Shane Anderson

About Shane Anderson

Shane Anderson is the founder of the soon-to-open Ghostlight Coffee on Wayne Avenue. He holds a Master of Education degree from Indiana Wesleyan University & a Bachelor of Music degree from Wright State University. Shane is a former music teacher in the Vandalia, Miami East & Cincinnati Public Schools.

Additionally, Shane works with locally based Encore Theater Company. ETC has a mission to help develop new works of musical theater through readings, concerts, developmental workshops & productions and the podcast MusicalWorld (www.MusicalWorld.us). The local theater company recently moved into the new arts collaborative space in the Oregon Arts District, along with Zoot Theatre Co & Rhythm In Shoes.

Battle Of The Baristas

July 22, 2016 By Shane Anderson

The Dayton Baristas first monthly Thursday Night Throw-Down was held on July 21 at Ghostlight Coffee on Wayne Ave. There was a large & enthusiastic crowd of baristas representing 7 different shops around the Miami Valley & Cincinnati. The evening included friendly coffee competition, food, fun, and Gladgirl Shelly who’s a local DJ that made sure to spin some vinyl.

Adam Solomon of Ghostlight Coffee and Shelby Lewis from Boston Stoker made it to the finals of the Latte Art Competition with Solomon coming out on top with his free pour Swan. Judges included Jon Lewis of Deeper Roots Coffee, Dan Clayton of Twisted River Coffee & Warren Taylor president of Snowville Creamery.

Jon Lewis took top honors in the Blind Tasting Contest which featured coffees roasted by Boston Stoker, Telemetry Coffee & Deeper Roots Coffee.

South Park’s Ghostlight Coffee hosted this first of a series of monthly events with support from Boston Stoker, Deeper Roots Coffee, Telemetry Coffee, Snowville Creamery, Cavalier Distributing & Gladgirl Shelly from WSWO Oldies 97.3 fm.

Upcoming Thursday Night Throw-Downs will be held at
Aug 18: Press 257 Wayne Avenue in the Oregon District
Sept 15: Proto Buildbar 534 E 1st St, Dayton
Oct 4: Warehouse 4 335 S Dixie Dr, Vandalia

The 2016 Battle of the Baristas will take place on November 11 & 12 at The Old Yellow Cab. This culminating event will feature competitive events & exhibitions that showcase the talented coffee pros in the Miami Valley.

Photos provided by Michael Derrike Ramey.

Muse Machine Celebrates 30th Year with West Side Story Concert

August 8, 2011 By Shane Anderson Leave a Comment

TONIGHT: The Songs of West Side Story & More

Muse Machine

On Wednesday and Thursday evening Muse Machine, the nationally recognized educational arts group, will kick-off its 30th year with music from one of the most popular musicals of all time: West Side Story. The local organization has gathered together over 200 local students, alumni and guest artists to present TONIGHT: The Songs of West Side Story & More at 8:00 p.m. on the stage at the Victoria Theatre.

“The whirlwind, high-energy numbers will thrill you; the soulful melodies will move you; you can’t help but feel the joy of the show!”

-Kylen Franz, concertmaster

The local arts organization has a mission of changing the lives of kids through the arts. They accomplish this through professional performances both in and out of schools, arts integration training for teachers and student performance opportunities. Over the years, Muse Machine has developed two primary performance programs, including the popular productions of a musical (winter months) and a concert (summer). These productions showcase the most talented student singers, dancers, and musicians in the Greater Dayton region, under the direction of professional directors, conductors, choreographers and designers .

“We all work so hard together to make this a great show and the energy & love in rehearsals is incredible.”

-Rachel Snyder, singer/dancer

As their 2011 concert presentation, Muse Machine (along with support from MeadWestvaco) will present Tonight: The Songs of West Side Story & More on August 10 and 11 at the Victoria Theatre. Tonight features new concepts and arrangements of many favorite songs from the classic Leonard Bernstein score, including “Maria,” “America,” “Somewhere” and many others. The show will fill the stage with nearly 200 student performers, who will also share the spotlight with alumni from previous Muse Machine productions.

“I love to be on stage and hear the audience clapping. It makes me feel good to know they are having a good time. And, it’s fun!”

– Ben Harshbarger, young ensemble (4th grade)

A highlight of the concert will be a huge student orchestra performance of “Rhapsody in Blue” featuring internationally-renowned pianist Leon Bates. Acclaimed by critics and audiences alike, Bates performs with symphonies around the world and the chance to see him bring to life Gershwin’s masterpiece with an orchestra of talented, passionate young musicians should not be missed. The evening also features guest appearances by talented, local gospel singers from the GSJ Youth Choir as well as nationally-acclaimed Stivers Jazz Orchestra and other special guests, including many alumni of Muse Machine productions.

“West Side Story was the first Muse musical, so it’s a way to glance back while also looking forward by bringing new sounds and choreography to this great music. We’ll be joined by exciting guests and we’ll also explore a few ‘related surprises,’ throughout the evening.” -Douglas Merk, producer

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yj0Mbq0Jcgo’]

What is the best part of being in a Muse Machine concert or show?

“The People. Everyone here loves what they’re doing, and that love of performing is evident in every single number…This is a show not to be missed.” -Andrew J. Koslow, singer/dancer

“The feeling of being so welcome and wanted…(and) Rhapsody In Blue because I LOVE THAT PIECE OF MUSIC!!!” – Noah Berry, singer/dancer

“Meeting new friends and seeing old friends.” – Ben Harschbarger, young ensemble (4th grade)

“Getting to work with such great people on great material.” – Mimi Klipstine Dick, singer

“The close family connection of the entire cast/ensemble. We all work so hard together to make this a great show and the energy & love in rehearsals is incredible.” – Rachel Snyder, singer/dancer

“Seeing or hearing the work come to fruition and eliciting the response from the audience.” – Kylen Franz, concertmaster

-SA/Muse Machine Press Release

– Muse Machine Photos by David Sherman

We encourage local theatre companies to submit calendar items HERE, and official press releases to onStageDayton@gmail.com.

Tickets & Performance Information:

TONIGHT: THE SONGS OF WEST SIDE STORY & MORE

at the VICTORIA THEATRE – 138 N. Main St.– map

Tickets for Tonight are available exclusively through Ticket Center Stage, 937/228-3630, online at www.ticketcenterstage.com or at the Ticket Center Stage box office in the Schuster Center in downtown Dayton.

About the Muse Machine:

The Muse Machine is a nationally recognized arts education organization, providing creative experiences and resources for young people of the Miami Valley. Since 1982, they’ve produced 27 annual musicals and 14 concerts for the community and engaged thousands of students through academic-relevant lessons, workshops and in-school projects. For more information, visit www.musemachine.com.

The BARD is on the loose!

July 27, 2011 By Shane Anderson 2 Comments

Photo by Alisha McDarris=

A Midsummer Nights Dream

Free Shakespeare!

In many communities around the world, a treasured summer activity is outdoor performances and festivals devoted to classic Shakespeare plays (Shakespeare Fellowship List). Two of the most well-known in Ohio are Cincinnati Shakespeare Co. which tours two shows in fourteen different parks and Actor’s Theatre which is celebrating it’s 30th season presenting shows in Schiller Park in Columbus’ German Village. Suddenly in the past few years there is much interest in this terrific tradition right here in the Miami Valley, ranging from a small neighborhood troupe near downtown (Historic South Park – currently rehearsing for their 4th presentation) and the touring company known as Free Shakespeare! the brainchild of director Chris Shea.

“The experience with GreenStage was incredible. To have a free arts program not only survive, but flourish, for over twenty years, well, it gave me faith that the arts are alive and well. I want to bring that same energy here to Dayton. There really is nothing like a picnic and a play, and the price is right, too” -Chris Shea

Shea, a graduate of Kettering-Fairmont High School, spent time studying acting in the Pacific Northwest. Inspired by the GreenStage Theatre Company’s offering of free outdoor Shakespeare, he decided to bring the concept to the Miami Valley in 2010 in the form of Free Shakespeare! The troupe is described as a traveling community of artists with the goal of creating an event where people can rediscover the power and beauty of language and art. Shea wanted to take the performances to multiple venues throughout the region over a series of summer weekends – and free to audiences.

Shea launched his vision for a theatre company in 2010 with Hamlet, which was received enthusiastically during it’s tour of four venues in Dayton and Yellow Springs. 2011 brings a new production, this time the ever-popular A Midsummer Night’s Dream. After opening last weekend at Antioch Amphitheatre in Yellow Springs, Shea and his team of 14 actors will continue to bring the bard’s best-loved comedy to Dayton stages over the next several weekends. They can be seen at the Wegerzyn Gardens MetroPark (July 29-31), Newcom Founders Park in the Oregon District (August 5-7), The University of Dayton’s ArtStreet (August 12-14). All performances are outdoors and weather permitting and begin at 7PM. Admission is free with donations accepted after the performance to pay the actors.

Photo by Alisha McDarris

The cast of A Midsummer Nights Dream includes Allison Husko (Titania), Chris Shea (Oberon), Will Hutcheson (Demetrius), Travis Cook (Lysander), Amy Brooks (Hermia), Megan Cooler (Helena), Kes-lina Luoma (Puck), Jason Antonick (Theseus), Lauren S. Deaton (Hippolyta), Zach Schute (Nick Bottom), Juliet Howard-Welch (Peter Quince & Peaselblossom), David Harewood (Francis Flute & Cobweb), Philip Titlebaum (Snug & Mustardseed), and, after a 48 year absence from the stage, Bill Styles as Egeus.

The group has recently partnered with Involvement Advocacy, an umbrella organization which fosters community initiatives. Involvement Advocacy’s partnerships include, among others, the Blue Sky Project and the Dayton Arts Project. Involvement Advocacy will act as Free Shakespeare’s! fiscal agent, allowing supporters of Free Shakespeare! to make tax deductible donations to the theatre company.

On the partnership, Free Shakespeare! founder Chris Shea had this to say, “We are very grateful to Peter Benkendorf and the folks at Involvement Advocacy for their tremendous support of our organization. This partnership is the perfect bridge for us as we make arrangements to form our own non profit corporation.”

Photo by Alisha McDarris

“Our purposes shall be proud, our garments poor; For ’tis the mind that makes the body rich” The Taming of the Shrew, Act IV, sc. iii

-SA, Free Shakespeare! Press Release & website.

We encourage local theatre companies to submit calendar items HERE, and official press releases to onStageDayton@DaytonMostMetro.com.

Tickets & Performance Information:

A Midsummer Nights Dream

Weekends through August 14, 2011

Tickets Prices: FREE (donations accepted after the show to pay actors)

Locations: Wegerzyn Gardens MetroPark (July 29-31), Newcom Founders Park in the Oregon District (August 5-7), The University of Dayton’s ArtStreet (August 12-14)

For more information about Free Shakespeare! visit http://freeshakespeare.com/

Music. Dance. Hiking Boots?

July 7, 2011 By Shane Anderson Leave a Comment

Translations:

an exploration in birdsong, sound and movement

Blue Sky Project

When first perusing this press release, I was not really certain into which section of DaytonMostMetro.com to place this article. When I first spoke with fellow onStageDayton contributor Rodney Veal about this, my assumption was that this project he was so excited about would be featured in the “oSD” section. Maybe, however, it belongs in the “Dayton Music” section as the project prominently features a very accomplished violinist, Shaw Pong Lui from Boston, participating through a residency here in the Gem City with the Blue Sky Project.

As I uncovered more details about the project it seemed that maybe it should be in the “Arts & Entertainment” section since it seems to equally features the creative choreography of Rodney Veal, alongside Liu’s musicality. The further I read, the more difficult this classification task became. Here is a collaboration between a dancer, a musician AND nature. The performance takes place along the trails of Aullwood Garden MetroPark with the dancers and musicians mimicking the sounds and sights of the trails. Perhaps we need to put this in “Active Living.” The audience has to build up a bit of a sweat during this particular concert, as they will have to traverse the trails. They even warn you to wear hiking shoes!

Then you throw in the iPod aspect. Holy Cow! Do we even have a “Technology & Arts” section? Audience members can participate in the performance through the use of a special birdsong app! ? ! This is pretty cool.

Alright. Looking at this, pondering the various aspects…the birds, the trees, the dance, the music…I am making an executive decision here: “Life.”

(fully expecting our illustrious publisher to override this decision and choose the perfect classification for this article)

Official Blue Sky Project Press Release:

Dayton, Ohio — Musicians, dancers and birders will come together for an unusual open-air art event in one of the Miami Valley’s most distinctive woodland parks.

The Blue Sky Project, in collaboration with the University of Dayton and Five Rivers MetroParks, will present “Translations: an exploration in birdsong, sound and movement” 6 p.m. Saturday, July 9, and 3 p.m. Sunday, July 10, at the Aullwood Garden MetroPark, 955 Aullwood Road, Englewood, Ohio. It’s free and open to the public.

Violinist Shaw Pong Liu and choreographer Rodney Veal created the work, which invites audience members to walk along trails throughout the garden, encountering violinists mimicking birdsongs, dancers improvising on the shapes of trees and birders with iPods contributing the real songs of birds.

“The point of the piece is to get people to slow down and pay attention to the environment,” Liu said. “We lead such busy lives, it is rare to take time to attune to the environment, and truly listen. Through this creative exploration of a hidden gem in the Dayton community, we hope to inspire others to listen and see their environments more deeply.”

Liu said the piece is very much in the spirit of the garden’s founder, the late Marie Aull, who opened and donated the garden to the public, and placed inspirational quotes throughout, encouraging visitors to enjoy nature and meditate on its beauty.

Participants include professional musicians from the area, dancers from the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company and the Dayton Ballet, and birders familiar with the region’s birds.

Liu said the some paths go over rugged terrain and recommended appropriate footwear. iPhone users may also participate by downloading iBird Explorer Lite, a free app, before the performance.

Liu’s role as community artist/investigator for Blue Sky is new for the organization, a juried international summer artist residency now in its seventh year and its third based in Dayton, that brings internationally recognized artists to the area to work with young people on public, contemporary art.

The new position was prompted by Liu’s work in 2010 with Blue Sky and the community connections she made, according to Peter Benkendorf, founder and co-creator.

“Collaboration and community are central to both Blue Sky Project and the University of Dayton. It’s exciting to see Blue Sky expand through an artist who is taking the Blue Sky model beyond collaboration of program participants, and out to the larger community,” said Benkendorf.

It’s a good fit for the University, according to Paul Benson, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, because it combines the University’s commitment to community and its interest in infusing the creative process into education.

Blue Sky also makes good use of ArtStreet, an innovative living and arts community on campus, where the artists both live and make art in the facility’s studios, Benson said.

“We are pleased to support Blue Sky as well the new community artist/investigator position as part of our ongoing commitment to expand the arts on campus and in the community,” he said.

“Translations” is the second major collaboration for Liu and Veal. Their 2010 production “Of a River” transformed the Schuster Center Wintergarden with dancers, musicians and 600 yards of silk.

Liu is a Boston-based, classically trained violinist who performs internationally and creates innovative shows involving improvised music, narration and audience interaction. Her ongoing project, “A Bird a Day,” explores birds, sunrises and music at www.abirdaday.org.

Dayton native Rodney Veal is a choreographer and interdisciplinary artist whose work has been featured at the Ohio Dance Festival, among others. Veal teaches at Stivers School for the Arts in Dayton and Sinclair Community College. A solo show of his work, “Reveal: Five Zones on Beauty,” opens July 23 at the Springfield Museum of Art.”

For information on Blue Sky and the “Transitions” performance, including an alternative venue in case of rain, visit http://www.blueskydayton.org

Cardinal (actual):

Cardinal (violin):

SANCTUARY composed by Shaw Pong Liu (4/28/2011)

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jih2Z6-OXKQ&feature=channel_video_title’]

Behind the Masks – The Lion King

June 14, 2011 By Shane Anderson Leave a Comment

Nick Cordileone & Ben Lipitz

Disney’s THE LION KING

The Victoria Theatre Association

I have a confession to make: I, Shane Anderson, admittedly know very little about The Lion King. In fact, I know very little about most of the Disney films and musical adaptations. I’ve certainly seen some, but I have no children of my own, therefore I typically don’t choose to spend my entertainment budget on a movie ticket to a film marketed to kids. I get it…I get it… I hear that they are terrific for anybody at any age, but I don’t have that added motivation of a really excited 5 year old persuading me to go catch the latest Disney princess or talking/singing animal movie.

Characters from Disney's Lion King, as interpreted by Noah, age 5

The Lion King mask illustration by Noah, age 5

So, since I am not the Disney aficionado that many Americans are, I had to do a little research about Disney’s THE LION KING, which just rolled into town and opened at the Schuster Center this evening. So what else was I to do? I called up my favorite nephew, 5 year old Noah.

First bit of information I needed, was what is the plot of this show? Noah replied with a knowing smile (did I sense the slightest amount of a smirk at his silly Uncle Shane?) that THE LION KING is all about this baby lion named Simba, who’s daddy Mufasa dies because of a bad lion named Scarrrr (grrrRR..!), then the Pumbaa and Timon (not sure which is which, but one is a warthog with big horns) come in and sing Hakuna Matata and then Simba gets big and the girl lion tells Simba to come back and be king. Oh, and be careful of the 3 Hyenas, they laugh.

Ok, stay clear of the laughing Hyenas. Of course I already knew a little bit about this classic musical adaptation, it is a legendary production that very successfully melded together a very cool artistic vision with the business sense of a major corporate producer. I know that it was directed by the very talented Julie Taymor. I realize that even though the musical premiered on Broadway nearly fourteen years ago, it is still selling tickets both on the “Great White Way” and in multiple touring companies. This collaboration between a truly gifted artist and a major corporate entity has been highly successful, with no signs of slowing down. I knew all of that, but this is one highly acclaimed Broadway spectacle that I have yet to experience, and I am thrilled that the show will be spending four weeks right here in Dayton, Ohio!

Disney's The Lion King ~ presented by The Victoria Theatre Association, Dayton, OH ~ June 14 - July 10, 2011

Ben Roseberry

I got the opportunity to spend some time chatting with three cast members of the show on the phone last week. The cast was in Toronto, Canada, where they had an extended stay. I spoke with vocal ensemble member and “Sarabi” understudy Electra Weston, Ben Roseberry who portrays “Ed” the laughing hyena, and the ever-popular Ben Lipitz who livens up the stage as “Pumbaa” the optimistic warthog.

I asked the group of actors about touring with Disney Theatricals, working with Taymor and what the experience is like in a production that thrills audiences of all ages.

The first thing of note is the appreciation the actors express for the company itself. “It is the best contract I’ve ever worked for,” Roseberry declares, “we are in each city for four weeks or more.” All three of the actors pointed out the fact that through Disney’s intention to keep the company in a city for an extended run of at least four weeks, allows the actors time to settle in and actually experience each city. Most other touring shows will have shorter runs, some as little as a day in each city, which leave the actors living out of their suitcase. Roseberry, an aviation enthusiast, says that he is very excited to have time in Dayton to explore the Aviation Trail, Hall of Fame and Wright Brother sites.

Electra Weston

A surprise to me was the fact that the touring company has the opportunity to make their own housing arrangements, some choosing extended stay hotels, others are able to find short-term furnished apartments. Electra Wilson indicated that in her four years on the tour, she’d never stayed in a hotel. She ships her bicycle and typically manages to find an apartment within biking distance to the venue. This gives her the opportunity to become a member of the community, if only for a short time.

I was curious to know more about the experience of being onstage for these actors, what it was like to be on the other side of the curtain. The technical aspects of performing the show utilizing these puppets and intricate scenic elements must certainly be an incredible thing to watch not only from the audience perspective, but also from backstage.

All three actors found their roles very taxing, but for very different reasons. Weston says that her most difficult transition into the role was the English language. She had previously been a part of the German company of the show, so even though she is American, she found it difficult to sing her parts in English. She had to relearn the show in her native tongue, and had a tough time doing so!

“I can’t say it’s a bigger thrill than what the audience is experiences, but it certainly is comparable.” says Ben Lipitz, ” Performing in The Lion King is a rare experience in theatre, it is a landmark event for the audience, as a performer I have to take the storytelling very seriously. We have a responsibility to live up to the expectations [of the audience]. It is a privilege to tell this story”

“It took a good eight weeks of performing for the role to get in my body.” Roseberry said he was very nervous performing in his “Ed” the hyena puppet for the first several weeks he was on tour. He pointed out that he had to learn to harness that nervous energy, translating it into a good energy. Additionally he spent hours in front of a mirror learning how to operate the hyena puppet in as many expressive ways as possible, since the character does not speak, but simply communicates through laughter. (btw…”Ed” is not “stupid”, but rather he is “verbally challenged”)

Ben Lipitz has been with the show for nine years, both on Broadway as well as the touring company. He recounted that while his very first entrance on stage in this show was very exciting, that the thrill continues to this day. Ben’s experience as an actor (on stage, film & television, including a role on The Sopranos) didn’t really prepare him for operating the puppet, especially Pumbaa which weighs in heaviest at 46 pounds. Creating the physical articulation with the puppet is his biggest challenge, but also the biggest reward.

Ben Lipitz

The beauty of Julie Taymor’s design is the duality of the character on stage. You see the actor manipulating the puppet, but you also see the humanity within the animal character. The actors praise the brilliance of Taymor’s vision and her famous “hands-on” approach to direction an upkeep of her vision. They report that there is a touring director and staff that continually monitor the show, maintaining the quality of the performance. This team works with the cast so that what we see in Dayton is precisely the same as the original intent of every step, word and note performed when Julie Taymor’s vision became reality in 1997. Taymor will even stop in to check on the show herself occasionally to be sure that her vision is never compromised (though this hasn’t happened recently due to her involvement in another theatrical project).

“I have been truly touched by how inspiring working with Julie is,” claims Lipitz, “[it is] her spirit and her energy. She is a gifted, visionary artist.”

While THE LION KING is a very complex machine of a show, with many moving parts and people manipulating every aspect of it, it is also child’s play. Experiencing this show on our side of the curtain will certainly be exciting, but imagine how thrilling it must be to make it all happen behind the scenes. These actors spoke as if it was truly an honor to tell this story, and be a part of the magic daily.

Before I got off the phone with Pumbaa, I had one more question I was required to ask. Noah wanted to know “what do you do with your horns?” Pumbaa claimed that his daily regimen included trying not to stay up too late, staying out of the sunlight and plenty of moisturizer. Pretty good advice for all you warthogs reading this.

We encourage local theatre companies to submit calendar items HERE, and official press releases to onStageDayton@gmail.com.

Tickets & Performance Information:

Disney’s THE LION KING

Wednesday, June 15 through Sunday, July 10, 2011

at The Schuster Center’s Mead Theatre – Performance Times Vary

Tickets range from $27 – $141

Tickets are ONLY available through Ticket Center Stage.

Visit the Schuster Center box office in downtown Dayton or order by phone, at (937) 228-3630 or toll free (888) 228-3630. Ticket Center Stage hours are Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., Saturday, noon – 4 p.m., and two hours prior to each performance.

Tickets may also be purchased online at www.ticketcenterstage.com.

For more information about Victoria Theatre Association visit www.victoriatheatre.com.

Downtown Dayton Partnership and the Victoria Theatre Association have teamed up to provide roaring deals and promotions for the The Lion King patrons. Read more about these exiting offers HERE.

Click for details.

Whodunit? The Mystery of Edwin Drood

June 8, 2011 By Shane Anderson 1 Comment

The Mystery of Edwin Drood

Beavercreek Community Theatre

Win Tickets! Read on!

One hundred forty one years ago today (08 June 1870) Charles Dickens suffered a stroke. The next day: dead. His last novel: unfinished.

Flash forward those 141 years (+a couple days): the audiences at Beavercreek Community Theatre will get an opportunity to determine how the plot of Dickens’ incomplete The Mystery of Edwin Drood concludes.

The novel was adapted into a Tony Award winning musical comedy in the mid-eighties by Rupert Holmes. The playwright put a unique twist on the show, by writing multiple endings that requires the audience to make choices about various characters and actions, choosing a murderer, a detective and other various participants and events that lead up to the ending. This sounds like an entertaining whodunit musical for the audience, but on the other side of the curtain…it sounds like a lot of work! Multiple endings to learn, different songs to perfect, and multiple sets of blocking and choreography to refine all must lead to hours upon hours of rehearsal devoted just the last few minutes of the production.

The show is described as a hilariously loony Victorian musical troupe takes over the stage for its production of a flamboyant rendition of an unfinished Dickens mystery.

It’s the story of John Jasper, a Jekyll-and-Hyde choirmaster portrayed by Jonathan Berry of Centerville. He is madly in love with his music student, the fair Miss Rosa Bud, played by Bethany Reid Locklear of Englewood. She, in turn, is engaged to Jasper’s nephew, young Edwin Drood, portrayed by Amy Leigh of Kettering.

onStageDayton contacted director and scenic designer Chris Harmon with a few questions about the show:

onStageDayton: The Mystery of Edwing Drood is not a title commonly found on season schedules in the area, what drew you to the script?

Chris Harmon, director

Chris Harmon: I saw The Mystery of Edwin Drood performed at the Victoria by the Human Race around 1995, I went out and bought the original Broadway cast cd and have listened to it ever since. Last year I became a member of the play selection committee at BCT and it happened to be on the list and I was immediately interested in directing it.

oSD: The show has a few unique aspects, such as the audience participation and the “show-within-a-show” concept. What kind of complications did these create for rehearsals?

CH: The audience gets to choose the detective, murderer and lovers in the show. There are so many possible combinations which make the show’s ending fresh and new every night. I am lucky to have amazing actors who took the initiative to learn their possible parts so well. The endings can’t help but to be under-rehearsed, since it would be impossible to run them all every night. It saddens me that only having 6 performances, some of the possible murderer’s will not even get a chance.

oSD: You have developed a terrific reputation as a director and scenic designer in the Miami Valley…what was your approach in your designs for this show? How did you come up with the concept & how do you go about making your design come to life?

CH: Drood is set just before the turn of the century in “The Music Hall Royale”. My inspiration for the set was actually the first place i saw the show, The Victoria Theatre. Drood is a show within a show, so the Grand Drape is used for the scene changes, so I created a music hall thrust to have enough playing space for the actors in front of the curtain. I am a very visual person and when reading a script or listening to the music, I get a picture in mind instantly, the hard part is figuring out how to execute the designs within budget and time frame.

oSD: What is your next project?

CH: My next project is directing Camp Rock at Town Hall Theatre (where i am the resident scenic artist). In community theatre I am directing Evil Dead and Chicago at BCT next season and could not be more excited about it. I am thrilled to be working with Annette Looper as choreographer for both of these.

The cast of unique and zany characters also includes Bryan Wilcox of Riverside, Jeremy D. King of West Carrollton, Jim Lockwood of Huber Heights, Lindsay Sherman of Bellbrook, Matt Owens of Beavercreek, Tara Nichole Murphy of Miamisburg, Pam McGinnis of Oakwood, Charles Larkowski and Megan Vander Kolk of Fairborn and Dayton residents, Dean Swann, Jenna Burnette, Jennifer Wilson, Michael J. Stockstill, Nicole Dine, Thomas Cole Schreier and Shawn Hooks.

Besides Chris Harmon, the production staff includes Annette Looper of Centerville as choreographer, Dr. James Tipps of Beavercreek as music director, and Kristie Lickliter of Fairborn filling the role of stage manager.

John Falkenbach of Dayton is the lighting designer, Brad Mattingly of Franklin is the orchestra director, Hans Unser of Beavercreek is the stage assistant and assistant set builder and Diana Blowers of Beavercreek is the producer.

-SA/BCT Press Release

We encourage local theatre companies to submit calendar items HERE, and official press releases to onStageDayton@DaytonMostMetro.com.

Tickets & Performance Information:

THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD – June 10 – 19

8pm on Fridays & Saturdays / 3pm on Sundays

Tickets are $12 for adults and $11 for members, students and senior citizens.

A group discount of $1 per ticket is available to groups of 10 or more, when purchased at the same time for the same performance.

Tickets can be reserved by calling (937) 429-4737 and leaving a message or by e-mailing boxoffice@bctheatre.org. For more information, visit the theater’s Web site at www.bctheatre.org where tickets can also be purchased online.

Beavercreek Community Theatre is located within the Lofino Adult Enrichment and Cultural Arts Center at 3868 Dayton-Xenia Road in Beavercreek.

The show, which will be presented at 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 3 p.m. on Sundays from June 10 through June 19, is actually a show within the show.

Win Free Tickets!

Beavercreek Community Theatre & onStageDayton on DaytonMostMetro.com have teamed up to give you a chance to win tickets to The Mystery of Edwin Drood! We will be giving away up to SIX pairs of tickets…We’ll select 1 winner (of a set of tickets) for every 5 FB/Twitter Shares! All you need to do is:

Share this article on Facebook or Twitter…just click the appropriate button at the top of this page.
Fill out the contact form at the bottom of this post.
The deadline to enter is Noon on SATURDAY, June 11th.
Winners will be selected randomly from all of the entries.

Error: Contact form not found.

The Best of Times

May 12, 2011 By Shane Anderson 3 Comments

La Cage aux Folles

Dayton Playhouse

Win tickets to this delightful show! Read on…

La Cage aux Folles, a collaboration between two of the most recognizable voices in musical theatre (Jerry Herman- Hello Dolly, Mame & Harvey Fierstein- his vocal chords), premiered on Broadway in 1983. That production garnered nine Tony Award nominations, winning six of those including Best Score, Best Book and the Best Musical. Since that production, the show has continued to achieve recognition with Tony Award winning revivals in 2004 & 2010 (earning it the distinction as being the only musical to win the Best New Musical along with two trophies for Best Revival). The terrific show is not often booked by local theatres, however. I assume that the thought of producing this show (primarily the necessary lavish costumes and opulent sets) would be a hurdle most non-profit community groups would not want to take on.

Dayton Playhouse has entrusted director Doug Lloyd with bringing the St. Tropez nightclub and it’s cast of female impersonators to life on their stage over the next three weekends. With the success Lloyd has had on the Playhouse stage in recent years with very popular productions of Urinetown and Hair, I am sure that La Cage aux Folles will be a smash hit.

La Cage aux Folles, book by Harvey Fierstein and lyrics and music by Jerry Herman, is based on the 1973 French play of the same name by Jean Poiret. La Cage focuses on a couple: Georges, the manager of a Saint-Tropez nightclub featuring drag entertainment, and Albin, his romantic partner and star attraction. Comedic adventures ensue when Georges’s son, Jean-Michel, brings home his fiancée’s ultra-conservative parents to meet them.

The cast of La Cage is anchored by stage veterans Michael Boyd and Richard Croskey. Boyd, playing Georges, was in the 1989 Playhouse production of La Cage and has been acting and directing every since. Croskey, last seen in the Playhouse production of Victor/Victoria, has been a professional dancer and choreographer for the last 30+ years. The Cagelles, the “showgirls” of the La Cage aux Folles, include Playhouse executive director Wade Hamilton, features playhouse regulars Tony Fende, Ian Manuel, Stacey Ward and Allie Eder and also include some new Playhouse faces Nick Brown, Ty Mentz and Sean Metcalf. Playing Jean-Michele is the Playhouse’s golden voice Zach King. The cast is rounded out with Jeff Campbell, Karen Righter, Sarah Parsons, Duante Beddingfield, Mike Frazier, Joe Meyer, Chris Hammond, Ginger Hubbs, Brandon Saldivar, Alexandra Grizinski and Tim Behnken.

“We’re very happy to have this enormous production headed up by Director Doug Lloyd.” says Dayton Playhouse Executive Director Wade Hamilton. “His vast experience and reputation for producing hit musicals made me breath a little easier as we started this project.”

On the sliding scale of Playhouse musicals, this is a mammoth production. The Playhouse has assembled an all-star group of designers to bring this show to life. The set will be designed be Chris Harmon, lights by John Falkenbach and costumes by Kaitlyn Osborn and Karen and Stephanie Dickey. Leading the 10 piece La Cage orchestra will be Playhouse board member Ron Kindell. Choreography is from Miami Valley native Stacey Gear.

onStageDayton had some questions for Doug Lloyd about the upcoming opening. Here’s what he had to say:

onStageDayton: La Cage has recently had a successful return to both Broadway and the West End. What do you think is the appeal of the show?

Doug Lloyd: Well first of all the show is just plain “fun” it has great comedy and wonderful music, but it also a great love Story. I like that fact that it shows what in this age we would call an “alternative” family, has as much love caring and nurturing as a traditional family.

oSD: Jerry Herman’s score is legendary. Did you feel any allegiance to recreate and honor the show or did you take a fresh approach?

DL: We stayed true to the script, & score. The score we are working from is from the original Broadway production, with the exception of “Anne On My Arm” where they sent the music to the “new” version from the recent revival production with Kelsey Grammer. We did try to make an extra effort to show the true love and connection between Georges, Albin & Jean-Michel as well as show how the employees of La Cage are almost their extended family

oSD: How have local actors taken to these characters? How have they embraced them? What has been the biggest struggle?

DL: The cast has taken to their characters quite well. We had an extensive character development session, and they all walked away from that with a true feeling for each of their characters. Again we were searching for a true family feel as well as a closeness in the entire community

oSD: Many people are familiar with this story as it appeared in the film THE BIRDCAGE, what can audiences expect from the musical staging of the same tale?

DL: Many people don’t even realize “Bird Cage” was taken from “La Cage” when I tell them we are doing it they say what’s that. While the story line is the same, they took many liberties with the La Cage script when writing “Bird Cage”. There are several characters that appear in the movie that aren’t in the stage show, including the role of Sybil, John-Michel’s natural mother that was played by Christine Buransky. Sybil is referred to in La Cage but never appears. Both shows are funny but being a theatre person I’m partial to the La Cage script.

oSD: You are one of the city’s most active directors. What’s your next project?

DL: My next project will be back at my home theatre in Beavercreek and will be the world premiere of a new musical written by local author David Brush and the music was composed by local musician Jim Farely. The show is called “The Big Picture.” Set in the summer of 1962, it is about college freshman Billy Carson who is spending his first summer home with his mom and best friend. With only a few items to provide clues, Billy sets out with a renewed interest in discovering the father he never knew – B-Movie script writer and war hero, Jack Carson. When old wounds are opened and new loves are discovered, Billy realizes that coming home is more difficult and ultimately more enlightening than he ever imagined and the sleepy town of Pine Springs, Illinois may never be the same.

-SA/DB/DP Press Release

Photos by Bruce W. Brown.

We encourage local theatre companies to submit calendar items HERE, and official press releases to onStageDayton@DaytonMostMetro.com.

Tickets & Performance Information:

LA CAGE AUX FOLLES – May 13-29 – (8pm on Fridays & Saturdays / 2pm on Sundays)

Tickets Prices: $10 student / $14 senior / $15 adult

Location: The Dayton Playhouse
1301 East Siebenthaler Ave
Dayton, OH 45414 (map)

Tickets are on sale now through DP’s Online Box Office, or via phone at (937) 424-8477 Monday-Friday 2:00pm-5:00pm. In Person: Friday 2:00pm-5:00pm

For more information about The Dayton Playhouse visit http://www.daytonplayhouse.org/

Win Free Tickets!

Dayton Playhouse & onStageDayton on DaytonMostMetro.com have teamed up to give you a chance to win tickets to La Cage aux Folles! We will be giving away up to FOUR pairs of tickets for the second weekend of the show…We’ll select 1 winner (of a set of tickets) for every 10 FB/Twitter Shares! All you need to do is:

Share this article on Facebook or Twitter…just click the appropriate button at the top of this page.
Fill out the contact form at the bottom of this post.
Leave a comment on this post, answering the following question…a revival of one of our more popular ticket contest questions…What’s your favorite Drag Queen Name? (i.e. “Julie Mandrews,” “Anita Cocktail,” etc.)
The deadline to enter is Midnight on SATURDAY, May 14th.
Winners will be selected randomly from all of the entries.

Mauritius at The Dayton Theatre Guild

May 12, 2011 By Shane Anderson 1 Comment

Geoff Burkman and Amy Brooks

Mauritius

The Dayton Theatre Guild

A world of mystery. A world of intrigue. The world of Philately? We don’t normally equate stamp collecting with conspiracy and danger, but the latest offering by The Dayton Theatre Guild might just make you take a different view of this great American hobby.

The Dayton Theatre Guild presents Mauritius by Cincinnati native Theresa Rebeck, the final show of the 2010 – 2011 season. Performances begin Friday, May 13th and run through Sunday, May 29, 2011. It is directed by Saul Caplan and produced by Debra Kent.

Publisher Samuel French describe Mauritius as follows:

Theresa Rebeck

Stamp collecting is far more risky than you think. After their mother’s death, two estranged half-sisters discover a book of rare stamps that may include the crown jewel for collectors. One sister tries to collect on the windfall, while the other resists for sentimental reasons. In this gripping tale, a seemingly simple sale becomes dangerous when three seedy, high-stakes collectors enter the sisters’ world, willing to do anything to claim the rare find as their own.

Amy Brooks & Teresa Connair

“Unsurprisingly for a writer with extensive experience in TV police procedurals like “NYPD Blue” and “Law & Order: Criminal Intent,” one of Rebeck’s strengths is her skill at stitching tension into every exchange. The five characters in Mauritius pair up and face off in shifting configurations, the emotionally fraught edges of their twisty encounters made all the more intriguing by the fact that items as apparently innocuous as postage stamps fuel the friction.” -Variety

Mauritius by Theresa Rebeck - Dayton Theatre Guild - May 13-29, 2011

Pat Santucci, Geof Burkman & Alex Carmichal

The cast includes Amy Brooks (Les Liaisons Dangereuses, Amadeus, Streetcar Named Desire, and Beyond Therapy at the Dayton Playhouse), Alex Carmichal (Amy’s View, Bright Ideas, Speaking in Tongues), Geoff Burkman (A Case of Libel, Amy’s View), Teresa Connair (Kimberly Akimbo, Speaking in Tongues and The Spitfire Grill, The Great American Trailer Park Musical at Beavercreek Community Theatre) and Pat Santucci (Amadeus at The Human Race Theatre.)

Amy Brooks, Pat Santucci & Alex Carmichal

-SA/DTG Press Release

We encourage local theatre companies to submit calendar items HERE, and official press releases to onStageDayton@gmail.com.

Tickets & Performance Information:

Theresa Rebeck’s MAURITIUS – May 13-29 – (Times Vary: Click HERE)

Tickets Prices: $10 student / $15 senior / $17 adult

Location: Dayton Theatre Guild at The Caryl D. Philip’s TheatreScape – 430 Wayne Ave. Dayton, Ohio 45410 (MAP)

No one under the age of seven will be admitted. This show contains adult language.

Tickets are on sale now through DTG’s Online Box Office, or via phone at (937) 278-5993 (due to a volunteer staff, phones are not monitored continually).

For more information about Dayton Theatre Guild’s entire 2010-2011 season, visit www.DaytonTheatreGuild.org

Dayton Theatre Guild at the Caryl D. Philips TheatreScape

Blackbird

April 20, 2011 By Shane Anderson Leave a Comment

Blackbird

Dayton Theatre Guild

The Dayton Theatre Guild is set to present Blackbird by Scottish playwright David Harrower as a season extra offering, opening Friday evening. The only opportunity to catch this intense psychological drama will be this weekend, April 22 – 24 at the Caryl D. Philips TheatreScape, 430 Wayne Avenue, in Dayton’s historic Oregon Arts District.

David Harrower

The bold award-winning play promises to be a thought-provoking, though potentially uncomfortable, evening for theatregoers. The play was commissioned by the Edinburgh International Festival, where it received its world premiere in 2005. In the years to follow, Blackbird was honored with a “Best New Play” award from both The Critics’ Award for Theatre in Scotland and The Lawrence Olivier Award.

Dramatists Play Service synopsizes the play as follows:

Two people who once had a passionate affair meet again fifteen years later. Ray is confronted with his past when Una arrives unannounced at his office. Guilt, rage and raw emotions run high as they recollect their relationship when she was twelve and he was forty. Without any moral judgments, the play never shies away from the brutal shattering truth of the abandoned and unconventional love. Ray, fifty-six, after years in prison and subsequent hardships, has a new identity and has made a new life for himself, thinking that he could no longer be found. Una, twenty-seven, has thought of nothing else, and on finding a photo of him, sets out to find Ray. She is looking for answers not vengeance. Nevertheless, the consequences are shattering.

While the sexual themes of the show, particularly the ages of the two involved, may be difficult for many to handle for a holiday weekend’s entertainment, the play’s history, reviews and the fervor with which the cast worked to bring it to a Dayton stage indicate that the provocative 70-minute drama is well worth an evening of your time.

“The gifted David Harrower’s intense BLACKBIRD promises to be the most powerful drama of the season…masterly, mesmerizing…extraordinary…a miracle.” ~NY Times

“…an intense psychodrama that won’t let your mind wander even though there are times this story makes you wish you could switch channels.” ~Curtain Up

The play, which unfolds in real-time, ruthlessly examines the complicated history and bond between a man and a woman as they struggle through a deep exploration into what happened and why it happened, and what it all means now.

Heather Atkinson (L) and K.L. Storer (R) in Blackbird

The cast includes Heather Atkinson, last seen at the Guild in The Cashier and K.L. Storer, who appeared in last season’s A Case of Libel. The play is directed by Natasha Randall.

This play contains harshly explicit sexual language, mature themes and subject matter.

-SA/DTG Press Release

We encourage local theatre companies to submit calendar items HERE, and official press releases to onStageDayton@gmail.com.

Tickets & Performance Information:

David Harrower’s BLACKBIRD – April 22-24 – (8pm on Friday & Saturday / 3pm on Sunday)

Tickets Prices: $10 student / $15 senior / $17 adult

Location: Dayton Theatre Guild at The Caryl D. Philip’s TheatreScape – 430 Wayne Ave. Dayton, Ohio 45410 (MAP)

Contains adult situations and language.

Tickets are on sale now through DTG’s Online Box Office, or via phone at (937) 278-5993 (due to a volunteer staff, phones are not monitored continually).

For more information about Dayton Theatre Guild’s entire 2010-2011 season, visit www.DaytonTheatreGuild.org

Dayton Theatre Guild at the Caryl D. Philips TheatreScape

Wig In a Box

April 6, 2011 By Shane Anderson 1 Comment

Hedwig and The Angry Inch

ENCORE THEATER CO.

A few months ago, I was approached by our artistic director, David Brush, about directing the upcoming production of Hedwig and The Angry Inch. My initial reaction was to decline, as life was certainly going to be very busy this spring, and I knew NOTHING about the show, but the opportunity to work with some of the most insanely talented people I’ve ever encountered proved to be too much of attraction. JJ Parkey was the lead in our production of RENT last June, as were The Bengsons (Shaun & Abigail), a mesmerizing musical duo that I can never get enough of.

JJ Parkey as "Hedwig"

Since most of the ensemble would not be able to begin rehearsal until very late in the process, JJ Parkey and I began to explore the show together. We began to peel away the layers of the show and discovered some of the most hearbreakingly beautiful theatre that I’ve ever encountered, all disguised as a drag queen rock show in a dive bar. The official show descriptions just don’t give Hedwig justice. All over the internet there are comments like “…a new generation’s Rocky Horror,” and “…outrageous and unexpectedly hilarious rock musical.”

These descriptions make the show sound great, but I had no clue to what extent this piece would affect me emotionally. This is one of the most intense pieces of musical theater that I have ever encountered, mixed in with a healthy dose of risque humor and a terrific rock score. While the characters and their over-the-top life experiences seem so foreign to us, their desire to become “whole” to be the person that they were meant to be, to live a complete life speaks to everyone. Everyone. It doesn’t matter that the words are being voiced by this character stuck somewhere between a woman and a man, through her horrific experience, we can see our own.

Hedwig & The Angry Inch - Encore Theater Co. - April 7-9 - Dayton, OH

Hedwig & a fan at Blind Bob's

Once “The Angry Inch” gathered together and started joining us for rehearsals, I began to understand how this show has begun to garner status as a “cult classic” and amass an army of obsessed “Hed-Heads.” This show freakin’ rocks!

The story & lyrics by John Cameron Mitchell and the songs by Stephen Trask fit the setting of this dive bar gig. There’s something oddly old school about the comedy. At one turn the physical slapstick style of American Vaudeville perfectly married with the contemprary anger-laced and layered verbal sparring of today’s brightest comic minds. The comedy is paired with a diverse collection of songs that help to convey this character’s shocking story through a wide spectrum of emotion…passion, confusion, pain, anger, self-loathing, utter joy. If a live performance could be bipolar, then HEDWIG is the rock musical answer to ‘Sybil’ with performances that are equally iconic and memorable. The musical, comedy and dramatic layers collide in this performance to create an evening of near perfect theatre and an emotionally saturating 90 minutes.

UPDATE (4/8/2011): On Wednesday evening, DMM contributors Juliet Fromholt & GladGirl interviewed JJ Parkey about Hedwig & The Angry Inch on their show, Kaleidoscope on WYSO, 91.3 FM. Listen HERE.

-SA / DB

-Photos by Ray Zupp

We encourage local theatre companies to submit calendar items HERE, and official press releases to onStageDayton@gmail.com.

Tickets & Performance Information:

Hedwig and the Angry Inch

After the sex change operation that will allow her to marry US soldier Luther is botched, East German rock ‘n’ roll goddess and “internationally ignored song stylist” Hedwig Schmidt is left with just “an angry inch.” This award-winning, outrageous, and unexpectedly hilarious show tells her story in rock music and stand-up comedy. Hedwig and The Angry Inch is a show for all those who felt life gave them an inch when they deserved a mile.

Thursday & Friday, April 7 & 8 – 8pm at Club Vex, 101 S. St. Clair Street

Saturday, April 9 – 8pm at MJ’s Cafe, 119 E. Third Street (enter at back of building)

All Tickets $15 – Visit EncoreTheaterCompany.com for tickets

For more information about Encore Theater Company’s entire 2011 season of musical theatre, visit EncoreTheaterCompany.com

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…brought to you by the Letter Q

March 23, 2011 By Shane Anderson 2 Comments

Avenue Q

THE VICTORIA THEATRE ASSOCIATION

One Night Only!

On the evening of June 6, 2004…there was an epic battle on ‘The Great White Way,’ a battle along the lines of David & Goliath. The musical that turned out to be a monster of a success–a certain GREEN Monster of a musical–went head to head with a little show that starred a bunch of monsters of the furry variety. On that night, the theatre world was shocked when Avenue Q stole away three major awards (Best Book, Best Score & Best Musical) from the contender, Wicked. Certainly this did not hurt Wicked, which is still going strong on Broadway and around the world, but the results did make a statement…the theatre community wasn’t going to allow the commercialism (“Disney-ification” even) of Broadway to always buy itself the ultimate recognition.

Avenue Q carried on as the little show that could, playing over 2,500 performances on Broadway before making an unprecedented return to Off-Broadway, where it is still running. Additionally, it enjoyed a Las Vegas production as well as multiple tours and international productions. It is very fortunate that The Victoria Theatre Association scored this one-night-only affair on March 30th, as this tour is set to close less than a month after it’s visit to the Gem City. After receiving the most recent press release from the VTA (below), I am positive that the presenters wish that they had been able to schedule at least two or three performances of the show, as the ticket sales have been brisk and the show is nearly sold out.

While I enjoy the “Wicked’s” and “Lion King’s” like the rest of the country, I am so much more excited when a tour such as Avenue Q or Spring Awakening swings through town. These shows have taken the artform in a slightly skewed direction, which is a good thing, no, a great thing…this is how new forms are created, and new audiences are developed. It is very important for all arts organizations to consider not only the current season ticket holders, but also new potential audiences such as YP’s, college students, urban dwellers and others.

DISCLAIMER!

It is very important that I include the following information: The puppets are cute to look at, but please don’t think about bringing your Sesame Street loving children! For instance, the pretty pink puppet above, her name is Lucy The Slut. The handsome monster in the first pic? He sings a song titled “The Internet Is For Porn.” Other songs will include “It Sucks to Be Me,” “If You Were Gay,” “What Do You Do with a B.A. in English,” “Everyone’s a Little Bit Racist,” and the ever-popular “I’m Not Wearing Underwear Today.”

So, long story short, if you won’t get offended easily by puppets talking about sexuality (full puppet nudity??), social issues and all-around questions of adulthood, do your best to score some tickets to this show! Give TicketCenterStage a call today (967/228-3630) & try to grab the last of the seats. It will be a good time, and maybe you’ll learn a few things that they never addressed on PBS when we were growing up!

-SA/VTA Press Release

We encourage local theatre companies to submit calendar items HERE, and official press releases to onStageDayton@gmail.com.

Tickets & Performance Information:

Avenue Q

Wednesday, March 30, 2011 at The Victoria Theatre – 7:30 p.m.

Tickets range from $65 – $90

While the show is nearly sold out, you can inquire about tickets through Ticket Center Stage, or the Schuster Center box office in downtown Dayton or by phone, at (937) 228-3630 or toll free (888) 228-3630. Ticket Center Stage hours are Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., Saturday, noon – 4 p.m., and two hours prior to each performance. Tickets may also be purchased online at www.ticketcenterstage.com.

For more information about Victoria Theatre Association’s entire 20010-2011 season, visitwww.victoriatheatre.com.

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Victoria Theatre Association PRESS RELEASE:

AVENUE Q’s One Night Performance Nears Sell Out

(Dayton, OH) – March 11, 2011 – Victoria Theatre Association’s one-night-only presentation of Avenue Q at the Victoria Theatre on Wednesday, March 30 is almost sold out.

“Due to the tour’s scheduling constraints we were unable to secure a second performance,” comments Ken Neufeld, President & CEO of Victoria Theatre Association. “The demand for tickets has been great – and gratifying! We’ll be looking to bring the tour back for another performance as soon as we can.”

As of Friday, March 11, there are less than 100 seats left, according to Lisa Wagner, Ticket Center Director. Most of the remaining seats are located in the theatre’s balcony. Prices of tickets are $65, $80, and $90. A number of Orchestra seats have been released for $90 each.

Tickets can be purchased by calling 967/228-3630 or 888/228-3630; online at www.ticketcenterstage.com, or at the Ticket Center Stage Box Office, located in the Wintergarden of the Benjamin and Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center in downtown Dayton.

The three-time Tony® Award winning musical is Broadway’s smash-hit about real life in New York City told by a cast of people and puppets through a hilariously irreverent, Tony-winning book and score.

AVENUE Q tells the story of Princeton, a bright-eyed college grad who moves to NYC with big dreams and a tiny bank account. The only apartment he can afford is way out on Avenue Q, where everyone’s looking for the same things he is: a decent job, a stable relationship, and a “purpose.” Eventually, Princeton learns to embrace the ups and downs of city life and realizes that “the real world” isn’t so bad after all!

The New York Times hailed AVENUE Q as “a breakthrough musical of a very different stripe. Savvy, sassy and delicious!” and Entertainment Weekly claimed it was “one of the funniest shows you’re ever likely to see!”

AVENUE Q features music and lyrics by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx, book by Jeff Whitty, based on an original concept by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx; and is directed by Jason Moore; puppet design by Rick Lyon, orchestrations by Stephen Oremus, choreography by Ken Roberson, scenic design by Anna Louizos, costume design by Mirena Rada, lighting design by Howell Binkley, and sound design by Lew Mead; associate director is Evan Ensign and music supervisor is Andrew Graham.

AVENUE Q is produced by Work Light Productions.

For more information on AVENUE Q visit www.avenueqontour.com.

Due to adult situations (like full-puppet nudity), AVENUE Q may be inappropriate for kids under 13.

For more information regarding the rest of the presentations at the Victoria Theatre and the Benjamin and Marion Schuster Performing Arts Center, visit www.victoriatheatre.com.

I Don’t Wanna Show Off, No More!

March 3, 2011 By Shane Anderson 12 Comments

THE DROWSY CHAPERONE

Victoria Theatre Association & The Human Race Theatre Company

Win Tickets to Opening Night & Cast Party! READ ON!

Five years ago this interesting little musical won five Tony Awards, including Best Book and Best Original Score. Whoop-de-doo, you might say, but listen to this…The Drowsy Chaperone had a very humble beginning. It started out as, get this, a bachelor party gift. ? Yes. The show originated as a boisterous spoof on old-time, pre-golden-age musicals, performed for the bride and groom Bob Martin & Janet Van De Graaff. Wait…wait, there’s more! Now, try to follow this…Bob Martin (the groom) went on to star in the show (he was the first Tony nominee for Best Actor, whose character didn’t even have a name…he was simply known as “Man in Chair”) AND the lead female character was named Janet Van De Graaff (the bride….but NOT portrayed by the bride, but rather the stunningly beautiful Sutton Foster) who falls in love with an Oil Tycoon named Robert Martin (aka the groom)….and we haven’t even addressed why the chaperone is “drowsy.”

Confused yet? Don’t Be! Just go see this hilarious show!

The show is good-natured fun with lot’s of silly characters and crazy situations. The idea of the show is that the modern-day “Man in Chair” always chooses to listen to his favorite vinyl original cast album, that of the jazz age hit musical “The Drowsy Chaperone,” whenever he is feeling blue. The album always lifts his spirits. We quickly discover why, when the characters from the musical suddenly take over his cramped apartment, transforming his little world into a Broadway spectacle. Various characters include Janet, a “Zeigfeld Follies”-type of showgirl, a stuffy rich dude, a couple of gangsters disguised as bakers, an over-the-top latin lover and the title character, Janet’s “drowsy chaperone” (this grand dame is not sleepy, but rather “tipsy.”)

Victoria Theatre Association & The Human Race Theatre Company are teaming up to present a new production of this nostalgic musical comedy March 8 – 20, 2011 in the Victoria Theatre.

“Delightful, Sparkling Entertainment! You’ll be over the moon! We haven’t seen anything quite this original in a long time.” – Associated Press

The Drowsy Chaperone, the 21st show The Human Race Company has produced for the Victoria Theatre Association’s Broadway Series, is directed and choreographed by Kevin Crewell. The cast includes: Wally Dunn (“Man in Chair”); Pat Linhart (“Mrs. Tottendale”); Scott Stoney (“Underling”); Robb Sapp (“Robert Martin”); Christopher Gurr (“Aldopho”); Megan Nicole Arnoldy “(Janet Van de Graaff”); and Jana Robbins (“The Drowsy Chaperone”), to name a few. John Faas is the Music Director and Conductor, with set designs by J. Branson, provided by Music Theatre of Wichita.

Behind the scenes, Gregg Barnes is Costume Designer, Nathan D. Dean is Sound Designer, and John Rensel is Lighting Designer. Technical crew includes: Technical Director, Scott J. Kimmins; Head Carpenter, D. Tristan Cupp; Production Stage Manager, Heather Jackson; Assistant Choreographer, Megan Nicole Arnoldy; Dance Captain, Eric Byrd; and Properties, Heather Powell.

Now, you might worry, after all that talk about this being a “stag night” show and that you might want to trade in those tickets you bought for your kids or your Mom. Let me reassure you that this is good, clean fun. There might be a few comic sexual innuendos thrown in (as there are in most musical comedies) but overall this show would be appropriate for any age. In 2006 I took my marching band students to NYC, and this was one of the shows we took in. It was a first true Broadway show for many of the students & it served as a great introduction to NY theatre. Those kids and the band parents (non-drowsy variety) all seemed to love the humor and the spectacle of this charming show. I think you will too.

-SA/VTA Press Release

We encourage local theatre companies to submit calendar items HERE, and official press releases to onStageDayton@DaytonMostMetro.com.

Tickets & Performance Information:

THE DROWSY CHAPERONE – March 8-20 – Performance Times Vary (click for details)

Tickets Prices: range from $39 to $81

Location: TheVictoria Theatre – 138 N. Main St. Dayton, Ohio 45402 (MAP)

For tickets call Ticket Center Stage at 937-228-3630, 888-228-3630, online at www.ticketcenterstage.com or visit the Box Office in person, located in the Wintergarden of the Benjamin and Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center.

For more information about the Victoria Theatre Association, visit VictoriaTheatre.com. For more information about The Human Race Theatre Company, visit HumanRaceTheatre.org

There will also be an opening night cast party, immediately following the March 8 performance held in the Kettering Reception Room, located on the 3rd floor (Balcony Level) in the Victoria Theatre. The party is free and open to all ticket holders, and includes free hors d’oeuvres and cash bar – plus the possibility of meeting members of the cast.

Audiences are invited to learn more about the show at a free Chase Background on Broadway pre-show talk Saturday, March 12 at 2PM and Thursday, March 17 at 7PM in the Kettering Reception Room. Chase Background on Broadway provides informative and entertaining talks by theatre professionals, focusing on production history, musical highlights, and insider anecdotes. These talks are held prior to the select matinee performances of each show in the Miami Valley & Good Samaritan Hospitals Broadway Series. Chase Background on Broadway is free and open to Broadway Series ticket holders, but seating is limited.

THE DROWSY CHAPERONE - Victoria Theatre Associaion & The Human Race Theatre Co. - March 8-20, 2011

Sutton Foster as "Janet Van De Graaff" in the Broadway production of The Drowsy Chaperone

Win Free Tickets!

The Victoria Theatre Association, The Human Race Theatre Company & onStageDayton on DaytonMostMetro.com have teamed up to give you a chance to win tickets to the opening night of DROWSY CHAPERONE!

We will be giving away a pair of tickets to the show…BUT…if we get 25 Facebook shares, we’ll double the chances & give away TWO PAIRS OF TICKETS! Additionally, you will get to attend the cast party after the opening night performance! All you need to do is:

Share this article on Facebook or Twitter…just click the appropriate button (above or below the article) and if we reach 25 Likes or Tweets we will give away TWO pairs of tickets.
Fill out the contest entry form below.
Leave a comment in the Speak Your Mind section (below), answering the following question…“The Drowsy Chaperone” is an euphemism for the perpetually drunken state of the character…What is the silliest phrase you use to indicate someone is tipsy? (No Names please…to protect the innocent/guilty).
The deadline to enter is NOON on SATURDAY, March 5th.
Winners will be selected randomly from all of the entries.

Contest Is Now Closed

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Victoria Theatre Association Reveals 2011-12 Season

February 23, 2011 By Shane Anderson Leave a Comment

VICTORIA THEATRE ASSOCIATION

2011-2012 Season Announcement

The Victoria Theatre Association hosted a special event Tuesday evening to announce their upcoming season to a Wintergarden-packed collection of special guests, subscribers and donors. The event had a theatrical flair complete with special lighting, dramatically unfurled banners, a prop or two and even a cash bar. The focus of the event was to build a buzz for the upcoming productions that will be included on the various series offered by the organization for the 2011-12 season.

The line up includes many titles that will be familiar to Dayton audiences. The biggest surprise of the evening was the announcement that Wicked would make a return trip to the Gem City. The musical broke VTA box office records just a year ago. The witches will return to the Schuster Center in Spring 2012. The big questions will be whether or not the Dayton market will be able to support another 3 1/2 week run of the mega-musical, and whether the VTA staff will ever be willing to voluntarily wear green again.

Some promising moments in the Broadway series include the first visit of Jersey Boys, the 2006 Tony Award winning musical and Wishful Drinking starring Carrie Fisher, the one woman Broadway show starring everyone’s favorite inter-galactic princess.

The Human Race Theatre Company’s contribution to the 2011-12 Broadway series will be the world premiere production of Tenderly: The Rosemary Clooney Musical. This musical about the legendary stage & screen star from the Cincinnati area was developed by area writers Janet Yates Vogt & Mark Friedman. The show received a developmental workshop in the Human Race Theatre Co. 2010 summer Musical Theatre Workshop.

There are additional local ties in at least two of the productions on the schedule. 1986 Wright State University alum Brad Sherwood, mostly widely recognized from his appearances on the TV program Whose Line Is It Anyways? will return to Dayton in Colin Mochrie & Brad Sherwood: Two Man Group. Muse Machine alum Benjamin Magnuson will appear in the cast of the 25th anniversary production of Les Miserables. Ben has a couple major Broadway credits under his belt, most notably his performance as Anthony in the recent John Doyle revival of Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd, alongside Patti Lupone & Michael Cerveris.

Besides a few questionable selections, the 2011-2012 line up of VTA performances should prove to be fairly well received, yet it still seems like very safe programming. I can understand the desire to play it safe in the current economic climate, but I was really hoping that there would be at least a couple of envelope pushing titles (similar to the inclusion of Spring Awakening & Avenue Q on this season’s Star Attractions…perhaps Next To Normal or even the recent revival of Hair). It sounds as if the upcoming Avenue Q is selling quite well, so I hope that there are a couple of additional Star Attractions, yet to be named, even if only one-night-only affairs.

Below is the official press information for each of the shows listed in four of the major series offered. The VTA offers additional programs such as The Discovery Series for kids, the Mid-Day Arts Cafe, the ImPACT series and other educational opportunities. Read about these other offerings and more information about the organization at www.VictoriaTheatre.com.

Season subscriptions for the 2011-2012 Miami Valley & Good Samaritan Hospitals Broadway Series are on sale now via Ticket Center Stage and may be purchased at the Box Office, online at www.ticketcenterstage.com or by phone 937/228-3630 or toll free at 888/228-3630. Ticket Center Stage hours are Monday – Friday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., Saturday noon – 4 p.m., and two hours prior to each performance.

Victoria Theatre Association 2011-2012 Selections:

Mel Brooks’ YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN

October 4 – 9, 2011– Schuster Center

The classic Mel Brooks movie is ALIVE…and it’s headed to Dayton! This wickedly inspired re-imagining of the Frankenstein legend follows bright young Dr. Frankenstein (that’s Fronkensteen) as he attempts to create a monster — but not without scary and hilarious complications. The brains behind the laughter is mad genius and three-time Tony® winner Mel Brooks himself — who wrote the music and lyrics and co-wrote the book along with his record-breaking, award-winning team from The Producers.

Adult situations and language.

TRACES

December 6 – 18, 2011 – Victoria Theatre

TRACES combines awe-inspiring acrobatics with infectious urban energy. With versatile artists who deliver dazzling, gravity-defying displays of skill, dance, and acrobatic brilliance. Created by 7 Fingers, an astonishingly talented company that has pioneered a whole new brand of theatrical entertainment, this unique new show is described as “Family Friendly and Urban Date Night Cool!” by Chris Jones of The Chicago Tribune.

JERSEY BOYS

January 17 – February 5, 2012 – Schuster Center

Too Good to Be True!,” raves the New York Post for JERSEY BOYS, the 2006 Tony Award®-winning Best Musical about Rock and Roll Hall of Famers, The Four Seasons: Frankie Valli, Bob Gaudio, Tommy DeVito and Nick Massi. This is the story of how four blue-collar kids became one of the greatest successes in pop music history. They wrote their own songs, invented their own sounds and sold 175 million records worldwide – all before they were 30! JERSEY BOYS, winner of the 2006 Grammy® Award for Best Musical Show Album and most recently, the 2009 Olivier Award for Best New Musical, features their hit songs “Sherry,” “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” “Rag Doll,” “Oh What a Night” and “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You.”

Authentic, profane Jersey language and adult situations.

TENDERLY: The Rosemary Clooney Musical
By Janet Yates Vogt & Mark Friedman
produced by The Human Race Theatre Company

February 21 – March 4, 2012 – Victoria Theatre

The story of film actress and legendary singer Rosemary Clooney comes to life on stage in TENDERLY, an engaging new musical that captures the highlights of her amazing career and the challenges she faced as wife, mother and performer. Hear her beloved and classic songs, meet the characters who touched her life, and follow this remarkable woman on a journey that leads to ultimate triumph.

WISHFUL DRINKING starring Carrie Fisher

April 10 – 22, 2012 – Victoria Theatre

The daughter of Eddie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds, Carrie Fisher became a cultural icon when she starred as “Princess Leia” in the first Star Wars trilogy at 19 years old. Forever changed, Carrie’s life did not stay picture perfect. Fisher is the life of the party in this uproarious and sobering look at her Hollywood hangover. A colorful evening of what Fisher calls “talking about myself behind my back,” Wishful Drinking is a breezy combination of one-liners and behind-the-Hollywood-scenes-gossip, all relayed with Fisher’s withering, dry humor.

Adult language and situations.

WICKED

May 30 – June 24, 2012 – Schuster Center

Entertainment Weekly calls WICKED “the best musical of the decade,” and when it first played Dayton in 2010, it broke box office records and sold out in record time. Winner of 35 major awards, including a Grammy® and three Tony® Awards, WICKED is Broadway’s biggest blockbuster, a cultural phenomenon and was just named “the defining musical of the decade” by The New York Times.

THE FLYING KARAMAZOV BROTHERS

October 7, 2011 – Victoria Theatre

Four times triumphant on Broadway, the award-winning Flying Karamazov Brothers are back with an unforgettable spectacle of music, comedy, dance, theatre and juggling. “100 minutes of cleverness and comedy go by in a flash,” “It’s the Julliard String Quartet meets Monty Python,” and “as close to a sure thing as can be found on stage.” “It’s unleashed fun!” Come join the Flying K’s in proving with each unique performance, that the unexpected events in our lives are the best part of being human.

GONE MADIGAN with KATHLEEN MADIGAN

February 3, 2012 – Victoria Theatre

“One of America’s funniest female comics” (Jay Leno), “The funniest woman in America” (Lewis Black) and “One of my favorite comedians” (Bob Costas), comedienne Kathleen Madigan has made a name for herself around the globe since her winning bout on the 2004 “Last Comic Standing.” In addition to three CDs and now four DVDs of her hilarious work, she has been seen extensively on TV including E!, CNN, “The Tonight Show” (10 appearances), “The Late Show with David Letterman” (5 appearances), “The Conan O’Brien Show,” HBO, Comedy Central, and ESPN.

COLIN MOCHRIE & BRAD SHERWOOD: TWO MAN GROUP

April 28, 2012 – Victoria Theatre

Colin Mochrie and Brad Sherwood, stars of the EmmyR-nominated “Whose Line Is It Anyway?,” have teamed up to present an evening of extraordinary improvisational comedy. Using their quick wit, Colin and Brad take contributions from the audience to create hilarious and original scenes — just like a live version of “Whose Line”! Their high-profile presentations have played to sold-out venues all over the country. “A two-hour laugh riot!” – Springfield Sun News

Star Attractions appeal to the cultural and ethnic variety of our community and may include blockbuster Broadway hits, cutting-edge off-Broadway theatre, family-friendly shows and concerts. Ranging from one-week runs to single-evening events, Victoria Theatre Association’s Star Attractions are presented to appeal to a variety of different audiences and guaranteed to provide you with the finest entertainment.

DAVID SEDARIS

October 27, 2011 – Victoria Theatre

The celebrated NPR humorist comes to the Victoria Theatre for an evening of cutting wit, social satire, and riveting conversation, including a question and answer session! Experience live, the hilarious brilliance that created the national bestsellers: Naked, Me Talk Pretty One Day, Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim, When You Are Engulfed in Flames, and his latest best-seller, Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk. “One of America’s most prickly and most delicious, young comic talents.” – The Washington Post

MONTY PYTHON’S SPAMALOT

October 30, 2011 – Schuster Center

Winner of the 2005 Tony® Award for Best Musical, Monty Python’s SPAMALOT is the outrageous new musical comedy lovingly ripped off from the film classic Monty Python and The Holy Grail. Directed by Tony® Award-winner Mike Nichols, with a book by Eric Idle and music and lyrics by the Grammy® Award-winning team of Mr. Idle and John Du Prez, SPAMALOT tells the tale of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table as they embark on their quest for the Holy Grail. Flying cows, killer rabbits, taunting Frenchmen and show-stopping musical numbers are just a few of the reasons audiences everywhere are eating up SPAMALOT.

Adult content.

LES MISÉRABLES

November 22 – 27, 2011 – Schuster Center

DREAM THE DREAM. Cameron Mackintosh presents a brand new 25^th anniversary production of Boublil & Schönberg’s legendary musical, LES MISÉRABLES, with glorious new staging and dazzlingly reimagined scenery inspired by the paintings of Victor Hugo. This new production has been acclaimed by critics, fans and new audiences and is breaking box office records wherever it goes. The New York Times calls this LES MISÉRABLES “an unquestionably spectacular production from start to finish.” NY1-TV proclaims “musical theatre fans can rejoice: ‘Les Miz’ is born again.”

BAM PERCUSSION: THE BLUE BARREL SHOW

November 5 & 6, 2011

Meet three completely odd characters who will have you rolling – and dancing! – in the aisles: BAM! Fabulous drumming is mixed with zany, slide-splitting humor, and the results are contagious. With audience participation, quick-witted humor and impeccable timing, BAM has performed for thousands all around the world, including extensive tours of Europe, Canada, Asia, South America, Africa and more, making it clear we all laugh in the same language.

GOLDEN DRAGON ACROBATS

December 3 & 4, 2011

Exponents of the 25-century-old tradition of Chinese acrobatics, the Golden Dragon Acrobats defeat gravity and fear with feats of balancing, tumbling and startling gymnastic wizardry. They captivate audiences everywhere with the charm and swashbuckling showmanship of ancient skills, such as the Dancing Plates, the Diablo Yo-Yo, and The Tower of Chairs. Don’t miss this thrilling parade of contortionists, jugglers and dizzying, seat-wiggling entertainment.

STINKY CHEESE MAN & OTHER FAIRLY STUPID TALES

Based on the book by Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith

February 4 & 5, 2012

Poor Jack. He’s got to use his wits to save himself from the terrible Giant, but a host of familiar fairytale characters keep messing up his plans – and then there’s that annoying Stinky Cheese Man! The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales deconstructs the tradition of the fairy tale. Characters slide in and out of tales, Cinderella rebuffs Rumpelstiltskin, and Goldilocks meets the Three Elephants. Nothing is quite the same as you remember it, but all is hilariously fun!

THE MAGIC SCHOOL BUS LIVE

March 24 & 25, 2012

Seatbelts everyone! The Magic School Bus® celebrates its 25th anniversary with an all-new musical adventure. Ms. Frizzle’s students are putting on a play about global warming, and they need some cold, hard facts. The Friz and her reptilian sidekick, Liz, know just where to find them! This is no ordinary field trip, as a hop on the Magic School Bus takes the class and the audience on a whirlwind tour. From the Arctic to the Equator, they see telltale signs of climate change and learn how conservation, recycling and alternative energy can make a positive difference.

Tickets & Performance Information:

WHY SUBSCRIBE?

Series subscribers receive many perks, including VIP service and the chance to purchase single tickets to shows before tickets go on sale to the general public.

GUARANTEED SEATS & THE BEST SEATS.

By the time tickets go on sale, the best seats will be snatched up by our series subscribers. Sometimes just getting a seat at all is a challenge! Buy the series of your choice and get the best seats for every show!

SAVINGS.

With the Miami Valley & Good Samaritan Broadway Series, you’re getting six shows for the price of five– and saving as much as 15 percent over buying single tickets. Subscribe to all six Broadway shows for as little as $244, the three-show Variety series for as little as $83, and our five-show Family series for just $52!

ADVANCE SALE OPPORTUNITIES.

All series subscribers or season ticket holders can buy extra tickets to series shows–including JERSEY BOYS and WICKED–before they go on sale to the general public. Plus, you get the first crack at tickets to new shows as they’re added to our calendar!

FLEXIBILITY.

With subscriber exchange privileges, you can change your plans and change your seats for another performance time–no problem! A small up-charge fee will be applied if you switch into a more expensive performance.

TICKET INSURANCE.

If you misplace your tickets, just call Ticket Center Stage and we’ll reprint them for you.

DISCOUNTED PARKING.

Only series subscribers can purchase prepaid parking at the Arts Garage at Second and Ludlow Streets (to the west of the Schuster Center) at a discount! You’ll pay only $5 a park–instead of $7 for event parking. Parking packages are available for all three series.

GREAT ENTERTAINMENT.

Mark your calendar now with as many great performances as you like. We all need to relax and recharge, and there’s nothing like a fabulous performance to do just that!

SEASON TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE NOW!

To become a Miami Valley & Good Samaritan Hospitals Broadway Series subscriber, call Ticket Center Stage, at (937) 228-3630 (toll free (888) 228-3630), or subscribe online.

Not a subscriber? Call 937/228-3630 or visit www.ticketcenterstage.com and purchase your subscription today!

Please note: New subscribers will be seated per their requests once renewing subscriber’s requests have been handled.

-SA/VTA Press Release

We encourage local theatre companies to submit calendar items HERE, and official press releases to onStageDayton@gmail.com.

Shhhhh….

February 11, 2011 By Shane Anderson 1 Comment

Vincent Holiday

Dirty Little Secret

presented by J.T. Ryder & Vincent Holiday

A while back, while at the DMM contributor holiday party, J.T. Ryder mentioned to me that he was putting together a new kind of show. Now, J.T. Ryder has quite a backstory – he’s a mysterious, intellectual, no-nonsense kind of guy…used to work in the circus (no joke), used to guard diamonds (no joke), seriously loves the Dew (addiction) and passionate about what he does (whatever that is) – I was more than a little bit intrigued about what kind of show this guy might be developing, especially when words like vaudeville and burlesque started creeping into the conversation. A little over a month later, that show is a reality. J.T. Ryder and Vincent Holiday will be presenting A DIRTY LITTLE SECRET next Wednesday night in the Oregon District’s Wiley’s Comedy Niteclub and they’ve got an interesting line-up.

I had a few more questions for J.T. about what exactly this secret is:

onStageDayton: When we first spoke about this new show happening, it was being billed as a burlesque or vaudeville-style show. What exactly are we talking about here?

Geborah

J.T. Ryder: I originally began describing Dirty Little Secret as a burlesque style event, but that was a bit of a misnomer. Although it has elements of burlesque and vaudeville, it has evolved into more of a variety show. I would like to have some true burlesque in the show, but most of what I am seeing is more like plain old stripping. It would be great if I could find something local that was more in the realm of skit comedy, kitsch or a classy portrayal rather than just pasties and panties. I think that the show has evolved into the realm that it needs to be in: a wide ranging variety show of divergent acts that an audience would never really see all in one place.

OSD: When I think “variety show” I think of Rowan & Martin, Sonny & Cher , The Gong Show and all the Late Night programs. Images of stupid human tricks, chimps on tricycles and ukelele-wielding musicians come to mind. What genres of entertainment can audiences expect?

Patricia Berg

J.T.: Well, there is Henrique Couto, who is a comedic musician, and he will be opening the show with songs and banter. Geborah will then take the stage and she is a jazz hip-hop dancer, and I’m even intrigued to see what she is going to come up with. Patricia Berg is next up. She is an absolutely phenomenal vocalist. She has performed in such elegant venues that I finally had to ask her what she expected from this show and it came down to the vibe and the creativity that this show offered. Rounding out the show will be Underbelly, which is a comedy/improve troupe out of Cincinnati. Holding the whole thing together will be our emcee, Vincent Holiday, who will introduce and interview the acts as well as doing some of his own monologues. It’s kind of like a Tarantino soundtrack: it is all from different genres and different eras, but it all seems to blend well together.

OSD: This event is taking place in Wiley’s Comedy Club in the Oregon District. Is there anything planned to give the experience a different vibe than a night at the comedy club?

Underbelly

J.T.: Yes, there is also going to be a special wait staff in place. I want the whole evening to be an immersive experience from the moment the customer walks through the door. The waitresses will be decked out in their favorite retro/pin-up style outfit and will be a prominent part of the evening. I know one girl has a little 1940’s style outfit prepared, with black fishnet stockings and all the accouterments. I have not been really specific as far as era or anything…I think it will be fun just to see what everyone shows up in.

OSD: J.T. I have a question that you don’t want to answer. It’s regarding teh fishnet stockings that you mentioned in the above answer and Henrico. ((Publishers Note: this question has been removed for public decency reasons. It involved J.T. Ryder’s Dirty Little Secret and fishnet stockings. -B. Pote)

J.T.: My God, Shane! I can’t believe that you would ask me such a question! You should be ashamed! Ashamed I say!

OSD: The show sounds really intriguing and I’m sure other performers in the area might be interested in getting involved in future editions. Will there be more “Dirty Little Secrets” down the road? What other types of acts would you be interested in including?

Henrique Couto

J.T.: We are kind of waiting to see what the outcome of this show is before cementing the next show in place. There has been a lot of interest from various performers and artists that want to be involved. Some of the elements that will be added to future shows will be theatrical groups, storytellers and music from different genres like boogie-woogie and surf music. I am also looking for people with skills for short sets like jugglers, magicians and entertainers such as that. The one thing we do have set in stone is a show coming up on March 23rd which will feature The Invisible Man Corporation, which is a true sideshow out of Austin, Texas.

OSD: Austin, Texas? The city has a motto of “Keep Austin Weird.” I imagine The Invisible Man Corp. Sideshow is pretty entertaining. I’ll have to google them.

J.T.: They have the whole freakshow thing in place. There is a sword swallower, a fire-eater, a glass eater, a glass walker, a human blockhead…they have it all. It should be a very, very interesting evening.

Tickets & Performance Information:

J.T. Ryder and Vincent Holiday Presents A DIRTY LITTLE SECRET

When: Wednesday, February 16th at 8:00 pm.

Where: Wiley’s Comedy Niteclub at 101 Pine St. in the Oregon District.

Who: Vincent Holiday, Henrique Couto, Geborah, Patricia Berg and Underbelly.

How: Admission is $10.00 – Reservations can be made by calling (937) 224-5653.

Booze: Cash Bar with drink specials (credit cards will be accepted, but no tabs will be run).

-SA

[iframe http://www.youtube.com/embed/gNXnexdrpMc/ 560 349]

We encourage local theatre companies to submit calendar items HERE, and official press releases to onStageDayton@gmail.com.

Stage & Screen: WSU Grad to Present Concert at The Neon

February 6, 2011 By Shane Anderson Leave a Comment

HERE WITH ME:

CHRISTIAN DUHAMEL LIVE IN CONCERT

The Neon Movies & The Human Race Theatre Company

Regional Premiere!

I had a meeting down at the DMM clubhouse (office) yesterday. The conversation kept coming back to how frustrating it is to hear people say things like “there’s nothing to do in Dayton,” and “nothing happens here, I can’t wait to move to_______________.” PEOPLE! – THE MOST AMAZING THINGS HAPPEN RIGHT HERE! IN DAYTON! You’ve just got to pay attention!

Of course, if you are reading this article on DaytonMostMetro.com, I’m probably just preaching to choir. So, please, share it.

Our downtown gems of theater, THE NEON (movies) and THE HUMAN RACE THEATRE CO. (live) are teaming up to present a concert. ? A concert at a movie theater? You gotta hand it to both organizations, both are willing to take chances on something new, both embrace innovation. Tuesday night they will try something new, together….present a concert of music by an up & coming new musical theatre composer!

The setting is a terrific idea! I’m actually a little bit miffed that I didn’t think of it first for the organization I work with. The Neon has a terrific set-up for an event that will feature live song and stories. Grab a beer, glass of wine or even a cup of coffee to go along with those junior mints and settle in for an evening of new musical theatre songs by Christian Duhamel.

Duhamel is in town working on Shakespeare’s TWELFTH NIGHT at “the Race.” He portrays Feste, the clown (and musician) in the unique production which has been reset in Jazz-Age America. Besides acting, Christian is also a composer. He has composed for theater, including several original musicals and a songbook. Tuesday evening’s concert will feature Christian, and a few guests, singing songs (& telling stories) from his repertoire.

CHRISTIAN DUHAMEL was named one of Seattle BroadwayWorld.com’s Top 10 People to Watch in 2011. He is a Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival Award-winning composer, lyricist, playwright, director and musical director and was the inaugural recipient of the Young Creator’s Award from Music Theatre Ventures. His musicals and songs have been performed on stages and at cabarets across the nation. In 2009 he published his first songbook, “Here With Me: A Collection of Songs by Christian Duhamel.” Mr. Duhamel earned his BFA in Acting-Musical Theatre from Ohio’s Wright State University. www.christianduhamel.org.

onStageDayton had a few questions for Christian about his career, his music & returning to Dayton:

onStageDayton: For our readers who don’t know you, how did you first end up in Dayton? Where are you based currently? How has it felt to return to Dayton as an actor & musician in The Human Race Theatre Company’s production of Shakespeare’s TWELFTH NIGHT?

WSU Theatre

Christian Duhamel: I first came to Dayton as a transfer into the acting-musical theatre program at Wright State. I grew up in a suburb of Seattle, Washington, and after graduating from WSU and working around the country for a bit, I moved back to Seattle and have lived there the last 4 and a half years, working as an actor, writer, composer, musical director, director, coach and educator.

The Loft Theatre

Returning to the Race has been a huge honor and joy. From previous involvement in Race productions and also from being an audience member, I know the Race puts on high-quality productions. When I received the offer to play this amazing role (Feste) at this amazing theatre and additionally, to compose music for two of Shakespeare’s lyrics, I knew could not pass up the opportunity.

OSD: Besides being an actor and musician, it seems that you are also a musical theatre composer. At what point did you decide to put pen to paper to write a musical? What was that first musical and have you written any since?

Christian Duhamel

CD: In high school I was highly involved in choir and drama, and here I got my first taste of creating new works: writing plays, arranging vocal jazz charts and writing choral and jazz music. When I began college, writing was placed on a back burner as I focused on my acting training. After I transferred to Wright State, I rediscovered my passion for writing, and wrote my first musical, REINVENTING ROMANCE, which was produced at Wright State, went to the regional level of the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival, and I went on to the national level with awards for playwriting, music, lyrics and direction. Since then I’ve written several new musical theatre pieces: THE WAR CYCLE, which looks at American involvement in the many wars of the 20th Century; ICARUS ASCENDING uses the mythological characters Icarus and Daedalus to examine the relationship between fathers and sons; RED, a contemporary retelling of Little Red Riding Hood; and A BEAUTIFUL END, which is the story of two real women who worked the western burlesque circuit in the late 1800’s. I have also self-published my own songbook called HERE WITH ME: A Collection of Songs by Christian Duhamel.

OSD: Do you collaborate with other writers in your musical theatre writing?

CD: I write cabaret material on my own and with another Wright State graduate, Kristina Wilson. I am currently working with several new collaborators on the development of several new musicals. Hopefully you’ll hear more about those pieces soon!

OSD: It seems that there is a bit of a resurgence of of musical theatre writing happening in America…a whole new generation of new musical theatre writers are creating very personal, emotional works (instead of the song & dance spectacles of the past). What do you think is the impetus of this new movement? What do you think the next few years holds for new musicals in the American theatre landscape?

CD: I think musical theatre, like all art forms, is following a natural ebb and flow: Mozart wanted to write operas about real, contemporary situations, and in Chekhov’s The Seagull, Trigorin craves “new forms.”

Concert Guest Aaron Vega with wife Claire Kennedy

If I had to take a stab, I’d attribute the current shift to a generation of minds who experienced 9-11, can learn from a seasoned Sondheim, and who are growing up dealing with the “relationship disconnection” caused by that wonderful invention: the internet.

In the next few years, as we see 65 million dollar spectacles taking stage, I imagine more writers will strive to bring the focus of the musical back to the emotional spectacle of a character’s internal life, and then we’ll shift the other way again.

OSD: What should audience members expect when they come to The Neon on Tuesday night? What should they NOT expect as well?

Darian Taschner

CD: Tuesday night will be a relaxed evening filled with music I’ve written, including a couple of songs with collaborator Kristina Wilson. The Neon has the perfect atmosphere (and open bar) for an evening of something a little different. I’ll be telling stories about the origins of the music and the impact particular pieces or being a writer has had on myself and my family.

Alexandra Sunderhaus

I’ll be joined by guest artists Aaron Vega (WSU grad, actor and director of Twelfth Night), and Alexandra Sunderhaus and Darian Taschner (the female leads from WSU’s Jekyll and Hyde). There won’t be any production numbers, just me behind a piano with some outstanding voices singing new music for the people who join us.

Tickets & Performance Information:

HERE WITH ME: The Music of Christian Duhamel

One Night Only. Tuesday, February 8th, 9:30 pm

THE NEON, 130 E. Fifth Street, Dayton, OH

(937) 222-8452

Tickets ($5) are available presale at The Neon.

Concessions will be available at the event, including beer, wine & coffee beverages.

-SA/Press Release

We encourage local theatre companies to submit calendar items HERE, and official press releases to onStageDayton@gmail.com.

VIDEOS:

Invisible Woman by Christian Duhamel

Performed by Ashley Fitzsimmons
Produced by CONTEMPORARY CLASSICS
Presented by ACT’s Central Heating Lab

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1m69lGIoykA
Couldn’t You Stay By Michael Mahler
Performed by Christian Duhamel & Jenny Shotwell
Produced by Contemporary Classics

Present Mirth Hath Present Laughter

January 28, 2011 By Shane Anderson 1 Comment

Twelfth Night

The Human Race Theatre Co.

What is love? ’tis not hereafter;
Present mirth hath present laughter;
What’s to come is still unsure:
In delay there lies no plenty;
Then come kiss me, sweet and twenty,
Youth’s a stuff will not endure.

Seize the day. Enjoy the moment. Youth won’t last. Carpe Diem.

Aaron Vega has a vision. Take the bard’s classic comedy, Twelfth Night (orginally set in ancient Illyria) and plop it into an American / Jazz Age / F. Scott Fitzgeraldean setting. Cool.

You gotta be creative and have some guts to do something like that, no? Well Vega is and does! At 28, Aaron Vega (recognizable to most WSU & Loft Theatre audiences from his appearances on-stage) now holds the record as the youngest director of a production in The Human Race Theatre Company’s history.

The show, one of Shakespeare’s classic comedies, was written in 1601. It earns it’s name from the 12th night after Christmas Day, referred to as the Eve of the Feast of the Epiphany in the Catholic faith. In Shakespeare’s time, however, this 12th night had become quite the uproarious occasion, and the Bard felt compelled to contribute an evening’s entertainment to the frivolity. What better contribution to the revelry than a plot featuring shipwrecks, misguided romance, mistaken identity, merry pranksters, and, (of course) cross-dressing.

“if music be the food of love, play on.”

Don’t expect to hear lutes or panpipes accompanying this production, instead a wide range of music from the 1920’s, from Gershwin to Fats Waller. Additional music has been composed by WSU grad Christian Duhamel, who also appears on stage as Feste, the clown.

onStageDayton questioned Vega about his unique vision for the production & his first experience directing in the Loft.

onStageDayton: What was your goal in setting this production in 1920’s Jazz-Age America instead of the original Ancient Illyria?

Aaron Vega & Claire Kennedy in 2009's Lend Me A Tenor

Aaron Vega: Playing it in the ‘20s will help tell the story to a modern audience. The poetry of Shakespeare can be a hurdle for some audience members who aren’t used to it, so placing the story into a time-period that we all have at least a vague visual knowledge that helps people relax and enjoy the beautiful story. That being said, most people that have never seen or heard Shakespeare except in a high school English class, will find themselves pleasantly suprised at how much they will understand the poetry of the language.

OSD: By moving the plot into a more modern setting, what kinds of problems did this present to you and your actors? What creative freedom did it provide?

AV: The question I asked was, “does this help or hinder the story?” We’ve all heard about Shakespeare shows that have been placed in settings that don’t make any sense. HAMLET set in space springs to mind as an example. It was a fairly logical step to set it in the ’20’s because of all the rich history in this country at the time. Women’s suffrage, prohabition, jazz, etc. I knew we were onto something when the actors started coming to me with ideas about their characters based on the period AND supported by the text. It helped us go further and deeper with a play that can sometimes be played just for laughs.

OSD: Do you think that your choice to change the time and place of Twelfth Night might make the show more appealing to an audience that might normally not choose to attend a Shakespearian production?

AV: Yes. Yes. Yes. But again, give the play 8 minutes and then you’ll really be shocked at how much ANYONE can enjoy the language. The story is so accessible and there are so many characters, that everyone watching will be able to connect to at least one of the characters on stage. The actors and I have worked very hard to make sure that the play remains human. All of the relationships, character’s intentions or plots-even clowning-say human. It’s really been quite lovely to watch. The setting only amplifies that. It’s easier for me, as an audience member, to feel connected to a character if they’re dressed at least a bit like me. The second you put someone in poofy pants, and poofy shirts, even I get turned off.

OSD: This is your first directing gig with The Human Race and you are the youngest director in the history of the company–What has this experience been like for you? Following in the footsteps of great local directors such as Kevin Moore, Scott Stoney and Marsha Hanna, did you ever find yourself questioning your creative decisions throughout the process?

AV: It’s been a joy and an honor. I’ve questioned a few decisions early on but I had Marsha Hanna and Kevin asking the tough questions and making sure that I was as specific as I needed to be. They’ve been incredibly gracious and supportive. The other side of the story is that there is a larger staff at The Human Race Theatre Company, in their office and scene shop (where they build all of their beautiful sets), who have also been tremendously supportive. It’s nice to know that there are theatre companies in this country who are still dedicated to local audiences and telling a beautiful stories on the stage. My wife and I live in New York City and the amount of work has been getting smaller and smaller due to the economy and theaters closing their doors. The fact that a professional theatre company with such a good national reputation is still willing to produce the classics AND call Dayton, Ohio it’s home is truly inspiring. That is all because of people like the staff at the Human Race and specifically their leadership in Kevin Moore and the late Marsha Hanna.

OSD: Now that the show is about to open, what excites (or terrifies) you most about preparing for audiences to see this new version of classic Shakespeare?

AV: The actor’s dedication to the humanity of the characters is what keeps inspiring me. My dream is that people in the Miami Valley will choose live theatre as an entertainment option in a world that is becoming increasingly more disconnected. The Human Race Theatre Company at The Loft Theatre is Dayton’s opportunity to directly engage in their community and have a collective experience with other people from the area. It’s also fairly inexpensive and a wonderful way to enjoy their day. They’ll remember the play for the rest of their lives. Can any of us say that about the last TV show we watched?

Marsha Hanna

Twelfth Night is the fourth production of the 2010-2011 Eichelberger Loft Season of The Human Race. It will be the first Human Race production in more than 20 years without Artistic Director Marsha Hanna, who died January 3 of complications from esophageal cancer.

The cast of Twelfth Night is a result of local and national auditioning, including many members with local ties. It includes two Human Race Resident Artists, Tim Lile as Sir Toby Belch and Scott Stoney as Malvolio. Vega’s wife, Claire Kennedy (Lend Me a Tenor, A Christmas Carol), plays Viola, whose disguise as a man sets off the play’s events. Another WSU alum, Sara Mackie (Green Gables) plays Olivia.

Yellow Springs native Kevin Malarkey, a UC College-Conservatory of Music senior, is Valentine. Matthew Moore of Cedarville plays the Captain and Antonio. David Dortch, a veteran of Blue Jacket, plays Orsino.

Jennifer Johansen of Indianapolis (A Christmas Carol, Romeo and Juliet) is Maria. Josh Stamoolis, longtime Cincinnati Shakespeare resident performer, is Sir Andrew Aguecheek. And Justin Flagg, from the Royal Scottish Academy via New York, is Sebastian.

Behind the scenes, Dick Block designed the set, Lowell A. Mathwich the costumes, Rich Dionne the sound, Resident Artist John Rensel the lighting. Heather Jackson is the production stage manager, Scott Kimmins the Technical Director, with Heather Powell on props, Andrew Ian Adams on wardrobe and Nathan Dean on sound.

Photos by Scott J. Kimmins

-SA/Human Race Theatre Co. Press Release

We encourage local theatre companies to submit calendar items HERE, and official press releases to onStageDayton@gmail.com.

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TWELFTH NIGHT (January 28 – February 13 at The Loft Theatre, various performance times).

More information and tickets are available through www.humanracetheatre.org, by calling Ticket Center Stage at (937) 228-3630 or toll free (888) 228-3630. Tickets can be purchased in person at the Schuster Center box office, or at the box office at The Loft two hours before curtain.

Shane Anderson

About Shane Anderson

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SEASON TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE NOW!

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presented by J.T. Ryder & Vincent Holiday

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“if music be the food of love, play on.”

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