News

For more than five decades, Tower of Power has defined a tight, unmistakable blend of soul, funk, rhythm and blues, and precision horn playing. The band’s celebrated rhythm section and brass sound expand alongside the Toledo Symphony for an evening built on groove, energy, and the thrill of large-scale live collaboration.

Tower of Power’s influence rests not only on recognizable songs but on a particular approach to ensemble playing: clipped attacks, layered rhythms, and horn writing that functions as both melody and percussion. Symphonic forces broaden that palette while preserving the rhythmic precision at the center of the band’s identity.

The Toledo Symphony will present Pines of Rome on Saturday, September 19, 2026 at 8:00 p.m. at The Peristyle. Opening night moves from instantly recognizable operatic drama to Respighi’s spectacular portrait of Rome. Grammy-nominated baritone Sidney Outlaw brings warmth, wit, and theatrical character to seven selections: Mozart’s teasing “Rivolgete a lui lo sguardo,” Figaro’s famous entrance aria “Largo al factotum,” Donizetti’s dark “Cruda funesta smania,” Rodrigo’s noble farewell from Don Carlo, and three lyrical songs by Paolo Tosti. Orchestral favorites by Verdi and Mascagni frame the vocal selections before the full orchestra fills The Peristyle with the color, distance, and blazing final procession of Pines of Rome. 

Toledo Ballet is inviting emerging choreographers from across all dance genres to apply for its inaugural Toledo Ballet Winter Works Choreographic Competition, an innovative incubator opportunity designed to support new choreographic talent and bring original work to the stage.

Two emerging choreographers will be selected to participate in a creative residency during January 2027. Each choreographer will spend two weeks working with 10 professional Toledo Ballet company dancers to develop an original choreographic work, approximately 10 to 15 minutes in length.

Live Arts Toledo announced that tickets for its complete 2026-2027 season are now on sale. Audiences can now purchase subscriptions, Choose Your Own packages, and single tickets for individual performances by the Toledo Symphony, Toledo Ballet, and Toledo Jazz Orchestra. 

Spanning September through June, the season showcases internationally acclaimed guest artists, Broadway performers, legendary popular music, cherished holiday traditions, family programming, ballet, chamber music, jazz, and some of the orchestral repertoire’s greatest masterworks.  

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.