Cincinnati Opera announced Underscore on February 4, a new three-event series running through May 2026 that approaches the company’s summer repertoire through theater, interactive programming, and community events.
The series opened March 3 with The Importance of Being Oscar, an original one-act play by Evans Mirageas and Audrey Chait examining Oscar Wilde’s first visit to Cincinnati in 1882, prior to the writing of Salome — later adapted by Richard Strauss and featured in the company’s 2026 Summer Festival. The performance was held at Wilks Studio at Cincinnati Music Hall.
The second event, Carmen’s Revenge — An Operatic Murder Mystery, takes place April 21 at Second Sight Spirits in Ludlow, Kentucky. The interactive experience is set after the conclusion of Bizet’s Carmen and includes live excerpts from the score. The series concludes May 7 with The Afrofuturist Salon at Artsville, connected to the world premiere of Lalovavi on the summer festival lineup.
Tickets are $25 per event or $60 for all three. Orders are available at cincinnatiopera.org or 513-241-2742.
Source: https://www.cincinnatiopera.org/media-resources/2026/2/4/explore-the-unexpected-side-of-opera-with-cincinnati-operas-new-event-series-underscore