I’m hot. I mean, these dog days we’ve been having? They’re hot, friends. Sticky, muggy, relentless…true “height of Summer” kind of weather. Thank you, Mother Nature or muchos gracias El Nino. Whichever it is, it’s days like this where I keep myself sane looking forward to the upcoming fall. A time that will be as cool, crisp and refreshing as that first sip of apple cider in September. With that in mind, I dedicate this edition of my humble little biweekly base-touch to not only what is coming up immediately, but what Autumn, blessed Fall will bring us in the Dayton Theatre Scene. But first!
Future Fest Wrap-up!
And The Winner Is …
Nureyev’s Eyes by David Rush, directed by Annie Pesch. This play also won the “audience favorite” award.
The other finalists were ranked by audience appreciation as follows:
A Political Woman by Joel Fishbane (directed by Cynthia Karns)
Curve by Sam Havens (directed by Jim Lockwood)
Excavation by Rob Barron (directed by Nancy Campbell)
Provenance by Dan Weber (directed by David Shough)
This Rough Magic by Richard Manley (directed by Gayle Smith)
As always, Future Fest 2012 was an exciting weekend of drama, comedy, fun and friends. Though my play did not win, I had an absolute blast and I believe the playwrights, adjudicators and my fellow actors and audience members did as well. Huge thanks go out to the Dayton Playhouse and Future Fest board and staff of volunteers. I’m already excited for Future Fest 2013.
Opening This Weekend!
Musical Theatre Workshop
The Human Race Theatre Company/The Loft Theatre
The Skinny: Another festival of new works, The Human Race Theatre Company’s annual Musical Theatre Workshop will take place August 3rd – 5th at The Loft Theatre. This program is designed to develop original musicals, to provide an avenue for that very important “second production” and to encourage appreciation of rarely produced musicals. Through a process of residencies, workshops and staged readings, The Human Race not only contributes to the art form, but builds an audience for the new musical.
Tickets: All ticket information can be found at The Human Race Theatre Company’s website: www.humanracetheatre.org
Opening Next Week!
A Little Princess
Playhouse South
The Skinny: The classic children’s literature story of Sara Crewe, left by her father at a boarding school for young ladies. This is a musical version of the 1905 story.
The Dates: Opening August 10th and running through the 19th. All performances of this outdoor production begin at 7:30.
Tickets: Admission is free, but a donation of at least $5.00 is greatly appreciated. Please visit Playhouse South’s website for more information and directions to Northpark Amphitheatre in Springboro. www.playhousesouth.org
Ongoing!
Seussical! The Musical!
La Commedia Dinner Theatre
The Skinny: Seussical brings the books you and your kids have grown up with to life with bright and beautiful sets, cheerful songs and wonderful costumes.
The Dates: Seussical opened July 11th and continues it’s run through September 2nd.
Tickets: All information regarding tickets, group tickets and the current menu should be found at www.lacomedia.com
The Merchant of Venice
Free Shakespeare!
The Skinny: Chris Shea and his wandering thespians continue their merry stroll through the greater Dayton area.
Dates: August 2nd; Rosewood Arts Centre, Kettering. August 3rd, 4th and 5th; Newcom Park, Oregon District. August 7th; RESCHEDULED DATE for Tower Park Amphitheatre, Fort Thomas Kentucky (7:30 pm show). August 9th; Blommel Park, South Park, Dayton. August 10th, 11th and 12; Wegerzyn Gardens Metropark, Dayton. All performances begin at 7:00 pm (EXCEPT WHERE NOTED OTHERWISE). Audience members are asked to bring their own chairs or blankets.
Tickets: Free Shakespeare! is committed to bringing high quality, low budget classic theatre to the Dayton region, for free. But good will donations are happily and gratefully accepted. The proceeds are split equally among the cast.
For more information, visit Free Shakespeare’s Facebook site at www.facebook.com/spreadthewords
Looking Ahead!
As aforementioned, I would like to take a quick peek ahead to the first offerings of some local theatres this season, to remind us what we have to look forward to once this long, hot summer draws to a close. These entries are in no particular order,
The Dayton Theatre Guild:
August 24th – September 9th
A world-class male string quartet struggles with the loss of a member, the recasting of a woman to replace him and the day-to-day tensions of exacting, temperamental artists struggling to make perfect music onstage, as well as to make sense of their lives offstage. This one-of-a-kind contemporary script is filled with quiet drama and surprising humor.
The Dayton Playhouse:
September 7th – 16th.
Side by Side by Sondheim is a musical revue featuring the songs of Broadway and film composer Stephen Sondheim. It was nominated for 6 Tony awards in 1977. The title is derived from the song “Side by Side by Side” from Company.
Beavercreek Community Theatre
Musical Chairs
September 7th – 16th
Synopsis information about Musical Chairs was not immediately available through the website.
The Human Race Theatre Company
September 6th – 23rd.
She’s bold, yet tender. She’s brash, but sincere. And at the age of 70, Maxine Levine may have just found real love for the first time in her life. When this lively widow finds a retired, reserved judge to her liking, they each discover that when it comes to romance, everything old is new again. But the memories of past loves and current heartbreaks of their children could derail any hope of happiness these late-in-life lovebirds may have.
This is just a taste of what a few theatres will be offering up this coming year. We’ve got some great shows in store for us in the 2012-2013 Theatre Season. I’m getting excited just thinking about it!
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