dinner theatre

Coming Up In Dayton Theatre, 9/5 – 9/22

September 4, 2013 By Sarah Caplan Leave a Comment

Welcome back! Has everyone had a good and fulfilling summer? I sure have. But I’m ready to jump back into Dayton’s exciting theatre scene.

Closing This Weekend!

45 Seconds From Broadway

The Skinny: Neil Simon’s 2001 Broadway-based comedy takes place in the Polish Tea Room, a haunt of Broadway-types in general, and comedian Mickey Fox in specific.Taking place over the course of 1 year (4 scenes, 4 seasons), this story follows Mickey and his friends as they do all those play things; live, laugh, love and learn.

Dates: 45 Seconds closes this weekend. Friday, 9/6 at 8, Saturday 9/7 at 5 and Sunday 9/8 at 3.

Tickets: For ticket information, please visit the Dayton Theatre Guild website, www.daytontheatreguild.com

Opening This Weekend!

Hairspray

The Dayton Playhouse

The Skinny: This high-spirited musical musical takes place in 1962 in Baltimore, Maryland. Teenager, Tracy Turnblad, dreams of dancing on The Corny Collins Show, a local TV dance program. When Tracy wins a role on the show, she becomes a celebrity overnight. She then launches a campaign to integrate the show. The show deals with injustices of parts of American society in the 1960’s.

Dates: Hairspray opens this Friday, 9/6 and runs 3 weekends, closing on Sunday, 9/22.

Tickets: For ticketing information, please see the Dayton Playhouse website, www.daytonplayhouse.com

A Mighty Fortress Is Our Basement

La Comedia Dinner Theatre

The Skinny: The fourth installment in the popular Church Basement Ladies series takes place in 1960, and reformation is underway. The Church Basement Ladies are once again required to face chance head-on, but they will stand strong in their faith and their friendships.

Dates: This show opens Thursday, 9/5 and runs through 10/27.

Tickets: For information regarding tickets, schedule and menu, please visit La Comedia’s website at www.lacomedia.com

Opening Next Weekend!

Becky’s New Car

The Human Race Theatre Company

The Skinny: Becky Foster is stuck in neutral—middle aged, in middle management and a middling marriage—until an honest misunderstanding with a wealthy widower offers her the chance at an exciting double life…and she takes it. Now she’s frantically juggling to keep her two worlds apart before everything threatens to come crashing down on her. It’s enough to drive Becky off a cliff.

Dates: Becky debuts Thursday, 9/12 and runs through Sunday, 9/29.

Tickets: For ticketing information, please visit www.humanracetheatre.org

Hair

Beavercreek Community Theatre

The Skinny: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical!This show introduced America to the “Rock musical”, with songs that became standards, such as “The Age Of Aquarius” and “Easy To Be Hard.” Hair focuses on a “tribe” of hippies, touching on several different individual stories, woven throughout with the tragedy of the Vietnam conflict.
Dates: Hair opens next weekend, 9/13 and closes 9/22.
Tickets: For ticketing information, please visit the BCT website at www.bctheatre.org

First Baptist of Ivy Gap

Brookville Community Theatre

The Skinny: More Church ladies! During WWII, six women gather at the church to roll bandages and plan the church’s 75th anniversary. Overseeing things is Edith, the pastor’s wise-cracking wife who dispenses Red Cross smocks and witty repartee to Luby, whose son is fighting in the Pacific; Mae Ellen, the church’s rebellious organist who wants to quit but hasn’t the courage; Olene, who dreams of a career in Hollywood; Sammy, a shy newcomer with a secret; and Vera, an influential Baptist with a secret of her own. When Luby learns her son has been wounded, she confounds the others by blaming the vulnerable Sammy. Twenty-five years later, our “First Baptist Six” reunite!

Dates: Opening Friday, 9/12 and running through 9/22.

Tickets: To make ticket reservations, please call the Brookville Flower Shop at 937-833-3531

Coming up in Dayton Theatre 5/17 – 5/26 (Plus! FutureFest 2013 News!)

May 17, 2013 By Sarah Caplan Leave a Comment

Welcome back, Theatre lovers!

What’s happening in the theatrical neck of your woods? So glad you asked!

Closing This Weekend!

Next To Normal

The Human Race Theatre Company (@ The Victoria Theatre)

The Skinny: The story of a mother who struggles with bipolar disorder and the effect her illness has on her family. This contemporary Pulitzer Prize and Tony winning musical is an emotional powerhouse that addresses issues such as grieving a loss, ethics in modern psychiatry, and suburban life. With provocative lyrics and a thrilling score, this musical shows how far two parents will go to keep themselves sane and their family’s world intact.

Dates: Closes Sunday 5/19

Tickets: Tickets are available via the Victoria Theatre Association website, here: tickets.

Opening This Weekend

The Pillowman

The Dayton Theatre Guild

The Skinny: With echoes of Stoppard, Kafka, and the Brothers Grimm, THE PILLOWMAN centers on a writer in an unnamed totalitarian state who is being interrogated about the gruesome content of his short stories and their similarities to a series of child murders.

Dates: Opening Friday, 5/17 and running 3 weekends to close on Sunday, 6/2. Remember, at the Guild, the 2^nd and 3^rd Saturdays are at 5 pm.

Tickets: For ticket reservations, please visit the Dayton Theatre Guild website, www.daytontheatreguild.org.

(Note: For mature audiences only. Note: there will be a loud gun shot and a minor amount of smoke on stage during one scene in the performance.)

Currently In Production!

The Sound Of Music

La Comedia Dinner Theatre

The Skinny: A little known musical gem about a would-be nun who battles Nazis. But seriously, folks – this is the well-loved classic, a perennial crowd pleaser. Join The Captain, Maria and all 7 children as they sing, dance and, eventually, cross the Alps.

Dates: Through June 30^th.

Tickets: Please visit La Comedia’s website at www.lacomedia.com

FutureFest 2013!

Announcing the line up of your 2013 FutureFest Finalists!

A Position of Relative Importance by Hal Borden

On the Road to Kingdom Come by Michael Feely

St. Paulie’s Delight by Jacob Cox

The King’s Face by Steven Young

The One With Olives by Sam Havens

Veils by Tom Coash

FutureFest weekend will be July 26^th through 28^th.

Weekend Pass tickets go on sale June 3^rd and will be $95

Single Show Tickets go on sale July 8^th and will be $18

This year’s crop of adjudicators are all familiar, friendly faces:

David Finkle, Rob Koon, Faye Sholiton, Helen Sneed and Eleanore Speert.

Auditions are Monday, June 3^rd for Fully Staged shows, Tuesday, June 4^th for Staged Readings and Thursday, June 6^th for both.

Please see the Dayton Playhouse FutureFest site for more detailed information regarding cast breakdowns and play synopses, here.

Coming up in Dayton Theatre 3/15 – 3/24

March 15, 2013 By Sarah Caplan Leave a Comment

In Julius Caesar, the Shakespeare classic, a soothesayer memorably tells the eponymous ruler to “Beware the Ides of March.” Luckily for you and I and everyone else, this Ides brings nothing about which to be wary, but plenty about which you should be aware! For instance:

Opening This Weekend!

Grand Hotel

Wright State University Theatre

The Skinny: Based on the 1929 Vicki Baum novel and play, Menschen im Hotel (People in a Hotel), and the subsequent 1932 MGM feature film, the musical focuses on events taking place over the course of a weekend in an elegant hotel in 1928 Berlin and the intersecting stories of the eccentric guests of the hotel, including a fading prima ballerina; a fatally ill Jewish bookkeeper, who wants to spend his final days living in luxury; a young, handsome, but destitute Baron; a cynical doctor; and a typist dreaming of Hollywood success.

Dates: Opening this weekend and running through March 31st.

Tickets: Please visit the Wright State Theatre Department website for all ticketing details.

Alice In Wonderland

Kettering Children’s Theatre

The Skinny: Alice In Wonderland is a retelling of the classic tale of…Alice In Wonderland! The girl, the rabbit hole, the queen, the (Cheshire) cat and all the other delightfully daffy classic characters are present in this production, which features original sets inspired by a local artist! This is a great event for families with young ones, who will enjoy that KCT is theatre for children and by children, with its cast comprised of students grades 5-9.

Dates: Alice opens 3/15 and runs two weekends, closing on 3/24.

Tickets: Tickets are available at the door, by purchase with cash or a check, and are able to be reserved by calling the Rosewood Arts Center office at (937) 296-0294.

Currently In Production!

9 to 5 – The Musical

La Comedia Dinner Theatre

The Skinny: The classic 1980 black comedy about 3 working women who are just a step on their boss’s ladder was transformed in 2009 into a hit Broadway musical. Dolly Parton, who starred in the original movie alongside Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda, wrote new original music to compliment her smash hit title single. After the ladies plan for revenge goes wildly awry, hijiks, as they so often due in musical theatre, ensue!

Dates: Running through April 14th!

Tickets: Tickets and reservations are available at the La Comedia website, www.lacomedia.com.

Closing This Weekend!

Thoroughly Modern Millie

The Dayton Playhouse

The Skinny: Taking us back to 1922 with the sensation of flappers, the thrill of a budding mystery and the bliss of falling in love, this musical will get your toes tapping as spring peeks ’round the corner. Based on the on 1967 film musical of the same name starring Julie Andrews and Mary Tyler Moore, this one will have you humming as you leave the theatre.

Dates: Millie takes her final bow this weekend, closing on 3/17

Tickets: Please visit the Dayton Playhouse website at www.daytonplayhouse.com

Broadway in the ‘Burg

Children’s Performing Arts of Miamisburg

The Skinny: The talented cast will be telling you to Consider Yourself at Home from Oliver, be transported back in time to magical Camelot and ride a train in Iowa to Rock Island from Music Man. Cinderella dances with the Prince in the romantic Ten Minutes Ago and the whole cast will bring you to your feet with the blockbuster title number from Oklahoma!

Dates: March 8, 9, 10, 15, 16 and 17. Show times are Fridays at 7:00 p.m., Saturdays at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. and Sundays at 3:00 p.m.

Tickets: Tickets are on sale now at http://www.cpamburg.com

Coming up in Dayton Theater: 1/25 – 2/3

January 23, 2013 By Sarah Caplan Leave a Comment

Welcome back, theatre lovers and seers and makers and doers! Time to once-again check in on our little corner of the theatre world here in Dayton, and see what the next fortnight shall bring!

Closing This Weekend!

Shrek! The Musical!

The Victoria Theatre

The Skinny: Based on the hilarious original movie, this family-friendly and crowd-pleasing musical includes music featured in the movie as well as wonderful original songs.

Dates: Closing on Sunday, 1/27

Tickets: Please visit Tickets Center Stage for all ticketing information; www.ticketcenterstage.com

Ghosts

The Dayton Theatre Guild

The Skinny: The ‘‘ghosts’’ in this play are taboo topics that cannot be openly discussed. This drama is one of Ibsen’s most powerful works, but also one of his most controversial. Family sins are revisited when a son returns home to dedicate an orphanage in his father’s name and becomes involved in a tryst that ends in the painful knowledge of long suppressed family truths.

Dates: Closing this weekend, on 1/27.

Tickets: Tickets can be purchased online at the DTG website, here.

Opening This Weekend!

The Importance of Being Earnest

The Dayton Playhouse

The Skinny: Oscar Wilde’s classic comedy of manners is both a romance, if tongue-in-cheek, and a sly personal commentary on the British class system. Also, it’s hilarious.

Dates: Opening Friday, 1/25 and running two weekends to close on Sunday, 2/3. On Saturday, 2/2, there will be a special “Afternoon Tea” performance including a high tea featuring treats from one of Dayton’s most-charming confectionery shoppes, Sweet Nothings (www.getsweetnothings.com).

Tickets: Tickets for all performances, including the special Afternoon Tea, are available online, here.

1913: The Great Dayton Flood

Wright State University

The Skinny: By W. Stuart McDowell and Timothy Nevits, inspired by the book A Time of Terror: The Great Dayton Flood by Allan W. Eckert, with recorded narration by Martin Sheen, Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee.

Dates: Opening Thursday, 1/24 and running three weekends to close Sunday, 2/10.

Tickets: Ticketing information is available at the WSU Theatre Dept website, here.

Steppin’ Out

Beavercreek Community Theatre

The Skinny: Steppin’ Out is the story of Mavis, a former professional chorus girl who tries her hardest to teach a group of bumbling amateurs some terpsichorean skills for an upcoming recital. But before the dancing begins Mavis must mediate the minor dramas that erupt among this motley but loveable crew on their way to triumph at their recital.

Dates: Opening Friday, 1/25 and running 2 weekends to close on Sunday, 2/3.

Tickets: For all ticketing information, please visit the BCT website, here.

Currently Running!

The Dixie Swim Club

La Comedia Dinner Theatre

The Skinny: An hilarious and touching comedy about five unforgettable Southern women, and the bond of friendships that last a lifetime.

Dates: Running through March 3rd. This production has no Wednesday performances.

Ticketing: Tickets are available at the La Comedia website, and include their well-loved dinner buffet. Visit lacomedia.com for further details.