September highlights

HAMILTON (Ohio) – Coming on the heels of the busiest summer camp season in its nearly 30-year history and a smashing Season Launch Summer Party Aug. 19, the Fitton Center offers a September to remember with a wide range of opportunities to experience and enjoy the arts.

CELEBRATING SELF – The first event of the season marks the return of the region’s premiere luncheon speaker series, Celebrating Self, at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday Sept. 7 in the Carruthers Signature Ballroom. Who better to kick it off – just days before the Cincinnati Bengals begin their AFC title defense – than former Bengal great Ickey Woods.

The legendary running back still owns 30-odd franchise records, including most rushing touchdowns by a rookie with 15 in 1988. (Which before last year, was the last season the Bengals reached the Super Bowl.) Ickey’s story goes far beyond football. He will share the personal and poignant story of losing his 16-year-old son to asthma and how he and his family turned pain into a purpose with the Jovante Woods Foundation, which has donated more than $100,000 to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital for asthma research, treatment and education, and given away $20,000 in scholarship funds.

In addition to Ickey’s story, Celebrating Self also features a buffet lunch provided by our exclusive catering partner – Two Women in a Kitchen – and live, local music by Jake Daniels and his saxophone during the meal. Tickets are $19 for Fitton Center members, $25 for the general public.

FITTON SHOWSTOPPERS – The Fitton Showstoppers series returns at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 10, with a unique offering in our theater – Burning Down the House.

They were the coolest band in the coolest city, making memorable music and creating indelible images in the burgeoning field of music videos. The Talking Heads were pioneers and eventual icons in the early days of MTV and New York’s new wave scene. Three of their songs ("Psycho Killer," "Life During Wartime" and "Once in a Lifetime") appear on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s list of 500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll. Other hits include “Wild Wild Life,” “Take Me to the River” and, of course, “Burning Down the House.”

All brought to life by Just Strange Brothers, the band that began the Showstoppers with their tribute to David Bowie and closed the 2021-2022 season with their unforgettable Goodbye Yellow Brick Road tribute to the music of Elton John.

Resident Mixologist Logan Adams will have a new signature cocktail to keep you cool during this hot show

Tickets are $32 for Fitton Center members, $39 for the general public. (ArtsWave Pass holders may buy one ticket and get a second one free with code.)

FITTON FAMILY FRIDAYS – The heart and soul of our fall programming, Fitton Family Fridays are affordable, fun events for kids of all ages, but specifically designed to entertain the next generation of our patrons.

We are thrilled to welcome back Lexington Children’s Theatre at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 23, for the first of their two appearances this season. They will present Digging Up Dessa, the story of a 21st-century girl with no shortage of struggles, secrets, and mysteries to solve. From dinosaur bones to hidden memories, the world is filled with buried treasures just waiting to be uncovered. With help from her once-rival, Nilo, Dessa works to unearth the secrets hidden beneath the surface of the past and present ... and her own future.

Fitton Family Fridays also include kid-friendly food served by our exclusive catering partner – Two Women in a Kitchen – and starting at 6:30 p.m. in the Carruthers Signature ballroom. Tickets are $6 for Fitton Center members, $8 for the general public and just $44 for the entire eight-show series.

GALLERIES - The spectacular Cut Fire Fuse exhibition runs through Sept. 9 before giving way to the FotoFocus Biennial that goes on display Oct. 8 (with an opening celebration Oct. 22 in conjunction with Bravissimo Broadway in our Show Stoppers series). Galleries are always free and open to the public.

EDUCATION – Fall I classes and workshops begin Sept. 12. Scholarship deadline is Sept. 2; early bird registration good for a $5 discount available runs through Sept. 5.

Many old favorites like drawing, painting, mosaics, print making and pottery return. Exciting new offerings include a two-day Animal Bells workshop (Sept. 19 and Oct. 3) taught by potter studio manager Amanda Joy Phirman. All of our education info – including course descriptions, registration and scholarship applications - is available at fittoncenter.org/education.

OUTREACH – Liberty Fall Fest. Join us from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24, and make a fun fall craft.

The Fitton Center for Creative Arts is located at 101 S. Monument Avenue on the Riverfront in downtown Hamilton, Ohio.

Building Community Excellence through the Arts and Culture