feels timelier than ever,” said producers Tom Kirdahy, Kevin Ryan, Robert Greenblatt, and Lamar Richardson in a statement. “What Lear deBessonet and this extraordinary company have created at Lincoln Center Theater is both epic in scale and deeply human. We couldn’t be more excited to share it with communities across North America.”

“It’s a real honor to kick off the North American Tour of Ragtime at Shea’s Buffalo Theatre,” said Buffalo presenter Al Nocciolino. “This is the kind of production people talk about long after the curtain comes down—remarkable in scale and deeply moving. We’re thrilled to welcome it to our stage and proud to share it with our community first.”

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Featuring a Tony Award-winning score by Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens, Tony Award-winning book by Terrence McNally, and Tony Award-winning orchestrations by William David Brohn, Ragtime weaves fictional narratives with real historical figures and events, creating a rich tapestry that blurs the line between personal struggle and national identity, making history feel both intimate and epic.

The creative team for Ragtime includes Ellenore Scott (choreography), David Korins (scenic design), Linda Cho (costume design), Adam Honoré & Donald Holder (lighting design), Kai Harada (sound design), 59 Studio (projection design), Tom Watson (hair & wig design), Ann James (sensitivity specialist), and The Telsey Office, Craig Burns, CSA (casting).

OH, MARY! Reveals Tour Dates and Cities For 2026-27

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 11:23:47 PST

The North American Tour of Oh, Mary! has announced the dates and cities for its 2026-27 season. The tour of the Tony Award and Olivier Award-winning comedy will tech and launch at The Bushnell in Hartford, Connecticut, with performances beginning September 19, 2026. Casting will be announced at a later date. Check out the full list of tour dates below~

Written by Tony Award and Olivier Award winner Cole Escola and directed by Tony Award winner Sam Pinkleton, Oh, Mary! opened on Broadway on July 11, 2024, and continues to play at the Lyceum Theatre, where it became the first show in the theatre’s 121-year history to gross more than $1,000,000 in a single week. Oh, Mary! has since broken its own box office record twelve times and became the first show of the 2024-25 Broadway season to recoup its investment. Oh, Mary! opened to rave reviews in London’s West End on December 18, 2025.

Oh, Mary! is a dark comedy about a miserable, suffocated Mary Todd Lincoln in the weeks leading up to Abraham Lincoln’s assassination. Unrequited yearning, alcoholism, and suppressed desires abound in this one-act play that finally examines the forgotten life and dreams of Mrs. Lincoln through the lens of an idiot (playwright Cole Escola).

The full creative team for the Broadway production includes dots (Scenic Designer), Holly Pierson (Costume Designer), Cha See (Lighting Designer), Daniel Kluger (Sound Design and Original Music), Drew Levy (Sound Designer), Leah J. Loukas (Wig Designer), Addison Heeren (Props Supervision), and David Dabbon (Musical Arrangements). Casting by Henry Russell Bergstein, CSA.

Oh, Mary! is produced on Broadway by Kevin McCollum & Lucas McMahon and Mike Lavoie & Carlee Briglia with Bob Boyett, The Council, Jean Doumanian Productions, Nicole Eisenberg, Jay Marcus & George Strus, Irony Point, Richard Batchelder/Bradley Reynolds, Tyler Mount/Tommy Doyle, Nelson & Tao, Palomares & Rosenberg, and Showtown Productions.

Tour Dates

September 19–23, 2026
Hartford, CT — The Bushnell

September 29–October 4, 2026
San Diego, CA — San Diego Civic Theatre

October 6–11, 2026
Las Vegas, NV — The Smith Center

October 13–November 1, 2026
San Francisco, CA — Curran Theatre

November 3–8, 2026
Seattle, WA — The Paramount Theatre

November 10–December 6, 2026
Los Angeles, CA — Ahmanson Theatre

December 21, 2026–January 3, 2027
Boston, MA — Emerson Colonial Theatre

January 6–17, 2027
Saint Paul, MN — Ordway Center for the Performing Arts

January 19–February 7, 2027
Chicago, IL — CIBC Theatre

February 9–21, 2027
Washington, DC — The National Theatre

February 23–28, 2027
Detroit, MI — Fisher Theatre

March 9–14, 2027
Philadelphia, PA — Miller Theater

March 16–28, 2027
Charlotte, NC — Blumenthal Arts

March 30–April 4, 2027
Cleveland, OH — Connor Palace

April 6–11, 2027
Tampa, FL — Straz Center

April 27–May 9, 2027
Houston, TX — Hobby Center

May 11–16, 2027
West Palm Beach, FL — Kravis Center

Play Broadway Games Every Day in May and Win a Merch Prize Pack

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 08:30:20 PST

Broadway fans, your daily warm-up just got a whole lot more rewarding. BroadwayWorld is launching the May 2026 Games Challenge - a month-long streak competition open to fans across the U.S., with a $250 merch prize pack featuring merchandise from popular Broadway shows up for grabs.

The challenge runs all 31 days of May 2026 (Eastern Time), and all you need to enter is a free BroadwayWorld account.

How It Works

The rules are simple: play at least one BroadwayWorld game every day in May. That's it. Complete all 31 days and you'll earn one entry to win the prize pack. Tracking is automatic once you're logged in - your progress populates on the challenge page as you play, no manual check-ins required.

Any of these six games count toward your daily credit:

Make-Up Days: Because Life Happens

Miss a day? You're not out of the running. Play all six games in a single day and you'll earn a make-up credit, which automatically forgives your earliest missed day. You can bank up to three make-up credits over the course of the month - so a skipped Tuesday or a busy weekend doesn't have to end your streak. Credits are applied to your missed days in order, oldest first.

Ready to Start Your Streak?

The May 2026 BroadwayWorld Games Challenge runs May 1-31 (Eastern Time) and is open to U.S. residents only.

Click here to get started. Sign in with your free BroadwayWorld account and your tracking begins automatically - no registration beyond that required.

See full rules and regulations here.

Video: First Look at AUGUST WILSON'S THE PIANO LESSON at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park

Fri, 24 Apr 2026 12:41:31 PST

Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park has released first look footage of August Wilson'S THE PIANO LESSON, the Pulitzer Prize-winning drama now playing through May 3, 2026 at Moe and Jack's Place - The Rouse Theatre, in a co-production with Milwaukee Repertory Theater.

Directed by Lou Bellamy, the play is set during the Great Depression and follows siblings Berniece and Boy Willie as they clash over the fate of their family's cherished heirloom piano, decorated with intricate carvings by their enslaved ancestor. She treasures its storied history; he sees it as the means to a more prosperous life. The New York Times called it a play that "seems to sing even when it is talking."

Nubia Monks leads the cast as Berniece, with James T. Alfred as Boy Willie, James Craven as Doaker Charles, Lester Purry as Wining Boy, Anthony Irons as Avery, La'Tevin Alexander as Lymon, Ny'ajai Ellison as Grace, and Mackenzie Garry and Tuula Hicks alternating as Maretha.

The creative team includes Vicki Smith (set design), Mathew J. LeFebvre (costumes), Don Darnutzer (lighting), and Scott W. Edwards (sound), with Dennis W. Spears serving as associate director.

Special events include a HUES Community Night on April 17, Hill Club 962 pre-show dinners on select dates, Art Talks on April 19, April 23, and April 29, an audio-described performance on May 2, and a signed ASL performance on May 3.

THE PIANO LESSON runs approximately 3 hours and 8 minutes including a 20-minute intermission. For tickets and information, visit Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park online or call the box office at 513-421-3888.

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NEWSIES Unseats LES MISÉRABLES to Win BroadwayWorld's 2026 Ultimate Movie Musical Bracket

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 13:26:32 PST

After six weeks of voting, BroadwayWorld readers have crowned Newsies the Ultimate Best Movie Musical in the 2026 edition of BroadwayWorld's Annual Bracket. The 1992 Disney film, directed by Kenny Ortega and featuring music by Alan Menken and lyrics by Jack Feldman, defeated Les Misérables in the final round, ending the Tom Hooper-directed film's two-year winning streak.

In both 2024 and 2025, Les Misérables was voted as the Ultimate Best Musical of all time, making it the title to beat heading into this year's competition. Newsies, a perennial fan favorite that developed a devoted following after its theatrical release and has since been adapted for the Broadway stage, advanced through six rounds of head-to-head matchups before claiming the title.

Now in its third year, BroadwayWorld's Bracket invites readers to debate, defend, and ultimately crown the greatest movie musical of all time from a field selected by BroadwayWorld editors. Voting in the 2026 edition opened on Tuesday, February 24 and concluded on Sunday, April 12, with new matchups released each week.

BroadwayWorld.com Cincinnati Stories

RENT, CABARET, LA BOHÈME, and More Set For The University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

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Places We Can No Longer Go

Lerner and Loewe's Brigadoon in Concert

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Duke Ellington's Nutcracker Suite

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GOOD BONES to Make World Premiere at Cincinnati Opera

Good Bones

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John Lewis: Good Trouble

Around The BroadwayWorld: Top News, Reviews, Interviews & More from May 2026

Editor's Picks: Top News Stories

Diane Paulus Will Direct Immersive David Bowie Inspired LIFE ON MARS at American Repertory Theater

Interviews

Interview: Adam Fields of BEETLEJUICE National Tour

Interview: Richard Kind Talks Finally Taking on Edna in The Muny's HAIRSPRAY

Reviews

Videos

Photos

SALOME to Open Cincinnati Opera's 2026 Summer Festival at Music Hall

ADRENALIZE to Kick Off Ohio Summer Concert Season with Def Leppard Tribute Shows

Upcoming Adrenalize Dates:

About Adrenalize

BroadwayWorld Launches Producer Fantasy Game

How It Works

Weekly Scoring

The Fantasy Forecast

Managing Your Roster

Join the Game

A DRAG QUEEN CHRISTMAS to Return for 12th Year With 39-City National Tour

This year's cast includes:

A Drag Queen Christmas 2026 Tour Dates:

JIM HENSON’S FRAGGLE ROCK: BACK TO THE ROCK LIVE is Coming to the Aronoff Center

SONIC LIVE IN CONCERT to Launch Global Tour With US and UK Premieres

QUIET COYOTES To Make Cincy Fringe Premiere

Disney on Broadway School of Excellence Program Names 20 Winning Schools Nationwide

The recipients, listed alphabetically:

Meeka Owens and Alyenendrov Tsorokean Crowned 2026 DANCING FOR THE STARS Champs

THE NOTEBOOK North American Tour Adds 26 Cities to 2026-27 Route

2026-2027 Tour Dates:

DOODLE POP! and ARTRAGEOUS Come to The Emery Theater This Summer

DOODLE POP!

ARTRAGEOUS

ABOUT THE CHILDREN'S THEATRE OF CINCINNATI

Review: Broadway in Cincinnati presents SUFFS at The Aronoff Center

SUFFS

StageMag Launches Programmable PDF Editor for Digital Theater Programs

About StageMag

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EdTA Reveals 2026 Annual Award Recipients in Theatre Education

Children's Theatre Foundation of America (CTFA)'s Reba R. Robertson Award

EdTA Administrator's Award

EdTA Emerging Theatre Educator Award

EdTA Founders' Award

EdTA Hall of Fame Award

EdTA President's Award

EdTA Research Excellence Awards

EdTA Teaching Artist Award

Inspirational Theatre Educator Award

Thespian Alum of the Year Award

Theatre In Our Schools Outstanding Impact Award

EdTA Reveals 2026 Annual Award Recipients in Theatre Education

Children's Theatre Foundation of America (CTFA)'s Reba R. Robertson Award

EdTA Administrator's Award

EdTA Emerging Theatre Educator Award

EdTA Founders' Award

EdTA Hall of Fame Award

EdTA President's Award