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onStageDayton Links

Join in DCDC’s “In the Spirit of… Abundant Blessings” Holiday Performance

December 3, 2019 By LIbby Ballengee

Dayton’s own world renowned Dayton Contemporary Dance Company is back for a hometown an unforgettable holiday extravaganza with In the Spirit of… Abundant Blessings, a celebration of the African-American church. Performances take place on Saturday, December 7 at 7:30pm or Sunday, December 8 at 4pm at the Victoria Theatre, located at 138 N. Main St. in Dayton.

This holiday performance is a switch up from recent years. The company has been performing the beloved Littlest Angel production traditionally. Although a tradition, this swap up is sure to excite Dayton audiences. Not only is the dance quality tremendous, there is live music too!

Music is provided by a collection of amazing talent including The Jeremy Winston Chorale, the Frederick Douglass Elementary Children’s Choir, Judah Band, Music Director Deron Bell with a mass community choir, and nationally renowned gospel singer – the legendary Shirley Murdock. This performance transports audiences to a higher plane of joy and belonging. It’s a holiday offering the entire family is sure to enjoy!

DCDC will also be paying tribute to Sheri “Sparkle” Williams’ 46th year with the company, as is DCDC’s and one of the nation’s most recognized contemporary dance artists.

“This is a wonderful culminating event for our 50th Anniversary. In the Spirit of .. is one of my favorite offerings because it brings the community together. It is a season for giving and sharing. Stepping into our 51st season is no small feat; if not for our dream of our founder, Jeraldyne Blunden, we would not have this wonderful legacy that lives on throughout Dayton, the nation, and the globe. I’m looking forward to celebrating with you the gifts of our abundant blessings.” – Debbie Blunden-Diggs, DCDC Chief Artistic Administrator and Producing Director.

HOW TO GO?

Saturday, December 7 at 7:30 p.m. or Sunday, December 8 at 4:00pm

Victoria Theatre, located at 138 N. Main St. in Dayton.

Tickets are $28 are available at ticketcenterstage.com (scroll to pick Sunday performance) or by calling 937-228-3630.

Group Tickets available for groups of 10+. For group tickets contact Lyndsey@dcdc.org. Student, Veteran & Senior discounts are also available.

Filed Under: Arts & Entertainment, Downtown Dayton, On Stage Dayton, The Featured Articles Tagged With: arts, chrismas, Dayton Club Scene, Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, Dayton Ohio, DCDC, december 2019, Downtown Dayton, Holiday, modern dance, onStageDayton Links, performance, sheri sparkle, The Victoria Theatre, Things to Do, Things to do in Dayton, Victoria Theatre

…a play without boundaries

August 20, 2010 By Dayton Most Metro Leave a Comment

The Syringa Tree - SEED Theatre ProjectThe Syringa Tree

THE SEED THEATRE PROJECT

This weekend, The SEED Theatre Project will present the regional premiere of The Syringa Tree, by Pamela Gien.  The thought provoking play is performed by one actress, Robin Smith, who portrays twenty-four different characters, all of whom speak, and sing, in a variety of languages & dialects.  To further complicate this actress’ task, she performs without physical scenery and props, allowing the voices of her characters free to tell the story of Elizabeth Grace with only the external impact of light and sound to place these people in a time and place.

I spoke with Robin, along with Adam Leigh (director), Amy Brooks (dramaturg/assistant director) & Michelle Leigh (production manager) last weekend about The Syringa Tree.  I am curious about the concept of this show, and I am very much looking forward to attending the performance to hear this amazing tale spun by so many characters on an empty stage with only one actress.

A description of the show, provided by SEED:

The Syringa TreeThe Syringa Tree is a personal, deeply evocative story of an abiding love between two families, one black, one white, and the two children that are born into their shared household in the early 1960’s South Africa. Seen first through the eyes of a child, six-year old Elizabeth Grace, as she tries with humor and sometimes palpable fear, to make sense of the chaos, magic and darkness of Africa, we follow their destinies in a story that spans four generations, from early apartheid to the present day free South Africa.

Robin Smith - THE SYRINGA TREE - The SEED Theatre Project Resident Artist Robin Smith will portray twenty-four very different characters (black, white, old, young, Xhosa, Afrikaans, Zulu, English, Jewish, etc.) in the telling of this story.

The SEED crew is highly passionate about this piece, pointing out the similarities of the time & place of the story with our lives in Dayton, 2010.  The play takes place in apartheid-bound Johannesburg, South Africa from the 1960’s through the mid-1990’s, as apartheid was lifted.  The production staff points out that even as the characters in this play live in a world where boundaries are all they know, there is a love in this script that defies all racial boundaries…the play becomes timeless and boundless.  It concerns itself more with the interconnectedness of people in a time and place where the disruption of apartheid created a disconnectedness with the land.

The Syringa TreeIn their research on this work, Adam & Michelle Leigh began looking into the South African community within the Miami Valley.  They were surprised to find out how many refugees are living in the Dayton area, some by choice and some by force.

“…it’s not over in South Africa.  It’s not on the 6:00 news, but it still exists.  Americans know apartheid exists, but not the details.”

Adam Leigh, the show’s director and founder of SEED states that their mission is to present entertainment, but at the same time taking the audience on a journey so that when they leave, they understand that we, in Dayton, experience the exact same issues today.  The SEED Theatre productions will feature an Enter-Action Forum following each performance.  The forum will be a time for the audience, the actors, the staff and other guests to discuss the issues presented in the play.

For more Information & Tickets, visit:

The SEED Theatre Project, Dayton, OhioTHE SYRINGA TREE (8pm, August 20-21 at the Ray & Joan Kroc Corps Community Center) Tickets: $12  Call (937) 823-0081 or by visiting their ONLINE BOX OFFICE:  ShowTix4u.com.

Please Note: This production contains adult language and themes. Viewer discretion is advised.

Visit http://www.seedtheatreproject.org for more information about the organization.

Visit The Ray & Joan Kroc Corps Community Center for information about this amazing community center now open in Dayton. The Kroc Center is located at 1000 North Keowee Street, Dayton, Ohio  45404.

The Syringa Tree will be the first theatrical production to take place in the center.  The staff of SEED Theatre indicated that they were very fortunate to the gracious people of the Kroc Center.

SA

Shane Anderson & David Brush work with locally based Encore Theater Company. ETC recently moved into the new arts collective space in the Oregon District, along with Zoot Theatre Co. & Rhythm in Shoes. Anderson, Brush & ETC just concluded their summer season of new musicals in downtown Dayton, which featured Johnathan Larson’s RENT, [title of show] & the new musical in development Next Thing You Know.

Would you like to submit theater news for DaytonMostMetro.com’s onStageDayton features?  Email Shane & Dave at onStageDayton@gmail.com

Filed Under: On Stage Dayton Tagged With: onStageDayton Links, The SEED Theatre Project, Theater, Things to Do

Accidentally Coming of Age

August 9, 2010 By Dayton Most Metro 4 Comments

The Cast of Encore Theater Co.'s production of NEXT THING YOU KNOWNext Thing You Know

ENCORE THEATER COMPANY

Encore Theater Company in association with Sinclair Community College will present a developmental production of the new musical NEXT THING YOU KNOW written by Drama Desk Nominees JOSHUA SALZMAN & RYAN CUNNINGHAM August 12-14, 2010 at Sinclair’s Blair Hall Theatre. (Note…there is an opportunity for you to win tickets to this show.  Details are found at the end of this post!)

Joshua Salzman & Ryan Cunningham, writers of Next Thing You KnowJoshua Salzman (music) and Ryan Cunningham (book and lyrics) met at the NYU Tisch Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program. Their thesis musical, I Love You Because went on to be professionally produced Off-Broadway, earned a Drama Desk nomination for the team, spawned a cast album on PS Classics and garnered a licensing deal with Theatrical Rights Worldwide, resulting in productions both nationally and internationally including Encore Theater Company’s own regional production several seasons ago.

“The opportunity to see our show developed outside of NY, under a dedicated and enthusiastic team of actors and directors, is invaluable”, says composer Joshua Salzman, “The nurturing and safe environment ETC provides for musical theater writers to hone their craft is essential to the creative process of developing a new musical”.

Salzman & Cunningham spent several days in Dayton developing the show which the creators describe this way:

“Real life comes real fast. One day you wake up, and instead of a hangover, you have a job. Instead of a fling, you have a live-in girlfriend. And instead of naïve dreams, you have reality. For four artists in New York City, discovering yourself can take a lot longer than you think. The little joys and compromises that bring us into adulthood are brought to life in this all-new musical”.

The cast of ETC's production of Salzman & Cunningham's NEXT THING YOU KNOWThe cast for the Dayton engagement of NEXT THING YOU KNOW includes: Amy Leigh (Waverly), Matthew D. Curry (Luke), BethAnn Wipprecht (Lisa) and JJ Parkey (Darren). Production staff include David Brush (Director), Shawn Storms (Assistant Director), Jackson Gallagher (Lighting Design), Nathan Dean (Sound Design), and Ally Wetz (Stage Manager).

The cast and staff of NEXT THING YOU KNOW shared some thoughts with me about working directly with the writing team, and what it means to originate a character in a brand new piece of musical theater.  Excerpts are below, but you can read more of their thoughts on the production blog at NextThingYouKnowDayton.wordpress.com and listen to an interview with the cast and writing team at MusicalWorld.us .

As the weekend with the writer’s approached in July, what did you feel most anxious about?

Amy LeighAmy Leigh:  “I was nervous that Josh and Ryan were seeing us do the entire show just after we’d blocked it, before we had time to settle into the scenes. I wanted to prove to them that, although we might stumble on lines, lyrics, or notes here and there, that we honor the original intent of their show. But they were anything but judgmental. They seemed to truly appreciate seeing the show on its feet, and having their input really completed the experience for me.”

JJ Parkey and Amy Leigh of ETC's NEXT THING YOU KNOWJJ Parkey: “I was afraid that their presence in the room would be really intimidating, but as it turns out, Ryan and Josh are absolutely WONDERFUL to work with. They were so very supportive of what we were all doing, and the entire weekend was a very positive experience. Ryan and Josh brought about a sense of grounding to the project for me.

Describe the experience of working directly with the creators of a new piece of theater.

Matthe Curry in ETC's production of Salzman & Cunningham's NEXT THING YOU KNOWMatthew D. Curry:  “Having Josh there to guide us through deeper meaning of our music, and Ryan giving us hints and clues to where our character’s thoughts lie, weather we thought we had it or not, gave me personally a truer look into Luke. And that’s an experience you never get with just a script and our own analysis of the writer’s words.”

What has it been like, leading a team of actors through the discovery of new characters that have never before been seen on stage?

Shawn Storms, assistant director of ETC's NEXT THING YOU KNOWShawn Storms, assistant director:  “I have found this process easier than the work I have done with new plays. I feel that it has much to do with the extremely talented cast of this show. They have been open and eager to try new things; go with the flow. I feel that without that beautiful collaborative spirit, this show would never have evolved in the many ways it has.

It has been a pleasure to witness each character’s evolution. To see the script change, new moments discovered, and songs soar. I hope that our audiences see what a gem this show is!”

Why did ETC choose a new musical, one that nobody in Dayton has even heard of before, as the finale for it’s summer theatrical season?

David Brush, director: “This kind of development is what new shows need – a long term commitment to walk a show from one step to the next and allow creators to make changes, additions and deletions along the way. This gets at the very heart of ETC’s mission and we are thrilled to kick off the program with two amazing young, fresh talents like Ryan and Josh.”

NEXT THING YOU KNOW is part of Encore Theater Company’s New Musicals In Development program which includes a focus on developing new work through podcasts, readings, and development productions.

For more Information & Tickets, visit:

NEXT THING YOU KNOW (August 12-14) Tickets are $15 in advance, $18 on the day of the performance.  Please note:  this show contains adult language and situations.  Visit http://www.EncoreTheaterCompany.com for tickets.

WIN TICKETS TO Next Thing You Know!

Encore Theater Company & DaytonMostMetro.com are giving away a pair of tickets to NEXT THING YOU KNOW.  It’s really easy to enter. The deadline to enter is Noon on Wednesday, August 11th.

1.  In the comment section below, answer this question…WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE OMELET INGREDIENTS? (Yeah, we know…it doesn’t make sense, but if you come see NTYK it will!)

2.  Share this DMM post on Facebook!  At the bottom of this post there are buttons to like, tweet & share this…Please share it!  For every 10 FACEBOOK SHARES of this post, we’ll add  a pair of tickets (up to 6 pairs!). The more people who share this, the more chances there are to win!

Dayton Area Casting Calls:

Grey Gardens: The Musical

THE SEED THEATRE PROJECT Open Auditions

Continuing the 2010-2011 theatrical season with the SEED theatre project will be the area premier of Scott Frankel, Michael Korie & Doug Wright’s musical Grey Gardens. Grey Gardens: The Musical will be directed by Adam J. Leigh. In addition, Judy Mansky serves as music director while Shayne Thomas Petty serves as assistant director.

Grey Gardens at SEED Theatre ProjectFresh from Broadway where it was nominated for ten Tony Awards in 2007, this new musical was inspired by the 1975 Maysles brothers documentary of the same name. Grey Gardens tells the entertaining and poignant story of two unconquerable women, Edith Bouvier Beale and her adult daughter Edie, the eccentric aunt and cousin of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. Once known as two of the brightest stars in the social register, these two women became East Hampton’s most infamous “reclusive inhabitants”, sharing their rundown 28-room mansion with 52 stray cats and rabid raccoons. From the glittering high society of 1940s New York to the tabloid headlines that rocked the Kennedy clan in 1970s, Grey Gardens hurls you into American royalty and poses the questions: When do private lives become public fascinations? How much is too much? And where does it stop?

The SEED Theatre Project, Dayton, OhioOpen Auditions for this show will be held on Tuesday, August 10th and Wednesday, August 11th. They will begin at 7pm each night. Auditions will be held at The Salvation Army Ray & Joan Kroc Corps Community Center – 1000 N. Keowee Street – Dayton, OH 45420. Performers will only need to attend one night of auditions for consideration.

Performance dates are Friday, November 5th and Saturday, November 6th, 2010.

For more information please contact Adam Leigh via phone at (937)219-7835 or via email at adam@seedtheatreproject.org or visit SEED’s website for casting requirements and additional audition details:  www.SEEDtheatreproject.org

The Sugar Witch

THE DAYTON THEATRE GUILD Open Auditions

Sugar Witch at The Dayton Theatre GuildThe Dayton Theatre Guild announces open auditions for it’s upcoming production of THE SUGAR WITCH by Nathan Sanders.

Auditions will take place August 23rd & 24th, 2010 at 7 pm in The Dayton Theatre Guild’s  Caryl D. Philips TheatreScape at 430 Wayne Ave., Dayton, OH 45410.  Auditions will consist of cold readings from the script

The show, directed by Doug Lloyd and produced by Debra Kent is set in the Florida swamp country of the Watchalahoochee River unfolding an at times eerie, weird and often very funny story of what’s left of the Bean family, Moses and Sisser, along with Annabelle, the Sugar Witch. And yes, there may be flying cats, casting of spells, country music, not to mention a few possible surprises.

Performance Dates:  October 22nd – November 7th, 2010

Casting Requirements:

Sisser – Female – Late 20’s to late 30’s – Southern, Obese, and somewhat mad. A wheel chair bound lover of little Debbie Snack cakes. She is capable of anything – even murder.

Ruth Ann Meeks – Female – Late 20’s to Mid 30’s – Southern, Racist, and half insane. A “church-goer”, plain, not necessarily pretty, most likely the product of incest.

Annabelle – African-American Female – Mid 40’s to 50’s – Southern swamp mystic and conjure woman. She brews magical potions from sugar cane molasses. Annabelle is the last in a long line of powerful “Sugar-Witches”.

Moses Bean – Male – mid 20’s – Southern, Handsome and boyish. He is a mechanic at the local Texaco station. Innocent and virginal; a gender reversed “Sleeping Beauty”.

Hank Hartley – Male – 30’s – Southern, handsome and strong. He is the play’s “gentleman caller”. He has recently returned to Sugar Bean to take over his family funeral home business. Hank is madly “in-love” but yet hiding a dark secret.

Granddaddy Meeks – Male – 60’s to 70’s – Southern, redneck, racist, abusiveand mean. He is Ruth Ann’s Grandfather.

Additional information about The Dayton Theatre Guild can be found online at www.DaytonTheatreGuild.org

Shane Anderson & David Brush work with locally based Encore Theater Company. ETC recently moved into the new arts collective space in the Oregon District, along with Zoot Theatre Co. & Rhythm in Shoes. Anderson, Brush & ETC are currently in the midst of their summer season of new musicals in downtown Dayton, which featured Johnathan Larson’s RENT, [title of show] & the upcoming new musical in development Next Thing You Know.

Would you like to submit theater news for DaytonMostMetro.com’s onStageDayton features?  Email Shane & Dave at onStageDayton@gmail.com

http://musicalworldpodshow.mevio.com/

Filed Under: On Stage Dayton, The Featured Articles Tagged With: dayton theatre guild, Downtown Dayton, Encore Theater Co., generation dayton, JumpstART, musical, onStageDayton Links, sinclair community college, The SEED Theatre Project, Theater, Things to Do

The Future(Fest) is Here

July 21, 2010 By Dayton Most Metro 1 Comment

FutureFest '09 - CARVE - The Dayton PlayhouseFutureFest 2010

THE DAYTON PLAYHOUSE

One of the biggest theatre weekends of the year is about to descend upon the Dayton-region, and 2010 marks an important milestone.  FutureFest, the annual new works festival at The Dayton Playhouse is celebrating it’s twentieth year and festival organizers can’t be more excited!

Every year writers from across the country, and from several other countries as well, submit their previously unproduced scripts for consideration.  This year over 390 new works  were submitted in hopes of being one of the famed “top six” to be presented at FutureFest 2010 from July 23rd to the 25th.
FutureFest 2009 - AdjudicationFor those who are new to FutureFest, it’s almost an unbelievable experience.  In one weekend the Dayton Playhouse mounts six different productions.  Each with a different director, cast, scenery, and technical aspects.  Following each show a panel of professional theatre folk, flown in from across the country, take to the stage with the author, director, and cast to adjudicate the show right in front of the audience.  They give the author feedback about their script and direct them in ways to make improvements that will get them closer to being published.
Several scripts from the Dayton Playhouse’s FutureFest have made it on to be published.
One has even appeared on Broadway and is now being made into a movie starring Jake Gyllenhall.
This year’s FutureFest productions are:
  • An Uncommon Language by Evan Guilford-Blake
  • Dancing Backwards by John Fiorillo
  • How It Works by Cary Pepper
  • The Judicial Murder of Mrs. Surratt by Rich Amada
  • Refuge by Marc Kornblatt
  • Short Story Long by Joel Fishbane
(synopsis for each play can be found at the end of this article)
Tickets are still available for this weekends FutureFest and may be purchased by calling the Dayton Playhouse Box Office at 937-424-8477 or online at daytonplayhouse.org.

Peter Filichia - A Personal History of the American Theater

Peter Filichia

A Personal History of the American Theatre

by Peter Filichia at THE DAYTON PLAYHOUSE

So, what’s it like to be a theater critic? Is it really fun to attend the theater night after night after night after night? Ask Peter Filichia, who has been attending theater consistently for the last half-century and has been a reviewer for more than half that time.

Filichia has seen theater in 42 states and 14 foreign countries and has managed to see as many as 365 stage shows in a single year. He will, God willing, soon see his 10,000th stage show.

One of those was Spaulding Gray’s one-man show, A PERSONAL HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN THEATER. Gray simply sat at a table and held a bunch of oversized index cards. He pulled out a card at random and would tell a story based on the title of the show printed on that card.

Gray died in 2004. Filichia reasoned that the show should not go with him – but should go on. And so, he’s created his own version of A PERSONAL HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN THEATER. He’s got quite a few index cards from which to choose.

Each performance of A PERSONAL HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN THEATER is, of course, different. An audience might hear about Filichia’s adventures with a nice celebrity (Jerry Orbach), a not-so-nice one (Mary Tyler Moore), or one who turned out to be a little sneaky (Steve Allen). What’s it like to face Ben Vereen shortly after you’ve written a negative review about his performance? How did Filichia feel after he put his foot in his mouth when dealing with James Earl Jones?

There are stories about memorable audience members, ranging from Richard Rodgers’ daughter Mary to the black man and old white woman who buttressed Filichia at The Wiz. Filichia also goes back to when he began theatergoing as a teen, and how many a play changed his life, be it as serious as A Raisin in the Sun or even as frivolous as Damn Yankees. There’s a poignant story about the time Filichia took Yugoslavians to a musical, as well as funny ones involving community theater disasters.

It’s all in the cards – and the story-telling. Filichia has performed A PERSONAL HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN THEATER in points north (New York State), south (Miami), east (Boston), and west (Aspen, Colorado). Because of the very nature of the show, it can be as long or as short as a presenting house demands. Afterwards, Filichia is glad to take questions from the audience.

For more Information & Tickets, visit:

FutureFest (July 23-25) visit http://www.daytonplayhouse.com/ (937) 424-8477 (tickets are availble for each individual play…see below for a synopsis of each play)

A Personal History of the American Theater by Peter Filichia (July 22) visit http://www.daytonplayhouse.com/ (937) 424-8477

Would you like to submit theater news for Dayton Most Metro’s onStageDayton features?  Email Shane & Dave at onStageDayton@gmail.com

FutureFest 2010 Plays

Dancing Backwards – John Fiorillo (Fully Staged) – 8pm Fri. 07/23

This is a story about the choices we make between loyalty and ambition or independence and accepting help.  Victor Belkin, a famous dancer, is worried about his friend Robert, an elderly Yankee widower. He asks Robert to share his home, although his lifestyle and Robert’s couldn’t be more different. Robert rejects Viktor’s offer. He has a secret, as well as a plan to escape. However, the situation gets out of hand as it turns from amusing to life threatening.

How It Works – Cary Pepper (Staged Reading) – 10am Sat. 07/24

HOW IT WORKS explores the issues of success, power, fame, recognition, compromise, integrity and personal satisfaction in the world of art.  How do you handle The Struggle? How do you maintain personal integrity as a person and an artist? What happens when you’re given one of the most prestigious awards in the world, but you yearn for a “smaller” award the public knows nothing about?

An Uncommon Language – Evan Guilford-Blake (Staged Reading) – 3pm Sat. 07/24

An Uncommon Language examines the repression of women and the nature of madness. Set in England in 1906, the play explores the life of HÉLOISE LACASSE, an untrained but passionate and talented sculptor, who chooses to subjugate her prowess to benefit JOHN BATISTE, her lover, the self-described enfant terrible of English sculpture.  Silently, she crafts heads for his statuary. Héloise has a history of free-spirited behavior, which, ultimately, John interprets as madness and has her institutionalized — where she is forbidden access to her sculpture.

Refuge – Marc Kornblatt (Fully Staged) – 8pm Sat. 07/24

Two men meet on a secluded boardwalk along a marsh in a bird sanctuary in the Midwest.  Jim brings a notepad and a gun.  Laz brings a pile of pills and a six-pack of beer.  By the end of their first encounter, the pills are consumed and the gun goes off.  Both men live.  Jim and Laz meet again and again in the same place to argue, cajole, circle and embrace in a somber and funny dance of death that also draws Jim’s burdened wife and Laz’s yearning girlfriend to the marsh to find refuge and renewal.

The Judicial Murder of Mrs. Surratt – Rich Amada (Staged Reading) – 10am Sun. 07/25

Based on true events, the play follows the story of Mary Surratt, the first woman judicially executed by the U.S. government.  It was Mrs. Surratt’s boardinghouse where John Wilkes Booth and others are said to have plotted the assassination of President Lincoln.  By charging her, the government hoped to flush out her fugitive son, an alleged key conspirator.  On trial, Mrs. Surratt faced the gallows in what was 19th Century America’s trial of the century.

Short Story Long – Joel Fishbane (Fully Staged) – 3pm Sun. 07/25

After famed author Lincoln Kennedy dies, he bequeaths his money to his wife and his writing to his former girlfriend.  His wife, Julianne, refuses to obey her husband’s wishes until she can determine the reasons behind them.  Amalthea is equally confused, she has not seen Lincoln in years.  Together, the women work to unravel the mystery, slowly forging a tentative peace that is threatened once Lincoln’s true motivations are finally revealed.

Filed Under: On Stage Dayton Tagged With: arts, Dayton Playhouse, FutureFest, onStageDayton Links, Things to Do

YP Spotlight: Getting Butts in the Seats for Arts

July 21, 2010 By Megan Cooper 1 Comment

Encore Theatre Company presented RENT this summer to sold out crowds.

Dayton has a really eclectic arts scene (kudos to Ron Rollins for encapsulating it so well in his final Culture Clash).  There are fantastic professional and community arts opportunities available every weekend all across the region.   Dayton has been ranked number one for arts and culture among mid-sized cities AND is in the top 20 cultural bargains for high-quality arts at low prices (Cities Ranked and Rated, 2007).  We have unique opportunities that put the region on the national stage (besides Kent from SYTYCD) and people from outside Dayton are sometimes more aware of the quality of art produced here than we are.  Just consider this article by a NY critic on the Dayton Playhouse FutureFest or this one on the prestigious Dayton Contemporary Dance Company.

Unfortunately, many locals may not appreciate the regional arts scene as much as outsiders do.  And this is a thorn in the side of local arts marketing directors who are trying to share quality arts with the community.  This problem is compounded when these same marketing directors look out into the sea of grey hair in the audiences and know that their most ardent supporters are aging.   The National Endowment for the Arts released a study last year highlighting that audiences for live arts experiences are getting older (while the numbers of attendees continue to decline).  They posit, “Aging audiences are a long-term trend. Performing arts attendees are increasingly older than the average U.S. adult (45). The aging of the baby boom generation does not appear to account for the overall increase in age.”

So – if the problem is that young people don’t go out to the arts enough, I want to know what DOES get YPs to arts events.  Taking a very unscientific poll (asking people I know), I learned there are a lot of different reasons people hit the town for some arts:

  • Elizabeth Farley, 30-something YP who lives at the Greene and works at Eastway Behavioral Healthcare, heads out for a night of arts as a reason to get dressed up, have a big night out with the boyfriend, and because she grew up appreciating the classical arts.  She recommends the DPO for conductor Neal Gittleman’s conversational insights and the Dayton Art Institute for its extensive collection.
  • Mark Hepp, 30-ish YP living in Belmont and working at the Base, explores the arts because he likes the personal aspects of live entertainment.  He enjoys the “unpolished and uniqueness of the local arts” versus commercial main stream entertainment.  He points out that he’s gone to some shows and exhibits that were not to his liking, but those experiences gave him more appreciation for the events he does like.  His favorite spots include the Schuster Center & Wiley’s Comedy Club.
  • Frank Sawyer, 20-ish Centerville resident who works for Premier Health Partners, enjoys the arts as a way to network with individuals from various walks of life.  He says, “The beauty is that you get to be surrounded by a full cross section of the Dayton community.”  He always tries to hit Urban Nights and the various holiday celebrations.  He asks, “What better way to get in the holiday spirit?”
  • Kristen Kaltenstein, 20-something Standard Register employee who lives Dayton, goes to the arts because she’s “always looking for something new.”  For her, the arts in Dayton provide the entertainment and substance that keep nights interesting.  She names the annual CityFolk Festival as one of her favorite events each year.

So there are obviously a LOT of different reasons and tastes among 20- and 30-somethings in our region.  Who’s going to reach out to them all?  There are two groups trying: Dayton Ballet Barre and JumpstART.

Dayton Ballet (Photo: Andy Snow)

The Dayton Ballet Barre is for you if you are under 45 and interested in great ballet and fun social opportunities.  (This group wins the prize for my favorite YP use of homophone.) I spoke to Jim Butler, the President of the Associate Board for some insights into what they’re doing, why they’re doing it and the value they are providing to their members and the region.  With multiple levels of involvement/membership available – you can be a member of the Barre for purely social activities ($50 membership fee) or join the Dayton Ballet Associate Board if you have a little time to volunteer to this great cause.   And I mean a *little* time – If you can give a couple hours a year, they’ll take your help.   Butler emphasizes that “you can be as involved as your schedule allows.”  (NOTE: There are lots of different levels of involvement with this group, but for the sake of this story, I’ll refer to everything as the Barre.  Check out their Web site for more info.)

The Barre was created specifically to support the Dayton Ballet – the second oldest ballet company in the country.  A quick look at the Web site taught me that the Dayton Ballet is “one of the top three dance companies in the nation that produces and presents new work, and the only dance company to establish a fund designated specifically to create a new full-length 21st Century ballet.”  Some serious national attention, the creation of new works, and some ridiculously talented young performers should lead to a lot of YP audience members, right?  Wrong.  But the Barre is working to change that.

Butler was asked to join the Barre in 2006 by a friend; over time he was asked to join the Associate Board.  He believes that the Barre wasn’t really “getting the job done” because they weren’t getting more people out to experience the Dayton Ballet.  These YPs took their mission seriously, and gave themselves the charge to make a real difference by coming up with a specific plan.

The Ballet Barre Nutcracker Ball is a popular yearly event.

The Barre now utilizes a “gradual exposure” strategy to get attention for the Ballet through non-ballet events.  A look at the monthly YP round-ups will show you that they host Barre Crawls through the Oregon District, family picnics (kid-friendly!), volunteer opportunities, fashion shows and more.  Two of their largest yearly events include the upcoming British Bash in August and “Cocktails with Santa” in conjunction with the December performance of The Nutcracker.  Butler acknowledges that ballet is an acquired taste and he believes that the “initial viewing isn’t enough to ‘hook’ patrons.”  Through a very specific marketing plan which includes great social events, discounted ballet tickets, opportunities to meet the dancers and choreographers, and fun networking opportunities – they are introducing YPs to the Ballet.

Diane Shoeffler-Warren, who doubles as the PR and Marketing Managers for both Dayton Ballet and the Victoria explained the impact of the Barre.  “Young professional organizations such as the Ballet Barre, infuse a specific energy into our audiences and assist in creating arts experiences that attract a younger demographic.  Both Dayton Ballet and Victoria Theatre Association (VTA) use programming to attract younger audiences to expose them to a specific art form.  Specifically, Dayton Ballet Barre has provided an avenue for young professionals to enjoy ballet productions with friends and colleagues in a fun, social setting. The Ballet Barre also strives to create support off the stage by hosting events linked to performances such as the Sugar Plum Tea (The Nutcracker) and post-performance parties, like LOVE BITES, held after the February 2010 performance of Dracula. They are a valuable resource to Dayton Ballet.”

The Barres hopes to grow to 1000 members by June 2011 with the ambitious goal of generating a broad-based core of arts supporters to double season ticket subscriptions for the Dayton Ballet.  If you want to learn more or join the Barre – check out their membership page.

JumpstART has a similar mission, although it casts a much wider arts net – including visual arts, performance arts, theatre, dance, vocal, comedy, and more.  As the activity arm of the Culture Works Associate Board, JumpstART provides a no membership/no fee way for YPs to explore the arts through ticket deals, event packages, and social outings to experience the arts together.  Want to “join” JumpstART – you only need to like them on the Facebook page – JumpstART is all about communication, providing you with ticket deals, and hooking you into the overall arts scene.

The history of JumpstART doesn’t go back very far.  They first met in the Spring of 2009 when Culture Works determined that they wanted to get more YPs plugged into the arts scene.  That summer they launched a survey, and the results demonstrated that even though YPs give Dayton credit for a great arts scene, they weren’t attending arts events for three main reasons – lack of knowledge about events, misconceptions about the accessibility of arts events and concern over cost.  With survey results in hand, they knew what they had to do.  So, JumpstART responded with a three-tiered approach is to host events that are easy to attend, affordable, and well-publicized.  Working with the local arts groups, restaurants and bars, JumpstART puts together monthly ticket deals – called “jumps” –  to meet YPs where they are and incorporate arts into the evening.  (Example: at a recent “jump,” Boston’s Bistro and Pub provided pizza and beer and DPO offered a deeply discounted concert ticket for a total price of $10 for an after-work event.)

Some "jumpers" enjoy a night at the opera

In addition to hosting events, JumpstART is working to remove the stigma of the arts as stuffy or high-brow.  They have begun posting “first-person reviews” of arts events on their Facebook page and even at DMM.  These reviews include what people wore to the theatre, where they parked, if they got dinner before or drinks afterward, and what they generally thought about the event.  You can always read a review from a seasoned critic in the paper, but sometimes in order to feel like you belong at the event, it’s nice to know what your peers are doing.  Too often, people who haven’t been to the theatre don’t want to go b/c they don’t know what to expect.  These reviews provide the insight on what you’ll see and if it’s worth your time.

The Facebook page also alerts fans to affordable events, opportunities that may be “off-the-beaten path,” or really worthwhile shows.  They are aware that the more “formal” arts venues may not be for everyone, so they also highlight free shows, grassroots arts organizations, and the wide range of eclectic arts offerings across the region.  Many YPs may not be averse to arts experiences in general, but may be looking for more accessible opportunities highlighting young, local artists.  As a main pillar of JumpstART, they’re focused on communication and letting YPs know that there’s room for them at the arts table – whether it’s through the classical arts or newer grassroots experiences.

During the Urban Nights Jump, the first stop was DVAC

Currently, JumpstART is in the process of reformatting the organizational structure.  JumpstART steering committee member Shannon Bockelman invites more people to become “jumpers.”  Bockelman says, “We’re looking for YPs who want the opportunity to make a difference in the community through the arts.  The Associate Board is a way for people to come to four meetings a year, come to some fun events, grow their leadership skills, and make an impact on the community.”  The Steering Committee will continue to plan the “jumps,” but they are looking to grow the Associate Board to help spread the word about these opportunities.  They are sticking to their no-membership motto, so fees and attendance obligations don’t get in the way of anyone coming to JumpstART events.  But if you’re looking to become a part of the Associate Board, meet new people, and help spread the word about the arts in the region, be in touch with Claire Nerl at Culture Works.

Both JumpstART and the Ballet Barre are working toward a larger mission to get YPs engaged and active in the community.  While city planners and economic developers work on growing the region from a business and infrastructure perspective, these groups are focused on introducing the young talent in the region to our great cultural assets.  As Butler states, it’s about the quality of life; “the ultimate goal is to revitalize the community.  We choose to do it through the arts.”  Both groups are run by volunteers and provide excellent opportunities for leadership training, and both groups are currently looking for YPs interested in being involved (at any level).  Although they are two unique organizations, since they have similar missions, you’ll see joint events, collaborations, and cross-promotion coming up as they continue to build their relationship for the betterment of the arts and the region.

Upcoming Events:

Dayton Ballet Barre
July 25: Ballet Barre Picnic
August 4: Ballet Barre Meeting – These are always open for new members.
August 14: Ballet Barre British Bash
September 1: Ballet Barre Meeting
September 18: Ballet Barre – Fashion Runway Show

JumpstART
August 11: JumpstART meeting – Want to learn more?  Email CNerl@cultureworks.org
August Jump (Date TBD): Encore Theatre Company Next Thing You Know
September 16: Jump into the DAI: Modern Masters

(DISCLOSURE: I’m the chair of the Culture Works Associate Board and help to plan many of the JumpstART events.)

Filed Under: Arts & Entertainment, The Featured Articles Tagged With: arts, Ballet Barre, JumpstART, onStageDayton Links, Young Professional, YP

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Downtown Franklin Farmers Market

May 31 @ 8:30 am - 12:00 pm Recurring

Downtown Franklin Farmers Market

Join us every Saturday through Sept 13, 8.30 a.m. - 12 p.m. for local products including fresh produce, honey/jams, and...

9:00 am - 1:00 pm Recurring

Greene County Farmers Market

May 31 @ 9:00 am - 1:00 pm Recurring

Greene County Farmers Market

The outdoor Farmers Market on Indian Ripple Rd. in Beavercreek runs Saturdays, 9-1 even during the winter months. Check out...

10:00 am - 11:00 am

Yoga in the Park

May 31 @ 10:00 am - 11:00 am

Yoga in the Park

Fun and effective workouts under the pavilion Harness your strength, enhance your mobility, and create a deeper connection with yourself....

Free
10:00 am - 2:00 pm Recurring

Farmers Market at The Heights

May 31 @ 10:00 am - 2:00 pm Recurring

Farmers Market at The Heights

Join us for the Farmers Market at The Heights Saturdays 10a-2pm. All products are either homemade or homegrown or support...

10:00 am - 2:00 pm Recurring

The Grazing Ground Market

May 31 @ 10:00 am - 2:00 pm Recurring

The Grazing Ground Market

Welcome to The Grazing Ground Market, your local destination for farm-fresh eggs, seasonal produce, and handcrafted items. We take pride...

+ 18 More
10:00 am - 2:00 pm Recurring

The Grazing Ground Market

June 1 @ 10:00 am - 2:00 pm Recurring

The Grazing Ground Market

Welcome to The Grazing Ground Market, your local destination for farm-fresh eggs, seasonal produce, and handcrafted items. We take pride...

10:30 am - 11:30 am

Pints and Puppies Yoga

June 1 @ 10:30 am - 11:30 am

Pints and Puppies Yoga

Join SICSA for Pints and Puppies Yoga at Warped Wing Brewing Company on Sunday, June 1st from 10:30AM to 11:30AM!...

$28.52
12:00 pm - 1:15 pm

‘Think Freedom’ Yoga at the Dayton Arcade

June 1 @ 12:00 pm - 1:15 pm

‘Think Freedom’ Yoga at the Dayton Arcade

🎨Flow with 'Think Freedom' at the Dayton Arcade! We're thrilled to announce a series of public programs surrounding the 'Think...

Free
12:00 pm - 6:00 pm Recurring

Sports Card & Memorabilia Show

June 1 @ 12:00 pm - 6:00 pm Recurring

Sports Card & Memorabilia Show

Come join the hottest new monthly show in Dayton. We will have great dealers monthly from all over bringing their...

Free
2:00 pm - 4:00 pm Recurring

Saving Cinderella

June 1 @ 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm Recurring

Saving Cinderella

Saving Cinderella is a new all-ages musical that has been in development in the Dayton Area for the last several...

3:00 pm - 5:00 pm Recurring

BETWEEN RIVERSIDE AND CRAZY

June 1 @ 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm Recurring

BETWEEN RIVERSIDE AND CRAZY

This play won the 2015 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, the 2015 New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Play,...

$18 – $25
4:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Farm Day: Annual Gathering, Meeting, & Farm Walk

June 1 @ 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Farm Day: Annual Gathering, Meeting, & Farm Walk

Celebrating the 25th anniversary of Clean Ohio! We will visit a property along Massie's Creek that was protected because of...

Free
4:00 pm - 9:30 pm

The Lumpia Queen

June 1 @ 4:00 pm - 9:30 pm

The Lumpia Queen

Chicken Pancit w/1 Lumpia The Signature Dish of Philippines! Made with Boneless and Skinless Chicken Thighs, Fresh Vegetabl... $10.00 Chicken...

+ 7 More
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