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“You’re A Jittery Little Thing, Aren’t You?” (an interview with Carrie Fisher)

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A.)     Quote From Princess Leia In Return Of The Jedi

or

B.)     The First Thing Carrie Fisher Said To Bill Pote

 

Bill Pote, Carrie Fisher And J.T. Ryder

The oddly arranged living room held treasures and memorabilia that competed for attention so ferociously that it was difficult to focus in on one particular item. Celebrities smiled forth, frozen in frames strewn about shelves and tables. R2D2 sat on top of an old suitcase, peeking out from behind a leather couch as I walk in and a lone coffee table cascaded with various items, including cans of Coke Zero and a prescription bottle filled with M&Ms. The only thing that shattered the illusion of entering an eccentrically rich crazy cat-woman’s home was the glaring spotlights…and the 1,300 or so seats that were lurking out in the darkness. Of course, this was not someone’s home: this was the set of Carrie Fisher’s one woman show, Wishful Drinking.

Bill Pote (the über brain of Dayton Most Metro) and I were granted an audience with the princess and she did not keep her diligent followers waiting. She breezed onto the stage as naturally as most of us cross through our living room. Bill tried to ply Miss Fisher with cookies from Ghostlight Coffee & Thistle Confections, the fantasies of his youth playing through his head. Luckily, Miss Fisher was not aware that he had worn his favorite Star Wars underwear for the occasion…you know…the ones that have Yoda saying, “Size matters not. Judge me by my size, do you?”

Anyway, after Bill presented her with the cookies and a list of things to do in Dayton while she was here, we dove right into the interview rather quickly…

Bill: So, J.T. here interviewed you on the phone a couple of weeks ago…

J.T.: Yeah, you had just gotten back from overseas. You sounded sleepy.

Carrie: Yeah, I had just gotten back from Asia. It was very exciting. Which part of Asia was I getting back from?

J.T.: Japan.

Carrie: Oh, Japan!

J.T.: Coming back from the ‘celebrity lap dance,’  is, I think, the way you put it. I was talking with someone, another writer, last night about you and one of the things he brought up was something that I hadn’t noticed.  I had to go back and reread some of your fictionalized work. He was amazed with your dialogues and the natural way in which it flows. Is it so natural because it is based on real conversations?

Carrie: Well, a lot of it is, but I also think it’s a self consciousnesses, like you are sort of watching yourself or listening to yourself. I would also say that I write some of the stuff that I wish I had said or something that I didn’t say in that context and so I drag it over.

J.T.: That is probably the more fun part of writing. Well, he was just talking about the natural flow and the way that you craft your writing. Is all that natural or something that you have been honing?

Carrie: Well, I fell in love with words as a kid and I used to go through books and underline things. Really, I like wordplay more, but that’s also how I talk. I talk in wordplay. I once saw a line of mine, although I don’t know that they knew that it was mine, that said, “Start putting the ‘fun’ in ‘funeral.’” I hear words and they break down automatically.

J.T.: Right. Bill can attest to this: I don’t speak in the same way that I write. Most people who have read something I have written before meeting me don’t believe that I wrote it when they do meet me.

Carrie: Some of my writing isn’t how I talk.

J.T.: Well, with the show, the connectivity that you have with the audience is amazing. How do you get that when most of the events that you’re talking about are so disparate from most people’s experiences?

Carrie: Well, I don’t think that they are necessarily. Also, it’s not so much what your experiences are, it’s how it hits you. I mean, everyone has had, from a certain slant, a weird childhood. It may not be exactly like mine and it probably isn’t, but from a certain slant, you’re going to have funny stories.

J.T.: So it’s based off of the emotion rather than the event.

Carrie: Definitely!

J.T.: So how are you finding the Dayton audience’s responding?

Carrie: They are fantastic!

J.T.: Just as receptive?

Carrie: Beyond receptive! Last night they were talking back! A lot!

Bill: I know that we have a thing about sex and nakedness here in Dayton, Ohio…

Carrie: Apparently! That was what was hilarious about it. The questions that they asked like, “Was he naked?”, “Were you naked?” That’s where you mind goes. If you find a dead body, they’re usually not naked. (Writer’s Note: A reference to Carrie waking up next to the lifeless body of Republican Party media adviser R. Gregory Stevens who died from a OxyContin/cocaine overdose in her bed)

Bill: That’s a great way to start the show too. It kind of lets you know that…

Carrie: Yeah, “This is where we are at and it’s going to get more normal from here…but not much.”

I know this probably isn't the time nor the place, but looking at these pictures, I believe I am going bald.

J.T.: Well, Daytonians aren’t the only nudity focused people. Look at George Lucas’ No Underwear In Space Theory… (Writer’s Note: According to Lucasian Physics, one would face many different pressure changes while tooling around in space and with all the expansion and contraction of the human body under these conditions, you would be strangled by your underwear. I think that this is based upon twisted yet justified fantasies and not on any kind of scientific protocols.)

Carrie: That’s what he said. I think it just destroyed the line of that stupid white dress and then if people were aware that you were wearing a bra, they wouldn’t accept that you were Darth Vader’s daughter. No, I think not.

J.T.: True. With Shockaholic, is that kind of a stepping stone to the next memoir?

Carrie: God no! I think that I’ve said about all I can say.

J.T.: Really?

Carrie: Well, about…the stuff that I’ve written about that was the toughest is that I exposed my daughter to any kind of drug abuse and it would be something that you would figure would happen, (whispering) but I didn’t do a lot. The fact that it happened at all is probably the thing that is most shameful about my life. But most of it was already out. They (the tabloids) wrote about me being in a mental hospital, so then I’m going to write my version and I’m going to say my version. Then they (the tabloids) write stuff saying that I’ve had a facelift and that just kills me because this would be the worst facelift ever! I’ve seen online…go online and I read that I’ve had a facelift and it’s not that good and there’s like three doctors commenting how it looks pulled here and pulled there (Carrie demonstrates by tugging at her face). I’m like, no, but I’ve been thinking about having one…

J.T.: Ryder: That’s another thing about the show, since you kind of brought it up: Somehow you have managed to avoid it seeming tabloid-ish. It’s not sensationalized.

Carrie: It’s not sensational. If you were in the situation, it’s just people. I mean, they might wear more make-up or they might have gotten where they are because they have…(pause)…more well ordered features, but they are just humans. It’s not…now I’m intimidated by the ‘good looking’ people, but you shouldn’t treat ‘good looking’ like it’s an accomplishment. It’s kind of valued that high, like you did something amazing and it was just that they were born with really nice features. Those are the people inHollywoodwho…I don’t know how to talk to them and I’m not really curious about them either. ‘How did you get those eyes? Oh! Your mom had them?’ Those are the people who got where they are purely on their features.

J.T.: That is across the board. People being ‘proud’ of genetics. A lot of people equate that with celebrity…

Carrie: It would have been a bigger trick to stay out of show business than to go in. I didn’t go in. It was…I had to tiptoe out. No. I wouldn’t have picked it, because I was sort of introverted, watching all those people.

J.T.: Which is hard to believe when one sees your stage show.

Carrie: Well, now I’m older and it’s now it’s acceptance run riot. Self acceptance. I mean, you get to a certain age…

J.T.: ..and you say to yourself, ‘Ah, screw it!’

Carrie: Right! ‘What the fuck!’

Bill: So if you weren’t thrown into that at an early age…

Carrie: I might not have chosen it.

Bill: What would you be doing?

Carrie: Well, I might have been a writer because of the whole word thing. It killed me, the word thing. I would have liked to have been Beethoven….not for his whole life, but just the part where he wrote his music. I want to be someone who can hear music like theat. Where does that come from? There are those people like that that have that kind of gift, but I do have a thing with words and I am grateful that I’ve got it because it a distraction for me and I listen to people better  so it makes me enjoy reading and listening  to people’s points of view and the way people say things.

Bill: You mentioned last night (during the opening night performance) that poetry was is something that you started at an early age and it actually helped you.

Carrie: I started writing, but you wouldn’t call what I wrote ‘poetry.’ It would be more like lyrics. But, I like some of what I wrote and I remember getting into states where I would be kind of taking dictation from somewhere that had nothing to do with me, but it did have to do with my emotional state. The way that it organized itself into…it’s an intense experience, then your way of managing it is basically to photograph it verbally so that you’re not just at the effect of it then, so you’re not saying, ‘Okay, now what is this like?’ It’s finding some way to say it. Otherwise, I’m just an incredibly emotional person, which I am.

J.T.: Well, at least when you’re performing, you have the ability to emote and convey a tone or meaning more than writing.

Carrie: Well, I’ve also gotten to the point where I’m also able to receive it. You just kind of get out of the way, so it isn’t me. I’ve been given something where impressions come to me and I can say, ‘Oh, that’s what that feels like!’ If I just wait, I let this thing in me that does that anyway…I can’t ignite it, I can just get out of the way of it.

Bill: Well, that leads me to this then: after watching your show last night, which I enjoyed a lot by the way…

Carrie: Thank you.

Bill Pote And J.T. Ryder Double Teaming Carrie Fisher...Wait...That's Doesn't Sound Right....

Bill: How much…I know it’s mostly scripted, if not all scripted, so how often do you go off script?

Carrie: A lot! I open it up for questions and the because the people that you (the audience) are talking with, I’ve never met them before…

Bill: Well, not even talking about audience members, but even with bringing up stories from your life, how often do you just think of something like, ‘I haven’t even told anybody this.’

Carrie: I said something the other night and…I say things by accident and it is sort of leaving it open to mess with, so there is a lot more I could say about any of the things I talk about and sometimes I will go off into it…and it’s more fun if I do. You really have to be alert…hyper-vigilant and hyper-alert, and that’s exhausting, but it’s interesting.

J.T.: Yeah, it’s great fun when you shut off all the filters.

Carrie: Yeah! And you’re in front of a lot of people and that can be very interesting.

 

(Photographs by Blush Boudoir, then heavily edited by J.T. without permission nor any sense of artistic content.)

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

 

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!

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 (8/10 – 8/14)

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Guest Bartending Last Week at The Moraine Embassy!

There are lots of great things going on this week in Dayton, so let’s jump right into it!

On Wednesday, support DATV by attending the DATV Fishing Derby at Gettysburg Fish Lake.  If you’re like me and can only draw stick people, then you may want to attend the Drawing Studio with Loretta Puncer at Gallery 510 Fine Art.  Head to Courthouse Square to see the Blue Sky Project ‘Artists without Borders’ Solo Exhibition.  No matter what you’ve been thinking about the national debt crisis, you will be able to share your opinions at ThinkTV with their Citizens Forum on the National Debt.  Over at Chappy’s, participate in their Southern Tier Creme Brulee Tapping…sounds delicious!  There are also some great musical options for Wednesday!  You can see Muse Machine in Concert as they perform ‘Tonight’ at Victoria Theatre, Alien Ant Farm at McGuffy’s House of Rock, or Miranda Cosgrove at the Fraze.

On Thursday, make your way to Courthouse Square for the The Square Is Where featuring Beseda Folk Dancers.  Enjoy fresh local produce at the Centerville Farmers Market.  If you have young kids, consider taking them to Story Hour at Cooper Park or to the Salvation Army Kroc Center for the Shoot! Score! Success! Back2School Family Event.  Both are FREE!  If you enjoy good food, you will not want to miss The Taste of The Greene, which will feature great food from The Greene’s wonderful restaurants.  And be sure to get your tickets in advance in order to get the discounted price!  Meet some great young professionals at Generation Dayton’s Thirsty Thursday at Milano’s on Brown Street.  If you Muse Machine in Concert - TONIGHT: The Songs of West Side Story & Moredidn’t get to see the Muse Machine’s ‘Tonight’ performance on Wednesday, then tonight is definitely the night!  Or catch live music at the Dayton Art Institute for their Twilight Concert, at RiverScape for Big Band Nights featuring the Hal Harris Orchestra, or at the Fraze to see Willie Nelson.

On Friday, during your lunch hour, head to Courthouse Square for The Square Is Where featuring Mindy Galvin Band…just don’t be a square and not attend.  If you see food and then enjoy eating it, you’ll want to attend the Seafood Extravaganza at The Dock.  And if seafood is not your thing, then make your way to Oregon Express for their amazing Half-Price Happy Hour Pizzas.  Although the end of summer is drawing near, you will be able to see A Midsummer Night Dream which is being presented by Free Shakespeare at the University of Dayton’s ArtStreet.  Make your way to Fifth Third Field for Friday Night Fights.  At Victoria Theatre, see The African Queen as part of the Michelob Ultra Cool Films Series.  And finally, get a brat (the food kind) and drink some German beer at the Germanfest Picnic, which is being held at Carillon Park.

On Saturday, get fresh local produce with City Beets at the Market at the PNC 2nd Street Market or at the Troy Farmers Market.  I don’t know how to say the name of this wine, but if you like Sauvignon Blanc, then make your way to Jungle Jim’s for their Sauvignon Blancs of the World tasting.  Speaking of wine, the Fraze will be hosting the Festival of the Vine, which will feature fine wine and cool jazz.  Help make history by bringing a canned good to Brixx for their Canned Food Drive and possibly setting a new Guinness World Record for the most food collected in a 24 hour period.  Head up to Boston’s Bistro for their 10th Semi-Annual Greek Night or to the Dayton Visual Arts Center for the High-Rise Harmony Artist Palate Party.  At Carillon Park, join the many Germans (and wannabe Germans) drinking German beer and eating German food as part of the Germanfest Picnic.  At Stubbs Amphitheater, listen to the Centerville Community Band.  Watch Free Shakespeare’s presentation of A Midsummer Night Dream at the University of Dayton’s ArtStreet.  And finally, enjoy the summer weather and head to Fifth Third Field as the Dragons play the Lake County Captains.

On Sunday, all arts and crafts lovers should make plans to attend Art on the Commons, which will take place at Civic Commons Park in Kettering.  The Germanfest Picnic will still be going on over at Carillon Park.  If you didn’t get to make it to the 2nd Street Market earlier in the weekend, then perhaps you should go to the Garden Station Sunday Market.  Sit in the air conditioning at Victoria Theatre in order to see The African Queen as part of the Michelob Ultra Cool Films Series.  At the University of Dayton’s ArtStreet, you will still be able to see A Midsummer Night Dream presented by Free Shakespeare.  Catch the Dayton Dragons as they play the Lake County Captains.  And finally, there are a few opportunities for live music – Pizzazz in the Park Summer Concert Series: Jake & Elwood Blues Revue at Riverfront Park in Miamisburg, The Sauerkraut German Band at Stubbs Amphitheater, and The Charlie Daniels Band at the Miami County Agricultural Society.  Their show may be “the best there’s ever been.”

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

What do you call a bear with no teeth?  A gummy bear.

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!

Muse Machine Celebrates 30th Year with West Side Story Concert

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Muse Machine in Concert - TONIGHT: The Songs of West Side Story & MoreTONIGHT:  The Songs of West Side Story & More

Muse Machine

On Wednesday and Thursday evening Muse Machine, the nationally recognized educational arts group, will kick-off its 30th year with music from one of the most popular musicals of all time:  West Side Story. The local organization has gathered together over 200 local students, alumni and guest artists to present TONIGHT:  The Songs of West Side Story & More at 8:00 p.m. on the stage at the Victoria Theatre.

“The whirlwind, high-energy numbers will thrill you; the soulful melodies will move you; you can’t help but feel the joy of the show!”

-Kylen Franz, concertmaster

Muse Machine in Concert - TONIGHT: The Songs of West Side Story & MoreThe local arts organization has a mission of changing the lives of kids through the arts.  They accomplish this through professional performances both in and out of schools, arts integration training for teachers and student performance opportunities.  Over the years, Muse Machine has developed two primary performance programs, including the popular productions of a musical (winter months) and a concert (summer).  These productions showcase the most talented student singers, dancers, and musicians in the Greater Dayton region, under the direction of professional directors, conductors, choreographers and designers .

“We all work so hard together to make this a great show and the energy & love in rehearsals is incredible.”

-Rachel Snyder, singer/dancer

Muse Machine in Concert - TONIGHT: The Songs of West Side Story & MoreAs their 2011 concert presentation, Muse Machine (along with support from MeadWestvaco) will present Tonight: The Songs of West Side Story & More on August 10 and 11 at the Victoria Theatre. Tonight features new concepts and arrangements of many favorite songs from the classic Leonard Bernstein score, including “Maria,” “America,” “Somewhere” and many others. The show will fill the stage with nearly 200 student performers, who will also share the spotlight with alumni from previous Muse Machine productions.

“I love to be on stage and hear the audience clapping.  It makes me feel good to know they are having a good time.  And, it’s fun!”

– Ben Harshbarger, young ensemble (4th grade)

Muse Machine in Concert - TONIGHT: The Songs of West Side Story & MoreA highlight of the concert will be a huge student orchestra performance of “Rhapsody in Blue” featuring internationally-renowned pianist Leon Bates. Acclaimed by critics and audiences alike, Bates performs with symphonies around the world and the chance to see him bring to life Gershwin’s masterpiece with an orchestra of talented, passionate young musicians should not be missed. The evening also features guest appearances by talented, local gospel singers from the GSJ Youth Choir as well as nationally-acclaimed Stivers Jazz Orchestra and other special guests, including many alumni of Muse Machine productions.

Muse Machine in Concert - TONIGHT: The Songs of West Side Story & More“West Side Story was the first Muse musical, so it’s a way to glance back while also looking forward by bringing new sounds and choreography to this great music. We’ll be joined by exciting guests and we’ll also explore a few ‘related surprises,’ throughout the evening.” -Douglas Merk, producer

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yj0Mbq0Jcgo’]

What is the best part of being in a Muse Machine concert or show?

Muse Machine in Concert - TONIGHT: The Songs of West Side Story & More“The People. Everyone here loves what they’re doing, and that love of performing is evident in every single number…This is a show not to be missed.” -Andrew J. Koslow, singer/dancer

“The feeling of being so welcome and wanted…(and)  Rhapsody In Blue because I LOVE THAT PIECE OF MUSIC!!!” – Noah Berry, singer/dancer

“Meeting new friends and seeing old friends.” – Ben Harschbarger, young ensemble (4th grade)

Muse Machine in Concert - TONIGHT: The Songs of West Side Story & More“Getting to work with such great people on great material.” – Mimi Klipstine Dick, singer

“The close family connection of the entire cast/ensemble.  We all work so hard together to make this a great show and the energy & love in rehearsals is incredible.” – Rachel Snyder, singer/dancer

“Seeing or hearing the work come to fruition and eliciting the response from the audience.” – Kylen Franz, concertmaster

-SA/Muse Machine Press Release

– Muse Machine  Photos by David Sherman

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

Tickets & Performance Information:

Muse MachineTONIGHT:  THE SONGS OF WEST SIDE STORY & MORE

at the VICTORIA THEATRE – 138 N. Main St.– map

Tickets for Tonight are available exclusively through Ticket Center Stage, 937/228-3630, online at www.ticketcenterstage.com or at the Ticket Center Stage box office in the Schuster Center in downtown Dayton.

About the Muse Machine:

The Muse Machine is a nationally recognized arts education organization, providing creative experiences and resources for young people of the Miami Valley. Since 1982, they’ve produced 27 annual musicals and 14 concerts for the community and engaged thousands of students through academic-relevant lessons, workshops and in-school projects. For more information, visit www.musemachine.com.

Jane’s Best Bets (7/20 – 7/24)

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Photo Credit: Alli Shillito

As you may have figured out, in the summer, Dayton is a hot place to be…in more ways than one!  So get your hot self out of the house, take the air conditioned car, and enjoy some of these fun events, as things will be buzzing!

On Wednesday, enjoy $5 Bang Bang Shrimp at Bonefish Grill.  Wear your green and watch the Dragons play the Peoria Chiefs at Fifth Third Field.  Or wear your tap shoes and head to Archer’s in Centerville for their A.Y.O.B. where they will be “tapping” a new beer.  And in Kettering, watch The Fries Band as they put on a wonderful (and free!) show at the Fraze Pavilion.

On Thursday, take your kids out to Cooper Park for Story Hour, which is sponsored by Five Rivers MetroParks and the Dayton Metro Library.  Enjoy a performance by the Muse Machine as well as a delicious lunch at the Dayton Woman’s Club.  If you work downtown, then consider heading to Courthouse Square during your lunch hour for The Square Is Where… McGovern Ceili Dancers.  At El Rancho Grande, enjoy 1/2 price Ladies Night.  Or sing your heart out at Champps for Karaoke Thursday.

On Friday, head to RiverScape for their Try Kayaking event, which is completely free!  If you’re a kayaking newbie, it’s definitely something worth checking out.  At Victoria Theatre, enjoy their Michelob Ultra Cool Film Series where the movie One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest will be shown.  If you’re frequently late, be sure to arrive early this time to enjoy the Cool Film Series Beer Tasting!  At Oregon Express, enjoy Half-Price Happy Hour Pizzas, which are absolutely delicious.  It’s mid-summer, so consider watching A Midsummer Night’s Dream presented by Free Shakespeare at Antioch Amphitheater.  Or watch ‘The Sound of Music’ at Epiphany Lutheran Church.  And if you’re a macho man and would prefer to be at a sporting event, then head to Fifth-Third Field as the Dragons take on the Peoria Chiefs.

On Saturday, you will not want to miss the annual Dayton Air Show.  If you enjoyed learning about kayaking and didn’t flip out like I did when I went kayaking the last time (literally!), then consider renting a kayak at RiverScape and Ride the River.  Take the entire family to the Warren County “Fair” if you appreciate equality.  At the Dayton Art Institute, they will be having Sound Bites: Short Talks About Art.  One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest will still be shown as part of the Michelob Ultra Cool Films Series at Victoria Theatre.  Again, they will have the Cool Films Series Beer Tasting prior to the show.  Please don’t drink too much beforehand or you may actually feel like you’re going cuckoo during the movie.  If you would rather catch a live performance, then check out ‘The Sound of Music’at Epiphany Lutheran Church.  Join Noah and two of each kind of animal at RiverScape as part of their Free Summer Concert Series featuring The Ark Band.  And if you don’t feel like things are buzzing around town, then you’ll just have to go over to Fifth Third Field to see the Dragons take on the Burlington Bees.

On Sunday, you will still be able to enjoy the Dayton Air Show.  At Antoich Amphitheater, watch A Midsummer Night’s Dream…just don’t fall asleep because that would be rude.  You can also listen to music at Miamisburg’s Riverfront Park with their Pizzazz in the Park Concert Series featuring Phat Like Dad or at Centerville’s Stubbs Amphitheater as The Lebanon Grand Opry House Band will be performing.  And finally, don’t miss your opportunity to get a buzz at Fifth Third Field as the Dragons once again play the Burlington Bees…with some buzzing really going on at the plaza as part of their Charity Cuts!

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

Where does a bee sit?  On his bee-hind.

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 (7/13 – 7/17)

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Photo Credit: Alli Shillito

First off, I would like to say congratulations to the Dayton Dragons on setting the national record for sports sell-outs this past weekend…what an accomplishment!  We do truly live in a great city!  And I’d like to prove it once again by letting you know about some of the great things going on here this week!

On Wednesday, take a break from work and head to The Square Is Where… Yoga Class from Practice Yoga at Courthouse Square.  If you haven’t been getting enough beauty sleep lately, consider going to La Comedia to see Sleeping Beauty.  Listen to music at Yankee Trace with Jazz on the Green or at Veteran’s Park Amphitheater with The Dark Star Orchestra.  And if you’re in need of a good laugh, then head to Wiley’s for their Dirty Little Secret Superhero Show.

On Thursday, there are several great happy hour options so you are going to have some tough decisions to make!  If you are an enthusiastic young professional, join Generation Dayton at El Meson for Thirsty Thursday.  It’s Thursday Night Live at the Moraine Embassy, so let DaytonMostMetro.com’s very own Bill Pote and Lisa Grigsby help take care of you, as they will be the celebrity bartenders on hand.  Grab dinner and drinks at one of the fabulous restaurants at The Greene such as McCormick & Schmick’s and then sit on the green (literally) to watch as Ed Kowalczyk, the lead singer of Live performs.  Check out three of the Oregon District’s new businesses as part of their Progressive Open House, where each business will have live performances by jazz and classical musicians, as well as raffles!  Bring the whole family to see Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at The Salvation Army Kroc Center – tickets are FREE!  Or help support the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society by getting your tickets to see ‘The Sound of Music’ at Epiphany Lutheran Church.  And finally, listen to live music at the Dayton Art Institute for a Twilight Concert or at RiverScape for their Big Band Nights featuring the Eddie Brookshire Orchestra.

On Friday, bring your kids to the PNC 2nd Street Market for Pasta Making for Kids…afterall, wouldn’t it be nice if they made you dinner for a change?!?!  If you love biking, consider taking part in the Greene Trails Cycling Classic at the Greene County Fairgrounds Recreation Center.  Although this is a four-day event, you are able to “Design-A-Ride” that fits your schedule.  Art lovers should make plans to attend the 20th Annual Open Members’ Show: Light at the Dayton Visual Arts Center.  Head to the Beavercreek Kroger for their Wine and Food Extravaganza.  Once again, you will be able to support the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society by going to Epiphany Lutheran Church for The Sound of Music’.  Have a nerds night out at Xenia Area Community Theater as part of Nerd Comedy Night.  If you prefer to be cool, head to Victoria Theatre to see “Some Like It Hot” as part of the Michelob Ultra Cool Films Series.  And if you actually do like it hot, then make your way to Bella Villa Hall for the The Bocce Classic XVI.

On Saturday, if you enjoy seeing beautiful irises (the flower kind), then you will want to be at the PNC 2nd Street Market for their Iris Sale.  At RiverScape, get in shape with Zumba in the Park or participate in their Kayak Float.  Support A Special Wish Foundation by attending Fajita Fest at the Polish Club.  Listen to the sounds of  Michael Bashaw & Puzzle of Light and the Rippingtons at Veteran’s Park Amphitheater, the Bob Gray Orchestra at Stubbs Amphitheater, Son Del Caribe as part of the Free Summer Concert Series at RiverScape, or Trace Adkins at the Fraze Pavilion.  Over at

Trace Adkins at the Fraze

Fifth-Third Field, the Bob Ross Classic will be going on, which is an All-Star Baseball Game for local high school baseball players.  And if you would like to watch some great fights, head over to Drake’s Downtown for Fight Night…just be sure you don’t get into one yourself!

On Sunday, the Fraze will be having WTUE’s Breakfast with The Beatles and The Beatleburys.  Baby you can drive your car there…sorry I’m not going to let you drive mine!  If you would rather ride a bike, then participate in the Greene Trails Cycling Classic, which will still be going strong.  Watch belly dancers and fire jugglers, listen to live music, and MUCH more at the Fling in the Springs (downtown Yellow Springs).  A trip to Dave Hall Plaza for the Downtown Summer Music Series – Michelob Dayton Blues Festival is a must for all blues fans out there!  You will also be able to listen to music at Stubbs Amphitheater in Centerville (The Termites) and at Riverfront Park in Miamisburg (Pizzazz in the Park Concert Series: Paragon Quartet).  And if you’re not the outdoors type, then you can go to Victoria Theatre to see “Some Like It Hot” as part of the Michelob Ultra Cool Films Series or to Epiphany Lutheran Church for The Sound of Music’.

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

Why did the coach kick Cinderella off the baseball team?

Because she ran away from the ball.

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!

Behind the Masks – The Lion King

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Disney’s The Lion King ~ presented by The Victoria Theatre Association, Dayton, OH ~ June 14 - July 10, 2011

Nick Cordileone & Ben Lipitz

Disney’s THE LION KING

The Victoria Theatre Association

I have a confession to make:  I, Shane Anderson, admittedly know very little about The Lion King.  In fact, I know very little about most of the Disney films and musical adaptations.  I’ve certainly seen some, but I have no children of my own, therefore I typically don’t choose to spend my entertainment budget on a movie ticket to a film marketed to kids.  I get it…I get it… I hear that they are terrific for anybody at any age, but I don’t have that added motivation of a really excited 5 year old persuading me to go catch the latest Disney princess or talking/singing animal movie.

Characters from Disney's Lion King, as interpreted by Noah, age 5

The Lion King mask illustration by Noah, age 5

So, since I am not the Disney aficionado that many Americans are, I had to do a little research about Disney’s THE LION KING, which just rolled into town and opened at the Schuster Center this evening.  So what else was I to do?  I called up my favorite nephew, 5 year old Noah.

First bit of information I needed, was what is the plot of this show? Noah replied with a knowing smile (did I sense the slightest amount of a smirk at his silly Uncle Shane?) that THE LION KING is all about this baby lion named Simba, who’s daddy Mufasa dies because of a bad lion named Scarrrr (grrrRR..!), then the Pumbaa and Timon (not sure which is which, but one is a warthog with big horns) come in and sing Hakuna Matata and then Simba gets big and the girl lion tells Simba to come back and be king.  Oh, and be careful of the 3 Hyenas, they laugh.

Ok, stay clear of the laughing Hyenas.  Of course I already knew a little bit about this classic musical adaptation, it is a legendary production that very successfully melded together a very cool artistic vision with the business sense of a major corporate producer.  I know that it was directed by the very talented Julie Taymor.  I realize that even though the musical premiered on Broadway nearly fourteen years ago,  it is still selling tickets both on the “Great White Way” and in multiple touring companies.  This collaboration between a truly gifted artist and a major corporate entity has been highly successful, with no signs of slowing down.  I knew all of that, but this is one highly acclaimed Broadway spectacle that I have yet to experience, and I am thrilled that the show will be spending four weeks right here in Dayton, Ohio!

Disney's The Lion King ~ presented by The Victoria Theatre Association, Dayton, OH ~ June 14 - July 10, 2011

Ben Roseberry

I got the opportunity to spend some time chatting with three cast members of the show on the phone last week.  The cast was in Toronto, Canada, where they had an extended stay.  I spoke with vocal ensemble member and “Sarabi” understudy Electra Weston, Ben Roseberry who portrays “Ed” the laughing hyena, and the ever-popular Ben Lipitz who livens up the stage as “Pumbaa”  the optimistic warthog.

I asked the group of actors about touring with Disney Theatricals, working with Taymor and what the experience is like in a production that thrills audiences of all ages.

The first thing of note is the appreciation the actors express for the company itself.  “It is the best contract I’ve ever worked for,” Roseberry declares, “we are in each city for four weeks or more.” All three of the actors pointed out the fact that through Disney’s intention to keep the company in a city for an extended run of at least four weeks, allows the actors time to settle in and actually experience each city. Most other touring shows will have shorter runs, some as little as a day in each city, which leave the actors living out of their suitcase.  Roseberry, an aviation enthusiast, says that he is very excited to have time in Dayton to explore the Aviation Trail, Hall of Fame and Wright Brother sites.

Disney's The Lion King ~ presented by The Victoria Theatre Association, Dayton, OH ~ June 14 - July 10, 2011

Electra Weston

A surprise to me was the fact that the touring company has the opportunity to make their own housing arrangements, some choosing extended stay hotels, others are able to find short-term furnished apartments.  Electra Wilson indicated that in her four years on the tour, she’d never stayed in a hotel.  She ships her bicycle and typically manages to find an apartment within biking distance to the venue.  This gives her the opportunity to become a member of the community, if only for a short time.

I was curious to know more about the experience of being onstage for these actors, what it was like to be on the other side of the curtain.  The technical aspects of performing the show utilizing these puppets and intricate scenic elements must certainly be an incredible thing to watch not only from the audience perspective, but also from backstage.

All three actors found their roles very taxing, but for very different reasons.  Weston says that her most difficult transition into the role was the English language. She had previously been a part of the German company of the show, so even though she is American, she found it difficult to sing her parts in English.  She had to relearn the show in her native tongue, and had a tough time doing so!

“I can’t say it’s a bigger thrill than what the audience is experiences, but it certainly is comparable.” says Ben Lipitz, ” Performing in The Lion King is a rare experience in theatre, it is a landmark event for the audience, as a performer I have to take the storytelling very seriously.  We have a responsibility to live up to the expectations [of the audience].  It is a privilege to tell this story”

“It took a good eight weeks of performing for the role to get in my body.” Roseberry said he was very nervous performing in his “Ed” the hyena puppet for the first several weeks he was on tour.  He pointed out that he had to learn to harness that nervous energy, translating it into a good energy.  Additionally he spent hours in front of a mirror learning how to operate the hyena puppet in as many expressive ways as possible, since the character does not speak, but simply communicates through laughter.  (btw…”Ed” is not “stupid”, but rather he is “verbally challenged”)

Ben Lipitz has been with the show for nine years, both on Broadway as well as the touring company.  He recounted that while his very first entrance on stage in this show was very exciting, that the thrill continues to this day.  Ben’s experience as an actor (on stage, film & television, including a role on The Sopranos) didn’t really prepare him for operating the puppet, especially Pumbaa which weighs in heaviest at 46 pounds.  Creating the physical articulation with the puppet is his biggest challenge, but also the biggest reward.

Disney's The Lion King ~ presented by The Victoria Theatre Association, Dayton, OH ~ June 14 - July 10, 2011

Ben Lipitz

The beauty of Julie Taymor’s design is the duality of the character on stage.  You see the actor manipulating the puppet, but you also see the humanity within the animal character.  The actors praise the brilliance of Taymor’s vision and her famous “hands-on” approach to direction an upkeep of her vision.  They report that there is a touring director and staff that continually monitor the show, maintaining the quality of the performance.  This team works with the cast so that what we see in Dayton is precisely the same as the original intent of every step, word and note performed when Julie Taymor’s vision became reality in 1997.  Taymor will even  stop in to check on the show herself occasionally to be sure that her vision is never compromised (though this hasn’t happened recently due to her involvement in another theatrical project).

“I have been truly touched by how inspiring working with Julie is,” claims Lipitz, “[it is] her spirit and her energy.  She is a gifted, visionary artist.”

While THE LION KING is a very complex machine of a show, with many moving parts and people manipulating every aspect of it, it is also child’s play.  Experiencing this show on our side of the curtain will certainly be exciting, but imagine how thrilling it must be to make it all happen behind the scenes.  These actors spoke as if it was truly an honor to tell this story, and be a part of the magic daily.

Before I got off the phone with Pumbaa, I had one more question I was required to ask.  Noah wanted to know “what do you do with your horns?” Pumbaa claimed that his daily regimen included trying not to stay up too late, staying out of the sunlight and plenty of moisturizer.  Pretty good advice for all you warthogs reading this.

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

Tickets & Performance Information:

Disney's THE LION KING - Victoria Theatre Association, Dayton, OhioDisney’s THE LION KING

Wednesday, June 15 through Sunday, July 10, 2011

at The Schuster Center’s Mead Theatre – Performance Times Vary

Tickets range from $27 – $141

Tickets are ONLY available through Ticket Center Stage.

Visit the  Schuster Center box office in downtown Dayton or order by phone, at (937) 228-3630 or toll free (888) 228-3630. Ticket Center Stage hours are Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., Saturday, noon – 4 p.m., and two hours prior to each performance.

Tickets may also be purchased online at www.ticketcenterstage.com.

For more information about Victoria Theatre Association visit www.victoriatheatre.com.

Downtown Dayton Partnership and the Victoria Theatre Association have teamed up to provide roaring deals and promotions for the The Lion King patrons.  Read more about these exiting offers HERE.

The Lion King - ROARING DEALS - Dayton, Ohio

Click for details.

Blackbird

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Blackbird by David Harrower - Dayton Theatre Guild - April 22-24, 2011Blackbird

Dayton Theatre Guild

The Dayton Theatre Guild is set to present Blackbird by Scottish playwright David Harrower as a season extra offering, opening Friday evening.  The only opportunity to catch this intense psychological drama will be this weekend, April 22 – 24 at the Caryl D. Philips TheatreScape, 430 Wayne Avenue, in Dayton’s historic Oregon Arts District.

Blackbird by David Harrower - Dayton Theatre Guild - April 22-24, 2011

David Harrower

The bold award-winning play promises to be a thought-provoking, though potentially uncomfortable, evening for theatregoers.  The play was commissioned by the Edinburgh International Festival, where it received its world premiere in 2005.  In the years to follow, Blackbird was honored with a “Best New Play” award from both The Critics’ Award for Theatre in Scotland and The Lawrence Olivier Award.

Dramatists Play Service synopsizes the play as follows:

Two people who once had a passionate affair meet again fifteen years later. Ray is confronted with his past when Una arrives unannounced at his office. Guilt, rage and raw emotions run high as they recollect their relationship when she was twelve and he was forty. Without any moral judgments, the play never shies away from the brutal shattering truth of the abandoned and unconventional love. Ray, fifty-six, after years in prison and subsequent hardships, has a new identity and has made a new life for himself, thinking that he could no longer be found. Una, twenty-seven, has thought of nothing else, and on finding a photo of him, sets out to find Ray. She is looking for answers not vengeance. Nevertheless, the consequences are shattering.

While the sexual themes of the show, particularly the ages of the two involved, may be difficult for many to handle for a holiday weekend’s entertainment, the play’s history, reviews and the fervor with which the cast worked to bring it to a Dayton stage indicate that the provocative 70-minute drama is well worth an evening of your time.

“The gifted David Harrower’s intense BLACKBIRD promises to be the most powerful drama of the season…masterly, mesmerizing…extraordinary…a miracle.” ~NY Times

“…an intense psychodrama that won’t let your mind wander even though there are times this story makes you wish you could switch channels.” ~Curtain Up

The play, which unfolds in real-time, ruthlessly examines the complicated history and bond between a man and a woman as they struggle through a deep exploration into what happened and why it happened, and what it all means now.

Blackbird by David Harrower - Dayton Theatre Guild - April 22-24, 2011

Heather Atkinson (L) and K.L. Storer (R) in Blackbird

The cast includes Heather Atkinson, last seen at the Guild in The Cashier and K.L. Storer, who appeared in last season’s A Case of Libel.  The play is directed by Natasha Randall.

This play contains harshly explicit sexual language, mature themes and subject matter.

-SA/DTG Press Release

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

Tickets & Performance Information:

Dayton Theatre GuildDavid Harrower’s BLACKBIRD – April 22-24 – (8pm on Friday & Saturday / 3pm on Sunday)

Tickets Prices: $10 student / $15 senior / $17 adult

Location:  Dayton Theatre Guild at The Caryl D. Philip’s TheatreScape – 430 Wayne Ave. Dayton, Ohio  45410 (MAP)

Contains adult situations and language.

Tickets are on sale now through DTG’s Online Box Office, or via phone at (937) 278-5993 (due to a volunteer staff, phones are not monitored continually).

For more information about Dayton Theatre Guild’s entire 2010-2011 season, visit www.DaytonTheatreGuild.org

Dayton Theatre Guild at the Caryl D. Philips TheatreScape

Dayton Theatre Guild at the Caryl D. Philips TheatreScape

Jane’s Best Bets (4/6 – 4/10)

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Photo Credit: Alli Shillito

It’s April, so don’t be fooled by the people that tell you there is nothing to do in Dayton!  There are many great things going on here this week!

On Wednesday, picture yourself in one of the Landscapes by Gregory T. Davis or the Landscapes by Monique Janssen-Belitz, both at Sinclair.  At the University of Dayton’s ArtStreet, attend Patrick Dougherty’s Stickwork’s Photography Exhibit.  All you opera lovers should attend Opera Preview On Campus: The Daughter of the Regiment at Wright State.  Everybody needs to eat, so head to the Oregon District’s Boulevard Haus where Sausages, Burgers, and Sandwiches will be 25% off!  Afterwards, wise men say that you may want to get “All Shook Up” at Victoria Theatre.

On Thursday, make your way to the Schuster Center to see Nick Clooney, an award-winning journalist, author, TV personality, and activist (and the father to George Clooney!) as part of the Junior League of Dayton Town Hall Lecture Series.  Over at the University of Dayton, the most talented winter guards around the world will be competing in the 2011 WGI Color Guard World Championships.  Jazz your life up a bit by attending the Vectren Just Jazz Series: Maggie Green and the Brazilian Jazz Connection at the Dayton Art Institute.  In downtown Miamisburg, head to A Taste of Wine for their Greek Wine Tasting.  All you theater lovers should head to the UD for Smoke on the Mountain or Victoria Theatre for All Shook Up.  And if you love baseball, I hope you’ll be at the Dayton Dragons’ Opening Day as they take on the Bowling Green Hot Rods!

On Friday, there will be several opportunities to support some wonderful non-profits in the Miami Valley, so get out and have fun for a cause!  At the Greene, they are Going Blue for Autism Awareness – when you make select purchases at both The Wine Loft and The Funny Bone, a portion of the proceeds will be donated to local autism charities.  At Town & Country Shopping Center, check out the Inner I Gallery & Partners For Community Living – Opening Reception, in which fine art created by artists with developmental disabilities will be on display and for sale.  Over at the Schuster Center, enjoy live music, great food, drinks, a silent auction, raffles, and much more as part of the The Great Escape!  All proceeds will directly benefit the Dayton Chapter of the American Red Cross to aid in disaster relief.  (I’m helping to plan the event so I hope to see you there!)  At the Hope Hotel and Conference Center, you will be able to support another great cause, We Care Arts, as they have their 2011 ‘Happy Days’ Auction.  Also on Saturday, you can enjoy Half-Price Happy Hour Pizzas at Oregon Express.  Make your way to Fifth-Third Field to catch the Dragons as they play the Bowling Green Hot Rods.  Some theater options include All Shook Up at Victoria Theatre, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at The Playhouse South, The Boys Next Door at the Dayton Theatre Guild (I hope they’re cute), Close Ties (a family drama that brings an understanding about Alzheimer’s ) at the Kettering Health Network Theater, and Smoke on the Mountain at UD.  Also, you’ll have the opportunity to check out the amazing documentary The Elephant in the Living Room presented as part of the UD ArtStreet Friday Film Series.

On Saturday, participate in the Run for Congo 5K at Wegerzyns Garden Center.  Afterwards, it is perfectly acceptable to stuff yourself with pancakes at the Kiwanis 6th Annual Pancake Breakfast at Christ United Methodist Church.  If you love playing games (the nice kind, not the mean kind), head to Game Day at Your Library (the Dayton Metro Library’s East Branch).  Over at the UD Arena, you will be able to check out the 2011 WGI Color Guard World Championships.  If you love flowers, head to the Dorothy Lane Market School of Cooking for their Tropical Flowers Arrangement Class.  Bring out the artist in you by participating in the Art-Making & Historical Touring (Dayton Visual Arts Center) or the Get Creative Workshop – Visual Journaling (Dayton Art Institute).  Also at the Dayton Art Institute, you will be able to catch the Vanguard Concerts: Graffe String Quartet with Pianist Michiko Otaki.  Theater options for Saturday include All Shook Up (Victoria Theatre), The Boys Next Door (Dayton Theatre Guild), Close Ties (X*ACT, Xenia Area Community Theatre at the Kettering Health Network Theater), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (The Playhouse South), and Smoke on the Mountain (UD).  And if you miss football season, be sure to check out the Dayton Silverbacks as they take on the Marion Blue Racers.

On Sunday, start the morning off with All You Can Eat Brunch at Yankee Trace.  Then, eat some more at the Taste of Greene County at the Nutter Center.  Take the family to see the Dragons play the Bowling Green Hot Rods…plus Charity Cuts on the Plaza and McDonald’s Friends & Family Day at Fifth Third Field.  Get your legs moving for the Kettering Spring Into Health 5K Run/Walk.  If you love music, listen to the Dayton Philharmonic’s ‘The Symphonic Mozart’ at the Dayton Masonic Center.  Or head to UD for their Jazz Faculty Recital.  And finally, don’t miss your chance to catch All Shook Up at the Victoria Theatre.  Thank you, thank you very much for reading.

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

Why was it really hot after the baseball game?

All the fans left.

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 (3/30 – 4/3)

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Photo Credit: Alli Shillito

It is the end of March…although the madness continues, of course!  This also means that it’s the beginning of April showers.  However, instead of gifts, I’m going to shower you with things to do!

On Wednesday, make your way to the fabulous Jay’s Seafood Restaurant for their Groth Vineyards Tasting or to Bruning’s Wine Cellar for their Special Edition Tasting: All White Wines from Germany and Austria.  Although Sammy’s El Pueblo in Springboro has been open for a little while, head to their Grand Opening Celebration, which will feature a live mariachi band and buy one get one lunch or dinner!  Hopefully you’re like me and have your tickets to Avenue Q at Victoria Theatre (which is actually on Main Street).  Entertainment Weekly called it “one of the funniest shows you’re ever likely to see,” so I am so ready to get my laugh on and I hope you are too!  Just be sure to get your tickets ASAP as I have been told that there are only a few tickets remaining!  (For more info on this show, check out Shane Anderson’s article on DMM.)  And if you’re feeling like grabbing a beer and listening to some acoustic music, head to the Trolley Stop for the Old Time Acoustic Jam.

On Thursday, make your way to the PNC 2nd Street Market for Maple Syrup Maestro.  Over at Coco’s Bistro, enjoy their delicious food and 1/2 Price Wine by the Bottle.  Make your way to the Dayton Art Institute for DAI Movie Night: Steve McQueen in ‘Bullitt’.  FYI – “Bullit” doesn’t look like it’s speled corectlee, but when I looked it up, it waz acshually correctt.  If you love live music, make your way to the Centerville Schools Performing Arts Center to watch as The Centerville Orchestra presents, Mark Wood, a musician with an impressive resume!  Or, combine your love for video games with music by attending the Dayton Philharmonic’s The Return of Play! A Video Game Symphony at the Schuster Center.

On Friday, don’t go out and do anything.  Just be lazy, stay at home, and relax on the couch.  April Fool!  Of course you better not be doing that or else I’d have to try to drag you off the couch!  Instead, you can make your way to the Dayton Visual Arts Center for their Auction Preview Exhibition.  If you love cows and want to protect them, head to the Dayton Mall Chick-fil-A for their customer appreciation day, in which you will get a free Chick-fil-A sandwich(offered  4-7PM).  I have to be honest – I am so disappointed because I LOVE Chick-fil-A but do the “no meat on Fridays in Lent” thing…I wish they had a Fish-fil-A Sandwich!  Help raise money for music scholarships at Cedarville University by attending the ‘Musical Chairs’ performance.  If you’re downtown, be sure to participate in First Friday, the art hop that happens the first Friday of each month.  Kristen Wicker does a fantastic job telling you all about the events going on as part of First Friday, so I’ll shut my mouth (or stop typing) and encourage you to check out her article yourself…it’s really not a joke!

On Saturday, all you 5K lovers should head to Eastwood MetroPark for Celtic Academy’s Inaugural 5K Race for the Worlds Run/Walk.  All you art lovers should attend the Auction Preview Exhibition at the Dayton Visual Arts Center.  Some theater options include Beauty and the Beast at Victoria Theatre, Bill W. & Dr. Bob at Dayton Playhouse, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at The Playhouse South, The Boys Next Door at the Dayton Theatre Guild, and Smoke on the Mountain at the University of Dayton.  Also at the University of Dayton, listen to the sounds of the Ebony Heritage Singers, Dayton’s gospel choir which will perform music from the African-American sacred music tradition.  Take the stairway to the Schuster Center, which will seem like heaven as you see the Dayton Philharmonic’s performance, The Symphony Rocks: Music of Led Zeppelin.  If you love football but hate to sit out in the cold, head to Hara Arena to watch as the Dayton Silverbacks play the Cincinnati Commandos.  And if you love black tie events and supporting great causes, head to the Wright State University ArtsGala.  I have heard that this is always an amazing event!

The Symphony Rocks: The Music of Led Zeppelin

On Sunday, THEater seems like THE thing to do!  Beauty and the Beast at Victoria Theatre, Bill W. & Dr. Bob at Dayton Playhouse, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at The Playhouse South, The Boys Next Doorat Dayton Theatre Guild, and Smoke on the Mountain at the University of Dayton are all options.  Or bring your kids to the Dayton Philharmonic’s performance, The Beat Goes On at the Schuster Center.

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

How does a cow keep track of all her appointments?

She checks her COWander.

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!

Coming Up in Dayton Theatre – 03/24 – 04/06

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THURSDAY, MARCH 24 – WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6, 2011

Rainbow Bricks

Limestone Bricks: rainbow base painting (Photo Credit: Denise Yvette Serna)

When I wandered into the theatre today, a scenic artist was busily painting a stone wall – with nearly every color of the rainbow, rather than a traditional brick red or tan. The stones looked gorgeous, although not yet like the limestone bricks on the set model. “Real bricks aren’t flat – they’re unique,” she said, explaining her process of basing the bricks with rainbow scumbling, then applying multiple washes to mute the colors but bring out the pigments and bright undertones. However, when the set is complete, audience members will never know just how many layers were essential to make such a realistic stone wall.

So many layers and colors go into every one of these shows, as well. From the sound designer to the box office intern to the actors and directors, shows are necessarily collaborative and layered, to an extreme. Often, we are never aware of these affectations, but each one contributes to the show that we see.

Limestone bricks: completed! (Photo Credit: Denise Yvette Serna)

Likewise, we and the people around us bear the same intricacies and layers. We are products of years of existence and influence; each personal experience has added color to the scumbled wall that is a life. Part of the magic of theatre is its influential power to reflect people; part of that, and of shows in general, illustrates the deep and layered nature of those other human beings around us. It does this not only through the literal act of a show, but also through the subtle things, like the rainbow layers underneath the bricks.

This week, go see one of the following shows. Whether exploring cupcakes, alcoholism, or sex, each one deals in some way with real people, in all of their layers and depth; therefore, through them, we can better understand the people and world around us. You could even take a friend or two to one of the shows below, then discuss it over drinks or dinner afterward. Understand the layers, one at a time.

Another Openin’, Another Show

…SHOWS OPENING SOON

Bill W. and Dr. Bob

DAYTON PLAYHOUSE

Bill W & Dr. Bob: DPH

The Story: Bill W. – famous New York stockbroker who loses everything in the 1929 crash, then turns to alcohol – and Dr. Bob Smith – Ohio surgeon who often operates hung over – meet and form a relationship, each helping to keep the other sober. This courageously blunt, uncompromisingly straight forward docu-drama explores the lives of these two men and the history of Alcoholics Anonymous.
Dates: April 1 – 3, 2011 (Season Extra)
Tickets and More Information: 937-424-8477, Dayton Playhouse

The Boys Next Door

DAYTON THEATRE GUILD

The Story: Four emotionally and/or mentally challenged men live together as part of an independent living program; social worker Jack attempts to guide them in their distinct trials and pursuit of a happier life.
Dates: April 1 – 17, 2011
Tickets and More Information: 937-278-5993 or Dayton Theatre Guild

Joseph: PHS

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

PLAYHOUSE SOUTH

The Story: This musical, the first collaboration between Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, explores the Biblical saga of Joseph through an exciting variety of musical styles. The prophetic Joseph is sold into slavery by his jealous brothers and taken to Egypt, where he “endures a series of adventures in which his spirit and humanity are continually challenged” as he struggles to survive in a new land and move past his brothers’ betrayal.
Dates: March 25 – April 9, 2011
Tickets and More Information: Playhouse South

…SHOWS CLOSING SOON

Pinkalicious!

TOWN HALL THEATRE – LANDMARK CHILDREN’S THEATRE

Photo Credit: Mike Long

The Story: Young Pinkalicious can’t stop eating pink cupcakes, even though her parents and friends warn her to stop. But when she wakes up one morning to discover she has turned bright pink from head to toe, her doctor diagnoses her with Pinkitis. In this adaptation of the beloved children’s book, families see if there can ever be too much of a good thing.
Dates: March 11 – 27, 2011
Tickets: (937) 433-8957
More Information: Town Hall Theatre: Pinkalicious

Part of it All

…AUDITIONS AND CASTING CALLS

Encore Theater Company: Summer Mainstage Season

The Basics: Altar Boyz. In My Blood. Pump up the Volume. The Consequences. In its exciting 2011 season, ETC collaborates with Sinclair Community College and the Human Race Theatre Company to bring Dayton several developing and contemporary musicals throughout the summer.
Auditions: March 27 – 29, 2011 (schedule appointment)
More Information: Encore Theater Company

One Short Day

…SPECIAL EVENTS FOR THE THEATRICALLY MINDED

Avenue Q

VICTORIA THEATRE ASSOCIATION

The Story: Princeton moves to NYC with bright eyes, big dreams, and a tiny bank account, and ends up on Avenue Q, where everyone is looking for the same things: a decent job, a stable relationship, and a “purpose.” Sponsored by Logos@Work, Square One Salon & Spa, and with DaytonMostMetro.com as media sponsor, this national touring production of the sassy, irreverently hilarious puppet show that took Broadway by storm explores the ups and downs of life and “the real world.”
Date: March 30, 2011 – One Night Only!
Tickets: Ticket Center Stage , but they’re almost sold out!
More Information: DMM Feature

~KN

Jane’s Best Bets (3/23 – 3/27)

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Photo Credit: Alli Shillito

Woohoo…it’s spring!  That means you need to put a little spring in your step and make your way to some of these events going on this week!

On Wednesday, make your way to the Community Blood Center for Because Kerrigan Cared Week, where all blood donations will be made in memory of Steve Kerrigan, a veteran Dayton broadcaster who recently lost his battle with multiple myeloma, a blood cancer.  After you have donated blood, you will want to help replenish your blood supply by eating a good dinner!  So be sure to head to the Bonefish Grill for their Bang Bang Shrimp Wednesdays or to Sammy’s El Pueblo for their Fajita Dinner for 2 for $19.99.  All you who love debating political issues should head to the Trolley Stop for Drinking Liberally – Dayton.  Even though St. Patrick’s Day has come and gone, you will be able to attend the Green Drinks Dayton March at Cork & Vine Wine Market and Lounge, in which you will be able to find out about local organizations who “think green.”  And if you don’t mind making a fool of yourself, head to Blind Bob’s Tavern for Karaoke with DJ Nancy.  If you’re a really good singer, that’s okay too…except for the fact that you just make all of us bad singers look even worse!

On Thursday, if you want to celebrate that it is almost the weekend, head to After Work Thursdays at The Moraine Embassy for “Downtown Happy Times.”  They say wine and yoga relax you, so be ultra relaxed by attending Grape and Lotus – A Wine and Yoga Practice at Metropolitan Arts Center.  Love movies and art?  Make your way to DAI’s Movie Night, featuring Ayn Rand’s ‘The Fountainhead’.  Plus, the ticket price includes admission to the new exhibit, Creating the New Century: Contemporary Art from the Dicke Collection!  If you are a film enthusiast, you may also head to Ajami: Dayton Jewish International Film Festival, which takes place at The Neon.  There are a couple options available for young professionals who enjoy the arts, including Young Professionals Night at the DPO (Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra) or Jump into Strings (hopefully you don’t get hurt) with jumpstART.  If you do decide to jump, join other jumpers at the Milano’s on Brown Street prior to the show!  Or head to New Music for New Dance at Victoria Theatre.  They must also enjoy jumping, as they say that you should “Jump into spring with a fusion of fresh, innovative dance and stimulating, live music!”  A good friend of mine saw a preview of it and said it was AWESOME!  And finally, all you car lovers must attend the Dayton Auto Show, going on through Sunday!

New Music for New Dance-Dayton Ballet

On Friday, if you haven’t made it to one yet this season (I’m talking about fish fry season, not spring), then make plans to attend the St. Charles Fish Fry.  At the Spaghetti Warehouse, attend the Mayhem & Mystery Dinner Theatre ‘Fashion Friction’.  If you enjoy music, head to the Schuster Center for Daugherty: Electric Guitar Concerto – Passport Performance.  All you dance lovers should plan to attend the Russian National Ballet Theatre performance at Clark State Performing Arts Center.  And if you can’t decide if you like music or dance better, then I have a solution for you – attend the Dayton Ballet’s New Music for New Dance at Victoria Theatre, which will have both!  Catch a performance of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at The Playhouse South.  If you like Buzz (not to be confused with getting buzzed), then watch Toy Story 3 as part of the ArtStreet Friday Film Series Presents at the University of Dayton.  I have not seen it yet because I’ve heard it even makes grown men cry!  If you love wine and Porsches (just make sure you don’t try to drive the Porsches after you’ve had a few glasses of wine), then head to the Taj Wine Tasting 2011 at Taj Ma Garaj.  In addition to delicious wine and gorgeous cars, there will be yummy food from some of the area’s premier caterers, including Belmont Catering and Bernsteins.

On Saturday, start the day off right with the Dogfish Head Beer Breakfast at Spinoza’s.  If you’re more of a health nut, then head to The Mall at Fairfield Commons for their 4th Annual ‘No Buts About It’ 5K Run/Walk.  Over at PNC 2nd Street Market, you will be able to see Birds of Prey.  Seriously.  Just “pray” they don’t eat you!  Before the weather gets too warm, all you chili lovers should head to the South Park Chili Cook off at South Park’s Hope Lutheran Church.  Help “Big Brothers Big Sisters” by participating in their Bowl For Kids’ Sake at Woodman Lanes.  And if you’re not available or have a thumb injury and can’t bowl, feel free to make a donation to support this wonderful cause!  If you’re looking for a music, theater, or dance option (or perhaps some combination of these art forms!), spring over to Victoria Theatre for New Music for New Dance, Town Hall Theatre for Pinkalicious, The Musical, The Playhouse South for Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, or the Schuster Center for New Worlds – Passport Performance.  And finally, if you love hockey and want to support a good cause, watch as the Dayton Gems Pack the House for Kyle Terrian.

On Sunday, head to the Little Art Theatre for brunch and a movie.  If you like Joseph, watch him and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at The Playhouse South.  At Town Hall Theatre, you will still be able to see Pinkalicious, The Musical.  If you haven’t yet had the opportunity to see New Music for New Dance, I strongly encourage you to do so!   At South Park United Methodist Church, listen to some beautiful voices as the University of Dayton Chorale performs.  If you haven’t had the opportunity to check out the Dayton Auto Show, remember that Sunday is the last day for it!  And if you need some techniques to help you relax before heading into another busy work week, head to Practice Yoga on Fifth for their Intro to Mindfulness Meditation.

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

Two kangaroo moms were talking to each other and one said, “I hope it doesn’t rain today.”  The other one replied, “Yeah, I just hate it when the children play inside.”

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 (3/16 – 3/20)

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Hopefully you remembered to change your clocks/watches this past Sunday.  Or, you can be like me and not have to change your watch since you didn’t change it back in October for the last daylight’s saving’s time.  As we spring forward, here are some upcoming events to check out!

On Wednesday, begin the St. Patty’s festivities a little early by attending the Irish Beer Tasting at Heathers Coffee & Café.  Or, find out how to make it A Gluten-Free St. Patrick’s Day at the Dorothy Lane Market School of Cooking.  Thinking about starting your own business?  Head to The Entrepreneurs Center for their New Business Information Session, which is a FREE practical seminar to help answer your questions about starting, buying, or expanding a small business.  At Sinclair, attend The 5 Things You Need to Know About Excel.  Even though I’m an Excel nerd, there are still so many things I have yet to discover about it!  Over at The Neon, attend the Free Screening of RIZE, a movie about “krump” dance.  Or, if you like inside information, head to Wiley’s for their Dirty Little Secret.

On St. Patty’s Day, start your day off before work at The Dublin Pub for The Official St Patrick’s Day Itinerary.  Or, head to one of the Irish bars in the area, such as Flanagan’s Pub, Harrigan’s Tavern, or Harrigan’s Tavern – South for their super fun St. Patty’s Day Celebrations!  Over at Spinoza’s, attend the Drinkin’ of the Irish Beer and eatin’ of the Corned Beef & Cabbage…Pizza.  For those of you who like scary movies, attend the DAI Movie Night: Hitchcock’s ‘The Birds’.  Sorry, I’m not in that flock!  And if you are into finances (or perhaps you should be), make your way to Books & Co. as Financial Guru Suze Orman will be there!

On Friday, attend the Fling in the Springs, in which there will be several art openings, a “laughter therapist” (I’m all about it but that person probably hasn’t heard my jokes!), live music, and raffles in Yellow Springs.  If you follow the “no meat” on Fridays during Lent rule, attend the All-You-Can-Eat Fish Dinner at Romer’s Bar & Grill or the All-You-Can-Eat Fish Fry at Yankee Trace Golf Club.  Remain in the Irish spirit with ‘The Celtic Tenors: Dublin to Dayton’ at the Schuster Center.  Over at the University of Dayton’s Kennedy Union Boll Theatre, attend the UD Dance Ensemble Spring Concert.  There will be more opportunities to see dance at Bellbrook High School as The Miami Valley Dance Company presents…Cinderella Ballet.  Beyonce talked about being bootylicious, but at Town Hall Theatre, you will be able to see Pinkalicious, The Musical.  And in other theater news, you will be able to see Beyond Therapy at Dayton Playhouse, Mid-Life, The Crisis Musical at Beavercreek Community Theatre, or The Drowsy Chaperone at Victoria Theatre.

On Saturday, get your heart rate up by attending the ‘Spring Has Sprung’ Healthy Families 5K Run/Walk at the Greene County Combined Health District or the Harrigan’s St. Patrick’s Day 5k Charity Run.  Feeling in the mood for a little art?  Attend Sound Bites: Short Talks about Art at the Dayton Art Institute.  All you history buffs should plan to attend The War Nobody Knows, at the Dayton Metro Library’s Kettering-Moraine Branch.  Over at Bellbrook High School, attend the Spring Gala – Cinderella & Repertory Pieces.  You will be able to catch the UD Dance Ensemble Spring Concert at their Kennedy Union Boll Theatre.  Some theater options include The Drowsy Chaperone at Victoria Theatre, Pinkalicious, The Musical at Town Hall Theatre, Beyond Therapy at Dayton Playhouse, or Mid-Life, The Crisis Musicalat Beavercreek Community Theatre.  Head to Stivers School for the Arts for Rise Up & Dance, presented by Cityfolk.  Support the Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Miami Valley by attending the Doors of Compassion Event, where there will be amazing food prepared by the area’s most elite chefs!  And finally, enjoy live music at the Schuster Center with The Celtic Tenors: From Dublin to Dayton.

On Sunday, skip making breakfast and attend the Glen Helen Association’s 36th Annual Pancake Breakfast.  Receive a FREE Italian Ice at Rita’s to celebrate the arrival of spring!  At the Dayton Art Institute, check out their new exhibit, entitled Creating the New Century: Contemporary Art from the Dicke Collection.  Or, catch one of the many shows you missed earlier this week, including Beyond Therapy (Dayton Playhouse), The Drowsy Chaperone (Victoria Theatre), Mid-Life, The Crisis Musical (Beavercreek Community Theatre).  And finally, if you enjoy a good laugh, head to Wiley’s for their Open Mic Night.

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

What is out on the lawn all summer and is Irish?

Paddy O’Furniture

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!