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Dayton Opera

Free Tickets to Performances by Dayton Ballet, Dayton Opera, and Dayton Philharmonic

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Dayton Metro Library, in partnership with Dayton Performing Arts Alliance (DPAA), will be offering free tickets to select performances by Dayton Ballet, Dayton Opera, and Dayton Philharmonic through December.

The select performances, with start times and locations, include:

 

Pines of Rome and Brandon Patrick George: Friday, September 16 and Saturday, September 17, 7:30 pm, at the Schuster Center

The “Eternal City” could find no more fitting tribute than Respighi’s vibrant PINES OF ROME, transporting you to famous pine stands around the Italian capital, a Renaissance family’s splendid estate, near a catacomb suggested by a mournful chant, the moonlit beauty of the Janiculum hill with the haunting song of a nightingale, and, along the Appian Way, triumphant trumpets and the thunder of marching armies. Brandon Patrick George, Dayton Philharmonic Youth Orchestra alum – and hottest young flutist around – connects you to the Celtic inspiration of Christopher Rouse’s Concerto. The season opens with the DPO and Chorus giving the world premiere of a beautiful work by Daytonians Sierra Leone and Steve Winteregg inspired by the legacy of Miriam Rosenthal.

 

Charlie Parker’s Yardbird:

Friday, October 7, 7:30 pm, and Sunday, October 9, 2:30 pm, at the Schuster Center

While the body of tormented bebop saxophonist Charlie “Yardbird” Parker lies unidentified in a New York City morgue, his ghost travels back to the famed NYC jazz club Birdland, where he struggles to complete his final masterpiece. Fusing classical and jazz styles into an intriguing mix, CHARLIE PARKER’S YARDBIRD is a powerful expedition into the mind, heart, and personal purgatory of the jazz genius.

 

Far Away Places: Scheherazade:

Friday, October 21 and Saturday, October 22, 7:30 pm, at the Schuster Center

In the One Thousand And One Nights the Sultana Scheherazade nightly diverts her husband with cliff-hanger tales of the sea, shipwrecks, princes, and princesses to save her life – definitely pre-#MeToo! Rimsky-Korsakov’s alluring showpiece whisks you off to that exotic world with music that’s languid and sensuous, shimmering and romantic, stormy and terrifying! Debussy’s Nocturnes depicts clouds floating across the skies and boisterous village festivals punctuated by trumpets and drums. Reena Esmail’s musical roots let her look West and East as her composition about sisterhood soars to ecstatic heights, blending Hindustani and Western classical musical traditions.

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow:
Friday, October 28 and Saturday, October 29, 7:30 pm, and Sunday, October 30, 2:30 pm, at the Victoria Theatre

October is the perfect setting for Dayton Ballet’s brand-new production of The Legend Of Sleepy Hollow. The haunting story of the Headless Horseman comes to life with all the same characters of this familiar tale. Ichabod Crane, Brom Bones, and the full ensemble of Dayton Ballet take the stage to bring to life Artistic Director Karen Russo Burke’s fresh approach on the timeless classic. Composer Austin Jaquith provides a brand-new original score, performed live by musicians from the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra, to deliver the musical backdrop to this eerie legend that has been passed down through generations since the 1800s.

 

Symphonie fantastiqe and Vadim Gluzman:
 Friday, November 18 and Saturday, November 19, 7:30 pm, at the Schuster Center

Berlioz’s passion-propelled Symphonie fantastique – dazzling with fiery orchestral colors and effects – follows the love-sick hero’s drug-induced visions to a glittering ball, a scaffold, and a demonic Witches’ Sabbath with the Dies irae pounding out a hair-raising theme amid orgiastic tumult. Emotions also run high in Shostakovich’s Concerto, whose sonorities range from quiet contemplation, to the most spectacular cadenza you’re ever likely to witness, to a frenzied finale, guaranteed to leave you profoundly moved. Antoine Clark (“led from the podium with balletic poise,” Chicago Tribune), a rising star among young American conductors, makes his Dayton debut.

 

Hometown Holiday Featuring Amahl and the Night Visitors:

Friday, December 2 and Saturday, December 3, 7:30 pm, at the Schuster Center

The Dayton Philharmonic and Dayton Opera join forces to present a holiday spectacular that is sure to fill our hearts with the spirit of the season. On the first half of the program, the Dayton Philharmonic performs a selection of seasonal favorites in a festive atmosphere of music and song that will have the Schuster overflowing with holiday happiness. After intermission, Amahl And The Night Visitors brings to life the story of three mysterious kings who are following a star to bring gifts to a wondrous child in a fully-staged, brand new production created for Dayton Opera. The three kings stop for rest at the home of Amahl, a shepherd boy who lives in poverty with his mother, and when Amahl offers his own simple gift to the child, a miracle happens. Since its first performance on Christmas Eve 1951, this holiday classic has been performed on every continent in many languages and been seen by more people than any other opera in history. A heartwarming story of kindness and generosity, it is the perfect first opera – or hundredth!

Free tickets are limited to 50 per performance. Tickets are reserved on a first-come, first-served basis and are limited to six tickets per party. Seat locations vary per show. Reserved tickets are held at the Box Office and are available for pickup one hour before each show.

For detailed information about each performance and to register, please visit DaytonMetroLibrary.org/Programs(search for the title of the performance in the keyword field). Questions may also be directed to the Library’s Ask Me Line at 937.463.2665.

 

Join the Opera’s Cast for Free World Premiere Celebration!

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12107191_10209130742524329_6960165597843968271_nPlease join the cast of “The Book Collector and Carmina Burana” at The Dayton Beer Company downtown for fun and food – and the best part? It’s free! Really! This is not a fundraiser… its’ a friend-raiser! The Dayton Performing Arts Alliance is celebrating the World Premiere of The Book Collector, an opera written specifically for the The Dayton Performing Arts Alliance through a grant by Music Alive.

Come on down Thursday evening May 5th from 6-9pm for the Cast Blast event at the Dayton Beer Company. There will be free appetizers starting at 6pm generously donated by Meadowlark restaurant. Yum! There is a cash bar with all the craft beers. The cast will start mini performances at 7pm. And around 8pm, the cast will start giving away free door prizes!!

Please join the DPAA for this fun and fabulous evening!

For information on The Book Collector / Carmina Burana performances, please click here. Performances are May 20th at 8pm and May 22nd at 3pm. Tickets start range from $24 for students, to $38-$94, depending on seating. Again this is a WORLD PREMIERE so don’t miss it!

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Dead Man Walking to Make Its Second Midwest Opera Appearance

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deadmanwalkingOn Wednesday, August 6, CNN reporter Moni Basu posted the online article “Dead Man Walking” nun: ‘Botched’ executions unmask a botched system.” The article refers to the experiences of Sister Helen Prejean, a Congregation of St. Joseph nun, who first wrote a groundbreaking, bestselling novel that went on to become the basis for the motion picture Dead Man Walking (1995) starring Susan Sarandon and Sean Penn.

Both the novel and the film tell of a Catholic nun’s stormy spiritual journey, a murderer on death row, the victims of his unthinkable actions, and society at large. In fact, the debate surrounding the works’ main theme is in the news in Ohio and elsewhere in the nation and speaks to our collective view on justice, compassion, the American legal system, and our role as citizens. Ministering to inmates on death row led to Sister Helen Prejean becoming a staunch advocate of abolishing the death penalty and developing a second, unwavering belief: America’s death penalty process doesn’t work.operadead

Composer Jake Heggie premiered the opera Dead Man Walking, his first opera, with a libretto by Terrence McNally; it premiered on October 7, 2000 at the War Memorial Opera House, San Francisco Opera. In 2001, Cincinnati Opera commissioned a second production of Dead Man Walking. On Friday, February 27 and Sunday March 1, 2015, Dayton Opera will present Dead Man Walking, making Dead Man Walking only the second presentation of the opera in the Midwest.

Dead Man Walking taps into one of the core issues of our day and the whirlwind of emotions that surround it. Whether you’ve thought about the death penalty or not, this opera is sure to open a path to your heart, soul, and mind. After all, isn’t that is what great art is all about?

ENCORE Young Professionals Support Dayton Performing Arts Alliance With Season Opener

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549996_139136986247282_1881814290_nThe 2013/2014 Season is finally kicking off! Join ENCORE young professionals for an exclusive evening on the town to celebrate Dayton’s rich cultural arts heritage on Saturday, September 21st. 

♫ 5:30 pm – Pre-show “mix ‘n mingle” at the Dublin Pub in the Oregon District

♫ 7:30 pm – Migrate over to the Schuster Center

♫ 8:00 pm – The Dayton Ballet, Dayton Opera, and Dayton Philharmonic come together to present the 2013–2014 Season Opening Spectacular, featuring the music of three very different composers in three distinctly different formats.

✒ SINGLE TICKET COST: JUST $30/ticket

✒ SEASON TICKETS COST: $120/all 6 ENCORE performances. This discount is up to 77% off regular single ticket prices. You can’t get prices like this in ANY city in America!!! LIMITED SEATS AVAILABLE!! Only 15 more season ticket packages available.

✒ Call Ticket Center Stage (888) 228-3630 TODAY to reserve your tickets.

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ENCORE Season Lineup:

♫ Saturday, September 21 – Season Opening Spectacular ($36 single ticket)
♫ Friday, December 13 – The Nutcracker Ballet ($70 single ticket)
♫ Saturday, January 18 – The Music of the Rolling Stones ($53 single ticket)
♫ Friday, February 21 – Hansel and Gretel Opera ($87 single ticket)
♫ Saturday, April 5 – Oh What a Night: Billboard Hits of the 60s ($61 single ticket)
♫ Friday, May 16 – Beethoven’s Great Ninth ($47 single ticket)

 

ENCORE! is a special program created to engage young professionals in a lasting relationship with the Dayton Performing Arts Alliance by bringing together like-minded individuals through performances, unique social events, special “perks” and networking opportunities. ENCORE! is cultivating the next generation of DPAA patrons and leaders to ensure that Dayton’s rich performing arts legacy will be enjoyed by many generations to come.

✒ Note: ENCORE! tickets can be exchanged for any production within the DPAA season as a $20 credit towards regular single ticket prices in your choice of available seating tier. Only one ticket per performance may be redeemed *´¨) ¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*¨) (¸.•´ (¸.•`

¤ Hosted by DPAA Advisory Board Members: Maha Kashani & Richard Kaiser

 

Jane’s Best Bets (10/19 – 10/23)

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At the Ghosts N' Goblins 5K - Can you guess my costume?!?!

Even though Halloween is about two weeks away, the Halloween festivities have officially begun with the Ghosts N’ Goblins 5K downtown on Tuesday night!  There are many more great Halloween themed, as well as non-Halloween themed options for this week!

On Wednesday, if you love a good scare, then be sure to make your way to the Haunted Butcher House.  To be honest, the name of it alone scares me!  In addition to seeing lots of Halloween decorations this time of year, you also see lots of political signs, commercials, etc.  The task of choosing who to vote for or how to vote on certain issues can be daunting.  Get some help by attending the Voters Guide LIVE at Stivers.  History buffs should make plans to attend Soaring at Kitty Hawk, 1911: Buster’s Vacation at The Engineers Club of Dayton.  At the Dayton Convention Center, attend the TechNet-Aero Conference if you work in or are interested in business and defense information technologies (hopefully if you work in it, you are also interested in it!).  And finally, I hope you were lucky enough to get tickets to the sold out Mix 107.7 Concert For A Cure at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, with some great acoustic performances by Safetysuit, Christina Perri, and Andy Grammer.  And if you weren’t, it’s okay.  As Andy Grammer would say, “you gotta keep your head up.”

On Thursday, make your way to the Dayton Racquet Club for their $10 Wine Tasting.  Afterall, what could be better than sipping some great wine and enjoying their amazing views?!?!  Head to Victoria Theatre for the Dayton Ballet’s Sleepy Hollow & Hyding Inside.  And if you would prefer to celebrate in honor of the ballet, then dress in your favorite black and white costume and participate in the Ballet Barre’s 2001 Halloween Pub Crawl, which will take place in the Oregon District.  Or wear your Halloween costume for Boo in the Burg in Downtown Miamisburg.  If you want to do something fun with the kids, then take them to see Disney On Ice – Mickey & Minnie’s Magical Journey at the Nutter Center.  And if you can’t take them Thursday night, there will be shows all weekend long!

On Friday, get a start on your holiday cooking plans by attending Tasty Party Appetizers at 2nd Street Market.  It is FREE!  Attention all you yoga lovers – make your way to Practice Yoga on Fifth for the screening of the new documentary ‘Yogawoman’ to benefit the YWCA of Dayton.  If you have never been to the opera, now is your time, as the Dayton Opera will be presenting La Bohème at the Schuster Center.  In addition, they are offering “Friday Nite Tweet Seats” for members of area Young Professional Networking Groups and their guests.  These seats are valued at $66 but are being sold at the promotional rate of $15!  So, if you think the arts are too expensive for young professionals, think again!  At Victoria Theatre, you will be able to see the Dayton Ballet’s Sleepy Hollow & Hyding Inside.  There are a couple other shows you can catch on Friday as well, including Lost in Yonkers (Dayton Theatre Guild) and The Crucible (Sinclair’s Blair Hall Theater).  And if you prefer to have fun in a less formal environment, then check out my friend’s band Buddha and the Boogie Down as they play at Flanagan’s!

On Saturday, start the day off high on carbs with the Centerville Rotary’s 11th Annual Pancake Breakfast.  Then, make your way to The Salvation Army Kroc Center for their Chili Cook Off.  In the afternoon, take the kids to Victoria Theatre for the Dayton Ballet’s Children’s Halloween Party.  And in the evening, take your date to Victoria Theatre for the Dayton Ballet’s Sleepy Hollow & Hyding Inside.  Head to the Miami Valley Symphony Orchestra’s Fall Concert at Shiloh Church.  At Schindler Banquet Center, get a new wardrobe without spending a fortune as part of the 3rd Annual Fashion Swap ‘N Shop.  If you are Irish (or just like Irish music), then purchase tickets to see bohola, featuring dancers from the Richens/Timm Academy of Irish Dance at Stivers School For the Arts.  Theater options will still include Lost in Yonkers (Dayton Theatre Guild) and The Crucible (Sinclair’s Blair Hall Theater).  And finally, support United Rehabilitation Services, a wonderful organization who works to enhance the quality of life for children and adults with disabilities, by attending their 55th Anniversary Gala at Sinclair’s Ponitz Center.

On Sunday, listen to the Duquesne Tamburitzans at the Centerville Performing Arts Center, the Miami Valley Symphony Orchestra at Kettering Fairmont, or to the sounds of the Dayton Opera as they perform La Bohème at the Schuster Center.  Watch the Dayton Ballet’s Sleepy Hollow & Hyding Inside at Victoria Theatre or the Dayton Theatre Guild’s performance of Lost in Yonkers.  And finally…if you have been craving chocolate, you are in luck as there will be an All You Can Eat Chocolate Party at the Bellbrook Chocolate Shoppe!

And now it’s time for the Dumb Joke of the Week. Drum roll please…

Why didn’t the skeleton go to the movies?

Because he had no body to go with.

These are just a few best bets from the DMM Calendar.  There are plenty more events listed there, so if you haven’t, I encourage you to check it out today!  Also, if you have an event to share or promote, please submit it– it’s great marketing and better yet, it’s FREE!  And finally, if you have a dumb joke to share, I’m all ears!

Have a great week Dayton!

Tweetin’ at the Opera

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Friday Nite Tweet Seats – Tweet from your Seat!

New this season, The Dayton Opera is excited to extend an invitation to local young professionals and their guests to experience an opera-tunity to network and socialize before and after Dayton Opera performances. Friday Nite Tweet Seats — sponsored by DP&L –will allow you to let your Twitter followers know what’s going on at the opera in a reserved seating section. As an exclusive offer only to young professionals, enjoy a pre-performance gathering prior to the show, reserved seating for the performances and an after-party at the Dayton Racquet Club with the cast and crew … all for only $15.

Join the party for the Friday October 21 performances of La Bohème, the Friday, February 24 performance of Romeo and Juliet, and the Thursday May 17 and Friday May 18 performances of The Tragedy of Carmen and tweet and text your thoughts about the opera! Tickets are available online at www.daytonopera.org and, when ordering, enter the code TWEET. You can visit or call Ticket Center Stage in the Schuster Center at 228-3630 and ask for a Friday Nite Tweet Seat.

Please remember…Texting and tweeting during performances is permitted only in designated Friday Nite Tweet Seat areas. Phones must be muted and phone conversations are not permitted.

Jane’s Best Bets (1/26 – 1/30)

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Photo Credit: Alli Shillito

It’s that time of year when many of us have already failed on our New Year’s resolutions.  If you fall into this category, then perhaps you’ve already been sampling some different foods as part of Restaurant Week, one of the many events going on in the Miami Valley!

On Wednesday, if you can’t find something you’d like to eat as part of the 2011 Winter Restaurant Week (which would mean you are too picky!), there are also other food specials, such as Oyster Bar Happy Hour at Dorothy Lane Market, Bang Bang Shrimp Wednesday at Bonefish Grill, and All You Can Eat-Ribs, Chicken or Pork at Bullwinkle’s.  If you would rather consume your calories through drinking, participate in the Wine Tasting at Bruning’s Wine Cellar, the Weekly Wine Tasting at The Wine Gallery, or Wine Down Weekdays at Savona Restaurant & Wine Bar.  Or check out Green Drinks Dayton at Norton’s, where the environmental manager for the City of Dayton will be speaking.  If you’re feeling overloaded with all that paperwork on the job (I know I do a lot of the time!), attend/view the online webinar, Take charge of your paperwork in 2011!  And for all you adventure movie lovers, be sure to check out the movie Ride the Divide at The Neon.

On Thursday, make a trip to PNC 2nd Street Market for their Soup Sampling and Recipes.  Attend Lunch and Learn: Incredible Edibles at Cox Arboretum to find out techniques for building a vegetable garden.  After all, spring is right around the corner.  Sorry, that was a lie, but let us at least think that!  If your New Year’s resolution involves improving your finances, attend the Dayton Metro Library’s Financial Literacy Class.  And in case you were wondering if that event would fit into your budget, you’ll be glad to know that it is free!  Enjoy happy hour and do some Networking with Dayton’s Marketing Professionals at Fox and Hound.  Hear poets and vocalists perform as part of Chris Wiley: Poetry in Motion at De’Lish.  I’m not sure if they’re talking about tape or liquor, but if you like scotch, then attend the Scotch Tasting/Class at Boston’s Bistro.  And for a couple theater options…at Wright State, you can see Jekyll & Hyde or you can go to The Loft Theatre for  Twelfth Night, which is actually taking place on the 27th night of the month.

On Friday, join fellow young professionals for the Gen D 4th Friday Lunch Speaker Series, in which former Governor Taft will be talking about Education and Innovation. In the evening, go out to dinner with friends or that special someone as part of 2011 Winter Restaurant Week.  If you’re on a budget but still want to try some good food, many restaurants are offering two dinners for the price of one!  After dinner, catch one of the many shows going on in town, including The Berenstain Bears Onstage: A Bear Country Musical (which was one of my favorite book series growing up!) at Town Hall Theatre, the Dayton Opera’s Fidelio at the Schuster Center, I Hate Hamlet at Playhouse South, Jekyll & Hyde at Wright State, Twelfth Night at The Loft Theatre, or The 25th Annual Putnam Spelling Bee at Dayton Playhouse.  I’ve always heard that Bridge is for old people, so if you’re old, check out The Octette Bridge Club at Beavercreek Community Theatre.  If you’re young though, don’t worry…I don’t think they card!  Over at Alex’s on 725, get your dancing shoes ready as the band Off the Hook will be performing.  If you love Dayton music, make your way to Canal Street Tavern for Dayton Does Dayton!  And if you’re a Rascal Flatts fan like me, be sure to get tickets to see them perform at the Nutter Center as part of their “Nothing Like This” Tour!

On Saturday, if you don’t mind being super cold, help support the Special Olympics by participating in Freezin’ For A Reason- 2011 Polar Plunge at Caesar’s Creek.  Again for some theater/musical performances, check out The Berenstain Bears Onstage at Town Hall Theatre, Jekyll & Hyde at Wright State, The Octette Bridge Club at the Beavercreek Community Theatre, I Hate Hamlet at The Playhouse South, Jekyll & Hyde at Wright State University, The 25th Annual Putnam Spelling Bee at Dayton Playhouse, or Twelfth Night at The Loft Theatre.  If you want to drink wine but want to help counteract the killing of your brain cells, head to the Boonshoft Museum for the Science of Wine.  Over at the Dayton Masonic Center, join the wonderful jumpstART with their Jump into Bluegrass for discounted tickets to see bluegrass superstar Ricky Skaggs!  Or if you want to be a cowboy baby, “moooo”ve over to the Nutter Center to see Kid Rock.  If you have some “spare” time and would like to “strike” up a conversation with some other young professionals, come to Woodman Lanes for Generation Dayton Goes Bowling!  After you “split”, head to the St. Helen’s Fish Fry or to the Christopher Club for the Knights of Columbus 4022 Fish Fry.

On Sunday, take it easy with Gentle Yoga at the Sri Yoga Center.  If you still don’t know how to skate (don’t worry, I’m in that bunch too!), attend Fundamentals of Skating at RiverScape.  Again, there will be a multitude of shows to see, including Jekyll & Hyde at Wright State University, The Berenstain Bears Onstage at Town Hall Theatre, The 25th Annual Putnam Spelling Bee at Dayton Playhouse, Twelfth Night at The Loft Theatre, the Dayton Opera’s Beethoven’s Fidelio at the Schuster Center, and The Octette Bridge Club at Beavercreek Community Theatre.  And finally, for a “purr-fectly” good time, help support the Humane Society of Greater Dayton by coming to the Cat Walk 2011: Diva Las Vegas, in which Dayton’s top hair salons compete on the catwalk!  There will be music, drinks, food, dancing, and live entertainment!

And now it’s time for the Dumb Joke of the Week. Drum roll please…

Why is a moon rock tastier than an earth rock?

Because it’s a little meteor.

These are just a few best bets from the DMM Calendar.  There are plenty more events listed there, so if you haven’t, I encourage you to check it out today!  Also, if you have an event to share or promote, please submit it– it’s great marketing and better yet, it’s FREE!  And finally, if you have a dumb joke to share, I’m all ears!

Have a great week Dayton!