News

At its June 24 meeting, the Board of Trustees of Live Arts Toledo elected Richard Karcher to a two-year term as Chair of the Board, effective July 1, 2026. Trustees also elected Melissa Freeman to serve as Vice Chair. Outgoing Chair Marna Ramnath will continue her service on the Executive Committee as Past Chair, succeeding Steve Cavanaugh in that role.

“It is an honor to be entrusted with this responsibility by my fellow trustees,” said Karcher. “Live Arts Toledo has accomplished extraordinary things because of the vision, generosity, and dedication of so many people who care deeply about this organization. I look forward to working alongside my fellow trustees, our exceptional staff, and our remarkable artists as we continue building an organization that inspires our community and ensures these art forms flourish for generations to come.”

Live Arts Toledo invites families from across the region to celebrate National Children’s Day at Toledo Shares the Stage, a free community event on Sunday, June 14, 2026, from 12-4pm at the Toledo Center for Live Arts.

Designed to inspire creativity and exploration, Toledo Shares the Stage will feature live performances, educational workshops, art galleries, program resources, and food trucks. The event showcases the many organizations throughout our community that nurture creativity through the performing and visual arts while providing families with opportunities to discover new artistic passions.

Live Arts Toledo announced today the appointment of Michael Downing as Interim Vice President of Development, effective immediately. A Toledo native with nearly four decades of nonprofit fundraising experience, Downing brings deep expertise in fundraising, marketing, and strategic leadership to the organization. He succeeds Brett Loney, who served as Vice President of Development for seven seasons.

“Michael Downing is one of the most respected fundraising professionals in our community,” said Zak Vassar, President & CEO of Live Arts Toledo. “Michael is also one of Brett Loney’s foremost mentors, which provides continuity as we begin a search for a permanent Vice President of Development. Live Arts Toledo is in excellent hands.”

Live Arts Toledo, in partnership with Starlite Theater Group, announces An Evening with Dave Eggers, a special literary event taking place June 11, 2026 at the historic Toledo Museum of Art Peristyle. This one-night event marks the national tour launch of internationally acclaimed author Dave Eggers and celebrates the release of his highly anticipated new novel, Contrapposto (publishing June 9). Known for his expansive storytelling and cultural impact, Eggers will offer Toledo audiences a rare opportunity to hear directly from one of today’s most influential literary voices at the start of a major national tour.

Live Arts Toledo announces its 2026–2027 season, featuring a wide range of performances from the Toledo Symphony Orchestra, Toledo Ballet, and Toledo Jazz Orchestra. Subscriptions are now on sale, with subscribers receiving benefits including priority seating, flexible exchanges, and access to the lowest available prices through June 15.

Framed as “a season of momentum,” the 2026–2027 lineup reflects continued growth across the organization, anchored by performances at The Peristyle, The Valentine Theatre, The Stranahan Theater, and the Toledo Center for Live Arts.

The Toledo Symphony Orchestra is proud to announce the extension of Music Director Alain Trudel’s contract. This new agreement will carry Trudel through the 2028/2029 season, marking over a decade of artistic leadership with the organization. 

Since joining the TSO as Music Director Designate in the 2017/2018 season and officially assuming the role in 2018, Trudel has become a defining artistic voice for the orchestra and a beloved presence throughout the Toledo community. Over the course of his tenure, he has conducted hundreds of performances, shaped ambitious and innovative programming, and deepened the orchestra’s connection to audiences across the region. 

The Toledo Symphony has announced Michelle Keaster, Monclova Christian Academy music teacher, as the recipient of the 2025-26 Outstanding Music Educator of the Year Award. This is the seventh consecutive year the TSO has honored current, full-time, Kindergarten through 12th grade music educators who teach music in public and private schools in the Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan region.

Through the Outstanding Music Educator Award, the Toledo Symphony recognizes the vital role music teachers play in the lives of the students they teach. Music teachers introduce, instill, and cultivate a love of music that surpasses the time spent in the classroom. They lay the foundation for a lifetime of appreciation that serves to perpetuate these artforms. 

Families are invited to experience the magic of live orchestral music as the whimsical stories of Dr. Seuss leap from the page to the stage in Dr. Seuss and The Symphony, presented as part of The Andersons Inc. Charitable Foundation Family Series by the Toledo Symphony Orchestra on Sunday, January 25 at 3:00 PM in the Peristyle Theater at the Toledo Museum of Art.

Designed especially for young audiences and their families, this one-hour concert introduces children to the joy of live music through three narrated storybooks performed alongside a full orchestra. Featured works include “The Symphony Goes to the Zoo,” “Green Eggs and Ham,” and “The Sneetches,” creating a playful and engaging first concert experience for audiences of all ages.

This December, Live Arts Toledo proudly presents the 85th annual production of The Nutcracker, the longest-running production of the beloved holiday ballet in North America. Performances run December 12–14, 2025 at The Stranahan Theater and is presented by Fifth Third Bank.

First staged in Toledo in 1941, The Nutcracker has become one of the region’s most cherished holiday traditions. More than eight decades later, the production continues to bring together students, families, professional artists, and community guests in celebration of imagination and holiday magic.

Live Arts Toledo is proud to announce a special evening of music and memories with the legendary Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass & Other Delights, coming to the Toledo Museum of Art Peristyle Theater on Saturday, May 16, 2026.

A nine-time GRAMMY® Award-winner and co-founder of A&M Records, Herb Alpert has sold over 72 million records worldwide. With a catalog that once outsold The Beatles two to one, his music is an indelible part of American pop culture.