Say It Loud

James Joseph Brown (May 3, 1933 – December 25, 2006) was an American musician. The central progenitor of funk music and a major figure of 20th century music, he is referred to by various honorific nicknames, some of which include "the Hardest Working Man in Show Business", "Godfather of Soul", "Mr. Dynamite", and "Soul Brother No. 1" In a career that lasted more than 50 years, he influenced the development of several music genres.

Brown eventually signed with King Records' Federal subsidiary in Cincinnati, Ohio, and issued a re-recorded version of "Please, Please, Please" in March 1956. The song became the group's first R&B hit, selling over a million copies.

The Deele is an American band from Cincinnati, who achieved success in the 1980s with such hit singles as "Body Talk" and "Two Occasions". When the group began recording in the early 1980s, the lineup consisted of Indianapolis native Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds along with Cincinnati musicians Antonio "L.A." Reid, Carlos "Satin" Greene, Darnell "Dee" Bristol, Stanley "Stick" Burke, and Kevin "Kayo" Roberson.

The group would record three albums in total during the 1980s, scoring several hit singles. The above-mentioned Street Beat album was released in 1983, and the following year, a single from this album, "Body Talk" became The Deele's first hit, reaching #3 on the R&B chart and #77 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop chart.

Louise Shropshire was an American composer and the original composer of the song that changed the country during the civil rights movement, “WE Shall Overcome.”

In the early 1950s, Louise Shropshire met Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth. Finding much in common; Shropshire and King became good friends and established a strong and loyal spiritual alliance. Dr. King grew very comfortable with the Shropshire family and lodged at the Shropshire home when in Cincinnati. In addition, with the financial support of her husband’s successful bail bonds business, Shropshire held many fundraising events in her home and in Cincinnati hotels, several of which were attended by Dr. King himself. Funds were raised at these events to help bail out Civil Rights activists, who had been incarcerated during the Birmingham Campaign and Montgomery bus boycott. As a close friend of Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth and devout member of the African American Baptist Church, Louise Shropshire was instrumental in helping to establish the Greater New Light Baptist Church (GNLBC) in Cincinnati.

Philippé Wynne (aka Philippe Escalante Wynn; né Walker; April 3, 1941 – July 14, 1984) was an American singer, best known for his role as a lead vocalist of The Spinners (a role he shared with fellow group members Bobby Smith and Henry Fambrough). Wynne scored notable hits such as "How Could I Let You Get Away", "The Rubberband Man", and "One of a Kind (Love Affair)".

Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, and raised in the New Orphanage Asylum for Colored Children in Cincinnati, Ohio, Wynne went to Detroit in the early 1960s and began his musical career with his brother Michael Walker as a gospel singer. He soon switched to R&B and attained some measure of success, singing with Bootsy Collins's Pacemakers in 1968 and with James Brown's J.B.'s shortly thereafter.

What began as an idea just two years ago, the Cincinnati Black Music Walk of Fame officially opens this Saturday at noon.

Cincinnati Black Music Walk of Fame
Grand Opening & 2023 Induction Ceremony

Saturday, July 22, 12 p.m.
Next to the Andrew J Brady Center
25 Race St.

The 2023 Induction Ceremony honors

• The Deele

• James Brown

• Philippé Wynne

• Louise Shropshire

With a special celebration performance by The Ohio Players.

In April 2021, Hamilton County Commissioner Alicia Reece introduced the idea, calling for a way to celebrate the legacy and untold stories of music artists, songwriters, producers, and musicians from Cincinnati, Hamilton County, and Southwest Ohio. That July, the Hamilton County Board of Commissioners agreed to create an international state-of-the-art, outdoor interactive permanent tourism attraction and exciting music corridor on the banks of the Ohio River.

“From a gravel lot covered with rocks to becoming one of the greatest world-renowned outdoor Black music tourism attractions is historic,” said Reece. “Through the interactive elements and use of the latest technology, we will connect our rich black music legacy as inspiration to the generations of future music legends to come.”

Finding Connection

The third annual Truth & Healing visual art exhibition at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center’s Skirball Gallery, features works by recipients of ArtsWave’s Black and Brown Artist Program.

This year’s showcase focuses on the themes of healing, rebirth and reconnecting. Projects explore and respond to current issues of equity in health and race, and examine the path from historic inequalities to a more just future.

Included in the exhibition are:

• “AGAPE” by Asha Ama – “AGAPE” is a couture collection of men’s and womenswear, exploring gender fluidity and Black people’s intentional separation in relation to our unique ability to possess agape love. The world has strategically broken down our connection to our own identity and each other, and yet, Black people still find ways to dream, find each other and love, it’s in our blood. We are the survivors of those that chose to survive and our entire existence is made from pure, selfless love. What happens when we fulfill the prophecy and fall in love with each other again?

• Hands Behind Your Back! by Michael Coppage – “The 12 Commandments” series is a play on words using the 10 commandments and “12,” a slang term from rap culture meaning “police.” Directly in conflict with commandments like “thou shalt not kill” and “thou shalt not bear false witness,” police have historically used their power to demonize, arrest, maim and kill Black people. This sculpture highlights how even compliance with these commands can end in death. This project is not meant to demonize police but to highlight the assertion of power over Black bodies and the systemic issues that arise as a result.

• TOGETHERNESS by Julia O. Bianco –  The tent is made with canvas dropcloth, cyanotyped and further intervened by the artist. Part of the cyanotype work was made using organic matter collected in Burnet Woods. Inside the tent, a series of uneven handmade cushions invoke the idea of gathering around a fire. In the center of the tent, stacks of poems written collectively during the “Walking the Winter” sessions can be found. Writing prompts allow visitors to reflect on what it means to be and to make in community. “Togetherness” is a work meant to be inhabited and interacted with, a space for healing, rest and reflection created with collaboration from Robin Klebau, Jennifer Beach, Derek Beach, Madelyn McArthur and Curtis Graves. Inspired by time spent collectively during the winter months, Bianco creates a form of shelter that invokes the feeling of the winter in the woods, as well as the feeling of a safe space to simply be with others.

• I’m Still Listening by Brent Billingsley – A continuation of the “I’m Listening” project showcasing police/community engagement, this final product is a line of hand-designed, costume-painted, artistically-rendered garments created by high school students. With content arising from a series of facilitated discussions with students, teachers and police, the creation of these T-shirts empowered youth through creativity, design, relationship building, self-esteem, continuity of care, artistic drainage of emotions, focus and fun.

• Murmurations by Michael Thompson – Murmurations”explores the mesmerizing group movement of thousands of starlings as they flock in intricate and undulating patterns during their congregate flight, as well as the power of collective action to protect and progress our communities. The work draws parallels between natural and human systems, recognizing and marveling at the strength and beauty achieved when working for the common good. The project aims to emphasize interconnectedness, resilience and the transformative potential of collaboration by inviting contemplation of our efforts toward justice and dignity. The painting serves as a testament to the collective capacity of voices, actions and aspirations working toward a shared vision.

ArtsWave’s Black and Brown Artist Program supports Black and Brown artists in the Cincinnati region who interpret the themes of our times. It is one way that ArtsWave works to increase the sustainability of organizations and artists that focus on the preservation and advancement of Black arts and culture.

ArtsWave’s partnership with the City of Cincinnati, Duke Energy, Macy’s, the Greater Cincinnati Foundation, Fifth Third Bank and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center make the program possible.

The Truth & Healing visual art exhibition runs through Sept. 10, at the Freedom Center. Find more information at guide.artswave.org/event/artswaves-truth-healing-visual-art-exhibition

Your Song

Playhouse in the Park
Moe & Jack’s Place - The Rouse Theatre
962 Mount Adams Circle
Through July 16

Encouraging everyone to “Walk” a mile in someone else’s shoes. Using popular music, dance and personal stories, this powerful cast draws attention to the struggles facing us while offering hope of a better, more accepting tomorrow.

Get tickets.

Encouraging everyone to “Walk” a mile in someone else’s shoes. Using popular music, dance and personal stories, label•less’ powerful cast draws attention to the struggles facing us while offering hope of a better, more accepting tomorrow.

The show is underway at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park and you have a few more days to catch the performances!

Developed by Lachey Arts, (Yes, that Lachey!), the program, centered on inclusion, equality, and love returns this year for another fantastic run.

Artistic directors, Drew and Lea Lachey formed Lachey Arts, which hosts camps and classes for local talent. Additionally, Lachey Arts offers workshops, private lessons, choreography and consultations.

Staff consists of working professionals with Broadway, film and television experience.

label•less now in its sixth season, brings much of that young talent center stage at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park.

The show kicked off July 8 to audience raves. Check out a sneak peek below!

Artistic directors, Drew and Lea Lachey formed Lachey Arts, which hosts camps and classes for local talent. Additionally, Lachey Arts offers workshops, private lessons, choreography and consultations.

Credit: Angie Lipscomb

Staff consists of working professionals with Broadway, film and television experience.

label•less now in its sixth season, brings much of that young talent center stage at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park.

Holding True

In celebration of Juneteenth, this week ArtsWave announced the availability of its next round of $100,000 in funding to support African American arts organizations, as well as plans for its third annual artist showcase, part of the Black and Brown Artist Program.  

“With these investments — thanks to donors and partners — ArtsWave has established the two largest annual grant programs dedicated to Black and Brown artists and cultural organizations in the Cincinnati region,” said Alecia Kintner, ArtsWave president and CEO.

Black and Brown Artist Program Funding

Applications for this funding round will be accepted through July 28, with early submission feedback available through July 14 for first-time applicants.

ArtsWave will host two free, online grant writing workshops will be provided as an additional resource tool on Thursday, June 29 and Thursday, July 6, noon to 1 p.m.

More information is available at artswave.org/apply. Recipients will be announced in late August.

The third annual “Truth & Healing Artist Showcase” of new works by 18 of the region’s leading Black and Brown artists will be held at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center on July 14–16 and July 30, with the visual art exhibition in place through Sept. 10.

This year’s showcase is focused on the themes of healing, rebirth and reconnecting. Projects will explore and build upon the current artistic commentary of health and race and connect it with historical events and visions of a more equitable future. The projects not only represent the African American experience, but also the experiences of those with Mexican, Lebanese, Somali, Argentinian, Zimbabwean, Guatemalan and Indigenous heritage. Artists collaborated with community members and other partners in their projects, so that the larger public could participate in the process of healing, including reconnection and rebirth heritage.

Artists were selected by ArtsWave’s panel of community stakeholders in a competitive process for funding last fall. Out of 48 proposals, the artists chosen were determined to best capture the idea of “truth and healing,” and each received $10,000 to execute their project. In addition to financial support for the creation of new art works, the program helps artists develop valuable business and entrepreneurial skills. This year’s artists received professional development courses conducted by Wave Pool, plus monthly networking and progress meetings with ArtsWave staff. 

This year’s showcase features visual art — fashion design, painting and sculpture — along with video documentaries, musical composition, film and podcasts. There are also original musical compositions, theater, dance and multidisciplinary works.

The showcase is part of ArtsWave’s Black and Brown Artist Program which has funded 67 artists of color with $742,108 in grants over the past three years. This program is supported by the City of Cincinnati, Macy’s, Duke Energy, Fifth Third Bank, the Greater Cincinnati Foundation and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center.   

ArtsWave’s African American arts grants program, known as “the Circle’s African American Arts Grants Program,” is designed to strengthen the capacity for arts presenting, producing, programming and instruction at organizations led by or predominantly serving Black communities in the Cincinnati region. This program is one of the ways that ArtsWave works to increase the sustainability of organizations that focus on the preservation and advancement of Black arts and culture. Eligible organizations will have a mission related to the African American experience and a majority (51%+) of annual expenditures dedicated to arts and cultural activities.

Spirit of Freedom

Nearly two years after President Abraham Lincoln emancipated enslaved Africans in America, Union troops arrived in Texas with news of freedom on June 19, 1865. More than 250,000 African Americans embraced freedom by executive decree in what became known as Juneteenth or Freedom Day.

In 2021, Juneteenth was officially recognized as a federal holiday, providing the opportunity for all Americans to better understand the evolution of our nation and its people, celebrating African American resilience and achievement, and preserving the history of Freedom Day. 

The Juneteenth Cincinnati organization has produced an annual Juneteenth Festival in the city since 1988. The festival began at Daniel Drake Park in Kennedy Heights and in the early 1990s moved to Eden Park, in partnership with the Cincinnati Parks.

Juneteenth flag-raising ceremonies will be held on Friday, June 16 at the Hamilton County Courthouse and Cincinnati City Hall, kicking off a weekend of celebration.

Along with a two-day festival in Eden Park, other celebrations will be held over the weekend, leading up to Monday’s holiday.

Cincinnati’s 36th Annual Juneteenth Festival
Saturday, June 17, 12–9 p.m.
Eden Park, 950 Eden Park Drive
juneteenthcincinnati.org

The festival’s diverse, family-friendly, and free activities include traditional storytelling and games in supervised children’s area. Other programs include health screenings, historical re-enactors, and the inaugural Juneteenth Chess Tournament from ChessTime, a new Cincinnati chess club.

With two stages, the day’s entertainment includes music, dance, and poetry performers. Food truck and vendors include Fullman’s Treats, We Do BBQ, Southern Bell, Sundae Skool Bus, and more.

The celebration continues on Sunday, with June Fest: A Father’s Day Concert from 2–6 p.m., featuring  a variety of inspirational spiritual music and praise dancing in Seasongood Pavilion.

4th Annual Paloozanoire Juneteenth Block Party
Saturday, June 17, 4–11 p.m.
Freedom Way at The Banks
More information

At this annual Juneteenth Block Party presented by Fifth Third Bank, everyone is invited to celebrate with good vibes and inclusivity.

The JBP is dedicated to the people –i ncluding families, creatives, entrepreneurs and those climbing the corporate ladder.

FREE, registration is required at the link above.

SpeakFreely: Juneteenth Evening at the Museum
Saturday, June 17, 6:30–10 p.m.
Tickets: $10 members, $20 non-members
National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, 50 E. Freedom Way
freedomcenter.org/voice/event/speakfreely/

For Juneteenth, the oldest celebrated commemoration of the end of slavery in the United States, the Freedom Center has an evening with music, poetry, food and drink sponsored by Western & Southern Financial Group. Playing off the idea of a “speakeasy,” SpeakFreely takes guests back to an era of underground speakeasies that brought people from all backgrounds together in a social setting.

Experience music from Destiny L and Chasing Dreams, ranging from classics to current hits in jazz, R&B and blues. Through the rich history of these musical styles, guests can experience the social connection and artistic expression born in the speakeasy era. In addition to the performances, tickets include access to the museum galleries, light bites and a cash bar.

The evening is a way to celebrate freedom, honor history and create new memories in a spirit of unity and appreciation for the contributions of African-Americans.

Juneteenth Panel Discussion & Tasting Event
Saturday, June 17, 11 a.m.
Sunday, June 18, 5 p.m.
Findlay Market, 1801 Race St.
www.findlaymarket.org/marketevents/juneteenth

Juneteenth at the Market
Participating Merchants

• A “Mother's Touch” Cakes – Gourmet Mini Cupcakes

• A&D Ernest – Jollof rice (mild, medium/regular and spicy)

• Bouchards – Fried Green Tomatoes

• Chamaele – Honey Straws

• Chico's Cheesecakes v Cheesecake brownies and cheesecake bites

• Dat's Ole School Cookin’ – Spicy Cat Fish Bits and Miniature Cajun Corn on Cob or Peach Cobbler Pudding

• Flash in the Pan – Corn & Edamame Salad

• Flavors of the Isle – Jerk Chicken

• Gramma Debbies Kitchen – Collard & Kale Greens with Onions and Smoked Turkey Legs, Paired with a Piece Cornbread.

• Honey Child Artisan Pops – Mini Pop

• Makers Bakers Co. – Grandmas Original Pound Cake or You Don’t Know Watermelon Salad

• Miley Pooh Sweets – Peach Cobbler Cake Babies or Golden Oreo Pound Cake

• NayNays – Choice of Jalapeño bread, Cheese and Garlic Bread or Monkey Bread

• Head's Up Trading Co. – $1.50 off an item

• Creative Candle – $1.50 off an item

• Flash in the Pan – Corn & Edamame Salad

Juneteenth at the Market is a two-day event to celebrate and showcase the Black-owned businesses and community partners at Findlay Market.  

The weekend will kick off on Saturday, June 17, with a discussion with community leaders and business owners to discuss the history and importance of the Juneteenth. Tickets are free, but reservations are requested. Kara Willis from The Mercantile Library will moderate.

The afternoon includes performances programmed by It’s Commonly Jazz! from Erwin Stuckey and his Omega Band (1–3 p.m.) and Paul Hawthorne & Company (4–6 p.m.)

On Sunday, a ticketed event features Black-owned businesses, with 100% of the ticket proceeds going back to those businesses. Attendees can redeem tickets for small bites at merchants and vendors, with each ticket good for one sample.

Enjoy music performances by Tracy Walker & Friends, Aprina Johnson, and Nick Jackson Speaks.

A limited number of tickets will be for sale on-site at 10 a.m. Pre-purchasing tickets is recommended! Juneteenth at Findlay Market is sponsored by SEI and Pope Financial Planning.

YBG Juneteenth Block Party Vendor Registration
Saturday, June 17, 2–6 p.m.
Ziegler Park, 1322 Sycamore St.
More information

The Young Black Genius (YBG) celebrate the history and culture of the African-American community, with a day of live performances, , games, music and more. Local food trucks and vendors will also be at the park.

The Cincinnati Young Entrepreneurs Market will be onsite with information on youth resources, including job opportunities, sports activities and leadership programs. 

State of Affairs

Cincinnati Opera begins its 103rd season on June 22 at Music Hall. We talk to Evans Mirageas, the Harry T. Wilks Artistic Director, about what to expect onstage and beyond this summer.

Lucia Di Lammermoor
Gaetano Donizetti
June 22 and 24, 7:30 p.m.

In this Victorian-era thriller set in the Scottish Highlands, an age-old family feud thwarts a couple’s secret love affair, with deadly consequences.
Learn More.

The Knock
Aleksandra Vrebalov and Deborah Brevoort
June 23 and 27, July 5and 7, 7:30 p.m.
July 2, 3 p.m.

What must be endured by the loved ones of those who serve? This intimate opera explores the dramatic stories of heroism at home as families await news of their spouses during conflict abroad. Performed in Wilks Studio at Music Hall.
Learn More.

The Barber of Seville
Gioachino Rossini
July 6 and 8, 7:30 p.m.

Supreme silliness ensues when Figaro, Seville’s most beloved barber, plays matchmaker for a lovelorn nobleman and a clever young heiress.
Learn More.

Studio Sessions
July 12 and 19, 8 p.m.

Get ready for two unforgettable nights of sound and splendor with our stars! Cincinnati Opera artists take to the cabaret stage in these intimate, candlelit performances at Music Hall’s Wilks Studio. Each 90-minute performance includes musical selections that span a variety of genres.
Learn more.

Madame Butterfly
Giacomo Puccini
July 22, 27 and 29, 7:30 p.m.

Puccini’s heartrending opera about a young Japanese girl and her tragic love affair with an American serviceman has been reimagined from a groundbreaking new point of view by an all-Japanese and Japanese American design team.
Learn More.

Making a Stand

June 10, 2023: Upstander 5K, 8:30 a.m.
Cincinnati’s community of upstanders take over historic Union Terminal for our Upstander 5K, Family Day & Upstander Volunteer Expo. Kick off your morning with the Upstander 5K, which takes runners and walkers on a scenic route around historic Union Terminal and throughout the West End and Over-the-Rhine. Participants will also enjoy live music, family activities, breakfast, and pick-up pickleball games outside of Union Terminal.

June 10, 2023: Museum Family Day & Upstander Volunteer Expo, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Explore upstander activities and experiences throughout the Children’s Museum, Cincinnati History Museum, the Museum of Natural History and Science, and the Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center. Browse our Upstander Volunteer Expo, where dozens of non-profit and mission-driven organizations will be available in the Rotunda to share volunteer opportunities and information with museum goers throughout the day. When you register for any Cincinnati Upstander Weekend event, you receive free admission to all museums.

June 11, 2023: Upstander Awards Featuring Katie Couric, 6 p.m.
The Upstander Awards recognize individuals in the region who use their character strengths to make a difference in the community. Enjoy a gala-style event in historic Union Terminal’s breath-taking rotunda with live music, art experiences, and a moving awards ceremony celebrating Cincinnati’s best and brightest upstanders. Award-winning journalist Katie Couric, founder of Katie Couric Media, will serve as this year’s celebrity master of ceremonies.

Tickets for all events are available at www.upstanderweekend.org.

“‘Upstanders’ were those who stood up to save Jewish lives during the Holocaust,” says Kara Driscoll, director of marketing and events at the Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center. “Today we use the term to describe someone who uses their character strengths to a make a difference in the world.”

The Holocaust & Humanity Center is partnering with Cincinnati Museum Center to host the inaugural Cohen Family Cincinnati Upstander Weekend, an inspiring two days of events featuring family activities along with an awards ceremony headlined by Katie Couric at historic Union Terminal.

“We did a trial run last with the 5K,” says Driscoll, “and we felt it was a great way to engage the community.”

This year a number of activities are planned, along with the 5K. Saturday’s programs include music, activations from FC Cincinnati, pickleball, and a volunteer expo. Driscoll expects 40 different non-profits, all sharing information about how to get more involved in the community.

Admission to the Holocaust & Humanity Center will be free on Saturday, so people can learn more about the museum, which moved to Union Terminal in 2019.

“It’s the only Holocaust museum in the country that has a direct connection to history,” Driscoll says, as Holocaust survivors traveled through the train station as they made new lives in Cincinnati and beyond.

2023 Upstander Finalists

Out of hundreds of nominees, the finalists were selected for their outstanding contributions to the community.

• Mason Bailey

• Whitney Blackston

• Evin Blomberg

• Polly Camrey

• Dr. Kate Carlier Currie

• David “Tex” Cho

• Carlton Collins

• LeTecia Cunningham

• Suzy DeYoung

• Michele Berry Godsey

• Brittani Gray

• Alethia Finley

• Joshua Kayes

• Chloe Keil

• Tanya Keskar

• Jordan Klette-Cusher

• Oliver Kroner

• Sheryl Long

• Imran Malik

• Dominque Olbert

• Kristin Shrimplin

• Krystal Smalley

• Scott Smith

• Missy Spears

• Cass Steiner

• Kayelin Tiggs

• Joseph Waldon and Abigail Groszkiewic

Learn more about the finalists.

Nominations for the 2024 Upstander Awards open Sunday, June 11.

The weekend concludes with the The Upstander Awards, which recognize individuals in the region who have worked to make a difference in the community. This gala event will celebrate Cincinnati’s upstanders, with an evening that includes powerful stories from Holocaust survivors.

“We want to inspire Cincinnatians with stories of everyday people in their community doing incredible work,” says Driscoll.

Community leaders Kick Lee, Amy Spiller, and Jaipal Singh will receive the 2023 Upstander Leader Awards. These individuals have used their leadership and character strengths to lift up Cincinnati through their work.

“At Cincinnati Museum Center, we know how important the role education has in creating more empathetic, compassionate, and confident people, poised to lead and stand up for their community. We’re proud to partner with the Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center on Cincinnati Upstander Weekend as we inspire all Cincinnatians to learn about how they can stand up and make a difference in the world today,” said Elizabeth Pierce, president and CEO of Cincinnati Museum Center. “Whether you run the Upstander 5K or explore upstanders throughout our world-class museums across Union Terminal, we hope you’ll join us in creating a community of upstanders.”

Let's Get Loud

“ArtWorks is constantly exploring thoughtful and innovative ways to serve our community, share our mission, and provide programming that is accessible in our ever-growing region,” says Dominique Khoury Sutton, ArtWorks director of development.

ArtBrunch at Somerset, 10:30 a.m.–1 p.m., $50
139 E McMicken Ave.

ArtParty at Alice, 1–3 p.m., FREE
1432 Main St, Cincinnati, OH 45202

ArtDinner at Somerhaus, 5–8 p.m, $200
1415 Republic St.

ArtAmplified is a 21+ event.

Details and tickets at www.artworkscincinnati.org/event/artamplified

Working on that principle, Art Amplied was created. This new urban festival in Over-the-Rhine includes three parts, allowing guests to curate their own adventure with creative – and delicious – experiences.

“Each experience vibrantly celebrates ArtWorks’ mission by highlighting our programs in unique ways,” says Sutton.

For the ArtBrunch at Somerset, guests will enjoy complimentary mimosas and pastries, along with yoga, a DJ, and an artist talk with Anissa Pulcheon and Asha White. At the FREE ArtParty at Alice, guests will see enjoy music, a new beer from Rhinegeist, and an immersive mural dance party, Lucid — a living art installation by Brave Berlin.

The day wraps up with a seasonal, three-course dinner by Chef David Jackman at Somerhaus. Along with the meal, the program also includes a Q & A with guest artists Dan Reynolds and Steve McGowan, co-Founders of Brave Berlin and Kim Popa executive director/ co-founder of Pones, with Colleen Houston, ArtWorks CEO and artistic director.

“We are incredibly grateful for the many partnerships, artists, artisans, and organizations that allow ArtWorks to carry out their mission,” says Sutton. “On, Sunday, we celebrate these relationships and their meaning to ArtWorks.

Tickets for the ArtBrunch will be available at the door, however, if you order before Friday, and you will automatically be entered for the chance to help paint on an ArtWorks’ mural this summer! Winner (and three guests of their choice) will receive lunch, behind-the-scenes access to our mural process, and the opportunity to contribute to an ArtWorks public work of art.

“You definitely need to stop by Alice at the ArtParty to help paint the community mural designed specifically for the space,” say Sutton. “End your evening at Somerset for a nightcap, and witness a large-scale, mural-inspired projection in the gorgeous botanical garden – Our murals will come to life at dark and you won’t want to miss it!”

Got Weird?

As a city filled with incredible – and historic – arts organizations, Cincinnati is home to a wealth of artists, actors, and musicians.

Cincy Fringe Festival
June 2–17, venues throughout Over-the-Rhine

Fringe Headquarters – Know Theatre
1120 Jackson St.

Tickets are available at the box office, by phone (513-300-5669), or at cincyfringe.com or by

Find out more about shows at cincyfringe.com/2023-Fringe.

But those performers often use their talent beyond the more familiar stages, creating new works and bold interpretations.

Cincy Fringe, celebrating its 20th anniversary, brings together artists from around the country for experimental or unusual productions.

Like all Fringe Festivals, Cincy Fringe gives artists, especially independent artists, an opportunity to present their work. The freedom artists have to create whatever they want makes Fringes a popular destination for more experimental or unusual productions. But if you think fringe is only outlandish and alternative productions, fringe festivals have launched Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, Stomp, SIX: The Musical, Fleabag, and even a proto-Monty Python.

This 14-day celebration of theatre, art, music, film, dance, and everything between offers 31 productions, with venues the Know Theatre MainStage, the Art Academy of Cincinnati, Gabriel’s Corner, and at a Main Street storefront. The lineup includes new work from 15 local creators, 14 productions from across the country, and two international artists from Japan and Australia. 

After an evening of inspiring, unusual, and provocative entertainment, unwind at Fringe After Hours in Know Theatre’s Underground Bar and Lounge.

What to Watch

Get a sense of what Cincy Fringe is all about from these performance, then dig in to find more!

Anchorette
Jane Carver, Cincinnati

An abandoned baby, a ship’s crew, and an ancient superstition…

A baby is left by strangers on a dock. The crew, afraid to bring her on board because of an ancient superstition, decide to hitch a tiny boat to their ship and steer her through the wild seas. Anchorette is a poetic recitation with musical interludes for voice and concertina. 

Venue: 1316 Main St.

Bloodline

Paris Crayton III, Los Angeles

The multi-generational love story of three men with the same name.

Bloodline is a one-man, semi-autobiographical love story told from the perspectives of three generations of men with the same name. Paris Sr., a sharecropper in Mississippi, meets the beautiful Ruth one night at a juke joint and goes on a relentless pursuit to make her fall in love with him. Paris Jr., an animal technician, welcomes his new son into the world and navigates love and life as he struggles with his new fatherly duties and second thoughts about his marriage. Paris III, a starving artist, searches for love in multiple relationships and cities.

Venue: Know Theatre

Gentrification: The Musical!

Doin’ Too Much Productions, Cincinnati

Definitely not a musical about OTR or 3CDC.

Opportunities abound in the city of [redacted], where the United Community Development Consortium is hosting their first-ever Big Pitch Event! The lucky winner decides what occupies one of the Consortium’s recently vacated lots. This musical satire is definitely not about OTR or 3CDC.

Venue: Art Academy 404

Made in America
Teruko Nakajima, Los Angeles

Teruko and Titi’s Triumph over Tragedy!

Made in America is a brutally honest, surprisingly entertaining, and heartbreakingly life-affirming love letter to the human experience. It’s a story for women, Asians, first-generation immigrants, and anyone who is fighting to make their dreams come true. Her dog Titi performs, too.

Venue: 1316 Main St

Trolls! Trolls! Trolls!
Autumn Kaleidoscope, Cincinnati

There’s a TROLL in my suitcase!

The last thing that you would expect to find in your suitcase is a troll. Using puppets and folk tales from around the world, Silas G. Thistlewig shows a downhearted young troll that there is more to life than living under bridges…or in suitcases. All-ages.

Venue: 1316 Main St

Who’s Afraid of Winnie the Pooh?
Clevername Theatre, St. Paul, MN

It’s Edward Albee, but Winnie the Pooh.

Winnie and Piglet invite the new couple over for drinks. A night of bitter, sadomasochistic mind games ensues. Witness the dramatic triumph of the year, nestled in the unassuming heart of The Hundred Acre Wood.

Venue: Art Academy 404

Hitting a Wall

Artworks Summer Mural Tours

Public tours of murals in downtown, OTR, and Pendleton are available on the weekends.
See the summer mural tour schedule.

Private tours are also available!

For more information, visit www.artworkscincinnati.org.

We’ll say it. If you’re looking for a city with beautiful, awe-inspiring murals, Cincinnati is it!

And we have to agree with ArtWorks who who belies “Our city is an art gallery”! You can see it in all of the murals that adorn buildings, alleyways, and wall throughout the Queen City.

And if it’s been a minute since you took a stroll through the city center admiring the murals, you’re in luck! The Summer mural tour schedule is now live!

The Best of the Best: The Downtown mural tour is ArtWorks’ most popular tour. You’ll explore 13 of ArtWorks’ fan-favorite murals, including a few “Best of Cincinnati” winners!

Not the walk everywhere type? That’s cool. Pedal Wagon tours, where you can kick back (sorta) and breeze by murals with friends, are also available.

Curious about the more than 230 murals Artworks has created around the region? See a full list and a map!

Want a peek at the mural projects scheduled for this summer? Check out the list below!

Divisions Maintenance Group Mural (Interior)
505 Vine St., Fourth Floor, Divisions Maintenance Group Headquarters
Number of Apprentices Employed: 8

In partnership with Divisions Maintenance Group (DMG), ArtWorks is creating one interior mural within DMG’s new offices located at The Foundry building. The mural, designed by local artist Joe Walsh, features an illustrative watercolor landscape of Kentucky overlooking the Ohio River and Cincinnati skyline. A truck loaded with whiskey barrels faces the path leading to Cincinnati, representing Divisions Maintenance Group's move from Newport and into the Foundry building located in Downtown Cincinnati. The red-winged black bird flying over the river echoes this symbolism being a bird found in both states and inspiring the thought that wherever you migrate to, you'll always know where home is. ArtWorks is excited to host community paint days with the artistic team and DMG staff to drum up excitement and inspire the staff as they transition into their new home in downtown Cincinnati.

SHP Mural
315 E. Seventh St., Sycamore Place
Number of Apprentices Employed: 12

ArtWorks and SHP, a firm of architects, designers and engineers who maximize the utility, beauty and wonder of space, are partnering to create a mural that celebrates SHP's long-standing commitment to improving the lives of community members through education, employment, and community engagement.

The mural draws inspiration from architecture and nature and features a colorful, bold, abstract, and lively composition. This mural serves as a lasting tribute to SHP's unwavering dedication to creating positive change in the community, inspiring hope and progress for generations to come.

Cincinnati Pride Mural
222 W. 12th St., Queen City Radio
Number of Apprentices Employed: 12

ArtWorks is partnering with Pride Cincinnati to create a mural that celebrates the 50th anniversary of Pride in Cincinnati. The Mural was designed by local artist Mathew Dayler and illustrates the theme of unity and inclusivity. Drawing inspiration from Cincinnati Pride’s history of protest for equity, the mural features a colorful and dynamic composition that celebrates the diversity of the LGBTQ+ community. Throughout the mural, viewers can see depictions of protesting and celebrations that encourage the community to embrace love, acceptance, and equality. The mural serves as a powerful symbol of Pride in Cincinnati, inspiring positive change and fostering a sense of unity and belonging for all.

County Garage Mural
815 Logan St.
Number of Apprentices Employed: 10

Hamilton County is partnering with ArtWorks to produce a mural that speaks to the history, progress, and enduring qualities of Cincinnati's historic Findlay Market area and market house. The mural design will be the result of a months-long international Call to Artists that yielded interest from 136 artists located across the globe, as well as community engagement conducted at Findlay Market. The designer, Greta McLain from Minneapolis, MN, was selected as the Call to Artists finalist and will create a unique and site-specific design that celebrates the people and dynamic energy that have helped to make Findlay Market Ohio's oldest continuously operated public market. With the guidance of McLain and Teaching Artists, the apprentices on this project will support creating a new landmark for the Findlay Market area that aims to represent the neighborhood and its residents while also welcoming visitors and tourists.

Rookwood Commons Mural
3505 Edwards Road, Rookwood Commons Pavilion
Number of Apprentices Employed: 18

Hines, one of the largest privately held real estate investors and managers in the world, is partnering with ArtWorks to produce four murals that embrace the community spirit of the Rookwood Commons and Pavilion. The murals designed by Kruti Mehta, a local designer, celebrate the diversity of Norwood and the energy surrounding the Wasson Way bike path. The four exterior murals each feature a fresh and energetic design that incorporates a bright, eye-catching color palette. This partnership and project will transform a previously overlooked area along the Common's back drive nearest Madison Road into a contemporary and inviting space.

From an "oops" to an "oh, my!"

About a week ago, Arnold’s Bar & Grill shared a post on social media about their beloved Czarface mural created world famous street artist L’amour Supreme.

From Lemons to Lemonade

It was accidentally removed by DCI’s Graffiti Removal team.

But those lemons quickly turned to lemonade as 3CDC stepped in with a fix. And a great one, at that!

“3CDC stepped in and immediately agreed to commission him to put up a brand new bigger and better one in two weeks!” a spokesperson from Arnolds said. “Then L’amour decided he wanted to stay a full week to do several murals around town!”

“Maker's Mark stepped in to sponsor a bunch of events for him at Shake It Records and Earth To Kentucky! Then 16 Lots Brewing Company decided to brew a collaboration beer with him. It's gonna be an awesome week,” Arnold’s spokesperson continued.

But the good news doesn’t stop there.

Arnold’s is inviting the entire city to watch L’amour create these murals.

“L’amour Supreme’s Love Letter to Cincinnati” Schedule

Tuesday, May 30 – Live mural painting at The Path to the Taft between Third Street and Pete Rose Way.

Wednesday, May 31 – Afternoon: Continued live mural painting
6 p.m.: Record signing at Shake It Records

Thursday, June 1 – Afternoon: Mural Painting at undisclosed location
6 p.m.: Toy release and Meet and Greet at Earth 2 Kentucky

Friday, June 2 – Live mural Painting at Arnold's Bar and Grill

Saturday, June 3 – Lamour’s Farewell Party at Arnold’s with mural unveiling, print release, and first official beer tapping.

Last year L’amour was commissioned to create 50-foot mural in Over-the-Rhine for BLINK. He fell in love with the city and was trying to find a way to get back.

The new mural at Arnold’s offered that chance, which developed into the partership with with Maker’s Mark and some iconic businesses, including Arnold’s, to create a letter to the city.

L’amour plans a week-long show full of outdoor art, appearances, and entertainment, in partnership with Maker’s Mark, 3CDC, Arnold’s Bar and Grill, Shake It Records, 16 Lots Brewery, Earth to Kentucky Toy Store, and Otto’s printing.

---

Check out L’amour painting his last two murals in Cincinnati:

Mural for Blink

Mural in Arnold’s Alley

This is The Way

 “The Way,” Emilio Estevez’s most personal, explores his walk along the Camino de Santiago with his father, Martin Sheen.

Originally released in 2011, “The Way,” is back in theaters one-day-only on May 16, with bonus content from travel icon Rick Steves. Tickets are available through Fathom Events.

Just as the Camino pilgrimage has been followed for a millennium to reveal some deeper revelation in one’s life — “The Way” also carries a similar impact for all who have seen it. Now, a new generation who is embracing this film.  

“The Way” is Estevez’s seventh film as writer/director and marks the fourth collaboration with his actor/father. A Cincinnati resident, Estevez has established himself not only as an accomplished actor, but also as a talented writer, director, and producer.  

Since its theatrical release in 2011, Emilio Estevez’s film “The Way” has been “running a quiet marathon” garnering millions of fans across all generations; widely admired by those who see the film as a rare work of art, uniquely balancing faith and doubt; sorrow and joy.

As Spring arrives, those yearning to travel after years of chaos are expressing their desire to begin their own personal “Caminos.” The opportunity to sit in a theater and virtually travel to Spain,"with friends, loved ones (and strangers) is what “The Way” is about, perhaps above all else.   

Band Together

Cincinnati has an incredible history of great singers and musicians. That tradition is carried on today through indie bands, local choirs, and maybe even your co-workers.

Through CincyJams, musicians at companies and organizations around the region can show-off their hidden talents, at the same time raising money for ArtsWave and the thousands of performances, arts education programs, exhibitions, festivals and more the organization funds.

A workplace battle of the bands, the winners of CincyJams are chosen by the audience. The bands play at Hard Rock Cafe on May 18 at 7 p.m. The free-admission event (for 21 and over) is designed to engage the community through bringing various companies together for an evening, while raising essential funds for the arts.

But you don’t need to wait until the show to cast your vote! The “Fan Funded” award will go to the band that raises the most money through this voting process.

Bands vying for this prize are

• Sugar Daddy from Jake Sweeney Automotive

• THE Polka Warriors from Great American Insurance

• The Other Band from Procter & Gamble

• The altafibers from altafiber

• The Bad Boyz from The Chambers Group

• Highway to Health from TriHealth, Inc.

• Cincy Chops from Great American Insurance

• Eleven Arrows from GE Aerospace

• The MRC Band from Music Resource Center of the YMCA

• Title 14 from GE Aerospace

• The Pacemakers from The Christ Hospital Health

Voting is hosted by media sponsor Cincinnati Enquirer and Cincinnati.com, and all votes can be cast at artswave.org/vote.

All proceeds from the “Fan Funded” competition will go to the annual ArtsWave Campaign. Band members winning this prize will receive pairs of tickets to the 2023 Cincinnati Music Festival presented by P&G, headlined in 2023 by Snoop Dogg and Al Green, compliments of the “Fan Funded Prize Sponsor,” Cincinnati Music Festival presented by P&G.

Unsung Hero

If You Go 

CAC Opening Reception

Robert O’Neal: Open to All

Luis Camnitzer: Monuments to Unknown Heroes

April 28, 8 p.m.
Contemporary Arts Center, 44 E. Sixth St.

Cash bar, music, photo booth, and the opportunity to contribute to a graffiti art mural facilitated by ArtWorks as part of their New Monuments initiative.

More information.

Robert O’Neal, a fixture of the region’s local arts community for more than 50 years, influenced countless artists during his lifetime. The first museum retrospective of this Cincinnati-based painter and activist, opening Friday at the Contemporary Arts Center, explores Cincinnati’s Black communities.

Throughout his career, O’Neal created works that represent the joys, struggles, and rich histories of Cincinnati’s Black neighborhoods. His practice merged art and activism, advocating for civil rights through socially engaged art and grassroots organizing that supported Black artists, fought for disability rights, and advocated for the unhoused.

He has left a long-lasting impression on the community, earning him the unofficial title of “Over-the-Rhine Mayor.” As the first major survey on the artist, Robert O’Neal: Open to All highlights his vast body of work. Featuring paintings, drawings, prints, and photographs that he produced between the 1960s-2010s, along with a collection of archival materials, this long overdue retrospective examines O’Neal’s critical contributions to the city of Cincinnati.

Featuring more than 30 paintings, alongside drawings, prints, and photo collages, this exhibition is the first museum retrospective to explore the work of Cincinnati-based painter and activist Robert O’Neal, sometimes known as the unofficial “Mayor of Over-the-Rhine.” It highlights O’Neal’s longstanding interest in portraiture and documenting Black community life in Cincinnati’s West End.

Also opening Friday is Luis Camnitzer: Monuments to Unknown Heroes. Camnitzer, a conceptual artist and pedagogue, presents a series of posters by more than 100 artists depicting proposals for monuments to under-recognized heroes.

Originally organized in the days following the pandemic, this visual archive captures various perspectives on the ways in which we memorialize, while raising questions about the socio-political and economic underpinnings that typically accompany the production of public monuments. Participating artists include Erika NJ Allen, Michael Coppage, Jesse Ly, and Sara Torgison, among others.

The opening reception invites guest to take part in ArtWorks’ New Monuments initiative, which aims to reimagine and rebuild commemorative spaces that celebrate and affirm the historical contributions of the many diverse communities that make up Cincinnati and the United States.

Take A Bow

Since 1986, the Taft Museum of Art and and the Robert S. Duncanson Society have annually honored the achievements of contemporary Black artists working in a variety of disciplines.

In partnership with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra’s distinguished Diversity Fellowship program, the Taft Museum of Art welcomes cellist Anita Graef, as the 36th Duncanson Artist-in-Residence.

Finale Concert: Duncanson Artist-in-Residence

 Saturday, April 29, 7–9 p.m.
The Carnegie Arts Center
1028 Scott Street, Covington, KY 41011

Celebrate the conclusion of the 2023 Duncanson Artist-in-Residence with cellist Anita Graef. Graef will grace audiences with a solo performance as well as share the stage with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra’s Nouveau Chamber players and special guests for a night of harmony.

FREE. Registration is recommended.

Graef’s notable appearances include Strings magazine’s “Sessions” video performance series, Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall, the Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concert series, and “Concerts from the Library of Congress.” She has performed as a guest on radio stations WQXR, WFMT, WGTE, WUOL, WOSU, and WVPB, among others, and on NPR. Graef has performed with orchestras across the United States. As 36th Duncanson Artist-in-Residence, she hold workshops, classes, and performances from April 16 to 30.

The Duncanson program honors the relationship between Black American painter Robert S. Duncanson and his patron, Nicholas Longworth, who commissioned Duncanson to paint landscape murals in the foyer of his home, now the Taft Museum of Art.

Special Arrangement

Featured artists from Cincinnati Opera’s Cabaret of Hope: Warsaw 1941 include: (L to R) Matthew Umphreys, Victoria Okafor, Christina Haan, Sarah Folsom, Polina Bespalko, Thomas Dreeze, and Simon Barrad.

Photo by Philip Groshong

Cabaret of Hope: Warsaw 1941

Sunday, April 16, 2 p.m.
CET 48.1
Also available as a live stream via the PBS app

The Cabaret of Hope: Warsaw 1941 broadcast premiere coincides with the community-wide Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day) commemoration, which takes place April 16, 2–3 p.m., at the Mayerson Jewish Community Center (8485 Ridge Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45236) and via Zoom live stream.

More information can be found at holocaustandhumanity.org.

Monday, April 17, 8 p.m.
Tuesday, April 18, 8 a.m., 1 p.m., and 5 p.m.
Wednesday, April 19, 10 a.m., 3 p.m., and 10 p.m.
CET Arts 48.3

Additional airings will take place on CET Arts 48.3 in May and June 2023. Visit cetconnect.org for full schedule.

“Cabaret of Hope: Warsaw 1941 originated in the imagination of  Cincinnati’s Rabbi Abie Ingber, says Evans Mirageas, the Harry T. Wilks Artistic Director at Cincinnati Opera. “In 1994, Abie created a program with students from Hebrew Union College and UC’s College-Conservatory of Music. It combined Warsaw Ghetto diary excerpts, poetry, and music.”

Developed by Cincinnati Opera in celebration of the creativity that flourished within the Warsaw Ghetto, Cabaret of Hope: Warsaw 1941 features songs and poetry from the era.

Partnering with CET, Cincinnati’s PBS member station, the an hour-long televised program will premiere on CET 48 on Sunday, April 16, in recognition of Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day).

The Sunday event will also be live-streamed on the PBS app, and have additional airings on CET Arts through June 2023.

In 1941 in Warsaw, Poland, more than 400,000 Jews were held captive in a cordoned-off area known as the Warsaw Ghetto. Nevertheless, nightlife continued to thrive, with cafés and restaurants offering entertainment and a temporary respite for residents. Perhaps the most famous was the Café Sztuka, where renowned poets, singers, and musicians appeared regularly, performing classical music and new songs by George Gershwin, Jerome Kern, and Kurt Weill, among others. Cabaret of Hope: Warsaw 1941 is a recreation of this cabaret experience, serving as both a remembrance and a celebration of the creativity that flourished amid extraordinary oppression.

“A few years ago, pianist Polina Bespalko shared some of the original materials with me. She is a good friend of Abie’s, and they have served on the faculty at Xavier University together,” says Mirageas. “This led to meetings with Abie, and the idea of mounting a professional version of the 1994 project was born. COVID-19 stalled our progress. But, last April, as part of the community-wide celebration of the Jewish Cincinnati Bicentennial, our project came to life, culminating in two sold-out performances at Music Hall.”

Cabaret of Hope: Warsaw 1941 was captured live during a public performance at Cincinnati Music Hall’s Wilks Studio in April 2022, with performances by vocalist Sarah Folsom, soprano Victoria Okafor, baritones Simon Barrad and Thomas Dreeze, pianists Polina Bespalko and Matthew Umphreys, and accordionist Christina Haan.

Cabaret of Hope: Warsaw 1941 was originally presented in partnership with the Jewish Foundation of Cincinnati, Jewish Federation of Cincinnati, and the Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center to commemorate the Jewish Cincinnati Bicentennial.

Brewing Some Fun

If You Go

Summerfair Poster Reveal
Thursday, April 13, 6-8 p.m.
HighGrain Brewery & Kitchen
6860 Plainfield Road

More info at summerfair.org.

For the first time in Cincinnati, you'll be able to buy event tickets via a QR on a can of beer.

Summerfair has teamed with HighGrain Brewery to create a new citrus wheat beer, with each can featuring a QR code to buy tickets to the event this June.

The beer, with the QR code, makes its debut on Thursday, April 13. Along with the new beer, the collectible 2023 Summerfair poster will be revealed in celebration of Summerfair’s 56th anniversary.

This year’s poster was designed by local illustrator Danny Caro, who has more than a decade of experience in motion graphics, graphic design, animation and video editing.

“Within the poster, a captivating butterfly takes center stage composed of a multitude of smaller butterflies, as well as various art tools arranged to symbolize the creative diversity that will be showcased by the talented artists at Summerfair this year,” says Caro.

Caro will be signing copies of the poster during the event.

He is looking forward to seeing his artwork around the region, with the image used on billboards, Summerfair merchandise, and the beer label. The beer will be available on tap at HighGrain and in cans at HighGrain and select Kroger stores.

Summerfair 2023 will be held at Coney Island Friday, June 2 through Sunday, June 4. Tickets to Summerfair are $10 (cash only at the gate), with children 12 and under admitted free. Advance one-day or multi-day tickets are $15 and available online at summerfair.org.

The annual fine arts fair is Summerfair Cincinnati’s the primary fundraiser for this non-profit 501(c)3 organization and consistently ranks among the top 100 art shows in the nation. Proceeds from Summerfair Cincinnati provide award, scholarship and exhibit opportunities to a variety of emerging (high school and college), individual (working professional) artists and local/regional small and mid-sized arts organizations throughout the year. 

The Bloom of Youth

The Children's Theatre of Cincinnati is going back in time and moving into the future with their plans to rescue, renovate, and reimagine the iconic Emery Theater.

“This project is of vital importance to our community for so many reasons,” says Kim Kern, Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati’s managing director and CEO. “First, providing a permanent home for the nation's oldest professional theatre for young audiences, but also restoring an iconic venue while honoring Mary Emery’s wishes of keeping it a place of gathering and education. TCT’s future home will continue to revitalize our city’s core – keeping Cincinnati a place where people wish to live, work, and play.” 

The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati (TCT) is planning to purchase the Emery Theater and, using 21st century technology, transform it into a unique venue that will make a lasting impact on more than 100,000 children and families who attend their MainStage productions each year. 

What TCT envisions is not simply a restoration, but a reinvention of the theater into a modern and memorable venue equipped with the latest technology that inspires and teaches diverse audiences. TCT’s plans to incorporate the most modern technology, stage lifts and projection mapping will enliven the audience experience and overcome backstage and wing limitations. Through this remarkable technology and planned expanded programming, TCT will revitalize an icon, return to its original home, and put Cincinnati on the map as a family theatrical destination. 

TCT 2023–24 Season

The SpongeBob Musical: Youth Edition
Oct. 14–23

The stakes are higher than ever in this dynamic stage musical, as SpongeBob and all of Bikini Bottom face the total annihilation of their undersea world. Chaos erupts. Lives hang in the balance. And just when all hope seems lost, a most unexpected hero rises up and takes center stage. The power of optimism really can save the world.

NARNIA The Musical
Dec. 9 - 18,

Narnia The Musical tells of four English schoolchildren – brothers and sisters – sent away from London during World War II to stay in the manor house of their uncle – who stumble upon (and through) a wardrobe into the magical kingdom of Narnia, held in the power of the White Witch, whose evil spell has frozen the land, so that it is “always winter – and never Christmas.”

Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella: Youth Edition

Feb. 17–26, 2024

The timeless enchantment of a magical fairy tale is reborn with the Rodgers & Hammerstein hallmarks of originality, charm, and elegance. As adapted for the stage, with great warmth and more than a touch of hilarity, this enthralling fairy tale still warms the hearts of children and adults alike.

Disney’s Finding Nemo JR.

April 20–29, 2024

Explore the big blue world with this lively new stage musical based on the beloved Pixar film! This 60-minute musical adaptation of the beloved 2003 movie features new music by award-winning songwriting team Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez.

Tickets and information at thechildrenstheatre.com/future-shows.

This move will allow TCT to expand its annual production schedule beyond the 40 days currently allowed within their home in the Taft Theatre, enabling the theater to expand their programming and produce more original works. 

“Restoring the Emery for theatrical use has long been a challenge,” says GBBN associate principal, Steve Karoly. “Because the size and configuration of the stage was originally designed for an orchestra, it did not have the depth or wing space of a traditional theatrical stage. We had to develop some innovative solutions—such as using a large video screen at the back of the stage to create depth and using a large lift to access the basement for quick scene changes—to overcome that challenge.” 

It will also preserve a rare, theater-style, symphonic concert hall – one of only four in the United States – that has hosted the likes of George Gershwin, Bette Davis, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.   

“Working within the constraints of a historic theater like this has been really rewarding,” says GBBN Director of Arts, Marcene Kinney. “This will not only be a space that weaves together different historical moments, but it will also be a space that welcomes children. So, the design is really embracing whimsy and illusion as we create a fully immersive environment that brings the magic of the theater beyond the bounds of the stage.”

Celebrating 103 years this season, TCT is the only professional theater in the region that devotes its entire MainStage season to children. Its mission is to educate, entertain and engage audiences of all ages through professional theatrical productions and arts education programming. Its vision is to awaken a lifelong love of theater in children and the young at heart.

---

Learn more at https://thechildrenstheatre.com/the-emery/

Silence Is Golden

Silent Movies Made Musical
Thursday, April 13, 7 p.m.

Tickets are $32, with discounts for groups of 10 or more.

All seats are reserved and can be purchased online here.

Call 513.621.ARTS or online at CincinnatiArts.org.

Transport yourself back in time on Thursday, April 13 as The Friends of Music Hall present silent films accompanied by the Mighty Wurlitzer organ live, in person in the Music Hall Ballroom.

Renowned organist and arranger Clark Wilson will accompany a collection of short silent films by Laurel and Hardy for Silent Movies Made Musical.

Joe Horine, a film historian will host the program and lead a Q & A after the screenings.

“When these movies premiered in the 20th century, they had live accompaniment on the piano, depending on the type of theater. So, with this (The Wurlitzer or similar organ) playing while silent movies played, it’s the experience times 10 that people were able to enjoy in the silent film era,” says Horine.

Horine adds, this is the way films were meant to be watched…

“In an auditorium like this as opposed to…most people are watching movies on their phones, TVs, laptops, and really seeing it on a big screen with big sound is the way movies were meant to be seen,” Horine says.

Laurel & Hardy classics on the bill:

Putting Pants on Phillip (1927)
Leave ‘Em Laughing (1928)
Habeas Corpus (1928)
The Finishing Touch (1928)
That’s My Wife (1929)

Starting their career as a duo in the silent film era, Laurel and Hardy were a British-American comedy duo who successfully transitioned to “talkies.”

From the late 1920s to the mid-1950s, they were internationally famous for their slapstick comedy, with Englishman Stan Laurel playing the clumsy, childlike friend to Oliver Hardy's pompous bully.

The season sponsor for the Mighty Wurlitzer concerts is Bahl & Gaynor Investment Counsel.

American Girl

If You Go

Reds Hall of Fame and Museum
100 Joe Nuxhall Way

Non-Game Days

• 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Game Days

• 6:40 Games: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

• Afternoon games: 10 a.m. until 2 hours after the game ends

If you truly believe “There’s no crying in baseball!” the Women in Baseball exhibit at the Reds Hall of Fame might make you question that stance.

The exhibit traces the history of women in the sport, from 19th-century sheet music for The Baseball Waltz, written by Hattie A. Brooks, to contemporary magazine covers of women playing today. Along the way it explores the many contributions women and girls have made – and continue to make – to America’s pastime as players, fans, broadcasters, writers, coaches, managers, owners and executives.

The groundbreaking individuals and their achievements serve as inspiration to all those striving to make a dream come true. You’ll see a uniform and memorabilia from the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League as well as a poster for the movie they inspired, A League of Their Own.

Photos by Shae Combs

Did you know Rosie, as in Rosie Reds, is an acronym?

You could look it up.

Or we could just tell you: Rooters Organized to Stimulate Interest and Enthusiasm.

Since 1964, the Rosie Reds, a philanthropic and social organization, have had enthusiasm and dedication not only to the Cincinnati Reds but to local baseball and softball communities. Each year the Rosie Reds raise more $30,000 to support those communities, from events, trips, raffles and donations. It was a natural fit to team up for Women in Baseball, especially during Women’s History Month.

“With Women in Baseball, this was an area we just hadn’t ventured into that seemed relevant to the current times,” said Rick Walls, executive director of the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum. “What’s nice about this exhibit is we’re learning things that we didn’t know about baseball. It’s about the game and how it has evolved into what we call America’s pastime. But I think what’s called into question sometimes, is why is it called America’s pastime. Women in Baseball provides some of those answers.”

As with all its exhibits, the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum was not alone in its efforts to bring Women in Baseball to the public.

“We are fortunate to have a great relationship with the Hall of Fame,” Rosie Reds president Sara Matthews said. “They helped create a display to honor our 50th Anniversary. We also became a Legacy Champions donor when they underwent their renovation, and we have a permanent display case in the Reds Timeline gallery. Thus, broadening the reach to include Women in Baseball was an easy choice. It’s the perfect exhibit for our Hall of Fame to showcase and one we are thrilled to be a part of.”

By Design

Another unique element of the exhibit was the influence of women in the design process. Members of the Reds Creative Services team work hard on the rotating exhibits every winter, and this year, senior design manager Sara Green and graphic designer Caitlin Schulte were tasked with bringing vision for Women in Baseball to life.

They began the process with extensive research, followed by highlighting key ideas and deciding which to showcase in the exhibit’s prominent design elements. Green and Schulte created a mood board to visually capture all the elements so they could begin incorporating their research and ideas into the overall look of the exhibit.

One of the biggest decisions was developing a logo that encapsulated everything Women in Baseball was about. Schulte experimented with a number of options and had several meetings with Hall of Fame staff before settling on the final product, which features a balanced combination of past and present.

“To represent the past, I replicated the way baseball teams have historically treated their logos with a cursive, handwritten look and a swash underneath the letterforms,” she said. “This treatment gives it a handmade, detailed quality that lends itself to the way women used to hand-make their own baseball uniforms. And to represent the present, the letters are clean, streamlined and smooth, contrasting with sharp edges which gives it a modern feel. The solid red drop shadow also gives it a contemporary look, while representing how women in baseball had to be bold because they were doing something that was not considered to be ‘normal’ or ‘culturally in line’ with their role as women at the time.”

Schulte and Green also learned more than they ever imagined about the subject matter. Absorbing all the content during the early stages of planning helped shape the final product that fans will see when touring the exhibit.

“When I first heard about the Women In Baseball exhibit, I thought, like I’m sure many others do, about the movie A League of Their Own, but it’s so much more than that,” Green said. “To be a woman working in baseball and be a part of telling this story from start to finish through creativity and design is an honor. The future is still unwritten for women in baseball and I look forward to helping continue that narrative.”

Another unique element of this year’s exhibit was the female influence from a design perspective. Members of the in-house Reds Creative Services team work hard on the rotating exhibits every winter, and this year, senior design manager Sara Green and graphic designer Caitlin Schulte were tasked with bringing the Hall of Fame’s visions for Women in Baseball to life.

The exhibit will remain open throughout 2023. With school groups, camps, families, and baseball fans visiting the Hall of Fame, thousands of girls and women of all ages will have the opportunity to see themselves represented in the game of baseball like never before.

“When you walk in the room, you see all the images on the wall, large pictures of females playing baseball going back to the 1860s when the Red Stockings were becoming America’s first professional baseball team,” Walls said. “I think girls are going to come in here and say, ‘Whoa, what’s that?’ And that’s what it’s all about, seeing and understanding that they can be whatever they want to be and not what they’ve been told they should be. The door is wide open now and people are understanding that baseball is better when more people all involved.”

A wall in the exhibit offers a quote from Babe Ruth:

“I don't know what’s going to happen if they begin to let women in baseball.”

He might have said the because one of the only women to pitch in Major League Baseball, Jackie Mitchell, struck him out, on April 2, 1931. The 17-year-old then struck out Lou Gehrig for good measure.

Women, in one way or another, have always been a part of baseball. Now we’re celebrating it.

– Tricia Suit