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Moon Over Buffalo – and FREE TICKETS!

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Moon Over Buffalo

PLAYHOUSE SOUTH

Playhouse South: And Never Been Kissed

Playhouse South: And Never Been Kissed

George and Charlotte Hay are an acting couple (well, theirs is not quite the Lunt-Fontanne partnership) on tour in Buffalo in 1953, performing a repertory of Cyrano de Bergerac and Private Lives. Just after their relationship is threatened when George dallies with a young ingénue, they learn that famed director Frank Capra is coming to Buffalo to see their matinee performance – and possibly star them in his movie remake of The Scarlet Pimpernel. Unfortunately, it seems like everything that could go wrong does, and hilarious misunderstandings ensue.

This and next week, Playhouse South presents that story in the farce Moon Over Buffalo, written by Ken Ludwig (famed author of Lend Me a Tenor). The original production marked Carol Burnett’s return to Broadway and opened in 1995; since it’s been described as a combination of Waiting for Guffman and Noises Off, the show’s humor and success are not surprising.

A common element to Moon Over Buffalo, Waiting for Guffman, and those other shows I mentioned is the community aspect of theatre, which aligns well with PHS’s mission and goals. Actor Megan Cooper, who is new to PHS but very involved in other Dayton theatres (and in leadership with jumpstART), observed that every person in Moon Over Buffalo has a different reason for being in the show and brings a different level of experience, yet are brought together by their common passion for the collaboration and art of theatre. She added, discussing her positive experience with the show,

“People who have that much passion are great to work with.”

PHS considers itself a theatre that hinges on both the passion of participants and audience members, and strives to “get people involved in our love of theatre” (Rob Breving, Publicity).

Cooper (Roz Hay) and Breving (Paul Singer) are both cast members in this production, along with Geoff Burkman (George Hay), Joanne Augenstein (Charlotte Hay), Brad Bishop (Howard), Lisa Carter (Eileen), Terry Lupp (Ethel) and Rick Johnson (Richard Maynard). Dayton theatre veteran Jim Lockwood (2008 inductee into the Dayton Theatre Hall of Fame) directs, and Dawn Roth-Smith produces. Not only are those involved in the production a community, but audience members will find one in this show as well. Breving said,

“Being theatregoers, the audience will relate with the characters or know people like them,”

which promises to make the show even more entertaining for those who come.Playhouse South

Alongside of that “community” emphasis, PHS is really working to move forward in quality and talent, and therefore recently named Dawn Roth-Smith and Human Race resident actor Alan Bomar Jones as co-artistic directors. The theatre hopes that Moon Over Buffalo will engage and connect with audience members and be one step towards achieving those goals.

Those things aside, this show promises to be funny and enjoyable. Breving described,

“The cast has worked very hard and is truly having so much fun… It’s a show for anyone that needs a good laugh and a reminder not to take ourselves too seriously.”

WIN TICKETS TO MOON OVER BUFFALO!

Playhouse South: Rent

Playhouse South: Rent cast

Playhouse South & onStageDayton on DaytonMostMetro.com have teamed up to give you a chance to win tickets to this fun show!  We will be giving away up to three pairs of tickets! All you need to do is:

  • Share this post on Facebook or Twitter…we’ll give away a set of tickets for every 10 ’shares’ on FB/Twtr, up to 3 pairs of tickets.  Just click on the appropriate button below, it’s that easy!
  • Leave a comment, answering the following question…WHERE IS THE MOST UNIQUE PLACE YOU HAVE EITHER “MOONED” SOMEONE….OR BEEN THE UNFORTUNATE VICTIM OF A “MOONING”?
  • The deadline to enter is MIDNIGHT on SUNDAY, October 17th; tickets will be made available for the second weekend of the show.

    • (creativity counts in this forum…but we’ll be selecting winners randomly Monday morning when Bill rolls into the office!)

    Performance Information

    Moon Over Buffalo runs from October 15 – 23, with performances at 8:00 on Fridays/Saturdays and 2:00 on Sunday. Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for seniors (over 60) and $7 for students. For more information and reservations, please call the Box Office at 888-262-3792 or visit http://www.playhousesouth.org.

    SUBMITTED PRESS RELEASE

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

    ~KN

    onStageDayton on DaytonMostMetro.comKatherine Nelson is a senior theatre major at Cedarville University who focuses on performance, playwriting, and stage management. She’s the Literary Intern with locally based Encore Theater Company, where contributors Shane Anderson and David Brush also work. The local theater company recently moved into the new arts collective space in the Oregon Arts District, along with Zoot Theatre Co & Rhythm In Shoes. Encore Theater Company has a mission to help develop new works of musical theater, most recently Next Thing You Know and The Proof, two new musicals in development.

    Dirty Rotten – Murder Mystery (plus FREE TICKETS)

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    Dirty Rotten Scoundrels at La Comedia Dinner TheaterDirty Rotten Scoundrels

    La Comedia Dinner Theatre

    ‘Here I Am’ – In the wings with Lauren Morgan

    A Conversation with a cast member from La Comedia’s current offering – the hit musical comedy Dirty Rotten Scoundrels

    I first met LAUREN MORGAN when I was seeking a choreographer for Encore Theater Company’s summer production of RENT.  She came highly recommended and boy – they weren’t kidding! I found her to be among the most professional, respected and thorough dance designers I’d ever worked with.

    Currently, you can catch Lauren among the cast of La Comedia’s staging of the David Yazbeck-penned musical comedy Dirty Rotten Scoundrels – based on the Steve Martin film of the same name. A contemporary hilarious musical – itself a love letter to the golden age of American Musical Comedy.

    onStageDayton sat down with Lauren recently to talk about the show, her training, and what’s next for this Dayton-bred star.

    Lauren Morgan

    [LAUREN MORGAN is a recent graduate of Wright State University with a BFA in Dance.  She began dancing at age 3 in her hometown of Middletown, Ohio.  She has performed throughout the area with many different companies including La Comedia Dinner Theatre, Dayton Ballet, Wright State University, and Middletown Lyric Theatre. Her regional performance credits includeFootloose, Beauty and the Beast, and A Chorus Line.  Her university credits include The Pajama Game, Titanic, Aida, Lady Be Good, and many dance concerts.  Recently Lauren has taken to choreography having staged her original work for the musicals The Wedding Singer, RENT, and Footloose.]

    OSD: Tell us about the training and experience you recieved in the Dayton region. How and when did theatre/dance come into your life?

    LM: I began dancing at age 3. In fourth grade I auditioned for The Nutcracker with Dayton Ballet and was cast as a toy soldier.  From then on I was hooked.  My first musical was The Wizard of Oz at Middletown High School where I was a Munchkin and a monkey.  My junior year of high school I auditioned at La Comedia for Footloose and was double cast as a teen ensemble member.  That was the first time that I realized that I needed to pursue theatre as a career.  Immediately after that I was cast in Beauty and the Beast or another eight week run.  I stopped taking dance my senior year of high school with the intention of being a musical theatre major in college.  For some reason I ended up at WSU as a dance major and it was the best thing that could have happened to me.  Wright State’s department of Theatre, Dance, and Motion Picture has given me more opportunities to perform than I could have ever asked for.  I was in six mainstage musicals including Titanic as ‘Kate Murphy’.  I had many choreographic and performance opportunities with concert dance and even participated with student films and voice overs.

    OSD: Many of our readers are probably familiar with the original source film of “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels”, but what can audiences expect from the musical adaptation?

    LM: Dirty Rotten Scoundrels the musical offers great laughs and singing, as well as a fantastic dancing ensemble that helps tell the story.  The cast has a lot of fun performing and audiences always leave with a smile on their face.

    OSD: In New York and on the road, it was a large show. How is it translating to the unique La Comedia space?

    LM: Even though the La Comedia stage is small, it doesn’t stop the story from being told.  The show starts off with a fantastical dance overture and follows all the twists and turns that any audience member who has seen the movie expects. The cast functions as the crew in some scenarios and each setting unfolds in front of the audiences eye.

    OSD: What’s next for you?

    LM: After the show I tell everyone I need to save money.  I’d like to end up out west performing and choreographing.  I love mountains and rock climbing so I find I need nature to help me create.  Graduate school is in the cards at some point in the near future.  I would like to have my master’s in choreography or directing as well as be qualified to teach the Alexander Technique.

    Performance Information:

    Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (through October 31 – various show times) visit LaComedia.com / (937) 746-4554 for ticket info, menu and show times.

    DB

    Die Mommie Die!Dayton Playhouse

    Dayton Playhouse

    Win Tickets to this show!       Keep reading for details!

    The Dayton Playhouse is delighted to present the second production of their 2010/2011 Mainstage Season, Die Mommie Die! by Charles Busch – opening Friday, October 8, 2010 and running through October 17.  Die Mommie Die! is a delightful send-up of film noir classics such as touch of Evil, Double Indemnity and in particular, Whatever Happened to Baby Jane. The production is directed for the Playhouse by Michael Boyd, lights by Anita Bachmann, costumes by Erin Winslow, stage management by Jeremy King and set design by Wade Hamilton.

    Die Mommie Die! The Plot:

    Set in 1967 Beverly Hills, this off-beat, “comic-thriller-melodrama” features the glamorous Angela Arden, a once grand, now fading diva of the recording industry.  She is trapped in a corrosive marriage to a overbearing film producer, Sol.  In her attempt to find happiness with her lover Tony, a much younger, out-of-work TV star, Angela murders her husband – in a most unusual manner!  Angela’s meddling, daddy’s-girl daughter Edith convinces her emotionally disturbed, secually ambiguous brother Lance to avenge their father’s death and to learn the truth about Angela by putting LSD in her coffee.  This triggers a wild acid trip exposing Angela’s dark, secret past!  Can anyone predict how the plot will twist?

    “This show is a blast.  It’s some kind of cross between film noir murder mystery and campy revenge story…” says Director Michael Boyd.  “We have a fantastic cast who understands the spirit of fun and homage.”

    Die Mommie Die! The Cast:

    The complete cast of Die Mommie Die! includes:  Cassandra Engber, Jonathan Berry, Jeremey Gingrich, Megan Grabiel, Richard Young and Cynthia Karns.

    Die Mommie DieYour Chance to WIN TICKETS to Die Mommie Die!

    The Dayton Playhouse & onStageDayton on DaytonMostMetro.com have teamed up to give you a chance to win tickets to this fun show!  We will be giving away up to four pairs of tickets! All you need to do is:

    • Share this post on Facebook or Twitter…we’ll give away a set of tickets for every 10 ‘shares’ on FB/Twtr, up to 4 pairs of tickets.
    • Leave a comment, answering the following question…WHAT UNUSUAL MANNER DO YOU SUPPOSE ANGELA ARDEN USES TO MURDER SOL?
    • The deadline to enter is MIDNIGHT on FRIDAY, October 8th

    (You don’t have to have a  correct answer to win the tix!  We will draw the winners from the entire group of entries.)

    Performance Information:

    Die Mommie Die! (October 8-17) visit DaytonPlayhouse.com or call  (937) 424-8477 from 10am – 2pm Monday through Friday for ticket information and show times.

    SUBMITTED PRESS RELEASE

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

    onStageDayton on DaytonMostMetro.comShane Anderson & David Brush work with locally based Encore Theater Company. Katherine Nelson, a senior theatre major at Cedarville University, serves as the Literary Intern for ETC.  The local theater company recently moved into the new arts collective space in the Oregon Arts District, along with Zoot Theatre Co & Rhythm In Shoes. Encore Theater Company has a mission to help develop new works of musical theater, most recently Next Thing You Know and The Proof, two new musicals in development.