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Follow the Yellow Brick Road

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MUSE MACHINE Wizard of OZMunchkins are gleefully rejoicing, Dorothy’s ruby pumps sparkle and Toto is behaving like a pro. The magical journey to Oz is taking shape as the Muse Machine, Dayton’s premier arts education organization celebrating its 30th anniversary, puts the finishing touches on its highly anticipated presentation of L. Frank Baum, Harold Arlen and E.Y. Harburg’s “The Wizard of Oz,” the Muse’s 28th annual student musical slated for January 12-15 at the Victoria Theatre.

Blessed with such beloved tunes as “Over the Rainbow,” “If I Were King of the Forest,” “Ding! Dong! The Witch is Dead!” and “If I Only Had a Brain, “Oz” will be comprised of over 100 Muse students from across the Miami Valley on stage, backstage, and in the orchestra pit. Eighty additional youngsters from Dayton Public Schools will be assembled as citizens of Munchkinland. Principals include Madeline Shelton as Dorothy Gale, Dan Baugn as Hunk/Scarecrow, Davis Sullivan as Hickory/ Tin Man, Jeremiah Plessinger as Zeke/Cowardly Lion, Hayley Penchoff as Glinda, Odette Gutierrez del Arroyo as Miss Gulch/Wicked Witch of the West, and Cameron Elliott as Professor Marvel, the Gatekeeper and the title role.

The large scale production, which uses John Kane’s familiar Royal Shakespeare Company adaptation of the iconic 1939 film, notably marks the directorial return of Drama Desk Award nominee Rufus Bonds, Jr. (“The Color Purple,” “The Lion King,” “Parade,” “Rent”) alongside New Orleans-based veteran Muse choreographer Lula Elzy. Muse Machine alum Timothy Olt, who has provided musical arrangements for the Muse summer concerts since 2009, serves as musical director, replacing longtime Muse musical director David Dusing.

With opening night practically within reach, the artistic team meticulously fine-tuned various elements at a recent rehearsal, fueling the Muse’s reputation for producing professional-caliber results. Bonds cautioned Baugn and Shelton to be mindful of the pace when the Scarecrow introduces himself to Dorothy. Following Shelton’s beautifully sincere rendition of “Over the Rainbow,” Olt advised her to use her instincts as a vocalist. During repeated run-throughs of “The Merry Old Land of Oz,” which incorporates twirls, firm arm movements, sharp hand gestures, and Elliott’s skillful tap dancing, Elzy encouraged the ensemble to remember the overall goal. “We’re striving for perfection,” she said. “You’re not performing for the audience, you’re in a scene. You’re having a conversation within the dance.”

Unlike his bold, reimagined approach to “Into the Woods” that startled Sondheim purists last year, Bonds says he purposefully strayed from conceptually tinkering with “Oz.” He approved inserting the jazzy if obscure “Jitterbug,” famously cut from the film yet retained in the score, but assures audiences the show is fundamentally based on the film’s roots and universal message.

“I kept the show as true as I could to the movie,” he said. “It’s what we know. It’s what we love. I didn’t want to put my own spin on it. I want the show to stay true to the integrity of the piece. The show is about possibilities, finding happiness. And happiness leads to finding a home, which is the foundation of your joy.”

Olt, a 1985 graduate of Kettering Fairmont High School and adjunct music professor at Miami University and Ohio Northern University, particularly finds enjoyment in the cast’s openness to discover “Oz” beyond the surface. In fact, he believes the show’s underlying themes continue to resonate with great meaning.

“’The Wizard of Oz’ has always been a part of my life, but when you’re young you don’t catch everything,” he said. “So I saw the movie again not too long ago and noticed issues such as segregation, slavery and discrimination. There really is a lot going on. And it’s great that the cast recognizes this show is more than just a musical.”

Muse memorably presented “Oz” in 1996 featuring a cast that included Tyler Maynard (currently appearing on Broadway in “On A Clear Day You Can See Forever”), Jill Paice (who recently appeared in “Irving Berlin’s White Christmas” at New Jersey’s Paper Mill Playhouse) and Tory Ross (who returns to Dayton next month starring as Rosemary Clooney in the Human Race Theatre Company’s production of the musical “Tenderly”). According to producer Douglas Merk, the organization had not planned to stage the show again, but ultimately felt it was the best option artistically and financially for 2012.

“’The Wizard of Oz’ has a positive message, is perfect for families and seemed to be the most viable for us in these difficult economic times,” he said. “A lot of theaters are struggling right now, but the reaction so far has been great. Many people are thrilled that we are doing it.”

Although the excitement of unveiling “Oz” is apparent for all involved, the fun and solidarity established during the rehearsal process has proven equally gratifying. Fittingly, the joy that will be evident on the Victoria stage will be a genuine reflection of the friendships within the cast.

“The Muse Machine offers the best of both worlds,” said understudy Steven Hix. “It’s about more than just the show. It’s a chance to meet so many special people.”

“The Wizard of Oz” will be presented Jan. 12-15 at the Victoria Theatre, 138 N. Main St. Performances are Thursday at 7 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 3 and 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets are $25-$59. For tickets or more information, call Ticket Center Stage at (937) 228-3630 or visit www.ticketcenterstage.com

 

Get Jazzed Up for Live Music, Art Exhibits and Ice Skating at First Friday

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Downtown’s next free First Friday art hop will be held from 5 to 10 p.m. Friday, Jan. 6. Galleries and other venues throughout downtown will host art exhibit openings, live music and other special events. Restaurants, retail shops, bars and clubs, and other establishments throughout downtown also will be open. Click here for an up-to-date list of events.

First Friday is presented by the Downtown Dayton Partnership with support from the Oregon District Business Association and WYSO-FM 91.3. The Downtown Dayton Partnership’s website has a complete list of downtown’s arts and cultural amenities, as well as a dining guide, parking map and much more.

Art Exhibits and Events in the Central Arts District

• Beaute Box, 116 W. Fifth St.: Complimentary facials and nail polish changes, as well as a display of work by a local artist. Call 903-3165.

• Canal Street Tavern, 308 E. First St.: Live music by Emily & the Lost Cat Ramblers and Fox and Hounds at 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $5. Call 461-9343.

• De’Lish Café, 139 N. Main St.: Coffee tasting from Stoney Creek Roasters and live jazz entertainment featuring Wade Baker and guest performers. Call 461-2233 for cost.

• RiverScape MetroPark, MetroParks Ice Rink, 111 E. Monument Ave: Ice skate from 5 to 9 p.m.; $5 includes admission and skate rental. The park’s concession will be open to purchase hot chocolate and more. Call 278-2607.

• Schuster Performing Arts Center, Second and Main streets: The Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra will present a concert in its classical series that includes works by Debussy and Brahms with guest artist William Wolfram, along with a piece titled “Rockwell Reflections” in which projected works by the American artist will accompany the music. A Take Note Talk begins at 7 p.m. prior to the 8 p.m. show. Call 228-3630 for tickets and cost.

Art Exhibits and Events in the Oregon Arts District


• Amore!, 16 Brown St.: Sip wine and nibble hors d’oeuvres while shopping for designer labels on re-sale and vintage clothing, accessories, jewelry, household items and one-of-a-kind gifts at affordable prices. Call 367-5941.

• Boulevard Haus, 328 E. Fifth St.: $1 off tap beer for those who mention First Friday. Call 824-2722.

• Color of Energy, 16 Brown St.: Works of abstract architectural photography by Larry Faulkner and the new Sedona collection of paintings by gallery owner Mike Elsass. Call 266-3491.

• Dayton Theatre Guild, 430 Wayne Ave.: Opening performance of Heroes, the musings of three aging WWI French Army veterans; 8 p.m. Click here for tickets or call 278-5993.

• Deaf Monty’s Wine, 22 Brown St.: $5 for a 6-ounce glass of red or white wine. Call 225-9463.

• Dublin Pub, 300 Wayne Ave.: Live music and 20 percent off food for those who mention First Friday. Call 224-7822.

• Gallery 510 Fine Art, 508 E. Fifth St.: A selection of work by local artists and handmade items perfect for gift giving. Call 672-6717.

• Jimmy Modern, 605 E. Fifth St.: Showing work by more than 30 artists. Call 520-3782.

• The Neon, 130 E. Fifth St.: Call 222-SHOW (7469) for films and show times.

• Omega Music, 318 E. Fifth St.: Live music by Mount Caramel and Andy Gabbard, together for one night only, at 8 p.m. The store will offer 10 percent off a purchase with a receipt from any Oregon Arts District business. Call 275-9949.

• Peace on Fifth, 519 E. Fifth St.: Tasting of a fair trade food, plus fair trade, slave-free and eco-friendly merchandise on sale at this satellite of the Dayton International Peace Museum’s store. Fair foods tasted will include Rumi and Nabali oil with bread from Rahn’s at the PNC 2nd St. Market, along with sun-dried tomatoes and Nabali olive tapenade. Call 367-7215.

• Press, 257 Wayne Ave.: One-year anniversary art show featuring work by local artists, a DJ and raffle; open until 11 p.m. Call 231-7107.
• Trolley Stop, 530 E. Fifth St.: Live music by The Fun Size at 9:30 p.m. Call 461-1101.

• Urban Krag, 125 Clay St.: Climbing gym open until 11 p.m. Call 224-5724.

• Wiley’s Comedy Niteclub, 101 Pine St.: Dow Thomas at 9 p.m.; tickets are $10. Call 224-5653.

• Yellow Cab Building, 700 E. Fourth St.:  A variety of multi-media arts at the inaugural First Friday at Yellow Cab event from 7 to 11 p.m. Call 789-0591.

 

Art Exhibits and Events in the Cannery Arts District

 

• K12 Gallery for Young People/TEJAS, 510 E. Third St. (open from 6 to 9 p.m.): 2-D artwork by students from and graduates of Wright State University. Call 461-5149.

• Olive, an urban dive, 416 E. Third St.: Serving dinner and dessert until 11 p.m., featuring new flavors of Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream and Esther Price hot chocolate, along with an exhibit of work by local artist Lea Wise-Surguy made from sugar paint specifically for viewing at Olive, and playing Rev Cool’s “Around the Fringe” radio show that airs on 91.3 WYSO-FM. Call 222-DIVE (3483).

(from Downtown Dayton Partnership)

The Dramatic Moment & Character Studies at DVAC

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"Peaceful Protests" by Issa Randall

The Dayton Visual Arts Center (DVAC) presents two new exhibitions which celebrate the synergies between Dayton’s ethnic and cultural communities. The Dramatic Moment is a solo exhibition by Dayton artist Issa Randall that presents figures that emerge from layers of torn, burned and collaged paper to create a provocative statement on the power of images. The Dramatic Moment will feature an exhibition brochure with writings by guest essayist Peter Ainsworth, London-based photographer, and the artist. Character Studies, DVAC’s second Members’ show of the season, includes selected works from all mediums that express the spirit of “character.”

Dayton artist, Issa Randall, has a Bachelor’s of Art in Communications from the University of Dayton and Master’s of Art in photography from the University of Arts, London. His work explores many aspects of U.S. society, from the role of politics and media to the effects that life has on ones mental space. His exhibition, The Dramatic Moment, features large-scale mixed-media pieces with arresting surfaces and imagery.

"Don't Burn the Trash" by Issa Randall

Randall, along with new executive director Eva Buttacavoli, will serve as co- jurors for Character Studies. This juried members’ exhibit will feature a variety of artwork by DVAC members that address how we define and identify character.

About REACH Across Dayton

Both exhibitions were organized in partnership with Sinclair Community College and EboNia Gallery for the 19th annual REACH (Realizing Ethnic Awareness and Cultural Heritage) Across Dayton project. Founded by artists and educators Tess Little, Willis “Bing” Davis and former DVAC executive director Paula Recko, this year’s REACH initiatives include Gallery Talks by exhibiting artists at each venue, a community art project of collaborative relief prints organized by “Bing” Davis, and a Studies Conference featuring sessions that explore the theme “In the Spirit of Developing Character” at Sinclair Community College.
The Dayton Visual Arts Center provides art for the community and a community for artists. DVAC receives operating support from the Ohio Arts Council, Culture Works, Montgomery County and the Virginia W. Kettering Foundation. The DVAC gallery, at 118 N. Jefferson St., in downtown Dayton, is free and open to the public five days each week, 11 a.m.- 6 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. For more information, visit the Web site at www.daytonvisualarts.org or call (937) 224-3822.

Exhibition Dates

Jan. 17-Feb. 24, 2012

Exhibition Programs

Gallery Talk: Character Studies Artists & Community Art Project – Feb. 3, 6:15 p.m.

Gallery Talk: Issa Randall – Feb. 23, 5:30 p.m.

Studies Conference: In the Spirit of Building Character – Feb. 24, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

at Sinclair Community College Ponitz Center

Closing Reception – Feb. 24, 5-7 p.m.

Where

Dayton Visual Arts Center

118 N. Jefferson St.

Downtown Dayton

Gallery Hours

11 a.m.-6 p.m., Tuesday-Saturday Closed Sunday & Monday

For more information

(937) 224.3822

www.daytonvisualarts.org

[email protected]

(from DVAC)

‘RED’ to Color the Loft Stage

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PAINTING by Richard Coatney

The New York Times calls RED “intense” and “exciting.”  The Chicago Tribune says it’s “stunning,” “compelling,” and “brilliant.”

The production of RED by The Human Race, Dayton’s own professional theatre company, will add at least one more adjective to the descriptions – “intimate.”  As highly-regarded as the big-stage productions have been, bringing famed artist Mark Rothko’s studio to life in the 219-seat Loft Theatre will make it an even more meaningful and personal event for theatergoers.

“What do you see?” asks Rothko in the opening line, and that line is the running theme of the play – what artists see, how they see it, how they hope viewers of their work will see it. RED manages both to be a look deep into the meaning of art and creation, and a scintillating study of Rothko, his relationship with his (fictional) assistant, Ken, and his conflicted views on commercialism.

What the audience will see involves a lot of painting, including preparation of a Rothko-sized canvas.

“It’s a glorious play,” says Human Race Resident Artist Michael Kenwood Lippert, who plays Rothko. “Rothko’s such an interesting character…he wanted people to use as much care looking at his art as he used in creating it.”

“It blew me away,” says Will Allan, who plays Ken. “Rothko’s larger than life, but Ken gives him another insight, while Ken gets invaluable lessons from Rothko.”

Michael Kenwood Lippert

Lippert is a very familiar figure through the Miami Valley, both from his performances with The Human Race, which go back to the company’s original production, Count Dracula, in 1986 and include such hits asOrphans, The Elephant Man, The Speed of Darkness and The Drawer Boy, and from his many years working in area schools for Muse Machine. He was a 2011 Governor’s Award for the Arts winner.

Allan is a local product, a 2005 graduate of Oakwood High School who now works out of Chicago, where he has been in two Jeff Award-winning Best Plays in the past three years (The History Boys and The Goat, or Who is Sylvia?). He recently became an Artistic Associate at Timeline, which the Wall Street Journal calls the Best Theatre Company in America, and was one of the Chicago Tribune’s 2011 Hot New Faces in Chicago Theatre.

“Michael and Will together are just combustible,” says director and Human Race Resident Artist Richard E. Hess, Chair of Drama at the Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music, “It’s fantastic.” Hess knows fantastic – the most recent of his many contributions at The Loft were Doubt, A Parable and I Am My Own Wife.

Mark Rothko

“On its surface, RED is a play about Mark Rothko, and it’s immense enjoyment to see a man like that come to life.” Says Hess. “Below that is the story of a man struggling deeply with immortality, with what one leaves behind. It’s gut-wrenching to watch an artist paved with such humanity.”

RED will include a collaboration with the Dayton Art Institute. During the run, the DAI will have a loaned Rothko work on display, and the institute’s gift shop is offering a 10% discount in January to buyers who show a RED ticket or stub.

Heather Jackson is Stage Manager for RED.  Mark Halpin designed the set, Lacee Rae Hart the costumes, Resident Artist John Rensel the lighting and Rich Dionne the sound, with Heather Powell is the Properties Master.

RED will have a Preview Night at The Loft Theatre January 19, with official Opening Night January 20 and performances through February 5. Tickets are available via www.humanracetheatre.org , by calling Ticket center Stage at (937) 228-3630, or at the Schuster Center Box Office. Student tickets are half price for all performances, and 25 seats at each end of The Loft are being sold for just $25 as part of The Human Race’s 25th Anniversary Season.

(from Human Race Theatre)

Dayton Remembered – From Prague

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Emily Ochs Carlile

(the following was submitted by Emily Ochs Carlile – a Daytonian now living in Prague, Czech Republic)

I was born and raised in Dayton… Well, born at Kettering hospital and raised in Oakwood. But I am definitely a Dayton native. From minute one, I lived in Dayton all my life.

Then I moved to Prague, Czech Republic. It was a spontaneous move, but I have now been here for a little over 11 years and am raising my two sons (age 6 and 8 ) bilingually… Most people think because I live in Europe I have this exotic life, but I have to admit, things are pretty much the same, except completely different…

Apart from the obvious differences, such as language, culture, architecture, history… the first thing I missed when moving here were the American grocery stores. My first job when I was 15 was as a cashier at Dorothy Lane Market on Far Hills. Being a kid in Oakwood, it was the only grocery store I knew. But little did I know it was the most fabulous grocery store. Ever! I would have paid a million dollars for a Killer Brownie or some Chicken and Grape salad… and pecans! The unavailability of simple things (or what I thought were simple things) was unbelievable to me. I couldn’t find a pecan in the entire city. Peanut butter, no way. Luckily things have a changed a lot since 2000, but I promise you, when I visit Dayton the first place I go is DLM.

Then I head directly to The Pine Club. Still the best steak ever! Dave Hulme watched me grow up.  Saturday night was Pine Club burger night at our house. I had my first house account at age 22. They serve dinner until midnight. Perfection. And since they are kind enough to put a few of their yummies in jars, I am able to bring some House and Blue Cheese Dressings and Stewed Tomatoes back to Prague with me. Too bad I can’t bring the onion rings….

After finishing school at Oakwood and Wright State University, the next natural step for me was to move to the Oregon District. My mom moved from Oakwood to the OD when I graduated from high school, so for the first few years out of school, it became my hangout. I had my coffee at the Oregon Emporium, my pizza at the Oregon Express, the Trolley Stop still had build your own sandwiches, Feathers  filled my apartment with bric-a-brac, and I had a Goodwill wardrobe. Over the years I rented apartments, houses and half-doubles on Green St. (3 different places just on that street alone!), Hess St., and of course The Samu on 5th St. By age 20 I had a job at Gem City Records, and at 21, Pacchia (and I continued with jobs at Coco’s, Blue Moon and Jay’s Seafood), was a regular at the Southern Belle (the original one on the corner of Green and Brown), ate at Wimpy and went to the movies at The Neon… I’ve missed the past 11 years of the Oregon District morphing – luckily some things still remain – Urban Krag, Coco’s, Thai 9… I miss them ALL!!! Every time I visit, I look forward to seeing the new things developing in Dayton – 3rd St, Atta Girl Art + Gardens, Press, Riverscape…

But of course, what I miss the most are my family and friends… It can get lonely living abroad, but knowing that Dayton is always there, waiting patiently for my visit or return, eases the homesick blues … I have to admit, there isn’t much I don’t miss about good ol’ Dayton, Ohio. Regardless of where I am in the world, Dayton will always be my home. After all, it’s where my heart is.

 

Dayton real estate 2012: Prognostications, trends, and silver linings.

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2011 brought some changes to the Dayton real estate market. These type of crystal ball posts are sometimes difficult to write because my business might be very different than another real estate agent’s business. Some of us specialize in condos, or foreclosures, or investment properties. There are agents who specialize in lease-to-own, or upscale, or new builds. I’m sharing the things I’ve noticed, but as always, talk to a real estate agent for your specific needs.

A few things to keep in mind if you are buying a home: some markets are being driven by foreclosures or short sales. One of trends that seems to be emerging among foreclosures or cosmetically flipped homes is that are being listed at below market prices which creates a bidding war. In other words, a home hits the market priced lower than other homes and within days there are multiple offers on the property. It’s a good strategy for a seller to get at or above asking price so be prepared if you are looking at foreclosures- you may need to act fast, and might end up paying full price or more to get the home you want. Now this isn’t horrible in and of itself as long as the price supports updates you will be making so don’t panic, but also don’t get sucked into more for a home than its worth. Know what the neighborhood will support.

Short sales are a different beast altogether and while the process for buying and selling short sales has improved over the past year, you should still expect that they could take months to close. However, because short sales account for a large percentage of homes on the market, it’s worth it to plan ahead and take them into consideration. In many communities, distressed properties are driving the market, so if sweat equity doesn’t bother you, this is a good market for you. If you don’t want to do the work yourself, there are a few loan options available for owner occupants who would prefer to finance any repairs or upgrades. Programs like the 203k financing require preparation, organization, and stick-to-it-tiveness on your part, but the repairs have to be made by contractors and professionals. These trends will continue for quite some time in this area as housing stock ages and becomes more distressed.

The other big trend this year is in rentals and seller financing. People need a place to live, and while interest rates have hit record lows and there are lots of homes on the market, if you can’t get a loan, you can’t get a loan. Enter seller financing like land contracts and lease-to-own, and a market for rentals. If you are considering being a landlord, this is a good time to do that, if you are a seller looking for a way to create a niche seller’s market within this broader buyer’s market, this is a remarkable time to do that.

Speaking of trends, I want to point out that a few weeks ago it was reported that National Association of Realtors (NAR) got it wrong:

“All the sales and inventory data that have been reported since January 2007 are being downwardly revised. Sales were weaker than people thought,” NAR spokesman Walter Malony told Reuters. “

If you’ve been paying attention to what is happening in your own neighborhood, this should not be news to you. There are few established neighborhoods in the Greater Dayton area which haven’t taken a hit the last 4 years in particular, but for a number of neighborhoods in Montgomery County, this has been going on for years as those neighborhoods have been bleeding population for decades. It’s supply and demand and I don’t see us picking up in population for awhile. Now, shrinking should no longer be confused with dying, but it is a trend and that’s what we are concerned with for this post. So expect inventory to stay up. Land banking and planned demolition will be part of life in the Miami Valley. Again, this may or may not be doom and gloom, but it is change.

Still, the NAR is the national organization that is tasked with representing its members and they have become one of the most important lobbying groups on K St. When the NAR talks, our elected officials pay attention, but that doesn’t mean you should. If you want to know what is going on in your community, ask a local real estate agent to pull the stats for a particular area, because for us the market talks and in order to serve our clients, we listen to the market, not the NAR.

One more possible trend to be aware of: Because the real estate market has changed, many agents have left the business, some numbers suggest as much as 40-50% and I see this as positive. It’s anecdotal I know, but it seems that those agents who are left are highly professional and some of the best I’ve had the pleasure of working with, and to me, this is good news for everyone.

All the best to the entire DaytonMostMetro.com family- editors, readers, contributors, and here’s to finding more silver linings in 2012!

 

Top 10 Theater of 2011

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Brenda Mhlongo in The Lion King

THE GEM CITY

1. Disney’s “The Lion King” (Directed by Julie Taymor)
The tremendous, long-awaited local premiere of this visually stunning, Tony-winning spectacle from Taymor, Elton John and Tim Rice was a hit for the Victoria Theatre Association. Hopefully the Victoria is securing a return visit to Pride Rock for a future season.

Full Review: Let the Spectacle Astound You

Beth Conley in Hairspray

2.“Hairspray” (Directed by Joe Deer)
Marc Shaiman, Scott Wittman, Mark O’Donnell and Thomas Meehan’s Tony-winning “Hairspray” received an extraordinarily jubilant presentation at Wright State University. Deer’s fluid vision, Teressa Wylie McWiliams’ fantastic choreography, Beth Conley’s spunk, Drew Helton’s authenticity and Ian DeVine’s divine dancing were among the many artistic joys. Every year, there are certain shows you crave to see over and over again. This was one of them. And I did.

Full Review: You Can’t Stop The Bliss

3.“Caroline, or Change” (Directed by Scott Stoney)
Since 2004, I patiently waited for a local premiere of this dynamic, evocative Tony-nominated musical by Tony Kushner and Jeanine Tesori. Unsurprisingly, the Human Race Theatre Company impressively stepped up to the plate with splendid results as led by the fabulous Tanesha Gary of the original Broadway cast.

Full Review: Worlds Collide In The Bayou

SOUVENIR by Stephen Temperley - DAYTON THEATRE GUILD - Things To Do In Dayton - September 16-25, 2011

Reneé Franck-Reed and Charles Larkowski in Souvenir

4.“Souvenir” (Directed by Saul Caplan)
In Stephen Temperley’s intimate “Souvenir,” the life and folly of long-forgotten eccentric soprano Florence Foster Jenkins breezily unravels in a humorous and startling fashion. The Dayton Theatre Guild’s blissful production, deserving of an encore this season or next season, featured effortlessly charming performances by Reneé Franck-Reed and Charles Larkowski. What a duo!

Full Review: Delusions of Grandeur

5.“Permanent Collection” (Directed by Schele Williams)
The beauty of art and the pain of racial conflict compellingly collide in this heated drama by Thomas Gibbons. The Human Race Theatre Company’s gripping local premiere would not have been the same without the commanding presence of Alan Bomar Jones as the disaffected and unyielding Sterling North.

Full Review: The State of the Art in Black and White

6. “Death of a Salesman” (Directed by Greg Hellems)
Scott Stoney’s sublime portrayal of the hapless Willy Loman and Lee Merrill’s revelatory turn as Willy’s supportive wife Linda fueled the palpable heartache within Wright State’s expertly character-driven production of Arthur Miller’s masterpiece. Hellems’ impressive straight play directorial debut particularly featured one of the most moving father-son embraces I have witnessed.

Full Review: Heartache and Pain

Cast of 42nd Street

7. “42nd Street” (Directed by Rick Conant and Joe Deer)
Conant, a member of the original Broadway cast of “42nd Street,” memorably recreated Gower Champion’s choreography for Wright State’s knockout presentation which clearly astonished in the opening audition sequence alone. Those dancing feet never looked or sounded so sweet.

Full Review: Go Into Your Dance!

8. “Hello, Dolly!” (Directed by Robert and Ruth Clements)
Cedarville University’s splendidly designed, excellently performed production of Jerry Herman and Michael Stewart’s adaptation of “The Matchmaker” truly dazzled with striking, sophisticated elegance.

Full Review: ‘Dolly’ Is Back And Looking Swell

9. “Lost in Yonkers” (Directed by Fran Pesch)
Neil Simon’s heartwarming account of family dysfunction wondrously resonated at the Dayton Theatre Guild. In addition to Barbara Jorgensen’s stellar embodiment of a prickly matriarch, Philip Stock and Joel Daniel’s brotherly camaraderie and Amy Diederich’s endearing sensitivity were great assets.

Full Review: Family Matters

JJ Parkey as Hedwig

10. “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” (Directed by Shane Anderson)
Encore Theater Company, Dayton’s only community theater devoted to new musicals, simply relishes risk. The troupe delivered the goods with a comical and poignant production of John Cameron Mitchell and Stephen Trask’s “Hedwig and the Angry Inch.” This risqué rock opus concerning identity, heartbreak and transgender surgery could be viewed as off-putting but actually felt warmly universal and life-affirming in the flawlessly engaging hands of JJ Parkey and Abigail Nessen Bengson. In another bold move, Encore will offer the local community theater premiere of “Spring Awakening” in late January directed by Parkey. I have a feeling it could be a must-see.

Full Review: Botched But Indestructible

Biggest Disappointment: The DayTonys egregiously overlooking “The Producers”
It’s no secret that the annual DayTony Awards will provide its share of oddities. However, the utterly shocking shut-out of the Dayton Playhouse’s production of “The Producers,” one of the best shows ever staged by the organization, will forever serve as a reminder of a flawed voting system in need of a complete overhaul.

THE BIG APPLE

1. “Follies”
Stephen Sondheim and James Goldman’s marvelous tale of disillusionment and regret was a hit last spring at the Kennedy Center. Even so, it grew deeper and more thrilling in its duly acclaimed Broadway transfer over the summer. Although I adored the Kennedy Center production (Linda Lavin’s tantalizing rendition of “Broadway Baby” was among the best I have heard), the current mounting, particularly blessed with definitive performances from Bernadette Peters and Jan Maxwell, is an indelibly cohesive product. I only wish the show could continue past its Jan. 22 closing. Special kudos to Wright State University alum Nick Verina, whose terrific Broadway debut as Young Ben (and brief loving embrace with Peters in the ravishing “Too Many Mornings”) proved simultaneously delightful and surreal.

2. “The Normal Heart”
The Tony-winning, limited engagement revival of Larry Kramer’s powerful, educational polemic concerning the early days of AIDS, fueled with exemplary portrayals by Ellen Barkin, John Benjamin Hickey, Joe Mantello, Jim Parsons and Lee Pace, packed an emotional, visceral wallop. It’s important to note that a letter written by Kramer, entitled “Please Know,” was distributed following the performance I attended. A particular paragraph stated, “Please know that the world has suffered at the very least some 75 million infections and 35 million deaths. When the action of the play that you have just seen begins, there were 41.”

3. “The Book of Mormon”
This tuneful, crude and offensive Tony-winning laugh riot from “South Park” creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone and “Avenue Q” co-creator Robert Lopez took Broadway by storm, particularly garnering a male fan base not seen for a new musical since “Monty Python’s Spamalot.” Religion will always be a delicate subject but “Mormon” spoofs Joseph Smith, Africa, Bono, Orlando, Johnnie Cochran and musical theater conventions with a tongue-in-cheek flair seamlessly constructed to satisfy Broadway devotees and Cartman admirers.

4. “War Horse”
Stephen Spielberg is earning high marks for his adaptation of Michael Murporgo’s sentimental World War I account of a boy and his beloved horse. Still, there’s no denying the sheer epic beauty and whimsical puppetry on display in Lincoln Center Theater’s outstanding, deeply moving Tony-winning presentation.

5. “Good People”
David Lindsay-Abaire’s exceptionally authentic “Good People,” one of the best contemporary dramatic comedies to shed light on America’s struggling middle class, revealed the depths of cultural identity and hopelessness with brutal honesty. Tate Donovan and Tony winner Frances McDormand were perfect as former flames coming to terms with their past in South Boston.

6. “Other Desert Cities”
Jon Robin Baitz (“Brothers & Sisters,” “The Paris Letter”) could receive Tony and Pulitzer Prize consideration for his wonderfully engrossing saga about a wealthy California family battling ideologies while coping with secrets and lies. Rachel Griffiths, Stockard Channing, Stacy Keach, Judith Light and Thomas Sadoski stirred emotions on a fierce level that rivaled “The Normal Heart.” Anyone headed to New York City who can’t find a ticket to “Mormon” or “War Horse” should see “Cities,” which will likely become a regional theater hit in 2012-13.

7. “The Motherf**ker With the Hat”
Chris Rock’s Broadway debut could have been a fiasco but his hilarious turn as a disingenuous AA sponsor opposite the fiery machismo of Bobby Cannavale sent Stephen Adly Guirgis’ scathing, gritty, sharp and witty play through the roof.

8. “Sister Act”
If it wasn’t for the “Mormon” invasion, this totally uplifting, incredibly melodic adaptation of the Whoopi Goldberg film of the same name, heightened by Patina Miller’s breakthrough performance and Alan Menken’s delectable 1970s-inspired tunes, would have been a serious Tony contender.

9. “Jerusalem”
Jez Butterworth’s overlong yet impactful depiction of British misfits will always be remembered for Mark Rylance’s masterful, Tony-winning performance as raw, rebellious ringleader Johnny “Rooster” Byron.

10. “How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying”
A highly commendable Daniel Radcliffe took his post-“Potter” career to a new level in this cool, sleek and underappreciated revival of Frank Loesser’s classic workplace satire.

Biggest Disappointment: “Anything Goes”
I didn’t return to “Spider-Man Turn Off the Dark” this year and cannot comment on whether it remained a disaster or improved following its substantial rewrites. So I’ll choose the overrated revival of “Anything Goes,” which failed to astound aside from a Tony-winning performance by Sutton Foster, one of Broadway’s most popular triple threats.

Get a Fresh Food Adventure at Voltzy’s

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Upon entering Voltzy’s Rootbeer Stand, we heard a gruff voice say “Where the Hell you been?”  We said you must have us confused with someone else, this is our first time here.  Voltzy himself looked at us and said.. “I know! I have been here for 21 years waiting for you, where the hell have you been?”  It is fresh service like this and fresh hamburgers that have made Voltzy’s a Dayton original, and the owner a local icon.  His “shtick” for a good natured ribbing of his new customers is part of the whole experience.  But make no mistake, people come here for the food, and you arent around 21 years in the restaurant business if you dont deliver on taste. Click here to see a video of Voltzy asking where you have been.

Voltzy at the Grill

Located at 4668 Springboro Pike in Moraine,  Voltzy’s has been serving up their special hamburgers that are ground fresh every day, so their hamburger meat is never frozen.  He uses 80/20 chuck and it is just the right combo for a juicy mouthful.  All sandwiches are cooked to order.  He also steams the onions on the flat top grill with his burgers.  Oh but dear fellow foodies, you must know this, Voltzy’s has more than burgers.  His menu is extensive and unique, with many sandwiches, sausages, and hot dog creations named after special people in his life.    They even have a 17 pound hamburger on the menu called the “Bill Clinton Divorce Finale” at the great price of just $40.

In the wintertime, Voltzy prepares soups from scratch for his hungry customers who want to warm up.  Customers like them so much that last winter he sold 900 gallons of soup!  While we were visiting the restaurant, two customers ordered a gallon of the stuff! Being soup connoisseurs, we were very impressed with Voltzy’s homemade creation of “Cream of Vandalia Onion Soup.”  Yes, that spelling by Voltzy is done on purpose as a shout out to the Dayton suburb.  We also loved Voltzy’s homemade  Cream of Potato Soup, and some would tell you his favorite menu items at Voltzy’s are the soups.

Voltzys Burgers are #1

The Big Ragu loves Voltzy’s fresh burgers like “The Murph” which is a double cheeseburger with onions and peppers.  We also thought the Patty Melt was incredible.  Your Food Adventurers had a couple of Root Beers too, which were some of the best we have ever tasted.  Want Value? then try Voltzy’s “10 burgers for 10 bucks deal,” which could feed 2 or 3 people… or one Ragu.

During the summer, Voltzy drops the soups and features “Slaw Dogs,” which are said to be out of this world.  Voltzy told Ragu, “Wait til you try the slaw dogs, I’m gonna feed you till you explode.”  Aww that’s sweet, and would be a Food Adventure first.

Voltzy’s is a unique place, and was a perfect stop on our list of Food Adventures.  In fact, we had to come back twice to try more menu items.  We sampled the burgers and even tried a wrap called the “Fazio” that had sausage, ham, peppers, onions, cheese and 2 fried eggs.  This wrap was huge, and trying to finish it was a Food Adventure in itself.  Other interesting food items were the fried mac n cheese, deep fried pickles, and the philly cheesesteak.  We also saw some nice looking coney dogs leaving the kitchen.

Voltzy making his Cabbage Roll Soup

Like the owner,  Ft. Wayne Indiana native Rick Volz, Voltzy’s Restaurant has personality.  They are proud of their menu and even proud that they have a bathroom at the new facility.  The restaurant is literally a lobby and an outside patio that they have enclosed.  We love the place and when we sat down with Voltzy, we saw that he is a good, hard working, regular guy.

Want some tips about Voltzy’s? Make sure you bring cash because they do not take credit cards!  Voltzy’s can get busy, so we recommend that you call ahead with your order.  Please remember Voltzy’s hours of operation are Monday -Saturday from 11am – 2pm.

Big tastes come out of this small kitchen, which in the future hopes to open up a covered car-port and extend their hours.  Get yourself to Voltzy’s in  Moraine, and when you come in, prepare to hear some of Voltzy’s unique humor.  Do not be surprised if he asks “Where the hell have you been?”  Tell him you were reading about him on Food Advetures, Dayton’s favorite food blog on DaytonMostMetro.com!

 

 

Please leave comments and thoughts about Voltzy’s below.

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Also check out FOOD ADVENTURES on FACEBOOK HERE.  Please “like” us to become an official fan of these “Foodies in their Forties” !

 

Top 10 Best Beers of 2011 (Video)

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This is a very special episode of Snobby Beer. This is the Top 10 Best Beers of 2011, or rather the Top 10 Best Beers That I Shot Video Reviews Of. I had some incredible craft beers in ’11, and I didn’t even get a chance to post all the reviews I shot. You can’t get all of these beers in Ohio (unfortunately), but you can get the majority of them here.

Here is the spoiler list.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q43YNyaemnY’]

Did any of your favorite beers make the list? Are there any that you think shouldn’t be on here? Grab a beer and leave me a comment!

Here we come a-wassailing!

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Why, we would to a warm drink!

It is a scene is almost every classic Christmas movie. People outside going door to door, freezing, singing songs of good cheer to their friends and neighbors. In this age of synced iSomethings and radio stations with twenty four hour holiday music, we take for granted that holiday music (or any music at all, really) is so readily available. At the time caroling started, in the later part of the Middle Ages, people did not have all of the musical options we have today. People of the community would wander through town and sing to their neighbors, and for their singing would be rewarded with a glass of warmed, mulled wine. That something was called wassail, from the Anglo Saxon phrase “waes hael”, which translates to good health. And what is more traditional and social than wishing your neighbors good health? It is a recipe that ranges from high end ingredients to nonalcoholic ones, and is the precursor to many other holiday punches, like eggnog.

The tradition of the wassail toast is written as early as the 12th century. At a noble banquet, a woman came out carrying a goblet full of wine and offered it to the guest of honor and said “waes hael”. According the record, the proper response to waes hael is “drink hael”. Then the person who offers the goblet drinks, then the person honored drinks. This proved much more effective in protecting royalty and nobles from poison than floating toast in wine and hoping for the best. Wassail was only enjoyed by the rich initially because it was expensive to create. Its traditional base is red wine, with rare spices like ginger, cinnamon, cloves, allspice, and nutmeg added for more flavor.

Good cheer to you trees! Please give us some apples.

Like any good game of historical telephone, as time went on the details became a little jumbled. It went from a personal salutation at feasts to a passing of the cup to the entire party. Next time you are at a big to do, think about sharing big cup of wine with everyone in the room. As it trickled down, the wish for good health was no longer confined to humans. Farmers would have a wassail cup for their livestock to encourage them to grow and be healthy. People would toast the good health of the apple trees to make sure the crops came in well, or soak bread with wassail to ward off evil spirits. The English added said apples to the drink as, opening the door to other fruit. Towards the 17th and 18th centuries, people would go from door to door singing, and the hosts would kindly offer them a glass of wassail for their talents. That, as they say, is where our problems began.

Once people realized that there was something to be gained from the tradition, it started to go downhill. The wine was replaced by brown ale (since that is what they could afford), and the spices and fruit were replaced by crab apples, which happened to pop in the warm, frothy beer. This concoction became known as Lamb’s Wool, since the froth on top of the beer looked like wool. This is what became taken from house to house, with almost a demand for payment for bringing by this poorer wassail. This was also coupled by a general decent of the holiday. The Puritans tried to banish holiday celebrations in early America because of how wild they had become, often including break ins, cross dressing, and other debauchery. Charles Dickens and other authors of the time tried to keep the older images alive through their books. There was a spike in wassailing in the 1820’s, but the reality was that the light festivities and merry making had become so sinful it lead to an English bishop to comment that “(m)en dishonour Christ more in the twelve days of Christmas, than in all the twelve months besides.” By the beginning of the 20th century most of the traditions of the wassail had been abandoned or handed off to children, who got small gifts instead of a sip of warmed alcohol. It is still carried on in very rural parts of England and the United States.

Warm, delicious, spicy...and ready to serve!

There is no real recipe for the punch, but there are some commonalities to the ones that are out there. A red wine or a brown beer is usually used, sometimes both in the same recipe. There is also a variety of spices added, typically Christmas spices like cloves, nutmeg, ginger, and cinnamon. Apples have also become a part of the recipe, with other fruit like oranges and lemons. Every now and then, you will see eggs as an ingredient. Do not fall for this. At some point eggs were added to try and thicken up the drink, and they have migrated into a few of the recipes you will find. It is not advised to add them. Most recipes I have seen and tried are just as good without the eggs. There are even recipes out there for nonalcoholic versions,

A Traditional Shropshire Wassail Recipe (via history.uk.com)

10 very small apples
1 large orange stuck with whole cloves
10 teaspoons brown sugar
2 bottles dry sherry or dry Madeira
1/2 teaspoon grated nutmeg
1 teaspoon ground ginger
3 cloves
3 allspice berries
2 or 3 cinnamon sticks
2 cups castor (superfine) sugar
12 to 20 pints of cider according to the number of guests
1 cup (or as much as you like) brandy

Core the apples and fill each with a teaspoon of brown sugar. Place in a baking pan and cover the bottom with 1/8-inch of water.

Insert cloves into the orange about 1/2″ apart.
Bake the orange with the apples in a 350° oven.
After about 30 minutes, remove the orange and puncture it in several places with a fork or an ice pick.

Combine the sherry or Madeira, cider, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, allspice berries, cinnamon, sugar, apple and orange juice and water in a large, heavy saucepan and heat slowly without letting the mixture come to a boil.

Leave on very low heat.

Strain the wine mixture and add the brandy.

Pour into a metal punch bowl, float the apples and orange on top and ladle hot into punch cups.

Serves 15-20

Here is a beer based recipe, thanks to Imbibe:

1 qt. brown ale
8 oz. dry sherry
1/2 cup dark brown sugar
3 apples
finely grated peel of 1/2 lemon
1/2 tsp. each ground nutmeg, cinnamon and ginger

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Peel and core two apples and cut in thick slices. Place in layers in a baking dish and sprinkle with the brown sugar. Drizzle with 2 oz. of brown ale. Bake until the apples are very tender, about 45 minutes. Chop the apples and their cooking juices in a food processor until smooth. Place in a saucepan over medium-low heat and add the remaining ale, sherry, lemon peel and spices. Simmer gently for a few minutes. Peel and core the remaining apple and slice. Add the slices to the bowl and serve while still warm.

This is a time of year that breeds good cheer and plenty of social gatherings. If you are looking for something new to add to the holiday traditions, try one of the above wassail recipes, or look around the web for one of your own. It is a very tasty, warming drink, perfect for this chilly time of year. Waes hail!

 

 

Dayton Memories: Pat Kilbane

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In the fall of last year, I found myself back on Kingsridge Drive behind the Dayton Mall. I was on my way to pick up an order from Prime Digital Printing and glanced over at the property across the street from Max & Erma’s. What I saw caught me off guard; “This can’t be” I thought, “It’s a vacant lot.” Sure, nothing lasts forever, and sometimes progress means doing away with the old to make room for the new, but how could they tear down Jokers Comedy Café? It wasn’t just my home as a comedian; it was part of Dayton’s proud history.

I grew up in the Dayton area, and when I graduated from Beloit College in 1990, I returned to Centerville to live in my parents’ basement and pursue lofty dreams of a career in stand-up comedy. I had about seven minutes of rudimentary material and a lot of youthful enthusiasm, but what I didn’t have was the slightest clue where to begin. Like any genius with a newly minted bachelor’s degree, I grabbed the Yellow Pages and looked under “C” for “comedy.”

Moments later, I discovered that Jokers had an open mic night every Tuesday where beginning comics could try their stuff; and even better, the club was holding a contest called the “Jokers Comedy Joke-Off” where comedians could compete to win a contract with the largest booking agent in the Midwest. That would mean (gulp) road gigs and a fledgling career in show business.

It’s important to note, for those who don’t remember, that the late ‘80s and early ’90s were a boom time in the comedy industry. Stand-ups were getting lucrative network deals left and right, and those deals were meaning millions for people like Tim Allen and Roseanne Barr. It seemed that the sky was the limit, and thanks to the Jokers open mic night, such magical things felt entirely within reach.

We members of the open mic crew became a tight-knit group, mutually supportive and coursing with creativity. Mentored by local legend Dow Thomas (the open mic host), we wrote jokes together, laughed together, drank together, and traveled together to perform at the tough “one nighters” at bars and restaurants outside of town. Those were among our first paid gigs, again, made possible by the staff of Jokers.

Pat Kilbane's comedy head shot

I was lucky enough to win the Jokers Comedy Joke-Off in late summer of 1990, and as promised, I was awarded a contract with Louisville booking agent Tom Sobol. Mr. Sobol’s company later represented me in LA and landed me a theatrical agent, and that theatrical agent gave me a thrilling career in film and television. They always say in show business that if you are going to succeed, someone has to take a chance on you; someone has to give you the opportunity to try, fail, learn and grow. For me and a whole stable of young comics, Jokers Comedy Café was that someone – the first to let us jump up there and see what we could do.

In 1996 I appeared on the “Bizarro Jerry” episode of NBC’s #1 show “Seinfeld,” and it became a local news story in Dayton.[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnXOAWoNADw&feature=related’] I remember seeing the television field reporter standing in the rain in front of Jokers saying “This is where it all began…” Indeed. That might have been the proudest moment of my life. I felt like somehow I had made good for the comedy club I owed so much to.

Dayton has a rich comedy history, which includes natives such as Gordon Jump and the incomparable Jonathan Winters; I believe that Jokers Comedy Café also belongs in our comedy Hall of Fame. During a time of exciting revolution in the entertainment industry, Jokers gave a voice to an entire generation of young comedians and helped the Gem City hold its own.

Editors Note: DMM’s Lisa Grigsby owned Jokers Comedy Cafe.  Pat also is very modest above where he breezes by his career in film and television.  Best known for his three-year run on Fox’s “MADtv” (1995), Pat Kilbane made his mark on the show with outrageous physical comedy and uncanny celebrity impressions. Among his more memorable characters were Stan the Java Man, the shady Spishak spokesman, and the floppy superhero “Rubberman. Kilbane’s impressions are too numerous to list, but notably his mimicry of Howard Stern and Lyle Lovett fooled some viewers into believing that the stars actually appeared on the show.

After the expiration of his contract with “MADtv” , Kilbane was signed to a two-year deal with Dreamworks, during which he appeared in the movies Evolution  and EuroTrip , and on ABC’s hit show “Spin City”.  More recently, he appeared on My Name is Earl and Frank TV and in the movies Meet Dave, Day of the Dead and Semi-Pro.  Pat’s latest endeavor is promoting a book he  co-authored,  The Brain Eater’s Bible.

 

Read other posts in out Dayton Memories series:

Audrey Buckman
Jill Bishop

For These Phantoms, Three Is Not a Crowd

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DPO presents Three Phantoms in Concert with tenor alumni of the leading Phantom of the Opera tours

If you have ever seen a live production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical Phantom of the Opera, there is a better-than-even chance that you might have seen and heard at least one of the three Broadway stars who will share the stage of the Schuster Center on Friday, January 13 & Saturday, January 14 at 8pm with conductor Patrick Reynolds and the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra in Three Phantoms in Concert.

Why? Because all three have played either the Phantom or Raoul or both on Broadway or in touring productions. In fact, they each have either played the lead, or appeared, in Cyrano, the Musical; Fiddler on the Roof; Anything Goes; Les Misérables; The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber; Show Boat; Jesus Christ Superstar; Sweeney Todd; Pirates of Penzance; Jekyll & Hyde; Evita; Fiddler On The Roof; and The Secret Garden.

The best Broadway leading men – Ciarán Sheehan, Gary Mauer, and Craig Schulman – will perform (in solo, duo and trio combinations) the best of the Broadway tunes written for tenor from Les Misérables, Miss Saigon, The Phantom Of The Opera, Guys and Dolls, Company, Kiss Me Kate, Most Happy Fella, The Secret Garden, Nine, Damn Yankees, The Scarlet Pimpernel, Sweeney Todd, and more.

Ciarán Sheehan has played the Phantom on Broadway and in Toronto for more than 1,000 performances. He has also appeared on Broadway in Les Miserables and as Raoul in Phantom for more than two years. Gary Mauer most recently starred in the Broadway production of The Phantom of the Opera, playing Raoul. Craig Schulman is the only actor in the United States to have portrayed the Phantom; Jean Valjean in Les Misérables; and the title roles in Jekyll & Hyde.

Craig and Gary have both played in Les Mis, and all three have played in Phantom. Since all three are tenors, it begs the question, do they ever switch roles/song assignments from one show to the next? If so, what are some of the reasons they might do so?

“I try to keep the program the same, and everyone sings a standardized track in the concert,” Craig Schulman states. “I need to maintain pacing of the program and make sure that we’re all singing the same number of songs. We each, however, tell a story about the show in which we got our “big break” in show business, and then sing a song from that show. So the program changes slightly,” from tenor to tenor.

The bulk of the shows all three tenors have appeared in involve romance (Sweeney Todd, Secret Garden, etc. excepted). The songs in those shows, however, don’t always involve romance or romantic topics. I asked Craig which type of songs he prefers and which particular titles (especially of those he’ll be doing with the DPO) he prefers singing?.

“Personally, I always look for the 11 o’clock number,” Craig remarks, “so I sing Bring Him Home from Les Mis, This Is The Moment from Jekyll & Hyde, and of course, Music Of The Night from Phantom (the big three). Sometimes I switch with Gary; he may sing This Is The Moment, and I’ll take The Impossible Dream just for giggles.”

All three keep a strenuous concert schedule. I asked Craig what he likes/dislikes about life on the concert road. “I like the fact that the trips are short,” Craig notes, “as opposed to being on an extended tour. I don’t like being away from my wife and kids for too long. Dislikes? FLYING. Used to love it, but it sure ain’t no fun no more. Also, among my colleagues, my career has become almost exclusively concert performances,” he points out. “I love the concert performing, but it’s rather a solitary pursuit, and I miss the community of performers that are involved in a show.”

Which goes to show that, at least for this Phantom, three is definitely not a crowd.

Dayton Philharmonic Presents Three Phantoms in Concert

January 13 & 14 – 8pm

Schuster Performing Arts Center

Click for Tickets

Dayton Remembered

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In our series of guest posts of Daytonian’s that have moved away, Jill Bishop shares her memories of Dayton.  A 1975 graduate from  Vandalia Butler High School, Jill got a Communications/English Lit degree from Wright State in 2001 and a Masters in Public Admin from UD in 2006. She worked for Artemis Center for Alternatives to Domestic Violence as well as Dayton Public Radio/Classical 88.1 before moving to Arizona in 2010.

Even the spectacular butterscotch/fuchsia colored skies featured in the sunsets over the Tucson Mountains aren’t enough to make me forget my hometown of Dayton, Ohio. If I close my eyes and concentrate, I can still picture myself driving down Wayne Avenue, a major thoroughfare I traveled daily for years and years. It always felt like Wayne Ave was one of the main arteries that delivered me into the heartbeat of downtown Dayton where I worked and played for 35 years. I still vividly recall the major landmarks along the way….that awkward intersection at Wayne and Wilmington, Tanks, ‘scary’ Krogers, then on down to the lovely South Park and Oregon District neighborhoods where many of my friends have lived, or still do. Coco’s Bistro is another major anchor on that journey, and a place I spent many wonderful lunches and happy hours with friends.

Then there is The Oregon District…and Fifth Street. I could write an entire book about my adventures there over the years, but one place MUST be mentioned: The Oregon Express. Back in about 1990, a small group of passionate individuals (passionate about Friday happy hours) began what is still known as The Oregon Express Beer and Pizza Club. Countless happy hours were spent there, lifelong friendships forged, tons of free pizza consumed. We celebrated birthdays, held memorials, laughed, cried, and chewed on the major topics of the day along with their delicious free pizza.

I traded the aging, industrial Midwest grittiness and deciduous tree-lined streets for the desert, saguaros and adobe houses in October 2010 when I packed my cats into my Prius and left my lifelong home to settle into a new life in Tucson, Arizona. Dayton has a sweet, soulful, funky vibe of its own, including a rich history of innovation, invention, industry, aviation, and creativity. Think chili, burning leaves, aging railroad overpasses, Orville and Wilbur, Ohio Players. Now that I am away, I can more fully appreciate the nuances of Dayton. Joni had it right when she wrote “you don’t know what you got till it’s gone.” I now fondly think of Dayton as a green space filled with friendly, sincere, hard-working, creative people, much like I have found in Tucson. Green spaces are abundant thanks to MetroParks and water is abundant thanks to the major aquifer. There are the fun, must-attend classic annual events such as the Greek Festival, DAI’s Oktoberfest, Cityfolk Festival, the music festivals at Dave Hall Plaza, and many great events at Riverscape. I miss seeing the Dayton’s great Philharmonic Orchestra and Operas at the beautiful and acoustically perfect Schuster Center. I miss those wonderful Saturday mornings at 2nd Street Market wandering among the vendors, steaming coffee in hand, waving to folks I knew. I miss it all.

Then there are the sensory, memory experiences such as Canal Street Tavern on a bitterly cold winter night crowded into its cozy space listening to an amazing musical performance, waiting in line at Flying Pizza downtown, soaking in some steamy jazz at Gilly’s, earnestly pursuing through CD’s at Gem City Records (now Omega Records), helping my friends with shows on WYSO-FM with pledge drives, and working with the great staff at Classical 88.1 FM in the Metropolitan Arts Center where I could walk around and dial up a creative, energetic conversation with someone from another arts organization. I spent countless hours walking the beautiful gardens at Wegerzyn, riding the bike paths all around Dayton, and enjoying hikes in Yellow Springs.

While I am happily settled into my new home in Tucson, I miss many people, places, and things about Dayton. I miss the fall color, the music scene, downtown, and coffee shops, family and friends. I sometimes even miss the humidity. Dayton is “the funk capital” and I miss that soulful, Five Oaks feeling. Sometimes I even miss those blustery, overcast days where you just want to curl up and read a good book. But really, it’s the people I miss the most – because it’s the people who really make up a community. I miss seeing friends and acquaintances everywhere I go. I miss people around me who know my story. However, I have embarked on a new chapter and am writing a new story…..but Dayton and the people who live there will always be my heart home and I will look forward to visiting when I can. And… who knows, perhaps someday my Dayton roots will tug hard enough to pull me back.

Read the first entry in this series from Audrey Buckman

Telling American Stories in Pictures…with Music

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DPO presents Musical Gallery, honoring the life’s work of iconic American painter/illustrator Norman Rockwell

“I love to tell stories in pictures. The story is the first thing and the last thing.”

With those words Norman Rockwell summed up his modus operandi for a lifetime of artistic achievement. For forty-plus years, his illustrations of the covers of The Saturday Evening Post magazine became an integral part of American popular culture. The Willie Gillis and Four Freedoms series, Rosie the Riveter, and my personal favorite, Saying Grace, captured the essence of the beauty, joy, seriousness, and camaraderie of everyday American life.

Picture this: a small-town café peopled by working-class people. Two big, burly, cigarette-smoking truck drivers share a table with a small, red-headed boy and an older woman (ostensibly his grandmother). One trucker reads a menu; the other holds a cup of coffee and stares inquisitively at the woman and boy, both of whom have their heads bowed, their eyes closed, and their hands folded in prayer and saying grace.

That juxtaposition of characters, that slice-of-life realism was how Norman Rockwell told pictures in stories.

Organized by the Norman Rockwell Museum, American Chronicles: The Art of Norman Rockwell (At the Dayton Art Institute November 12, 2011 – February 5, 2012) is an exhibition spanning 56 years of his work (1914 – 1970) that traces his artistic contributions and the impact of his images on American popular culture.

Concurrently, on Fri­day, Ja­nu­ary 6 and Saturday, January 7, at 8 pm in the Schuster Center, the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra will present Musical Gallery, a concert program that features a Debussy prelude, the Brahms Piano Concerto No. 1 performed by American pianist William Wolfram, and Rockwell Reflections, a study in Americana  by national and international award-winning composer Stella Sung.

For Rockwell Reflections, Stella Sung chose five seminal paintings by Norman Rockwell to use as points of departure for her compositions. Like Rockwell’s paintings, these compositions have a strong narrative quality. During the performance of Rockwell Reflections, the DPO will project imagery of these five of Rockwell’s most famous paintings on a screen above the DPO in the Mead Theater:

"Artist Facing Blank Canvas"

Artist Facing Blank Canvas, 1938

This painting is an unusual self-portrait. Rockwell does not show us his likeness; instead, the artist lets us look over his shoulder at a dilemma that ruled his working life. With clarity and wit he communicates his exasperation through such telling details as the head scratch, the splayed shirt collar, the upside-down horseshoe, and the rejected sketches piled on the floor.

The Stay at Homes, 1927

In this charming scene a boy and his grandfather seem to be lost in a reverie as they gaze out at a schooner leaving the harbor for open water. For the child such journeys are yet to come; for the grandfather the journeys are memories to be savored. Rockwell elaborates his theme with a swirl of gulls above the two figures. Birds in flight are an age-old metaphor for flights of imagination and spirit.

"Checkers"

Checkers, 1928

Rockwell’s painting illustrates a key moment in a short story about a circus clown named Pokey Joe. Pokey Joe has been suffering from self-doubt about his ability to perform. His friends and fellow performers organize a little deception to cheer him up, letting him win an important game of checkers. The painting captures Pokey Joe’s delight in his moment of triumph. Also apparent is Rockwell’s delight in painting the brilliantly colored circus setting.

In this musical composition, the DPO playing in the background represents the circus, while the individual players of the strings represent the five figures in the foreground of the painting. The concertmaster is the checkers player on the left and the principal cellist is the clown on the right. The dog that is quite content to continue sleeping is played by the viola that never changes pitch!

"Murder in Mississippi"

Murder in Mississippi, 1965

In the 1960s Rockwell began to do assignments for Look Magazine, which addressed important current events. The most dramatic painting of this period was Murder in Mississippi. Rockwell was horrified by the murder of three young, dedicated civil rights workers near Philadelphia, Mississippi in 1964.  Klansmen stopped the three men at night on a deserted road, took them to a remote location, and shot them. Rockwell’s painting of their last moments is not a documentary. Instead, the artist created his work in the style of a formal heroic composition. It honors the courage and sacrifice of these three young men.

The Peace Corp, JFK’s Bold Legacy, 1966

Rockwell was deeply affected by the turmoil of the 1960s, the racial conflicts, assassinations, Vietnam War, and nuclear threat. Rockwell, though, always found a reason for optimism in young people. The Peace Corp represents this optimism in a group of profile portraits of young men and women looking up and outward toward a bright vision beyond the confines of the picture. The profile portrait composition is a reprise of his famous 1942 painting Freedom of Worship. Here, though, the faith that Rockwell celebrates is the spirit of the next generation to make the world a better place.

Exasperation. Reverie. Delight. Courage. Optimism. Those are the emotions, sentiments, and character traits that Norman Rockwell set down on canvas for us all to look at and see reflections of ourselves as people.

And as Americans.

Dayton Philharmonic Presents “Musical Gallery”

Ja­nu­ary 6 and January 7 at 8 pm

Schuster Performing Arts Center

Click for Tickets

Comfort Food on Wheels!

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Who says gourmet restaurants have to stay stuck in one place? Fressa, the newest traveling food-truck to hit the streets of Dayton, pleasantly proves that home-cooked entrees, fresh sides and tantalizing desserts needn’t be located in a sit-down restaurant in order to be delicious. “Fressa” by definition means, “to chow down” or “stuff oneself”, which, the owners Matt and Lisa Halpin encourage lunch-breakers to partake in during every Fressa-filled meal.

I spoke with Matt Halpin about his intriguing “comfort-food” truck and he explained,  “Comfort food means a lot of different things to different people… It’s about what you had growing up and what reminds you of that. We want people to experience new things and see that comfort food can mean more than what they think it does.”

But… comfort food, on wheels? Matt and Lisa explained that having a restaurant-truck instead of a stagnant, unmoving restaurant allows Fressa to “take that great tasting, gourmet food to the streets.” The mobility of Fressa also allows the restaurant to offer lunchtime deliveries to businesses, catering to all kinds of events and easier accessibility to more locations around Dayton. Matt elaborated, “There is a lot of potential for Dayton to be a real foodie town and since Dayton is looking to attract more people and businesses downtown, trends like food trucks are a great thing.”

Let’s talk about the food: Fressa stands out from the likes of greasy lunch-break options, instead housing a menu bursting with local ingredients, seasonal offerings and of course, hot-from-the-kitchen comfort food. The menu spotlights on the kind of food that reminds you of home, warms the soul, and just flat-out makes you feel happy. Matt explained, “The idea of modern, gourmet comfort food lets us have a lot of freedom when it comes to what we serve. But no matter what, it has to make people feel good.”

Where can you find the bright orange Fressa truck? Matt says, “We are at the Sugarcreek Farmer’s Market and we also do lunches for local businesses. Facebook and Twitter let our followers know that we’re there.” Fressa wants to be able to gain more parking locations to spread the Fressa-love throughout the city, but because the city of Dayton is still working out regulations for food trucks and parking rules, they’ve had a few set-backs. Hopefully by May, Fressa will be perfectly parked at the Courthouse Square for lunchtime.

Matt said, “At this point we are trying to be the best food truck that we can be. It’s hard to picture Fressa being a sit down restaurant but I will admit I would like to have a brick and mortar restaurant of my own some day… Who knows, we could always have both.”

Well, what should you order? Comfort food of course! Matt and Lisa recommend the Apple Bacon Grilled Cheese and Chocolate-Covered Homemade Potato Chips, topped off with a Pumpkin Crème Brule for dessert.

So keep an eye out for this bright orange restaurant-on-wheels, Fressa has pulled into Dayton!

What I Miss About Dayton

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As part of an ongoing series, DMM is reaching out to some of our friends who’ve moved away from Dayton and asked them to reflect on the things that they miss about our community.

First up is entrepreneur Audrey Buckman, who was truly a pioneer in Dayton retail.  She originally had a small store in the Oregon District, then took a bold leap and moved GO HOME!  to the corner space in the Cannery three years before the building was transformed into trendy loft apartments.  Eventually opening a second store in Centerville, then movied to  it’s final location  at the Village at Dayton Mall, which  closed this fall when Audrey moved when her husband was offered a job in North Carolina. Below please enjoy Audrey’s list of what she misses.

 

“As I prepared to move away from Dayton after living there for 21 years, I posted one thing per day on my Facebook page that I would miss about Dayton for the final 10 days. Here is my list, in no particular order.”

1. Marions Piazza – A true Dayton classic.

2. Kettering Recreation Center – An absolutely amazing facility. If you have not been recently, it is a must see. The classes, facilities, equipment and staff are top notch.

3. Tank’s Bar – Another Dayton classic that attracts a really diverse crowd. Spent time there watching the OJ Simpson white Bronco chase, had beers from around the world, popped in after the Art Ball for cheese fries with a group all decked out in gowns & tuxedos – and nobody even took a 2nd look.

4. 2nd Street Public Market – Always a good mood booster with friendly faces.

5. Hills & Dales MetroPark – Another amazing facility. Loved walking my dogs through the park. Actually, the entire 5 River MetroParks system is fabulous.

6. City of Dayton 4th of July Fireworks – Was always fortunate enough to watch from The Firefly building rooftop….the best view around!

7. Dorothy Lane Markets‘ umbrella brigade in the Kettering Holiday at Home parade. So much fun!

8. Virtually no traffic and ease of getting around.

9. The creative energy from so many diverse individuals and groups that really care about the Dayton area and making a difference in many ways.

10. Friends, family and familiar faces………so many good people and so many good times!  Dayton is an easy place to find your niche and develop great relationships.