Frequently Asked Questions

Tickets are available at www.CincinnatiArts.org, (513) 621-2787 [ARTS], and the Aronoff Center Ticket Office. For more detailed information (including Ticket Office hours and how to purchase tickets for Cincinnati Ballet, Cincinnati Symphony/Pops Orchestras, Cincinnati Opera, and May Festival), click here.

The dates that individual event tickets and season subscriptions go on sale can vary widely. Events often go on sale weeks or even months in advance; subscription packages go on sale well before the availability of the single tickets for shows in the subscription. There are many ways to stay informed of the presale and onsale dates for events and to receive priority access to tickets before the general public:

• CAA Members receive lots of great benefits and are among the first to receive priority presale purchase opportunities and special offers. To become a Member, click here or call our Member Services Hotline at (513) 977-4112.
• CAA's E-NEWS is a convenient way to stay informed of events, onsale dates, special presale offers, discounts, and more! To join CAA E-NEWS, click here.
• Call our Ticket Office at (513) 621-2787, or visit us in person at the Aronoff Center, and one of our friendly representatives can assist you with event information.

Will Call tickets can be picked up at the Ticket Office when you attend your performance. Allow plenty of time to ensure you are seated before the performance begins, as for some performances, the will call line may be long. Please bring a valid picture ID. We encourage the use of our mobile tickets to save time.

• Aronoff Center: Will Call tickets for most events at the Aronoff Center can be picked up in advance, during our regular business hours.
• Music Hall: Please contact the presenting organization from which you purchased the tickets for their specific will call policy and location.

No. Your mobile ticket will be scanned by a Ticket Taker when you enter the theater. We recommend that you review the date, time, and location of your event before coming to the theater.

When you purchase tickets from CAA, we create a unique account for you that includes your name, postal address, phone number, and email address. This information is used to contact you should your event be cancelled or postponed. Also, with your personal information, we are able to reprint lost or stolen tickets and provide you with news and information about upcoming events that may be of interest to you.

As long as you purchased your tickets through an official source (the Cincinnati Arts Association or one of our resident arts groups), we can reissue your tickets! If you bought through CAA, you can log in and access your mobile tickets here. Or call us at (513) 621-2787 [ARTS] or stop by the Aronoff Center Ticket Office. To help us expedite your reissue, please have any relevant information about your purchase: your account number, the credit card number used for the purchase, name or email address on the account, etc. For a list of our official ticket sales sources, click here.

If you can't attend a show, you can donate your tickets to a worthy organization serving our community. More information is available on our Donate Your Tickets page.

Our resident arts groups sometime offer tickets to another performance of the same show for their season subscribers, based on availability. Refunds are not typically available. Check with the presenting arts organization directly, or call us at (513) 621-2787 [ARTS], for specific information.

Season subscribers of some of our resident arts groups may exchange tickets for another performance of the same show at no additional charge. Single ticket buyers can sometimes exchange tickets for another performance of the same show for a modest exchange fee, pending availability, by calling us at (513) 621-2787 [ARTS] or visiting the Aronoff Center Ticket Office. Please make exchanges as far in advance of the performance as possible. Transferred tickets can't be exchanged.

Service charges and fees apply to online and telephone ticket sales and also may apply at the ticket office for some events. These charges and fees help support the Cincinnati Arts Association's not-for-profit mission to maintain the Aronoff Center and Music Hall, to present a wide variety of visual and performing arts experiences, and to provide arts education opportunities to tens of thousands of students and adults in the Tri-state region.

Performances typically go on as scheduled, unless the City of Cincinnati declares a weather emergency that requires you to stay off the roads.

• Aronoff Center: Refunds are available only when a show is cancelled, although many times we are able to offer an exchange for another performance. In the event of a cancellation or change in schedule, we will notify ticket holders by phone and/or email. For the most up-to-date information and performance status during inclement weather, visit CincinnatiArts.org or call the Ticket Office at (513) 621-2787 [ARTS].
• Music Hall: Please contact the presenting organization for the event you are attending (or visit their website) for specific information about performance status.

At times, special rates or discounts are offered for certain shows. Many times, these discounts are offered closer to the performance date, but remember that buying tickets early will ensure the best seating locations. For more information about discount offers for specific shows, call the Ticket Office at (513) 621-2787 [ARTS].

Yes, every person attending a performance must have a ticket. For family-friendly shows, everyone, including small children who are seated on a parent’s lap, are required to have a ticket.

Every event at our venues is unique, and the age appropriateness varies depending on the event. Unless a show is specifically geared for young children, it is not recommended that children under the age of four attend most shows. Our knowledgeable representatives are always happy to provide information about any event at our venues to help you decide if a show is right for anyone in your family.

For content-related information and age recommendations for Broadway in Cincinnati productions, click here.

Cincinnati Arts Association gift certificates can be redeemed at the Aronoff Center Ticket Office or by calling us at (513) 621-2787 [ARTS]. To redeem CAA gift certificates for Cincinnati Ballet, Cincinnati Symphony/Pops Orchestra, Cincinnati Opera, and May Festival performances, contact those resident arts groups directly.

The only safe place to purchase tickets online is through the official website of the Cincinnati Arts Association or our resident arts groups: CincinnatiArts.org, broadwayacrossamerica.com, cballet.org, cincinnatisymphony.org, mayfestival.com, and cincinnatiopera.org. Other websites are operated by third-party, unauthorized ticket resellers. When purchasing through these resale brokers, you pay substantially more than the face value of the tickets, and we cannot guarantee the validity of these tickets. Therefore, admittance to a performance is not guaranteed. These tickets cannot be replaced if lost or stolen, and we have no way to contact you should a performance be cancelled.

CincinnatiArts.org will always lead you to the official sales sites, and you can always call the Ticket Office at (513) 621-2787 [ARTS] to check the validity of any questionable website.

The health and well-being of our audiences, staff, volunteers, and artists remains our number one priority. Current and future COVID-19 Health and Safety Guidelines for both of our venues will continue to be informed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and our partners at TriHealth.

At this time, the wearing of face masks is OPTIONAL. 

Aronoff Center: With more than 6,000 parking spaces within a two-block radius, there are a variety of parking options for guests attending performances at the Aronoff Center.

Independently operated valet parking is available for most evening performances at establishments adjacent to the Aronoff Center on Sixth Street and Walnut Street. Guests attending performances are also encouraged to use the Aronoff Center’s designated drop-off and pick-up zone located on the north side of 7th Street between Walnut and Main Streets. This location provides quick and easy access to the venue through the Aronoff’s North Plaza and Weston Art Gallery entrances.

For more detailed parking information, click here.

Music Hall: Hundreds of parking spaces can be found at the Washington Park Garage located directly across Elm Street from Music Hall, and at the Town Center Garage, located on Central Avenue. A variety of parking lots are located in close proximity to Music Hall. For more information, click here.

Please note, CAA does not own or operate any of these parking locations.

There are many diverse dining options within close proximity of the Aronoff Center and Music Hall. Consider making reservations early, as many downtown restaurants fill up quickly on show nights, especially on weekends.

Restaurants near the Aronoff Center.

Restaurants near Music Hall.

A variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages and assorted pre-packaged snacks, including gourmet chocolates, are available at various lobby locations throughout the Aronoff Center and Music Hall.

ARONOFF CENTER:  Food and drinks may be taken into all performance spaces.

MUSIC HALL:  We have returned to the food and beverage policies that were in place at Music Hall prior to the shutdown in March 2020. The items that are allowed in the performance spaces are based on the individual requirements of each event.

Yes. Empty, plastic water bottles are permitted and can be refilled at one of the water fountains.  Metal, Glass, and aluminum water bottles, or bottles containing any liquid are not permitted.

Oversized bags, luggage, and backpacks may not be permitted inside the venue. Clutch purses and other small personal bags are allowed. All bags and persons are subject to inspection before entering the theater. Please allow extra time prior to your performance.

For your safety and expedited entry into the Aronoff Center or Music Hall, bag sizes are restricted to 18" x 18" x 8". Bags and cases exceeding this designated size will not be permitted inside the building. Exceptions can be made if you have a medical necessity.  If so, notify a staff member who can assist you. All bags and jackets are subject to inspection at the entrance.

Yes, both are permitted.

At the Aronoff Center, a lactation suite is available on the orchestra level of the Procter & Gamble Hall, house left women’s restroom. While we are unable to store breastmilk, bartenders can provide ice if needed.

At Music Hall, Springer Hall performances does offer an area for nursing mothers. Please speak to a staff member for assistance and access to the location.

Guests are not permitted to bring the following items into Music Hall and the Aronoff Center:

• Large bags, backpacks, and luggage
• Weapons of any kind including, but not limited to: firearms, explosives, stun guns, handcuffs, brass knuckles, sticks, clubs, batons, martial arts instruments, pepper spray, tear gas, knives, etc. Guests found in possession of such items will be asked to remove the items from the venue or dispose of them.
• Professional photography equipment, long and/or detachable lenses, tripods, monopods, and selfie sticks (unless approved by management)
• Outside food and beverage (empty plastic reusable bottles are permitted)
• Alcohol
• Illegal drugs
• Cans, glass, or metal containers
• Animals/Pets (except service animals)
• Aerosol cans
• Audio/video recording equipment (unless approved by management)
• Balloons, beach balls, or other inflatable items
• Fireworks or incendiary devices of any kind
• Laser pens and pointers
• Musical instruments (unless in possession of an artist performing at the event)
• Noise-making devices (e.g. whistles, air horns, etc.)
• Posters or signs
• Skateboards, rollerblades, bikes, etc.
• Tools
• Pamphlets, flyers, handbills, etc. (unless approved by management)
• Any other items deemed inappropriate or unacceptable by Music Hall or Aronoff Center management

This list of prohibited items is subject to change at any time at the discretion of Music Hall or Aronoff Center management.

The Aronoff Center (including the Weston Art Gallery) and Music Hall are fully accessible to guests with physical disabilities. All levels of the theaters have elevator service and offer wheelchair accommodations. Please discuss your accessibility needs with a representative when inquiring about your ticket purchase. You may also email inquiries to ticketing@cincinnatiarts.org. Click here for more specific accessibility information for the Aronoff Center or Music Hall.

Assistive listening devices for the hearing impaired are available for most events. Please click here for more information.

We want you to be comfortable! None of our events require formal attire. While some guests like to dress up for a night on the town, others prefer to dress more casually. The type of performance is the best indicator of what is appropriate. For Broadway performances, women are often in stylish dresses, skirts, or slacks, while men may wear business casual pants or jeans with a dress shirt, with or without a jacket. For Ballet, Symphony, and Opera performances, it is not uncommon for women to wear dresses and men to wear a jacket and tie. For more information, call us at (513) 621-2787 [ARTS] and we will be happy to discuss this with you.

Aronoff Center: For most events, the lobby opens one hour prior to curtain, and you may enter the theater thirty minutes prior to the start of the performance.

Music Hall: The foyer opens one hour prior to curtain – admission to the auditorium (and late seating) may vary, depending on the policies and requirements of each production. Ushers will be available to assist with any seating questions.

Our ushers will assist you in entering the theater when there is an appropriate interval in the performance. For many events, there may be a seating hold for latecomers. These holds vary in length depending on the show. We recommend that you always allow extra time to get to the theater in case of potential traffic delays or slow service at a crowded restaurant. If you have time to spare before the show, you can enjoy the current exhibitions at the Aronoff's Weston Art Gallery or the historic details of Music Hall, the sights around our venues, a drink in one of our beautiful lobby spaces, or the information in the performance program.

Photography and video policies are set by the various performance companies. For most events, pictures and video are not allowed. However, we encourage the taking of pictures in our lobbies or outside our venues. You may contact us at (513) 621-2787 [ARTS] for questions about a specific show, although in many instances the policy is not known in advance of the performance day.

For more information about signed-interpreted and/or audio-described performances, contact ACAssist@cincinnatiarts.org for the Aronoff Center, MHAssist@cincinnatiarts.org for Music Hall, or call us at (513) 621-2787.

Aronoff Center: Downtown ambassador escorts are available by calling the Ambassador hotline at (513) 623-3429.

Music Hall: No, but uniformed guards are posted for all auditorium events, and the primary parking lots are adjacent to Music Hall. Washington Park is directly across the street, and features 24/7 security.

Aronoff Center: If you lose an item while attending an event at the Aronoff Center, check with one of our ushers before leaving the building. If they are unable to locate the item, call the Security Desk at (513) 977-4128.

Music Hall: If you lose an item while attending an event at Music Hall, check with Guest Services before leaving. If they are unable to locate the item, call the Security Desk at (513) 744-3336. 

Click here to visit the Volunteer section of our website.

Yes! The Aronoff Center and Music Hall are office buildings, as well as arts destinations and community gathering spaces. Internally, we implement a “single stream” recycling program through Rumpke. Blue or silver recycling containers are located near every concession stand, and larger bins are placed in the office suites, mail rooms, and backstage areas. If you don’t want to keep your program, you may recycle it in the program bins in the lobby at the Aronoff Center. At Music Hall, simply leave it on your seat or hand it to an usher when you leave. Your participation in our recycling effort is appreciated!

The Aronoff Center and Music Hall are both designated as Bike Friendly Destinations by Queen City Bike. Bike racks at the Aronoff Center can be found on the north plaza at Seventh and Walnut Streets. At Music Hall, you will find bike racks on both the Elm Street and Central Parkway sides of the building. You will also find bike racks across the street at Washington Park.

Both venues are within a few feet of a Cincy Red Bike station.

Yes!

ARONOFF CENTER

A companion care restroom for guests needing the assistance of a companion/parent or for individuals requiring complete privacy is located on the north side of the Loge lobby.

MUSIC HALL

Following its renovation, Music Hall’s restroom capacity has increased significantly. In addition to the expanded Men’s/Women’s restrooms on every level of the Springer Auditorium, companion care restrooms can be found at the following locations:     

• Western & Southern lobby (inside the 1241 Elm Street entrance and near the Box Office)
• North side of the Orchestra level of Springer Auditorium
• South side of the Balcony level of Springer Auditorium
• West side of the Ballroom

The State of Ohio prohibits smoking in public places. (ORC 3794.02). In order to comply with this statewide ban, the Aronoff Center and the Cincinnati Music Hall are smoke-free facilities. This means that smoking is not permitted inside the buildings or restrooms or in any outdoor areas adjacent to entrances or exits leading to the Aronoff Center or the Cincinnati Music Hall. Failure to comply can be cause for removal.

Smoking is defined as all tobacco-derived or containing products, or any device that mimics the act of smoking, including, but not limited to:        

• Cigarettes (e.g., cloves, bidis, kreteks)
• Electronic nicotine delivery systems (e.g. electronic cigarettes, personal vaporizers)
• Cigars and Cigarillos
• Hookahs or water-based smoking pipes
• Oral tobacco (e.g., spit and spitless, smokeless, chew, snuff)
• Nasal tobacco

If you witness a violation of the smoking policy and would like to report it to the Cincinnati Arts Association, please feel free to call (513) 977-4128. Management is committed to resolving all reported concerns. If you prefer to contact the Ohio Smoke-free Workplace Hotline directly, you may also do so at (866) 559-OHIO [6446]. 

If you would like additional information regarding the Ohio Smoking Ban Law, please feel free to refer to the following resources:

Ohio Revised Code, Smoking Ban: http://codes.ohio.gov/orc/3794
Ohio Department of Health: https://odh.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/odh/know-our-programs/smoke-free-workplace-program/smokefreeworkplaceactandprogram 

In accordance with Ohio’s “concealed carry” law, firearms and other weapons of any kind are strictly forbidden in any of the buildings or on the grounds of the Aronoff Center and Cincinnati Music Hall. (ORC 2923.126). Ohio law does not permit individuals to possess firearms in a building that has been issued a D liquor permit and where beer or intoxicating liquor is being consumed. (ORC 2923.1226(B)(4). Additionally, because both the Aronoff Center and Cincinnati Music Hall are located on government-owned property, Ohio law permits the complete prohibition of firearms, regardless of a valid concealed carry license. (ORC 2923.126(C)(3)(a)).

Any legally registered weapons may be stored in a locked personal vehicle only. For the safety of all guests, the Aronoff Center and Cincinnati Music Hall do not provide storage for any type of weapons at any time. Failure to comply can be cause for removal.

The following is a non-exhaustive guideline of firearms and weapons that are not permitted at either venue:

• Guns: Any hazardous or deadly weapon and/or object that utilized compressed air in its mechanisms including, but not limited to: airsoft guns, paintball guns, BB guns, stun guns/tasers, tear gas guns, handguns, shotguns, rifles, semi-automatic weapons, and/or assault weapons.
• Explosives: Any weapon or object that utilizes a substance that can be made to explode and/or cause hazardous or deadly consequences including, but not limited to, ammunition, grenades, bottle bombs, propane, and/or other objects containing toxic or noxious substances.
• Knives and Other Weapons: Any weapon or object including, but not limited to knives, swords, spears, bows, daggers, switchblades
• Non-Active or Replica Weapons: Any object mentioned above considered “inactive,” meaning that the item does not have harmful capabilities, or any realistic replicas of the above mentioned items are prohibited in order to prevent unnecessary panic or discomfort.

Staff reserves the right to determine the method of security checks as deemed prudent and necessary. These may include metal detectors, and searches of jackets, clothing, bags, and other items upon entry to the venue.

If you witness a violation of the firearms policy and would like to report it to the Cincinnati Arts Association, contact us at (513) 977-4128. Management is committed to resolving all reported concerns.

If you would like additional information regarding the Concealed Carry Law, please feel free to refer to the following resources:

Ohio Revised Code, Duties of Licensed Individual: http://codes.ohio.gov/orc/2923.126
Ohio Revised Code, Possession of Firearm in Beer Liquor Permit Premises: http://codes.ohio.gov/orc/2923.121 

Music Hall has long had a reputation as one of the most haunted venues in the Tri-state. There’s anecdotal evidence to support such a claim, some which can be found here. If you are a die-hard ghost hunter, you may wish to participate in one of the paranormal investigations that are occasionally scheduled. For more information about our Ghost Tour events, call the Ticket Office at (513) 621-2787 [ARTS].

Music Hall history information is available from the Friends of Music Hall.

Many of the oldest files are now maintained by the Cincinnati Historical Society. Their library is a repository of hundreds of original documents pertaining to Music Hall. Most of the building’s historic highlights are well known, but there is plenty of history to be uncovered relating to Music Hall, and new items are occasionally discovered. There is not a complete archive of all the events held at Music Hall – over the decades the original records of the Music Hall Association were not kept intact. 

Student visits are taken on a case-by-case basis, subject to building activity and availability. Please contact the Administrative Office at (513) 744-3344.

For current Weston Art Gallery hours, please click here.

No, admission to the Weston is always FREE! Donations are welcome.

The Weston Art Gallery is located in the northwest corner of the Aronoff Center at Seventh and Walnut Streets.

The Weston Art Gallery is fully accessible to guests with physical disabilities. Enter through the Walnut Street doors. Both levels of the Gallery have elevator service and offer wheelchair accommodations. For more information or additional service needs, please call the Gallery at (513) 977-4165.

Visit the Weston Art Gallery section of this website, or call (513) 977-4165 during normal business hours.