CINCINNATI OPERA presentS
PRIDE NIGHT
saturDAY, June 20, 2026
Music Hall | wilks studio
A celebration of LGBTQIA+ community
Following the performance of Richard Strauss’s riveting Salome, we’ll lighten the mood with drinks, dancing, laughs, and surprises in Wilks Studio at Music Hall. Enjoy nibbles, festive drinks, and dance beats—plus, we’ll tip our hats to honoree Kathy Nardiello. Make a full night of it with tickets to Salome (included with sponsorships; hosts receive 20% off performance tickets) or purchase a Pride Night attendee ticket and join us for the party starting at 10:00 p.m.
🎉 YOUR PRIDE NIGHT PLAYBILL 🎉
6:30 p.m. – VIP Sponsor Cocktail Reception
Sip, sparkle, and schmooze in the Taft Suite. Colorful cocktails and glittering conversation await.
7:30 p.m. – Richard Strauss’s Salome
Lust! Scandal! Unhinged! And a twist ending you will NOT see coming. (Salome is an opera you could lose your head over.)
10:00 p.m. – Pride Night Celebration in Wilks Studio
It’s the afterparty of your disco ball dreams, full of dancing, light bites, and at least seven veils!
How can you participate?
Become a Pride Night Sponsor
$75 Host
Includes ticket for one (1) to:
Pride Night Celebration in Wilks Studio
One (1) drink ticket (distributed at the event)
20% discount on tickets to Strauss’s Salome
(promo code provided in email receipt)$41 tax-deductible
$1000+ Sponsor
Includes tickets for two (2) to:
Pre-show VIP Sponsor Reception in the exclusive Taft Suite
Preferred seating for Strauss’s Salome in Springer Auditorium
Post-show Pride Night Celebration in Wilks Studio
Six (6) drink tickets (distributed at the event)
Recognition at the event and on the webpage
$406 tax-deductible
$500 Sponsor
Includes tickets for two (2) to:
Pre-show VIP Sponsor Reception in the exclusive Taft Suite
Strauss’s Salome in Springer Auditorium
Post-show Pride Night Celebration in Wilks Studio
Four (4) drink tickets (distributed at the event)
Recognition at the event and on the webpage
$136 tax-deductible
Attend the Pride Night Celebration
$40 Attendee
Includes ticket for one (1) to:
One (1) ticket to Pride Night Celebration in Wilks Studio
One (1) drink ticket (distributed at the event)
Make a Donation in Honor of Kathy Nardiello
about our honoree
For more than four decades, Kathy Nardiello has been a steady and transformative force within Cincinnati’s LGBTQ+ community — a leader whose influence spans crisis response, civil rights advocacy, executive leadership, and the enduring power of the arts.
Kathy Nardiello
Kathy became involved in HIV/AIDS advocacy in the mid-1980s, serving with AIDS Volunteers of Cincinnati (AVOC), and STOP AIDS during a defining and challenging chapter in our community’s history. She served as Board President of AVOC, a member of the Board of Trustees, and chaired the annual Red Ribbon Walk for 19 of its 21 years, helping build visibility, compassion, and sustained community support. Her leadership during that era strengthened critical nonprofit infrastructure and financial resources which ensured dignity and care remained at the center of the response.
As the movement for equality evolved, Kathy remained deeply engaged. She has been a long-time supporter and leader within Cincinnati’s human rights and LGBTQ+ advocacy organizations, including Stonewall Cincinnati and the Human Rights Campaign. Through board leadership, thought partnership, and significant financial commitment, she has helped sustain the policy and advocacy frameworks that protect and advance LGBTQ+ rights locally and nationally. Continued >>
Experience Richard Strauss’s Salome
SALOME
Tickets for the June 20 performance of Salome at 7:30 p.m. in Springer Auditorium are on sale now. If you already have tickets for a different date, we'll be happy to exchange them or assist you in donating them to an individual or a community service organization.
Don’t have tickets yet? Click below to choose your seats or call the box office for assistance.
Box Office: 513-241-2742 (Mon.-Fri.; noon-5 p.m.)
💅 Serving Looks 💅
So, what do you wear? This year, we’re tapping into the ELEMENT OF SURPRISE! (And, of course, whatever makes you feel fearless.) Think: a pop of color, a piece of unexpected drama, bold choices. Go full glam. Go minimalist with a statement. Go rainbow. Go rogue. Just surprise us.
Premier Sponsor
scenes from pride 2025—What a fabulous evening!
