The holiday film classic starring Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye and Rosemary Clooney is the inspiration for this blockbuster musical. Two veterans have a successful song-and-dance act after World War II. With romance in mind, they follow a duo of beautiful singing “Sisters” en route to their Christmas show at a Vermont lodge. It’s La Comedia’s most popular show of all time…cue the snow!
White Christmas
12 YEARS A SLAVE & HOW I LIVE NOW at THE NEON!
Hello Everyone,
By now, I’m sure you’ve heard of 12 YEARS A SLAVE. This was one of the 32 films I saw in Toronto this Fall, and I immediately knew that a classic had been born. I wasn’t alone. The film went on to win “The People’s Choice Award” – the biggest prize at The Toronto International Film Festival. In addition, the film has received 100% reviews from THE NEW YORK TIMES, THE LOS ANGELES TIMES, THE WALL STREET JOURNAL, NPR, ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY, ROLLING STONE, and many more. 12 YEARS A SLAVE will certainly be nominated for “Best Picture” at the Academy Awards (and will likely win), so we hope you’ll hurry to see it with us!
In addition, we will open a new film that I have not yet seen. HOW I LIVE NOW stars Saoirse Ronan (from ATONEMENT) and was directed by Kevin Macdonald (director of LAST KING OF SCOTLAND and MARLEY). I like everyone involved, so I’m anxious to see it.
If you still need to see HANNAH ARENDT or ENOUGH SAID, Thursday will be your last chance to catch them at THE NEON. IN A WORLD, the comedy that audiences are loving, will stick around for one screening a day over the weekend.
Synopsis for 12 YEARS A SLAVE: “12 YEARS A SLAVE is based on an incredible true story of one man’s fight for survival and freedom. In the pre-Civil War United States, Solomon Northup (Chiwetel Ejiofor), a free black man from upstate New York, is abducted and sold into slavery. Facing cruelty (personified by a malevolent slave owner, portrayed by Michael Fassbender), as well as unexpected kindnesses, Solomon struggles not only to stay alive, but to retain his dignity. In the twelfth year of his unforgettable odyssey, Solomon’s chance meeting with a Canadian abolitionist (Brad Pitt) will forever alter his life.” (Fox Searchlight) Click this LINK to visit the film’s official site.
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Synopsis for HOW I LIVE NOW: “Set in the near-future UK, Ronan plays Daisy, an American teenager sent to stay with relatives in the English countryside. Initially withdrawn and alienated, she begins to warm up to her charming surroundings, and strikes up a romance with the handsome Edmund (George MacKay). But on the fringes of their idyllic summer days are tense news reports of an escalating conflict in Europe. As the UK falls into a violent, chaotic military state, Daisy finds herself hiding and fighting to survive.” (Magnolia Pictures)
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“Come support GLSEN at the Dayton Premiere of SCARY NORMAL on Thursday November 21st at 7:30. Tickets are available on a sliding scale – pay what you can – $15-$50. Director Jennifer Bechtel presents this coming-of-age romantic comedy about Chelsea, a teenager who just wants to be seen as normal. However, her stepdad’s life as an independent filmmaker leaves her surrounded by wild, colorful characters and often embarrassed and frustrated by her family. Along comes Danielle, a sometimes brash, almost always self-confident young lesbian who has been kicked out of her own family because of her sexuality. Through their friendship, Chelsea starts to realize the true value of friends and family who love unconditionally. About GLSEN: For 25 years GLSEN, the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network has been the leading national education organization focused on ensuring safe schools for all students.” (taken from GLSEN Dayton press notes) Tickets are now available at THE NEON.
Mark your calendars now…this year’s Family Holiday Film Series is wonderful! Tickets are FREE for children 12 and under, and all other tickets are $2 each. We will screen RISE OF THE GUARDIANS on December 7, on December 14 we will screen HOME ALONE, and on December 21 – the holiday classic – WHITE CHRISTMAS. Each film will only screen one time – at Noon. Tickets will only be available starting 45 minutes before each show.
Thanks for your continued support!
We hope to see you soon,
Jonathan
SHOWTIMES for Fri, Nov. 8 – Thurs, Nov. 14:
12 YEARS A SLAVE (R) 2 hrs 14 min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 1:00, 4:00, 6:30, 7:00, 9:45
Monday – Wednesday: 2:30, 5:15, 7:30, 8:00
Thursday: 2:30, 5:15, 8:00
HOW I LIVE NOW (R) 1 hr 41 min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 2:00, 9:30
Monday – Thursday: 3:00, 5:20
IN A WORLD (R) 1 hr 33 min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 4:15
COMING SOON:
As always, all dates are tentative. Many of these dates will change.
In some rare cases, titles may disappear.
Nov. 22 – DALLAS BUYERS CLUB
Nov. 22- KILL YOUR DARLINGS
Nov. 27 – PHILOMENA
Dec. 20 – NEBRASKA
Jan. 3 – THE ARMSTRONG LIE
Coming up in Dayton Theatre, 11/30 – 12/9
Welcome back, theatre lover! Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. We’ve gotten into the cinematic heavyweight season now, with all the studios releasing their highly anticipated pieces, hoping to garner little golden statues. But remember, there are also pieces of theatre in the area just as highly anticipated and every bit as delightful!
Closing This Weekend!
White Christmas
The Schuster Center
The Skinny: Irving Berlin’s classic Christmas tale comes to the Schuster Center stage in all it’s glory!
Dates: Only a few performances left, closing on Sunday, 12/2!
Tickets: All ticketing information is available online, here
Now Running!
A Tuna Christmas
The Dayton Theatre Guild
The Skinny: It’s Christmas time and local radio personalities Thurston Wheelis and Arles Struvie tell us all about the annual Christmas lawn display contest that Viola Carp keeps winning (14 times), the troubled local production of A Christmas Carol and along the way introduce us to a host of colorful characters, each one funnier than the last, in this little mythical Texas town. Two actors portray more than twenty roles in this hilarious production.
Dates: A Tuna Christmas runs 2 more weekends, closing Sunday the 9th. The Saturday performances for this weekend and next are at 5 pm.
Tickets: Ticketing information is available via the DTG website, here.
Opening This Weekend!
Oliver!
The Human Race Theatre Company
The Skinny: Christmas Eve in London, 1838. A small group of working-class, wayward souls gather in a tavern to celebrate when a small, unexpected guest prompts a spontaneous telling of the popular Oliver Twist. With traditional music-hall flair, they delve into Charles Dickens’ haunting moral tale as the lines between story and reality blur. Sized perfectly for The Loft Theatre, this reimagining of the classic Tony Award®-winning musical will touch your heart and challenge your spirit. It’s Oliver with a twist, indeed!
Dates: With a run extended past it’s original dates, Oliver! now opens Friday, 11/30 and runs through 12/22, making it a perfect Christmastime date.
Tickets: Tickets are available online at the Human Race Theatre Company website, here.
Scrooge
The Dayton Playhouse
The Skinny: Adapted from the Charles Dickens classic, “A Christmas Carol,” this musical closely follows the classic story with the miserly Ebenezer undergoing a profound experience of redemption over the course of a Christmas Eve night, after being visited by the ghost of his former partner Jacob Marley and the Spirits of Christmas past, present and future.
Dates: Opening on 11/30 and running three weekends to close 12/16.
Tickets: Tickets are available online at the Dayton Playhouse website, here.
A Christmas Carol
Zoot Theatre Company
The Skinny: Dayton’s puppet theatre company takes on Dickens seasonal classic, retelling a familiar story in the way only Zoot can.
Dates: Opening 11/30 and running 3 weekends, closing December 15th.
Tickets: Tickets are available for purchase online at the Dayton Art Institute website, here.
Annie
Troy Civic Theatre
The Skinny: The famous musical version of Lil’ Orphan Annieis,indeed, a Christmas-set offering. This show is a heart-warming favorite, sure to please families with kids, or without.
Dates: Opening 11/30 and running 3 weekends, to close on 12/15.
Tickets: Tickets are available for reservation by calling 937-339-7700. Pricing information can be found at the Troy Civic Theatre website, here.
One Night Only!
How The Grinch Stole Christmas
Tipp City Players
The Skinny: Another Christmas-themed offering; Tipp City is bring a readers-theatre rendition of the Dr. Seuss morality play of a green man whose heart “grew three sizes that day.”
Tickets: Admission is free, but donations are warmly appreciated. Information is available on the Tipp City Players website, here.
Jane’s Best Bets (12/22 – 12/26)
Photo Credit: Alli Shillito
It’s so hard to believe that Christmas is this week! I bet many of you are continuing to do your Christmas shopping, gift wrapping, and decorating, so I’m going to keep it brief. Here are a few entertainment options if you can make some time during this busy week!
On Wednesday, to get in the true spirit of Christmas, attend At the Manger or the Narrative Enchantment: Nativity Stories in Gold and Blue, both at the University of Dayton. If you need to unwind after all that Christmas shopping, attend the Wine Tasting at Dorothy Lane Market, the Weekly Wine Tasting at The Wine Gallery, or the Naughty & Nice Beer Tasting at Heather’s Coffee & Café. I know some geese can get on your nerves, but if you don’t mind them, attend the Annual Goose Dinner at C’est Tout. And if you’d like to add a little mystery to your dinner, attend the Mayhem & Mystery Dinner Theatre ‘Hollywood Holiday’ at the Spaghetti Warehouse.
On Thursday, do some holiday “sightseeing” by checking out Virginia Kettering’s Holiday Train Display at the Kettering Tower, the Washington Township Woodland Lights, or Wonderland Windows at the Schuster Center. My almost 7-month old niece went last week to see the windows and she told me she had a good time. In order to complete your holiday shopping, visit The Tike’s Shop at the Schuster Center, the Beer & Peanuts Shopping Party at the Dayton Visual Arts Center, or Live Art, Give Art! at the Cannery Art and Design Center. If you would like to make the holidays better for those less fortunate, bring a non-perishable item as part of Food for Friends at PNC 2nd Street Market or as part of the Holiday Food Drive at the Cannery Art and Design Center. And if you’re a music lover, attending Holidayton at Blind Bob’s is a must, as several bands/musicians will be performing!
On Christmas Eve (Friday) and Christmas Day (Saturday), hopefully you’ll be celebrating with your family/friends! I wish you all a very Merry Christmas! Please be sure to celebrate responsibly! If you plan to celebrate the holidays with alcohol, have a DD or take advantage of the “Arrive Safe” program. From December 24th-26th, Montgomery County residents can get a free cab ride (up to $50). Just program 449-9999 in your cell phone!
On Sunday, I’m guessing you’ll probably want to relax or get up early to get some good shopping deals, return/exchange that ugly Christmas sweater, and/or use any gift cards you may have gotten! If you are sick and tired of all things Christmas and feel like doing something totally unrelated, you can head over to the Dayton Art Institute for one of their exhibits, including 100 Years of African-American Art: The Arthur Primas Collection, Marking the Past/Shaping the Present: The Art of Willis ‘Bing’ Davis, or the Max May Memorial Holocaust Art Exhibition. And if you would like to remain in the spirit of Christmas, check out the Washington Township Woodland Lights, Virginia Kettering’s Holiday Train Display at the Kettering Tower, or Irving Berlin’s White Christmas at La Comedia.
And now it’s time for the Dumb Joke of the Week. Drum roll please…
Why is it so cold at Christmas?
Because it’s in Decembrrrr!
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 (12/8 – 12/12)
Photo Credit: Alli Shillito
So we got some of that white stuff on the ground this past week, which is starting to make me dream of a white Christmas! I love Dayton, but I could definitely do away with this cold! Anywho, here are some mostly indoor options for the week so you don’t have to depend on the crazy weather!
On Wednesday, check out the Dayton Holiday Festival’s Noontime Entertainment at various building lobbies downtown. Groups from around the Miami Valley will be performing holiday music, so it might be a good thing to check out during your lunch hour! If you’re up in the northern part of the area, consider having Lunch with HYPE (Helping Young Professionals Emerge) at Coldwater Café. In the evening, head to the Oregon District for their Holiday Tour of Homes. If you have never experienced Christmas on Campus – Music at the University of Dayton, it is definitely something you want to check out! There are a variety of festivities, including live music, displays, food, and much more! If you are “wonder”ing whether there are any theater options, you are in luck! Catch The Wonder Bread Years at Victoria Theatre, Irving Berlin’s White Christmas at La Comedia, or 8-Track: The Sounds of the ’70s at The Loft Theatre.
On Thursday, there will again be musical entertainment during the lunch hour at both the Key Bank Tower’s lobby and the Liberty Tower’s lobby as part of the Dayton Holiday Festival’s Noontime Entertainment. Ladies, there is a day just for us at the PNC 2nd Street Market. Pamper yourself by participating in a variety of activities, including flower arranging, make-up hints, healthy eating tips, and more as part of Ladies Day at the Market. If you can take the afternoon off work, head to the Dayton Art Institute for their Tour and Tea. In the evening, ALL young professionals should definitely attend Generation Dayton’s Thirsty Thursday at the Dayton Racquet Club! If you’re active and would like to learn how to cook, consider registering for Backcountry Gourmet Cooking presented by Five Rivers Metro Parks. And if you love free live music, attend the UD Gamelan Ensemble performance.
The Nutcracker
On Friday, attend Kids Flower Arranging (make sure your children listen!) or December Centerpieces at PNC 2nd Street Market. If you didn’t get a chance to check out one of the many holiday music performances downtown during your lunch hour the past few days as part of the Dayton Holiday Festival’s Noontime Entertainment, now is your chance. And even if you already did, there will be new groups performing! There will be plenty of performances/shows to check out, including Irving Berlin’s White Christmas at La Comedia, A Christmas Carol at the Beavercreek Community Theatre, Junie B. Jones; Jingle Bells, Batman Smells at Town Hall Theatre, the UD Jazz Ensembles at the University of Dayton, The Nutcracker at the Schuster Center, 8-Track: The Sounds of the ’70s at The Loft Theatre, Precious Heart at the Dayton Theatre Guild, and The Wonder Bread Years at Victoria Theatre. If it’s not too cold, join other skaters (or wannabe skaters) at the Star-Late Skate at River Skate…I mean Scape. No goats allowed.
On Saturday, get a healthy start by participating in the 2010 Jingle Bell Run/Walk for Arthritis at the Dayton Mall, where I’m sure you’ll see treetops glisten if you go in some of the department stores! With every Christmas card you write, you get some of that carpal tunnel stuff, so this will be a good opportunity to start moving your legs instead of your hands! Still trying to catch up on your holiday shopping? Check out the Yellow Springs Holiday Festival. At The Neon, see the movie Elf as part of their Family Movie Series. Heat up your holidays without that expensive airfare by checking out the Parrots of the Caribbean (a Jimmy Buffett cover band) as they play at Norton’s in Kettering. There 
will also be tons of performances in the Dayton area that continue to go on, including The Wonder Bread Years at Victoria Theatre, Junie B. Jones; Jingle Bells, Batman Smells at Town Hall Theatre, Precious Heart at the Dayton Theatre Guild, Irving Berlin’s White Christmas at La Comedia, A Christmas Carol at Beavercreek Community Theatre, 8-Track: The Sounds of the ’70s and at The Loft Theatre. Also, join jumpstART, the Dayton Ballet Barre, and the Young Lawyers Division as they partner up for Jump into Ballet (A Night with the Nutcracker). Click on the link to see how YOU can get a ticket at half-price! Plus afterwards, attend the JumpsART Afterparty at The Wine Gallery! If you’re not into the theatre scene but would prefer to do some bar hopping (for a good cause of course!), get out your Santa or Mrs. Claus suit and participate in the Santa Pub Crawl to benefit Toys for Tots in the Oregon District. Just be sure to drink responsibly! Love, Your Mom.
On Sunday, take the whole family to the Schuster Center to hear sleigh bells in the snow as part of Wonderland Windows. While there, you can also shop in The Tike’s Shop, have “Some-Fun”, and check out a performance of The Nutcracker. For some beautiful music, head to the Dayton Art Institute for the Afternoon Musicales: Holiday 
Performance, Westminster Presbyterian Church for the Dayton Philharmonic’s ‘Handel’s Messiah: The Composer’s Cut’, or Kettering Fairmont High School for the Miami Valley Symphony Orchestra Concert. There will also be additional performances of many of the shows that have been going on this week, including The Wonder Bread Years at Victoria Theatre, Junie B. Jones; Jingle Bells, Batman Smells at Town Hall Theatre, Precious Heart at the Dayton Theatre Guild, Irving Berlin’s White Christmas at La Comedia, or 8-Track: The Sounds of the ’70s at The Loft Theatre. And finally, you may want to be sitting at “The Dock” (of the bay), for 79 Cent Draft Beer Football Happy Hour. It will definitely be happy if the Browns are winning! And if not, I’m sure a beer will help!
And now it’s time for the Dumb Joke of the Week. Drum roll please…
Did you hear about the guy who sent his girlfriend a huge pile of snow? He called her up the next day and asked her, “Did you get my drift?”
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!
May your days be merry and bright this week Dayton!
