12 Fall Arts Events to See This Season

With live performances and new museum exhibitions, there’s plenty of artists to discover as we enter fall. From handcrafted quilts at the Dayton Art Institute to the legendary cartoon character Betty Boop in Cincinnati and country singer Rodney Atkins in Marietta, here is what you can see this across the state this season.

‘Death Becomes Her’ | Sept. 12–Oct. 3: Cleveland; Oct. 6–11: Columbus
Catch the Tony Award-winning musical “Death Becomes Her” as it brings its outrageous comedy and characters to the KeyBank State Theatre in Cleveland and the Ohio Theatre in Columbus. Based on the favorite 1992 film, this darkly funny production follows two lifelong rivals whose pursuit of eternal youth takes a wild turn. playhousesquare.org; capa.com

Indigo Girls | Sept.16: Columbus
The Grammy-winning folk duo Indigo Girls released its major label debut in 1989 and now has a catalog spanning well over three decades of music. Amy Ray and Emily Saliers play Columbus Commons in support of their latest record, “Look Long,” and have Grammy-nominated songwriter and 4 Non Blondes frontwoman Linda Perry along as special guest. This outdoor show offers a family-friendly atmosphere and lawn-style seating. capa.com

Clare Rojas: Returning | Sept. 18–Feb. 7: Columbus Museum of Art

“Spectacular Freedom: Andrew Wyeth and the Modern American Watercolor” | Sept. 20–Jan.18: Cleveland
This Cleveland Museum of Art exhibition offers an in-depth exploration of American artist Andrew Wyeth’s watercolors and a selection of his other paintings. It features works Wyeth made in rural Pennsylvania and Maine beginning in the 1930s as he built his reputation for watercolor. Organized with the Brandywine Museum of Art, “Spectacular Freedom” draws nearly 75 works from Wyeth’s estate, most of which have never been on view. clevelandart.org

Don Flemons | Sept. 24: Findlay
Don Flemons’ repertoire spans a century of music, earning him the title “The American Songster.” Flemons also cofounded and was an original member of the Carolina Chocolate Drops, the first Black string band to win a Grammy Award. Flemons brings his celebration of American roots music to Findlay’s Marathon Center for the Performing Arts. mcpa.org

“The Princess Bride: An Inconceivable Evening with Cary Elwes” | Oct. 4: Akron
This afternoon event brings the 1987 film “The Princess Bride” to the big screen at the Akron Civic Theatre. Afterward, Cary Elwes, who portrayed Westley in the film, takes part in a moderated discussion where he shares behind-the-scenes secrets and stories of making the classic film. A limited number of VIP packages containing meet and greets are available. akroncivic.com

The Art of Charley Harper: Creatures Wild and Tame | Oct.16–March 7: Cincinnati Art Museum

Wall Power: Spectacular Quilts from the American Folk Art Museum | Oct. 17–Jan.10: Dayton Art Institute

“Boop! The Musical” | Oct. 20–25: Cincinnati
The legendary cartoon character Betty Boop takes a day off from the fame of her black-and-white world for a colorful adventure through modern-day New York City in “Boop! The Musical.” The touring version of the acclaimed Broadway production comes to Cincinnati’s Aronoff Center as part of a 50-week North American tour that begins this fall. cincinnatiarts.org

Toledo Ballet’s “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” | Oct. 23–24: Toledo
A Halloween chill comes to Toledo’s Valentine Theatre as the Toledo Ballet presents Washington Irving’s legendary tale through dance. Ichabod Crane is a schoolteacher obsessed with ghost stories hoping to win the heart of farmer’s daughter Katrina Van Tassel, when he crosses paths with the Headless Horseman. The show features choreography by Eric Otto and a score by Jonathan Heck. valentinetheatre.com

Old Crow Medicine Show | Oct. 26: Toledo
Hailing from western North Carolina, this Grammy-winning act merges bluegrass, mountain and folk music into an amalgam that connects listeners to the past while bringing the sound to a new generation. Performing since 1998, prior to the rise of Americana music as a widely recognized genre, Old Crow Medicine Show makes a stop at Toledo’s Stranahan Theatre. thestranahan.com

Rodney Atkins | Nov. 6: Marietta
Country music star Rodney Atkins brings his signature sound to Peoples Bank Theatre in downtown Marietta. With a career spanning more than two decades, Atkins has earned a loyal following through his heartfelt storytelling and chart-topping country hits. Enjoy an evening of live music at this intimate and historic Ohio theater. peoplesbanktheatre.com

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