On Thursday evening, I had the opportunity to attend “In the Spotlight” at the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music (CCM). Presented by the support organization CCMpower, it was an evening of senior showcases for students enrolled in Musical Theatre, Acting and Theatre Design and Production. The program opened at Patricia Corbett Theatre (above) with performers from the 11-member 2026 CCM Acting Class. They presented nearly a dozen live scenes and a handful of film scenes. Their showcase will travel to other cities (Chicago, Los Angeles) in April as these talented young actors get set for their professional careers.
As a kind of intermission, Design and Production majors set up displays on CCM’s Corbett Auditorium stage to show off their creations of scenic, lighting and costume design. These behind-the-scenes talents provide the context and settings for both the Acting and Musical Theatre programs.
After browsing a stage full of impressive displays, the audience returned to Patricia Corbett Theatre for musical selections performed by 13 members of the CCM Musical Theatre Class of 2026. In solos and duets, these performers each had several opportunities to show off their talents as singers, actors and dancers in more than two dozen numbers, accompanied by effervescent pianist Julie Spangler and percussionist Aaron Coffenberry. This showcase will head to New York City in April where the CCM grads will have the opportunity to be seen by Broadway directors, choreographers, producers, agents and more — many of them will find their first Broadway work following their performances there. (CCM is a prolific producer of Broadway talent.)
The evening concluded with some deeply meaningful remarks by CCM Dean Peter Jutras, and I’d like to share some of his comments to the CCM Class of 2026 about the importance of the arts in our nation and the world:
The arts are not something fragile that need to be politely preserved. They endure because artists like you continue to create work that moves people, challenges people, and brings audiences together in a shared experience that cannot be replicated anywhere else.
Your work provides joy and escape when people need it most. But it also does much more than that. It asks important questions about who we are as individuals and as communities. It helps people connect with each other, connect with their own emotions, and see the world through someone else’s perspective.
When you think about value, remember that you create the performances that people look forward to for weeks and remember for years. Your performances are remembered because they literally made lives better and made the world a better place. They improved bad days, enhanced good ones, and reminded everyone of what makes live worth living. Not many people get to have that kind of impact through their work.
I would argue that the world needs the arts now more than ever, not just to improve people’s days, but to bring more people together. At a time when so many in the world seem so divided, we remember that the arts brings people together, from all backgrounds. The arts and theatre require us to listen to each other, engage with each other, and support each other.
These CCM grads will soon be making their marks on national stages and platforms. Dean Jutras’s remarks reminded both the students and the large audience of why arts education is essential in 2026. Let’s listen, engage and support each other.