2023 Favorite Arts Experience
Cincinnati was ranked 11th out of the top 20 most arts-vibrant large regions in the United States in the latest edition of the SMU DataArts report.
And for good reason.
In galleries, on stages, and even in the great outdoors, Cincinnati has remarkable choices all across the arts. See what our esteemed panel chose for their favorite things!
I went to several cool things this year, but hear me out on this one: I gifted my mother with the Cincinnati Zoo’s behind-the-scenes VIP penguin encounter for her birthday.
The kids and I joined for the experience, which exceeded all expectations, and was capped off with a rockhopper penguin creating personalized canvas art just for my mom. She even got to pick out the paint colors! This experience checked all the boxes: very cool (and chilly), animal theatrics, lots of laughter, and we walked away with art!
– Sarah Celenza
Tina Turner, the Musical at Broadway in Cincinnati.
– Megan Coffey
The Cincinnati Bookstore Crawl. Cincinnati is lucky to have so many independent bookstores, and even luckier that they're so collaborative and worked together to create this fun weekend of bookstore-hopping. Such a fantastic celebration of Cincinnati's literary scene!
– Hillary Copsey
Gabriel Iglesias at the Funny Bone comedy club.
– Tim David
MJ the Musical with Broadway in Cincinati at the Aronoff Center
– Bridget England
Hadestown, Broadway in Cincinati at the Aronoff Center.
– Christian Gill
Although I’m biased, Disney's Moana JR. at The Children's Theatre of Cincinnati was truly special. Theatrical storytelling through blacklight puppetry was a one-of-a-kind experience and one of our best productions.
– Krista Katona Pille
The Cincinnati Symphony’s performance of Hamlet by Thomas. I think it was one of Music Director Louis Langrée’s finest achievement in his tenure.
– Evans Mirageas
Solidarity Now! 1968 Poor People's Campaign at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center.
– Jenifer Moore
Broadway in Cincinnati never disappoints. Anastasia and Hadestown were the highlights for me.
– Kathrine Nero
Sporting Fashion: Outdoor Girls 1800 to 1960 exhibit at Taft Museum.
– Mindy Rosen
Madame Butterfly is a complicated opera – from the problematic storyline to the over-done Asian stereotypes, it can be tricky to stage and difficult to watch, but the music is glorious.
Cincinnati Opera restaged Madame Butterfly with an Asian cast and production team, reframing it with anime-inspired costumes and sets. The second act opening aria “One Beautiful Day,” moved me – and plenty of others – to tears. And a standing ovation.
The show’s ending put a new twist on the tragic ending, giving Butterfly the power and agency she so richly deserves.
– Tricia Suit
Shout out to Rico Grant for Black and Brown Faces Verified at the Cincinnati Art Museum.
– Amy Thompson
Silly question! Summerfair 2023!
But I also escaped to NYC and saw the Broadway production of & Juliet. It was awesome! Can't wait until it comes to town, I'll see it again!
– Jayne Utter