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Muse Machine presents “In The Heights” with bonus Pre-Show Celebration!

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One the Dayton’s most valuable assets is its robust arts community, from visual art, music, and all forms of performing arts. We cultivate that talent in our youth, through innovative programs like Muse Machine, which serves over 75,000 students in southwest Ohio.

Every January, Muse Machine presents a musical that features more than 100 young people from across the Miami Valley. I was re-introduced to these musical performances last year, and I was simply blown away by the talent these teenagers display. There is no doubt, several . are bound for Broadway!

This year Muse Machine presents “In the Heights“, a musical by Lin-Manuel Miranda (creator of Hamilton). The story explores three days of the characters’ lives in the NYC Latino neighborhood of Washington Heights. On the brink of change, friends and family bring their hopes and dreams to life. The score features hip-hop, salsa, meringue and soul music.

The Muse Machine musical has been praised by The Dayton Daily News as “a performing arts all-star effort,” while The Oakwood Register has called it “an evening of true theatrical joy… ” You can see it for yourself Thursday January 16th through Sunday January 19th at the Victoria Theatre in Dayton, Ohio, January 16-19, 2020. Tickets available now through Ticket Center Stage.

Of course attending the performance is a fantastic way to support the organization. If you want to go above and beyond, and have some pre-show fun with fabulous people, consider attending Muse Machine’s annual Social & Show from 5:30 – 7:30 on Friday, January 17, 2020.

There you’ll enjoy cocktails & heavy hors d’oeuvres at Table 33. Each ticket will include food and two drink tickets with choice theatre seating.  It’s an evening you won’t want to miss!  Ticket sales for the Social & Show end January 11, 2020, so don’t delay!

HOW TO GO?

Social & Show Pre-Show Party / Fundraiser

Friday, January 17, 2020

5:30 – 7:30pm
Cocktails & heavy hors d’oeuvres
Table 33 (130 W 2nd St, Dayton OH 45402)

Muse Machine presents the hit musical
IN THE HEIGHTS at 8pm
From Lin-Manuel Miranda, creator of HAMILTON
Victoria Theatre (138 N Main St, Dayton OH 45402)

Each ticket includes food, two drink tickets and deluxe theatre seating (seats will be assigned on a first come, first served basis). $45 Ticket for Social only / $100 Social & Show

For info and registration: http://musemachine.com/social/

In the Heights performances:

Thursday January 16, 2020 7pm

Friday, January 17, 2020 8pm

Saturday, January 18, 2020 3pm

Saturday, January 18, 2020 8pm

Sunday January 19, 20020 2pm

Tickets start at $27 and can be purchased here:  https://my.ticketcenterstage.com/overview/6144?fbclid=IwAR04TtWvd-b5JrnGUPpTueUuNmU0tlgtFZOS2nboT3JzjTZBIG_wUJYA77w

Human Race kicks off 17-18 Season with Legendale

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The Human Race Theatre Company kicks off it’s 2017-2018 Season with a fun performance for the next generation of theatre fans! LEGENDALE, an exciting new pop-musical where reality and the digital world collide, opens September 7 and runs through October 1, 2017. 
The story is based on Andy, whose favorite way to escape his miserable job and humdrum life is the online game “Legendale.” He dreams of victory in its new tournament and winning the grand prize to become “the Lord of Legendale,” but is stuck competing as a lowly milkmaid. When things in the online world suddenly take a strange turn, Andy and his avatar must both discover their inner warrior. A blend of romance, adventure and virtual reality with a pop-infused score, it’s an inspiring tale like no other that’s sure to delight!
 
Human Race is offering fun ways to celebrate this first performance, and American Premiere of LEGENDALE! They have two very special upcoming nights that are extra special:
  • HRTC is hosting their very first COSPLAY CONTEST NIGHT  on September 11 with more than $1800 worth of prizes (full list of prizes and rules are posted on the FB event page). Comedian Jessica Graue is MCing the event. $10 for participants, $5 for general audience. Kids can compete too! Registration starts at 6:15pm, pre-judging at 7pm, and parade of costumes at 8pm. All participants ages 13 and up will receive a ticket voucher good for and show on our 2017-2018 Loft season.
  • Young Professionals Night is Saturday, September 16. The pre-show party begins at 5pm in the HRTC rehearsal hall on the second floor below the theatre. They have a massive selection of board games to play, a taco bar, margaritas and craft beer. We will also be giving away prizes donated from 2nd & Charles, The Human Race Theatre, and Sixteen 37. (board games, gift certificates, and more!) Tickets are available at www.ticketcenterstage.com by entering code YPGAME. A value of $70+ for $35!
Don’t miss out on this cutting-edge new musical, that’s perfectly timed after Game of Thrones finale, and during Renaissance Festival season. Fall is the perfect time to let fantasy worlds come alive! So please get your ticket for the first of many amazing productions by our own, Human Race Theatre Company!

How to go?
Performances run Sept 7th through October 1st (Mondays off)
Tickets start at just $12 and up! Special $10 any seat nights also available.
For more info on tickets, click here or call box office: (937) 228-3630
DMM Ticket Give Away:  We’ve got a pair of tickets and winner can pick the date they attend (based on availability).  To enter our drawing, just like and share this post and leave a comment below on why you deserve to win!
We’ll name our winner here Thursday, so check back to see if it’s you!
 

Victoria Theatre Association Announces Additional CELTIC WOMAN Performance

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CelticWoman-150-New-October

Victoria Theatre Association announces the addition of a 7 p.m. show for the global music phenomenon CELTIC WOMAN on May 18, 2014 at the Benjamin & Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center in downtown Dayton. Tickets for the 3:00 p.m. show are going fast and are nearly sold out.

“The ladies of CELTIC WOMAN were so impressed with the Dayton audience and the Schuster Center in May 2013, they announced they were coming back from stage,” said Ken Neufeld, President & CEO of Victoria Theatre Association and The Arts Center Foundation. “We are excited to welcome them back on May 18, 2014.  The show is selling so well, we have had to add a second performance to meet demand.”

Tickets are available in person at Ticket Center Stage, located in the Wintergarden of the Schuster Center, by phone at 937-228-3630 and online at www.ticketcenterstage.com.  Tickets start at $46.50.

 

After School Tuesdays at The Human Race Theatre’s Creativity Center @ The Caryl D. Philips Creativity Center

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After School TuesdaysKids, spend an afternoon The Human Race Theatre Company’s Creativity Center and you will be transported into the imaginative world of theatre. Each week will be designed to introduce a new skill or theatrical area. Develop your skills in improvisation, explore stage makeup technique, write a dramatic script, choreograph a new dance, act out your favorite myth or tall tale. Learn monologues, rehearse scenework and participate in mock auditions. And best of all, make new friends! Healthy afternoon snacks will be provided. This activity is for kids ages 8 – 13.

Event Details:

When: Tuesday February 25, 2014  03:00 PM – 06:00 PM

Cost: $15 pre-reg/$18 at the door

Event Contact Info: Marilyn Klaben
Phone: 461-3823 x3132

Dayton Theatre Auditions

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Washington Township’s Town Hall Theatre will hold auditions for it’s spring production of SEUSSICAL JR on January 4th beginning at 1pm and January 9th beginning at 4pm. The theatre for young audiences will cast children in grades 2 up to adult for some roles.  The show will run March 7 – 23rd.

Registration for auditions is online.  Please do not call the box office to schedule auditions. You will receive an email confirmation with your date and time. We cannot guarantee your choices for audition dates and times, however we will try our best to provide one of your three choices.

PLEASE NOTE: Registration for auditions scheduled on Saturdays must be received by 6pm on the Thursday before the audition. Our box office is closed on Fridays.

 

Playhouse South Hamlet


Playhouse South in Kettering is holding auditions for Hamlet by William Shakespeare, directed by Jen Skudlarek,  on January 6th & 7th at 7pm, with callbacks on January 8th. The performances are on February 28, March 1, 2, 7, 8 at 8:00 pm and March 2 at 2:00 pm. They will be doing cold readings from the script. Please bring any conflicts you may have to auditions. They are looking for 16-20 people, with a minimum of 7 men and 3 women ages 16 and up. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Jen Skudlarek at [email protected].

 

I am Harvey MilkThe Dayton Gay Men’s Chorus will be holding open auditions for men of all ages on January 8, 2014 starting at 7pm at St John’s Lutheran Church located at 141 S Ludlow St, Dayton, OH 45402. Auditions will not only be to become a member of the chorus directly, but to also have the chance to participate in the new ground breaking commissioned oratorio “I am Harvey Milk” written and composed by Tony nominated Andrew Lippa, the be presented at the historic Victoria Theatre. Those wishing to audition should prepare a short piece demonstrating their range, an accompanist will be provided. Audition reservations are not required but a short RSVP or expression if interested is appreciated.


Returning members and new members will also have the opportunity to work directly with the composer at an all day workshop, which is to be announced shortly. Rehearsals are Monday evenings with a preview performance March 15,2014 at the DGMC Benefit, and final performance June 7, 2014 at the Victoria Theatre. For questions an interested please email [email protected] or call             937-530-0642.


Dare to Defy Productions, LLC is proud to announce open auditions for our company,Dare to Defy Productions LLC on Jan 11, 2014.  General Auditions – (Ages 16+) will take place on January 11, 2014. To request an audition, please call 937-999-9949 or through e-mail [email protected]. Please specify an audition window 8:30-10:30 or 11:30-1:30. Please note any actors selected to attend callbacks for You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown will be required to attend callbacks from 2:00-5:00, on January 11, 2014. Audition spaces are limited and will be filled on a first come, first serve basis. You will receive a confirmation e-mail with your audition time confirmation, audition location and a reminder of the audition requirements.Open Auditions will be held for:     You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown, Altar Boyz, Nunsense and Rent (the role of Angel has been pre-cast, all other roles are available)Please note: Auditioners will be auditioning for Dare to Defy Productions, LLC for the period January 2014-March 2015. This means that if other performance opportunities arise actors from these auditions may be invited to callbacks for those productions, as they occur. 


Audition Requirements: Come prepared with 1 one-minute comedic monologue, 1 one-minute dramatic monologue and 1 song (up to 32 bars). Please have a 2nd song, of contrasting style, prepared. Bring your sheet music. An accompanist will be provided. No a cappella singing or recorded music. Please bring a recent headshot and resume, which will not be returned to you.Dare to Defy Productions, LLC is a non-equity professional production company. All roles are paid contract positions. Performances are done in a touring style, at several venues over a 3-month run.Rehearsals will primarily occur Monday – Thursday evenings, and daytime on weekends.

Sing it Strong, Sing it Loud

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Altar Boyz

ENCORE THEATER COMPANY

The quintessential Boy Bands: upbeat (and often emotional) music… slick choreography… the perfect individual and group images… slightly-too-perfect rhymes… the Soul Sensor DX-12? Well, maybe not for any other boy band, but for the Altar Boyz, it’s key! During the final concert of their “Raise the Praise” tour, the Boyz seek to reduce the number of burdened souls in the audience (indicated by the number on the Sensor) to zero.

“Jesus called me on my cell phone / No roaming charges were incurred / He told me that I should go out in the world / And spread His glorious word”

Altar Boyz, presented in real time as that concert, is a satirical, “foot-stomping, rafter-raising musical comedy,” and the fictitious Christian boy band includes five Ohio members: Matthew, Mark, Luke, Juan, and Abraham (who, actually, is Jewish). Some of the Boyz’ signature hits include “Rhythm in Me,” “The Calling,” and “I Believe.” Directed and choreographed by Lauren Morgan and musically directed by Mark Barnhill, this Dayton premiere kicks off Encore Theater Company’s summer season, and runs for one weekend only, June 16 – 18.

“We think that church is super fine / We are the Altar Boyz / We love the wafers and the wine / We are the Altar Boyz / And I think / You’ll find….. We’re gonna altar your mind!”

This show is unique in that each cast member must be a triple-strength performer, because everyone is acting, singing, and dancing for nearly the entire show! Therefore, learning the show has been hard work, but the actors I spoke with were excited about the challenges they’ve faced and the strides they’ve taken as performers. The cast includes students and/or Dayton residents Drew Bown, Andrew Koslow, Korey Harlow, Zack Steele, and Zach King, with a special appearance by local Muse Machine alumnus and Broadway performer Tyler Maynard as “the Voice of God.”

“When I hold your body next to mine / it feels so good / and feels so right / and it also makes my Levis feel real tight… / and I know that there is something about you, baby…/ Girl, you make me want to wait.”

Not only does the cast play a great team onstage, but everyone has an excellent collaboration as well. Each of the cast members are or have studied some type of theatre at the collegiate level, and most are new to Encore Theater Company’s mainstage; however, they’ve all contributed unique talents and abilities to make this show strong and fluid, to refine timing of the show’s extensive humor and rehearse even the most difficult 5-part harmonies. Koslow, who plays Mark, explained in an interview with onStageDayton,

Andrew Koslow, "Mark"

“The most rewarding thing for me about this show is how much we’ve truly banded together (pardon the pun) to make this show happen. We’ve run into a thousand road blocks, from losing cast members to sometimes only having two Boyz available for certain rehearsals due to commitments to other shows. Despite all that, we’ve put together an incredible and entertaining show… I truly couldn’t be prouder of our entire cast and production team.”

That commitment and collaboration have paid off: Zack Steele, who plays Juan, praises,

Zach Steele, "Juan"

“[Altar Boyz] will have [audience members] crying from laughing so hard. The script is bulletproof and the Boyz’ chemistry on stage will carry you on a journey all the way through curtain call. The singing is great and the satire is ever-present.”

Koslow added,

“I truly believe there is something for everyone in this show, and no one can prove me wrong unless they come and see for themselves.”

“You know The Bible tells you God’s the one that made you / So get out on the dance floor And shake what He gave you!”

So, whether you’re holding onto music of the early ‘90s or just love to make fun of boy bands, Altar Boyz is the perfect show for you. Don’t miss it!

Tickets & Performance Information

Altar Boyz – June 16 – 18, 8:00 pm

Encore Theater Company

Performances will be held at Sinclair Community College’s Blair Hall Theatre. Tickets are $15 and can be reserved through http://brushfire.e-vent.info/Events/Sinclair/Default.aspx, by contacting (937) 512-2808 (be sure to leave a message) or [email protected]

For more information, check out the Altar Boyz blog or Encore Theater Company.

~KN

Coming Up in Dayton Theatre: 06/09 – 06/22

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THURSDAY, JUNE 9 – WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2011

Evil Dead: CATCO

Evil Dead: the Musical at CATCO (Photo Credit Dave Alkire and CATCO-Phoenix)

The unexpected happens a lot in theatre. Everything rarely goes exactly as planned; that is the nature of live theatre, and we have to learn to deal quickly to make things work. And yesterday, the show I’m ASMing (Evil Dead: the Musical at CATCO; it’s a professional show and well worth the drive out to Columbus, so come see it!) was no exception. Halfway through the show, the hinge on the trap door broke when one character stomped to close it; so my crew and I scrambled around backstage alerting actors and shuffling duties so that a crew person could be underneath the door as needed. We averted any potential injuries or changes to the blocking, finished the show well and fully, and fixed the door immediately after.

At first, the thought of problems is irritating. Why can’t things just work all the time? Why can’t we be in control of everything during a show? As Assistant Stage Manager, if something backstage goes wrong, it’s my fault. I really like when the show and the effects run smoothly.

However, thinking about it, I realize a certain exhilaration, too. Having something go wrong, but being able to work together to get past it and make the show work, is a mark of good collaboration and communication within a show. If our cast and crew weren’t working well together, we couldn’t fix problems like the cellar door on the spot. Those elements are part of the very essence of theatre, whether garage, community, or Equity, and seeing them lived out successfully reminds me why I love theatre, and why Dayton theatre is so great. These next couple of weeks, we have venue and artistic collaborations on shows, as well as the individual process of each performance. Support those this weekend, and go see one of these great productions.

Another Openin’, Another Show

…SHOWS OPENING SOON

The Mystery of Edwin DroodEdwin Drood: BCT

BEAVERCREEK COMMUNITY THEATRE

The Story: John Jasper, a Jekyll-and-Hyde choirmaster, desperately loves his music student, Miss Rosa Bud, who is engaged to Jasper’s nephew, Edwin Drood. However, when Edwin Drood disappears mysteriously one stormy Christmas Eve, suspicions abound. In this adaptation of Dickens’ last and unfinished manuscript and a show-within-a-show, audiences choose the ending!
Dates: June 10 – 19, 2011
Tickets & More Information: BC Theatre: Edwin Drood

…SHOWS CLOSING SOON

right next to me

HUMAN RACE THEATRE COMPANY

The Story: A war widow, attempting to cope with her Marine husband’s death in Iraq, goes with her brother-in-law on a quest to scatter her husband’s ashes where he required, remembering and seeing flashbacks along the way in an emotionally moving and uplifting journey. This show premiered in an earlier and very different version as part of the Human Race Musical Theatre Workshops in 2009.
The Dates: May 21 – June 12, 2011
Tickets & More Information: Human Race Theatre Company

…ONE WEEKEND ONLY

Southern Comforts

YOUNG AT HEART PLAYERS and DAYTON THEATRE GUILD

The Story: Some people thrive and grow enervated with change; others, run from any potential unsettlement. In a Victorian era New Jersey, a taciturn Yankee widower and a vivacious Tennessee grandmother find a second chance at love, but the relationship is filled with surprise and unpredictable tribulation. A collaboration between two theatres, “this off-Broadway success is an affecting, late-in-life journey of compromise and rejuvenation, of personal risk and the rewards of change” (DTG).
Dates: June 10 – 12, 2011
Tickets and More Information: Dayton Theatre Guild, DMM Event

Altar Boyz

ENCORE THEATER COMPANY

Altar Boyz

The Story: In this foot-stomping, rafter-raising, musical comedy, a fictitious Christian boy band performs on the last night of their national “Raise the Praise” tour. The Boyz are five all-singing, all-dancing heartthrobs from Ohio: Matthew, Mark, Luke, Juan and Abraham. Performed in Sinclair CC’s Blair Hall Theatre, this show is perfect for those who love (and to love to make fun of) boy bands!
Dates: June 16 – 18, 2011
Tickets and More Information: Encore Theater Company

Part of it All

…AUDITIONS AND CASTING CALLS

Into the Woods: PHS

Into the Woods

PLAYHOUSE SOUTH

Auditions: June 13 & 14
Performances: August 12 – 21, 2011
The Story: After a Witch curses a Baker and his wife with childlessness, the couple embarks on a quest for special objects from classic fairy tales to break the spell, stealing from and lying to Cinderella, Little Red, Rapunzel, and Jack (of beanstalk fame). But the characters didn’t count on the consequences of their actions or the disasters that would ensue…
More Information: Playhouse South: Into the Woods

Harvey

BEAVERCREEK COMMUNITY THEATRE

Auditions: June 13 & 14, 2011
Performances: August 26 – September 4, 2011
The Story: Elwood P. Dowd begins introducing his imaginary friend, Harvey (a six and a half foot rabbit) at a society party; his sister, Veta, can’t tolerate the embarrassment and has him committed to a sanitarium. However, problems arrive when Veta explains that years of living with Elwood have made her see Harvey, too! The doctors commit Veta instead of Elwood, but when the truth comes out, the search is on for Elwood and his invisible companion.
More Information: BC Theatre: Auditions

~KN

A&E on a Budget: UD Presents Free Arts Performance

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University of Dayton's Ebony Heritage SingersThe University of Dayton will be taking over the Schuster Center on Tuesday, April 5th, for their annual Celebration of the Arts performance. Where else can you experience eighteen different arts ensembles in under 2 hours? And even better – it’s free!

The evening will feature performances by University of Dayton music, theater and dance students as well as visual arts displays in the lobby. Burt Saidel, arts reviewer for The Oakwood Register, and Georgie Woessner, general manager of WDPR-FM, will serve as masters of ceremonies. The evening begins at 6:30 pm in the Wintergarden with a visual arts display and pre-show entertainment. The evening will continue at 8 pm in the Mead Theatre. The event is free, but tickets are required and can be reserved online.

Don’t forget to check out other wallet-friendly options on UD’s campus:

The University’s annual LitFest kicks off with poets Kathy Fagan and Kwame Dawes on Friday, April 1, starting at 7:30 pm in Sears Recital Hall. Attend the opening program for free, or register for a weekend full of workshops and readings.

ArtStreet’s Friday Film Series presents Howl (4/1), Elephant in the Living Room (4/8) and Exit Through the Gift Shop (4/15). Film screenings start at 9 pm and are free and open to the public.

The Theatre Program will present Smoke on the Mountain, April 1-3 and 7-9 at Kennedy Union’s Boll Theatre. Directed by Gina Kleesattel, this musical promises to deliver an uplifting evening of “singin’ and witnessin”. Tickets are $12; call (937) 229-2545.

The Department of Music offers a number of free performances during April; visit http://calendar.udayton.edu or http://arts.udayton.edu for a complete schedule.

UD is certainly not the only campus with free or cheap arts and entertainment. All of the colleges and universities in the Dayton region offer a wide variety of events, and many are open to the public. From the art galleries of Sinclair Community College to the Artist Series at Wright State University, there is something for everyone!

Arts and Entertainment on a Budget – Feb. 4th Edition

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The ice is finally melting, so cure that cabin fever and check out these wallet-friendly entertainment options:

The Super Bowl is sure to be a weekend highlight for many, but if football isn’t your thing, go see “9 to 5: The Musical” this Sunday instead! Get 4 tickets for just $90 or 2 tickets for just $50! Call 228-3630 or visit http://ticketcenterstage.com and use the code FOOTBALL.

Join JumpstART on Feb. 10th for Jump Into Theatre.  This young-professional branch of Culture Works is offering half-price tickets to “Twelfth Night,” plus a backstage tour.  Tickets are going fast, so reserve yours now!

Riverscape Ice Rink offers free skating on Tuesdays and Wednesdays ($3 to rent skates), and only costs $5 (including skate rental) the rest of the week. You can even celebrate Valentine’s Day early at the  Saturday Night Sweetheart Skate from 7 to 10 p.m. on February 12.; the first 100 couples will receive a free flower from the Flowerman!

Encore Theater Company will host the New York bound musical “Hot Mess in Manhattan” on Saturday, Feb. 12 at 8 pm at Sinclair Community College, Building 8. Tickets will be $18 at the door, but reserve your table of 4 now and pay only $12.15 per person! Visit http://www.encoretheatercompany.com/ to order your tickets; just select “reserved table of 4” and enter the code “hotmess” to receive the discount.

Student and community theatre productions always make a great date night at a great price. The University of Dayton Theatre Program is presenting Sam Shepard’s “True West” Feb. 4-6 and 10-12; tickets are only $12.  Centerville High School will present “Crimes of the Heart” on Feb. 11 and 12; admission is free, but donations will benefit the CHS Drama Club. These are just a few of the upcoming (and affordable) theatre performances in Dayton; visit onStageDayton for many more.

Don’t forget to start your night out off right with a great meal! Dayton Dining offers lots of tips and discounts for local restaurants; just “like” their Facebook page for the inside scoop.

Finally, buy your tickets now for “The Drowsy Chaperone,” and save 35%!   This Broadway Series production will be at the Victoria Theatre from March 8-20. Visit http://ticketcenterstage.com before Feb. 18th and use the code JANET.

Calling “Dolly”: behind the scenes as a stage manager

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CU: Hello, Dolly

Jessica Hickling as Dolly Levi (Photo Credit Beth Porter)

HELLO, DOLLY

CEDARVILLE UNIVERSITY

Win tickets to this show! Read on…

5:17 pm

Balancing my prompt book and score, yellow legal pad, and Chai tea, I dart between two ladders (bearing paint-splattered shop workers, detailing the archway) to stand on the stage. Our first dress rehearsal begins soon, and the DeVries Theatre is busy. Properties supervisors cross the stage with a tray of tiered glasses and a stack of suitcases; our technical director oversees crew members counterweighting the chandelier at the flyrail; show director, Bob Clements, is deep in conversation with a designer.

I’m the Stage Manager for this production of Hello, Dolly! at Cedarville University, where I’m a senior theatre performance major. I applied and was selected as SM last spring, and have been thinking about or working with the show in some capacity since; the time has both passed slowly and flown by.

The rehearsal sign-in I posted earlier tells me that so far, cast members have arrived on time. Failure to do so results in fines – ordinarily $1/minute, but twice that during tech week. Although the program here is small, the professors work hard and creatively to instill professionalism in us.

I visit dressing and makeup rooms, greeting people and checking progress, before heading back upstairs. The couple of hours before rehearsal begins have a strange pacing, a mixture of urgent and quiet. The theatre is busy as people hurry to finish tasks, yet the pace is controlled, and these few moments are calm. In a little while, I’ll start calling the time until costume checks, go over the lighting effects with the designer, and ensure everything is ready; but for now, I drink my tea and review the opening sequence of cues.

7:24 pm

CU: Hello, Dolly (photo credit Beth Porter)

Ensemble (photo credit Beth Porter)

We’re a little late starting costume checks, but that is understandable for first dress, and I work to keep everyone moving. The costumers have done an amazing job with each of the thirty-eight cast members: the women are gorgeous in long, jewel-toned dresses and ornate hats; the men dashingly sport white tailed suits.

Student wardrobe manager, Amanda, a measuring tape draped over her shoulder, takes notes; I catch a glimpse of her spreadsheet, orderly and extremely detailed. Don, our eclectic and beloved design supervisor, surveys the actors individually, commenting on details many wouldn’t even know to notice. Pushing up his round glasses, he crosses his arms. “Where are his spats? He’ll need spats,” he says, and immediately a crew member rushes downstairs to pull some.

8:35 pm

“Are the actors in place?” I inquire over our intercom headsets. After receiving confirmation, I prepare everyone for our initial cues. After delaying start time to accommodate for costumes and tech, we’re finally ready to begin. “Standby follow-spot… Mrs. Porter and F1, go.”

The musical director appears from the archway, a spotlight illuminating her walk into the pit; she bows before our imaginary audience, raises her hands, and at her cue the overture begins. I breathe and mentally run through the cues: Take follow spot out and narrow lights on ramp. Transitional lights. Curtain up…

9:59 pm

The makeup room is busy, though not overwhelming, during intermission. Ben greys his hair, Charlee attaches facial hair, and Jessica adjusts her hatpins. “Ten minutes,” I announce, receiving a chorusing, “Thank you, ten!” from those in earshot. After refilling my water bottle, I return to the light board, put on my headset, and open my score to the entr’acte. Five minutes to end of intermission…

“Kate?” The light board operator gets my attention. “We’re using the chandelier here for the first time tonight, and I need to check the programming.”

CU: Hello, Dolly

Hello, Dolly! cast (Photo Credit Scott Huck)

“I’ll get the designer,” I offer, and call into com, “Carolyn, we have a lighting question. Could you run up please?” A moment later, she appears in her ornate costume and hat; Carolyn is also an ensemble member. Multiple interests and skills are common to the dedicated majors of our department. Jessica plays Dolly and designed the hair/makeup; Denise is an ensemble member, scene shop employee, and dramaturg; beside stage managing, I’m an electrician and student box office manager. Our program is conducive to educating those with multifaceted aspirations; many of us take both upper-level design and performance classes. Professor (and Dolly director) Mr. Clements stresses that we never know where we’ll have the opportunity for employment, so should be versatile and marketable, and always “do the ordinary extraordinarily,” no matter what that “ordinary” may be.

10:39 pm

Listening both to the show’s dialogue and com headset’s hum, I call the lighting cue an instant before the waiters dance onto stage bearing silver trays. I say, “Standby for L53…” Stanley enters. “L53, go.”

“Standby for Follow Spot 26…” Dolly is going to arrive at the Harmonia Gardens restaurant; the waiters and cooks scramble into place. Stanley breathes his line and I see the tip of the feather from Jessica’s headdress behind the backdrop. “F26, go.” Jessica, in a sparkling sapphire gown and with a gaze that intermingles flirty and reminiscent, enters as Dolly into the light. She is beautiful, and the waiters see it, their eyes on her every movement.

“Hello, Harry, well, hello, Louie, it’s so nice to be back home where I belong…”

The men unite for their verse of the song. “Standby for L54.” Dolly crosses back to the stairs, t urns her head slightly, and looks out wistfully just as I call, “go,” and the lights shift with her thought…

CU: Hello, Dolly

Rehearsing for the Harmonia Gardens

11:52 pm

“Let’s go ahead and get started with the production meeting,” I say, and begin to ask each team member for their feedback and discussion items. “From my perspective, I felt the show went well. We have a few things we need to adjust, but otherwise, cues and scene changes went well, and the show ran smoothly…”

A few remaining actors, just out of hair and makeup, shuffle through the theatre on their way home. During the next forty-five minutes, we discuss aspects of the show from costume design to dramaturgy, handling issues that arose and coordinating our work; when I dismiss the meeting, only a few are able to head home, but the majority of technicians stand and go to continue working.

1:05 am

As I go to the design lab to email our rehearsal log, I pass Amanda laying out snacks on a chair by the props table. “This is for the props crew,” she explains, “although you can have some, too.” She continues explaining that several of the students are each setting food out for a crew, to show their and the cast’s appreciation. Our department, in many ways, is like a family, and we look out for each other. The properties supervisors, exhausted but surprised, come over to take a moment’s break as I again towards turn the lab to get ready for tomorrow’s rehearsal.

Before the Parade Passes By…

Performance Information

Hello, DollyThe Story: Dolly Levi, adored by all (especially the waiters at the Harmonia Gardens Restaurant) is a self-termed meddler, but this time, she’s scheming to arrange her own marriage, to the well-known and rich Horace Vandergelder. In this optimistic and fun musical, Dolly charms (and meddles) her way into his heart, setting up a few other matches along the way.
Dates: February 3 – 5, 10 – 12; curtains at 8:00 pm, with additional Saturday performances at 2:00 pm.
Tickets: Cedarville University: Tickets
More Information: Cedarville University: Theatre Season

Win Free Tickets!

The Cedarville University Theatre & onStageDayton on DaytonMostMetro.com have teamed up to give you a chance to win tickets to HELLO, DOLLY!  We will be giving away up to TWO pairs of tickets for the second weekend of the show! (February 10-12)  All you need to do is:

  • Share this article on Facebook or Twitter…just click the appropriate button at the top of this page.
  • Fill out the contact form at the bottom of this post.
  • Leave a comment, answering the following question…Dolly Levi is a matchmaker…Have you ever had someone set you up on a blind date?  What’s your worst/funniest blind date story? (no names, please…to protect the innocent/guilt)
  • The deadline to enter is 9AM on FRIDAY, February 4th.
  • Winners will be selected randomly from all of the entries.

Contest Closed

Arts and Entertainment on a Budget

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Marsha Pippenger said it best in her article about supporting the Dayton arts scene: just go. Yet despite the plethora of arts and entertainment options in Dayton, we all have our excuses, and money is certainly a legitimate one. The arts aren’t cheap to produce, and while the high quality productions are usually worth every penny, many of us can’t afford to drop that kind of cash every weekend. That being said, my motto for 2011 is “No Excuses.” So fear not – there are plenty of discounts and freebies to go around. Here are just a few:
Twelfth Night
Oscar season is upon us, and “The King’s Speech” is certain to appear on the list of nominees. Check it out at The Neon this week; on Tuesdays, tickets are only $5! Even full-price tickets at The Neon ($8.50 for evening screenings) are a few dollars cheaper than the big-box movie theatres.

This Wednesday (1/26), preview the Human Race’s “Twelfth Night” for the price of a canned good. Ticket distribution begins at 5:30 pm (first-come, first-served); performance begins at 7 pm. If you can’t make it to Wednesday’s Pay What You Can performance, then join JumpstART on Feb. 10th for Jump Into Theatre.  This young-professional branch of Culture Works is offering half-price tickets to “Twelfth Night,” plus a backstage tour.

Are you a fan of bluegrass? JumpstART is also offering discounted tickets to the Ricky Skaggs concert on Jan. 29th, presented by Cityfolk.

If jazz is more your style, then don’t miss the Eddie Brookshire Quintet on Monday, Jan. 31st at the University of Dayton. This concert is free! Learn more about this high energy ensemble at http://www.eddiebrookshiremusic.com.

Forbidden Broadway: Dances with the Stars will hit the Victoria Theatre stage on February 19th; buy your ticket online before January 28th and get 35% off. Just visit http://www.ticketcenterstage.com and use the code “DWTS”.

Coming Up in Dayton Theatre – 12/23 – 01/05

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2010 – WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 5, 2011

La Comedia: White Christmas

La Comedia: White Christmas / Photo Credit: La Comedia Dinner Theatre

Somehow, Christmas is only two days from today. Wow. It’s hard to decide what my favorite parts of the holidays would be, but if I had to choose, I think I might say:

1. Christmas Cookies – and, especially, buckeyes! We have an amazing buckeye recipe that is neither too peanut buttery and sticky nor too dry, and whenever we make any, they disappear almost instantly.

2. Family and Friends – yes, I have the same family and friends the other 364 days of the year, too. But, I love that the holidays provide a great opportunity to have people over and spend time with those I love. It’s easy to miss people not there more than usual on the holidays, especially the people I wish could be there to celebrate with us. but that only seems to make the time I can spend with people even more precious.

3. Holiday music and movies – I mean, it wouldn’t be a holiday without something artistic, right? My sister and I watch a musical version of “A Christmas Carol” every year, and a few days ago, I curled up with coffee and a blanket to watch “White Christmas.” I’m rarely in the mood for Christmas until I’ve watched at least one great holiday movie.

It seems like those highlights are at the top lists of many others, too. Speaking of all of those things (food, fellowship, and… films!), it’s not too late to catch this production that’s closing soon…

White Christmas

LA COMEDIA DINNER THEATRE

The Story: In the stage adaptation of the classic 1954 film, two WWII veterans, now successful song-and-dance performers, follow a duo of singing sisters en route to their Christmas show in Vermont, hoping for romance. But the 80 degree weather has everyone dreaming of a white Christmas! Enjoy great dinner and the show.

Dates: through December 31, 2010

Tickets and More Information: La Comedia: White Christmas , DMM event

Instead of just watching a holiday movie this year, go with your family to see a show – you could even consider starting a new tradition of doing so. I hope you all enjoy the next couple of weeks, and take the opportunity to let those around you know you love them. The 2011 year already promises to be a busy one in Dayton area theatre, so make sure to keep following onStageDayton at DaytonMostMetro.com for all your theatre news and reviews.

Happy holidays!

~KN

SUBMITTED PRESS RELEASES

We encourage local theatre companies to submit calendar items HERE, and official press releases to [email protected].

Empty Seats: Is the ORIGINAL American Musical In trouble?

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Scottsboro Boys Broadway PosterSCOTTSBORO BOYS

Kander & Ebb’s Final Masterpiece

By most standards, Broadway is enjoying a banner year. Last year’s huge musical hits – Next to Normal, Memphis, Promises, Promises, Rock of Ages and Green Day’s American Idiot are still running to great houses. Many of these shows are heading out on the road if not already.  Current news in New York has the $65 Million gamble – Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark (directed by Julie “Lion King” Taymor with music by U2’s Bone and The Edge) generating huge buzz and new film-turned-musicals Catch Me If You Can, Sister Act, and Leap Of Faith all announcing spring openings.  Even in the world of non-musical fare, the hits keep on coming – Free Man Of Color, Driving Miss Daisy, War Horse, Time Stands Still, Lombardi, and a star-studded The Merchant of Venice.

“Slowly but surely, Dayton seems ready to embrace NEW ORIGINAL work, but is it enough?”

Here in Dayton this season, we’ll see the arrival of Avenue Q (after a much lauded tour of Spring Awakening just passed through) as well as NEW emerging musicals and plays in development from Dayton Playhouse, The Human Race Theatre Company, Encore Theater Company and others.  Slowly but surely, Dayton seems ready to embrace NEW ORIGINAL work, but is it enough?

Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson on BroadwayAmid all of New York openings is a terrifying reality as well. Two of the most critically acclaimed and game-changing ORIGINAL musicals have opened and posted closing notices despite being considered by many as changing the course of American Theatre. The emo-punk musical history lesson – Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson and The Scottsboro Boys – the final work from the legendary creative team of John Kander & Fred Ebb (Chicago, Cabaret, etc.)

Directed by 5-time Tony® Award winner Susan Stroman (The Producers), this daring and wildly entertaining musical explores a fascinating chapter in American history with arresting originality. The show is based on the notorious “Scottsboro” case in the 1930s, in which 9 African-American men were unjustly accused of a terrible crime. Their shocking and inspiring story – told though a mix of innovative staging and piercing new songs – demands to be shared. And yet, after December 12 – it will be gone.

Christopher Dimond – a New York-based musical theatre composer and good friend of Encore Theater Company – recently discussed his sadness – not only about the closing of this definitive show – but what it says about audiences willing to take risks on something ‘new’ instead of always falling back on the tried and true.  We here at onStageDayton felt it was well worth re-printing here.

-David Brush

How I Failed the Scottsboro Boys

CHRISTOPHER DIMOND

Kooman & Dimond Blog

Scottsboro BoysIt’s easy to gripe about the state of Broadway these days. Trust me, I do it a lot. Original musicals are a rarity. Juke Box shows and movie adaptations dominate the Great White Way, cotton candy and bubble gum pop for the tourist crowd. Fluff trumps substance.

Who’s to blame for this? My personal favorite scapegoats are producers. “If only producers had some balls,” I whine after watching an MTV telecast of a musical about a girl who goes to law school to impress her boyfriend, “Then we’d actually see the high-quality, in-your-face, change-your-life kind of musicals that we should be seeing.”

“It’s an absolute crime, a soul-crushing travesty, that this show is closing, while elsewhere lighthearted Abba tunes will be sung in seeming perpetuity.”

So, who’s to blame when producers with balls take a risk on something daring, audacious, and effing beautiful and it still “fails” on Broadway?

The short answer: me.

Scottsboro BoysThe Scottsboro Boys is a triumph of modern musical theater. It’s brilliant, it’s bold, it’s provocative, it’s moving, it’s surprising, it’s a whole bunch of adjectives that collectively still do not do it justice. And most of all, it’s a story that needs to be told, told in an incredibly powerful manner. It’s the best musical I’ve seen in years. In no way, NO WAY, can this show be described as a failure.

The cast, Kander and Ebb’s score, David Thompson’s book, Susan Stroman’s direction/choreography, the design… it’s not perfect, but it’s about as close to perfect a production as you’ll find on Broadway today.

And yet, producers announced this week that the show will close December 12th, after 49 performances and 29 previews.

Does that make the production a “failure”? Does it mean that we need some alternate model for producing smaller, edgier musicals than the Broadway one? Those are conversations I’ll save for another time.

The simple fact of the matter is this: People are going to lose money producing a brilliant piece of theater. And, more devastatingly, A LOT of people are going to miss out on the chance to see The Scottsboro Boys.  It’s an absolute crime, a soul-crushing travesty, that this show is closing, while elsewhere lighthearted Abba tunes will be sung in seeming perpetuity.

Yes, the show had a healthy run at the Vineyard, and no, the point of creating art should not be to turn a profit. You can even make the argument that it was a mistake to try to transfer such a risky show. But I’m not buying it. This show deserves to be seen, and it deserves to be seen by as many people as possible. Broadway gives it the best chance to do that.

I refuse to believe, POSITIVELY WILL NOT ACCEPT the idea that there are not enough people out there who want to be moved, to be challenged, to be changed by a musical in order to keep this show running.

Scottsboro BoysIt’s going to be easy to blame the marketing of the show, or the subject matter, claiming that it’s just too tough of a sell for Broadway. Bullshit. Here’s all the marketing a show like this should need: “It’s fucking amazing. Go see it. Now.”

Years down the road, pundits will shake their heads and say, “The show simply didn’t find its audience.” I’ll argue differently. The audience simply didn’t find its show.

If we are going to complain about the state of Broadway, then we, as an audience, AS A THEATER COMMUNITY, have a responsibility to actively seek out productions that are extraordinary, to support them by paying for tickets, and to promote the hell out of them through word of mouth, social media, blackmail, whatever’s necessary to advance the cause of innovative, exceptional theater.

I didn’t do that with The Scottsboro Boys. I waited until the closing notice had been posted to buy my ticket. I should have rushed out immediately. I should have been the first in line. I should have shouted from the rooftops.

I didn’t do that.

And, apparently, I wasn’t the only one.

-cd

OnStageGuide: 2010/2011

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onStageDayton ...with Shane & Dave

Top 14 Picks for the 2010-11 Local Theater Season

Shane Anderson & David Brush

So there is all this talk about how great the arts are in Dayton.  You keep hearing how that for a city of it’s size, Dayton is like numero uno for arts organizations, but you never know quite for sure what show you should attend…something that you know you’ll like and it won’t be a waste of time and money for you.  Well, here you go, this is a guide to the local theater season, but we’ve narrowed it down a bit.

Whether your a regular theatre-goer, a novice, or just hate musicals (how could you!), there is something on this list for everyone. So rather than overwhelming you with the more than 85 plays and musicals that will grace area stages this season, Shane and Dave have compiled our most-anticipated Top 14 highlights of the season complete with pop cultural references to help you navigate! But we don’t want you to just take OUR word for it – so we’ve included the website links to the OTHER offerings for each organization for those of you who dare venture away from the path. (PS – We encourage such venturing!)

Dave’s Top 7 Picks

August Osage County - Human Race Theatre & Wright State TheatreAugust: Osage County

by Tracy Letts
Human Race Theatre Company and Wright State University

Stellar Cast. Amazing venue. First regional production since Broadway. This has the makings of setting the bar high right away in the fall. People can’t seem to get enough of this darkly comic play about family dysfunction. This is not a light evening at the theatre but it IS a rewarding one.

September 23-October 10, 2010 – www.HumanRaceTheatre.org & www.Wright.edu

If you like O’Neill’s ‘Long Day’s Journey Into Night’, you’ll LOVE ‘August: Osage County’

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels - La ComediaDirty Rotten Scoundrels

Book by Jeffrey Lane
Music & Lyrics by David Yazbek
based on the film by Frank Oz
La Comedia Dinner Theatre

It had a successful Broadway run and a troubled national tour. But it’s post-Broadway life is seeing some light primarily thanks to the hilarious original source material (the fantastic film starring Steve Martin) and a smart composer in David Yazbek who has a flare for comedy. The comedy centers on a pair of con-men competing for the affections (and money) of Beumont Sur Mer’s upper crust. When the con goes on a little long, hilarity and chaos ensue. There’s a great twist at the end (I won’t spoil it for you) and the entire show is really very smart. It should be fascinating to see it in a more intimate setting like La Comedia.
September 8-October 31, 2010 – www.LaComedia.com

If you like ‘The Full Monty’, you’ll LOVE ‘Dirty Rotten Scoundrels’

Romeo & Juliet - Shakespeare in South Park

Romeo & Juliet

by William Shakespeare
Shakespeare in South Park

Huh? “Gone with the Wind”? “Romeo & Juliet”? Yes, the Shakespeare in South Park troupe has decided to return to their original concept of setting W.S. classics in a post-war setting, this time in a border state in the years following the Civil War.  Everyone is still wearing their uniforms and bent out of shape about loyalties brought about by war.  We hear that the scenic elements will include an actual historic carriage house neighboring the park where the show will be performed. (hmmm? Balcony scene????)…and the good news is…this show is FREE- but I’m sure donations will be gratefully accepted!

September 17-19, 2010 – www.HistoricSouthPark.org

If you like ‘Gone with the Wind’, you’ll LOVE ‘Romeo & Juliet’


The Spitfire GrilleThe Spitfire Grill

Music and Book by James Valcq
Lyrics and Book  by Fred Alley
Based on the film by Lee David Zlotoff
Beavercreek Community Theatre

You may remember this quiet little brilliant film from the 90’s about a young female ex-con who discovers a new life in a small town. The film was powerful and darkly heartwarming and seemed unlikely material for a musical. But Valcq and Alley do a gorgeous job of capturing the heart of the film with a colorful transcendent country-flavored score. One of my personal favorite nights at the theater. I’d been hoping to see it produced again since I first saw it some years ago and I’m even more pleased to see it under the direction of of one the areas most respected directors – Doug Lloyd.

September 17-26, 2010 – www.BCTheatre.org

If you like redemption stories like ‘Eat. Pray. Love.’,  you’ll LOVE ‘’The Spitfire Grill’

Grey Gardens - SEED Theatre ProjectGrey Gardens, the musical

Book by Doug Wright
Music by Scott Frankel
Lyrics by Michael Korie
Based on the 1975 documentary by Albert & David Maysles
SEED Theatre Project

When you think of the list of most unlikely source material for a musical, it’s hard to not move Grey Gardens to the top. On the surface, the true story of an aged recluse and her daughter living in squalor in an East Hampton mansion (where the cat population far outweighs the human one) seems like the stuff of reality TV. But when you consider that these two were once at the height of New York City’s most exclusive circles of wealth and prestige, it is even more shocking. Oh yeah – and did I mention they are related to Jackie Kennedy Onassis? This is the ultimate “black sheep in the family” story and like any good train wreck, you just can’t turn away.

November 5-6, 2010 – www.SEEDTheatreProject.org

If you like the TLC’s Hoarders, you’ll LOVE ‘Grey Gardens’

Wit at Dayton PlayhouseWit

by Margaret Edson
Dayton Playhouse

Anyone whose life has been touched in some way by cancer (and whose hasn’t?) will be moved by this tour-de-force. HBO loved it so much they cast Emma Thompson in the film several years ago. Dayton Playhouse is coming off a fabulous season and no doubt this will be a welcome addition.

November 12-21, 2010 – www.DaytonPlayhouse.org

If you like Showtime’s new series THE BIG C, you’ll LOVE Wit

The Drowsy Chaperone by Victoria Theatre Association & The Human Race Theatre Co.The Drowsy Chaperone

Book by Bob Martin & Don McKeller
Music & Lyrics by Lisa Lambert & Greg Morrison
Victoria Theatre Association & Human Race Theatre Company

There is something at once nostalgic and contemporary about this Tony-Winner from a few years back. Basically – here it is in a nutshell: A musical theatre fan plays his favorite cast album (yes – album!) and the characters, story and shenanigans come to life right in his one-room apartment. PLUS – produced under the care of The Human Race makes this is both a surefire hit AND a Dayton Original.

March 8-20, 2011 – www.VictoriaTheatre.com & www.HumanRaceTheatre.org

If you like ‘The Carol Burnett Show’,  you’ll LOVE ‘The Drowsy Chaperone’

Shane’s Top 7 Picks

Glengarry Glen Ross by Springfield Stage WorksGlengarry Glen Ross

by David Mamet
Springfield StageWorks

It won the Pulitzer. It won the Tony. The playwright is legendary. and still this 1982 play about the illegal and unethical activities of a Chicago real estate outfit remains vital and edgy -particularly in our current economic climate. Fair warning: Mamet’s favorite word is four letters and starts with an ‘F’ – SO MUCH SO that during the making of the film adaptation, the cast affectionately subtitled the play, Death of a “F*&^*& Salesman.”

September 2-11, 2010 – www.SpringfieldStageWorks.org

If you like AMC’s ‘’Mad Men’, you’ll LOVE ‘Glengarry Glen Ross’


Once On This Island - Sinclair TheatreOnce On This Island

Music by Stephen Flaherty
Book & Lyrics by Lynn Ahrens
Sinclair Theatre

A Caribbean-flavored romance where two star-crossed lovers – one lower class native and one French upper class – must find a way to be together despite the pressures of their feuding families, Once On This Island uses dance, music, and folklore to spin this timeless tale.  This show will likely be a joyful, colorful event for the whole family.  The music for the show – from the creators of Ragtime and Seussical – is spirited and melodic and the themes of survival amidst peril feel contemporary again in light of recent tragedies in Haiti.

October 15-23, 2010 – www.Sinclair.edu

If you like ‘Pippin’ and ‘Romeo & Juliet’, you’ll LOVE ‘Once On This Island’

The Second City: Fair & Unbalanced - Victoria Theatre

The Second City:  Fair & Unbalanced

Victoria Theatre Association

With an alumni list that includes Alan Alda, Dan Akroyd, Chris Farley, Jim & John Belushi, Tina Fey and Stephen Colbert…who can resist a night of “LMAO” comedy?  While the touring cast does not include any of these big stars, you never know if there might just be a future Gilda Radnor on stage (We’re not sure if there is any relation, but there is a young Belushi listed in the cast of this ensemble).  You never know, you might just witness comedy history on the stage of the Victoria in October!

October 23, 2010 – www.VictoriaTheatre.com

If you like Saturday Night Live,  you’ll LOVE ‘The Second City: Fair & Unbalanced’

Flash: A New Musical by Dan Hunt at Clark State Community College

Flash: A New Musical

book, music & lyrics by Dan Hunt
Clark State Community College

Honestly, we know very little about this new show about to premiere at Clark State, but we LOVE the fact that they are willing to take a chance on a brand new musical!  The premise is that Ed, a seemingly normal guy revisits his past (in a musical form) during a horrific moment when all of the highs and lows of his life flash before his eyes.  The show was conceived, written & directed by Springfield resident Dan Hunt, technical director and theatre professor at Clark State.

October 29-November 7, 2010 – www.ClarkState.edu

If you like J.J. Abrams’ shows, you’ll LOVE ‘Flash:  A New Musical’

An Evening with Sutton FosterAn Evening with Sutton Foster

accompanied by Michael Rafter
Springfield Arts Council

How can one even begin to explain the joy that IS Sutton Foster?  Foster first claimed her fame as the chorus girl plucked out of obscurity to save the show and become the star…which led to her infamous 2002 Tony-winning run on Broadway in “Thoroughly Modern Millie.”  She has been compared to three comediennes/actresses listed below, and her natural goofiness combined with an incredible vocal talent has made Sutton Foster into the “it girl of Broadway.”  You won’t want to miss this simple evening of Foster and a pianist giving you some “melt your face off” belts and rolling in the aisle laughter.

November 13, 2010 – www.SpringfieldArtsCouncil.org

If you like ‘Mary Tyler Moore, Carol Burnett or Julie Andrews’, you’ll LOVE ‘An Evening with Sutton Foster’

Mauritius - Dayton Theatre GuildMauritius

by Theresa Rebeck
Dayton Theatre Guild

Cincinnati native Rebeck’s play, “Maurititius” is often described as a comedy thriller dealing with suspense, lies, deceit, greed, mystery, intrigue and….stamps.  It centers around the rivalry of two sisters faced with dividing up their recently deceased mother’s belongings and the discovery of two rare stamps from the nation of Mauritius and unscrupulous dealers pursuing them.  While you might question going to the theatre to watch a philatelic thriller, the play has been a hit all over America since it’s debut on Broadway in 2007.

May 13-29, 2011 – www.DaytonTheatreGuild.org

If you like Bogart’s ‘The Maltese Falcon’, you’ll LOVE ‘Mauritius’

right next to me - The Human Race Theatre Co.right next to me

book,music & lyrics by Gregg Coffin
The Human Race Theatre Company

Dayton’s Human Race Theatre Company, under the leadership of Kevin Moore & Marsha Hanna has been raising the bar for several years in a national movement to develop new works of musical theatre.  Through their unique programs of workshops, residencies and collaboration with composers, Dayton theatre audiences have been fortunate to see pieces like Convenience, Was, Fetching Water and many more.  This season, they tell a NEW story from Greg Coffin – the creator of Convenience- A  story about the distance between people and the space love leaves behind when it goes.

May 26-June 12, 2011 – www.HumanRaceTheatre.org

If you like ‘We Were Soldiers’, you’ll LOVE ‘right next to me’

…& keep watch for exciting news about:

ZOOT Theatre Company. They haven’t announced their season yet, but this innovative puppet & mask troupe consistently puts together cutting-edge productions of classic tales. www.ZootTheatreCompany.org

Encore Theater Company. We’ve got some exciting things in the works as well, including our Litehouse New Musical Reading Series, our Summer 2011 MainStage Series, MusicalWorld podcast and a new Concert Series that will premiere this fall! www.EncoreTheaterCompany.com

Idina Menzel in Concert with the Cincinnati Pops. Yes!  The almighty green one will be flying into southwest Ohio at the end of September (fresh from her stint on GLEE)…and YOU just might get a chance to go watch this icon of the Broadway stage defy gravity!  onStageDayton, MusicalWorld & DaytonMostMetro.com are teaming up with an opportunity for you to win a pair of tickets to this concert (valued at $100!). Keep watching onStageDayton on DaytonMostMetro.com for details!

onStageDayton. We will be introducing you to another contributor to onStageDayton on DaytonMostMetro.com.  Katherine Nelson, a senior theatre major at Cedarville University, will be posting a weekly update of shows opening or closing that weekend, along with audition notices and other notices.  Watch onStageDayton for Katherine’s first post soon!

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 [email protected]