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ON STAGE DAYTON REVIEW: The Addams Family (Victoria Theatre Association) – Ghoulishly Good

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Addams Family - CastIt’s wonderful to know top-drawer musical comedy is alive and well at the Schuster Center thanks to the outstanding local premiere of “The Addams Family,” the absolutely hilarious 2010 musical inspired by the legendary creations of cartoonist Charles Addams in “The New Yorker” and presented on the Victoria Theatre Association’s Premier Health Broadway Series.

Completely retooled with new songs and tighter character development since its messy 2009 pre-Broadway Chicago tryout (which I loathed) and subsequently shaky Broadway mounting, “The Addams Family” finally gels as its wonderfully witty absurdity, surprisingly touching tenderness and enchanting whimsy clearly, cleanly coalesces. Walking the fine line of glorifying and poking fun at death without being in poor taste, librettists Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice (“Jersey Boys”) have streamlined the material to focus on the coming-of-age subtext stemming from the quickie engagement between morbid Wednesday Addams (a marvelously intense Jennifer Fogarty) and her new boyfriend Lucas Beineke (an appealing Bryan Welnicki). Brickman and Elice oddly glosses over the fact that Wednesday and Lucas seem too young for marriage, but the utter shock of the engagement serves its pivotal purpose nonetheless, especially when Wednesday begs her easygoing dad Gomez (terrific comedian Jesse Sharp) not to tell her assertive, perceptive mom Morticia (the cool, statuesque KeLeen Snowgren) about her big news. As Gomez and Morticia cope with Wednesday’s budding relationship and the arrival of Lucas’ straight-laced parents from Ohio, the notion of what one considers “normal” takes on deep, relatable significance. After all, despite serious eccentricities or overt dysfunction in any family, love can prevail if accepting and appreciating someone’s differences is a priority. And in this breezy tale, tunefully broadened by composer Andrew Lippa’s nifty Tony-nominated score recalling Mel Brooks’ clever ditties for “The Producers” and “Young Frankenstein,” the transformative power of acceptance proves monumental.

Wright State University alum E. Cameron Holsinger skillfully recreates Jerry Zaks’ sharp, fast-moving direction, coaxing excellent portrayals across the board. Sharp, who deserves his own sitcom, maintains a very charming, eager-to-please disposition throughout while believably conflicted and moved as Wednesday’s engagement consumes Gomez’s thoughts. He also has a delightful chemistry with Snowgren, who never allows Morticia’s iciness to supersede her underlying warmth. Fogarty, an impressive vocal knockout who nearly stops the show with a dynamic rendition of “Pulled,” is equally well suited with Welnicki, who particularly joins her for the catchy “Crazier Than You,” a strong pop number that humorously raises the stakes of Wednesday and Lucas’ affection even though their dating history could certainly benefit from more backstory. Shaun Rice endearingly guides the proceedings as the peculiarly moon-adoring Uncle Fester. Jeremy Todd Shinder’s portrayal of devious Pugsley Addams strikes a chord during “What If,” a cute song about Pugsley and Wednesday’s unique bond. Scene-stealer Amanda Bruton is a downright hoot as the daffy, vulgar Grandma. Dan Olson, who is given a prime moment to shine during the finale, scores many laughs as imposing butler Lurch. The appropriately uptight Mark Poppleton and genially offbeat Blair Anderson are great as Mal and Alice Beineke. Ensemble members James Michael Avance, Chloe O. Davis, Jake Delaney, Lexie Dorsett, Aaron Fried, Elizabeth Hake, Katie Mebane, Julia Lancione, Galloway Stevens, and Julio Cataono Yee unobtrusively weave in and out of the action as the Addams ancestors.

Additionally, Jonathan Ritter recreates Sergio Trujillo’s original choreography with finesse, specifically the amusingly energetic opening number “When You’re an Addams” and Sharp and Snowgren’s sultry “Tango de Amor.” James Kronzer’s set design modifications of Julian Crouch and Phelim McDermott’s original creations retain a stately allure. Crouch and McDermott’s costumes are also attractive. Natasha Katz’s lighting design is strikingly moody. Basil Twist and Gregory Meeh respectively supply eye-catching puppetry and special effects.

Trust me when I say “The Addams Family” would still be playing on Broadway if this splendid cast and revised script were involved. Peering into the dark side has never been more delectably entertaining.

“The Addams Family” continues through March 10 at the Schuster Center, Second and Main Streets, Dayton. Performances are Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Act One: 65 minutes; Act Two: 50 minutes. Tickets are $15-$96. For tickets or more information, call Ticket Center Stage at (937) 228-3630 or visit www.ticketcenterstage.com

 

 

Family Matters – The Addams Family musical scares up laughs at the Schuster

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Addams Family - OriginalThey say you can never go home again, but that’s not always true. From March 5 – 10, people in the Dayton area can return to one of everyone’s favorite childhood haunts, Addams Manor, as the hit Broadway musical The Addams Family takes up residence at the Schuster Center. And whether you grew up with their New Yorker cartoons, the original 1960s sitcom, the ‘90s films, or any of the various animated and live-action spinoffs over the decades, you know that once you’ve met these characters, they’re always a part of you.

A beloved staple of American pop culture, the Addams Family has walked among us for 75 years, tracing back to their first appearance — unnamed but looking essentially as we know them today — in The New Yorker as drawn by cartoonist Charles Addams. The artist was best known for his one-panel illustrations in the famed magazine; frequently accompanied by a devastatingly witty one-liner, the humor in his work tended toward jet-black macabre. The familiar Family characters populated a total of 150 single panel cartoons, and approximately half of them were published in the 50 years between their debut and the artist’s death in 1988.

In 1964, ABC debuted (the same week as CBS’ similarly freaky The Munsters, no less) a sitcom based on the characters, which gave them names and fleshed out their lives and connections. Though it only ran for two seasons (ending, also, the same week as The Munsters in 1966), it remained a cult hit that rose from the grave again and again. There was the failed 1973 pilot for
The Addams Family Fun-House, a musical comedy variety show(?!) with Jack Riley and Liz Torres as Gomez and Morticia, comedian Stubby Kaye as Fester, and Butch Patrick (Eddie Munster!) as Pugsley. There was an animated appearance on an episode of The New Scooby Doo Movies, with most of the original series cast voicing the characters…which led to a 1973-75 Saturday morning cartoon produced by Hanna-Barbera. Oddly enough, this show featured the family cruising the country in a Victorian mansion-type RV — oh, and eight-year-old Jodie Foster voicing Pugsley. In ‘77, the live-action series cast reunited for a (dreadful) TV-movie, Halloween with the New Addams Family.

The casts of the 1966 TV series and the 1991 film

The casts of the 1966 TV series and the 1991 film

And then, they returned to the A-list. Paramount’s 1991 big-screen take on the characters was a smash hit and introduced the characters to a new generation. Helmed by the late Raul Julia’s gleefully madcap Gomez and Academy Award winner Anjelica Huston’s seductively steely Morticia, the movie spun off another Saturday morning cartoon and a popular sequel, Addams Family Values, as well as launching the career of Christina Ricci, who played Wednesday.

Broadway beckoned, and after more than three years of development, The Addams Family slithered onto the stage in April 2010 with the picture-perfect casting of Tony and Emmy winners Nathan Lane and Bebe Neuwirth heading the cast. It was a success, running for 725 performances and snagging two Tony nominations (Best Score, and Best Featured Actor in a Musical for Kevin Chamberlin as Fester) and eight Drama Desk nods. (Interesting piece of trivia: Cassandra “Elvira” Peterson was in talks to take over the role of Morticia when the show closed.) Now, touring productions of the musical are planned for almost every continent.

In the musical, we meet the family at a time of great conflict. This premise will be familiar to anyone who’s seen La Cage Aux Folles, also known as The Birdcage: 18-year-old Wednesday invites her boyfriend to dinner to meet her folks. Unfortunately, he’s also bringing his folks, who happen to be a couple of bland, uptight buzzkills from — of course — Ohio. She begs her family to act “normal,” a word which, of course, carries a somewhat different meaning to the Addamses…

The show, written by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice (Jersey Boys) with music by Andrew Lippa (The Wild Party), has been significantly reworked for the tour version, which differs a good bit from the original Broadway incarnation. Four-time Tony winner Jerry Zaks guided an extensive revision that cut three songs, added three new ones, and restructured two others. Storylines were changed and rebuilt as well, including some major changes that removed a plot twist involving the family’s giant pet squid. The effort paid off, fashioning a tighter, fast-moving, more character-driven show that places Gomez and Morticia front and center and ties everything together in a more organic fashion.

Shaun Rice as Uncle Fester

Shaun Rice as Uncle Fester

The jovial Uncle Fester is our guide for the evening’s events, which provide plenty of the expected laughs and romance while also showing off these classic characters in ways we’ve never seen before. Happy-go-lucky Gomez seems to ruin everything he touches and can’t please anyone. Eternal beauty Morticia, approaching middle age, fears growing older, and the two find themselves having their first marital spat and staring into a half-empty nest as their firstborn prepares to take flight. We see Wednesday as an adult with her well-known independent streak now influenced by the realization that the real world and the world she grew up in are two very different things. Pugsley is afraid that if he loses his sister, there’ll be no one to torture him anymore. And, perhaps most touching of all, this incarnation of Fester is almost childlike in his innocence and unconditional love.

It works, and it makes for a terrific evening of theatre. The script is packed with huge belly laughs and so many throwaway gags that by the time you finish laughing at one, you’ve likely missed two more. The in-law characters have depth and humor (Blair Anderson as Alice is particularly dynamite in her showcase number). Jennifer Fogarty’s deadpan delivery and incredibly strong voice make Wednesday a real standout. And Amanda Bruton nearly steals the whole show as Grandma, played like a salty, funky, ancient hippie just old enough to not care what comes out of her mouth. Jesse Sharp as Gomez drives the proceedings with boundless energy and zest, bringing the house down with his mindless comedic rants and witty asides. He and Bruton easily score the biggest and longest laughs of the evening, while Shaun Rice’s joyous, soulful Fester unexpectedly forms the heart of the show.

“He’s a little different from how we’ve seen him in the movies and the TV show,” said Rice. “He’s more similar to the original comics. He’s very sweet and is kind of the narrator of the show. Each character has their own sort of musical style in terms of the songs they do, and he has this kind of old-timey, song-and-dance, vaudeville style. There’s a wonderful song in Act Two where Fester sort of interrupts the action to tell us about the love of his life that really shows him at his best.”

Rice started out doing theatre in the Tampa Bay area at a very young age, then began directing before enrolling in the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York. And this isn’t his first experience bringing a treasured ‘60s sitcom to the stage: Rice put in some time playing Jonas “The Skipper” Grumby in Gilligan’s Island: The Musical back in the ‘80s.

“This show has been my proudest achievement so far,” he said. “It’s been fantastic. The Addams Family is so iconic. I grew up watching the Hanna-Barbera cartoon, and of course, I saw the movies as an adult, and it’s just a dream come true to be part of such an iconic thing in pop culture. These characters are so simple and silly in some ways, but they’re also more than that because they represent that part of us that never quite fit in. Everyone loves this family. When certain characters show up, the audience just goes nuts for them, and we don’t have to spend a lot of time laying groundwork or explaining who we are. The minute we walk out onstage, you know where you are and who you’re with, and you can really feel how excited and comfortable the audience is being with these characters again. It’s so much fun.”

Actor Jesse Sharp as Gomez

Actor Jesse Sharp as Gomez

“People just eat it up,” said Jesse Sharp, who plays Gomez. “I’ve been on a couple of Broadway tours before and never had audiences react to a show the way they do here. I like that it’s a very sweet family show, but it’s also a comedy. People can expect to have an easy, good time.”

Frazier Park, California native Sharp studied acting at UCLA while performing sketch and improv comedy before relocating to New York to pursue musical theatre and eventually landing in classical theatre doing the Shakespeare festival circuit. His pet creation, the raucous Hamlet Project (“basically a drinking game version of Hamlet we do in bars”) caught on big enough in L.A. that it now has a spinoff version in Chicago and is continuing to expand.

And in the meantime, he’s spending the next year and a half traveling the U.S., Canada, and Asia with the world’s favorite ghoulish gaggle.

“I’ve played a lot of best friends and funny sidekicks during my career, so playing Gomez has been a real highlight. Our tour is still just getting started. It’s still early on for us, and down the line, we’re heading to a part of the world I’ve never been to, and we just go onstage and have fun every night. I’m incredibly excited.”

The Addams Family runs March 5 – 10 at the Schuster Center. Tickets are $40 – $96. For military and student and more information, visit http://www.victoriatheatre.com/shows/the-addams-family/ or call (937) 228-3630.

Awesome Audra: A Chat with Audra McDonald

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audra-mcdonaldLuminous soprano and Broadway sensation Audra McDonald, one of the finest actresses/vocalists of her generation, will be in concert Friday, March 1 in celebration of the Schuster Center’s 10th anniversary.  McDonald, 42, has received five Tony Awards for her outstanding work in “Carousel,” “Master Class,” “Ragtime,” “A Raisin in the Sun” and “Porgy and Bess.” She has also been nominated for her splendid performances in “Marie Christine” and “110 in the Shade,” and memorably appeared in Lincoln Center Theater’s production of “Henry IV” and the Public Theater’s “Twelfth Night.” In addition to portraying Dr. Naomi Bennett on ABC’s “Private Practice” for four seasons, she has been featured in television adaptations of “A Raisin in the Sun,” “Annie” and “Wit,” receiving an Emmy nomination for the latter. She also won two Grammy Awards for “Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny.”

In advance of her highly anticipated concert, accompanied by the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra for the first time since 2005, the very engaging McDonald discussed her distinguished career and future plans.

Q: On Feb. 11 you were honored by the Drama League for your contributions to Broadway. How did it feel to be saluted in such a grand fashion by so many of your colleagues?

A: It was amazing! I wept, laughed and screamed the entire evening. To see people I love, people I adore, people I’ve worked with, people I want to work with attending the event was really overwhelming.

Q: When you reflect on your legacy, particularly your multiple Tony victories and nominations, does it seem like a blur? What does it all mean to you at this point in your career?

A: It does seem like a blur. When you’re in a show, your mind is on the show and you’re living another life on stage. Then the Tonys come, it happens, and then it’s gone. You’re a pumpkin again. But when I accumulate it all it feels like a big, fantastic blur. The biggest memories I have of the Tonys is the emotions of how it all felt. And at the end of it, you still have to go on with your daily life.

Q: But when you look at your hardware, your five Tonys, does it give you greater motivation? You could certainly win five more Tonys in the future.

A: I’m not done yet. There is still more theater I want to do. I don’t ever pursue projects looking for Tonys, but this is what I’ve wanted to do since I was 9 years old. For me, it’s all about looking for the next challenge. For me, the Tonys represent an incredible honor and something for me to be grateful for, but also something that reminds me that I’m lucky to do what I love and I must continue to grow, give back, and continue to live in the world that is theater.

Q: Assessing your many roles, which character or characters were the most challenging?
A: Without a doubt, it would be Bess, particularly in terms of stamina. To be able to sustain the performance and make that journey eight times a week was the most challenging. The hardest character to grasp was Ruth in “A Raisin in the Sun.” I had a hard time succumbing to her sadness and world-weariness.

Q: Do you have any dream roles? Are there roles you haven’t tackled that you would like to pursue?
A: I would like to do more Shakespeare, particularly playing Cleopatra in “Antony and Cleopatra.” As far as musical theater, as long as a role scares me, challenges me, I’m completely open to whatever comes along.

060704Celebs52ARQ: Would you consider starring in another Michael John LaChuisa (“Marie Christine”) musical?

A: Of course. There is some stuff in the pipeline with him. He’s such a prolific writer.

Q: Are there any directors or performers you would like to work with that you haven’t yet?

A: I would like to work with Bartlett Sher (“The Light in the Piazza”), who has been doing fantastic work, as well as Joe Mantello (“Wicked”). I would also like to work with Dan Sullivan (“Twelfth Night”), Lonny Price (“110 In the Shade”), Diane Paulus (“Porgy and Bess”) and Kenny Leon (“A Raisin in the Sun”) again. All of them are directors I admire greatly.

Q: Would you ever consider directing or producing?

A: Maybe directing, but I need to build my confidence. I just started teaching some master classes and really felt quite challenged and fulfilled by it. I would not count out directing in the future.

Q: What are your views on the current state of Broadway? Are improvements needed? What shows are you recommending to friends?

A: I think it’s a very fertile time on Broadway. For a while it seemed as if Broadway was only for superstars and “face projects.” But I feel there is a lot of good stuff out there that isn’t necessarily a star vehicle. For instance, “Once,” which is a tiny little show which had some recognition from the movie but it didn’t have stars in it and took Broadway by storm. There’s room for all of the above, but as long as there are new musicals being produced, and Broadway continues to replenish and nurture, I’m happy.

Q: You have been a trailblazer for non-traditional casting from Broadway to television. Would you like to see more non-traditional casting implemented?

A: Always. I understand that in some cases, like historical pieces, it doesn’t work, but whenever it can be utilized it’s a great thing.

Q: I remember many years ago you were being considered to star in a Broadway revival of “My Fair Lady.”

A: Yes, but some things come into fruition and some things don’t. And now I’m too old!

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYE-gSTwB20′]

Q: What words of advice do you have for aspiring performers?

A: Always say yes to your artistic instincts. Don’t ever say no to yourself. If you think there’s a role you can play go out and audition for it, work on it, study it. There will be enough people in the business that will say no to you. You cannot be one of those people. Also, I’d advise anyone to get on stage anywhere. It doesn’t have to be on Broadway, but your local church or dinner theater. Get used to being in front of a live audience, which is an experience that is the same as being on Broadway or in your school musical. The dynamic is the same and very important.

Q: You are currently working on your fifth studio album released by Nonesuch Records. What should your fans expect this time around? Will it be musical theater-heavy or are you aiming for more eclectic selections?
A: The new album will have more full-throated singing. It will be Audra full-throttle! My last album was a bit more contemplative, but the new album will have some wonderful older songs, newer songs, and songs from composers I just haven’t sung a lot of like Kander and Ebb.

Q: It’s wonderful to know you will be appearing once more in Dayton at the Schuster Center. What will your program consist of?

A: It’s going to be an eclectic mix, but it’s always nice when you can take advantage of performing with an entire orchestra, which is the case in Dayton. I’ll be singing songs by Stephen Sondheim, Rodgers and Hammerstein, Bock and Harnick, Kander and Ebb, Leslie Bricusse, and Henry Mancini among others. It’s going to be a great concert.

A gala concert starring Audra McDonald will be presented Friday, March 1 at 8 p.m. at the Schuster Center, Second and Main Streets., Dayton. Tickets are $40-$90. For tickets or more information, call Ticket Center Stage at (937) 228-3630 or visit www.ticketcenterstage.com.

Watch Casablanca with Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra

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casablancaThis Valentine’s Day, the Dayton Philharmonic will offer a very special treat when it presents one of cinema’s greatest love stories, Casablanca, with the orchestra playing the score live on stage at the Schuster Center at 8 p.m.

“We’ve done shows like this before, where we’ve played the score live while a classic film showed,” said Dayton Philharmonic conductor Neal Gittleman, “and when we were looking at options for this season, Casablanca came up. And here we have St. Valentine’s Day. And while Casablanca doesn’t have a happy ending, it’s one of the great screen romances.”

A tragic, high-stakes tale of love, loss, valor, and sacrifice against the urgent backdrop of World War II, Casablanca is perhaps the classic of classics, “probably on more lists of the greatest films of all time than any other single title,” according to Roger Ebert.

Casablanca tells the story of Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart in perhaps his most iconic role), a former freedom fighter and American exile who now runs the most popular nightclub in Casablanca, Morocco’s largest city. During the war, many Europeans fleeing the Germans had to stop in Casablanca to get to America–but once they reached Casablanca, obtaining an exit visa was often difficult and many found themselves stranded there, making Casablanca a sort of melting-pot purgatory of the disillusioned and desperate.

Czech resistance leader Victor Laszlo arrives on his way to America–with his wife, Ilsa (a luminous Ingrid Bergman), Rick’s long lost love. The flame between Rick and Ilsa still burns after all these years, and he is torn between “love and virtue.” The Nazis are on Laszlo’s tail, and Rick must choose between helping the police detain Laszlo, keeping Ilsa for himself, or helping them both leave so that the Allies can win the war.

Dayton Philharmonic Logo“Neal and the Dayton Philharmonic have done this before,” said Chuck Duritsch, Communications and Media Manager for the Dayton Performing Arts Alliance. “They’ve done City Lights, The Wizard of Oz, The Bride of Frankenstein back in 2011… I believe one of the reasons they picked Casablanca is because it just celebrated its 70th anniversary, and it comes in the top ten on many ‘best movies ever’ lists, so obviously it’s very popular.”

The classic films the DPO accompanies are made possible by John Goberman, longtime producer of PBS’ Live at Lincoln Center, who has devoted years to developing packages that allow orchestras to play along with beloved movies. Goberman painstakingly recreates the system used in studios to record the original soundtracks. During recording, the conductor’s score includes all the music to be used in the film, plus two different types of cues: one showing where a specific action, image, or piece of dialogue must align with the music, and also time codes in the music referring to a large analog clock that’s electronically synchronized with the film.

“It’s a very difficult and lengthy process to make something like this possible for the public in such a large way. You have to have permission from the producer or the studio or know someone who can get the rights to be able to strip the music from the audio and then have the score made available. For us, as the Dayton Performing Arts Alliance, to try to handle all that in-house would cost a tremendous amount of money and manpower and just be impossible. This guy, John, cuts through all the red tape so we don’t have to do it on a local level.”

“As the conductor,” said Gittleman, “I have a practice video where I can see the film and the clock, and I can toggle it so I’m listening to the full soundtrack, or only the dialogue. So I can practice with the music playing, conducting along, or I can mute the score and hum it to myself while practicing. It’s basically just working out the cues so you get the timing down. It’s the same as any piece of music in some ways, but not completely, because you’re not entirely free with your interpretation, and you have to make sure things happen at the right time.”

He continued, “The orchestra’s used to it because we’ve done a few of these shows over the years. The musicians all have the music individually, but we won’t play it together as a group the week of the performance. There’s a rehearsal clock, so I can set that to any timecode I need, and we can rehearse. There are a couple of scenes where we’ll run those on a monitor so I can practice the syncing of some of the really important moments. The famous scene where the band plays “La Marseillaise,” for instance, the orchestra plays along with the band onscreen, so obviously that needs to be synced.”

Casablanca was based on an unpublished stage play called Everybody Comes to Rick’s, written by Murray Burnett and Joan Alison. Rushed into release in early 1943 (after a November ’42 premiere) to take advantage of publicity from the Allied invasion of North Africa a few weeks prior, the film had a trying production process with a revolving door of screenwriters struggling to adapt an untested play, shooting barely remaining on schedule, and Bogart grappling with his first romantic leading role. It was an A-list production, but viewed as nothing more than any other big Hollywood film released that year. No one involved expected it to become anything special, and indeed it was a solid and well-reviewed success upon release, but nothing major. Still, it went on to win Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Director (Michael Curtiz), and Best Screenplay. Among its five other nominations was a nod for Max Steiner’s lush score.

As for future events like this, “We’ll be doing a salute to Disney next season,” Gittleman said. “It’ll have a certain amount of video component, but exactly which ones and how they’ll work, I don’t know yet. There are plans to do things like this again in the future, though, because they’re fun and people enjoy them. A couple summers ago, I saw The Fellowship of the Ring done this way, and it’s really great. But from a logistical standpoint, it’s a nightmare. It’s a three-hour movie, it’s overtime… The music isn’t really difficult, but it’s expensive and it’s hard to sell enough tickets to make it work financially. I saw it with the Chicago Symphony at a large outdoor venue with multiple screens. They showed it on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday and had about 50,000 people come see it in all, so all the rehearsal and overtime got paid for, so that would be hard to pull off here.”

“For my part,” he said, “I think it would be a hoot to do Star Wars. I think the first movie, Episode IV, is available for this kind of presentation. It’s great music. It’s really hard for the orchestra, but they love playing John Williams and I think audiences would go nuts.”

For movie lovers, for music lovers, and for lovers of any kind, the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra has your Valentine’s Day all planned out. To enjoy this one-of-a-kind event and save the world with Humprey Bogart, tickets are priced $18 – 26 and are available online at daytonperformingarts.org, at the Schuster box office, or by phone at (937) 224-3521.

2013 Valentine’s Day Specials and Events in Dayton, Ohio

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valentines-day-rosesWhether you are keeping up romantic traditions with your long-time love, or starting flirty new traditions with the one you like, Dayton is full of delicious events. Cupid is now jealous and possibly out of work. Below, you’ll find a little something for everyone bitten by the love bug (and even a few for the staunch, anti-heart day aficionados).

Check back as we’ll likely be updating this list (or look at our searchable DMM Event Calendar), and if you want YOUR Valentine’s Day event listed then add it to our calendar and make sure you check the Valentine’s Day category…

An Affair To Remember
Dayton Art Institute
Friday Feb. 15 8-11pm
$40 (Members); $45 (Non-Members)		 Valentine’s Evening Under the Stars
Boonshoft Museum of Discovery
Thursday Feb. 14 6-7:30pm OR 8-9:30pm
Saturday Feb. 16 6-7:30pm OR 8-9:30pm
$25 per couple
Latin Lovers Cooking Class
El Meson
Saturday Feb. 9 11am
$45 per student		 Miami Valley Music Men Singing Valentines!
They come to you!
Orders from Wednesday Feb. 13 – Saturday Feb. 16
$40
Hotel Date Night Package
Homewood Suites Fairborn
Check website for prices and availability		 Valentine’s Celebration Dinner
Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar
Thursday Feb. 14 6-10pm
(prices vary)
Jazz Valentine’s Day with Saxophonist Grace Kelly
Gilly’s
Thursday Feb. 14 8pm
$25		 Old Hollywood Glam Ball
America’s Packard Museum
Thursday Feb. 14 7:30-11pm
$60 per person ($75 with alcohol)
Art For The Heart
Zion Lutheran Church – Tipp City
Saturday Feb. 9 9am-4pm
Free		 Crafty Valentine
Sew Dayton
Saturday Feb. 9 3-6pm
$30 per person
Valentine’s Masquerade Ball
CADC
Saturday Feb. 9 7-10pm		 Victorian Afternoon Tea – Valentine’s Tea
Historic Patterson Homestead
Saturday Feb. 9 – Sunday Feb. 10
$18 per member; $20 per non-member
Valentine Dinner
Franco’s Ristorante Italiano
Thursday Feb. 14 4-10pm
$38 Dinner for Two		 Chocolate Affair
Serendipity Bistro
Thursday Feb. 14 7pm-1am
8th Annual Valentines Dance benefiting A Special Wish Foundation
Schuster Performing Arts Center
Friday Feb. 15 7:30-11pm
$100 per person		 The Vagina Monologues
Yellow Cab Building
Friday Feb. 15 8pm / Saturday Feb. 16 8pm / Sunday Feb. 17 7:30pm
$5
Valentine’s Brunch
Dayton Woman’s Club
Saturday Feb. 16 11:30am-2:30pm
$20 members; $22 non-members		 Valentine’s Concert
Amber Rose
Saturday Feb. 16 7pm
Valentine’s Day Celebration
The Winds Cafe and Bakery
Thursday Feb. 14 5pm through Saturday Feb. 16 5pm		 50 Shades of Sweet
Get Dressed! Boutique
Wednesday Feb. 13 and Thursday Feb. 14 12pm-6pm

Bad Boy Chef Anthony Bourdain Brings His Opinions To Dayton

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When Anthony Bourdain brings his Guts & Glory tour to the Schuster Center on Sunday, it will be his first visit to Dayton.  It’s also his first solo tour, and Bourdain describes it as ” a rant, a talk, even some kind of imitation of stand-up,” with video clips and a lot of Q-and-A.  He said he’s been secretly doing 5 -10 minutes sets, practicing in comedy clubs around New York City.  “The audiences are incredibly honest,” he says, “and what better way to you find out right away in a brutally painful fashion whether something is amusing or not.”

The notoriously  opinionated Chef, who gained fame as an author of  Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly, launched the tour just three days after the final episode of his eighth season of “No Reservations” on Travel Channel. His second/final  season of The Layover launches on The Travel Channel the night after his live show here in Dayton.  He says there are 10 episodes of  action-packed, food-filled travel layovers filmed in Chicago, Atlanta, Dublin, New Orleans, Paris, Philadelphia, Sa Paolo, Seattle, Taipei and Toronto. Each episode will have him telling  stories about a place, it’s people and their food.

After that, Bourdain will move over to CNN to launch a new travel docu-series, to launch in early 2013.  The show will be shot on location and examine cultures from around the world through their food and dining and travel rituals.  “I’m really looking forward to coming over to CNN. I think the world is going to get a whole lot bigger for me,” said Bourdain, “traveling with producers that understand shooting in places that are difficult.  I should be able to make smarter tv, but it will still be a travel based show”

In a group interview for the tour, I had a chance to ask a couple of questions and here’s how it went:

DD: This tour has you making eight stops in under two weeks. How does a travel expert pack for such an excursion?
AB: I pack for security, and it’s all carry-on—shoes that slip on and off quickly, jackets that I can beat into submission, shirts that don’t require pressing. I pack light. I’ve always got my iPad with a lot of entertaining apps and books I’ve downloaded to keep me busy when I’m hanging out in the airport.

DD: What can your audience expect from the show?
AB:  I’ll talk about food and travel, whatever’s pissing me off that day, whatever’s exciting me that day, travel tips. Of course I’m going to be talking about people, GuyFieri just opened a 500 seat restaurant in my hometown, that’s very much on my mind.  I worry for Adam Richman’s health,( the host of Man vs Food) I expect he’ll die of a heart attack soon. . I’ll come out and talk for an hour or so and answer questions. It could go in any direction, depending on how good or how bad the questions are.

DD: You’ve just finished The Taste, ABC’s new cooking competition show, how was that experience?
AB:   It’s a network reality show, it’s completely different from what I’ve done on No Reservations- there  I had complete control, where we went, what we did, I really didn’t care if people like it.  This was a really tight show and I had a really enjoyable time doing it.  I coached a team of cooks, we judged them and one wins.

DD: If you had to choose 5 ingredients to put in a basket for a Chopped style competition, what would you include?

AB: I’d keep it really basic, a chicken, egg, salt, butter and an onion – keep it simple – you can learn every thing you need to know about a cook by what they do with these ingredients.
DD: What’s on your rider? What do you have stocked in your dressing room before the show? 
AB:  I never eat before a show.  I’m really simple, I just want a six pack of some local beer and Red Bull.

As much as Bourdain has a reputation for being a hard ass, I have to say, I found him charming and real.  I think the audience for the show will get exactly what they’ll expect from the celebrity chef, world traveler and hater of most Food Network Chefs.  He’s got an opinion, he’s happy to share it, and  he’s entertaining as hell.  Of course, this show is not for the easily offended, Bourdain does not censor his thoughts or his words. If you’re brave enough to ask a question, be ready for whatever might come out of his mouth. And don’t ask him about Dayton restaurants- he’s never been here, he won’t know about them!

Tickets are still available for the Sunday, Nov 18th show and are available at Tickets CenterStage for $52-$122, plus service charges.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0bND8u6OsY#!’]

ENTER TO WIN TICKETS TO BOURDAIN!

One of our lucky Dayton Most Metro readers, is going to the show. Fill out the form below and leave a Facebook comment telling us you want to see the Guts & Glory Tour, and we will randomly draw a winner and notify them Wed evening, 11/14.  Good luck!

CONTEST CLOSED

Congratulations to our winner: Shaun Cartwright

The Partnership of Arts, YPs and Rock and Roll

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What do you get when you pair a Pink Floyd rock tribute with the Philharmonic? Or a couple fun-lovin’ DPO Board members with two local YPs groups? Or great food and a backstage tour? Or prizes, a live radio broadcast and crazy discounted tickets?

Lest you think this is the beginning of a REALLY complicated joke, I’m here to tell you – it’s Encore Night at the Dayton Philharmonic!

On Thursday, February 9, make a night of it with fellow young professionals!

5:30PM – Start the night at Uno’s Downtown where there will be complimentary appetizers, cash bar, prizes, and on-air “audio tweets” during a live radio remote with WTUE’s Aaron Klauber. Last prize is raffled off at 6:45 PM (must be present to win) when we cash out and the group heads across the street because…

7:15PM – We’re heading BACKSTAGE at the Schuster Center for a special tour and briefing hosted by Brent Havens (Windborne Conductor).

8:00PM – Get to your awesome seats specially reserved in the loge to hear what happens when progressive rock meets classical orchestra. The program features the music of Pink Floyd performed by the amazing Windborne Music backed by the full DPO!

This is a special night (with a crazy great discounted price) specifically to introduce YPs to the great time that is the Dayton arts scene and the Dayton Philharmonic. Tickets are only $30  – that’s more than 1/2 off plus they are actually waiving the $4 processing fee. You MUST order your tickets through the special link below or call Madea Thompson at 937-228-7591 x3222. This deal is only good through February 4th – after that the seats will be released and sold for the face value of $66 (plus that service charge). Don’t miss out!

**This event is NOT limited to previous participants of Generation Dayton or JumpstART – all local YPs are encouraged to attend.**

PURCHASE SPECIAL OFFER ONLINE:
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Event hosted by jumpstART & DPO Trustees Lauren Hamer & Maha Kashani

Jane’s Best Bets (11/16 – 11/20)

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Photo Credit: Alli Shillito

Life is busy with the holidays drawing near, but hopefully you still can find time to get out and enjoy some of these events! 

On Wednesday, you’ll have an opportunity to eat some delicious food!  In the morning/mid-morning, eat some made from scratch waffles at Christ Episcopal Church for their 82nd Annual Waffle Shop.  In the evening, make your way to the Greenfire Bistro for a dinner to benefit Aullwood, Giuliano for their Lasagna Dinner, or to Jay’s for their Kokomo Wine Dinner.  Afterwards, make your way to The Loft Theatre to see Caroline, or Change or to the University of Dayton, as Cityfolk will be presenting Bassekou Kouyate and Ngoni Ba. 

On Thursday, attend the Junior League of Dayton Town Hall Lecture & Luncheon at Sinclair entitled, 55 Years in the Making: A Celebration of Tradition and Transformation with Daryn Kagan.  Head to Deaf Monty’s Wine, The Wine Loft, A Taste of Wine, or Arrow Wine in Centerville for “Beaujolais Noveau”.  I figured “Beaujolais Noveau” was important since it was happening at so many of the places around town where you go to get wine, but I had to google what it meant.  For those of you wondering, it’s a special type of wine whose arrival means that Thanksgiving is one week away…gobble gobble!  If you love the movies, be sure to make your way to The Neon for the Media That Matters Short Film Festival.  At the Schuster Center, catch the DBJ Business of the Year Awards.  And if you’re interested in theater, check out Caroline, or Change at The Loft Theatre.

On Friday, chocolate lovers should make their way up to Greenville for the Greenville Chocolate Walk.  And beer lovers should get their fill at the Dayton Liederkranz Turner German Club’s Fall/Winter Bierfest.  If you love theater, there are plenty of opportunities for you, including The Seussification of Romeo & Juliet at Chaminade Julienne Catholic High School; The Ladies Man at Centerville Schools Performing Arts Center; Violet: The Musical at Hugh G. Heiland Theatre (Wilmington College); and Caroline, or Change at The Loft Theatre.  At the Schuster Center, listen to the sounds of the Dayton Philharmonic with Promethean Exploits.  And if you are a young professional, you can get a special “Encore Friday” deal!  And finally, even though it isn’t even Thanksgiving yet, you can make your way to Springboro for their famous Christmas in Historic Springboro Festival. 

On Saturday, take your kids to the Dayton Art Institute for their Family Workshop with Children’s Book Illustrator Tim Bowers.  If you’re a yogi (not the bear kind), then make your way to Practice Yoga on Fifth for GROOVE + FLOW: Power Yoga with live beats by DJ HyFi.  At UD, check out their Dance Ensemble Fall Concert.  Theater options include The Ladies Man (Centerville Schools Performing Arts Center), The Seussification of Romeo & Juliet (Chaminade Julienne Catholic High School), Violet: The Musical (Wilmington College’s Hugh G. Heiland Theatre), and Caroline, or Change (The Loft Theatre). At the Schuster Center, you will still be able to listen to the Dayton Philharmonic’s Promethean Exploits.  You will also again be able to attend the Christmas in Historic Springboro Festival.  The Salvation Army’s Kroc Center is also starting Christmas early, so bring the whole family there for Christmas at the Kroc 2011: Believe.  And finally, if you enjoy good food, good drinks, and Dayton history, be sure to get your tickets to Ringing in the Holidays at Carillon Park, which I am told is an awesome event! 

On Sunday, get moving for the Hometown Holiday Walk in the heart of Centerville.  If you have or know someone who has a child with autism and would like to get his/her picture taken with Santa, bring him/her to the Dayton Mall for Sensitive Santa for Children with Autism.  You will still be able to catch a couple shows you may have missed over the weekend, including Caroline, or Change at The Loft Theatre and The Seussification of Romeo & Juliet at Chaminade Julienne Catholic High School.  And finally, don’t miss your opportunity to see American Chronicles: The Art of Norman Rockwell at the Dayton Art Institute!

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

What do you call a deer with no eyes?  No ideer…

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!

Jane’s Best Bets (11/2 – 11/6)

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Photo Credit: Alli Shillito

Happy November everyone!  I hope everyone had a fabulous and safe Halloween…and that your kids (or your neighbors’ kids) shared their candy with you!  Even though there may not be any more opportunities to dress up in costume for a while (unless you’re an actor), there are still plenty of opportunities to have fun in Dayton this week!

On Wednesday, get a jump start on your holiday shopping by visiting the ARTtoBUY Holiday Gift Gallery at the Dayton Visual Arts Center or the Give Art! Gift Gallery at the Cannery Art and Design Center.  Or make your way to the Oregon District for some good fun – head to the Trolley Stop for the Old Time Acoustic Jam, Oregon Express to listen to The Doug Hart Band, or to Blind Bob’s for Karaoke with DJ Nancy.

On Thursday, purchase a holiday gift or a piece of artwork for your home or apartment at the 9th Annual Holiday Student Art Sale at Sinclair.  Listen to the music of Khalid Moss and Michael Bashaw as part of the Vectren Just Jazz Series at the Dayton Art Institute.  Have you ever wondered what a near-death experience is like?  Learn Everything You Wanted to Know about Near-Death Experiences from someone who has been researching this topic for over 20 years.  If you feel like your day has gotten off to a “rocky” start, then make your way to Bullwinkle’s in Miamisburg for Guilty? Or Not – A Mystery Dinner Theatre, to benefit the Children’s Performing Arts of Miamisburg.  Does the thought of dating and relationships leave you feeling confused like the rest of the world?  If so, make it to Sinclair’s production of I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change.  Yes, I know love sometimes “cuts like a knife.”  Others are “all for love.” Regardless of your attitude towards love and relationships, you will not to want miss seeing music legend Bryan Adams perform at the Taft Theatre!

On Friday, make your way downtown for First Friday, the fabulous art hop that occurs once per month.  They always say men won’t go to the doctor, so please help raise funds and awareness for men’s cancer/research by participating in the Movember Mustache Ride.  And men – if your lady doesn’t like a little stubble on your face, just let her know it’s for a good cause!  In addition to growing a mustache for a good cause, you will also be able to drink some great beer for two great causes!  Attend the AutoberFest Craft Beer Tasting at Taj Ma Garaj to support Dayton History and the Epilepsy Foundation.  There are lots of theater options throughout the weekend, including I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change at Sinclair Community College;  Pinkalicious the Musical at the Schuster Center; ‘Master Harold’ …and the Boys at the Dayton Playhouse; Caroline, or Change at The Loft Theatre; and Lost in Yonkers at the Dayton Theatre Guild.  And if you enjoy music, there are plenty of opportunities for that as well!  Check out the Pride of Dayton Marching Band at UD; Lynda Carter: The Wonder of Song at the Schuster Center; or Chamber Orchestra Kremlin as part of the Vanguard Concerts at the Dayton Art Institute.

On Saturday, participate in Hospice of Dayton’s 7th Annual 5K Remembrance Walk (which means you don’t have to be a runner!).  Get a start on your holiday decorations by participating in the Gingerbread House Making Workshop at the Dayton Cultural Center.  If you’re a train fanatic (not the music group kind, although you can like them too), then chugga chugga choo choo your way to the National Model Railroad Association Dayton Train Show at Hara Arena.  Visit We Care Arts’ art gallery and gift shop as part of their Holiday Open House.  There are several theater options including those mentioned under Friday, as well as My Fair Lady at Kuss Auditorium in Springfield.  If you would like a show that will have you rolling (hopefully with laughter!) and dancing, then make your way to Victoria Theatre for BAM Percussion:  The Blue Barrel Show.  Halloween may be over, but at the Schuster Center, you will be able to see “Wonder Woman”  Lynda Carter perform.  And at the Taft Theatre, Lily Tomlin will be performing…and that’s the truth.

On Sunday, you will still be able to check out some of the events/shows that have been going on throughout the weekend, including the National Model Railroad Association Dayton Train Show (Hara Arena), BAM Percussion:  The Blue Barrel Show (Victoria Theatre), Caroline, or Change (The Loft Theatre), and I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change (Sinclair).  At UD, attend the Family Pops Concert featuring the University of Dayton Symphonic Wind Ensemble.  Or get in the spirit of the holidays by attending Holidays in the Heartland at the Schuster Center.

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

What do you call a train loaded with toffee?  A chew chew train.

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!

Jane’s Best Bets (10/26 – 10/30)

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Pumpkins Courtesy of My Mom

Halloween is right around the corner!  Hopefully you have your costume and are ready for some good scares this week…as well as some good fun!

On Wednesday, hang out in Oakwood for The Nights of the Arts.  Do all those political commercials have you confused on how to vote on election day?  If so, make your way to the Updayton Candidate Forum.  Or make your way to the Schuster Center for Tyler Perry’s ‘The Haves and the Have Nots’.

On Thursday, support a great cause by attending the Clothes That Work Fashioning Futures Modeling Success Luncheon at Sinclair’s Ponitz Center.  Get out that Halloween costume and join some great young professionals for the Generation Dayton Costume Party at The Moraine Embassy.  Enjoy Half-Price Wine Night at Coco’s Bistro…”wine not?”  At the Dayton Racquet Club, enjoy their Dinner & Goose Island Beer Tasting with New Chef Jack Skilliter.  And at the Victoria Theatre, you will be able to have An Evening with David Sedaris.

On Friday after work, participate in the Oregon Arts District Walking Tour.  There are plenty of spooky/Halloween-themed activities on Friday including the Halloween Party Wine Tasting at Emporium Wines/Underdog Cafe; Horrorama 2011 at Englewood Cinema; Ghosts, Cemeteries and Murders Walk at Courthouse Square; the Haunted Butcher House; Mayhem & Mystery Dinner Theatre: ‘Costume Carousing’ at the Spaghetti Warehouse; the Land Of Illusion Haunted Scream Park; and Slasher: A Horrifying Comedy at UD…I think I would need the comedy to put up with the horror.  And finally, in theater news, you will be able to see Lost in Yonkers (Dayton Theatre Guild) or Opera Theatre: Opera Scenes (Wright State).

On Saturday, if you’re a 5K runner with an extreme sense of adventure, then you will want to participate in the Swamp Stomp Mud Challenge Event.  You may not be able to afford a trip to Italy so instead, make your way to Jay’s Restaurant for their Italian Wine Luncheon.  Saturday is also all about Halloween, as it is the night for the famous Hauntfest in the Oregon District.  In addition to Hauntfest, there are many other Halloween-themed events/activities for Saturday including the  ‘PhilharMonster’ Halloween Concert at the Schuster Center; the 1st Annual Tailgate of Terror at the Yellow Cab Building; the 3rd Annual Boo & Bruise in the Oregon District; a Ghosts, Cemeteries and Murders Walk at Courthouse Square; Spooktacular at SideBar; the Dayton Philharmonic’s Bride of Frankenstein at the Schuster Center; and Howl-O-Ween at the Boonshoft Museum (a family friendly event).

On Sunday, make your back to the Oregon District (if you even left from Saturday night) for a Walking Tour.  Get a group together and enjoy a Segway Tour of Downtown Dayton.  (I was actually just talking to some people who went on one of these and said it was a fun experience!)  And if you enjoy theater, then check out Lost in Yonkers (Dayton Theatre Guild) or Monty Python’s Spamalot (Schuster Center).

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

What do you call a witch at the beach?  A sand-witch.

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!

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!

Jane’s Best Bets (9/28 – 10/2)

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Photo Credit: Alli Shillito

I hope you had the opportunity to sample some wonderful craft beers at Oktoberfest this past weekend!  Speaking of Oktoberfest, I am reminded of the fact that we switch from September to October this week.  I wish for you a great start into the new month…and here are some events that will hopefully help!

On Wednesday, join some amazing women for the Fourth Annual Women in Business Networking Conference.  At the Nutter Center, attend the Third Annual IBI/BBB Integrity Breakfast in order to get the inside scoop on integrity in the marketplace.  In the evening, after a hard day’s work (unless you work the 2nd or 3rd shift), make your way to the Dayton Racquet Club for Dueling Bartenders.  If you have a high schooler or if you know one, encourage him/her to attend College Prep Night at Fifth Third Field…there is a chance to win a $1,000 scholarship!  Interested in green initiatives?  Learn about the Neighborhood Stabilization Program which helps to make vacant and foreclosed homes green at Green Drinks September at Franco’s Ristorante Italiano.  Don’t forget to bring your paintbrush and some green paint!  My mom says left handed people are the only ones in their right mind.  However, at Chappy’s, they’re having the Left Hand Weak Sauce Porter Tapping…so I am guessing that despite the fact that lefties may be in their right mind, they are the weaker of the two.  Yes, I am right.

On Thursday, don’t get too spooked out when you go to the Schuster Center for the ‘PhilharMonster’ Halloween Concert.  Check out UD’s Department of Visual Arts with their Open House, where you will be able to see their new studios, galleries, classrooms, and much more.  If you’re a woman who loves purses, you won’t want to miss the Girls’ Night Out – Purse Swap at the Melting Pot.  You may be able to “coach” some of your girlfriends into going with you as well.  Mix one part beer and one part religion and you have Theology on Tap, which will take place at Oregon Express.  Or make a trip up to Cedarville University for their presentation of  ‘And Then There Were None’.

On Friday, get geared up for Gear Fest at Eastwood MetroPark.  If you like to drink beer from half-gallon jugs, then be sure to go to Minster’s Oktoberfest!  Just a tip – you may want to rent a big passenger van so you only have to have one DD!  Attend The Fourth Annual Blue Moon Affair at the Schuster Center, whose proceeds benefit the Community Action Partnership’s Youth Empowerment Center.  And finally, if you enjoy music and dance, and would like to help assist in the restoration of historical outdoor drama, attend the Caesar’s Ford Theatre Civil War Ball at Hope Hotel and Conference Center.

On Saturday we jump into October…and you can jump right back into Gear Fest at Eastwood Metro Park.  Support We Care Arts by attending the We Care Style Auction at the Mandalay Banquet Center.  If you like the color green, then participate in the Green Energy Ohio Tour.  And if you like pink, then attend Pink and Chrome – Ride for the Cure at Thomas Cloud Park.  Attend Resolve It! Solve It! with Six-Step Problem-Solving at the main branch of the Dayton Metro Library.  I’ve been told that their theme song is “Ice Ice Baby,” because after the workshop, you’re bound to be singing “If there was a problem, yo I’ll solve it.”  At the Dayton Art Institute, see Orla Fallon, a talented singer/harpist who has performed for the Pope as well as some former U.S. Presidents.  Enhance your cooking skills by attending El Meson’s Cooking Class.  I’m available if you need a taste tester!  You may have missed Oktoberfest this past weekend at the Dayton Art Institute, but if you make the trip up to Minster, you’ll be able to attend their version!  Have a unique dining experience at Carillon Park with their Tavern Dinners: Harvest Feast, which will feature a candlelit “hearth cooked and historically accurate multi-course supper.”  Or make your way to the Schuster Center for the Philharmonic Gala: Dance to the Music.

On Sunday, be sure to make it up to Minster if you haven’t yet for their Oktoberfest.  Does your pooch need a good cleaning?  Take him/her to A Taste of Wine for Wine, Washes & Wet Noses, where h e/she will be washed while you can sit back and enjoy a glass of wine.  And finally, at the Schuster Center, listen to the sounds of R&B/jazz artist Lalah Hathaway, with an opening act by the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company.

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

A three-legged dog walks into a bar and says to the bartender, “I’m looking for the guy who shot my Pa.”

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!

On Stage Dayton Theatre Guide: 2011-12

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Every new theater season in Dayton seems to be ripe with variety. It’s one of the great joys of the Dayton theatre scene that the ‘something for everyone’ cliche actually rings true. 2011-2012 is already proving to be among the most eclectic yet. This season promises……

  • parents behaving badly (God Of Carnage) AND children behaving badly (Spring Awakening)
  • romance of the sweet and fun kind (Hairspray) and of the creepy kind (The Phantom of the Opera)
  • true stories of tragedy (The Laramie Project) and of triumph (Jersey Boys)
  • journeys down familar roads (The Wizard of Oz) and unexpected ones (Caroline, Or Change)
  • wistful nostalgia (Lost in Yonkers) and celebratory joy (In The Heights)
  • even swashbuckling adventure (How I Became A Pirate) and cartwheels on Austrian mountainsides (The Sound of Music)

Below you’ll find On Stage Dayton’s picks for the most anticipated offerings for the 2011-2012 Dayton Theatre Season. It’s just a small sampling of a very full year of stage work. And with this official launch, you can count on OSD to be there all season long.

Russell’s Picks

HUMAN RACE THEATRE COMPANY Caroline or ChangeIf you like ‘The Help’ you’ll like…

Caroline, or Change

The Human Race Theatre Company offers the overdue local premiere of this dynamic 2004 Tony Award-nominated musical from librettist/Pulitzer Prize winner Tony Kushner (“Angels in America”) and composer Jeanine Tesori (“Thoroughly Modern Millie”). A potent study of race relations set in 1963 Louisiana, “Caroline, or Change” chronicles the testy yet engaging relationship between a headstrong African-American maid and her Jewish employers. Tesori’s sublime music encompasses klezmer, opera and Motown.

The Human Race Theatre Company

VICTORIA THEATRE ASSOCIATION, SCHUSTER CENTER Jersey BoysIf you like ‘Mamma Mia!’ or ‘The Sopranos’ you’ll like…

Jersey Boys

The local premiere of “Jersey Boys,” the sleek, sharp and surprisingly tender story of pop legends Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, is the hallmark of the Victoria Theatre Association’s Good Samaritan and Miami Valley Hospitals Broadway Series. One of the most popular jukebox musicals of the last decade and the recipient of the 2006 Tony Award for Best Musical, “Jersey Boys” features such timeless numbers as “Sherry,” “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” “Walk Like a Man” and “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You.”

Victoria Theatre Association

DAYTON THEATRE GUILD Dividing The EstateIf you like ‘Dallas’ you’ll like…

Dividing the Estate

Academy Award and Pulitzer Prize winner Horton Foote’s authentic, relevant 2009 Tony Award-nominated portrait of a Texas clan at odds will receive its local premiere courtesy of the Dayton Theatre Guild. Centered on a tough traditionalist matriarch and her squabbling children, “Dividing the Estate” uncovers the harsh realities that arise when economics and legacy threaten to tear a family apart.

Dayton Theatre Guild

CLARK STATE UNIVERSITY Dirty Rotten ScoundrelsIf you like ‘The Full Monty’ you’ll like…

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels

Clark State Community College provides the local collegiate premiere of librettist Jeffrey Lane and composer David Yazbek’s 2005 Tony Award-nominated musical based on the 1988 film of the same name. Yazbek, an outstanding songwriter, had great success with his critically acclaimed adaptation of “The Full Monty,” co-created by Terrence McNally, and the con artist-driven “Scoundrels” shares an appealingly naughty kinship. The “Scoundrels” national tour failed to connect four years ago at the Schuster Center, but perhaps Clark State will give the hilarious material the solid treatment it deserves.

Clark State

MUSE MACHINE Wizard of OZIf you like the Muse Machine you’ll like…

The Wizard of Oz

Dorothy’s ruby slippers will sparkle once more thanks to the Muse Machine, Dayton’s premier arts education organization celebrating its 30th year. The memories of Muse’s 1996 “Oz” production remain indelibly etched in my mind (the Broadway caliber performances of Tyler Maynard as the Scarecrow and Tory Ross as the Wicked Witch of the West were particularly extraordinary), but it will be refreshing to see a new generation tackle the iconic musical. Expect another Muse hit you will not want to miss.

Muse Machine

Continue to read David’s picks…

Jane’s Best Bets (8/24 – 8/28)

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Happy Beer Week Dayton!  Hopefully some of you have already started to sample some great beers in and around town.  If not, you will have plenty of opportunities to do so.  And if beer is not your thing, there are some other great options this week as well!

On Wednesday, celebrate Dayton Beer Week with beer tastings at some of these fine establishments:  5th Street Wine & Deli for the Green Flash Brewery Tasting; Trolley Stop for the Off Centered Foot Stomp; The Pub at The Greene for the Belhaven Happy Hour; Blind Bob’s for the Mt. Carmel Brews; Chappy’s for the Sierra Nevada Tasting; or Spinoza’s for a Beer Tasting with North Coast Brewing Co. If you haven’t been to the Fraze yet this season, then here is your opportunity to do so for a FREE show!  Nicky Kay & His Fabulous Kay-Tones featuring Crazy Joe will be performing.  And if you are in need of some professional development (aren’t we all?), then attend Generation Dayton’s Business Ethics Event at the Crowne Plaza Hotel.

On Thursday, make your way to Courthouse Square for The Square Is Where featuring the Miami Valley Folk Dancers.  Sick and tired of men?  Have a Girls Night Out at The Melting Pot.  Sorry guys.  The beer tastings will continue at a variety of bars/restaurants, including Lucky’s (Firkin Drag Race), Spinoza’s (Ommegang Brewing Co.), The Pub at The Greene (Sierra Nevada Tasting), and A Taste of Wine (Mt Caramel Beer Tasting 7).  You will be able to have a complete Summer Beer Dinner at the Schuster Center’s Citilites.  While the weather is still nice, be sure to get outdoors and enjoy some live music down at RiverScape with their Big Band Nights featuring the Kim Kelly Orchestra.  If you’re in shape, then make your way to Fifth Third Field for the Dayton Dragons 5K Fun Run.  I can’t imagine that running would be considered fun, but maybe they know something I don’t.

On Friday, there will again be a Square Is Where performance at Courthouse Square featuring the Minions of Fate.  There will also be plenty more beer tastings for you, such as the Great Lakes Tapping at Lucky’s or the Red Carpet Rollout at the Trolley Stop.  Feeling a little clammy?  Make your way to The Dock for their Clam Bake Weekend.  Enjoy some Lebanese cuisine, Middle Eastern dancing and entertainment, cultural displays, and much more at the 18th Greater Dayton Lebanese Festival.  At the Dayton Theatre Guild, you will be able to see The Oldest Profession.  I don’t know why you would like Grease because it stains your clothes, but if for some chance you do, then you will be able to see it at the Victoria Theatre as part of the Michelob Ultra Cool Films Series at Victoria Theatre.  At Sharkey’s, dance to the music of the Webster’s, a super fun cover band.  And finally, I hope you are among the lucky few who have tickets to see Chicago at the Fraze!  If not, I’m sorry.  And by the way, if you know me, it’s really not hard for me to say I’m sorry.  Saying sorry would be a hard habit to break.

Saturday is AleFest!  This is without a doubt THE place to be if you like beer.  Just be sure to pace yourself and bring a DD!  If you have kids, you’ll be able to take them to Fifth Third Field for the Subway Fresh Fit Family Day, which will include inflatable games, appearances by Heater and Gem, and much more!  Support some great charities, including A Special Wish Foundation and the Special Olympics by attending the 1st Annual Lawmen’s Band Bash at the Clark County Fairgrounds.  If you enjoy festivals, the 18th Greater Dayton Lebanese Festival will still be going on.  The Dayton Diversity International Potluck Luncheon at the main branch of the Dayton Metro Library will provide another opportunity for you to participate in multicultural activities and taste some specialty dishes.  At Fifth Third Field, catch the Dragons play the West Michigan Whitecaps.  And if you prefer to be indoors, you will be able to see The Oldest Profession at the Dayton Theatre Guild or the movie  Grease at Victoria Theatre.

On Sunday, get your bike out and participate in the Tour de Dayton which is the 1st Annual Cycling and Destination Tour.  Check out some sweet rides at the 7th Annual Antioch Shrine Custom Car & Bike Show at RiverScape.  You still have some time to check out/attend some of the events earlier in the week, including the 18th Greater Dayton Lebanese Festival, the showing of the movie Grease as part of the Michelob Ultra Cool Films Series, and The Oldest Profession at the Dayton Theatre Guild.  Listen to the U.S. Air Force Band of Flight at Stubbs Amphitheater in Centerville.  At Fifth Third Field, watch as the Dragons take on the West Michigan Whitecaps.  And finally, to all you wine lovers out there – please don’t “wine” because this week has been about beer.  There is an event for you as well – Primo Vino Sunday at Arrow Wine in Kettering.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rgxa_f9N5LY’]

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

A skeleton walks into a bar and says, “I’ll have a beer and a mop.”

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!

Jane’s Best Bets (6/29 – 7/4)

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Photo Credit: Alli Shillito

Can you believe the 4th of July is already upon us?  Let’s have a great red, white, and blue week!

On Wednesday, you will be able to enjoy a special Beer Tasting with Beer Guru Charles at Rumbleseat Wine.  Sports fanatics should plan to watch the Dragons as they play the Lansing Lugnuts at Fifth Third Field.  If you have a constant craving for live music, listen to k.d. lang and the Siss Boom Bang at the Fraze Pavilion or make your way to Yankee Trace for Jazz on the Green.  And if you love musicals but prefer to stay indoors, make sure you have your tickets to see The Lion King at the Schuster Center.

On Thursday, head to The Moraine Embassy for After Work Thursdays.  If it’s your date night, take your honey out for a delicious dinner at Coco’s Bistro, where they will be offering 1/2 Price Wine by the Bottle.  If you haven’t yet been to a Pecha Kucha, I encourage you to go to the Yellow Cab Building for Volume 7.  It will be a great idea sharing party, with short presentations by a wonderful and diverse group of people!  (For more info, check out the article here.)   And finally, all of you who would like to hang out in Margaritaville should be sure to get your tickets to see Parrots of the Caribbean as part of the 7th Annual Concert for Literacy at the Fraze Pavilion.

On Friday, put your gardening skills to good use at RiverScape with RiverScape Gardeners.  Although you may not be taking that Italian vacation this summer, you can still see Reflections of Italy at Elaine Balsley Fine Art.  In the evening, you will want to be downtown for First Friday, which is a monthly art hop held at several locations throughout downtown.  (For more info, you can click here.)  If you’re a biker, enjoy the summer weather and participate in the Courteous Mass Ride, starting at Fifth-Third Field.  Also there, you will be able to catch the Dragons game where they will be playing the Bowling Green Hot Rods.  In addition, the Cityfolk Festival will be going on at RiverScape.  Or for a blast from the past, head to De’Lish for An Intimate Evening with Chico DeBarge.  And if for some odd reason you’re not downtown, it is perfectly acceptable only if you are wearing your boogie shoes and getting down tonight with KC & The Sunshine Band at Fraze Pavilion.

On Saturday, RiverScape is the place to be.  Consider “Riding the River” with their kayak rentals, or joining in the fun at the Cityfolk Festival.  Over at Fifth Third Field, the Dayton Dragons will be playing the Bowling Green Hot Rods.  Or, you can catch The Lion King (please don’t actually take him home) at the Schuster Center.

On Sunday, the Cityfolk Festival will still be going strong.  There are also a variety of celebrations around the Miami Valley, including the Fairborn Family Block Party, the Star Spangled Celebration at Vandalia Sports Complex, and the Annual Fireworks Buffet at the Dayton Racquet Club.  Also, if you’re downtown, be sure to see the City of Dayton Fireworks!

On Monday (hopefully you have the day off work!), there are several 4th of July celebrations in the area, such as the Americana Festival – Street Fair (Centerville/Washington Township), the Fairborn 4th Parade
at Fairborn Plaza, the Beavercreek 4th of July Festival at Rotary Park, and Kettering’s Go 4th Celebration at Delco Park.  And if you’re not at one of them, hopefully you’re celebrating the day by cooking out with family and friends!

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

What did one flag say to the other flag?  Nothing, it just waved.

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!

Historical, musical, inspiring: Bernstein’s Mass

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Just a quick note. I had the privilege of attending the dress rehearsal Thursday of Bernstein’s Mass, a theatre piece of musicians, singers, dancers. I have just one word: GO. If you possibly can, and you can get a ticket, GO.

From Dayton Philharmonic’s Website:

Using orchestra, chorus, children’s chorus, rock and blues bands, marching band, singers, dancers, and actors, Bernstein tells the powerful story of a group of disillusioned street people who join a visionary leader for a moving voyage of discovery and faith. This groundbreaking creative collaboration between the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra and the Wright State University Theatre, Dance ­and Music Departments promises to be the regional performance event of the season, if not the decade.